Marinette regretted asking the Kwamis for their opinions the moment she did it. Half of them believed she was the guardian so it was her choice, whatever she thought was best. And the other half thought it was important to follow master Fu's request and keep their identities hidden. Tikki however, had been quiet on the subject. She hadn't spoken once and instead hovered around Marinette's dresser, staring at Marinette's journal.

"Tikki you've been awfully quiet."

She sighed softly, turning to face her. "Marinette, my opinion doesn't really matter."

"Of course your opinion matters Tikki. You make me Ladybug, and so that means your opinion is as important as mine." Tikki seemed to choke down her words.

"I already know who ChatNoir is Marinette, and I think you finding out will only complicate things much more than they are now." Marinette couldn't know the other meaning to Tikkis words. How could she ever guess that ChatNoir and Adrien Agreste were the same person. Not only would that make matters with fighting more complicated, but Tikki didn't know if Marinette's heart could take that either.

Marinette thought about Tikkis words none the less. "So you don't think it's a good idea?"

"I just think it will happen when it's supposed to happen. But if you think the time is now then, it's up to you."

Marinette felt frustrated. How on Earth could she make a decision now. Of course she wanted ChatNoir to know she was Ladybug. She wanted nothing more than to spend their days patrolling together and hanging out after with their friends. The idea that she could text ChatNoir when she was lonely, or let him call her when he needed support was an absolute dream. They could be actual friends, they could spend time together in public, rather than just in her room at night.

The usual tapping at her door brought her out of her deep thoughts. "Hide everyone." She moved to her balcony door, throwing open the hatch. ChatNoir plopped onto her bed, soaking wet. "Hey Kitty." She greeted and he smiled at her playfully.

"Hey. It's raining outside."

"Oh is it? I couldn't tell." Marinette laughed, retrieving a small towel and handing it to him. He thanked her, drying his hair off. Her eyes remained trained on him, her cheeks hurting already from the permanent smile plastered on her face. How was it that ChatNoir could make her feel so happy, and comfortable? Someone she trusted dearly as ladybug was now equally important to Marinette. It was a wonderful feeling, to know ChatNoir liked her completely. Marinette and Ladybug seemed just as important to him as he was to her. That feeling couldn't be described. It was the rawest emotion Marinette had ever felt, and it left her hands shaky and clammy.

"How're you doing on this fine evening purrincess?" He asked, settling himself down comfortably on her bed.

"Im doing alright, I'm a little tired if I'm being honest. I have a paper due in my english class and I'm not too sure I did that well. I kind of rushed through it to be fair. But, I did get this done." She handed Chat a manilla folder, which he accepted quickly.

"Some more designs?"

"Yeah, I was working on more winter clothes for Gabriel Agreste's fashion show in December. Apparently he's doing another competition, but this time it's a little bigger. I won one of his shows a few years ago but I haven't even made it into the top 10 since. I'm worried that I'm losing my spark."

Chat shook his head, flipping through the pages. "Marinette these are awesome-" He paused and Marinette felt her heart jump. He had found it definitely.

"What is this?" He held up one of the papers. Two figures stood clad in different outfits, each inspired by Paris's very own superheroes. "Oh! Oh those I just did for fun, I was just kind of messing around!"

"Marinette you've got to enter with these!"

"No way! They're really not even that good! I was just playing around with some ideas look the peacoat is way too long, plus who even wears a leather peacoat and i don't know if the green and black scarf really match that well! Plus the hat's kind of lopsided and looks strange with the green buttons on it. And don't even get me started on Ladybugs matching red peacoat. The black buttons look nothing like the spots I was going for, and her black scarf seems to stand out too much, maybe I should add a bit of red to it? I don't know. She Chat, these are way too awful to even think about submitting them into a...Why are you looking at me like that?" She caught ChatNoir's eyes. He was staring at her with the softest look she had ever seen from him.

"Nothing, no reason. I just like hearing you talk about your work. You're really passionate Marinette and you've got the talent to back it up." Marinette stared at him, chewing her lip.

"You really think so?"

"Yes. Of course I do. I think you should enter with these. It's unique and I really like the detail you added onto the bottom. I think the green looks great on the black." Marinette noticed him staring at the green pawprint etched into the cuffs of the sleeves.

"Those are based on the miraculous." She said.

He nodded before pausing. "How do you know about the miraculous?" Marinette froze, a cold sweat forming on the back of her neck. How did she know about the miraculous? It wasn't like everyone knew what they were. She wasn't even sure people who had been akumatized remembered what they were. How did she explain the knowledge of what a Miraculous even was?

"I was Multimouse remember!" She said quickly, remembering the original lie she had told.

"Oh yeah, I do remember something about that. The buns were super cute." He winked at her playfully, and she smiled in relief that he had bought it. "I'm still surprised you know what my Miraculous looks like."

"Yeah well, I saw it on the ladyblog too before Alya took them down for privacy reasons. Maybe I should take it off?"

"No, no look." He held up his hand, and Marinette finally got a good look at it.

"I never realized how pretty it is." She whispered, taking Chat's hand in hers. She had no idea what the ring was even made of, but it beeped softly when she touched it. She looked up at him expectantly but he just shrugged. She wondered what her earrings were exactly, she had never given that much thought either.

"I never noticed your earrings Marinette." She froze again. What was with ChatNoir tonight?

"Oh? You like them? They're kind of plain. My Grandmother got them for me a while ago. I worry that the holes will close up so I never take them out. I'm surprised you just noticed." She laughed a bit too much as she collected the folder and papers from him setting them on her desk.

"Yeah, that's pretty funny. I've been coming here nearly everyday for almost a month and I still get to learn new things about you each time."

She blushed sitting next to him on the bed. "It's nice isn't it?"

He nodded before tilting his head slightly. "Did you ever talk to Luka?"

Marinette dropped her head in shame. "No. I chickened out. I know we broke up already but I'm scared to make things officially over. I don't want to hurt him."

"It's better if you don't drag it out Marinette" he dropped an arm over her shoulder. "Trust me. He'll want time to move on and he can't do that if there's still a piece of him hoping you'll change your mind. You need to make it clear." Marinette leaned into ChatNoir sighing softly. "It'll only hurt him more."

"I know."

"Then don't be afraid ok? I'll be there for you after and we can watch a movie and binge eat!" Marinette shoved his face away, but only so he couldn't see how red hers was. He laughed dropping onto his back on her bed. "I'm just saying!"

"What about you and Bobette?"

"Oh, I see. Is this what we're calling my girlfriend now?"

"Indeed."

He paused staring at her ceiling. "Not good?" He laughed, though it was humorless. "Is it bad that I don't even want to kiss her? When I do I find myself imaging she was someone else and it makes me feel so guilty but there's nothing I can do. I can't exactly end things with her. And now our parents are talking about our 'future' and that is the scariest thing I can even imagine."

Marinette frowned, feeling her nose burn as her eyes pricked with tears. She moved over sitting next to his head. Chat raised himself up so his head was resting in her lap with her directly behind him. She gently ran her fingers through his hair and, though it was embarrassing, she didn't wipe the tears and allowed it to drop onto Chat's cheek. His eyes flew open and he stared at her in horror.

"Marinette, why are you crying?"

"I'm sorry. I just, It's really not fair. You deserve happiness Chat, you deserve love. The purest form of love, the hello kisses, and the long goodbye hugs. You deserve it all. It's not fair." She felt her lip tremble. She felt so useless, though she thought she should be used to feeling like this by now. She couldn't even hide from it as Ladybug anymore. "I wish there was something I could do."

"There isn't." She let out a soft cry and Chat sat up quickly cupping her face. "Hey, I don't mean to make you feel bad Marinette. It's just the truth so you shouldn't be upset over it. There really isn't anything you or I could do."

"We could run away." She whimpered, wiping her eyes. "You've helped me so much it's not fair."

"Marinette." He gave her a sad smile. "Just being my friend is enough."

Those words rang through Marinette like a shock wave. Where had she heard them before? She stared at ChatNoir, her eyes wide as the puzzle pieces slowly attempted to assemble themself. Could ChatNoir be...No way. It was impossible, there was absolutely no possible way. But then, there could be?

"Marinette?"

"Yes? Sorry, I just got a bit lost in thought."

"I can see that. Look, don't worry about me ok? I'm a big boy, I can handle myself." He gently wiped the tear from her face.

"Ok." She watched him carefully, inspecting every inch of his face. "I'll try my best."

"Good, I don't like seeing you cry. Especially not over me ok?"

"Oh Chaton. I'd cry over you, for you, or with you. I'd do it all because I care about you. If anyone is worth my tears it's definitely you." He stared at her, mouth slightly agape before he blinked rapidly and looked away. "Are you…?"

"No." But he said it much too quickly so Marinette pulled him into her. He dropped his face in her neck, and in the silence Marinette swore she heard a small sniffle, though she would never admit it.

The rest of the night had gone by quietly, the two had played go fish and several other card games before lying down and watching a movie. Marinette never even remembered falling asleep. Though it was obvious she had when soft chirping woke her. She blinked slowly, everything coated in a sleepy haze. She took a deep breath and froze, the smell of sandalwood invading her senses. Her eyes sprung open and she choked on her breath. Her head was resting on ChatNoir's chest who slept soundly beneath her. The two were under a thin blanket she had knitted a few years prior, the sound of the title screen from the movie they had been watching played softly. From the look of the sky outside it was still rather early and she shoved ChatNoir gently. He grumbled something wrapping his arm around her and pulling her into his chest.

She squeaked in embarrassment, her cheeks bright red. "ChatNoir. ChatNoir!" He jumped, eyes opening. His panicked expression softened when he noticed Marinette before it seemed like alarm bells went off in his head. He sprung up looking around.

"What time is it?"

"Uh…" She leaned over grabbing her phone. "5 am."

"Oh shit, we must have fallen asleep. I really gotta go." A piece of her wanted to grab onto his arm and ask him to stay, but she couldn't be so selfish.

"Ok." He stood up stretching and Marinette winced at the cracking of his bones.

"I'm sorry Marinette. I didn't mean to sleep over, that was really inconsiderate and irresponsible of me. It's bad enough I'm sneaking into a girls room at night, but sleeping in her bed is another thing. I'm really really really-"

"ChatNoir!" She interrupted him, laughing softly. "It's ok, I don't mind." She hugged her stuffed bee pillow to her chest before speaking again. "It was the best sleep I've gotten in a while."

A smile formed on his face replacing the look of concern. "Me too. I really got to go. I won't be able to come tonight, I have plans but I'll be back as soon as possible."

"Ok, be safe."

"You too." She watched him leave from her window before dropping down back onto her bed. ChatNoir had spent the night and they had cuddled all night. Marinette wondered who ChatNoir imagined was in place of his girlfriend. Could it be her? Was it Ladybug? The thought sent butterflies swarming around her stomach and she cursed the idea of maybe having a crush on ChatNoir.

She was preparing to fall back asleep when her thoughts from earlier popped into her head. What if Adrien was ChatNoir. That would mean his girlfriend he didn't love was Kagami, though that seemed too good to be true. Besides, she was sure she had seen Chat and Adrien in the same place at the same time. Right? Adrien had never been akumatized before, but she had noticed he was a pretty chill guy. But yet again, so was Kim.

She had to get to the bottom of this, maybe it was time to pay a little visit to Adrien.