Marinette didn't have to wait long.

She'd stumbled through her skylight, knowing Adrien would be seeking her out so they could talk about it. She just hadn't thought he'd reach her room only five minutes after she did. With flowers.

"I want to make sure you know that me leaving didn't mean I was rejecting you." He held the yellow and red roses to her. It looked like over a dozen of each, all mixed together, wrapped in green tissue paper.

"Adrien, we can't." She took the bouquet from him anyway. The paper crinkled under her hands.

He shrugged. "I know it's dangerous."

She traced the edge of a petal with her fingers. His expression looked fragile. He was on the verge of hope and the verge of despair, and she couldn't add guilt over something he hadn't done and could do nothing about, so she didn't explain. It was a relief when he didn't ask.

"So what are we going to do with all this?" he asked, motioning to the space between them. "I'm sure you have some idea. You always have a plan."

Marinette shifted her weight from side to side, looking for Tikki, but the kwami had disappeared for this conversation. "My instincts say to just forget. Bury it. It would be so much easier."

Chat Noir opened his mouth to protest that idea.

"But," Marinette continued, "common sense says that wouldn't work."

He nodded. "There's no way I want to forget this."

"The grimoire would probably tell us to give up our miraculous. It's that bad." She let the weight of that statement hang there.

Chat Noir studied her carefully. "You've left something out."

Marinette cocked her head. That was every angle she could think of.

He took a step closer, green eyes bright. "What does your heart say to do?" He tilted his face toward her, intent on what she would say.

But what could she say? Her heart had always known what it wanted. Him.

Carefully, as if he'd been the one running away this whole time, she put her hands on his shoulders and pulled him down. Just as slowly, like he couldn't believe this was really about to happen, he responded by putting his arms around her and pulling her in.

The kiss was timid, like whatever between them was breakable. Soft and trembling, until Marinette lifted herself up higher on her toes to press against him, and Chat Noir took that as a sign to wrap around her more tightly, sliding his hands across her back and his mouth against hers.

Marinette pulled away first, but couldn't make herself go very far, just enough to see the dusting of pink peeking out under the edges of his mask and the shining love in his eyes.

"Yeah," he whispered. "My heart's telling me to do that all the time, too."

She rested against his chin, breathing in the stillness of the moment and him. Her forehead tingled as he started to pepper kisses there.

There was only one rule left. One flimsy layer of protection sat between them and total disaster.

"We can't," she whispered.

He sighed, warm breath fanning across her face. "I know."

"No, you don't." She tried to yank herself out of his orbit, but only managed to put a handspan of space between them.

Chat Noir considered her. "You were talking about me earlier. It's more dangerous to be with me than with anyone else, isn't that what you said?"

Marinette closed her eyes against the unasked "Why?"

She didn't want to tell him what would happen. That wasn't fair. But she couldn't leave him completely in the dark either. "This is more than just rules, or Hawk Moth, or how I feel about you. We can't risk it. Not right now."

One of his cat ears flicked at her final word. "I meant what I said earlier," he said. "I'm willing to wait."

"How long, though?"

"If you're waiting for me, too? If we're going to be together when the waiting is done?" He placed another kiss on her forehead and then murmured against her skin. "As long as I need to."

"I love you," Marinette gasped, and then she was kissing him again. "I love you." She punctuated each declaration with another kiss, on his mouth, his cheek, his jaw, his nose. It was like a dam bursting. All the love she'd ever felt for him overflowing and running over her carefully constructed walls. "I love you," she whispered, and then kissed his broad smile.

They would have to stop this, and soon, but a few more kisses wouldn't hurt anyone right now.

And maybe, she could make up some new rules to navigate their new situation.

A/N: Haha, I tricked you all! This story was merely a set up to a different story! (Not true.) I have a sequel already planned, and it's a much happier vibe. (True. Mostly.) The premise is basically: "Marinette and Adrien kiss a lot even though they know they're not supposed to." :D

I have a few stories I want to get through before I tackle that one though. I hope you stick around for those and/or check out my 70ish other completed Miraculous stories in the meantime!

Check out my Tumblr for art based on this chapter (as well as the prologue and chapter three!)