Author's Note: This is a fic based off of a comic written and drawn by hogeky on tumblr by the same name. Please go there to view images and support her comic!

Permission was received to write this fic.

Marinette stood utterly mortified. What could he mean by refusing to accept her letter? It couldn't be that all of his affections had vanished, could it? Her jaw tightened and a pang went through her chest. She lowered the hands that held out her overdue reply, defeated by his expression.

"Please don't apologize," he went on. "I should be the one apologizing for what I've done." His breath was a deep and heavy sigh. "I… I lied." Ladybug's grip tightened and she felt the bite of her nails in her palm. "I lied about loving you.

"A lot has changed during these past few weeks. I finally started to understand my own feelings." In honesty, he felt extremely guilty for having given Ladybug the letter at all. He loved her. Or rather, he loved her in the way that he knew of love. There was no denying that. But to ignore so much of what he had in front of him, and to change his mind so quickly, it didn't seem right. But he couldn't take it back either. He loved Ladybug. But he loved Marinette more.

"What I felt for you… it wasn't love," Adrien confessed. "I understood that after getting to know Her." His eyes shifted briefly to his bookshelf, where he kept a photo strip he and Marinette had taken together not long ago. It was the first time he had ever taken one, and she had been jokingly offended by his confession, extending an offer to pay for a strip. It had become one of his favorite things from Marinette, falling second only to the lucky charm he had received from her.

"When I think about, I'm not sure any words could express how I feel about her," he continued, remembering his own letter that he had given Ladybug weeks ago. At the time, the shocked expression on the superheroine's face reminded him fondly of Marinette's flustered behavior. It was humourous to consider. He seemed to have a type in that regard. "Actually, it's funny, but, she resembles you a lot."

Ladybug's lips thinned, and she bit on the inside of her cheek. This wasn't fair. How could she have been so blind as to wait for this long. Of course his feelings would have changed, especially since she had been avoiding him. But in Ladybug's place, Marinette was filling his time. Wasn't that enough? The feeling filled her chest with a warm pain, and the flow of emotions made her want to cry. It wasn't fair.

"To be honest, it was always her kindness and caring nature that made her so amazing. And the way she showed it that made her so unique. She's incredibly bold, brave, intelligent, creative, and just, amazing. I know I already said that, but… she is. And she was all that by just being herself." Adrien's eyes became unfocused, and she wondered just what he was thinking about. Probably fondly remembering something about her. Someone who was not Ladybug or Marinette. Probably. Hearing his description of his newest love, Marinette was dejected.

"It's what made me fall in love with her in the first place." The look on his face wrenched at Marinette's heart. It was a look of apology, longing, and complete and utter adoration. He was smitten, it was plain on his face.

It just wasn't fair. How could she fight against such a look? She bit her lip nervously, thinking through her decisions with care. Looking down at her own letter, she wanted to cry. Who did he like? Who could it possibly have been? She herself had been with him almost every time he had been allowed out of the house. Did he have a secret crush that Nino knew about? She'd be sure to grill him later; after she went home, cried a lot, and eaten through every bit of left over baked goods in the store. It wasn't his fault but it didn't mean she wouldn't cry. She thought back again to how she felt when she had first received his letter.

Even though you had no idea how Ladybug would respond, you didn't give up. You just wanted to let me know how you really felt.

She looked down at the envelope in her hands.

And that's exactly what I want too.

"Please read it no matter what," Ladybug started suddenly, stepping forward to grab Adrien's hand and place her letter in it. She did her best to ignore the complete and utter shock that crossed his face as he looked down at her. Despite her determination, it was difficult to hide the swelling in her throat. She couldn't cry now. Not only would it be unfair to Adrien, but her pride was at stake!

"I read your letter properly! Why can't you read mine?"

Author's Note: I WILL PREVAIL. I WILL WRITE. IT WILL BE FINISHED. Hogeky is almost finished with the original as well and the final chapter is coming out (13). It's looking good so far and I will get through this! Thank you for everyone who stuck around. Your patience is such a gift to have.

Also, sorry this chapter is so short. Not much happened in it and the inner monologue I originally gave Marinette contradicted with the next few chapters so I had to remove it.