A/N - major spoilers for gang of secrets ahead in this fic!! you have been warned.

24 hours. 1440 minutes.

It had been one day since Alya got the exclusive that she can never expose on her Ladyblog. She now knows Ladybug's official identity. Confirmed by Ladybug herself.

Marinette.

Her best friend. Her best friend in the world was one of the guardians of Paris. It makes so much sense now.

Her excuses for being late, leaving the second an akuma stroke, never have being in the same room as Ladybug, why she was so willing to trust Alya with the fox miraculous to help her. Why she also trusted Nino with the turtle miraculous. Of course she had a massive trust to those closest to her.

Even for what was happening recently.

Alya was quite surprised that Marinette was the one to break up with Luka, but she was even more surprised to have to find out from Alix, who was told by Mylene, who was told by Rose, who was told by Juleka. That was when she knew something was up.

Then, having to find out she was giving up on Adrien was the icing on the cake. After pining for him for so long, she really drew the line on it all. Now she knows why. Not only was it to protect her secret identity, but it was to also prevent anyone being hurt. Marinette didn't want Luka, Adrien and her friends to suffer from something she had no choice over.

One day later, Marinette had said no further information. Alya had all the questions ready but she didn't want to pry her. She saw how broken her best friend was, the way her glassy eyes filled up with tears as she could see a huge weight being lifted.

Alya was sat on a bench at school with Nino. Her leg bounced with anxiety as she didn't know what to expect that day. Her best friend was probably either going to avoid her or pretend nothing happened.

Her train of thoughts was interrupted when her boyfriend spoke up. "Babe? You good?" He noticed her leg bouncing.

"Oh, I'm alright. Don't worry!" Alya replied as she giggled. "How long do you think Marinette will be?"

"If we're talking about Marinette then just after Miss Bustier takes registration." Nino laughed.

It was about five minutes before the lesson started that the lovely couple started to head to the classroom a familiar model caught up to them. "Hey guys!"

"Hey! Are you doing good, buddy?" Nino asked curiously.

"Yeah, I'm fine." he confirmed.

When they reached the classroom, Alya quickly raised her eyebrow before they took their seats and Nino said, "Adrien and Kagami broke up. He's taking it better than I thought."

'Ohhh' Alya thought. Something seemed quite off about everything, though. Kagami and Adrien breaking up around the same time Luka and Marinette broke up. Was it a coincidence?

Probably not.

It took Marinette just before the lesson actually started to stumble in and take her seat. "Hi! I'm not late, am I?"

Adrien and Nino turned around and looked at their bluenette friend with astonishment. "You're on time. Before registration. Before the bell has rung." Nino said.

"Ohh, good! I'm glad! I heard my parents get up à bit earlier and when I looked at my clock I thought I was seeing a different time, so I was running around like mad trying to make sure I would be on time today!" Marinette smiled with her achievement.

Marinette was really cheerful today, which made Alya quite happy. She knew and understood how rough the last year or so had been for her. Yet, she was still quite worried. Would there be consequences now that she knew?

The lesson flew by and it wasn't long before the reporter practically dragged her best friend to the park. She sat them down on a bench and started a tiny interrogation. "I don't want to pry into any personal stuff with you and your superhero life, but I want to know one thing. Are you okay? Like, are you feeling better today?"

"Oh, Alya. Today I feel really great! I think it's because I can go round knowing someone knows and I'm not lying to my best friend anymore. I'm so happy I told you and I respect that you are accepting about it. Also, thank you for not posting on your blog." Marinette ended her minuscule speech by pulling her best friend into a tight hug.

Alya's hazel eyes were almost ready to sob. "Marinette... You know how much I love you. I would never put you at risk. I have to tell you, I got so worried about you. You shut me and the others out, we didn't know what to do. I feel like I understand why you told me your secret but I don't think I completely understand. Does Cat Noir know?"

Marinette sighed. If she could trust Alya with the simple 'I'm Ladybug', then surely she could trust her with some more information. She was going to wait, but she knew she'd feel better if she spoke about it now. "Okay, I'll tell you. But not here. We can head back to mine!"

It had been an hour since they headed back to the bakery and Marinette had not spoken a word. The thought of admitting some stuff she hadn't told anyone was frightening. Alya also didn't speak a word - she was waiting for Marinette to start. They sat side by side on her pink bed, before Marinette stood up and placed herself on the chaise.

Marinette really did feel awkward. What if she told her the wrong thing? What could she say? What couldn't she say? Even as the new guardian of the miracle box, she was still learning about the role and nothings clear about who can know what.

"Does Cat Noir know?" Alya finally spoke up.

"Huh?"

"Does Cat Noir know that Marinette is Ladybug?"

"Um, no. He doesn't."

"But-"

"Just to keep it simple. We got told by our kwamis that we could never know our identities as it would put a lot of people at risk. Like, if Hawkmoth ever found out he could take advantage of our loved ones. I could never place you or anyone else in harm. Now that you do know I am quite scared if there are any consequences. But, anyway, back to your question. No. Cat Noir doesn't know."

Alya narrowed her eyebrows. "I know you probably don't want me to ask but I need to ask it anyway! Is there anything going on between you and Cat Noir?"

Marinette's cheeks flushed the tiniest bit of pink as she denied, "No! He's just a friend. Ah, don't get me wrong, he's one of my best friends and I trust him with my life. But, Adrien was the one I liked. It's so strange though, if there was no Adrien Agreste in my life, I would've seen Cat Noir a little differently." she laughed.

Whilst Alya understood what was said, her heart broke into a million little pieces over the fact that her ship just probably won't sail. "Girl, how could you not like Cat Noir?! It's so obvious he's in love with you!"

"I know he likes me, but sometimes I feel like he flirts with loads of girls. Actually, he told me as Marinette that he doesn't. Just Ladybug."

"Would it really be a bad thing if you two ever got together?"

Suddenly, Marinette had flashbacks to that battle. That one battle she struggled to forget, the one where she met cold iced eyes, who killed her and the entire population. The one where they apparently knew each other's identities and their love caused a major disruption. Her eyes widened at the memory and she instantly nodded her head. "Oh, yeah. I don't really want to discuss that, though."

"Share what you're comfortable with, remember that."

Alya's phone went off and she saw a text message from her mother. "Mum wants me back at home to take care of the twins, I got to go. You definitely okay?"

Marinette smiled and nodded. "Of course. I promise no more secrets!"

"Good good!" Alya chuckled and they hugged so tightly they couldn't breathe. Those hugs were their favourites.

Once Alya had left, Marinette had to get herself ready for patrol. Whilst she was getting herself prepared, Tikki spoke up. "I'm happy you're feeling a lot better, but are you sure that telling Alya was the right thing? I know she's trustworthy but I'm thinking of what could happen if Hawkmoth ever knew that she knows."

"I'm going to make sure that won't happen! I feel like it was the right thing to do. I can finally talk to someone else, except for the kwamis, that will listen and understand."

"Mmhmm, yeah I get that. Don't you think Cat Noir will be upset that he didn't get to know first?"

Shoot, Marinette hadn't exactly thought about that. She did ditch Cat Noir recently on patrol, just like she had ditched Alya and Luka. It made her feel guilty as hell, but she had a reason.

"I'll agree that he might get upset, but he won't know that Alya knows. I have been thinking too and when the time is right, I'll tell him. I'll tell him that Ladybug is me, Marinette. It would make more sense for me as the guardian to know, since Master Fu knew both of our identities."

Tikki sighed and didn't say anything. She completely understood Marinette's points, she did. But there was still Hawkmoth. Technically, Shadowmoth now, since he had combined the peacock and moth miraculous. Now he was stronger.

And Tikki was anxious for everyone.

"Okay, time to go meet Cat Noir. Spots on!"

A/N - what do y'all think? i wanted to move away from first impressions for a minute and write a different type of story! if you want this continued let me know :)