I nearly threw the hat I was clutching in my hands across the bloody room. Adrien belongs to Chloe, does he? Well, little do either of them know that Adrien, or should I say Cat Noir, has been mine for nine whole years! Chloe might have known my beloved for longer than me, but I'm his one and true love- we both know that. Yes, I knew that…. I knew that beyond a shadow of a doubt.

Still, I'd be lying if what orange-haired girl said didn't piss me off. Screw her! What does she know? She's just Chloe's little toady! Ugh, life used to be so much easier back when we were younger. Back before I met Luka or thought I was being forced to marry a man I didn't love. But then, I also didn't know that Adrien was Cat Noir, and that changed everything. So maybe….

Giving my head a shake, I finally realized the time. Oh no! The show's going to start soon! Darting to open the door, it flung my way causing me to stumble forward. Adrien's strong hands caught me just in the nick of time. Our arms clung onto each other instinctually. Daring to look up, our eyes met and I immediately pulled away from him. Not because I wanted to, but I had to constantly remind myself that he wasn't aware that I knew about his little secret. It didn't help matters when of course, he smiled at me.

"Hello, Marinette." "O-Oh! Hell-a," that's "hello", stupid! Blushing ever so slightly, I closed my eyes for a second in a wince. "Sorry." "No worries!" He chimed. Then we both reached down for the hat at the same time, accidently bonking one another's head in the process. "Sorry!" We rubbed our foreheads simultaneously. It was Adrien who plucked up the head and put it on his gorgeous blonde head, flashing me another heart-stopping smile. "What do you think?" I could merely gawk at him. "I think….. I think….."

Before I could say more, Mr. Agreste's strict secretary, Nathalie- who had been standing behind Adrien at the door- cleared her throat. "Is there something I can do for you, Miss Dupain-Cheng?" Her eyes were sternly glued onto me, which made me anxious. Oh right; I guess they did just catch me red-handed in Adrien's dressing room. Oops. But he's my fiancé! I should be allowed to be in here, shouldn't I? Oh well, better not chance it. "O-Oh no, that's ok! I just came to wish Adrien good luck this afternoon," I spoke more to her than my beloved, knowing that he certainly wouldn't have a problem with me being here. Her eyebrow raised, like she didn't believe me, but then she looked to Adrien. "The show starts in five minutes. Hurry up." "Yes, Nathalie. Have a good time, Marinette; enjoy the show," were he next words to me. I peered back at his face in a bashful manner, sinking deeper into his eyes once our met again. Those eyes…. Those perfect eyes I've stared into so many times…. I know those eyes; they're mine.

They've been mine for a very long time.

"Ok, annnnnnnnnd…. Now! You can open your eyes now." Cat Noir led me out onto a rooftop somewhere. My eyes fluttered open to see this marvellous array of roses and lit candles. There was a table set for two in the middle of the platform, again with roses. So many roses. Looking around, it took my breath away, and I wasn't immediately aware that all of this was done on my account.

"It's beautiful!" "You like it? Took me all afternoon to setup," he grinned, eagerly watching me delighted reaction. "Cat Noir, this is lovely! You've done a perfect job! Only…. What is it for?" "Eh, I thought we should do something special tonight," his shoulder shrugged. I blinked at her perplexed. "Special?" "Uh huh. It's the anniversary of the first day we met," he said, making me blush in sudden realization. Oh my god- he actually kept track of the days like that? Meaning that he did all of this… for me? Just thinking about it made my hands bunch up tighter. No one has ever done anything like this for me….. And he went through so much effort. "It's really been a year since we met?" I heard myself ask absent-mindedly. Wearing a grin ear-to-ear, he nodded triumphantly. "I know! Crazy, right? Heh, at least you can talk to me in full sentences now," he often teased my initial inability to formulate complete, clear sentences with him. I giggled, covering my mouth with my hand. I was so flustered now that I didn't know what to say. Talk about not forming full sentences, haha.

Cat Noir slanted his stance a bit, peering away a little. If I didn't know any better, I'd say he was feeling pretty bashful right now too, for some reason. "Truth is, I wanted tonight to be kinda special. It is special… to me." "Me too, Cat Noir! I can't believe we've been friends for a whole entire year. It doesn't feel like it's been that long." "I know; time's just flown by. Pretty soon we'll both be starting high school," he concurred. There was a pregnant pause here, with the warm spring breeze drifting over us. It made the flames of the candles flicker. Cat Noir glanced away, then back at me, away again, and finally up my way. His eyes were really soft, sincere, and soulful.

"Listen, Marinette; there's something I wanna tell you….." Shyly, he scratched the side of his cheek with one of his claws. "What is it?" I asked innocently enough. It didn't occur to me yet that this would be the night- the instance- which would change the rest of my life forever. What did surprise me was how timid and awkward Cat Noir was acting; he was usually so cool and collected. Now, I could swear he was blushing- hard. He began to look every which way but straight into my eyes. His words started fumbling over themselves.

"Er, well uh… Um, it's uh…. I-I'm not really sure how to say this…." "Say what? Is everything alright, Cat Noir?" God, was I dumb or what? His whole face was practically a beet-red by this point. I thought he was going to break out into a cold sweat, he was so frantic. "Uh, you know, I was thinking!" When he did speak next, it was way too fast and loud, like he'd finally ordered his thoughts and was too excited to say what was on his mind. It caught me off guard but I let him continue, waiting patiently to hear what it is he had to tell me.

"I-I was thinking! Wouldn't it be weird if we, you know…. I mean, it'd be pretty weird if we suddenly woke up tomorrow as boyfriend and girlfriend, don't you think?" "Cat Noir….." My pupils started to grow in absolute astonishment. Wait, what's happening? What does he mean by that? Is he…? Could he be….?

Is Cat Noir asking me to go out with him?

Unsure how to carry on from there, he tried anyway. "Picture it. Me- your boyfriend. You- my girlfriend. Do you…." Reservation. "Do you think that could ever happen…. Marinette?" "Cat Noir!" "What I mean to say is…. W-Will you go out with me, Marinette? Will you go out with me, and be my girlfriend?" His voice; his voice just now… Cat Noir…..

And here come the tears. Both my hands lifted up in a sort of triangle pose to cover my gaping mouth. I couldn't believe my ears; I literally couldn't believe them! Here was the only crush I've ever had in my life asking me to go out with him! This was too good to be true! I must be dreaming; I'm in my bed and am going to wake up any second now.

Only this wasn't a dream. After a few minutes of merely, wordlessly staring at one another, Cat Noir broke the stillness with a gentle grin. His eyes lowered a touch in a very tender sort of way. "I know we've only known each other for a year, and we're friends, but….. But I've been feeling something more. I….." Another lull ensued here. I held my breath, afraid to even blink; I was too much in a state of ecstasy. Our gazes locked once more; his firm with resolve. "I love you, Marinette.

I have loved you from the first moment I saw you."

Cat Noir… This precious, precious boy. I think this was the happiest moment of my fifteen-year-old life. There was only one thing to say in reply. "I love you too, Cat Noir. I've always been in love with you….." Also since the first moment I saw you. His face lit up like an over-decorated Christmas tree. We spun our bodies in such a way so we were facing head-on. "So, you'll go out with me then? Really? You'll be my girlfriend?" I'd never heard his tone more full of hope. Finally uncovering my mouth, I let the tears pour down my now very wet face. "Yes, Cat Noir; oh yes. I'm yours…. I've been only yours," and will continue to be, until the day I die.

Nathalie cleared her throat, breaking my train of thought. "We have to go," she instructed Adrien. "Alright. I'll see you during the show," Adrien reached out to give my shoulder a squeeze. I watched him for a second before smiling back. "Break a leg, Adrien." "Thanks! Wish me luck." "Oh, you won't need luck; you've got that catwalk thing down. I've known from the first moment I saw you…."

Adrien paused here to simply glance back at me with this sort of confused, contorted look on his face, as if what I'd just said rang a bell in his mind. Or reminded him of something wonderful….. Still peering back in my direction from over his shoulder in a pondering sort of way, Nathalie led Adrien out of the dressing room and down the hall by the arm. I waved until he was out of sight. Then I let out a small, happy sigh and gazed at my reflection in the vanity's mirror. The Marinette who was staring back at me smiled… "Ah, who cares about Chloe? What am I even worried about? She's not even worth getting upset over. It's already done, Cat Noir and me. Our worlds both irretrievably changed…..

The moment our eyes met."