We've made it! Just the epilogue to go and we're done! If you'd like the idea of a sequel let me know, or if you think this is fine as it is, or not fine... I don't know.

Thank you so much to everyone who has supported this lil tale by favouriting, following, and reviewing!

~BH

Forgiveness

He came of his own accord. Gracefully descending from the rooftop with the help of his staff, he ambled back to the school where Ladybug and Volpina were glaring at each other. He knew that he could have been friends with Lila. She was fiery, passionate, intelligent and perfectly friendly. She seemed to be almost a perfect blend of Alya and Marinette. However, he knew this situation was petty, and holding a grudge over it seemed ridiculous. He was genuinely oblivious to the amount of attention he got from girls, and now it was all hitting him at once.

Chloe. Marinette, and now Lila. He guessed there were worse situations to be in from his side of the story, but the fact that he had been leading them on without even thinking about any kind of motive or desires they may have had made him feel terrible. He knew he was conventionally attractive, because his father made sure he was. Personality-wise, he wasn't so sure. Especially as Adrien Agreste.

"Here I am, Volpina my dear. The cat is out of the bag." He greeted, staying in character, ignoring a confused Ladybug and walking straight over to Hawkmoth's latest victim.

"I see you weren't wrong when it came to the puns, Ladybug." She replied, smiling at Chat Noir, who was now leaning on his staff in front of Ladybug.

"What do you want from me?" He asked. He knew she wanted to manipulate Ladybug, and wouldn't be surprised if she tried to manipulate him in order to get to her. So he had to make sure he was ahead of the game. Foxes were quicker than cats, but he never had been one to slow down for anything.

"I want a fair shot." Volpina replied. "Ladybug needs to learn that she can't have everything just because she's a superhero. You're always in second place, you've always been the sidekick."

"Chat Noir is my equal, how many times do I have to say-" Ladybug started to protest, before Volpina moved to attack her.

"Ignore her," Chat Noir said, intercepting Volpina's attempt to hit Ladybug and keeping hold of her arm. "She apologised to you before. Why is now any different?"

"I didn't forgive her." She told him, as if it was something for her to be proud of. "She doesn't deserve to get away with things. She needs to learn to be humble, and the meaning of a sacrifice."

"You don't have to forgive her." He said, ignoring Ladybug's low gasp from behind him. He knew she'd be angry at him later but it was important that he got on her good side. Trying to resort to violence wouldn't work as Volpina's illusions would put Marinette under too much mental strain and the more Volpina knew her, the more damaging she could make her powers.

"You do need to go with the flow more though." He continued casually, letting go of her wrist and taking her hand instead. "I'm really sorry that you're going through a hard time. I know it really sucks when a girl tries to stop you from talking to a guy and then you feel the need to manipulate her out of revenge. Sometimes she continues to manipulate you regardless, and then you have to go on another rampage. Maybe we need to stop this before it turns into a cat-tastrophe?"

Ladybug furiously hoped that this was part of his plan. She knew that she had no means of getting to her without physically attacking her. They had to get the necklace off her. If Chat had to woo her, then she'd have to trust him. She'd trusted him for two years. Why was now different?

Because she was in love. Seeing Chat with another person was like watching her worst nightmare. Would he have to date her just so she'd stop hurting Marinette/herself? Wouldn't that be counterproductive?

Chat and Volpina were now millimetres away from each other and it was taking all of Ladybug's willpower to let him get close to her. She would be able to smell his aftershave, hear the small jingle of his bell as he moved, and of course, feel the hand that she was still holding.

Chat wondered why Volpina wasn't making any moves away from him. He knew she was far from stupid. Would she buy any affection from him when the reason she was turned into a villain in the first place was because of his lack of affection? Then he remembered that no one knew they were dating. There was still an opportunity here.

He knew this was a manipulation of his own and he hated it. He was always honest. He knew he was hurting Ladybug too. What appeared to be the easiest way was actually one of the hardest things he had ever done.

As quick as he could, he moved in to kiss her, slowly moving his hand as if to place it on her shoulder, but instead he aimed for her chest.

Her reflexes were good, but not good enough. She tried to grab it back but his hand was already closed around the pendant. She dragged her nails along the back of his hand in fury, breaking his gloves, and his skin, hoping he'd let go. She had great strength as a villain and although the suits offered protection, her anger fuelled her power. Chat Noir firmly believed a bit of physical pain wouldn't hurt after the mental pain he potentially caused to the girl behind her. Wasting no time, he yanked the necklace from her neck, causing it to snap, and flung it behind him, hoping that Ladybug was there to catch it.

Volpina's illusions were no match for Ladybug and Chat Noir's synchronicity. Sometimes, experience was more valuable than power. Ladybug caught the pendant effortlessly and threw it to the ground with a force so unnecessary that it smashed without her even needing to step on it. She grinned in satisfaction as the akuma flew out, and she purified it, glad to notice that very little damage had been caused to Paris and the world was put to rights around her. The only people that had been hurt were her and Chat Noir.

She found Lila sat on the ground, holding her necklace. Chat Noir was trying to talk to her, but she was too upset.

"You will find someone who's right for you Lila." Ladybug sat down on the other side of her. "You're still young."

"That doesn't make my feelings less valid." She replied, refusing to look at Ladybug or Chat. "Maybe I shouldn't have overreacted, and maybe I shouldn't pin all my hopes on one person, but that doesn't mean I can't love someone."

"You're right. I've been there. It hurts." Chat Noir commented, helping Lila up. She reluctantly accepted, torn between embarrassment and humiliation.

"If someone can make you feel the way he made me feel, then they don't deserve you." She told him firmly, before walking away, wanting to get in the last word. She always wanted to make an impact. The last thing she saw before she left the school grounds was a softly sympathetic expression gracing Chat Noir's features.

"I think it's a bit more complicated than that." He said to her retreating form, looking at the girl he had loved for the past two years.

Ladybug sighed.

They started to around the school with all the time in the world, not looking at each other or talking. Neither of them had bothered to remove their transformations because neither of them had used their main powers. If Ladybug's Akuma Purifier was affecting anything, she wasn't acknowledging it. They both had a lot to process. Not just about Lila's repeat performance, but about their relationship.

Maybe it was dramatic, since it was only recently that they had revealed their true identities to each other. Maybe it was over the top in regards to their feelings but they had both

By the time they had made a full circuit, Ladybug's earrings beeped, and ducking under the ledge, she transformed into Marinette. Chat Noir looked around frantically before joining her, returning to his civilian form.

"I'm sorry for being so oblivious." Adrien said, breaking the silence. Marinette was hoping she'd read into it, but she was mentally exhausted. Was Lila going to constantly seek revenge forever?

"I don't know how you couldn't tell." Marinette replied, her head resting against her knees. Tikki looked just as exhausted, but Marinette had left cookies in her bag. Marinette always thought about other people, and it made Adrien feel worse that he didn't even think of her when he was talking to Lila in the first place.

"I'm not used to attention. It's not an excuse, but it's new to me. I never went to school, I never had friends my own age, I never had anyone to see me as more than just a pretty model."

"I'm not used to attention either, but that doesn't mean I hurt people in the process." Marinette was letting out everything now, rational or not. It was almost like she was back in her bedroom whining to Alya.

"I feel helpless. I have to watch you pay attention other girls, and watch them fawn all over you. I can't control it or stop it because you're not an object and I can't keep you all to myself. I get so jealous. I spent so much time waiting for you to finally see me as more than just your best friend's girlfriend's friend, but maybe I was wrong all along and you only like me now because you know I'm Ladybug."

"Have you ever thought that I felt the same way too?" Adrien looked at her folded form. "I have to listen to all the guys talk about how attractive you are in your Ladybug suit. It was common knowledge that I loved you, so they would never let it go. What you don't realise is you ARE Ladybug, regardless of what you're wearing. You're beautiful, you're resourceful, you're strong, and you're kind."

Marinette turned her head to the side, facing him. Neither of them noticed that the rain had started to pour, hitting the ledge that sheltered them.

"Besides, have you ever thought that you didn't need a Ladybug suit to be attractive? Imagine that. Imagine being so natural and down to earth that all you needed to do was smile. I have to be styled and prodded and given clothes I don't necessarily like, but I do it because it makes my father happy. It would have made my mother happy."

Marinette looked at his currently dishevelled expression. His hair was a mess, his clothes were rumpled… and his hand was bleeding and almost shredded.

All talk forgotten, Marinette grabbed his hand, rummaging in her bag for something with her free hand, almost knocking Tikki out of it in the process. Retrieving a small first aid kit, she shuffled round to face him and put his hand in her lap, despite the fact that they were so close that Marinette herself was practically in Adrien's. Adrien didn't say a word.

Tenderly, she pulled out some antiseptic wipes and gently wiped at them, trying not to wince at the surprising amount of blood that she saw. Adrien was trying not to wince himself from the stinging pain, but feeling the warmth of Marinette soothed him.

Marinette thought about all the times she had burned her hands baking in the kitchen, or scraped her knees from falling over, and how she always had her mum or dad there to tend to her wounds. Adrien couldn't even bring himself to call his father 'Dad'.

Once she had wiped away the blood, she bandaged it up expertly, as if she had done it many times before.

"How are you so organised?" Adrien asked in wonder, as if he had never seen a bandaged hand before.

"I injure myself all the time. Besides, I always saw you had cuts and scrapes in school so I always kept a first aid kit on hand just in case."

"Thank you." He took her hand with his non injured one, noticing that she had a plaster of her own on her thumb.

They shared a long comfortable silence, ignoring the rain metres away from them. They were so completely immersed in their own world that they had accepted the sunshine and the rain. They had each other, as well as responsibilities in Paris. They would have to be ready for a lot more than a teenager harbouring unrequited love.

"I'm sorry I'm not very good at distinguishing the line between a girl wanting to be friends with me and a girl wanting to be… more than that." He said, urgently. "I just need you to know the only person I want to be more than friends with is you. Please, believe me."

"I believe you." Marinette replied, extracting her cramped body from underneath the window ledge they were still crouched under. Realising it was still raining, she laughed, pulling Adrien up with her. He grunted slightly at the pain in his hand, and the look Marinette gave him was so apologetic that he couldn't help but laugh. Mirroring a time not too long ago, Adrien pressed his lips against hers, ignoring his injured hand as he held her by the waist.

"Where's that umbrella when we need it?" Adrien whispered.