"So let me get this straight," Chat feigned his pondering as Marinette groaned with her embarrassment. "Alya, has told you to practice your love declaration to this 'mystery guy,' that Kagami thinks likes you back?" using air quotes to highlight the term, Chat smirked as he watched her face turn crimson. "So you can declare your undying love for him tomorrow?"

Marinette sighed deeply, wishing her embarrassment away. "Yes." 'It's not a complete lie…'

"And doing it to yourself in the mirror isn't working." He raised an amused, assessing brow and smirked at her frustrated form.

"No." Her intense blue eyes focused on him with a scowl and she crossed her arms. "You're enjoying this, aren't you."

"Why Purrincess!" He mockingly acted shocked at her accusation, "I am hurt that you think so little of me!" Clasping his hands over his chest he continued: "How can mew think I would be so clawful!" Marinette simply deadpanned before reaching for the plate of pastries he had been devouring. "Ah. Ah. Ah. No, touchy!" He batted her hand away, and watched her amused eye roll at his antics.

"Will you help me or not Kitty?" Marinette schooled an annoyed expression on her face, but he could see the slight plea in her eyes. "I promised I'd finally do it to Kagami, she's convinced there's something between us, and-"

"You want it to be true," he empathetically gazed at her softening expression, his voice tinged with sadness, "don't you."

Marinette nodded and furrowed her brow with concern. He knew how she was feeling, and she was the one that made him feel that way. What if all of this preparation was for nothing? What if Adrien rejected her, just like she had rejected Chat?

Internally, she was tearing apart. How could she continue to do this to him? To the both of them? The inevitability of herself and Chat Noir ending up together was displayed in the majority of the past holders. Even the ones who had been fighting against each other had felt the pull on their hearts for the other. Their Miraculous' were entwined with their joint destiny. Could she really, practically, ever have a relationship with anyone else?

Her and Chat could be completely honest with each other, understand each other and support each other, in and out of the masks. Only yesterday had Tikki said they would be the strongest pairing ever to have graced the earth, if only Marinette would allow herself to love Chat with her whole heart and self.

'I want to forget Adrien Chat, so I can give you my heart completely.'

The words would not slip past her lips though.

As tears threatened to fall from her cheeks, their eyes met and her heart pained in her chest. She had to make a decision before she did anything else. Would it be her black clad partner, or long term love that would win the battle of her heart.

Chat was gazing into those blue eyes for what felt like an eternity.

He had never seen her vulnerable in this way.

She was struggling, he could tell, but what was so scary about her feelings that kept her from pursuing them? Was this guy who she loved really so unlikely to return her feelings? He could not imagine anyone turning such a sweet, caring, generous person down, and those were just three of her countless qualities.

"come here," he beckoned his trusted friend and confidant to sir with him. when the young lady made to sit next to him, he guided her to instead sit sideways on his thigh. leaning himself back and pulling her to rest on his chest, his claw tipped fingers making gentle circles on her shoulder.

He did not know why Marinette could never be like this with his civilian self. She was his friend, she said she liked him like a 'regular human being', even if it was just a little bit. Her words had taken him aback that day. He had moved more because of how shocked he was at the sudden closeness, not because it was her…

'I love Ladybug, and I know I need to make a decision about Kagami, what am I even thinking?' Chat pondered as time seemed to slow. 'Would I have kissed her back if I had not been so shocked?'

'Course you would have!' Plagg cackled somewhere in the depths of his subconscious. 'That girl, is the only girl you have ever wanted to know as much as Ladybug…why else would you be visiting her as Chat kid? The fact that she seems so guarded around you only makes you want to know more, what is it with you and secretive women?' The Kwami's voice teased. 'Get this over with quickly kid,' Plagg continued, 'I'm getting hungry!'

'Two-no, three wheels of Camembert if you let me stay as long as I need to.'

'Fine kid,' Plagg conceded reluctantly, 'but make sure it's the good stuff!'

"Marinette," Chat started softly, "you are an amazing person who lights up the dark." He rested his chin on her hair, while he continued his careful ministrations, "your light shines out like a beacon to me, and you should not doubt that the person you love returns your feelings."

He thought he was helping, saying encouraging words but a lone teary sob escaped her lips.

"Hey," Chat cooed, raising a gloved hand to cup her soft cheek, wiping away a tear and turning her gaze to look up at him. He dipped his head to catch her quickly averted gaze, "I mean it, if the person you love can't see that then they don't deserve you."

He sat straight and pulled her head to rest on his chest once again. He hoped the gentle vibrations of his purr would help comfort her. It did not.

Her muffled, watery voice would have been inaudible, if it had not been for his Chat ears.

"Ladybug doesn't deserve you-"

"We're not going to talk about me and my love life-"

Tikki watched from the depths of the closet. Hidden under a lose bolt of fabric, eating a cookie and rolling her eyes. 'If only you knew!'

"-we're going to sort out your love confession." He smiled softly down at her. "Now," he started with an air of determination, and a hint of mirth in his eyes, "imagine he is me and tell me what you want to tell him."

Marinette felt his hands move to her shoulders as she leant off his chest and put her hands on his pecs to keep her in place. It was that moment when her eyes reached his, that she knew this could go either way. The confessions would not be much different between the two. Really they were so similar, she could see many of the same qualities in both of them. He did not know she was meant to be confessing to Adrien, just like he was unaware that she was Ladybug. However, if she did make the decision, and pick the person she already trusted her life with, she would have to tell him everything.

Will she even manage to make it to tomorrow before it all comes spilling out?

Thank you for reading, and for the reviews, follows and faves.

Take it easy =)

Lady Rhi X