"Don't your arms hurt? I can walk, you know." She pouted at him and he had a huge smile plastered on his face.

"I'll carry you to the ends of the earth, you know that. How else would you know how much I love you." He held her even closer as he trod through the dark starry night of Paris. She wrapped her hands around his neck and leaned in to kiss him lightly on the cheek.

"You don't need to carry me, I already know how much you love me." She smiled and traced her finger along his jawline. "Well then...it's exercising. You're light weight." She laughed and it filled the space, like a melody. A melody that Catnoir was sure he wanted to listen to forever.

After their night at her balcony, he promised to come back but not the next day. The last thing they would have wanted was for someone to find out he was seeing her.

Adrien tried. He tried his best to resist but couldn't. He needed to see her, he really really needed to see her and so he did. And so he did every other night for the past few weeks. He tried to make his visits late so they were sure not many people in Paris would be awake.

And these times he spent with her were the best of his life but he hated how he had to keep her awake most of the night and it was all because he was too scared to reveal himself to her. He wanted to, he really wanted to because anything it was hard to not kiss her when he saw eight hours straight at school.

Though they would be lovers at midnight, at school, things were awkward between them after his rejection but slowly it turned back to normal. And now they were even closer with Adrien trying his very best to be closer to her.

"You're amazing." He gushed and pulled her closer.

"It's like the tenth time you're saying that tonight." She giggled and he could only stare at her in awe. Why did he wait so long to be with her? "It's because, I mean it."

"I know." She trailed her fingers further along his chin till she slipped them into his hair. She loves those soft curls and she loved to cherish these few moments she had with him.

She always wondered how he'd react if he found out she was his lady who rejected him over and over again. So she decided not to dwell on it and enjoy the present.

"We're here." Catnoir announced as he slowly dropped her to the ground. As soon as her feet hit the ground, she looked around. They were by the Seine river. "Where is here exactly?" She cocked her head to the side, confused and he smiled.

"Well you've always wanted a boyfriend who can hold your hand and walk with you along the Seine?" Then he stretched out his hand to her.

She felt a warmth rush over her instantly. How much more perfect could he get? How could he love her so much? Did she even deserve it? She wrapped him in a hug leaving him stunned.

Slowly he wrapped his arms around her tightly. After a while, they both withdrew, his hands still at her sides and hers around his neck. "Why do you do all this?"

"What?" He asked confused at her question. She smiled, "All these grand gestures."

"I want you to know how much I love you." He placed his hand on the side of her face, his thumb circling her cheek as they locked gazes. "But I already know." She whispered, caught in his gaze.

"Your smile everytime is worth it." Then he leaned down and pressed his lips to hers. He tipped her backwards and she tilted her head to deepen the kiss. When he pulled away, she was out of breath, "I.." She tried to retrieve her lost air.

"I love you." He leaned down and pecked her lips again.

"I love you too." She said breathlessly.

"Say that again." He begged and she smiled, "I love you, kitty."

"Again." Those three words were all he needed. Hearing them from her was what kept him going. Because he knew, the moment she finds out he was the same Adrien who rejected her, he might never hear those words from her again.

"I love you with everything in me." And he was going to use every opportunity he could to hear them and show her just how much he loved her too. "I love you so much." She repeated and he was ecstatic.

"Oh Princess.." He rested his forehead on hers. "What did I do to deserve you?"

Soon they were walking along the river, hands tightly encased in the other's. They let the beautiful silence fill the space before she broke it, "Why do you tell me to keep repeating that I love you all the time? Don't you trust me?" She asked cautiously.

"What?" He stopped in his tracks making her stop too, "Of course I do!"

"Then why?" She looked up at him through her lashes and he could only fawn on how adorable she was.

"It's complicated." He cupped her cheek, stroking with his gloved fingers. "Please tell me." She placed her hand on his on her face, leaning into his touch.

He sighed defeatedly, "I just think..." He paused for a while then continued, "That night you were vulnerable, at your weakest and sometimes...I wonder if that's the reason you said you loved me too. It's just too good to be true."

She stared at him while he kept his gaze down. "We've been dating for weeks now, have I done anything to make you feel I don't love you?" She asked, her tone filled with uncertainty.

"Never." He replied in a breath and she nodded and cupped his cheeks. He looked back to her, locking their gazes. "I love you, Catnoir. I love the way you make me feel. I love to see you smile and hear you laugh. You make me so happy. I want you to understand that nothing... absolutely nothing can change the way I feel about you."

He blinked in surprise at hearing her confession and his chest felt tight. She loved him, how stupid of him to doubt it. She loved him as Adrien and then as his alter ego. How did he get so lucky? "Sure enough now?" She asked and he nodded ecstatic.

She smiled, "I love you, I'm not going to stop, get that into your thick skull, understand?" He laughed and nodded delightedly.

But then his smile disappeared, "What's wrong?" She asked worried.

"What if you knew who I was behind the mask?" He asked unsurely and wary of her response. She smiled and pecked him, "It won't matter what you look like, I already know what your heart is like." She placed both her hands on his chest, "That's all that matters."

"So you'll love me...no matter who I am?" His voice wavered, "I promise you, kitty. I would love you no matter what you turn out to be." And before she could react, he tipped her backwards and captured her lips in a passionate kiss.

She felt tingles and shivers reverberate round her body. She held on tight to him as her legs gave away. He held her up before finally withdrawing. She was breathless when he pulled away as her chest rose up and down unevenly, her cheeks flushed and tinted a rosy red.

"Thank you, Marinette." He hugged her close to him, "Thank you for loving me." And he knew, he had to tell her. She promised she'd love him no matter what. No matter who he was. So he was going to take the chance. But just in case, he'd enjoy tonight completely.

His hands left her side and she almost dropped down again but he held her up. "I'm guessing you can't walk?" He teased and laughed but she could only nod, still too stunned to speak.

He lifted her in his arms again, proud that he could make her that flustered. "Well in that case, this prince knows exactly how to treat his princess." She smiled and cuddled up to him. It might just be his last perfect night with her. Nothing could ruin it.

Like every other day, she tripped into the class and made up another wierd excuse and Adrien stared at her, leaning his face in his palm as he sighed.

Yes, Marinette tripping into the class was adorable and he couldn't get his eyes off her. To his dismay, she had to go to her seat after a wording from the teacher. He had to use all his willpower so he only turned back to stare at her about five times.

"Dude, you really got it bad for her." Nino whispered to him during their free period as he let out another sigh after turning back to stare at her for the umpteenth time. "I know." He mumbled, his pen stuck in his mouth.

"Are you gonna tell her?"

Adrien shrugged, "I guess?"

"Well I should as well warn you beforehand. If Marinette gets hurt in anyway, Alya would probably murder you. Trust me, she's already got it in for you from when you rejected Marinette's feelings. By the way, if you like her, why did you?" Nino moved closer so the girls behind them wouldn't listen on.

"I just..." Adrien sighed again, "It's complicated." He was feeling restless. Being away from Marinette had that effect on him. It made the uneasiness worse as he knew today was the day he'll finally tell who he was.

"Dude, I think you need help."

"No.." Another longer sigh, "I just need Marinette."

"I could help you there." Nino pay his shoulder and turned to the girls who also seemed to be whispering back and forth. "Hey, Marinette. Could you switch with me? There's something I really really need to tell Alya."

"You mean...like yesterday, the day before and every other day for the past week?" Marinette cocked her head in suspicion, narrowing her eyes at Nino who laughed nervously, "Yup! And not at all because I want you to seat next to Adrien. Not in the slightest."

"Yeah... we're super convinced." Alya rolled her eyes at Nino who gulped nervously.

"I'm not switching tomorrow again, got it? I too need my best friend." She playfully huffed and stood from her seat, circling round to the front seat.

Alya's glare followed Nino as he took his things to seat next to her.

"Care to explain?" The brunette tapped her finger impatiently against the desk.

Nino gulped, "Adrien asked me to." He blurted out, his hands in fake surrender.

"Ha!" She whisper-yelled so she was sure Adrien and Marinette wouldn't hear. Not like they would either way, they were already engrossed in their own conversation.

"I knew it!" She hissed. "Adrien totally has the hots for Marinette." She turned Nino's face to the front to look at their best friends sitting in front of them.

Marinette was laughing about something and Adrien propped his face on his elbow staring intently at her side profile, his gaze following her every move and a lovesick smile on his face. "I mean, look at him." Alya continued gesturing to the blonde. "He's literally almost drooling."

Nino rubbed the back of his head, "Yeah... about that..." Alya narrowed her eyes at him as he started, "Adrien kinda admitted that to me."

"What‽" She hissed still in a whisper, "And when exactly were you planning on telling me?" Nino waved his hands in defense, "Soon?"

Alya sighed in exasperation, pinching the bridge of her nose, "Well I have to give that sunshine boy a warning."

Class ended soon. Marinette spending the rest of the day sitting with him. She had to admit, she loved spending time with him and all to show that they were just destined to be friends and nothing more. In a way, his rejection was good, cuz she'd have kept pinning on him while Catnoir, her Prince, her one true love would be out there.

Now they were running out of the locker room hand in hand after escaping Lila who was unfortunately paired with Adrien for a presentation during their last period.

They both giggled as they headed towards the entrance before stopping at the steps. Marinette's hand still tightly encased in his. She didn't seem to notice as she giggled so he made no attempt to let go.

"Lila's expression. Priceless." She said breathlessly before Alya and Nino approached them. Alya immediately caught sight of their entwined hands.

She cleared her throat getting their attention and stared daggers at their entwined hands. That was when she realized and tugged at his grip.

"Sorry." He muttered and let go while she brushed it off saying it was okay.

A while past and Marinette spoke up, "So I'll be going now, I've got stuff to do."

"I could walk you home. My bodyguard's not here yet." Adrien pitched in immediately but she nodded in negation. "You don't need to, Adrien, I live just across."

"I just-"

"Don't worry, Adrien. Her legs are in good working conditions." Alya frowned interrupting him then turned to the bluenette, "Aren't they?"

Marinette giggled and nodded, "The best."

And with that she left waving them goodbye. Adrien waved back and stared at her till she was out of sight.

A clearing of throat got his attention, "Pretty boy." The said blonde gulped, "We need to talk."

She poked his chest. "I know what you're up to." Another poke, "And don't you dare play dumb with me."

Adrien backed away but she stepped closer, "It depends on what you're talking about." He barely finished talking before she poked him again.

"You know what I'm talking about. Things don't walk that way, you can't just reject someone and then come up all over them falling in love overnight." Adrien immediately turned to him giving him the 'traitor' look.

Nino raises his hands in surrender, "I didn't tell her. She figured it all on her own."

Another exasperating sigh left the brunette's lips, "Life doesn't work that way, Adrien. You should know that. Marinette has feelings and you have no right to play with her feelings like that."

He was almost certain he had gotten a bruise as she kept poking him, the harder she got with each sentence. "But I'm not playing with her feelings. I'm really in love with her, I swear."

Somehow hearing Adrien say that took Alya aback for a second but then she frowned again. "Just shut it. I watched Marinette suffer just because of you. I saw her cry, I knew all the sacrifices she had to make just because she was in love with you." She poked him impossibly harder.

"And then you out right reject her feelings, cause her even more pain and now...you're suddenly in love with her?" Alya raised her voice lightly and Nino tried to calm her but failed continuously.

"Isn't that a good thing?"

"Of course not!" She almost barked at him. She pinched the bridge of her nose. "Listen to me, Adrien, if you really love Marinette as much as you say you do, then let her go. Cuz you're sure gon' lose her friendship too if she finds out."

"But-"

"Am I clear?" She sneered at him and he nodded but raised his hand to object. She smacked it down, "Am I clear?" And when he nodded, she smiled at him and placed a hand on his shoulder, "Bye, Adrien." And she pulled Nino with her to leave.

He finally let out a breath he was holding and sighed.

"Seems like your plans to tell her tonight are ruined." Plagg poked his head out of his jacket.

Adrien shook his head, "No way! I'm still going to tell her."

"Did you not hear a word the girl said?" The black Kwami deadpanned trying to keep his voice low. "It doesn't matter what Alya says, I'm going to tell her."

"Besides she promised me she'll love me no matter who I am."

"Yeah cuz she had no idea you were the same boy who broke her heart and then came to her balcony and told her you were in love with her." Plagg tried to talk some sense into the blonde but he only shook his head, "She wouldn't break her promise, Plagg. She wouldn't."

And his car pulled up on the curb. The conversation was over as he had to go. "Just don't come crying to me when she does." Plagg hid back in his jacket but still Adrien was adamant.

Marinette fell in love with him twice... nothing could possibly change her feelings. She wouldn't break her promise. And with that resolve, he had a lot to set up for the night.