Author's Note:

Wow! Thank you to everyone who has liked and followed this story! It's definitely a motivator for me.

I'm about to hit into the busy season for my job. I had this chapter written, but not very polished. For anyone who wants to read knowing I'll be polishing it up later, the next chapter awaits you below! Otherwise, I will update my author's notes on chapters that have been polished up so feel free to check back in a few weeks.

Any constructive feedback is very welcome!

– Where We Left Off… –

"I love her," older Adrien said quietly.

'Yes, and she's okay now, right?' the younger blonde wanted to shout.

"I didn't get to tell her that before she was gone."

'No…not gone…Marinette couldn't be…gone.'

"She's more incredible than I had ever realized," his older self continued, "and I know how much regard I already had for her. I'm jealous that you'll have her with you...because I would give anything that she would allow me to for just the chance to hold her again."

–Chapter 3 –

Adrien watched his older self nod to something in the distance. He assumed Tikki was giving a signal of some sort about Marinette, but his mind was swimming in too many thoughts and emotions to verify. Before he realized what was happening, he felt himself being pulled around the wall, then watched his older self disappear to the other side.

As a sombered Marinette came back to stand beside him, Adrien could hear the elder blonde call for his transformation. He couldn't imagine what his older self must be going through right now. One look at Marinette's face and he was lost in memories, daydreams, and anxieties…and he had only just HEARD about her leaving his side. The Marinette of his time was still standing right in front of him. She was a bit shaken, if he were being honest, but alive and healthy as ever.

Adrien became caught up in his thoughts, attempting to memorize each of Marinette's features and lock them somewhere safely in his mind. He only realized he was staring at her so intensely when he heard her voice softly call out his name.

"Adrien? Are you okay?" she asked in barely more than a whisper. There was no mistaking her mood. She must have been told about her fate as well.

He watched her eyes grow wider in fear and realized that he was scaring her with his lack of response. But what could he possibly respond with? I thought I loved you before, but now I know that I truly do love you AND I'll lose you way too soon? I'm terrified to speak and acknowledge that our time is both limited and still moving forward? I know we aren't dating, yet, but do you mind if I hug you close to me and never let you go?

Marinette reached a tentative hand out to touch his arm and the contact nearly sent him over the edge. He felt the tears welling up in his eyes and he couldn't stop himself from pulling her into him in a hug that he hoped wasn't making her even more terrified. He felt her body stiffen and made to break away and apologize. Before he could step back, though, her arms linked around him and he could no longer tell who was holding who the strongest.

"Sorry, is this okay?" he heard her ask quietly against his chest.

"This is everything," he breathed out, brushing his face into her hair and letting himself be engulfed by the scent of vanilla and lavender that was so purrfectly his Princess.

He felt her hug tighter for just a moment, then she released her grip and stepped out of his arms. It took everything he had to suppress a whimper at the loss of her touch and her scent. He put on his best attempt at a soft smile and watched as she started to speak.

"Thank you for being such an amazing friend, Adrien. I feel a lot better now."

Friend. Mere months ago, he would have been elated at that declaration. Marinette meant so much to him and he was honored to be her friend. Now, though, the word stung against his heart like a branding iron. Friend didn't even begin to describe what she meant to him. Maybe it never really did. Now the term felt like a cage, locking him just out of reach of the love of his life. Wait - Had she really become the love of his life?

One look at her expectant gaze and he melted.

"I'm glad I could help, Marinette," he said with more happiness in his voice than he believed still existed, "I would gladly do anything for you."

He felt himself genuinely smiling as he watched a bit of happiness return to Marinette's features. She stared at him with adoration. Perhaps it was too early for a declaration of love. Just being able to stand with her and see her smile was warming his heart enough to keep him going for now.

As Future Bug stepped back into view to bid them farewell, his older self's words and tone looped over and over again in Adrien's mind.

'I would give anything that she would allow me to for just the chance to hold her again.'

One glance at his older self's expression sured up any hesitation the younger Agreste had about giving his future self that exact chance. Adrien pretended to turn to shake the elder blonde's hand but tripped over an imaginary object and ended up accidentally pushing Marinette off balance. While he caught his balance, Adrien saw Future Bug instinctively reach out to steady Marinette. When the older blonde met his eyes, Adrien nodded to be clear he had tripped on purpose as he then casually walked toward the other side of the roof. When he glanced over his shoulder, he saw the two gravitating closer to each other and knew his mission was successful.

–Marinette's POV–

As soon as their eyes met, Marinette became lost to a flood of emotions.She knew she was barely holding it together and it looked like her partner was doing the same. He tried to smile, which cracked the last of Marinette's composure and she clinged to the front of his suit and cried into his chest.

"I love you, Mari. My Princess. M'Lady. You don't have to feel the same way. That's okay. I missed the chance to tell you before I couldn't anymore. I'm so sorry. I just needed to tell you now."

Marinette wrapped her arms around him and cuddled closer as she tried to calm them both down.

"Shhh...It's okay, Kitty. I know. I know that you love me. My heart is split in two. I'm the one that's sorry. It's not fair to either of you..."

"None of that, my Princess. And no tears over me. I'll find a way to fix this."

"Kitty, don't you dare do something like sacrificing yourself instead! I already hate when you do that and I am able to bring you back afterward. Please, please don't switch places with me! I couldn't live with myself if -"

"Shhh, mon amour..." Future Bug whispered as he ran his fingers through her hair, absentmindedly pulling out her pigtails and combing through her long hair as it flowed freely down to her shoulders, "I won't make you go through that. I'll find a way to save you without leaving you, I purromise."

She laughed through a sob as she hugged him even close.

"Really, Chaton? Cat puns even when you have my miraculous?"

"This Knight will always be Your Kitten before anything else, M'Lady. You and me against the world, right?"

"You and me against the world. Always," she breathed.

"I need to head off to the mission," he said, gently pulling her away from him.

She nodded her head, trying to gain her composure again and wiped her face onto the inside of her jacket.

As he turned away, she grabbed his hand.

"Kitty?" she asked softly. He turned back to her with a soft smile and she nearly melted on the spot.

"I assume you're planning to wipe our minds once we are done helping you and before putting us back in our timeline."

Future Bug shrugged, "I'm sure we will have to...but then you won't have to carry any of this burden and hopefully it will all be fixed by then."

She nodded her head and summoned all of her courage and determination.

"Then..." she said as she stepped toward him, intertwining their fingers. Future Bug blushed and looked at their hands in awe, "This shouldn't mess up anything that won't be put back afterwards," she said quietly, catching his gaze just in time for him to see her reach up to pull him toward her. Her lips pressed against his and she lost herself once more in a flood of emotions. She felt him gently her closer, and she reveled in the thought that he wanted this as much as she did. At least, she was pretty sure he did. It felt like he did…but he was her partner and he put all his trust in her. She hoped he wasn't just going along with it because he thought it was another convoluted plan of hers.

She gently pulled back from him, needing to make sure she wasn't misunderstanding.

"Was that okay? Sorry I didn't ask first...I got a bit caught up and -"

He put a finger to her lips and put a stop to her spiraling, "You can kiss me any time, M'lady."

He finished his statement with a wink and a burning blaze in his eyes. She saw him start to step away again, but there was no way she was going to let that happen. Not with the need and the fire she was feeling across her body right now.

Before he could turn to leave, Marinette pulled his face back to hers.

–Future Bug's POV–

Whereas the first kiss was sweet and innocent, this kiss was searing and full of desire. With everything he had, he sought to keep control of himself. Control of his mouth, his hands, and all the rest of his body. As she buried her hands into his hair and pressed her body into him, he lost all remaining restraint. She opened her mouth and he deepened the kiss, carefully moving to press her against the wall and pressing his own body against hers in the most gentle way that his desperate mind could manage. His tongue fought hers for dominance, but as he moved his hand under her shirt to caress her lower back, she yielded and moaned into his mouth.

The heat was clouding his senses. He knew he needed to leave, but he couldn't bring himself to end this bliss. He wanted to stay in this moment forever, to stay here with her forever. Forget the world and everyone in it. He finally had her back. He had her in his arms. She was happily, hungrily, and lustfully in his arms. One of her own hands left his hair and moved to the small of his back, urging him to somehow become closer to her, and he lost all remaining sanity. Giving himself over to his lust and passion, he growled in frustration at the restrictions between their bodies. He pushed her harder into the wall as he ground his body into hers. She gasped and moaned in pleasure, grabbing his hair harder to keep him as close to her as possible.

As he moved from her lips to bite at her neck, he felt a sharp pain hit into his side. With a growl, he released Marinette and turned to fight whoever dared to disturb their dream together. His glare was met with a deadly look from his transformed younger self, who stood at the ready to jam the baton back into his ribs again.

Coming out of his clouded thoughts, Future Bug's face reddened with realization of what had occurred. He sent an sheepish and apologetic smile to his younger self, who he now saw was just as red in the face as he was. His younger self retreated to detransform.

A squeak from next to him told him that Marinette had come out of her high as well. He glanced back at her, moving to bring her away from the wall before stepping away and putting his hand behind his neck.

"Sorry, Mari, I lost myself there," he said, then turned back to her, " I hope I didn't hurt you…"

Marinette was redder than he had ever seen her, but she just shook her head and laughed.

"You and me against the world?" she offered, making sure not to step closer to him again.

"You and me against the world, My Princess!" Future Bug said with a bow, taking off before he could make any other decisions.