They stayed there in silence for what seemed like an eternity, but the Adrien asked a question that took her completely off guard.

"Why...why did you kiss Cat Noir? I thought you hated him." he sounded hurt. Of course he was. She basically cheated on Adrien since she didn't know he was Cat at the time.

"I never hated, Cat Noir. Not ever." she admitted, more to herself than him. "I...I think...no. I know, I loved him. I just...didn't realize it. But then, he was dead, or so I thought, and it all...kinda clicked, I think."

"Sounds like how I felt about Marinette. She was a good friend, but now I see that she was always more than that. I only had eyes for Ladybug, so I didn't even think about my feelings towards anyone else." There was a long pause before his next question.

"Do you….do you still love Adrien?" he prodded, but she wasn't sure how to answer that question.

"Does that really matter anymore? Cat Noir is Adrien."

"It matters to me. Just like me loving Marinette and not just Ladybug matters to you."

"Honestly, I don't know how I feel anymore. About Adrien or Cat Noir. So much has happened and I just...I don't know."

"Would you please look at me?" Marinette didn't move and there was a yet another long pause in their conversation.

"I can't imagine how much it hurt. Thinking Cat was gone." he noted. "I'm sorry I let you kiss me like that. I didn't mean to hurt you. I'm sorry. I just...kinda forgot for a moment. You know, that you thought I was two different people. I'm not mad, you know. " he chuckled. "I actually really liked that kiss."

She glanced up at him, but quickly looked away, blushing at the thought it was Adrien she had made out so passionately with.

"I'm sorry," she said quickly, "This is...it's just...god dammit, why is it so hard to talk to you?" she hadn't really meant to say that last part out loud, but it was too late. She buried her face again in shame. "I'm so sorry, Adrien." she muttered.

"So...we are back to Marinette not being able to form a single sentence around me...awesome." Adrien said, sounding slightly annoyed.

"Wait a minute! Would it be easier to talk to Cat?" he sounded almost giddy, deepening Marinette's embarrassment. "It would be wouldn't it! I have to admit, I'm a little jealous, but you've always been more comfortable around him."

"What? No, I mean...I am…" She tried to look at him, but still couldn't. She was talking to Cat Noir, but without the mask, it all felt strange to her. It didn't feel like talking to the black cat with really bad puns. She moaned, wishing she wasn't so stupid. Adrien chuckled again before calling out for his kwami.

"Plagg, claws out. Now, will you look at me, bugaboo?"

Marinette slowly glanced up. Green, cat-like eyes surrounded by a black mask met hers. It was the face she knew so well, trusted so fully, and, she now knew, loved so dearly. Cat Noir. Her partner. Her friend. The friend that, for a moment, thought she would never see again. Never have the chance to tell him how much she really cared.

He held out his arms and she couldn't help but throw herself into them, bursting into a renewed spell of crying. She felt foolish, but Adrien had been right. It was easier with the mask. After all, she had been best friends with that mask much longer than she had been dating Adrien. His arms wrapped around her tightly.

"It's ok, milady. I'm right here." he whispered into her ear. "I've always been right here." She looked up at his face and knew he was telling her the truth. His face was so close to hers. He reached up and wiped away the tears on her face with his thumb. Then, slowly, he brought his lips to hers.

The sensation of kissing him chased out all the fears and hesitations inside her. Marinette closed her eyes and kissed him back with just as much passion as she had the other day. She let herself get lost in the kiss, reaching up and wrapping her hands around his neck. He pulled back briefly to whisper to her.

"I have an idea." He kissed her again before continuing. "Keep your eyes closed." She didn't know what he was planning, but she didn't care as long as he didn't stop kissing her. She ran her fingers through his hair, pulling him closer. After a few more moments of kissing, he pulled back again.

"Plagg, claws in," he said quickly and, before she could even react, he was kissing her again. The kiss felt the exact same. The same passion. The same sweet lips, the same soft hair, the same strong arms holding her close. He tried to stop kissing her, but she would let him.

Not yet. I'm not ready yet.

She hadn't said it outloud, but he seem to grant her unspoken request. Finally, she was out of breath and she let him pull away.

"Open your eyes, milady." he said sweetly. Of course, when she did, she didn't see Cat Noir, but Adrien. That's when it clicked inside her. She gasped slightly. She could see him. Every aspect of Cat Noir was right there. And he had been there the whole time. Like he had said, Cat Noir was a part of Adrien and she felt stupid for not seeing it before.

Then all the confusion and pain from the last few days disappeared from inside her. The pieces that she didn't know how to reassemble clicked into place. This was Cat Noir. This was Adrien. And she was Marinette, who was also Ladybug. And all of her belonged to all of him. Nothing else that had happened mattered. Not as long as he was holding her.

"Kitty?" she asked.

"Yea?." he smiled at her.

"No more tv interviews," she said with a frown on her face. Adrien blinked in surprise, but then smiled.

"But I fixed it. I fixed everything, just for you, princess!"

"You also told the world Ladybug and Cat Noir are dating." she said flatly.

"But…" he looked like a sad, abandoned kitty-cat, "we are...aren't we?"

"Marinette and Adrien are, but I don't think Cat Noir asked Ladybug." The corner of her mouth curled up in a slight smile.

"Are you going to make me transform again?" He asked with a mischievous grin on his face. "Because we'll need more camembert if you do."

"I guess not," she almost laughed at his expression, "But maybe Cat Noir should set the record straight the next time he sees Ladybug?"

"I'll be sure to tell him that, milady." he looked sad for a moment, but the continued. "Can you forgive me, princess? For being a such dumb pussy cat?"

"Hmm...I don't know. I think a few more kisses might be needed for that." She grinned at him, playfully.

"If that's what milady wants, that's what milady gets." Marinette couldn't help but giggle as he pulled her close. Getting ready for another round of kissing.

"I love you, kitty," she whispered.

"And I love you, bugaboo." He whispered back before starting to kiss her all over again.