Hello, everyone! I want to apologise for taking so long to update - almost a month; that's crazy! I won't get into details about why I stopped updating because you don't care about my personal life, haha, but I just felt like taking a break because I didn't feel good about myself - I focused on reading and just trying to get in a better place mentally. Did I succeed? I guess so, since I am now updatng.:)

I've also watched the new episodes + the Shanghai special, so warning that all the chapters will include from now on spoilers from the episodes from S4. :)

Anyway, enjoy. :)

Chapter VII: Piano

"Little kitty on a roof, all alone without his lady," Chat hummed as he waited for Ladybug. He chuckled a bit as he remembered the time he came up with this little song; so young, so in love with Ladybug - not that now he wasn't crazy about his lady.

He had lost hope a long time ago; he knew it was very unlike for Ladybug to ever love him more than just her friend, her partner. Yet, Chat Noir couldn't help but wonder if he was ever going to get over Ladybug. It's been years, and it seems like he loved her more and more each time he saw her.

"Are you still singing this?" The chuckle made Chat Noir look over his shoulder and smile, softly. Ladybug returned his smile and sat next to him.

"What can I say? One of my favourite songs." He grinned and Ladybug laughed, shaking her head.

He noticed how much more comfortable Ladybug got around him; she loosened up a lot, she wasn't as stiff as she used to be. She didn't pick up on his jokes anymore either - after she confessed years ago she actually loved his humour, the girl didn't try to deny it and went along with his puns, no matter how bad they were.

Chat knew she was like this because he stopped flirting with her - at least now. Because there was a time when he used to think this was her finally falling for him.

Unfortunately, no.

Ladybug stretched her long legs and smiled. "You're quite happy today, kitty."

How can I not be when you are here with me?

Chat held back from saying this. Instead, he shrugged. "Saw a friend earlier." He answered and smiled a bit; it was not a complete lie, after all. Seeing Marinette made him happy for real.

The blonde noticed something in Ladybug's face; he couldn't tell what, yet it seemed like her blue eye lit a bit at the sound of this.

No, he was probably imagining it.

"That's really sweet. I get how you feel," Ladybug started, looking up at the sky. "because there is this friend of mine that visits me almost every day. And no matter how sad, bored or stressed I am feeling, he always manages to make me cheerful. And when I am happy, he makes me happier."

The hero felt slightly jealous hearing the way she talked about that friend of hers; he noted how her whole face brightened at the thought of her friend. If only he could be that boy friend of hers - to make her feel this way. Yet, he smiled at her, and it was a genuine smile - because, no matter how jealous he felt at that moment, Ladybug happiness was important to him - even if it was not him that made her this way.

"I feel the same way with her," Chat found himself talking, smiling at the thought of Marinette a bit. "She is one of my closest friends...if not the closest." And it was true.

Ladybug looked puzzled, "Oh, really?"

"Yeah...I can be my true self with her, you know? Like...she does not judge me for my true self, for my puns - even though she tries to play it off as she hates them," he chuckled and Ladybug did the same. He leaned back on his hands, staring at the sky. "In my civilian form, everyone sees me as perfect. They don't see this side you are seeing...or that she is seeing." He shrugged a bit, "this clown side, as my ex-girlfriend called it when I acted like Chat Noir when I was not transformed." He turned his head to look at Ladybug. He frowned a bit at the look on her face.

She seemed...touched? He could swear he saw tears in her eyes.

Ladybug shook her head a bit. Without saying a word, she leaned to hug Chat. He was a bit taken aback, but his hands wrapped around her petite body immediately. "Thank you, Chat!"

The blonde hero frowned, now more confused than before. "Oh? For?"

He felt Ladybug freeze a bit in his arms, but then relax. "For...telling me this about you; opening up."

Chat blushed a bit and rested his head against hers, his arms tightening around the love of his life.

.~.~.~.

Marinette hummed along the melody filling the creation room as she doodled into her sketchbook. Every Wednesday, her class had a 2-hour break, and most of them -except for Chloé, Sabrina and Lila - went there to relax; either chatting, or doing one of their hobbies. However, that day the only ones there were Marinette and Adrien, the rest going to watch some documentary in the library about Ladybug and Chat Noir. None of them were really in the mood to sit and watch another documentary - that was mostly inaccurate - about their alter egos. So they came up with excuses not to join their classmates in the library.

And there they were: Marinette was working on some design while Adrien was playing the piano. It wasn't the first time they ended up alone there, in fact. Each time, Marinette felt awkward and tried her best not to say something stupid. And she succeeded - somehow. Yet today she was too deep in thought to actually focus on the fact that she was all alone with the love of her life.

She couldn't shake off how she felt after Chat's confession last night. She was so touched to hear it; that he could be his true self with her in her civilian form as well, that he considered her one of his closest friends. Marinette felt horrible thinking he had to pretend when he was not in his hero form - she could now see why he was so happy every time he was Chat Noir; because it gave him the freedom of being who he truly was.

For her, it was the opposite.

As much as she loved being Ladybug and the guardian now, years ago she had so many breakdowns when she felt like Ladybug took away her freedom; when she felt like she was not good enough. She still had those moments, yet the girl learnt how to get over quicker and how to balance things better in her life.

Marinette snapped out of her thoughts at the sound of a loud swear. She looked from her sketchbook with one eyebrow raised, a small smirk appearing. "My Lord, that was some profanity." She teased with a chuckle.

Adrien rubbed the back of his head, his cheeks slightly flushed, yet he gave her a soft smile. "Sorry."

"I was just teasing." She smiled back, "What happened?"

"Just messed up some things here." He sighed as he looked at the piano. "And you'd think with the constant practice my father is forcing me to have I'd be better."

If only you actually practised instead of sneaking out as Chat Noir.

Adrien forced back the thoughts and shook his head a bit.

Marinette frowned slightly. "What? Come on, Adrien, you are a great pianist!" She got up from her seat and walked to sit next to him. She blushed a bit, but continued talking, "It happens to make mistakes." Marinette smiled, hesitantly placing a hand on his shoulder.

Adrien looked a bit surprised; he wasn't exactly used to Marinette touching him - at least when he was in his civilian form. Yet, the blonde smiled, his face softening.

Marinette noticed the change in his features and blushed more. She felt the urge to pull her hand off his shoulder, but she didn't do it. "You know, I've always wanted to be able to play an instrument," Marinette started, looking over the piano, "but I've never been inclined to this. Luka tried to teach me how to play guitar, even after we broke up, yet his attempts failed." She laughed.

Adrien joined her. He was truly happy that Marinette and Luka actually stayed friends; he kind of wished things would have been this smooth with Kagami. Although their breakup was slightly messier than Marinette's and Luka's.

The blonde smirked a bit, "Do you want me to teach you how to play the piano?" He watched her blue orbs widen in surprise, so he continued, "I think it's easier than guitar. And I am sure you'll pick up some basic notes quickly."

Marinette's cheeks were all flushed. "I-" She looked away for a couple of moments, then back at Adrien. She was still blushing, yet she seemed more relaxed now. "Sure, if you want to."

The model nodded and started explaining to Marinette the basic notions. He showed her a couple of notes, then asked her to do the same. He wasn't surprised when she picked up almost everything he said. But there were still things not done correctly.

That's why he moved closer, with one arm going around her as he placed both hands over hers. "Here, don't be this rough." He muttered as his long fingers guided her.

Yet, for the first time, Adrien felt an odd tingle all over his body, raising the hairs on his arms. Marinette was between his arms, her back slightly brushing his body; he could feel his cheeks slightly turning red; thank God, Marinette was not looking at him. He kept his hands over hers, however, helping her practice.

She did not say a word, but Marinette felt like she'd pass away any moment now. After all, she was between Adrien's arms. She knew that if she were to talk, she'd mess things up by saying something stupid; that's why the bluenette kept her mouth shut, focusing on his fingers that gracefully guided hers over the keyboards. Sure, those were just basic notes, yet Marinette smiled at the melody that filled the room.

"That's nice." She finally muttered and turned to look at Adrien.

Big mistake.

His green eyes stared into her blue ones - and she could swear she had seen this look before, it was so familiar...but not for Adrien.

Adrien smiled a bit at Marinette and nodded. "Yes, nice." He murmured and finally moved his arms away from hers. He ignored the part in his mind that told him to wrap his arms back around her, and cleared his throat. "Can you sing it for me now without my help?" Adrien asked softly.

Marinette was still flushed as she nodded. She took a deep breath. "Focus, Marinette." She said to herself as she started running her fingers as gracefully as she could over the notes; just like Adrien showed her.

The blonde watched her with a wide grin on his face the whole time. "Very well, Marinette. You're a natural. A couple more lessons and you'll be as good as me," He stopped for a moment, hesitating, then continued, "although it's going to be hard to be as good as me, given how awesome I am."

Adrien was curious to see how Marinette would react to this, to him slightly cracking his perfect exterior to make a joke only Chat would.

She was clearly surprised to hear him say this.

Then, she laughed. And Adrien could tell it was not some fake laugh to make him not feel awkward.

It was a genuine laugh that made her face slightly red and her head fall back. "Yeah, we'll see about that, Agreste." Marinette teased back, still laughing.

In that moment, he knew he was right about Marinette.

She truly was his closest friend.

Sorry if it's not the longest chapter, but I have a super cute chapter (at least for me) prepared after so yeah.

And I know it may take a while for Marichat to really happen in my story, because I find it quite unrealistic to have them in love with other people (still themselves but hey they don't know it) and after two chapters boom Marichat happens. After all, it's hard to get over someone you've loved for years this quickly. Which is why there will still be Ladynoir and Adrinette moments before the romantic Marichat. It's just how I want to make it.:) I really like slow burns so...hope you like them too.:)

Anyway, excuse any mistakes. I will correct them soon.:)

Thank you for your support. If you want to review your thoughts on this, I'd be grateful.:)

See you soon with a new chapter! xx