Disclaimer: I own nothing but my ideas and characters

A.N. Hey everyone happy belated 4th of July...enjoy a bonus chapter :)

Thanks as always for reading and reviewing :)

Chapter 8

Marinette clung to Luka as they sped away. She smiled as they reached their cafe and he parked the bike. They climbed off and walked in. He told her to grab a table and he would grab the food and drinks. With a smile she nodded and went to grab a table. He came back a few minutes later with their food and drinks. He sat across from her. She smiled, taking a sip of her drink. They ate in silence.

"Want to know a secret" she asked

"Sure" he smiled

"That building right there across the street. That is our new store" Marinette smiled. His eyes widened in shock at the meaning.

"So you are definitely going to be staying in Paris?" He asked

"Mostly" Marinette smiled, "there may be some travel down the road but this is where I want to be"

"Why?"

"Because this is where you are," she replied. He smiled as he studied her expression.

"We have to go soon but I really want to continue this conversation"

"Well I am all yours after school" she smiled, "but there is something really important we have to talk about"

"That secret you couldn't talk about the last several years?"

"Yes"

"Am I going to know everything?"

"Yes" she smiled

"Huh" he smiled, " we should do a movie night this weekend"

"Sounds like fun" she smiled, "your place?"

"If that is okay with you," he said standing up, "might have to put up with Juleka and Rose though"

"I am good with that," she smiled, taking the hand he offered. The ride back to school was quiet. She clung to him as he drove and he relished in her closeness. They arrived before the bell and took a moment for themselves. He walked her to class when the bell rang. She kissed his cheek before walking in. He headed to his own class lost in thoughts of her. He was waiting outside her classes and walked her to all of her classes. He couldn't get enough of her. When the day finally ended he was leaning against the wall waiting for her. She smiled brightly when she saw him, her eyes lighting up in delight. He waited for her to come to him. He was suddenly hit with how much he still loves her. He was inexplicably drawn to this woman and it frazzled him. He heard her melody playing in his head. And he realized that it had quickly become his favorite melody.

She reached him and before she could say anything he pulled her to him and kissed her. When they finally pulled apart they were both breathless. Her smile knocked him off balance as she looked at him.

Moments later they were on his bike headed to one of her favorite places. He stopped the bike and helped her off. She leaned against him heading to a bench. He sat down and she sat next to him. He watched her look around them before turning to him. "Before you kiss me again or I say fuck it and kiss you we need to talk."

"I know," he smirked as he watched her. She had a look of uneasy concentration and he felt his smile fall as she looked anywhere but at him. He waited, giving her time to decide how to say whatever it was. She finally let an unsatisfied sigh and looked at him

"I wanted to tell you from the beginning but I couldn't. The more time passed the harder it was to say the words" she sighed, "did you read the letter yet?"

"No"

"You should read it when you get home" Marinette said, "in the meantime there is something I need to tell you. Please don't be mad. Okay?"

"Okay" he said,

"Right," Marinette said softly looking around again, "well here goes nothing. I'm Ladybug"

He stared at her in shock before understanding what she was saying. She was twisting her hands in worry.

"You're Ladybug" he said

"Yes"

"Marinette I don't know what to say" he sighed, figuring this was her way of admitting her feelings for Chat Noir...or whoever was behind the mask.

"You don't need to say anything," she said, studying him. She was surprised by his expression. "I think I should go," she said after a while.

"That's probably a good idea," he said. When he didn't say anything she sighed and stood up. She began walking away hoping he would call her back. He didn't. She took one last look before she left. He didn't react to her in any way. She felt the first tear slide down her cheek. She brushed it away before picking up her pace. She ran the rest of the way to the bakery and ran through the doors and directly into her room. She shut the door and collapsed in front of it. "Tikki," she called softly. The kwami was immediately at her side trying to assure her it would be okay. "Could you find Ro?" Marinette asked, her question barely audible. Tikki nodded and left to do just that. She heard his knock but couldn't bring herself to move. She heard Tikki's panicked voice telling him to use the trap door. A few minutes later Ro in his transformation landed next to her. He dropped the transformation and held her as she cried. He grabbed his phone and sent Juleka a message to check on Luka.

"I love him" she cried, clinging to Ro as she cried. "He told me to leave. I told him and told me to leave"

Ro held her as she cried. He heard his phone buzz and checked the message from Juleka.

JC: I got him home. What the hell happened

RO: I have no idea she was hysterical when I got here. Only thing I got out of her was he asked her to leave. I am going to send a message to Adrien and Kagami?

JC:that a question or statement

RO: I don't know

JC:don't worry I will text them

RO: thanks. I have never seen her like this. Let me know if you can get anything from Luka

JC: Any idea what they were talking about?

RO: No they left together after school. Liza text earlier that she saw them kissing

JC: damn what the hell happened

JC: At least it's Friday and they have the weekend to deal

Jordan put his phone away and held Marinette as she cried. Her sobs didn't stop and he just held her, rubbing her back. He heard a gentle knock from the trap door and called out to enter. Seconds later Chat Noir and Ryuka stood before him. They dropped their transformation and joined him holding Marinette. Eventually her sobs died out and she was left on the floor sniffling. He continued to rub her back as all 3 spoke softly to reassure her it was okay. It wasn't long before she was out.

"Adrien, I need you to go check on Luka and keep him from being akumatized. I can watch over Marinette, you better call the older couple and warn them."

"But" Adrien said, "I hate that you are right. Okay Kagami you better go let Master Fu know what has happened"

"Right," Kagami sighed, "is there anything else we can do?"

"See if you can find out what happened. I don't know. Tikki came to find me Nette was hysterical when I got here" Ro sighed, "she was going to tell him about being Ladybug but I have no idea if she did or not"

"Okay I will keep that in mind" Adrien said, transforming and taking off towards Luka's. He arrived in ten minutes and didn't bother releasing his transformation before walking onto the boat. He saw the captain and she remained silent as she pointed where to go. He walked in unsure what he would find. Luka sat on the floor, a guitar placed in his lap. He didn't say a word and just walked in. He stood waiting for Luka to acknowledge him.

"Of course she would call you" Luka spat

"She didn't call me," Chat said, "Jordan did. Tikki found him. He arrived to find her hysterical. Suggested that I keep watch over you. Said he'd protect her"

"She'll get over it" Luka shrugged, " she has everything she wants now"

"I don't understand"

"Dont be stupid Adrien," Luka glared, "everyone knows that she likes you. Hell she's been in love with you for years"

Adrien let out a sigh as he let his transformation go. "Marinette hasn't been in love with me for years, Luka. She met someone else who got her in a way I never could. Someone who tells her what she needs to hear whether she likes it or not. Someone who doesn't want her to change. Someone who accepts her as she is. Luka I can't leave you alone right now but maybe you should read the letter she wrote. While you do that I am going to step over there and call my girlfriend"

"Ladybug" Luka glared,

"Nope my dragon" Adrien smiled happily, "Ladybug is my partner and friend. Marinette is my best friend. Nothing more." Adrien said moving to the other side of the room. He sat in a corner. He sighed as he called Kagami. He talked to her for a bit, giving Luka some space. Luka continued to glare. Finally he sighed and opened a drawer and he pulled the letter out. With a huff he opened it.

Hey Luka,

This is Marinette...but you probably know that already. I tried to call but you didn't answer and I only have 16 hours left in Paris. I was expelled from school again and my parents have decided to send me to stay with a friend in New York. I can't take my phone with me and wanted to make sure you have the new number. I really wish you would answer your phone because I need to hear your voice. Everything is messed up and I miss you and I had things I wanted to tell you but you're not answering and Juleka can't find you.

I am leaving in two hours, Luka and no one knows where you are. I need to explain what you think you saw. I wasn't confessing to Adrien I was practicing to tell you. I love you

I need to tell you something else and you can't tell anyone I am ladybug.

Luka please believe me when I say I love you.

I am leaving in 15 minutes. We still don't know where you are. I just wanted to say I love you before I go. I asked Juleka to deliver this and give you my number. I guess I will know where we stand after you read this.

Goodbye Luka I love you

He sat staring at the letter for a long time before crumpling it up and throwing it in the garbage. Adrien was still on his phone. Luka could hear him quietly asking questions.

"I have to go," Adrien sighed, "Ro is taking Mari to the hospital. Please don't get yourself akumatized while I am gone"