(A/N I had a review on the last chapter say they were surprised Sabine was so accepting of Marinette becoming LB. honestly I'm surprised you're surprised! Tom & Sabine have always seemed like super supportive and lenient parents to me. They once sent her all the way to China on her own just because she wanted to go. I mean it was under the guise of wanting to learn about her history but c'mon, her parents had to have known there was more to that. Lol. On the other hand, I'm surprised you were more surprised about that than about Tom knowing their daughter was alone with a boy and being totally okay about it. But anyway, don't worry, we'll circle back to both those topics eventually. Now back to what you're actually here for…)

Adrien could have sworn Shadowmoth was conspiring against him specifically. Every time he had tried to talk to her this week, as Marinette or as Ladybug, it had to be akuma, akuma, amok, akuma..it was driving him insane. And each battle was harder and harder, leaving then no time to talk after. By the time the Wednesday rolled around again he was nearly falling asleep as he and Nino played a fifth round of mecha strike 3 in Nino's living room.

"Dude, I won again. This can't be right."

"Sorry, Nino. I'm just beat." Adrien set down his controller and Nino shrugged.

"No big deal. I know how it is with you. Always running off to another photo shoot or activity your dad has planned. He really should give you a break some time."

"I wish. I could use a nap. Or ten straight days of sleep." Adrien leaned back against the couch just as someone knocked on the door, catching both boy's attention.

"Got it." Nino called to his mother as he jumped up and went to open the door.

"Hey babe!" Alya leaned in, kissing nino's cheek. "We brought snacks!"

"We?" Adrien sat up just in time to see Marinette slip through the door behind her best friend.

"Hi." She waved at him, her face adorably turning red. "We thought you guys could use some popcorn and candy."

"Absolutely." Adrien smiled at her and Marinette took a deep breath, readying herself, and then marched over to where Adrien sat, joining him on the ground and turning to stare at him for a few moments before she gathered up her courage and placed her lips on his.

"Plus..I missed you."

"I missed you too, M'lady." He kissed her once more, only registering Marinette's tensed body as he pulled back. "What's wrong?" He asked quickly, fear on his features. Had he done something wrong?

"What..what did you call me?"

"M…Marinette. I called you Marinette, didn't I?"

"No. You called me your lady."

"Oh? Did I?" Adrien avoided her gaze as he tried to think of something besides 'sorry I know your identity' "I just thought it was a nice nickname is all."

"But you only call..I mean, Chat Noir calls ladybug that."

"Oh..does he?" Adrien put a hand behind his head, nervously messing his hair. "Weird."

The silence that followed as both teens tried to work out exactly how much the other knew was dealing, like picking up a phone with no dial tone. Until-

"Okay. So that was awkward. Anyway.." Alya began to set up snacks and Nino started pouring drinks as Adrien and Marinette snapped out of their respective stupors.

"So-" They both began at the same time.

"I have to tell you-"

"You first." Marinette acquiesced, assuming his would be something quick so they could move on to hers faster.

"Not here.." Adrien put a hand on her back, leading her towards the restroom.

"Hey lovebirds! No sneaking off to bone. Let's play another round."

"Then we can start planning for the dance Friday!"

"The dance is this Friday? That's two days away!" Marinette squeaked, causing Adrien to groan. At this rate he would never get the chance to talk to her.

"Classic Marinette." Alya laughed, "Always forgetting the important stuff."

"Tell me about it." Marinette murmured, turning to Adrien. "I need to talk with you too, but here isn't the best place. Tomorrow?"

"I have fencing. And Chinese. I'm booked."

"The day of the dance it is."

"I'll be out of school all morning for a photo shoot. I was barely able to swing coming to the dance at all."

"Okay then. The dance."

"The dance." He agreed, holding up his pinky. Marinette giggled, locking pinkies with him and turning back to their friends.

~•••••~

"He can't know who I am…right?"

"I don't know. He called you his lady."

"Do you think it was a slip up? Because he wishes he was with Ladybug instead?"

"Oh hun," Alya hugged her friend as her prepared for the dance Friday evening. "Don't cry. You'll mess up the makeup I worked so hard to perfect. But no, I don't think that was it. It was probably just a habit. Adrien doesn't have a ton of friends..I'm sure in the past couple of years he's spent more time with Ladybug than he has all of us combined. It's just a nickname. And besides, Ladybug is you. You all will work it out."

"I'm telling him I know his identity tonight, at the dance. I'm nervous…but I can't hide it anymore. If he decides he doesn't like me anymore..I'm prepared."

"And then you have to tell him his dad is probably Hawkmoth."

"Trixx! Don't remind her!" Alya scolded quickly, sighing at her kwami. "I'm sorry. I know this is a lot. But I promise it'll be okay."

"I hope you're right, Al."

~•••••~

"Marinette! Adrien is here!" Sabine called, smiling as her daughter emerged, fully dressed for the dance.

"You look beautiful." Tom complimented as Marinette walked to the love struck boy standing at the front door.

"Beautiful? You're perfection. You look astounding. You look exquisite. You look-" Adrien took in the Chat Noir themed dress once again and sighed. "You look Pawsitively Purrfect."

"Thank you, mon chavelier." Marinette mock curtseyed and Adrien laughed, bowing and taking her hand, placing a kiss on her pale flesh.

"May I escort you to the dance?"

"Absolutely." Marinette followed him down the stairs and to the limo, laughing at the situation. "A limo for the dance that's 100 meters that way?"

"Hey, a limo is my ride everyday. Can't complain that it's a overkill now." They were at the school within moments and Adrien led her inside with a hand at the small of her back. "Ready?" He asked mostly to calm his nerves. He had to tell her he knew tonight, he had to.

"As I'll ever be." Marinette gulped, her anxiety skyrocketing as she searched for the perfect moment to destroy his life.