"Plagg, I am such an idiot," I groaned as I stared blankly at the vast empty ceiling of my room. "Why did I act that way around Marinette? Why couldn't I control myself just a little bit?"

Plagg rolled over on my pillow and his stomach rumbled. "It's too early for this kind of talk, Adrien," he complained. "In fact, it's never a good time for this kind of talk." The little Kwami flew over and thudded onto my chest. Even without eating today, he still reeked of his favorite indulgence. "Look, kid. You're a complete fool whenever your around a girl you like. That's never going to change. Either she will like you for it or she won't. Don't change yourself just to impress a girl. Just be yourself, and if being yourself means you act like the idiot you were as Chat Noir then so be it."

"Thanks Plagg, I think."

He was right. I shouldn't be ashamed of myself for being true to who I am. Marinette had impressed me so much that evening, that I just could not hide that from her. She seemed to think that was okay. At least that's what she said. She definitely took my advance better than Ladybug ever would have.

A loud ringing from my cell phone caused me to nearly jump out of my bed. I answered it quickly to stop the incessant noise.

"Bro," Nino greeted me, "I need your help."

"Okay, buddy, what do you need?" I was happy for the interruption and something to take my mind off of Marinette.

"I need to you to talk to Marinette for me." So much for not thinking about Marinette.

"Uh... okay. Why?"

"She is Alya's best friend," Nino stated eagerly. "I need to know how to make a perfect proposal. Everything I think of is too lame. Marinette will know what I should do."

Nino was right. Marinette would know what to do. But how was I supposed to talk to her about something like this? Asking a girl that I am interested in about marriage proposals did not sound like my idea of fun.

"Why do you need me to talk to her? Can't you just do it yourself?" I asked hopeful that he would change his mind.

"You eat lunch with her like every day. You have a reason to be talking to her. Besides, I feel like I would get too nervous. I'm sweating just thinking about it right now."

Nino was my best friend. How could I not do this for him? Even if it might be incredibly awkward for me, I would just have to suck it up for Nino.

"Sure thing," I replied not as confidently as I would have liked. "You can count on me."

"Hmm," Marinette sighed, "This doesn't seem right."

During lunch, I had asked her where she thought Nino should propose. We agreed to meet after work and check some places out. We were currently standing on the Lovelock bridge, one of the most romantic places in Paris. The evening sun glistened off each of the locks reflecting their brilliance within the depths of Marinette's eyes. I couldn't help but to think about Marinette's eyes as she placed a lock on this very bridge with her own lover one day, which I secretly hoped would be me. (A/N I know that in real life the locks are being removed from the bridge. However, this is a predominate place in the cartoon, so I will go on as if nothing has changed)

"This place is just too cliche for Alya," she continued. "We need to find somewhere that is special to her."

"Of course," I grinned, "maybe we will have some better lock at the next place."

Marinette giggled, "Again with the puns? Are these going to be a common reoccurrence with you?"

"Only of the key fits my little lady," I smirked.

"I'll take that as a yes," Marinette huffed. "This is going to take some getting used to. You're not quite the Adrien I remember."

"Is that a good thing or a bad thing?" I asked, my feelings a little hurt.

"Well," Marinette said as closed the gap between us and peered up at me. "Seeing as how I would have never dared do anything like this..." she grabbed both of my hands and intertwined her fingers within mine sending a wave of electricity through my body, "I think that it's a good thing. As you become more comfortable with me, I can become more comfortable with you."

My heart felt as if it were about to explode out of my chest. Everything within my being yearned to draw closer to this beautiful girl in front of me. I gently slipped my hands out of her grasp and wrapped one of my arms around her waist pulling her flush against my body. I used my other hand to gently brush back her loose hair behind her ear.

"I could get used to that," I hummed.

Marinette's face turned beat red, but she didn't say anything. She didn't even flinch or act embarrassed like I thought she would. Instead, she boldly stared deeply within my eyes not even daring to blink. She didn't look surprised or even annoyed. It was a look that I had never seen before and I couldn't quite place it. I'd like to think that it was a reflection of my own gaze that I was seeing because I knew that my own stemmed from a place of curiosity and pure wonder at the person that I was beholding.

After an eternity, Marinette reached her hand up to scratch my hair. "Okay, silly. We should go to our next stop." I begrudgingly released my hold on her waist, but laced my fingers in her hand once again.

"Where to next?"

My stomach lurched and my head began to spin as we approached our next destination. The last time I had been here, I had had to tell the love of my life that we would never see each other again. Obviously that night had recurred many times in my nightmares and I had had no desire to ever revisit this place.

Now, Marinette gleefully lead me towards the Eiffel Tower as we continued to walk hand in hand. Honestly, being with Marinette was making this experience much better than it could have been. I was no longer in love with Ladybug, and I was in the presence of the girl that I was continually falling for. However, the memories of this place were still so bitter sweet that it was almost overwhelming.

We decided to take the elevator up to the viewing deck to see if this would be a good location for the proposal. "I don't think this is the right place," I said with a hint of sadness. "It doesn't feel like Nino." If anyone were to propose here, it should have been Chat Noir proposing to Ladybug.

"You're right," Marinette agreed, "there's nothing personal about this location at all. At least for Alya." She walked over to the railing to overlook the city. Instead of joining her, I found myself looking up to the beam that Ladybug and I had so often sat on. All of the sudden, a cloud moved from the sun allowing a flood of light to illuminate the entire area. I was surprised to see something reflecting the light from atop the beam that I had been staring at. I knew that the beam itself would not shine in the sun like that. Had something been placed there? What were the odds that something had been left on the very beam that had been mine and Ladybug's meeting spot? Did Ladybug leave something for me there? I had to find out. I decided that I would return after dark to see what it could be.

"What are you looking at," Marinette asked as she followed my gaze.

"I was just admiring the top of the tower," I lied. "Are you ready to check out the next location?"

"What are we doing at the zoo?" I asked Marinette as we walked up to the front entrance. A swift scent of corn dogs and animal feed made its way up my unsuspecting nostrils.

Marinette just giggled, "You seriously don't remember?" Remember? What could I possibly remember about the zoo? Why on earth would this be a romantic place to propose? "Just follow me." Again, Marinette took my hand and dashed throughout the park. If we hadn't been going so fast, I may have actually enjoyed being there with Marinette. At her speed, I couldn't even tell what animals we were passing. Since when had Marinette been such an aggressive leader?

We finally halted in front of a large cage and Marinette had a ginormous grin upon her face. Upon looking at the cage, I had an instant vision of Nino and Alya locked up in there. Suddenly everything clicked. This was the first place where Nino had taken a liking to Alya.

"Oh," I said, "I remember this place. Chat Noir and Ladybug locked Nino and Alya in here after a much failed attempt, on my part, at trying to help Nino win you over."

Marinette swung her body to face my direction. "You were helping him?! The only person that I wanted to actually like me was helping someone else try to date me? Well that just makes me feel great." She crossed her arms and stuck her bottom lip out just a hair.

"Wait," I responded, truly taken aback by what she had just said, "you liked me back then?"

The usual blush spread across Marinette's delicate cheeks as she glued her eyes to the ground. "Of course I did you big idiot," she whispered, "I was just too afraid to say anything."

I felt as if a truck had rammed into my chest. Marinette had had a crush on me even back then? How could I not have noticed? How could I have been so blind? She must have thought that I was terrible. I never even gave her chance. I was too busy being focused of Ladybug to notice someone perfectly amazing right next to me that obviously had noticed me. She was right. I was an idiot.

"I'm so sorry, Mari," I said as I placed my hand beneath her chin lifting it so that I could look into her eyes. "I wish I had known." I then pulled her in for a tight embrace holding her head against my chest with one hand and the other around her waist. "When did...when did you start having feelings for me?"

"It was...when you gave me your umbrella," she softly replied nearly breaking my heart. That had been when we had first met. Marinette had liked me since we first met and I had never known. How could I have been so heartless?

"Oh Mari," I responded as I choked back the tears, "could you ever forgive me?" I knew exactly what it felt like to be in love with someone who did not return your feelings. I had been through that with Ladybug. If Marinette even felt half of the heartbreak and disappointment that I had felt, then I needed to make it up to her. The fact that I could have caused her that kind of pain was nearly tearing me up inside.

Marinette backed out of my embrace only enough to lock eyes with mine. "Forgive you for what? For not knowing that I had a crush on you?" She giggled and let a remarkably beautiful smile spread across her face. "How could you have known? I couldn't even get out a single coherent sentence around you. Besides it's my fault for not just telling you in the first place." She cupped her gentle, soft hand upon my cheek. "Forget about it. You are here with me right now, and that's all that matters."

I leaned my head forward so that our foreheads were touching. "Thank you. Thank you for always being there for me. Even if I didn't know it." I had always wanted someone to care about me. At that point in my life, it felt like no one did. Just knowing that someone was actually out there that cared for me during those times, made my heart soar. "You know, this place is perfect. This is where Nino should propose."

"Okay, kid," Plagg groaned as he munched on some cheese, "tell me again. What does seeing a shiny box have to do with me?"

I rolled my eyes as the glutinous Kwami continues to engorge himself. I had already told him the plan at least three times. If he didn't listen to it then, he wouldn't listen to it now. "Ugg, I'm not saying this again. Don't say I didn't try to warn you. Claws out!"

Wails of panic and anger erupted from the little cat as he was sucked into my ring. A pure sense of exhilaration entered my body as the magic began to transform me. My usual clothes were replaced with tight black leather that was completed with a belt like tail. My face was adorned with the always useful, yet sometimes irritating black mask. A tingling sensation sprung from my head as a pair of cat ears appeared immediately bringing the sound of the cars driving down the street and the birds singing in the trees. I scrunched my nose at the now amplified stench of the Camembert cheese.

As the transformation completed, I took out my baton and leaped out the window. Even though it had been years since I had vaulted through the streets of Paris, it came back to me naturally, just like riding a bike. I couldn't help but to let out a few excited yells as I soared through the air. Man, how I had missed this.

A wave of nausea greeted me as I approached the tower. Marinette was not with me this time to help ease the pain. Images of my last conversation with Ladybug filled my mind making it hard for me to concentrate on my assent up the side of the structure. Just as I was envisioning the kiss that I had placed upon her cheek, I missed my footing and nearly fell to the ground. Thankfully, I caught myself on a beam several feet below where I had been. I decided that it would be best to concentrate on my climb. It had been a while since I had done anything like this.

My eyes caught a glimpse of something shining in the moonlight above me. I hurried my pace to reach the location of the glimmer. Sitting upon the beam, I discovered a tiny metallic box. I knew that it had to have been placed here for a purpose and that it must have been Ladybug who had done it. How long had this box been sitting here?

I picked up the container, but I could not bring myself to open it just yet. What could Ladybug possibly have put in here? Was it a gift, or could it be empty? I shook the box, but there was no sound. It had been so long since I had had any sort of contact with Ladybug and I wasn't sure if I wanted to open that door again. I was happy spending my time with Marinette. Would opening this box change that? Could I allow that to happen?

I gripped the box and extended my baton. I would just have to decide whether or not to open it up when I got home. The journey back seemed to take much longer than the journey there. Butterflies were swarming in my stomach at the thought of what could be in the box. I detransformed as I hurdled through the window sending a much distressed Plagg flying across the room.

"Why I aughtta," he was raging.

"Not now, Plagg, I have more important things to think about."

"Such as what? When you are going to get me some more cheese?"

"Stop worrying about yourself for a moment. Can't you see I'm in distress?"

The little Kwami flew over and landed on the silver box that I was holding in my hands.

"Ooo," he sung, "what's this, Adrien?"

"It's something that Ladybug left for me..."

"Well... are you going to open it?" Plagg asked as he bounced on the box.

"Do you think I should?"

Plagg stopped jumping and replied, "Nah, you should get me some cheese first."

Of course Plagg wasn't going to be any help. I flicked him off of the box and placed my hand on the lid ready to open it. But what about Marinette? Would things change with her if I opened this box? No, I wouldn't let that happen. No matter what I found inside, I would not let that change anything.

The butterflies and nauseous feeling intensified as I slowly unlatched the small clasp and lifted the lid. Inside, I could see a sheet of stationary paper that was folded up into fourths. Ladybug had written me a letter. I pulled the parchment to my chest and slid against my bedroom wall until I was seated on the floor with my knees bent in front of me.

Plagg flew over and landed on my left knee. "Seriously, kid, if you're going to read it, just do it. Especially if I have to wait for my cheese until you finish. Geez I've never seen anyone draw something out so long before."

I sighed, "Sorry, Plagg. It's just that... I'm terrified that reading this letter could change things. I just don't know if I'm willing to let that happen."

Plagg moaned, "Just read it! I don't want to hear you complaining about wondering what it said later. It's up to you how you respond."

I nodded my head in agreement as I gently unfolded the document in my hands. I looked down to see the beautifully written message on the page below.

Dear Chat,

I know that it has been a long time since we have seen each other. For some reason, you have been on my mind a lot lately. I just want to know if you are okay. It's been hard for me having a friend that I no longer know anything about. Not knowing where you are or how you are doing has been keeping me unsettled.

As for myself, I am doing well. I recently started my dream job and I have been reconnecting with an old friend. I guess that's why I have been thinking about you. Reconnecting with one friend made me want to reconnect with another.

I miss you,

LB

"Look who misses you, Mr. Popular," Plagg smirked. "What are you going to do?"

The butterflies that I had been feeling felt more like bunnies hoping around now. If I had gotten a letter like this three years before, my heart would have been racing. It wasn't like that now. Instead, there was a war going on inside of me. Part of me knew I should reply. My Lady needed the comfort of knowing that I was doing okay. On the other hand, if I opened this line of communication, would my feeling for her begin to return? I couldn't do that to Marinette. However, I couldn't leave Ladybug wondering about me for the rest of her life. I had often wondered myself how she was doing. Knowing that she was happy brought me joy. I had to reciprocate that feeling for her.

"I'm going to reply." I whispered as the weigh of what I had just said began to sink in.

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This is my longest chapter yet. I'm really excited about the direction this book is taking. It is going to be fun to see the relationships develop and the secrets unfold.