I need to get to her. What am I doing just standing here? I turn to see which direction she heads in and notice its towards the Seine, immediately I reach for my staff thats attached to my back, and I feel nothing. "Oh, thats right". I sigh "I'm an idiot". I start to run after her, when I hear a very angry Alya yell my name. Frozen in my tracks, I turn to her and immediately run over to her.

I untie her from the post and she looks up to me and with hip cocked shot me a look that could melt rock. "I'm sorry, I had to help!"

"No you didn't, Agreste! You put yourself in danger and you could have been hurt! How am I supposed to explain this to Nino and Marinette?"

"I had it covered Alya. Besides, like your one to talk!" I say as out of habit my hand reaches up to rub the back of my neck. "You don't have to tell them, it can just be our secret".

"No can do pretty boy, they saw the whole thing". She mocks as she holds up her phone and immediately I blanche. I look at her smirk and she continues "What were you thinking? You're lucky I'm not one of those two, because I thought it was really cool, ya know, after I got over the fact that it was you, in fact you kinda reminded me of Chat Noir" she winked.

My breath hitched at his name, this time though, I didn't have to lie or divert the conversation. "She was in trouble, I had to help her! I didn't know if she had figured out his ability yet and I couldn't see her get hurt anymore, though she didn't like my Chat Noir comment, I should probably apologize" I look over to the direction she ran away in and glance to the closest building in that direction and see the Patisserie, perfect. "Alya, I'm going to go explain to Mari what happened, I'd better tackle it on head first".

"Cool, I'll come with you, I want something to eat after all this excitement".

"No!" I shout and quickly calm myself down. "I'd like to go alone, is that alright?"

"Oh, of course it is Agreste". Her smirk widening "Just, ya know, be gentle".

"Of course, why wouldn't I be?" I say confused.

"Good" she says with a full blown smile on her face. "I'll see ya later".

I turn from her still confused but I start running towards the Patisserie. The wind smells of sweets and warm bread, the smell reminds me of Marinette and a particularly fond memory I have of her and her family teaching me how to bake. I chuckle at the memory of flour everywhere and me trying to clean some off of her cheek, to only make it worse. I reach my hand up to my cheek and feel its warmth, that eternal battle that will forever rage on between the two women who mean the most to me. Oh, Alya's comment makes sense now, and now my whole face is red. I smack my cheeks and realize I am now at the side entrance to Marinette's home, and I glance back at the school and see that Alya is gone. I turn around and start running again towards the river.

I slow down to a walk, to not draw attention to myself, more than I already do, and start looking for any sign of her. It's a strange sensation, but I'm used to being in this part of town, only I'm more familiar with the roofs. I take a moment to let my mind wander, to remember the wind in my hair. The red beauty running beside me but mostly, the freedom that came with it. There it was again, the emptiness, deep in my stomach. Reaching again for the empty spot on my finger, I looked out over the river thinking about how I desperately needed to find her. My eyes fell on an older building across the river that I knew immediately, only it looked different from the ground. "Master…" I whisper, to no one in particular. "She has to be there".

I walked to the nearest bridge and crossed to get as close to the building as possible. The alley way next to the masters massage parlor was usually fairly vacant and it proved to be a good spot to transform when coming and going from his place. I decided that this is where I will wait for her. I sat down at the end of the alleyway behind the dumpster and out of view. Luckily, there were no restaurants that used this dumpster, so it did not smell too terribly. I settled in and reached for my phone. There were a few messages, one from Nino, Alya and a few from my fathers assistant, Natalie. Though, right now, I do not feel like talking to anyone. I need to get into the right mindset, because I am about to do the craziest thing I have ever done.

Then, it hit me. What am I going to say to her? 'Hey, its me Adrien, I know you don't want to know, but I'm Chat Noir, I know I haven't been around the past month, I lost my ring, help me find it?" I roll my eyes and curse myself under my breath, I am so frustrated with myself and I don't deserve help, after all the pain I have probably caused her. Especially after losing the single most important thing to me. 'No!' I yell to myself. 'You are doing this for her, she needs her partner back, even if that is not you. You have to help her get the ring back, you cannot let it remain in his hands, she will understand that'. I look down to the bright screen and pull up the games tab, I need to distract myself until she comes out.

CLANG! HISS! I'm jolted awake by what sounds like a can being knocked over by a cat. I hit my head on the brick wall behind me and immediately hiss myself as I reach my hand up to rub the spot.

'Where the hell am I?' I can barely see its so dark. I faintly make out the outline of the buildings at the end of the alley as I see the moon shinning off of the Seine. 'Oh, thats right, I'm at masters massage parlor'. 'Shit! Ladybug! I hope she didn't leave!' I stand up and start to leave the alley to see if there are lights still on. As soon as I take my first step the side door of the building pulls open and a light illuminates the front part of the alley.

Immediately I slink back behind the dumpster and I see a couple of figures exit the building. One, is no doubt the Master, he is a smaller Chinese man who is no taller than my chest, I see the bright red Hawaiian shirt that he always wears along with his hemp bracelet that has a jade turtle bead in the center. I recognize the voice of the other figure as Ladybug and I shut my eyes tight as she is not in uniform. We promised each other to not reveal ourselves, and I will respect that until the day I die, although, I am about to do just that, but I am ok with her knowing who I am, we have a mission to complete.

"Thank you again for the lessons today, Master, I hope to make you proud'. She says to the smaller man with a bow.

"You already do Ladybug, I wish it didn't come to this, but without the Cat miraculous, we are going to need as much help as we can get, now get home safe, we must prepare for whats about to happen," he says as he glances over to the dumpster.

I stop breathing at this notion. There is no way he knows I'm here!

"I'm sorry Master, what are we preparing for?" She asks confused.

His eyes divert from the dumpster to her, "Nothing yet, but I will be staying at my parlor tonight if anything comes up". With this, he says his goodbye and shuts the door.

"Uhhh, Tikki, what was that?" I over hear Ladybug ask who I am assuming is her Kwami.

"I'm not sure, but you know that the Master always has a reason for everything, I am sure we will find out soon". The little god replied to her holder.

"Well then, we should get going. Tikki! Spots on!"

How I miss that companionship, feeling as if he would never be gone. I took him and his friendship for granted, and would've never guessed that this emptiness could exist. Now, I'm living in it, and I'm drowning, and my only chance of survival is to take this chance now.

The alleyway shines a bright red as my soulmate becomes her alter ego, something I have always dreamed of watching, for now I'll just have to stick with being wedged between a dumpster and a crate, keeping my eyes shut as to not no break my promise. As I see the red fading, my heart races and jumps to my throat. I muster up all of the courage I can, because I am the bravest one of us, after all, and take a huge breath.

"Ladybug, wait!" I squeak from my throat. 'Smooth one, Adrien' I think to myself. I hear her breath hitch, in what I'm assuming is fear of the unknown. I watch her shadow reach slowly to her hip to grab her weapon.

"Please my lady, I bring you no harm. Its me…" I begin

"Chat Noir" we say in unison. Though hers was more of a question.

"Yes, please close your eyes, I am in my civilian form, you can trust me, bugaboo".

She relaxes at the nickname, one we use often to protect ourselves from imposters. "Okay Cha…" She began to trail off and I escaped from my prison and saw her figure shaking. She must be angry with me. Its now or never, it doesn't matter how disappointed she is in me, this needs to be said.

"LB, I know your angry but please, I will answer any questions you have for me, just let me explain everything".

"Ok, but on one condition, let me go first". Shocked is the only word I can think of to describe this feeling, what on Earth does she need to explain? She can't blame herself for my disappearance, can she? Does she genuinely feel at fault for this past month? What kind of torture have I put her through, all because I was too scared or prideful to ask for help, of which I haven't quite figured out myself. This whole time I have been thankful that she wasn't involved in my darkness but it turns out, I gave her one of her own. For the first time I am thinking about our roles only reversed. Her losing her miraculous and being too afraid to approach me about it. How lonely I would feel without her, my partner. My heart aches deeply and a darkness takes over. She is so strong, to go through losing her partner, to what I assume she thought was death. She must not only feel sadness but feel a dark anger knowing that I am right here in front of her and this whole time I could have been helping her by just letting her know I was alive.

"LB, I need to apologize. For everyth…"

"Shut up Chat, don't speak, " she interrupted, her voice laced in anger so thick. She has never talked to me that way, I'm terrified now of how this conversation will go, if I survive.

I watch her stand there, her head facing the ground searching for what to say as if the next words out of her mouth would decide the fate of the world. They won't though, no matter what she says, I will let her feel whatever she needs to. I will remain by her side until my time has come to say goodbye. The silence between us is deafening only to be interrupted by a deep sigh. Her shoulders begin to tremble and her hands form fists. That emptiness in my stomach starts to ache again as I think of her loneliness. Then, out of nowhere I hear her sniffle, I look towards the ground and I see the drops. Her anger shifts to something else, maybe longing? I see as she loosens her fists and begins to step towards me and I subconsciously reach for her hand to guide her to me. I see the outlines of her tears reflecting off of the light of the moon.

Her fingers slide around my hand and she lays her head on my chest. I try to control my racing heart but she can definitely feel the deep pounding coming from it. For what seems like an eternity and simultaneously not near long enough, I become aware my surroundings and what is happening. My eyes start to water because I realize I haven't blinked this entire time, the shock of what was happening finally settling in. I release a breath I didn't realize I was holding. What is happening, why is she doing this? She has never been this affectionate with me.

"My lady, what are you doing?' My voice seems to raise an octave.

"Shut up kitty, don't speak" she says so softly I almost didn't catch it. "I thought you were dead'.

My eyes shot open, my worst fears were coming to fruition. She was lonely and I gave her that darkness to protect my pride. A pride that I realize now is so pointless. I begin to feel my chest becoming wet and for the first time since the embrace, I dare to look down at her.

She feels my movement and utters ever so softly, "The Master was right, you really do balance me. When I am with you I feel that all is right, I truly missed you with everything I am, please don't ever do that again. I'm sorry you didn't feel comfortable enough to come to me with whatever happened. I am your partner and I should have made it more apparent of how much you mean to me. The master said he couldn't sense you anymore and I assumed the worst. Oh god, I'm rambling now, and I just missed you, please forgive me for whatever I did to make you not want to be my partner."

"No, my lady…"

"Stop, Chat".

She takes in a deep breath and grabs my shirt and digs her head deeper into my chest and I hug her tightly. I have always wanted to hear that from her but I cannot allow her to feel like she let me down when I'm the one who let her down. My thoughts are interrupted by her beautiful voice again.

"You smell the same, but something is missing…"

"Camembert" I answer her non existent question, dejectedly.

"Camembert? Why camembert?" She repeats me.

"It was Plagg's favorite, I used to feed it to him after each transformation, my school bag still smells like it, which I am actually really thankful for…" I trail off.

That emptiness in my stomach decides to raise to my heart again. It has complete control of my body and it is so unfair that it just gets to choose where it goes. Now the tears in my eyes are threatening to fall again, I miss him.

"Was? Used to?" She asks, worry laced in her voice.

"LB, I need you to look at me. I need you to see who I am without the mask, then I will explain".

"Why do I need to know who you are?" I can hear the shock and hesitation in her question.

"You need to know who you will be working with, I can't get him back without you. Hawkmoth took Plagg, he took my ring. Ladybug, he knows who I am".

Her grip on my shirt tightens and she inhales a sharp breath. I cannot do anything but wait for her to understand my statement. I know it will not take long, but she needs to process this on her own. Her left hand releases my shirt and reaches for my right hand. I raise it to show her and as she laces her fingers around mine I watch her stop at the indentation. I see her open her eyes, hesitantly to inspect my hand and the missing ring. She rubs her finger over the indentation, its a familiar sensation, one I have been doing often lately. It seems to sting when she does it, more real now that she is in on the secret.

"He knows who you are?" She asks carefully.

"Yes". I answer swiftly. Its a short answer, but I can tell she needs to figure this out on her own. When she is ready for the story, she will ask.

"Your hands are a lot different without your claws, its strange, your fingers are long but they're shorter than I imagined they would be. Softer too". Her hand still in mine she lowers them to her side. I can tell she is conflicted and that it is going to take everything in her to just glance upwards, to see me, all of me.

"There is no rush my lady".

"I know, you've always been the more patient one of the two of us". She chuckles a response, nervous. "Can you tell me what happened to Plagg?"

"I'm sorry, but I can't until you see who I am". Trying to sound as emotionless as I can, to let her know how serious I am. "It will help while telling the story so that I do not have to walk on eggshells about anything, I can just be me, plus if Hawkmoth knows who I am, its only a matter of time before you do".

Paris is quiet, only the moon is casting light. The citizens unaware that their heroes are about to change their lives forever. To us the world has stopped, fear and uncertainty fill every part of my shaking body. I see her trembling, for what I'm sure are the same feelings. Her face begins its journey upwards and all of the air is sucked from my lungs. I must be brave, for her. Her head is now aligned with mine but her eyes have not connected yet, instead they are staring at the brick wall next to us. I see the uncertainty in her eyes, and I know I have to give her something to get her to look at me.

"I have always loved you, my lady. Ever since our battle with Stoneheart. I love everything about you, and I know that I would love you outside of the mask as well. Even if you do not reciprocate my feelings, understand that I will always be by your side until you tell me to leave, but you need to know who I am to get Plagg back".

Her eyes narrow as tears threaten to betray her again. "I just told you to never leave me again. I know what you're trying to do, and I will not let you give up the cat miraculous. I need Chat Noir". She pauses as if to choose her words carefully, "I need all of you, whoever you are. I love you too, kitty".

That does it. I was not expecting that. My heart explodes out of my chest and I gasp for air, my face burns red as bright as Ladybugs transformation magic. Be cool, Adrien. Be cool. I repeat to myself as I try my best to calm down. I take a deep breath in the smoothest voice I can muster I finally get to say the one sentence I've wanted to say to her since the beginning.

"Then let yourself see who I am, all of me".

Her head turns to face me and her eyes meet mine. I get lost in them for a second until I see them expand as recognition sets in. She removes herself from my grasp and steps back, her mouth agape. I reach my now cold, empty hand to the back of my neck to rub, while a nervous chuckle releases itself from my mouth.

"Hey LB…"

"Adrien?"