After spring, summer; and after summer, autumn. In China, the most famous flower of Autumn is the chrysanthemum. Its long flowering symbolises a long and happy life.

It was a perfect autumn night. Warm enough to be outside in but not hot, with just the tiniest of breezes for freshness. Marinette watered the last of her plants, touching the closed flowers gently. "Sleep, little ones, til morning" she murmured under her breath. Nearby, Tikki snoozed under a green leaf, comfortable in the clear and pleasant night. Marinette put the watering can away, then slipped back into her room. "I'm going to bed now", she called to her parents. There was an answering mumble from below. It sounded like her dad might already be half asleep on the couch.

Good.

She picked up the bundle she'd prepared earlier, slipped back up through the trapdoor and poked Tikki. "Ready?" she smiled. The little kwami yawned and stretched. "Whenever you are. Did you pack me a cookie?"

"I did". She looked at the flowers, contemplating for a moment, then picked one of the sleeping chrysanthemums and carefully tucked it into the top of the bundle. "Tikki, spots on!"

Not so far away, Adrien rustled through his closet. "I know I put it in here, Plagg". The small black kwami floated indolently on thin air, contemplating the piece of cheese he held in one hand, and said nothing. The kid would work out what he'd done with it eventually.

"I'm going to be late!"

Still not worth saying anything. Plagg stretched his mouth around the cheese.

"Ah-ha!" Adrien re-emerged from the piles of gear – whyever did he have so much stuff, anyway? - with a bunch of flowers in one hand. They looked a little wilted in Plagg's opinion. Adrien pursed his lips, and didn't disagree. Eventually he shrugged and pulled out one chrysanthemum that seemed to have survived well enough. "It needs to be perfect", he said, "but one single perfect stem is better than a bunch of just all right." He grinned at the kwami. "That's everything", he said. "Claws out!"

The two superheroes met on the Eiffel Tower, on the perch they'd come to claim as "theirs". Ladybug arrived first by a mere minute, and was setting out a blanket across the wide iron beam when Chat vaulted in. Together, wordlessly, they pulled the edges of the blanket into place, and sat down. Their legs dangled as they watched the horizon.

"Thanks for agreeing to meet", Chat said finally. "I... I know we're not sharing anything about ourselves, but... I thought it would be nice if we could actually talk about anything other than whoever we're fighting." Including when we're fighting with each other, they both knew he meant.

Ladybug sighed. "I wish I could share about myself with you. You're my best friend." Chat smiled. It wasn't so long ago that he'd have felt hurt by those words, wanting more than to be relegated away. But... now he could hear the extra words inside her voice. Friend was still the best word for what they were. But it didn't even barely touch the borders of the country they found themselves in. "You're my best friend too", he replied. "We don't have to know the small stuff to know that."

"But the small stuff is important", she said, turning those lively blue eyes to him. "It's all the things that weave our lives into place."

"Are you offering?" he said with an amused glint. She gave him a wry half-smile and a gentle shoulder bump. "No".

There was a minute of silence. Just enjoying each other's company, a rare moment that they didn't have to be focused on their long battle.

"How long do you think this will take?" Chat said, voicing the thought on both their minds.

"I've no idea, honestly", Ladybug replied. "We have no idea who Hawkmoth is, no way to reach him. No leads." They lapsed back into silence, watching the city.

At the same moment they said "I have something for you", then looked at each other and laughed. Turning away, they each picked up something from their bag, then turned back.

Each of them held out a chrysanthemum to the other. They both looked down at the flowers, and back up at each other, and burst out laughing again.

"A chrysanthemum for all the time we've spent fighting together", Ladybug said.

"A chrysanthemum for all the time it might take in the future", Chat Noir replied.

"A long and happy life", they chorused. And smiled at each other.

"That sounds nice", Chat purred happily. "I'd like to spend a long time knowing you". Ladybug booped him lightly on the nose. "Me too, kitty", she said.

She looked into his eyes. "When this is over, I'd like it if we did share our identities. I'd love to know who the flirty, outrageously brave cat is behind the mask."

He gave her his best "hero of the city" look, flexing an arm. "Moi? I'm just a humble – but very beautiful – guy who looks grrrrreat in black leather". She giggled. He dropped the pose. "I'd like that too, my Lady". He reached out his other hand to her face. "I don't know who the girl behind the mask is, but I think she's amazing and the most creatively talented person I know. I'd be delighted to meet her in person."

"You'll be disappointed" she said, out of habit. His hand lifted her chin so that their gazes met, and his eyes answered Never. She believed him.

There was just one problem. She sighed, pulling away, and looked back out at the lights again. He did much the same. They sat there for several breaths.

"But until that time comes"... they both said simultaneously, then stopped.

"You first".

"No, you".

"There's a boy at school..." Ladybug said hesitantly. At almost the same moment Chat Noir said "There's a girl at school...".

They looked at each other, startled. Ladybug broke the moment first. "I've liked him for a long time, and I don't know if anything's going to come of it, but I'd like to see if we can actually get along. Lately we've managed to have a few conversations, and I think we might."

Chat Noir smiled. "I was going to say something similar. The girl I know isn't someone I know well, we've only been friends a short time. But I would like to get to know her a little bit better." He sighed again. "I don't want to lose any chance I have with you though."

"And I don't want to make anything more of what we have until we know who's under the masks", she replied sadly.

"I know", he said softly. Then he smiled. "I have an idea. There's a thing in the stock market called an option. You take out an option when you think you might want to buy shares in the future but you don't know if you're going to or not." He flashed her his goofy grin. "Milady, I'd like to take an option on you. And if you'll take one on me, that makes us even."

She tilted her head, considering. "So... you're saying we see how things work out in our civilian life with our respective possible crushes, but don't make anything serious or permanent until Hawkmoth is defeated and we have a chance to reveal."

"Pretty much. I mean, I wouldn't be getting into any big relationship before then anyway..." He fell silent. So did she. It was a valid point. So far, they'd been lucky and nobody had truly been hurt. They had no guarantee that things would stay that way.

"I like the idea", she said finally. "Before either of us makes any big decisions, we give the other first chance."

They smiled at each other, and held out their chrysanthemums again.

"I take an option on you, my Lady".

"I take an option on you, mon Chaton".

Their fingers exchanged the flowers and tangled with each other for just a moment. Then they let go and simply sat together looking at the view, flowers held loosely in their laps.