Again, that you all for you thoughtful reviews. I am taking notes on many of your ideas and hope to use them in the future. In response to my guest reader who offered to be my beta reader, you said here is my e-mail... and then no e-mail showed up. I am not ignoring you. I literally had no idea how to contact you.

I hope you all enjoy this chapter.

( )

The ticking of the clock echoed throughout the vastness of the foyer as I paced back and forth across the cold, hard tile. Marinette would be here any second, in my home, for the first time since we had been dating, or whatever one would call what we had been doing. Waiting until today, Friday, to talk to Marinette about what had been on her mind all week had been pure, unfaltering torture. Even though we were able to have normal conversations, I could see that something inside was bothering her. In fact, with each passing day, she seemed to become more and more distraught. She tried to hide it behind forced smiles and empty laughter, but it was there - just waiting to be unleashed.

I originally had thought that her distracted behavior may have had something to do with the way I had responded to her on the phone. I had really wanted to hang out with her so that I could figure some things out. However, she told me that she had other plans. The high hopes that I had held about her opening up to me about her daring act of heroism had been dashed, and I was left to deal with all of my suspicions and doubts on my own. It had frustrated me that I wouldn't get the chance to appease my mind. I had taken out that frustration on Marinette in a curt and totally uncalled for manner.

I apologized to Marinette thinking that that would ease her mind, but her behavior never really changed. Then, I knew, that her distress must have something to do with the scene I had witnessed nearly a week prior. She obviously was still trying to process everything that had happened before sharing the details of her daring rescue with me. I couldn't even imagine what could be going through her head about that particular event. I wondered if she was afraid of something like that happening again, or if, by chance, she was more afraid of herself for what she had done. Either way, I looked forward to hearing about those answers, myself, once she arrived.

However, I was not looking forward to sharing with Marinette what had been on my mind. There was no way that I could possibly tell her that I had been suspecting her as possibly being Ladybug. I didn't even know if my suspicions were logical or if I was just projecting Ladybug onto to Marinette because of my recent contact with my former crush. If Marinette was Ladybug, then I would have no reason to worry about responding to her letters. But if Ladybug wasn't Marinette, then was I just a crazy lovesick fool that was confusing my feelings with the girl that I was currently dating with the girl that I had previously loved? Everything was just so complicated, and there was no way that I could share any of that with Marinette - not without giving away the fact that I am Chat Noir. There was one thing, though, that I could possibly talk to Marinette about. Something else entirely that had been plaguing my mind.

It had all started when Mari had randomly asked me, about halfway through the week, if I had been in contact with Chloe over the last few years. Of all people to have brought up Chloe, I would have never expected it to be Marinette. Upon inquiring about this sudden interest in our former classmate, Marinette had just vaguely responded by saying that she had run into Chloe over the weekend and was surprised to see how much she had changed. A sudden pang of guilt clenched deep within my stomach when I realized I had neglected to contact Chloe letting her know that I was back in Paris. Chloe, at one point, was my only friend. It was foolish and thoughtless of me to not even let her know that I had returned.

That evening, I had decided to give Chloe a call. I apologized for not keeping in better touch with her over the years. Of course, I had called her to wish her a Merry Christmas each year, but besides that, I had barely talked to her. It was strange, though, that the first Christmas that I had tried to call, I only ever got her voicemail. I tried a few times, but it never even rang. The next year, and the following years after that, she had answered and merely wished me a joyous holiday in return.

After my apologies, Chloe simply brushed them aside saying that it really been her fault that we had fallen so out of touch. She told me that she had made some big changes in her life and that she had been afraid of what I would think of her if I knew. The fact that Chloe thought that I was actually shallow enough to judge her based on whatever changes she had made in her life deeply troubled me. It caused me to wonder if I had only been seen as some sort of snobby rich kid who only cared about the status that one carried in society. Certainly, I had hoped that Chloe knew me better than that, but maybe she never even really knew me at all. Maybe she did only see me for my fame and my money.

A loud knocking on the door brought my thoughts back into the present. My heart was pounding and my limbs were trembling in nervous anticipation. This was it. Marinette and I would finally get a chance to talk without a time limit and without the chance of others listening in on our conversation. I wiped the sweat off of my hands onto my jeans as I headed towards the entrance. Upon opening the door, my eyes were greeted by the site of near perfection. Every time that I have glimpsed Marinette outside of her usual work get up, my breath is instantly taken away, and this time was no exception. The simplistic beauty of her casually comfy attire showcased her features perfectly. It make me want to just wrap her up in my arms and snuggle her for an eternity.

The day had brought an endless deluge of a dreary downpour, which obviously played into Marinette's choice in clothing. She was wearing an oversized, thin grey hoodie that hugged her slightly past her hips. Black leggings and a pair red rainboots with black polka dots completed the look. Her hair was pulled back into a loose, messy bun that was held up by a bright strawberry-red scrunchy.

"I'm so glad to see that your dad took dow that creepy security system," Marinette giggled. "I wish you had told me; I was nervous just thinking about it the whole way here."

I couldn't help but to laugh. Honestly, I hadn't even thought about it. My dad had gotten rid of that system not long after he gave up his miraculous. Along with ditching his role of being Hawkmoth, his paranoia had greatly diminished . "I'm sorry, Mari. We got rid of that ages ago. I should have told you that I was going to leave the gate open. Oh well, hindsight twenty twenty they say." I put on the most devilish smile I could muster and then grabbed Marinette's hand swiftly dragging her towards my room. "Come on! Let's go play Ultimate Mecha Strike 7. You're so gonna lose."

( )

Mecha strike had been the perfect ice breaker to upstart a conversation with Marinette. Not once did I see the disappointed look or worry in her voice that I had become accustomed to seeing and hearing throughout the week. We discussed strategy and how much we enjoyed playing together just like it was old times. It was an intense battle in which I was determined to win. I leaned forward with immaculate concentration putting everything that I had into that remote. Marinette simply sat relaxed on the couch, barely tapping the buttons as if she was playing some sort of fashion design game. However, round after round, despite all of my best efforts, Marinette completely crushed me.

At some point throughout the battle, although I couldn't attest to when, Marinette had squirmed her way right next to me. It had felt so natural, that I simply wrapped by arms around her and continued to play. It was times like this, that Marinette and I felt perfect together. Almost like we were meant to be. The tension within my body relaxed, but the competitive spirit within never went away.

After my tenth time of losing in a row, I couldn't take it anymore. I had to beat Marinette at something, even if that wasn't Ultimate Mecha Strike 7. "Oh, it's on now," I smirked while reaching my hands around to tickle her beneath her ribcage. An instantaneous giggle erupted from Marinette causing her to fall back on the couch.

"A-Adrien…" she laughed, "why….are… y-you…..doing this…. To….m-me?"

"To prove my dominance, of course," I snickered while moving my fingers up and down her sides. Her harmonious giggles were full of pure joy and happiness. It had been so long, it seemed, that I had seen Marinette truly enjoying herself that I found myself wanting to be trapped in this moment for a lifetime. Then, without warning, Marinette shoved me to the floor and hoisted herself on top of me.

Her eyes were sparkling as a playful smile spread across her face. "Well, two can play at that game." She reached forward to begin her own barrage of tickles, but I was much faster. I grabbed her on either side of her waist and flung her around while simultaneously placing myself above her - holding her arms down above her head. Marinette laid breathless on the ground as I was positioned above her with my knees on either side of her waist, my hands on her wrists, and my face only inches from hers. Her face became as red as her scrunchy, and she looked at me with large eyes that were full of surprise.

"You know," I whispered leaning forward so that I could speak directly into her ear, "I really thought that I would win at least one of those rounds seeing as how I had my lucky charm and everything."

Marinette gasped, making me pull back up into my original position so that I could see the reaction upon her face. "You still have that? I gave that to you years ago!"

I let go of her wrists and slid over so that I could help her up and sit next to her. "Of course I kept it, Mari. How else was I supposed to ever have a hope at beating you?" I allowed a playful smirk to paint itself upon my face as I reached over and toyed with a strand of Marinette's hair causing her slightly faded blush to regain its full strength. With my other hand, I reached into my pocket and pulled out a string that was made of mostly pink beads and a large green one. "But obviously it wasn't very useful. Maybe I should just throw it out…." I dangled the charm in front of Marinette's face while looking towards the trash can. I tried to stand to walk towards the receptacle, but Marinette stopped me.

"Don't you dare, Adrien Agreste," Marinette threatened while grabbing onto my arm and pulling me back to the ground, "I promise it's lucky." She then stuck her nose up in the air much like a pompous queen who is trying to prove her superiority over her subjects and then royally declared, "It's just that mine must be luckier."

"No….," I said with sarcasm. "Don't tell me that you have yours, too?"

Marinette reached into the pocket of her hoodie and pulled out a long string that was adorned with yellow and blue beads. It was the first time that I had seen the pair together since I had made hers so many years before. I was glad that she still had it.

"I always keep it with me," Marinette smiled. "It reminds me of you." Her face turned pink as she hastily added, "I-I mean lucky makes me! No! I-It makes me lucky!"

I couldn't help but to laugh at Marinette's embarrassment. I could have bugged her about thinking of me even when I was in China, but I decided that it would be best not to. I knew that she had had a crush on me throughout the years; there was no need to make her feel uncomfortable about it. I'd let her in on my little secret, instead

"I've often used mine ever since you gave it to me, as well," I began. "I always took it into exams and brought it along in uncomfortable situations." Marinette leaned her head against my shoulder as I went on, "It always made me feel peaceful and calm….. and I guess, in some way, it always made me think of you."

As soon as I uttered those words, a new thought entered my mind. I wondered if it really had been the lucky charm that had filled me with such ease, or if it had been what the lucky charm had always made me think of. The possibility that the comfort I had felt had come from thinking of Marinette - even before I had developed feelings for her - had me deeply confused. If that was the real reason for my luck, then did that mean that I actually already did feel something for her? Had I secretly felt something towards Marinette all of those years without even knowing it?

Marinette sighed, lifting her head from my shoulder and pulled herself back onto the couch. She pulled her knees into her chest and rested her chin upon them with that saddened look, returning to her eyes. I knew that her thoughts must have drifted back to whatever had been troubling her all week. I stood and slowly joined her on the couch placing my arm across her shoulders.

"Do you want to talk?" I hesitantly asked. I didn't want to force her into anything that she wasn't ready to talk about, even though this whole evening had been her idea.

Marinette sighed while pulling her knees in even closer, "Not really." The now dim evening light cascaded upon Marinette's face in a final attempt to illuminate the hidden truth that Marinette was so carefully safeguarding. I knew that Marinette was keeping something from me and for some reason, the fact that she was not ready to open up to me felt like a jab in the heart. It was a pain that was completely unexpected and utterly unfair to Marinette that I would even be feeling this way. I, myself, had secrets that I was not ready to share with Marinette, so why, I wondered, was it that it hurt so much when she didn't share hers with me?

Then, as I gazed upon her absolute beauty, I understood. Marinette and I had yet to earn that kind of trust with each other. Of course I knew that. That was why we had decided that we could not call ourselves boyfriend and girlfriend yet. However, knowing that we were not to that point of sharing everything and actually experiencing the rejection of not being told something are two different things. I wanted Marinette to trust me enough to share everything with me. I wanted her to open her heart, so that I could know her inside and out. Also, I wanted to share my heart and my secrets, but, no matter how desperately I wanted to be ready for those things, we just simply...weren't there yet.

As I pondered what it would take for Marinette and me to earn that kind of trust, she took a deep breath and whispered, "But I have to tell someone, Adrien." Marinette then lifted her head and turned to stare directly at me. The irises of her eyes caught perfectly in the path of the final rays of the sun causing them to glisten and dance - entrapping me within her gaze. "And right now," she whispered, "the only person that I want to talk to….. is you."

My heart nearly stopped. Marinette was finally opening up to me. No matter what she said, I would be grateful. This was the first step in developing a real relationship with Marinette. "I'm listening," I barely managed to croak out, "and I will help you in whatever way I can."