Marinette spent her time after school assisting her parents for a large order of cupcakes. It was already late when they started clearing up.

"Hunny, you could have dinner before your shower, you seem exhausted." Tom suggested after Marinette's belly rumbled. "That'll be great, Thanks Papa."

After dinner, she trudged to her room and immediately striped and got into the shower. After a good while of a hot bath, she dressed in her pyjamas and climbed the loft to sleep. Catnoir would wake her up whenever he came.

Completing the stairs, she saw a little something she was not expecting to be on her bed.

Rose petals. Lots and lots of pink rose petals. The petals were in a pattern and she tried to read the words it spelt.

I love you.

She smiled at the gesture, Catnoir was too much of a romantic most of the time. She just hoped he didn't snoop around her room while she wasn't there. But she trusted him, he wouldn't even try that.

She didn't want to smear the pattern of roses but she had to climb her bed to wait for him at the balcony. She opened the trapdoor to head outside but paused at the sight.

A frantic nervous Cat pacing back and forth with a pink rose in his hand. He didn't seem to notice her intrusion so she stayed still and watched him.

"No, no, this isn't right." He mumbled and stood still tapping his foot in thought then started pacing back and forth again.

He stopped again, "Okay, how about this?"

He took a breath, "Marinette, I love you so much, you can't imagine how much-" He stopped himself. No he couldn't say that. He decided to try again.

"Okay, here we go. Marinette, I have no idea what my life would be if you weren't in it. I'd never want to lose and-"

He sighed again. He couldn't find the perfect words and he paced about again unaware of the bluenette watching him.

After a little struggle, he resolved to taking deep breaths to calm himself. The tension of how the night would turn out just made him an even bigger mess. He thought back to how easily he used to declare his feelings for Ladybug. It was never difficult, he always followed his heart and the words flowed easily.

He took a breath, stood still, closed his eyes tight and imagined Marinette next to him. "Marinette..." He paused, "Ever since I met you, I always knew there was something... something so intriguing about you. Something that I needed. But then I slowly realized, it wasn't just something, I just wanted you. Even when everything seems so bleak, you just smile..." He smiled as the memory of her smile replayed over and over again in his head.

"You just smile and I feel great. I never knew I would love someone as much as I love you. Your warmth, your smile, everything about you is so...so enchanting and it keeps me grounded. You're my anchor, Marinette and the only thing that keeps me going. I love you so much. I d-" He was interrupted by a pair of smaller arms around him.

Her scent immediately filled his nose as she leaned into his back, her arms tightly around him, "I love you too." She whispered and his whole body relaxed in her embrace.

He turned around to cup her cheeks, "Did- Did you hear all that?" Slowly he tucked the short stalk of the rose into her hair so her hair was adorned with the rose.

"Yeah.." She smiled and it was only when he leaned further that he saw her eyes. They were glossed with tears. "That was the most beautiful thing someone has ever said to me." Her voice came out strangled as tears spilled from her eyes.

He wiped them with the pads of his thumb, "I meant every word. You're everything to me."

"You too." And he encased her in a tight embrace, she held on tight to him and cried into his chest. "Please don't cry, Princess, you're starting to worry me."

She withdrew from him, placing her hands at the sides of his face, "I'm just so happy I have you." She whispered and he leaned down to kiss her. Her tears mixed with the taste of her lips making the kiss salty but he didn't mind. He kissed her like it was the last chance he'd ever get to. With every single fibre of his being.

It was a slow sloppy kiss, no rush and neither of them wanted to pull away but running out of air, they had to. He rested his forehead on hers as they tried to catch their breaths.

"Marinette..." He whispered, "I have something to tell you."

She noticed the change in his tone and her heart quickened. It was too obvious that whatever he intended to tell her wasn't going to be good.

"Y-You want to break up?" She tried the worst possible scenerio and sighed in relief when he withdrew in shock, "No, of course not! Never!"

He leaned back and rested his forehead on hers taking calculated breaths trying to find the words to speak. "Then what is it?" She noticed he was finding it difficult, letting out labored breaths.

"Whatever it is, you can tell me, I'll understand." She traced with jawline with her fingers, "It can't be that bad."

"It actually is.." He sighed, "It's really bad."

"I'll understand." She assured him and he shook his head.

"I love you a lot, you know that." He repeated and she nodded.

"And I'll give anything up for you, I never want to lose you." She nodded again. He sighed again, a part of him wanted to be selfish, keep up with their secret relationship and keep his mouth shut. But he couldn't.

"I love you."

"I love you too, kitty. What's wrong? You're scaring me." She searched his eyes for a clue but she could only see the distress in them. He held her hands on his face.

"Marinette, you won't hate me after this, right?" He asked still unsure of the step he was about to take.

"I could never." Her own heart was pounding, anxiety raking her but she didn't want to show it just to show him she was ready for whatever he wanted to say.

But she wasn't. She wasn't ready but she had her fingers crossed. Hoping that it wouldn't change their relationship.

"Princess.." He started shakily, "I've been lying to you. A lot. I just- I want you to know I never meant to. I just love you too much and I can't lose you."

"Whatever it is, it isn't that bad." She tried to smile. He cupped her cheeks, "Just close your eyes."

She looked at him confused at the request for a moment but then clamped her eyes shut. She felt the loss of his warmth as he withdrew from her and her heart rate sped.

He took a few steps from her and took a breath. This was it. It was the moment. The end of all the lies. He slowly removed the ring from his finger and in a flash of green, he was Adrien. He didn't need Plagg interrupting.

"Kitty?" Her voice was shaky. He slowly walked closer to her till he was almost pressed up to her. Her lips curved into a smile sensing his presence. "I was scared you left."

"Never!" And slowly he leaned down and kissed her softly, positioning one hand on her waist and the other moved to the side of her face. And that was when she froze.

The hands touching her we're not gloved. She felt his skin on her face. She stiffened for a moment and stopped kissing back.He withdrew with her unresponsive. "Cat, what-"

"Just open your eyes."

"You're not transformed." She whispered. He didn't reply for a moment, just caressing her cheeks. "Open your eyes."

"I can't know your identity."

"You need to."

"I..I can't... It's too risky. If Shadow moth ever- I.. This is dangerous." She tried to keep her composure. But the fact that Catnoir's bare hands were roaming her face was driving her to a wall. She did want to know.

But there were consequences. She was always so stupid in making decisions when it came to love. And she needed to think this true.

"Princess...you don't understand. You have to know. I can't keep lying to you, I can't.."

And she started getting a strange feeling from his words. "B..but it won't be lying. Its-"

"Do you trust me?" He interrupted and she nodded immediately, "Of course."

"Then just open your eyes."

A beat. Everything was silent for a moment as he watched her brows as they knitted together. The bluenette in deep thoughts. The moment went on.

Up until she let out in a small breath, "Okay."

"Open your eyes." He repeated trying to hide the imminent fear in his voice, mentally preparing himself for whatever reaction she had.

She nodded and slowly reached up in her toes to kiss him. He held her and kissed back. "Okay, I'll open on three." She finally breathed after they pulled back.

"One..." She paused, giving herself time to rethink, "Two.." She stopped as the second thoughts crawled back in. She took a long breath, "Three."

Slowly, steadily she fluttered her eyes open. She shifted her gaze down so she could only see his feet. Orange sneakers. Slowly looking up, she saw blue jeans. She could feel her heart rate quicken, anyone could wear blue jeans and orange sneakers.

But the cologne that filled her nose told no lie. Still she needed to be sure. So she looked up to the white overshirt on the black tee with yellow, green and blue stripes which was oddly specific. Like anyone could wear that.

"Please look at me." He begged and suddenly the voices merged in her head, the faces merged in her head. How did she never notice this.

"It's you, isn't it?" She didn't look up still. "Just look at me." He urged and slowly her eyes shifted upwards.

Those green eyes that had trapped her from the beginning. They stared down at her. And for the moment, she couldn't react.

Adrien couldn't gauge her reaction so he just stared back and after what seemed like forever, he heard her sniffle and sob. Fear raked him but everything stilled the moment she threw herself into his arms. Wrapping her hands around his neck in a tight embrace.

He was shocked but then slowly wrapped his hands around her. She wasn't mad? She wasn't mad. He hugged her even tighter.

"I love you so much, Adrien."

"I love you so so much, Adrien."

He held on tight to her. He couldn't believe it. Everybody was wrong. She wasn't even upset in the slightest. Instead she'd kept repeating how much she loves him.

Marinette withdrew from the hug, her arms still around his neck and locked their gazes. Adrien thought he would cry, she was looking at him like he was her world.

"What are you waiting for to kiss me already?" He blushed at her request but leaned down to kiss her. He held her tight, kissing her with everything he had. He needed to let her know how happy he was to have her, how amazing she was to have forgiven him. And he did.

She stood on her toes and he pushed her closer to him by the waist. She tilted her head back deepening the kiss as they got in an intense lip battle.

Running out of air, they pulled apart. Both completely breathless. They rested her forehead on each other's.

"You have no idea how long I've been itching to hold you without the suit." She giggled softly, not still having caught her lost air, "I actually don't."

"Marinette, You don't know how hard it is. How hard it is to see you eight straight hours in school and not being able to kiss you." He leaned down and kissed her again leaving her flushed as he pulled away.

She sighed breathlessly still letting the whole reveal settle in her mind, "I love you so much. Are you okay with this?" He asked cautiously. He needed to be sure.

"With what?" She looked at him incredulously. "Who I am. Did- Did I disappoint you?" Worry laced his voice.

"Disappoint me? I just realized that I fell in love with the same person twice without even knowing. I'm ecstatic it's you." And he thought he was going to cry. How could she be so perfect? How could everything be so perfect. "This is why you were acting strange yesterday, wasn't it?" She asked.

He smiled, "I'm just so relieved you're happy."

She held him closer, tightening her hold on his neck, "I've been in love with you from the moment you gave me your umbrella at the steps that day. And then I fell in love with you all over again when-" Then she abruptly stopped, her brows creased lightly, "when..." Her grip in his neck loosened.

That's when it hit him. She was so happy about him being Adrien that she hadn't actually considered what had led to her falling for his alter ego. His rejection. He could feel her grip loosening. But he didn't let go. He held her close.

"When ..you..." She shifted her gaze low, "When you rejected me." She muttered in a whisper.

He didn't dare utter a word and let the silence fill the space as he tried to figure out what her next reaction was.

Then slowly, she looked up at him, locking their gazes again. "Why- Why did you do that?" She whispered into the night and he could see her eyes, the glimmer in them dimmed and were replaced by a glint. One that showed dread.