A/N: just quickly before we dive into the next instalment, this whole story is my take on what i'd like to happen! so if lb does tell cat, how would he react? and can marinette really trust alya?? again, this is what i would like to happen! so maybe prepare for more angst than we'd actually get in the show. enjoy :)

It was a beautiful and starry night. These types of nights were always the best ones to patrol. There was nothing better than to sit on the rooftop, looking at the moon, the Eiffel Tower, the blinding lights. 

"Hey, Bugaboo!" Ladybug almost peed her suit. She giggled as she turned around to face her partner in crime. "Hey, kitty! Nothing on your side, I'm assuming?"

"Quiet as per usual. It's strange. Hawkmoth, or Shadowmoth now, has been sending out stronger villains at a lower pace. Like, I've actually gotten some great night sleeps." 

Ladybug gave a fake smile as she was raging with jealously - she was lucky if she got about two or three hours sleep.

"Yeah, ahaha. I'm quite worried though. What if he's planning something big?" she looked at him with worry filling up her eyes. Her partner grabbed her spotted glove and he brought it to his lips, pressing a light kiss. "No matter what happens, it's me and you against the world. We will defeat him. I know it."

After exchanging lovingly smiles, the duo sat in silence. Ever since Marinette gained the new title as guardian, they hardly ever saw each other. Without giving away their identities, they had to admit they had busy lives with school and extracurricular activities. So, at least they understood. But to Cat, it hurt. He knew that something was up with his lady and she wouldn't budge. 

It wasn't long after that Ladybug finally said, "Cat Noir. I need to tell you something. I really hope you won't get mad."

"I could never get mad at you, M'lady." Cat proudly said. 

Ladybug didn't realise that she was staring into his emerald cat eyes for a while. A lot was circling her mind. 'No, he'll hate me. He was supposed to be the first to know. He'll lose a lot of trust in me. I don't want to lose him...'

Hesitantly, Ladybug started by saying, "I... I need to tell you..." Cat nodded for her to proceed. 

"Actually, I can't tell you. I'm sorry." She stood up and was prepared to swing away but was held back by her partner grabbing onto her wrist. "Where are you going?"

"Home. I need time to think about if I should tell you or not."

Cat quickly pulled his hand back and gave her an upset look. "Yeah, I get you. But I'm tired of these secrets. Do you even trust me?"

Ladybug looked quite offended that he thought that way of her. "Wha-, of course I do! Why on Earth would I not trust you?"

"If you trust me, then talk to me!" he yelled. She was taken aback at his rage, but she understood why.

"I'm scared..."

"Don't be. I'm right here. It's just you and me. Whatever you say will not leave and get out to Paris."

It was the next morning and Marinette had just finished her early meltdown. Her alarm clock shocked her out of her thoughts and she attempted to get up early. Once up, she went to the bathroom and splashed her bare face with icy water. 

"Why did you not tell him?" a small voice occurred. 

Just like Tikki predicted, Marinette in fact did not tell Cat Noir that someone before him found out her identity. All she did was chicken out and swung away before her partner could call out for her. 

"Urgh, you saw how mad he was at the fact he thought I didn't trust him! I feel like telling him would've made everything worse."

Marinette stepped out to get changed and Tikki continued the unwanted conversation. 

"But by not telling him it's actually made everything worse. You do realise Cat has probably lost more trust in you now. You have always been secretive from him, even when Fu was around. Notice how it was always you getting the in-sight and not really him. Don't replicate this further just because you're the guardian now."

As much as she hated to admit it, Marinette knew how right Tikki was. In the past few years of their partnership, Fu had always went to her for everything. She didn't even know if Cat had a solo meeting with Fu before the tragic moment. 

"Is there a deeper reason as to why you won't tell him?"

Oh, Marinette had a whole list but there was a top reason: Cat Blanc. She was doing her best to prevent him from getting hurt and being akumitized again. She could NOT go through fighting her partner again. Plus as well, there was the fact that he got akumitized when knowing her identity - if he knew now, there was a possibility again. 

And she was not letting that happen. 

She told Tikki, "He'll be hurt. He was supposed to know first. It makes me guilty but I'm very happy that Alya knows. I have someone to talk to."

"But Cat would've done the same, you know?" Marinette just stared at her kwami with confusion. "You and I both know that if you ever told Cat who you are, he'd understand how stressful your life is. It could also strengthen your partnership. I'm not advising you to tell him your identity, but maybe let him in. Tell him how stressed out you are and he'll offer to help you. That's how genuine he is."

Again, Marinette knew how right her kwami was. Telling Cat Noir would probably life a bigger weight off her shoulders. It led Marinette to ask, "Now that I am the guardian, am I technically supposed to know his identity anyway? Master Fu was guardian and knew both of ours."

Tikki smiled, "That's up to you. Reveal when you're ready. We know there were conversations of having your miraculous taken of yous if both of you knew, but that's all changed now."

Her bluebell eyes stared into her mirror whilst she was in the process of putting up her signature ponytails. She had a lot to think about. 'It would be beneficial if we knew. But would he be okay with it? He probably hates me now.'

When arriving at the school doors, Marinette was greeted by being bumped onto the ground by crashing into someone. A familiar voice said, "Oh, Marinette! I'm so sorry!" 

She looked up to see it was the famous model. The two of them hadn't had any time alone since life hit them both hard. Adrien had primarily became more busy with modelling for his father, on top of with Chinese, fencing, piano, and much more. 

"How are you? Nothing broken?" Adrien asked as he pulled her up and inspected her. "I'm all good!" Marinette replied cohesively. The two of them realised that Marinette tended to stutter less around Adrien, which was great progress for her. 

"How are you?" Marinette copied. She had noticed that the model had put on a fake smile, he just wasn't cheerful and radiant like he usually was. "I'm alright. Father has kept me on my toes, it has not been fun."

Then, he hesitantly added, "Me and Kagami broke up."

Marinette had stopped them as they were walking and placed her hand on her heart and conveyed sympathy, "I'm so sorry."

Adrien shrugged, "It just wasn't going to work out. I constantly had to leave and she got mad. I didn't want to have to keep lying to her."

Suddenly, Marinette chuckled. Adrien raised a brow and she replied, "Oh, I'm not laughing at you or anything! It's funny. I had to keep leaving Luka and he got mad. Well, not mad mad. He said he'd wait for me when the time is right."

None of them questioned how coincidental their break-ups were. 

When they had made it to class, Alya had invited Marinette to the movies and then a sleepover. "I know how stressed out you've been with 'stuff' and thought a girls' night would be great!"

Marinette sighed with happiness. "Alya, that sounds fantastic! Thank you!"

Nino chimed in, "Not that I was eavesdropping but how about the four of us go the movies? It's been a hot minute since it's been the four of us. Then you dudettes can have your girls night or whatever, whilst me and my bro hang out afterwards." He looked at Adrien with puppy eyes, "What do you say, buddy?"

"I'll have to check my schedule, but I'm in!"

Marinette and Adrien looked at each other, exchanging loving smiles at each other. Alya and Nino exchanged grins as they read each others minds. 

Operation Adrienette was about to commence.

A/N: basically alya is still a hardcore adrienette shipper, but we'll see her conflict soon ;)