I'd just gotten changed into my fluffy pink pyjamas after a long bath. You'd think that'd help with all the stress but nope. It just gave me more time to think about things and worry more. I still felt like a miserable wreck exiting the bathroom. Tikki had been reading something off by the fire, nibbling on a cookie by then. Her cute head perked up at my arrival, me flashing her a sullen grin.

"Feeling better?" "No, but it's ok. I'm sure I'll…. figure something out." "I have total faith in you, Marinette," she set down her book, flying up a bit. My grin grew for real this time. "Thanks, Tikki. I'm glad you're here." "Me too. Now let's get some sleep! You've got a big day tomorrow." "Alright. I'm gonna set my alarm for tomorrow morning. Oh! I forget to check if all the hall lights are out." "On it!" with that Tikki flew out through the door. I waited a minute, standing there to stare off where she'd disappeared to. Unconsciously so, my arms wrapped around myself in a hug. My lips opened a sliver. Funny. I'm living with more people than I ever have before…. And I feel more alone now than ever.

"Have I ever told you how adorable you look in pyjamas?"

"Cat Noir!" I gasped in horror, a little too loudly too I might add. My feet darted around to reveal him coming in through the open balcony door. "Evening, milady," he stood there with all his typical cockiness and ease. Usually seeing him show up like this would be the highlight of my day but this was dangerous territory for him to be roaming around in. What if someone caught us?! It wasn't just me and my parents anymore- there were who knows how many living under this roof! Oh, god! What if Mr. Agreste decides to check on his new daughter-in-law?! This can't be happening right now!

While I stood there in absolute terror, Cat Noir strutted to the enter of the room. With his hands casually on his hips, he glanced around and gave a whistle. "Sweet digs. Very fancy. You like it, right?" "I liked my old room just fine," I sighed to myself bitterly. "But look! This room has a view of the garden- with roses. Sure beats the view of your old place." I shot him a pleading expression, hastily grabbing onto his arm with both hands. "Cat Noir, you have to leave, now!" I tried my very best to keep my voice down so not to alert anyone who might be outside. He blinked at me perplexed. "But I just got here?" "Sweetie, this is too dangerous! What if somebody catches us?!" He waved one hand flippantly in the air and rolled his eyes. "Nah, we're safe. I didn't see any lights on in the hallway outside. Besides, I know you've been longing to see me all day," his grin couldn't have been cockier. This did NOT make me feel better about the situation.

"I'm serious; you can't be here! What if Adrien comes back?!" I frantically asked, still whispering. "Adrien? That you're new fiancé?" "Cat Noir!" "Relax; it's all good. I um….. I saw him go to bed right before I landed on your balcony. Nice balcony, by the way; very romantic. We could be just like Romeo and Juliet," he grinned. "We ARE just like Romeo and Juliet," I shook my head, trying to not submit to his charm. Stay strong, Marinette! You can do it!

It literally helped nothing when he purred in that overly seductive way of his. "Mmmmmm, that's so hot. I can't wait to serenade you later." "We're supposed to be broken up, remember?" I rolled my eyes. "I never agreed to that," he smirked, shutting his eyes for a second and waiting back out into the room a way. Against every fibre of my being screaming for him to stay, I knew I had to get him the hell out of here and fast.

"Cat Noir, please. You don't know Mr. Agreste; he would go nuclear if he discovered that you were in my room." "We've known each other for ten years and no one's ever caught us… Well, except that one time… And that other time. But that only happened two times!" "That's the not point. Things are different now; I live in a whole new house with a bunch of strangers," I stepped up to him. "Your parents are here with you," he countered unproductively. "Again, not the point! How'd you even find me here?" "Oh, it wasn't hard. There's nowhere you can hide from me, milady," he grinned mischievously, pressing the tip of his forefinger under my chin. I blushed. Even after nine years of constant dating, he still brought out that fourteen-year-old schoolgirl in me. Effortlessly so too.

After a minute, Cat Noir pulled his hand away to rest back on his hip. "Don't worry, baby. I won't let anyone find me here." I had to sigh, more so to steady myself. My eyes closed briefly. "You're not even supposed to be here. We broke up." Only then did he frown. "Would you stop saying that? We are NOT broken up. I'm never breaking up with you." "But honey, I'm going to be another man's wife. And as I recall, this cat doesn't like to share," my eyes slowly fluttered back open to meet his emerald green ones. They were a lot more laid back than mine presently.

His shoulder nonchalantly shrugged again. "Eh, Adrien seems like a pretty chill dude." "How do you know that?!" "Oh! I uh… I've seen him around. I live in this part of the city too, so we've crossed paths every so often, you know." My eyes narrowed onto him suspiciously. "Do you…. know Adrien?" "Only from the posters and magazine profiles. We've never met… in person." "Mmmmm, I thought not. Adrien's dad seems super controlling; the kind that doesn't like his son having too many outside friends. I can't imagine what it must have been like to grow up with a father like that. I kinda feel bad for him," I gazed downward. Cat Noir didn't say anything in response to this, but I caught the sincere expression he momentarily held.

A pause transpired between us, only broken when my eyes drifted back over toward Cat Noir. I looked at him and was unable to stop myself from smiling… He's still the most gorgeous man I've ever seen. Even all these years later, he never failed to take my breath away. Better enjoy this while it lasts. Cat Noir caught me staring at him; his eyes widened a tad, then lowered onto me. Of course, he grinned back my way. "So what do you think of Adrien? Pretty handsome, eh?"

Well that's a mood-killer. "Why are you asking me that?!" My back arched up defensively. So did his, more reactionary though. "Well he is an international supermodel," he rubbed the back of his neck. "Seriously, Cat Noir?" I pinched the bridge of my nose with my fingers. "Hey, you could have done worse. At least he's easy on the eyes." "Sweetie, please!" My fingers pinched harder.

"I'm just sayin'. Wouldn't it be easier on you if you at least tried to be friends with Adrien? You know, get to know him? I wouldn't consider it cheating if you did," he grinned. "You?! You get jealous when I pet other cats." "Hey! That tabby was getting a little too friendly with you," his forefinger pointed out. "If you think he's friendly, you should see Adrien," I rolled my eyes. "U-Uh, b-but Adrien's different! Seriously, babe. It'll drive me crazy if I know you're living with someone you hate. So do us both a favour and try to get along, ok?" "Really, Cat Noir?!" I shot him another look. He flashed me a brilliant, arrogant leer, slanting his upper body to the side. "Do I need to send Plagg to check on you?" His eyebrow teasingly cocked, crossing his arms in a victory pose. "Oh, please don't. What if Adrien sees him?" "No one's caught him these past nine years. Besides, this is a huge mansion; there's lots of places for him to hide…. Him and me," he winked in my direction.

I watched him, letting my face fall on its own accord. My head shook as I approached him again. There we stood in the centre of the room, facing one another. Yet again, I was unable to look him straight in the eye, already feeling this cold iron bar coil around my heart. This- this right here- would be the hardest thing I'd ever have to do. Forget writing a dissertation or getting married to a complete stranger. Without Cat Noir I'm incomplete, and I guess I'm just going to have to get used to living only partially going forward. I sucked in a deep breath, trying my best not to burst out into tears.

"Cat Noir, you need to go. I can't keep doing this to you. It's not fair to you….. This is not fair to you," I repeated with emphasis. He huffed and rolled his eyes. "Marin-…" But I interjected before he was able to say more. "I'm serious; this isn't about me. It's never been about me. It's about you… It's always been about you for me. You were my first everything; you are my everything, and it would be so incredibly selfish for me to ask you to stay…. knowing that you deserve better. More than anything else, I want you to be happy… So supremely happy."

There was another lull here. "But it'll break your heart if I ever left you," he admitted half-whispering. I nodded in agreement. "Yes, but that's my cross to bear. I want at least one of us to have a chance at real happiness… again." "M-Marinette?" He stuttered. My lips released a defeated sigh. "My future's laid in front of me, my love. But you…." I paused here so my hand could reach up to press into his cheek. The material from his eye mask tickled the tops of my fingers. My sadden smile deepened ever so lightly. "But you are free to go and make the life you want for yourself. How can I ever expect you to truly be happy with me…. knowing that I legally belong to someone else? You are free, unlike me….

Please use that freedom to forget about me and go live your happiest life…. The life you rightly deserve."

He didn't say anything for a very long minute. Then- to my utter bewilderment- he smiled. He's smiling?! Now, of all times? "No way," he swiftly proceeded to scoop me up in both arms. He spun us both around playfully in the centre of the room. Then he carried me over to the bed, still holding me princess-style. With one hand he let me go to pull back the pink covers. He set me down in the bed and covered me with the blanket, standing right next to me as he did so. This gigantic smile wouldn't leave his lush lips as he did so. Once I was all tugged in, he brought his hand up to my face to gently stroke one of my cheeks with the back of his fingers.

"You're perfect." "Cat Noir….." I started but he stopped me by bringing his finger down to my lips. "Shhhhhh. I mean it: you are perfect, sweetheart. Nobody's ever going to love me more than you do, and the same goes for me. Sure, I might have to "share", but that's a hell of a lot better than losing you completely. I'll never be happier than I am now here with you- Adrien or no Adrien." "Cat Noir," a single teardrop rolled down my cheek. He grinned, wiping it away with his thumb. "You don't seem to be getting the memo, so I'll say it again. I'm not going anywhere; you may not belong exclusively to me anymore, but I wholly and completely belong to you. I'm yours, Marinette… I'm all yours, baby mine." "Dearest…." My lips trembled uncontrollably. He chuckled, softly closing his eyes. His gorgeous head gave the smallest shake ever. "Darling, you are perfect. Perfect and precious….

You are so precious to me."

This man; this man whom I adore more than anyone else in the world….. "I love you, Cat Noir. You are incredibly easy to love…." My palm stretched up so to rest against his cheek again. His hand lifted up to pressed on the back of it. "I love you too. So close those beautiful eyes of yours and rest easy. I'm here- I'll always be here for you, Marinette. I'll never let you out of my sight…. Never." "Cat Noir," my eyes lowered ever so lovingly. God, how did I get so lucky with him? Meeting him was the real lottery I won. He's precious to me too…. And the best thing to ever happen to me.

He brought back both our hands, still clasping onto each other, down onto the bed. His eyes shown down onto me, glowing their lovely green shade. "Think you'll be able to sleep in here ok tonight?" "Mmmmmm, I don't know. It's always hard for me to fall asleep in a new bed," I replied with a small, tired grin. He considered it a minute, then relaxed his shoulders. He pulled a nearby stool up to sit on, still holding my hand the entire time.

"In that case, I'll stay here until you fall asleep." "What about if someone catches us?" I inquired. His confident, comforting smile returned. "Don't worry; I'll just sneak back out onto the balcony if I hear anyone coming." This made me grin, giving his hand a squeeze. "You'd do that for me?" His grin enhanced, of course. "Always." "Mmmmmm, thank you, darling."

Cat Noir waited until I had my eyes shut. My breathing slowed, my hand still gripped his but was falling asleep along with the rest of me. He waited a moment before reaching his other hand over to brush a few hairs off my forehead. Leaning down, the last thing I heard was his breath very near my ear. "Sleep well, my puuuuriness."

Then he kissed my cheek good night.