"Ladybug... I know that we have waited years to reveal our Identities and believe me it felt a lot longer than that to me. I feel like I already know who you are in and outside of the mask even if I don't know your real name... or haven't seen your whole face... or know anything slightly personal about you. But anyways I feel like I know you on a deeper level than all of that superficial stuff. We don't need any of that to be good friends in the mask. Friends... not anything else... not anymore." Adrien sadly brought the Ladybug and Chat Noir doll back down to his chest.

He was lying down on his couch exhausted from another long and painful day being Hawkmoths son. How was it that he could go from Paris's Golden boy to the most hated teen in the country in the span of a few weeks? He and Ladybug had defeated Hawkmoth, his father, two weeks ago. He still remembered the look Gabriel had on his face as he had snatched the Miraculous from his neck. He had been bleeding from a wound he had received from his father during the battle. When the detransformation light had reached his fathers scowling face he froze. Even now as he closed his eyes he could picture the pure hatred on his fathers face. Hatred for his mortal enemy that he had no idea was his only son.

After that everything else that happened that day was a blur. He slightly remembers the police questioning him two times, the first as Chat Noir and the second when they found him sitting in the rain in a park as Adrien. They had not been kind. No one had since that day.

"Adrien, What's wrong?" Plagg asked, "You've been sitting there since we got back from school." "What do you think Plagg?" Adrien sighed sarcastically.

"Kid, relax! So what, your dad was Hawkmoth big deal. It's not as bad as what happens to that cloudwalking fellow in that wizards movie you like to watch. He lost an arm! Thanks to Ladybugs' cure you don't even have a scratch on you." Plagg said, trying to lighten Adriens mood.

"Plagg, that's not a wizards movie, they are Jedi and don't seriously tell me that I should be grateful that I still have my arm when everything that I have ever cared for is now destroyed. My father is in Prison sentenced to life. My Mother was found only to be properly buried instead in a super villain's lair. My friends... my friends at school can't even look at me, let alone talk to me." Adrien had approached Nino a few days after the battle. Nino had looked so pale when he saw Adrien. Then when he went up to talk to him all he heard were a few jumbled excuses and Nino had fled. "And the one person that I had hoped would understand. My best friend, my partner, the love of my life even she can't speak to Adrien-me without a look of pain on her face." Adrien winced remembering that failed conversation. "So... you tell me Plagg. Is this better than getting my arm cut off?" Adrien knew he was being dramatic and unfairly taking out his frustrations on Plagg. He just couldn't see any brightside, any light at the end of the tunnel. He had lost everyone he had ever cared for.

"You should talk to Pigtails, kid. She's a lot better at this than I am. I know it seems dark, but spending time with her always seems to brighten up your mood."

"Okay Plagg." Adrien shrugged from his spot on the couch cradling the dolls to his chest. "I'll think about it."

"Well think a lot faster because you're late to your 'Patrol' with Ladybug." Adrien shot up and looked at the time had it really been so long since school ended! "I mean why do you guys keep doing them? Hawkmoth is defeated no more Akumas. It seems like a waste of energy to me." Plagg kept rambling on about the uselessness of patrols as Adrien scrambled to grab his shoes that were left by his bedroom door. Better to be prepared than sorry.

"Plagg! Claws-Out!" Adrien yelled as he ran and opened his window as Plagg was sucked into the ring with a groan.

oo o0oo 000 ooo0 o 0o00 000 oo0

Ladybug looked majestic on the top of the Eiffel tower as Chat made his way up. He could clearly see her dark hair shimmering a navy blue in the starlight showing a stark contrast to her red and black suit. She looked amazing just like the day he first met and fell for her. Although she was older now filling more into her suit just like he had grown a foot taller than her. Though, her piercing gaze always made him feel like that foot didn't matter; she could still beat him up any day of the week.

Chat reached the top and came up to stand next to her. "Hey Ladybug, sorry to keep you waiting, I lost track of time." He could feel her turn and look at him. He felt like she was scrutinizing every detail of his face as she replied.

"That's fine Chat. I was enjoying the view of paris. With Hawkmoth gone it finally feels like I can just soak it all in instead of thinking about the people of Paris possibly becoming Akumatized." She arched her eyebrow at him, seeming to expect something from him. He might have, before the battle, tried to discern what she was expecting, but he did not have the energy.

"Yeah, such a relief. No more akumatizations to worry about." Chat said. He didn't really feel the relief. Well, he was relieved that there would be no more Akumas, but he couldn't really feel that relief.

"Okay Chat. What's up? You have been acting strange for the past two weeks. I thought you would be happy to hangout now that there aren't any akumas." Ladybug said, crossing her arms and cocking her hip looking right at him. He grimaced and looked away, not answering her question. "Chat?"

He sighed deeply, steeling himself to bring on his model smile. He turned to her rubbing the back of his head in a nervous gesture "Yeah, I have just had a lot on my mind lately Ladybug. No need to worry." He said, trying to brush aside her questions.

Ladybug had other ideas though "I don't buy it chat. What's really going on?" He paused looking at her as his smile faded then he went back to looking at the metal flooring of the Eiffel Tower. "Is it about our identities?" He slightly flinched and she took that as a yes. "I know that we promised to reveal ourselves after we defeated Hawkmoth." When he still didn't respond. She placed her hand on his shoulder closest to her and turned him to look at her. "I'm sorry for waiting so long. I just needed some time to think and I didn't consider your feelings. I'm sorry, Chat." He looked into her Bluebell eyes and could see the stars reflected back at him. He loved her so much he couldn't stand the thought of losing her or have her look at him the same way that the other kids do now. He shut his eyes hard and stepped out of her grasp.

"I am fine Ladybug. You are right, it is about our identities." He relaxed his face muscles and summoned up every lesson he had ever had on Modeling and Acting skills. "I was thinking about revealing out Identities, but then a thought occurred to me. Why?" Chat paused for a moment to gage Ladybugs reaction. She looked confused. "I mean... Why bother? You are Ladybug. I am Chat Noir. You make the plans. I distract the target. We are partners. I..." this was where he had to turn around because no amount of modeling skills was going to get his face to cooperate with him once he said this. "I am fine with the way we are... there's no need to reveal our Identities." Chat said out to the city of Paris. He schooled his expressions again and turned to her with that model smile.

Ladybug looked shocked and confused. The only word that came out of her mouth was "okay?" asked as though it was a question.

Chat took and ran with it. "Well then. Since that is settled I will be heading off to catch a cat nap." He started backing up towards the edge of the platform still facing Ladybug. Ladybug still looked confused. "See you around LB! Don't be a stranger!" Chat saluted then backflipped off the tower jumping away heading to his house.

Ladybug stood watching as he faded into the distance. It took a full ten minutes before what he said processed through her head. "What just happened?!" she asked to no one in particular.