Chat Noir and Marinette looked back at each other. They had always hoped they would be able to reveal this secret to their best friends...but now it looked like their greatest secret had unraveled on its own somehow.

"I can't believe you know man!" Chat Noir couldn't help the smile that broke through. What a relief that he'd never have to hide everything from his best bud again!

Nino smiled and elbowed Chat Noir playfully. "Nice work by the way! Finally got Ladybug to give you a chance huh! I gotta tell you I was rooting for you on both sides of the mask! Who would have known she had been trying to win you over too!"

Marinette rolled her eyes, and pressed her hand against her forehead, watching the two boys shove each other playfully. There was no denying it now! She snuck a glance at Alya, who was watching Nino and Chat Noir in disbelief.

"Excuse me! What exactly do you know! How is this "Cat" making out with our Marinette suddenly okay?!" Alya stomped her foot, and glared at her boyfriend. "What about Adrien?! You know, your best friend?!"

"Alya, listen," Marinette came beside Alya, and touched her elbow lightly. "I should have told you earlier, but I didn't want to put you in any more danger than I already had. Adrien and I both have been wanting to tell you and Nino for a while. You've always been there for me through it all, even though you knew I was keeping things from you..."

"You mean this thing between you and Chat Noir has been going on for a long time? Wait! Adrien knows about this too? There is no way he'd be okay with..."

"Oh yeah, he knows and he's pretty happy about it," Chat Noir smirked, and Nino elbowed Chat Noir again.

"Common' dude, don't tease her. She'll be cool about it!" Nino urged.

"Someone better start explaining!" Alya crossed her arms and glared daggers.

Chat Noir moved over to Marinette, and took her hand, squeezing it gently. He looked into her eyes, giving her a nod. "We need them," he said in a hushed tone.

"But now, more than ever, it is so dangerous! What if..." Marinette whispered back to Chat Noir, uncertainty tugging at her mind.

"They'd be in more danger if they didn't know. Alya could tell that he wasn't me. We need someone who can pick out the true heroes of Paris," Chat Noir replied.

Marinette nodded, and gave a slight smile. "So do you want to, or should I?"

"Lady's first," Chat Noir bowed with a wink.

"Spots on," Marinette said simply. Instantly the magic of the miraculous wove around her, transforming her into Alya's hero and ally before her very eyes.

Alya eyes shot open, but she didn't have a chance to even react before Chat Noir said, "Claws out," and dropped his transformation. Alya was sputtering at the sight of Ladybug with Adrien standing before her in the Ally. Ladybug shrugged awkwardly, and Adrien mischievously snuck a kiss, and put his arm around her waist.

Alya's gaping mouth slowly shut, and her look of shock turned into a smile. Then she shook her head, and laughed, "You've been chasing Adrien all this time, and all along Ladybug kept shutting down Chat Noir!" Alya giggled, shaking her head till tears came to her eyes. Then she stepped across the space between them and she wrapped Ladybug and Adrien in a hug around their necks. "I'm so glad you weren't alone with all of this anymore! You've both had so much on your shoulders on your own and I never knew!"

"I really did want to tell you more than anything!" Ladybug said into her friend's shoulder, "you have no idea how many times I nearly told you!" Tears started to streak down Ladybug's mask.

Alya touched her forehead to Ladybug's and smiled. "I know why you didn't, but I still wish I could have helped you out more."

"You did!" Ladybug insisted. "Alya, without you, I don't know if I would've been able to be Ladybug!"

"You've always been Ladybug with or without the mask," Alya smiled at her friend. "I'm just kicking myself that I couldn't see something so obvious!"

"What about me?" Adrien smiled proudly.

"Naw, I thought I had you figured out long ago. Even told Marinette you'd make a great Chat Noir. She's the one who convinced me that it couldn't possibly be you, because Adrien was so much more amazing than Chat Noir," Alya waved her hand and smirked at Adrien.

"What!" Adrien squeaked, looking with fanned indignance at Ladybug.

"No, no...that is not what I meant!" Ladybug held up her hands in defense. "I just thought Adrien was different from Chat Noir...in a good way...or that he...that you..."

Ladybug was now sputtering worse than Marinette ever had, and Alya leaned back on Nino's shoulder with a sigh watching Adrien and Ladybug. "When you know, it is really so painfully obvious," Alya commented to Nino.

Nino chucked, and leaned his head on her's, "yeah, not much of a stretch really."

"But how did you figure it out before me?" Alya inquired.

"Well...one day on the way to school...before you organized us all to help Marinette and Adrien get together at the Observatory party...well, I saw Chat Noir kissing Marinette under a streetlight not too far from the bakery on the way to school. The street was pretty quiet, and they never saw me. Couse I was pretty shocked, but I tell ya, I was speechless when my best bud was suddenly standing there instead of Chat Noir!" Nino pulled at his hat, remembering.

"You mean you two were together before I set you up!" Alya's voice rose, and her eyes darted back to Ladybug and Adrien, who froze in her sightline.

"Uhh...kindda..." Ladybug looked off to the side.

"Wow guys, just, wow!" Alya shook her head. "Here I was thinking that it was all because of me that Marinette and Adrien finally got together! All along you two were flying around Paris in masks making out! Well, sorry Agreste, tonight I'm stealing Marinette away from you! It is high time we had a girls night so I can hear how Marinette actually made a move on you!"

Adrien and Ladybug both went as red as Ladybug's suit, and Alya linked arms with Ladybug and pulled her off.

"Spots off," Ladybug sighed giving into Alya's demands, and dropping her transformation. It was true, she knew Alya was dying to know all the details. Some of them might be a bit embarrassing, but honestly she was a little giddy about finally getting to tell her bff more about the love of her life. "See you later?" Ladybug called over her shoulder looking back at Adrien.

"Of course!" Adrien smiled, and blew a kiss. "Have fun!"

Alya half dragged, half hugged Marinette down to the end, and around the corner, out of sight. Already giggling, Nino and Adrien heard them halfway down the block.

"Now we're in trouble." Nino smiled at Adrien.

"What do you mean?" Adrien asked suddenly worried.

"Who do you think they're going to be talking about all night?!" Nino jabbed his friend with a laugh.

Adrien rubbed the back of his neck with his hand awkwardly, and bit his lip, asking "What kindda things would they say?"

"Common' man, let's head back to my place for some gaming. Now that this is all out in the open, I can't wait to have a turtle vs. cat match!" Nino waved his hand, and struck off toward his place, with Adrien following behind.

After keeping so many secrets from those closest to them, Adrien had always thought that having people find out would be so freeing. Now that Nino and Alya actually knew though, he wondered how this would change things...what they would be risking to now be all in? Adrien glanced around. So far Bunnix hadn't shown up to replot the future, so it must all turn out okay...right?!

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

I hope you've been enjoying my story! Next chapter we've got more traveling to do and more twists to the plot;) Please like or follow so you don't miss the next update.

Shout out to Sapyrrha who has been such a loyal reader ( I always look forward to your reviews!), London (you encouraged me so much), and other guests who have left such kind and encouraging messages! It means so much to me, and each review lets me know that you want to hear more of this story! You certainly have fanfic endurance to keep following me on this journey!