Marinette's room

"Thank-you."

Adrien didn't know how to respond, only hugging her back. They stood there for a while, only to be interrupted by a dual "awww." The two teens looked at the trapdoor, where Marinette's parents were watching through the partially opened door.

"Mooommm! Daaad! What did I say about spying?" Marinette was mortified.

Sabine nudged Tom, who instantly held up their excuse, a plate full of fresh cookies, "Would you like more snacks?"

Adrien smiled, reaching out when Marinette rushed past him, shooing her parents and the baked goods away. She turned around, face flushed "Sorry, my parents can be really nosy."

Adrien laughed, remembering when he was here before, "It's OK. So you are talking about going to Paris Exceller Apprentissage. Do you want to do it?"

She nodded, "They have all these great classes that would help me improve my skills. My parents agreed to let me apply, though they warned me not to get my hopes up incase I don't get accepted."

Her partner smiled, pulling out the letter his father gave him. "Actually they would be begging you once they see this," handing her the letter. She opened it carefully, read every line, the excitement growing on her face as she kept reading. When she finished she shrieked with joy tackling Adrien, the two of them falling in a heap on the floor. They looked at each, blushing at how close their faces were.

"Ahem." Sabine cleared her throat, sending Marinette scrambling off of Adrien, "Everyone OK?" Adrien simply nodded, grinning ear from ear, while Marinette excitedly handed the letter to her mother. Her mother through it, also smiling when she finished, "I'll let your father know the good news. Try not to break your boyfriend the next time you wanna kiss him." Laughing inside at the shocked, blushing teens, Sabine headed down to share the news with Tom.

"I didn't-I mean she-uh-They just assume like that!" a flustered Marinette stammered out.

"Well what if I actually was your boyfriend?" Marinette opened her mouth to speak, words were lost. Adrien got down on one knee in front of her, "Marinette Dupain-Cheng, would you do me the honor of being my girlfriend?"

Marinette could barely squeak out a yes. Adrien smiled taking her hand and kissing it, heating Marinette's face even more. "So now what?"

"We can go on a date, I'm free tomorrow and most of Sunday."

"Can we go somewhere quiet? Where we or you won't be recognized right away? I don't want to have to fight a rabid fangirl on our first date."

Adrien laughed, "And that makes you.."

Marinette hit him with a pillow, "Shut up."

He finally recovered to look at her again, wary of the pillow still in her hands, "What if we go out as Ladybug and Chat Noir, no one can get mad since most of the city ships us." Marinette shook her head at him, "Why not?"

"Because we can only date as Adrien and Marinette or Ladybug and Chat Noir, if both start dating at the same time, people might put two and two together." Adrien nodded understanding as she continued, "I rather date as ordinary people because we can spend more time together that way. Less sneaking around our parents as well."

"OK, that makes sense, so when do you want to make it official?"

"If people ask, we will say yes, otherwise we say nothing except to our parents."

Adrien groaned, "Chloe is gonna be pissed."

"I don't care," Marinette smiled at him. "As far as I'm concerned, you are mine and I don't want to share."

"So how long have you had a crush on me?"

"Remember the second day of school? When you gave me your umbrella?" Adrein's eyes widened with shock as he nodded. "Well you were so kind and open, apologizing for something you didn't do. I was so shy of you ever since, barely able to function around you."

Adrien laughed, "I was convinced you were scared of me or even hated me," he then smirked, so you can't function around me at all?"

Marinette glared at him, hitting him with the pillow again, "I can now that I know you are a mangy alley cat." The laughter of their kwamis drew their attention to them sitting on Marinette's bed watching them.

Eyeing Tikki and Plagg, both heroes remembered a task they had to do. "When do you want to collect the miraculous?" Adrien asked her.

"Let's wait an hour after you get home, then make the rounds. I don't think we can call our former classmates again, after the way they behaved today." Marinette curled up on her chaise, "I was already thinking about not calling on them again. With everything that has happened with Lila, they don't trust me anymore. And I don't think I can trust people who don't trust me.

Adrien sat next to her, putting his arm around her, "It's ok, I understand. Who does that leave for us to trust?"

"Luka and Kagami, they are reliable and resourceful. I'm thinking about keeping them full time," her face twisted in consideration, "then we have two allies backing us up, which is helpful when Mayura shows up." Adrien nodded getting up. "Where are you going?"

"The sooner I leave the sooner we can get those miraculous back, after all we kinda have that responsibility." He laughed as Marinette groaned, "don't worry purrincess, we will be together again soon."

Marinette groaned into her pillow, "I never thought dating you meant putting up with cat puns." Adrien laughed as he hugged her goodbye before heading downstairs, "See you in hour Kitty."

"See you then Bugaboo," he laughed as she groaned again heading down stairs. Marinette headed up to her balcony but was surprised when Adrien didn't leave for another ten minutes. His bodyguard was waiting, but he was still inside. ``Oh no,' Marinette cringed at the thought of her father interrogating the model, asking for every detail of his intentions. When she saw him finally leave, he looked up and gave her a thumbs up and a smile before getting in the car.

Lila's room

Lila watched as the kwami ate the chocolate bar, unsure if the kwami could refuse to grant her powers once she revealed her true intentions. Perhaps Hawkmoth could tell her more, she just had to wait until Hawkmoth made another akuma.

Couffaine Boat

Ladybug and Chat Noir landed on the boat's roof, unnoticed by Luka and Juleka. "Everyone seemed so interested in hurting Marinette for what she did to Lila, but destroying her sketchbook felt too far. I tried to talk them out of it, but everyone told me to be quiet. Even Nathaniel, who had a crush on her and even knows how much it meant to her was in on destroying it."

"That's horrible, has anyone checked up on her since? What about Rose?" Luka's voice came in with a mix of concern and disgust.

"Some of us tried to text her, but she blocked all our numbers. Maybe Adrien was able to reach out to her, but he hasn't said anything to us either."

"Maybe you should try and visit her, maybe she will talk to you." Chat looked at Ladybug, her expression sad and unsure. It wasn't her real sketchbook they shredded, but the intention was the same. She wasn't sure if she would talk to Juleka if she came over, the girl may feel sorry about the sketchbook but she still believed Lila.

"That's a good idea," they heard Juleka getting up, I'm gonna call Rose now, try to convince her to come with me tomorrow." Ladybug groaned, tomorrow was going to suck.

Once they heard the door shut, the two swung into the room, startling Luka. "Hello Luka, sorry for the drop in."

"You are here to take back the miraculous right," Luka held up his wrist with the snake bracelet on it.

"Actually, we want you to keep it for now," Ladybug stated, "Hawkmoth is getting stronger and has Mayura to help him. We could use another hero fulltime."

"That is if you are willing to do this," Chat added.

Luka nodded, "I'm in." As Ladynoir was about to leave, he asked, "Do you know how Marinette is doing? I heard what happened to her sketchbook."

Before Ladybug could reply, Chat smiled, "She is doing great, turns out that Adrien guy swapped out her sketchbook with a fake this morning. You should have seen the look on her face when he gave it to her, she couldn't keep her hands off of him."

"CHAT! " Ladybug hit him on the head with her yoyo, blushing furiously.

Luka looked a little upset when he heard that, "Oh Ok, that's good that she is happy."

"Are you OK?" Luka gave her a sad smile, "I'm not gonna get akumatized, I always knew Marinette was in love with Adrien, I just hoped I had a chance." With that, he waved as the duo set off to their next stop.

Kagami's Room

Kagmi was more than willing to remain as the dragon holder, honored to protect Paris. Long was also approving Ladybug's decision, recognizing Kagami's worthiness of his powers. Like Luka, she asked about Marinette already knowing about the transfer plans. But when she heard about Adrien saving Marinette's sketchbook, she smiled, "Just like that oblivious one to do something kind. They deserve each other." Then she seemed uncertain, "Is Viperion keeping his miraculous as well?"

Ladynoir exchanged a confused look, "Yes, why?"

She blushed, "No reason, thank you for stopping in." With that the heroes ran off.

Chat looked at his lady, "Do you think she likes him?" She nodded, smiling. "How funny would it be if Luka fell for Kagami? Then it would be us all over again." He burst out laughing as she cringed at the thought of having to watch them dance around each other.

"Let's hope they don't have our level of drama."

Alya's Room

They stopped in at Chloe, Max, Kim and Nino's houses, each time explaining why they can't give them the miraculous due to their behaviour, resulting in them yelling how Marinette deserves no pity, at which point they left. Finally they made it to Alya's house, their last stop on their mission to collect the miraculous. Alya was waiting for them, window open. "Alya, I'm sorry but after today I can't let you be the fox holder after today. You treated the akuma victim terrible, which is not what you should do."

Alya bristled, "She deserves it, she is cruel and mean to the new girl, who only tried to be her friend. Lila is the nicest girl ever, Adrien should hang out with, because Lila won't use him for his money." As she ranted, Chat clenched his fists, While Ladybug snapped, "What about you Alya? Marinette has been there for all of you, but when she needs you, then all of you turn your backs on her because a new girl says something bad about her? What's wrong wit you? You used to be such a great reporter but then you post interviews with Lila without fact checking them at all!"

"Where is the fox necklace?" Chat interrupted. Ladybug stopped, also noticing the missing miraculous.

Alya froze, guilt on her face, "I don't know."

"What?" Ladybug had pure horror on her face.

"I was unconscious earlier and when I woke up, it was gone."

"Why didn't you tell me about that instead insulting Marinette? That seems to be the more concerning issue here." Chat was pissed at her lack of priorities.

"I didn't notice till Carapace and I left earlier," Alya had her head down.

Ladybug didn't say another word, swinging off to the Eiffel Tower. Chat glared at Alya, "You better pray we can find it before someone gets hurt." With that he jumped off, following his lady, leaving Alya, her head down in shame.

Hawkmoth's Lair

He felt many strong emotions tonight against Ladybug and Chat Noir, but they all disappeared shortly. One lingered, shame, but he wasn't in the mood. Marinette, his sons girlfriend, had retained memories of being Princess Justice even if he didn't want her too. He was afraid that it would happen to someone else. "Nooroo, dark wings fall." He went back into his home without a word, looking at his comatose wife, wondering if he failed her.

Eiffel Tower

"I can't find it!" Ladybug wailed, "I was supposed to protect them from Hawkmoth, but now I lost one!"

"M'Lady, this isn't your fault. If it isn't here, then someone must have grabbed it. We'll patrol tomorrow to look around for it." Hs eyes lit up, "Maybe Master Fu has it!" With that the heroes jumped off again, headed to the guardian of the miraculous box.

Fu's Ice Cream Shop

The duo landed in an alley nearby, detransforming, then knocking on the back door. Fu answered the door, welcoming the couple in. Once they were settled in, he looked at them "So you finally know each other's identities?" They nodded, he smiled, "And now you are a couple?" he had a hopefully tone in his voice. Marinette blushed, nodding while Adrien had a stupid grin on his face. "THANK THE MIRACULOUS FINALLY!" Both looked at him shocked as he explained, "Your kwamis keep coming to complain how oblivious you two are, it gets tiring after a while."

Marinette took out the miraculous, handing the turtle bracelet to Fu, while replacing the rest in the miracle box. Fu noticed three missing, but Marinette beat him to it, "We decided to keep the snake and dragon active full time for now, but the fox is missing. We were hoping you had it."

Fu shook his head, "No, and if it isn't on the Eiffel Tower, you two must keep a sharp eye out for it. You should have an easier time with Ryuko and Viperion helping, as well as knowledge of each others identity, but be careful." The heroes nodded, saying goodbye. Fu looked at Wayzz, trouble was coming.