"This is going to sound weird," Chat Noir said. "But I need your miraculous."

"Um, why?" Ladybug stared at him.

The pair stood on a rooftop not far from where Adrien and Marinette went to school. He was thankful that Ladybug agreed to meet him here, since it was close to Master Fu's place. The quicker he got back, the sooner he'd see Marinette.

Marinette. He still couldn't believe she was his Ladybug.

"It's complicated," Chat said.

Ladybug folded her arms across her chest.

"Alright, alright," Chat Noir sighed. "Listen, I know I haven't been the nicest person to you."

"You've got that right," Ladybug scoffed.

"Okay. I've been a downright jerk, and I'm sorry." Chat slumped his shoulders as he thought about everything he said to her. All his anger and hatred for himself he had taken out on her over the past few months. "I…I treated you horribly. You were my partner and I was wrong."

"Yes," Ladybug agreed. She didn't seem any closer to forgiving him.

Chat Noir looked down. Inside his heart was racing and giddy from the news of Marinette. He did feel guilty about the current Ladybug and how he had treated her, but it was hard for him to express that at the moment. All he wanted was to get back to his lady.

"I messed up," he said. "Bad. Before your time. I…I did something unforgivable, and I took it out on you. I didn't mean to, I just…I don't know."

"You killed Ladybug," she said.

"What?!" Chat Noir snapped his head up to look at her. "How did you-?"

"Tikki told me," Ladybug said with a small shrug. "I told her I was going to quit a million times over because of how mean you were, but she always convinced me to stay."

"Oh, I…oh." Chat lowered his head once more. He had no idea he'd pushed her so far that she wanted to quit.

"So you found her then?" Ladybug asked.

"Huh?"

"Ladybug? The other one, I mean." Ladybug said. "Tikki told me that you'd need the miraculous in order to fix her. At least, that's what had to happen last time."

"Last time?" Chat asked.

Ladybug sighed. "Don't you ever talk to your kwami? This happened before, you know."

Chat stared at her blankly. Master Fu said it happened before, but he never really thought about it. And he certainly didn't think to ask Plagg about it. Not that Plagg would have told him anything without a hearty bribe of camembert.

Ladybug rolled her eyes as she took his silence as an answer. "Alright," she lifted her hands up to her ear. "But don't laugh at me, okay? I don't have much self confidence in my real life."

A red light flashed before him as Ladybug de-transformed. Instead of a girl in a red costume, there stood a shy, quiet girl he knew from class. Her black hair shimmered as it fell down her back and over her eye, and the tips faded into purple.

"Juleka?!" Chat Noir gasped.

"I, um, well, you know," Juleka looked down at the ground, then handed her palm out with the earrings. "Here."

Chat Noir felt like a jerk. Not only had he taken out all his anger on his partner for the last 3 months, but knowing that it had been someone he actually knew the whole time made him feel worse. He took the earrings from her hesitantly.

"I'm so sorry, Jeluka." Chat Noir said. "I shouldn't have been so cruel to you."

She shrugged. Her proud, confident nature had vanished with the Ladybug miraculous.

"Is there anyway I can make it up to you?" He asked.

She shifted for a moment, then nodded.

"Anything," he encouraged her.

Juleka took in a deep breath. "Go save Ladybug."

Adrien paused in front of the door to Master Fu's room.

This was it. He held the miraculous in his hands, and he knew Marinette was waiting on the other side of this door.

This was it. His lady was about to come back.

This was it. Marinette was going to get her memories back. How would she react when she saw him? Would she be mad that he knew who she was? He was pretty sure she knew he was Chat Noir. After all, he admitted to being that one that killed Ladybug. Maybe he'd luck out and she'd forget that part. Or maybe he didn't want her to forget.

Adrien sucked in a quick breath of air, then pushed the door into the room.

"You're back!" Marinette looked up with a grin.

Adrien nodded. He felt a bit guilty by her complete trust in him. The first day he met her, she didn't like him much. It took a while to develop their friendship. Yet here she was, willing to trust him completely even though she really didn't know him right now.

"Did you get it?" Master Fu asked.

Adrien nodded once more and held out the miraculous. The red earrings seemed to sparkle in excitement. He watched as Marinette's eyes widened. He would have sworn he almost could see her smile a little, too.

"I'll give you some privacy, then," Master Fu winked at Adrien and left the room.

Adrien could feel his heart pounding in his head as the silence grew loud between them. With just him and Marinette in the room, he wasn't sure how to act. He licked his lips.

She reached forward towards the earrings, and he pulled back for just a moment.

"Marinette, I-" Adrien felt his voice shake a little.

"What's wrong?" Marinette looked up at him with complete innocence. She trusted him. He had no idea why, especially since she knew this whole mess was his fault. But she trusted him.

"Just…I want you to know how sorry I am." Adrien said softly.

"It's not your fault," Marinette said. It was the same last words Ladybug had spoken to him, and they drilled a hole straight through his chest.

He swallowed and closed his eyes. How could she treat him this way? "Yes, it is."

"No, it's not," Marinette smiled. "I may not know you right now, but I can tell you are sweet and kind. You're not the type of person who would do anything bad. You brought me here and went out of your way to bring me my memories back. Why else would you do such a kind thing to someone?"

Adrien looked up at her. "Because I love you."

The pair of them froze as they stared at each other. Adrien's eyes widened. Did he really just say that outloud?!

"I-I-I mean…uh, well, I mean…." Adrien stuttered and looked around the room for something, ANYTHING, to get him out of the situation.

Marinette giggled. "I wasn't laughing at you, I promise." She smiled, and he believed her. "You're incredibly hot, and the type of person I could see myself liking, but this situation is a little strange for me."

Adrien felt his face redden. She called him hot. He held out his hand and she took the earrings from him. She brought them up to her ear, but before she put them in, she paused.

"Adrien?" Marinette asked.

"Hm?"

This time a red blush crept across her face. "Before I remember everything, I just wanted to, you know, well…." She swayed back and forth for a moment. "Thank you."

Adrien smiled. "Of course."

Marinette sighed. "Well, here goes nothing," she breathed out as she put the earrings on.

Marinette blinked as a flash of red swirled around her. It was like waking up from a dream, were suddenly everything made sense that didn't a moment ago. She was sitting on the floor in Master Fu's room with Adrien across from her. Tikki flew in excitement around the pair of them.

"A-Adrien!" Marinette gasped. Her face turned a bright scarlet. She told him he was hot! He knew she was Ladybug! She dropped her face into her hands. Adrien said he loved her!? Oh, her life was officially over!

"Marinette!" Tikki flew up to her and hugged the small part of her cheek that wasn't covered by Marinette's hands. "I'm so glad you're okay!"

Marinette could feel the sweat trying to break through her palms. Adrien was sitting right there! She knew she had to say something, but she was completely terrified. What was she supposed to do now that he knew who she was!?

"You're…you're mad at me, aren't you," Adrien said. He didn't phrase it as a question, and when Marinette peeked between her fingers, he looked sad.

"What?!" Marinette gasped and dropped her hands from her face.

Tikki looked between the two of them. "You have a lot of catching up to do. I'll leave you alone." She flew off out of the room.

Marinette barely even noticed. All she could think about was Adrien. "Me? Mad? Why would I be mad at you?! You're perfect. I mean, you're great! I mean, there's no reason for me to be mad at you! You should be mad at me!"

"Why would I be mad at you?" He glanced up at her, and she could see the pain in his eyes.

"Because…." Marinette blinked. "Because I'm Ladybug."

The pair stared at each other for a long silent moment, until Adrien burst out into laughter.

Marinette chuckled nervously. She tried to think of exactly what had happened. The past few months she remembered. She'd been tracking an akuma that had gone under the radar. Something in her subconscious warned her that Siren girl was up to no good. And before that…well, her and Chat had been fighting King Pin. Chat had been controlled and then….

Poor Chat. She hoped he was okay.

"I'm not laughing at you!" Adrien echoed her words from earlier. He leaned forward and took her hand in his. "Marinette, I'm so glad it's you."

She wasn't sure what he meant by that. Why would he be glad she was Ladybug? It meant she'd been lying to him.

"I…you're not mad I kept it a secret from you?"

Adrien tilted his head. "Why would I…? And that's not the point. You should hate me! I'm that one that…that did all of this!"

"No, you didn't."

"Yes, I did." He loosened his grip and let her hand fall out of his. "It's my fault. I know I wasn't in control, but somehow I should have stopped myself. I tripped after I regained control and it's all…"

Marinette didn't understand him for a second. He was talking as if he knew what happened between her and Chat Noir. But that was silly because Adrien wasn't there. And the only way he'd know was if….

Her hands rushed to cover her face again.

Adrien was Chat Noir. Of course. He told her it was her fault. He said it a bunch of times. And Master Fu and they even said he defeated King Pin and how did she miss that!?

"What's wrong?" Adrien's voice was sad again. "Do…you hate me?"

"Hate you!?" Marinette's voice squeaked as she dropped her hands once more and looked at him. Adrien, the gorgeous boy who had a heart of gold honestly thought she'd hate him!? He should hate her and yet he said he loved her! How was this all even possible? "I'd never hate you!"

Adrien closed his eyes and took in a deep breath. "I think we're going around in circles here."

Marinette tried to smile, but it came out more like a nervous train wreck. "Yeah, you're right."

He moved closer to her. He was kneeling right in front of her and his knees brushed up against hers. Slowly and gently, he put his hands on her shoulders.

"Mari," he breathed out her name with a hint of pain. "I'm so sorry bugaboo. I would never hurt you. Please, forgive me."

This time, she did smile. "Adrien, I never blamed Chat Noir. I never blamed you."

He flinched as she spoke his alter ego's name.

"I'm still having a hard time believing you're Chat," she smiled.

He grinned mischievously at him. "You think I'm kitten you?"

"Oh, no, you're definitely him." Marinette groaned.

She yelped briefly as he pulled her towards him into a hug. His body felt warm and steady against hers, and she put her arms around him and hugged him back.

"My lady," Adrien whispered. "I'm so glad you're you, Marinette. I'm so glad you're back. I'm so glad you're okay."

Marinette felt her heart swell in her chest. He really did like her. It was going to take some getting used to.

"Me too, kitty," Marinette hugged him tightly. "Me too."

THE END