Sweet sweet people with your glorious reviews. I have been tinkering around and I settled for this to feature on building up Marinette's past and present. And don't expect Marinette to realize how much she likes Adrien till chapter 15 or something. If you see something wrong with my timeline PM or comment me and i'll fix it.

Don't own these fantastic characters I just like controlling them in my own make believe world. :)

"So..." I start, not exactly knowing the etiquette when dining with your boyfriend's sister and ex-classmate. Who accused you of leading on her boyfriend. "I'm glad we are able to talk. It's been a while"

"Yes, that's- that was my fault." She looks up at me, as if hoping I'd give her an out or at least help her apologize. I don't, she can speak for herself.

"What I said, was way out if line. I- I was just frustrated. And I didn't trust that the relationship was 50/50."

"Why? What did I do to make you think that Luka was some rebound?"

Instead of flinching back or apologizing her face takes on a determined quality. "Listen. Hear me out."

I nod.

"You were smitten with Adrien since the beginning. When you guys finally dated, you guys were the power couple. Everyone thought that you guys would get married and have babies straight out of college."

My face remains unmoved.

"And then there's Luka, my brother. My family, Luka who has loved you the moment he heard your song. I told him that you only had eyes for one. But he didn't care that you were smitten with someone else, all he wanted was some of your attention. My brother who liked you before Adrien knew he liked you. And then finally, years later, you give him a shot and you guys are dating. And Luka was ecstatic."

I brave myself for the worst part of this. The part where I screwed up.

"But, your history with Adrien it doesn't just disappear, you left him Marinette. As soon as you guys started dating you went to London. As soon as he got you, he lost you. At first, he didn't mind. But then he started getting weird looks, and it wasn't your fault. I get that now-"

"What do you mean 'getting weird looks'?" I ask. Twisting my fingers underneath the desk. I feel a pang for Tikki, I miss her. If Tikki were here, she would be squeezing the tip of my finger reassuringly. Keeping me from getting upset. But she wasn't here. She was in the Kwami dimension sipping piña colada or something.

I was just going through a rough time. Lila's lies did a number on my trust in my friends. She left two weeks after her lies were exposed. By a black cat in shining leather. But after she left, I didn't trust my friends not to leave me. We went back to being close but trust issues rose out of the depths of my insecure soul. I started getting more depressed and got occasional anxiety attacks. Everything and everyone seemed on the verge of leaving or betraying me, plus being Ladybug? I attracted more akumas, and I had to purify every single one of them. Master Fu had me turn in my miraculous till I was in better condition to wield it. It was good that he did it when he did, because two days later Hawk Moth accused me of being Ladybug.

"I know it is you, Marinette!" He yelled, dangling me off the Eiffel Tower. I didn't respond, but some tears escaped me. I was going to die young. I realized. I was only 15, and I was going to die.

There was an American song of this. But what was it?

If I die young, bury me in satin-

I wish I were more afraid.

"Answer me girl!" he shook me, and I dangled like a Christmas decoration. Lifeless like doll.

A shell of a doll.

He dropped me, and I heard a distant male cry of outrage, fear, and pain. I would've searched for the cause but I was falling.

I think Hawkmoth expected me to transform to save myself, but I couldn't. I just closed my eyes and waited for the ground to meet me. I read somewhere that cats can survive big falls because they go limp and lessen the sting of the fall. I relaxed my body, the wind quickly biting my cheeks.

Closing my eyes, I wait.

My body collided with the warm cheese-scented ground.

Wait what?

My eyes flew open, more tears escaping and my stare met a tense Chat Noir.

"Are you okay?" He asked me, his face aged with worry. He sets me down on a nearby bench.

I stand up but my legs are still shaky so I sit down quickly "I'm fine, Hawkmoth thought I as Ladybug and was trying to shake it out of me." I laugh, the laughter came easy. It was sort of crazy, like a madman's laugh. "Who would have thought? ME? The clumsiest girl in the world who can't speak a single sentence in front of the guy she likes, Ladybug?"

I bend over, and lose my lunch. Chat Noir jumps back and around the bench, running my back. I laugh again, after regaining my breath. My laughter was unnerving but I kept doing it because the only alternative was to cry and I didn't want to do that now. "He must be crazy! Chat- wait Chat? Are you crying? I'm sorry." I try to embrace him, but he seemed to be a thousand planets away.

His gaze distant "So, you aren't Ladybug?"

I show him my ears which were sporting small hoops "Sure I am, just lost my miraculous."

He looked at me, unsure of what to make of my sentence.

"I'm joking." I reassure him.

"Oh." his voice was real small "So, you- why would Hawkmoth?"

I swallow, at least I didn't have to lie anymore. I talk "Some stuff when down in school and left me all wacked up. Nightmares, paranoia, trust issues. The usual teenage schmiel."

I say as if it isn't a big deal, it seems like it wasn't to everyone but me. I kept my eyes on my hands.

I go on. "I attracted a few akumas, but I scared off a few and killed the rest."

In the corner of my eyes I see him look at me his eyes wide. I waved my hand dismissively "It wasn't a big deal. I'm unnaturally good at darts. That's all."

I go on, I liked talking and Chat Noir was at least pretending to listen. That didn't happen enough nowadays "I guess, I get why he would think so. But... I mean I'm me."

He was frowning "I don't think he is crazy for thinking your Ladybug." he tells me "But I guess now he knows you're not." His voice was light, but there was disappointment in his eyes, like saying these words pained him.

I shake my head "You sound disappointed. Were you hoping to rescue me from near death again?" I tease.

He just laughed painfully "God, I hope I don't have to do that ever again. It was scary." He rubbed his neck, his muscles flexing "I just- it would have been neat if you were, ya know, Ladybug."

My smile faded and I looked at the lit-up tower, my near-death distorting the once beautiful structure. It looked like a safety breach, a weapon. "I am not cut out to be the heroin of Paris, if I was once I'm not anymore."

He sat next to me, his ears flat against his head. "What do you mean?"

I stand abruptly. That's enough using the poor cat as a therapy cat. "I'm making you sad, mon minou. I'm heading home, this kidnapping is going to make me late to class tomorrow."

"Just answer the question." He says, turning my shoulders gently.

"It's pretty obvious you silly cat." He looks at me blankly. "I attracted more akumas than any victim, ever." I turn to walk away.

His hand caught to my wrist, which was wrapped in chunky bracelets. One of the beads digged into my wrist. I wince and yank my hand back, adjusting the chunky bracelets.

His eyes narrowed on my wrist and I could immediately tell what he was thinking.

"I'm not cutting myself."

He looks at me, his eyes begging "Can I please check?"

I let him, and he only saw a small mark form the beads.

"Done?" I ask. I was still too shaken to be upset with him for double checking.

He hugs me. "You're never alone." he murmurs into my ear. "And you fighting those akumas like that? When you're emotionally distraught-that-that's braver than anything I could ever dream of doing. I'll be around."

Shivers wrap through my spine.

"Promise?" I mutter back, and I hate how needy my vie sounds.

"Promise on my miraculous."

I sink into his embrace.

I forgot to ask him what he was doing out so late at night.

"Marinette?" Juleka asks, her voice awkward "This sir wants to know your order."

My eyes snap to attention, "Sorry, sir." I apologize and order a salad.

The waiter lingers, his eyes on my chest. My perfectly concealed chest. "My eyes are up here." I remind him, forcing myself to not yell or raise my voice at him.

"May I have your number?" He asks, a smirk adoring his features. Like he was positive I was going to say yes. And I get why he would, he was undeniably panty dropping attractive. With his smoky brown eyes that were surrounded by long thick lashes and gorgeously thick hair. But, alas. My heart stayed with another man, and so did my patience.

"No, you may not." I say primly turning my attention back to Juleka who was glaring at the man.

"Why not?"

"I'm in a relationship, and I find your attitude towards us disgusting." I say without lifting my eyes from my glass.

"Can you leave?" Juleka snaps.

He hesitates and I check out the surroundings, we were sitting near the window. Not great for getting in a fight.

"Please." I add. I turn my attention to Juleka. "So, Juleka. Weird looks?"

Juleka doesn't answer until the waiter is far enough away. "Mostly the girls, some of the boys. They would look at Luka like he was the reason precious Adrienette broke up. Like only Adrien could date you. It started messing with him. He thought that was how you felt, second guessing your feelings. That is when he started writing depressing songs and staring at your picture. I was angry and all I could think was 'Marinette should have done this or said that' and I was wrong. I'm sorry."

"All of that because of looks?" I ask, something was missing.

"It wasn't just the accusing looks. It was like, it was like how you were during Lila."

I raise an eyebrow "You didn't know how that was, so I suggest you use a different example."

"Paranoia, it was like you look there and think 'is he thinking that I don't deserve Marinette', 'or am I her rebound'. I'm not blaming you, I'm just trying to explain why I said what I said. It was horrible and my motives or fury in no way justify it."

I nod. "Okay. I'm sorry for accusing you of being a bad friend and blocking you for a solid hour."

Her lips twitched. "You blocked me?"

I nod "For an hour."

We collapsed into giggles and the rest of the dinner went well, not even the waiters blatant flirting was able to dampen our spirits.

He didn't get a tip.

Where is Alya at? Remember she was the first to see Ms. Perfect Fairy Princess.

Adrien, what's he feeling?

Luka what is his secret project?

Marinette, where did you get those shoes?

COMMENT!

Thank you for reading!

xoxo

-Paula says SAYONARA!