Marinette kept going over and over what had happened in her mind, starting with Volpina's battle. How had everything changed so quickly? At least I won't have any trouble talking to Adrien at school. At this point the faint shimmering noise had stopped, and she was vaguely aware of her name being called. As she was about to respond, a more daunting thought distracted her.

Oh god, how in the world am I supposed to talk to Cat Noir now that I know he's Adrien? Suddenly, she felt the arms that had strongly held her go limp, and she fell to the floor, hitting her head on the hard ground. "Ah… " She hissed quietly, sitting up and rubbing her now sore head. As Marinette looked up at her crush, she was confused to see him staring down at her, mouth slightly open, bright green eyes wide in shock.

She tilted her head as he finally blinked, and closed his mouth. After a second, he seemed to have found his voice. " M-Marinette?" He stuttered, reaching his arm out, then letting it fall limply to his side. She became aware of what he had just said. Marionette? Why would he… How could he… "Marinette?" She instead repeated, looking everywhere but at his eyes which were full of shock as the blond teen remained frozen in place.

"Who Marinette? Where Marinette? I don't see any Marinette. When did you see a Marinette?" She stammered, her words just spilling out. Finally, she looked up at Adrien and tried to give a convincing smile, but probably gave a pretty shaky one. Then, a little black, flying, cat thing, which Marinette figured was Adrien's - Cat Noir's - kwami, floated down until it was right in front of her face, merely about an inch away from her nose.

"Uh... you?" It said, pointing right at her while she had to cross her eyes to see the little thing. Plagg , she remembered, after hearing Cat Noir talk about his kwami once. Startled, Marinette jerked her head back. "Me?" She asked, pointing to herself. "Why me? I- I'm not Marinette!" She exclaimed, gesturing to her mask and her red and black suit. Well, to what she thought was her superhero suit. What she saw left her speechless.

As Marinette looked down at her clothes, instead of her superhero outfit, she was stunned to see her normal attire. Hands trembling, she lifted them up to her face, where her fears had been confirmed. She had been unmasked. Now Cat Noir, Adrien, knew who she truly was. It took Marinette a couple seconds to figure out exactly how this happened. " Tikiki!" Marinette exclaimed, feeling her face grow warm and forcing herself not to look at Adrien.

"Sorry Marinette," came Tikki's adorable voice, as the little Ladybug kwami settled herself down on the teen's open palm. "I think it's only fair he knew." Marinette swallowed hard, nodded, and taking a shaky breath, turned back to her partner, her crush, and her best friend, to see exactly what he thought of the "amazing Ladybug" now.

Adrien sneaked a glance away from Ladybug, Marinette ( Marinette!) to her little pink ladybug kwami. The kwami, Tikki, her name was, flew up to him and floated around his head in circles. "I have to say, I did not expect this! But it's amazing! You guys knowing each other is going to make it way easier to work together! Or… given your current… uh… situation , it could make everything a whole lot harder . But I'm sure you guys will figure it out. Master Fu chose you two for a reason… " Adrien blinked in surprise.

Tikki was so much more talkative, positive and supportive than Plagg. Although, he shouldn't have been too surprised. Like good luck and bad luck, well, Tikki and Plagg were good luck and bad luck, they would be polar opposites. But opposites attract, he observed, as Plagg went over to Tikki and the two flew to the side talking about who knows what, as if they had just seen each other yesterday. If only it was that simple in real life…

Adrien closed his eyes and tried to make sense of everything that was happening, How could Marinette be Ladybug? But she definitely was. But no on e would have been able to guess that the shy, clumsy, yet (I'll admit) cute, girl who sat me and was late for everything, was actually the best superhero (even better than myself) saving Paris. Although, I never did see Marinette and Ladybug at the same place at the same time… together…

Adrien opened his eyes and looked at Marinette down on the floor in front of him. Except now she was turned away from him, head facing down. He wanted so much to talk to her, to comfort her, like he did when she was Marinette, and like he did when she was Ladybug. He looked at Marinette, really looked at her, and saw that it was a wonder he hadn't known sooner. Marinette and Ladybug had the same raven-blue hair and gorgeous bluebell eyes. They had the same fair skin and build.

And he realized it wasn't just their physical traits. Their personalities and beliefs were so similar when Marinette let her Ladybug side show. She had the same leadership qualities when standing up for what she believed in, like when she ran for class president, or whenever she stood up to Chloe. Marinette also had Ladybug's style and grace… well, when she wasn't around him at least. And her voice… they had the same sweet, strong, melodious voice that he loved to hear every day.

I just never realized it - any of it. I never bothered to get to know Marinette for who she was. Maybe then I would have realized… No. No time to dwell on the past. Marinette, Ladybug, they are one and the same, and I was a fool not to see it sooner. He let that thought bounce around in his head for a while, it resonating in his every heartbeat, as the blond teen came to a stunning conclusion.

I loved Ladybug, but she rejected me because she was in love with me, without knowing it was me. Every day, I was so caught up in my crush on Ladybug that I never noticed that Marinette liked me. All of this emotional drama could have been avoided if I wasn't so… dense. I thought Marinette hated me ever since that fateful first day when we met for the first time…

Adrien thought back to every single time Marinette and him had interacted. She always stuttered, and could never seem to finish a sentence around him. He had always assumed it was because he made her nervous. You know, considering that his dad was her favorite fashion designer. Also, while she was elegant and graceful in everything she did, the minute he stopped to smile at her, something would always fall.

And it was most often her. Plus, she seemed to go red as a tomato around him. He always just deducted it to the fact that she didn't like him. Although, now that he actually took the time to think about it, he swore that in one of her stammering lines he caught an "I like you" or a "I'm into you" slipped somewhere in there. So sure, she may act really nervous around him as Adrien. But when he visited her at Cat Noir, she was bold and snarky and confident. Almost like… Man, he was such a dummy!

Adrien thought back to Marinette's - Ladybug's - confession.

-I've gotten to know him for who he really is… I'll admit I didn't like him much when we first met. I sorta accused him of scheming with the school bully to make my life miserable, but… I was wrong. I was so wrong! He helped me out, and I realized that there's so much more to him than meets the eye.

He's so sweet and kind and misunderstood. And yes, he's cute too. But besides that, he's amazing. And even though I've hardly ever been able to talk to him, I… I think I love him-

Just a mere 10 minutes ago, the thought of Marinette being Ladybug had crossed his mind - and yet he had pushed it away. Now, with the true Ladybug in front of him, there was no doubt in his mind that Ladybug was truly the one his heart was fully devoted to.

And if Ladybug was Marinette - shy, strong, amazing, beautiful Marinette - then he loved her. All of her. Adrien hadn't been joking when he said that he would love the girl in the mask, no matter who it would be. But after knowing that it was Mari the whole time, and hearing that she loved him for him right from the start, he may have loved Marinette even more so than Ladybug.

He would love her, and Ladybug, with all of his heart, and couldn't think of anything better than staying by her side for all eternity. If she would still have him, that is.

Marinette stared at the ground, wishing for it to rise up and swallow her whole. She didn't need to know anymore how Adrien felt once he found out "the great Ladybug of Paris, heroine of love" was merely clumsy Marinette.

She had already seen too much. The look of shock that had registered on his face, and the dead silence that followed, had been answer enough. Plus, now he knows exactly how I feel about him, and where to find and avoid me like the plague. Thanks a lot Tikki, Marinette thought bitterly to herself, the first tear sliding down her cheek.

She knew she couldn't blame Tikki like this. After all, the little kwami was right; Adrien did give up his secret identity for her, and to give him his greatest wish… she couldn't take that away from him. But still, she wouldn't mind it so much (at al really) if she wasn't so… her. Then maybe Cat Noir seeing her for who she truly was would be an amazing thing. Maybe there could really be something between them.

Maybe he wouldn't be disappointed. Maybe everything would be okay after all. Maybe-

"You okay Bugaboo?"

The voice cut through her thoughts. Was he really talking to her? After his reaction? No, she decided. He couldn't be talking to me. Not now. It has to be a distant memory of his voice; my mind playing some sort of twisted trick on me. He isn't here. Cat Noir isn't here. He left, too disgusted by me. Our partnership is ruined, my chances at love - gone. The world is doomed. All because of me…

But still, Marinette had to know, just once, whether that voice was real. Whether there was a chance, at all, that hope wasn't lost. As she slowly and cautiously turned her head up, the first thing Marinette saw were bright green eyes, looking down at her, and a hand reaching out, just waiting for her to grasp it.

As she took Cat Noir's - Adrien's (wow that was hard to get used to) - hand, Marinette saw a small, shy smile appear on his face, which was now flushed red. Immediately, all of the hope that had gathered up in her heart in these last few seconds drained out, and replaced by an even more daunting thought. He feels sorry for me. Cat Noir… Adrien… whoever he is, both of them, it doesn't matter! Neither of them would ever love me.

As soon as he helped her stand up and she was back on her feet, Marinette pulled her hand out of his. She noticed he had held on still, for half a second more, before releasing it from his grasp. She didn't know what to do now, and by the looks of it, neither did he.

So Marinette ducked her head down and thought. Adrien seemed to be doing the exact same thing. Wow, we really are soulmates! No, Mari, focus. Leaving seemed really rude, and she simply couldn't think of anything at all to say. Well, except for one thing… she definitely had to know something for sure.

"So, I guess you're disappointed, huh?"

Both of their heads snapped up in surprise at the sound of two voices going off at once. Marinette blinked. How could Cat Noir, egotistical Cat Noir, who was also Adrien, perfect Adrien, possibly think that she would be… disappointed? She rushed forward into an explanation.

"What? No! How could I be disappointed? I mean you're Adrien, but also Cat Noir, and Cat Noir flirts with me. Uh… I mean Ladybug! Which is also me, and so you've been flirting with me for months, without knowing it. And I've always turned Cat Noir down, which means I've turned you, my humongous crush, down too.

Although, I thought you were Cat Noir, which you are, but I still feel bad about that, since the only reason was that I was hopelessly in love with you, Adrien Agreste. And since you're Cat Noir, that means you love Ladybug, I mean me, and I loved you, I mean Cat Noir? Both?

Oh and I also just accidentally admitted that that in front of you - so now you know how I truly feel - and I can't possibly get any more embarrassed today. Well… except for maybe now. What I'm trying to say is that there is no possible way for me to be disappointed. Shocked, yes, but ultimately thrilled."

Marinette finished her rambling, slowing down at the end as all of her overexcited energy left her, having said all that she wanted to.

Her cheeks flushed an adorable shade of red, as the raven-haired teen looked down and turned away. Adrien stood in delighted shock. In the midst of all of her rambling, he got his answer. She wasn't disappointed. And she loves me. She always loved me.

He was so lost in thought that he had almost missed what she said next.

"But there's no denying it - you are definitely disappointed." He gasped in shock at her question. No, at her statement. Adrien's heart broke at how sure she was that he wouldn't love her. He reached out and placed a hand on her shoulder. She didn't turn around, but didn't flinch either. The words came pouring out of him as his thoughts spoke for themselves, straight from his heart.