Chapter 1: What Could Be At Sunset

It's been 3 years since Hawk Moth first showed signs of his arrival. 3 years of the Ladybug and Chat Noir's miraculous being activated.(and 5 years of fans being tortured for more) 3 years.

For Ladybug 3 years isn't enough. 3 years is too much. All she wanted was to live a normal life but a pair of earrings changed everything. Is it normal for a high school girl to go out and fight supervillains? Is it normal for a high-school girl to hold the most powerful piece of jewelry in the history of the world? Is it normal for a high-school girl to hold the most responsibility anyone could have ever faced? Well for Marinette dupain-cheng it's very normal.

Ladybug and her partner were sitting on a roof looking over at the sunset. Ladybug had something on her mind like she always did. Something telling her that 3 years is too much, something telling her that 3 years is also just right. Every night's the same thing, going out as ladybug on patrol looking at the sunset and then coming home and being faced with all the questions. Sometimes it's too much but sometimes it was just right.

"What do you have on your mind M'lady?" Her dashingly brave partner asked.

"Nothing." She lied. She tried to get the questions out of her mind but every night it's harder and harder.

"I know it's something. Tell me. You can trust me." Chat Noir was always a trustworthy person, at least in ladybug's case. She wanted to tell him everything but knew that some things had to be kept secret. It's always hard for her living a double life but there's always that one person that could help her. Even though somethings had to be kept secret she still told him everything.

"I know I can trust you Kitty. It's just..." She trailed off. The questions rolled in her mind and she couldn't answer them which scared her. She knew Chat could answer them, but could he?

"Just?" Chat said patiently.

"It's been three if we never defeat him? We're not even close to finding out who he is. I don't know. To me, it feels hopeless." This was only one of the many questions rolling in her mind. It's only one she could ask, and the only one she knew Chat could answer.

"We were once, during Heroes day and again when there was the fake ladybug." Chat said. Ladybug could tell that he was trying to convince her but she didn't feel convinced.

"That was three years ago, Chat. We barely see him anymore. We have no clues. We have nothing." To her this is an answer. She hated it but to her it was the only logical one.

"We have powers, allies, each other. We're Ladybug and Chat Noir, crime fighting duo. Paris' guardians. It's you and me against the world, M'lady. We will win this war."

Ladybug looked into his eyes and asked, "War always has casualties. You were almost one multiple times."

"You can fix anything, do anything. You saved my life every time." Ladybug tensed a bit. Almost every time. Ladybug thought to herself. "We do the impossible. We will win, I have hope." Ladybug smiled at the answer to her question. She knew Chat could answer it. As hopeless as she thinks things seem to be, she had one beacon of hope. Chat Noir was that beacon. That one thing that keeps her fighting.

There was once when she wanted to give up. Chat Blanc. Seeing her partner like that almost broke her. She knew in her heart that she loved him and she hoped that they would find each other again. She still had nightmares and she still had a scare on her heart. One of the casualties that cannot be fixed.

"Thank you." She said in almost a whisper. The sun had almost fully set but that red glimmer made her eyes glow. She looked at Chat and she could tell that he was lost in her gaze. It gives her another question that needs to be answered.

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Chat was lost. He was lost in his Lady's gaze. The red glimmer of the sun's last rays made Ladybug's eyes glow. They were beautiful. He had the urge to lean in for a kiss but shook his head and regained focus.

"I need to go." He said. He got up and he was ready to jump away. He didn't want to leave though. He loves being at Ladybug's side. He wished he could be with her all the time. He frowned and was about to jump home when he heard the voice that he loved hearing.

"Chat?" Ladybug's voice made Chat smile. He turned around and stared at her. She was facing away from the setting sun but the final glow surrounded her. It looked like she was glowing.

"Yeah?" He asked. His smile grew wider with every second he stared at her.

"Do you still love me?" She asked. He thought it was a stupid question but, it was still a question he could answer.

"How could I not?" He made his smile a bit bigger and turned. He went home but knew deep down, his home was with her.

Xxxxxxxxxxx

The night before was a night to remember in Marinette's case. She and Chat decided for a day off. For all the questions in her mind, she decided to take a walk. The sky was red with pink clouds and was beautiful.

As she stared at it, she walked into a beautiful blonde. After 2 years, she could finally speak to Adrien without stuttering. She wondered what the blonde was doing out of his house. The fortress that he barely leaves. It's not like he has choice though.

"Adrien?" She said. She was still trying to answer the new and current in her mind. It was clearly the fact that he snuck out like when his bodyguard got akumatized.

"Marinette? Oh, sorry. I was looking at the sky." Adrien said, apologizing for bumping into her.

"No, I'm sorry. It's my fault. I was also staring at the sky. It's beautiful isn't it?" She said, tilting her head up for another look.

"It is. What are you doing out?" He asked.

"Funny, I was wondering the same thing about you." The statement slipped off her tongue. One more question off her mind she guessed.

"I snuck out. I was getting tired of seeing the sunset from my window." He said. His head turned and he saw the same thing Marinette did. They heard Andre, the sweethearts ice cream man. They were close to the Eiffel Tower so that's where they went.

"Andre's ice cream. It's magical isn't it?" Marinette said. She didn't know if Adrien had ever had it. She then remembered when she let Kagami share ice cream with Adrien.

"Yes it is, as long as you believe." Adrien's words sunk in. Of course she believed, she's Ladybug. She has magical earrings. She believed in magic, and finding her true love.

Sometimes she actually felt like she found him. It was in Chat Noir that she felt like her other half was.

"I believe in magic. I also believe in ice cream and there's some 10 feet away that we could have." She heard Adrien chuckle and they ran over to get in line.

When they reached the front, Andre's eyes lit up. "What do I see before me? A cute couple it's true. Young Adrien and Marinette too." He sang. Marinette always wanted to hear those words but now, she didn't know.

"We aren't actually…" Adrien was cut off as Andre put a hand out stopping him.

"No, I see the love in your hearts. Peach and a blackberry. An interesting combo it's true, but it works for you two." Adrien and Marinette locked eyes and shrugged. Andre Andre handed Marinette the ice cream. Adrien offered the money but Andre simply said it was in the house.

"I know we aren't a couple but, it would be rude to refuse." Marinette said. Here are more questions that could be answered at that moment. Could it be? Could this be the dream come true that Marinette had since Adrien fist explained the gum incident? They were all answered when Adrien took a bite of the ice cream.

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He never expected to have Andre's ice cream with anyone but Ladybug until Marinette, Adrien and Kagami ran away from Chloe's parents' anniversary. Now, he had ice cream with Kagami and Marinette. There was something with Marinette that seemed familiar. He felt something different with Mari then he did with the rest of his friends. Some sort of, conection. The only other person he feels the same connection with was Ladybug.

He shrugged it off and the day bled into night. "I should go." He said as they finished the ice cream.

"Adrien?" The familiar voice of his friend called out to him. It kind of sounded like Ladybug's. He noticed a lot of similarities over the years but, there was always something that extinguished the idea of Marinette and Ladybug being the same person. A really big one was that Marinette was Multi-mouse. He turned back to look at Mari.

"Yeah?" He said. His voice was similar to the voice he used on Ladybug the night before.

"Do you like me?" Adrien was stunned as the question sunk in. He smiled and looked at her.

"You're a really great friend Marinette. I couldn't think of you as anything more."

Xxxxxxxxxxx

Marinette wasn't thinking but when she called his name, she couldn't stop herself. "Do you like me?" The question rolled off her tongue. She never expected to ask hi that question but then again, she never expected to be Ladybug.

He smiled as he answered saying, "You're a really great friend Marinette. I couldn't think of you as anything more." He turned and walked away.

She felt her mouth curve into a smile. Right now, that's all she could ask for.

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A/N: Can we please just assume that when Ladybug thought "almost every time" that that was Chat Blanc.

Grazie :)

Grazie=thank you