Chapter 18

-Chat Noir-

He knew it was time to end the secrets. He couldn't do this anymore. Not after what had just happened. Ladybug turned to him and nodded in response. "We'll talk, let's each take a break to recharge our kwamis and then we'll talk. Meet back here?" Chat nodded, it was today or never. He ducked into a hiding place and detransformed, giving Plagg a piece of cheese before calling "Claws out!" Slipping back out to where he'd just talked to Ladybug, he saw the akumatized boy, Luka walking down the street with his sister and Rose. They would take care of him. He waited for a little while where she'd said to meet up, but she didn't pop up as soon as he expected her to. Five minutes passed. Six minutes. After seven minutes Chat began to worry. Was she just teasing him with her idea just so she could escape him to detransform? But finally he saw her on the other side of the rooftop, gesturing for him to follow her.

Ladybug led him down by the waterfront to the bridge where he'd taken Marinette, only confirming what he already knew. As he landed beside her, she went still and silent, staring out at the water. "Sorry I took so long," she said, "I was talking to my kwami." Chat didn't respond, but stood next to her, watching her face relax as the sun began to dip towards the horizon. Had so much time already passed? "I have something that I need to tell you," Chat admitted and the dark haired girl turned to face him, "I'm listening." Chat took a breath before spilling his secret, "I know who you are."

-Ladybug-

She'd never felt so shocked, not even when she'd discovered Chat's identity. What hurt was that he hadn't told her that he knew, but she chided herself that she held a secret of her own. He looked at her expectantly, waiting for her to react. Ladybug gathered her courage and locked eyes with Chat, "The truth is. . . I know who you are too." His surprise seemed equal to her own, and for a minute, both of them just looked at each other, remembering what the other looked like without the mask. "It makes sense that it's you," She said to him, studying his face a strange feeling encompassing her.

"I can see now that no one else could be you," Chat said, and Ladybug didn't move away as he stretched his hand toward her face. His covered hand cupped her cheek, tracing the edges of her mask and brushing back her hair in front of her earring. "I can't believe I never noticed your earrings. You were right in front of me the whole time." He breathed, drawing just a few steps closer. Ladybug felt a pounding in her heart as he edged closer and she was determined not to push him away this time. He was hesitant, careful as though he were afraid of her disappearing again. But he didn't need to be afraid anymore. So she decided to take it all away. Ladybug reached for him, grabbing his collar next to his bell and pulling him to her, placing her lips on his.

At first he seemed in shock, but after a moment, he answered her, kissing her back. Their lips molded naturally and Chat held her close to him, his arms cradling her gently. Ladybug held to him as well, forgetting her heartbreak in his kiss. After a short time, they both drew away, neither of them speaking, all words had lost meaning. She hugged him close and felt his heartbeat against hers. For a while, she enjoyed the peace of being close to him, when it truly hit her what had just happened. "Chat, what are we gonna do about this?" She asked, "How are we going to do this?" She rephrased.

-Chat Noir-

"Good question, Bugaboo," Chat said, "But I think now that we know each other's secrets, we can help each other, escaping class to fight akumas, going to Master Fu together to learn new strategies. Stuff like that." Ladybug nodded in understanding, but she didn't seem entirely satisfied, "Chat, what are we gonna do about us?" She asked, looking up at him. Chat wasn't sure how to put it, "I love you, and I don't want to pretend like there's nothing between us." He started, and Ladybug waited for him to finish, so he took her hands in his and looked straight at her, "Marinette," he began, wanting her to hear her true name from him, "Will you be my official girlfriend?" A smile crept across her face, and Chat already knew her answer before she said it, "Yes, kitty. But you know you're going to have to redo that for Alya and Nino, right?" She teased.
"Ha, sure. I will if I need to." She grinned at his answer, but she had one more question for him. "Are you ready for this adventure?" She asked, tipping slightly closer to him, "Because I know I am." Chat laughed a little, bringing another hand to her face, "Sure, lovebug. After all we've been through, what could happen?"

4ish years later-

-Marinette-

He should be back by now. He said it was just a short visit to his father's. Besides, they were going there for dinner tomorrow anyway. She watched from their apartment balcony as she spotted their car making its way down the street. Finally. She ran back to the kitchen to pull dinner out of the oven, placing it on the table that was already prepared for them. Dessert was pastries from her family's bakery. As she waited for him to walk upstairs, she turned back to the designs she'd been working on for her line, which had slowly taken over the living room, covering half the couches in sketches and idea books.

At long last, she heard the door click, and Adrien stepped inside, slipping off his coat. He spotted her with the designs and smiled, "How are the designs coming, Mrs. Agreste?" He laughed. Marinette beamed and stood up to kiss him hello. "My designs are coming along, how was the visit with your father, kitty?" She asked. Adrien managed to smile, "He's pleased with the designs you've been turning in, and he's excited to hear our news tomorrow." Marinette smiled, and Adrien held her close. With a small pause, Marinette knew it was time to share her news. "I felt a kick today," she said softly. Adrien let go of her and bent in front of Marinette's middle that was beginning to bulge.

He gently rubbed the bump and felt for a moment, and this time both he and Marinette felt a soft little flutter of the kick of their baby inside. "It's perfect." He sighed, and stood back up to hug his wife. "I can't wait to tell Father. He'll be so delighted. What if the baby has my mother's eyes?" He wondered aloud. Marinette gazed up at her husband, watching as his eyes took on that faraway look as he talked about their baby. She decided that tonight, they were going back to the bridge. She didn't care how Tiki and Plagg protested, they were going. She knew she wanted to remember the night that she knew that everything was going to be perfect. The night she and Adrien knew it was right. The night where she knew that she was done worrying about what could happen.

***That's the end everyone! I included the epilogue, just because Adrienette is beautiful. Hope you enjoyed the story! I'm still deciding on writing another fanfic, but if I do, keep an eye out for it! Thank you for reading!