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Chapter Text

A whole week had passed since the worst day of his life. Well, the worst day since his mother passed away and then his father six months ago. Adrien had finally lost the last person other than Natalie whom he loved. She had broken up with him. Leaving him to wallow in his sorrows for the last seven days.

He had barely slept at all. His mind constantly searching for why she would just give up what they had after being together as friends and then lovers, only a short time after he lost his last family member.

He had thought they would be forever. He had planned his life with her, he even had the ring waiting in his top dresser drawer. It was like his life was over and he didnt know how to continue without her.

Adrien's heart was broken when Marinette called him one week ago and ended their year-long relationship.

One week prior:

The familiar ringtone belonging to the beautiful girl he called his girlfriend rang from his phone as he raced across the room to his bedside table to answer.

"Hey Mari! I didn't expect you to call so early," he answered slightly out of breath from vaulting over his bed to reach the phone in time. There was pause on the other end of the line. The sound of sniffling could be heard before a small, sad voice came over the speaker.

"A-Adrien. I... I don't know how to say this."

"Marinette, love... are you okay? What's wrong?" Adrien had asked in a worried manner.

"No, no I'm not and I hate this so much, because I love you. I love you but I can't be with you anymore. I'm no good for you. All I do is hurt the people I love and you are the one I love the most and even if you don't know it, I'm hurting you the most."

Panic started to set in. He could feel the sweat building on his palms, the phone sliding sllightly against the newly wet surface.

"What do you mean... Of course you are, Marinette. You are my everything. I love you so, so much. There is nothing that could keep me from loving you!" Adrien's voice was starting to break. The thought of losing his love, when he couldn't do anything to stop it at the moment was breaking his heart into peices.

"I can't keep up lying anymore, but I can' tell you the truth either. It would destroy you, but it is detroying me too.  I know that since I can't tell you, I don't deserve your love. You deserve someone who doesn't lie, who every time they see you or kiss you doesn't have to pretend that everything is alright. Someone who won't hurt you, anymore."

Adrien was shocked and unable to speak. He didn't understand what this was or where it was coming from. He thought they were happy. When he finally spoke up again he heard a shuttering sob on the other end of the call.

"Mari, I am happy. I'm so happy with you. I want to spend the rest of my days with you and have a family." He could hardly get out the words as he continued to hear her cries. Tears started to fall down his cheeks as she finally spoke again.

"I'm so sorry Adrien. You will find someone who deserves such an amazing, sweet, and beautiful soul like you. I don't. It's not me. I'm not good for you. Goodbye my love... bye Adrien."

The sound of the phone clicking off opened up the floodgates as Adrien fell to his knees, his phone screen shattering upon hitting the floor where he had released it. This was his worst nightmare, his world was ending.

Back to Present:

Suddenly Adrien was jolted from his thought of that night by the sound of the nasally voice of his kwami.

"Kid, if you don't get out of that bed and do something, you are going to smell worse than my cheese."

"Hush, Plagg. I know," Adrien grumbled as he rolled over burying his face into his pillow.

"Adrien Agreste, I understand that you are upset, but seriously you haven't left this bed in over a week. You have missed every one of your university classes and you haven't been on patrol. Ladybug has been blowing up the catphone."

Another groan left the blonde as a pillow flew across the room, Plagg swiftly dodging it without concern before flying over and landing on his holder's head.

"Get your grumpy, mopey ass out of bed before I cataclysm it!" The black cat kwami said slightly pulling his holders hair, "just go talk to her!"

"I can't talk to her Plagg. She blocked my number. Alya won't return any of my calls or texts and Nino is refusing to talk about it."

"Then don't try as Adrien," Plag shrugged flying away to wait for his holder to get the message.

His Sugar Cube had a lot of explaining to do, allowing her holder to hurt his chosen like this, without giving him any kind of explanation. He couldn't wait to get over there and give her and pigtails a piece of his mind.

Adrien immediately shot up from the bed, "Plagg you're a genius!"

"That's what I've been saying for ye.... NO NOT YET!!!"

"PLAGG CLAWS OUT!"

The black sprite was immediately pulled into the ring on his holders hand. Chat Noir now standing in Adrien Agreste's bedroom. If Adrien couldn't get answers from his Princess, Chat Noir surely could!

Chapter Text

As soon as Adrien transformed into Chat Noir, his baton started buzzing incessantly. Removing the tool from his back, he clicked the little, green cat paw, opening the screen to see who was calling. 

“Chat Noir! Where have you been! I’ve been trying to reach you for a week!”  Ladybug yelled through the baton, her anger almost palpable. 

“Woah, LB. I'm sorry… I've had some things going on in my civian life that.. um have, well, it doesn't matter right now. Did something happen?” 

Chat heard a sigh come from the other side of the phone. It was a sound he was very familiar with. It was the I'm so tired and I don't know what to do, sigh, Ladybug would make when she was over thinking or dealing with issues in her civilian life. 

“Chat… I was just worried something happened to you.” 

Rubbing the back of his neck with his free hand, Chat hummed into the phone before giving a quick apology and saying, “sorry, I didn't mean to make you worry. I'm fine, well, as fine as I can be given my current circumstance, but I'll be okay, LB. How about you? I know that sigh.” 

A small huff and tired laugh came through the phone before Ladybug answered, “yeah, I guess I'm not great at hiding my feelings when it comes to… him.” 

“Your boyfriend? What happened, I thought everything was great with the two of you?” 

“It's a long story, Chat. Can we meet? There is something I need to tell you and I don't want to do it in person. I already had to have a hard conversation over the phone a week ago with him… I don't want to do that again. Face to face would be best, if you can meet me?”

“Be at our spot in ten, LB.” 

Chat hung up the phone and slipped the baton back into the holder. “I guess Marinette will have to wait,” Chat’s shoulders dropped as he whispered his thoughts aloud, then jumped from his bedroom window, heading out to meet Ladybug.

The trip to their favorite rooftop overlooking the Tour de Effiel, was short, only taking a quarter of the time he had said. His feet hit the rooftop in an almost silent thud, his super powered partner in spots already sitting on the edge looking out over the city, didn't even flinch. 

“Hey, LB.” 

Turning her head to look at the incredibly tall, built, and handsome cat superhero, with the same blonde hair and similar green eyes to Adrien, Ladybug gave a small, sad smile as he sat down beside her. 

“Hi Kitty. I'm glad you are okay, I was worried.” 

Chat sighed and pulled his right knee up to his chin as he spoke again, “I'm really sorry. I’ve been having a rough time. My girlfriend she…” The cat hero tried to hold it back, but a sniffle came from him as a tear ran down his cheek. Ladybug's red and black spotted hand landed lightly on his shoulder closest to her. 

Shaking his head to clear his thoughts and pull himself back together he finished, “my girlfriend, she broke up with me, LB. I thought we were forever. I already bought the ring and everything and,” the tears started pouring at this point. Chat hid his head in his arms balancing over his knee as he cried. 

“It's been so hard. I don't even know why. She said she still loves me, but then she blocked me and I can't get a hold of her, or her best friend. Even my best friend, who is her best friend's boyfriend, won’t tell me what's going on!” 

Ladybug leaned in and wrapped her partner in a hug. Shushing him gently as she rocked lightly back and forth. 

“I'm so sorry, Chat.” 

He nodded against his knee, but didn't raise his head to speak, “I'm going to talk to her. I need to figure it out. I was headed that way when you called.” 

“Oh. Chat! I… you should have told me you were busy. Go…go to her and figure everything out!” 

Chat finally looked up at his partner, lightly shaking his head, “no, you sounded like you needed someone to talk to. Maybe we can talk it out together. Maybe before I go you can help me figure out somethings too.”

Chat Noir took a moment to close his eyes and breathe in deeply. As he released his breath, he took the opportunity to break the new silence that had surrounded them. Sitting up straighter and turning himself to face his partner, Chat looked at his friend and told her everything about the past week. He explained how his girlfriend called and broke up with him over the phone. How he had no clue why, or what caused her to break it off.

She had told him she still loved him, but that things in her life were too much and that she was lying to him and how he deserved better than her. He explained how he didn't know what could be so horrible that he could ever not love her. He told Ladybug how he wasn't good enough for his girlfriend, that he was lucky that she loved him, not the other way around. 

He confessed that he was heartbroken and didn't know how he was going to go on, even if he did learn the truth, eventually. He spoke of the love he had for Ladybug back when they were kids, but how the love he held for Mar… his girlfriend was so much more. How he never a million years thought he would be so lucky, being the black cat, and holder of destruction, to be loved and love such a wonderful girl. 

He finished his tirade with a sigh and a shutter. Getting all of that out was a task without crying. Without breaking down and weeping in Ladybug’s arms, had been a feat. 

“I'm so sorry Chat. That… sounds a lot like what I said to my boyfriend last week.” 

Lifting his head from Ladybug's nape, where he had been hugging her against him, he looked at her. The look in his eyes telling her to spill. 

Pushing him away from her to look at him face to face, Ladybug stated, “you know, being a hero… it takes a lot of… lying. I can't tell my family or my friends about this,” Ladybug motioned to herself then Chat, “you know that, kitty.” Chat nodded in confirmation allowing his partner to continue. 

“There are other issues outside of being a hero and guardian. Things that I have had to keep from my boyfriend, well ex-boyfriend now,” she sobbed, her hands lifting to cover her face, as she shook her head slowly. Sniffling and attempting to pull herself together as she felt Chat scoot closer to her. His presence providing her the strength to keep talking and continue her story. 

“Sorry… anyway, I have this secret that I have to keep from him, because it would absolutely wreck him. He recently just lost someone close to him and a couple years ago he lost someone else too. I made a promise that I would keep this secret so he could be happy. Live his life with out the truth. To keep him from hating the person he loves that passed away recently.” 

“How bad of a secret could this be, LB? It's not like the person he cared for was a Monarch or something.” 

Ladybug stiffened at Chat's comment. The black cat hero definitely felt the tension as she did. 

“Wait! Really? Monarch?"

The red clad hero turned to face her partner fully, her eyes though unwilling to meet him as she nodded. 

“Fuck. Well, that's one hell of a coincidence.” 

“What’s that supposed to mean?” 

“Well, you fought monarch and defeated him, by yourself, might I add. Well, with Gabriel Agreste's help, apparently. No wonder you can't tell him” 

Chat immediately noticed the cringe look capturing Ladybug's face as he mentioned Gabriel as a hero, as she quickly stuttered out, “ um… yeah Gabriel...helped.”

Raising an eyebrow at tension in her voice, Chat questioned , “what are you not telling me, LB?” 

A high pitched whine left her throat as she tightened her lips and looked away from him. 

“LB, explain.” 

“I…” She turned back again with tears once more filling her eyes, ready to pour over. 

“Gabriel wasn't a hero Chat… he… he was Monarch and I promised I wouldn't tell. He knew my identity and how much I love his son. I've been keeping it from him, but I had to.”

Chat’'s lips quivered. He wanted to cry. He wanted to shout. He wanted to … he wanted Marinette. He… no he didn't want her, he needed her. He needed to hold her because his father had been his arch nemesis all this time and Ladybug knew. She knew and didn't tell him as Chat or Adrien. She let everyone think he was a hero. 

Yes he loved his father, but now that he thought about it, it really wasn't all that surprising. He was a shit dad. It made sense too. He was never around. Always trying to keep him in and busy. It was all so he wouldn't notice. He wouldn't have time to question why his dad was never around anymore, once his mother died. 

“Why didn't you tell him? Did Gabriel tell you why he did it?” Chat choked out through gritted teeth as he attempted to hold in both sorrow and fury. The feelings were not completely focused toward Ladybug who lied to him, but his father who was a damn supervillain, who treated his son like shit. 

Ladybug nodded in response, her voice small as she answered him, “he wanted to bring his wife back. She died a couple years ago and he wanted our miraculous to make the wish. Well, he got them. He made the wish Chat, but instead of bringing her back he gave up his life for his assistant, because he knew she loved Adrien. He wanted her to live so Adrien would still have someone to care for him.” 

“Wait.” 

Standing up Chat grabbed his blonde locks, pulling and tugging as he paced the rooftop, thinking about everything Ladybug had just said to him, until he stopped dead in his tracks. 

“Wait… turning back toward the spotted heroine he asked, "Adrien Agreste is your ex?” 

Ladybug gasp, her eyes widening in fear. She had given too much away when she was lost in her sorrows. Quickly standing she moved over to Chat, her hand clasped together in pleading.

“Please Chat, you can’t tell him. Oh my god.” 

Chat let out an unamused laugh, “wow, Marinette.” His hand ran through his hair as he thought about everything. His life was a mess. His dad was a supervillain who tried to kill him for years. His girlfriend lied to him about it and then she broke up with him because she couldn’t handle it anymore. 

“It makes so much sense. Of course you are Marinette. Of course my fa… Gabriel was Monarch. It's wow…I can't do this right now… I gotta go to Marinette.” 

Chat turned without another word,  jumping off the roof, his baton vaulting him across the rooftops away from her. Unsure what to do or say, Ladybug collapsed in her spot, the tears steadily falling, soaking her cheeks. 

Chapter Text

Chat Noir flew through the open window into his room, landing silently. His transformation dropped instantly as he fell to his knees, his legs no longer able to hold him. The waves of anxiety, stress, and heartbreak were too much for him, as he succumbed to despair.

Trails of tears poured from his eyes. His breathing, rapid and shallow, caused him to feel light headed. The overpowering sorrow encapsulated him in a vortex of emotion that he could no longer stomach, retching and shuttering as he lay himself on the ground, curled into a ball to make himself smaller. The idea that the smaller he could become, the hope that the pain could no longer reach him. 

Plagg floated above his chosen, watching as he broke down in the middle of his massive, lonely bedroom. He had experienced other holders' hurt and pain, but Adrien was special to him. He was the kitten that needed him the most. The kitten that was only a child when he was given the power of destruction. He was the kitten that fought his own father, lost his mother, and was hurt by the woman he loved. 

Plagg was the first to say he didn't understand human love. He couldn't make sense of it, but he could equate it to his desire, need, dare he say… love, for his precious camembert. The idea that he could no longer have the delicacy made his stomach churn. It was be a fate unlike any other. He had lived centuries, he knew the feeling. He knew what it was like to live off of cheddar and it was horrible. Thinking now about how he felt all those years living camembert-less, he knew he had to help his chosen. He needed to do something, but for now he would let him feel. He would let him process without incessant disruption. He would just be there until he was ready to talk. 

Flying over to Adrien who was still curled into a fetal pose on the floor, he settled silently into his hair. The boy lightly twitched at the feel of his kwami as Plagg immediately began to purr in hopes to help him through his turmoil, until both of them fell into fitful slumbers. 

The sun rose above the horizon, fluttering waves of light through the still open window of Adrien’s room. The subtle warmth and luminescence pulled the young man from his light sleep. His eyes fluttered to prepare for the onslaught of brightness, as he pushed himself from the floor. Every muscle hurt. His head was pounding from the intensity of emotion, pain, and from crying. Letting out on last heavy sob, the blonde’s body finally released the last of the tension it held. 

Scooting across the floor, he lay his back against the foot of his bed. The snoozing cat kwami yawned and stretched at the movement, before lifting himself into the air. 

“Kitten, how are you feeling,” the nasally voice of Plagg asked, causing Adrien to flinch at the sound. 

“Ugh… my head. Plagg, can you go grab some pain killers, please?” 

Without question, Plagg flew away to the bathroom to gather the bottle and a small cup of water, dropping off each individually due to his small size. Adrien placed two pills in his palm and collected the water cup, downing both in hopes to remedy at least his physical pain. 

“Thanks, Plagg.” 

“Anything for you, Kitten.” 

Plagg nestled into the blonde's cheek hoping to show his support and care. Adrien's hand coming up to hold the kwami there for a moment to return the affection. 

It wasn't long before his headache and pain from sleeping curled in a ball on the hardwood floor began to dissipate and Adrien found himself moving to find a more comfortable place to think.

Picking himself up he moved into the livingroom of his apartment, sitting down on the couch and sinking in with a sigh. 

“Plagg?” 

“Yeah, kid?” 

“You knew didn't you? You knew Marinette was Ladybug, that she was my lady all along?” 

The black kwami looked away from his chosen as he answered, “you know I couldn't tell you. The magic and all.”  

“I… I know, Plagg. Did you know about father?” 

Plagg quickly flew to Adrien. He was willing to discuss Marinette being Ladybug, but he didn't know about Gabriel. He would have never let Adrien stay in that house with him for all those years. All those horrible years of being treated so poorly. He would have given up his precious camembert for the kid, to get him out of that house, if he had known back then.

Then again, he did know. He knew that Gabriel was Monarch when Marinette used his powers to fight, combining him and Tikki to become Bug Noir. He did know for just as long as Marinette. Gabriel had even used his miraculous to make the wish. 

Looking down and moving back from Adrien, he shuttered in the air where he floated. 

“Adrien… I.” 

Sitting up quickly, shocking the floating god and causing Plagg to jolt backward, Adrien continued, “he made the wish. He had your miraculous, my miraculous!” 

The thought of his father making the wish, a wish that apparently rewrites the world, had him asking, “what was the consequence?” 

“We…we don't know exactly. Gabriel’s wish was different. It wasn't a direct ask. All Ladybug, Tikki, and I could come up with was that he wanted to be with your mother, but instead of bringing her back, he went with her. Pigtails thinks he chose that path to save Natallie and to save… you.” 

Adrien’s face immediately shown confusion, his eyebrows raising as he turned fully toward Plagg. He understood how the wish could have helped Natalie. She was in really bad shape when he was sent away to London with Kagami, but himself, he had to ask.

“What do you mean, save me?” 

Plagg unwilling to put another huge revelation before his holder hesitated before answering, “well… I mean… your mom was sick and died right?” 

Adrien answered by tensing but still gave a nod. 

“Well, kid I think you need to talk to pigtails about that one. I don't,” the kwami trailed off, unable or maybe unwilling to hurt Adrien further at the moment. He wasn't sure how he would take the truth.  Instead, he flew up to Adrien's left hand, the one with the twin rings on his middle finger and tapped him gently.

“The answer lies here kid, but you need to be with Pigtails when you find out. I know she kept stuff from you, hell… we all did, but we did it for your own good, I swear. Well partly that and the magic, but we all care about you. I know Pigtails loves you and from what Tikki says she is hurting too. I think when you are ready, you two need to have a real heart to heart. Understand her side, maybe even start over fresh, and move past all of his. You two are made for each other.” 

“I know Plagg and I love her too, but she lied to me as Adrien. She made me and all of Paris believe my dad was a hero, when he was the villain all this time!” Grabbing his blond locks Adrien began pacing the room, until Plagg spoke again.

“I’ve been around for a long time, Adrien. I know Pigtails made some mistakes, but try to see it her way. If you knew that the only parent that Marinette had left, died… how would you want her to remember them?” 

Adrien shrugged, sitting back down on the couch and running his hand through his now messy hair. 

“I don't know how I would handle that. I don't, but it still hurts. It hurts that she kept it from me, and apparently she is keeping something else from me too, that even you are unwilling to discuss.” 

The room went silent as Adrien closed his eyes trying to remove the negative thoughts running through his mind and find answers at the same time. Why did she keep this secret? Marinette isn't someone who would intentionally hurt anyone, she is always trying to do what's best, to help others, even if it hurts her in the process. She's my everyday Ladybug, dammit she is the Ladybug!

Adrien's eyes opened instantly at the thought as he whispered, “she is Ladybug. She is Marinette and she's always wanting to help, even if she went about it the wrong way.” The revelation had him asking, “Plagg, is this secret really so horrible that Marinette is willing to risk everything, risk her happiness, our love, to spare me from what she imagines would undoubtedly hurt me? She's trying to take the brunt of it and bury inside herself, to protect me.” 

Plagg knew exactly where this was going, now that Adrien had put himself in Marinette's shoes. He knew himself she didn't go about it the right way, but her heart was in the right place. She cared for and loved his holder. He didn't like to see Adrien hurt and the choice to break up with him was definitely a bad one, keeping secrets was one of those things too. She had a choice though and picked what she thought would be best for Adrien. What someone doesn't know can't hurt them, right? 

It was just unfortunate, or maybe fortunate, so all this could be aired out, that Adrien turned out to be Chat Noir. Even though she had kept that Gabriel had been Monarch from everyone, including her partner, her decision to harbor that information forever, alone, for Adrien. She knew the truth that Adrien was an innocent bystander and never wanted anyone to blame him for his father’s transgressions. 

He knew she trusted Chat Noir, but with Kwami's who couldn't say, she was the only person who knew and she never wanted the information to slip, yet she couldn't hold it any longer and broke down telling the one person she never wanted to know, thinking it was her partner who she trusted more than anything. Unfortunately, that partner turned out to be the boy she was trying to protect. 

“Pigtails always wants to protect everyone in Paris, it's her duty.” 

“You know that’s not what I mean Plagg. She did this as Marinette… for Adrien… for me specifically. I need to go talk to her, Plagg. I don't like what she did, but I need to hear her side of things. I need to know what you won't’ or can't tell me.” 

Without a second to waste Adrien shouted, “Plagg Claws Out!” 

Chapter Text

Within minutes Chat Noir was landing on the balcony of the Tom and Sabine Boulangerie. This arrival though swift was silent to the occupants in the apartment below, allowing him a moment to compose himself before facing what could be one of the best or one of the worst events of his life. Taking a deep breath and exhaling slowly, Chat Noir released the tension in his body with a full body shudder then bent down, rapping his knuckles against the glass skylight that allowed entrance to Marinette's bedroom. As if she was expecting him, the hatch flew open instantly.

"Chat Noir? Chat!"

The bluenette pulled herself onto the balcony as quickly as she could manage without her super suit, throwing herself at the black clad hero, wrapping her arms around his torso and began to cry.

Taken aback by the unexpected onslaught, Chat teetered backward, using his tail to keep his balance.

"Oomph, wow your incredibly strong even without the suit, my lady," Chat chuckled. "What do you lift, 100 pound bags of flour?"

Even though he knew she lived in a bakery and he had seen her dad single handedly carry ten plus bags of flour into the bakery at once. The man was a giant, bigger than his bodyguard Gorilla even. So it wasn't that shocking, but Marinette, without the suit was of average height, but incredibly petite girl.

Mostly joking when he asked, he didn't expect her to nod as she wiped away the snot and tears running down her face. "Wait... really? Damn. No wonder you are such a strong person, Mari. Not only are you Ladybug but you can probably bench more than Kim." That brought a giggle from her lips as she raised her eyes to finally meet his.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to attack you like that, Chat. I just."

A pregnant pause silenced the balcony momentarily as Marinette thought about how to explain.

"I didn't think you would talk to me again, at least not so soon. I'm not sure why not telling you, hurt you so badly, but I want you to know that it was never my intention. I just didn't want anything to get back to Adrien and ruin his life. He deserves the world, Chat!" 

The tears started to run again as Chat picked Marinette up bridal style and lowered them both through the skylight and onto her bed. If they were going to have this conversation, he didn't want to take the chance on some rando hearing everything they had to say, especially when it was most likely going to end with Adrien, not Chat Noir.

"Here Mari, sit and tell me why you think it would ruin his life? What gives you the right to keep something like that from him."

A small gasp left her at his statement. This was something he knew she must have been fighting with herself all this time. She probably even needed to hear the answer herself.

"I... I love him to the moon and back, Chat Noir. I have loved him since the day he gave me his umbrella and that was when we were fourteen! His father asked me to keep his secret from the world, but mostly from Adrien to allow him to have as normal a life as possible, I couldn't deny him that. Adrien has never had a normal childhood and hiding the truth was what I thought was the best way of protecting him from another catastrophe."

If Chat wasn't so keen on listening, thinking, and trying to understand Marinette's point of view, he would have totally corrected her with a pun, it was cat-astophe but that was neither here nor there at the moment.

Clearing his throat he placed his hand on her shoulder, hoping it would help to keep her grounded. He could see the tears still building on her lower lids. The sniffles she tried to hold in weren't doing her any favors. He didn't want her to hurt, no, he wanted her to be alright, but he also wanted answers. He had to keep her focused and out of her own head.

"My Lady, Adrien, is an adult. Don't you think he could handle the fact that his father was Paris's notorious supervillain Monarch?"

"You don't get it Chat!" The bluenette practically screamed through a sob.

"He lost his mother at thirteen, he had a father who was an asshole who used him as a pretty doll to better his fashion brand, he locked in that mansion and hardly ever let him out! We were together through most of that, Chat. I saw the way it hurt him. I saw the way Adrien's eyes would dull and his beautiful smile would fall. I saw the front he put up to pretend when he was happy. I saw him Chat! I just wanted to protect him from having to feel those things again. Not only because his father died, yeah that sucks and I wish Adrien didn't lose the last of his parents, but damn Chat he was a horrible man. I saw it, Adrien's friends saw it, but no one else did. Everyone else admired Gabriel Agreste for his talent. It was one good thing that Adrien could hold on to, that his dad, the one who happened to never be around, was too strict, and hurt him could actually do good in the world for others. It was a way for him to remember him through love and not hate. It was the man's dying wish, but I didn't do it for Gabriel. I lied to all of Paris, to you, to Adrien, to everyone because I just wanted his son to be happy for once. Happy to know that even if he had a shitty father, he would have something good to remember him by!"

That was it. She couldn't say anymore. Chat could hear her heart pounding her chest. He could hear her breathing picking up and he could feel the anxiety permeating from her. He had experienced this enough times as Adrien to know exactly what was happening. Marinette was starting to panic. It was one of the things she did when her thoughts and feelings became too much.

"Marinette. I know you are starting to panic. I need you to look at me and breathe okay, love."

Nodding as she lifted her eyes to meet Chats, Adrien could see the red rims of her eye lids, the bloodshot white of her eyes, and the black streaks of mascara drying on her cheeks. Placing a hand on her cheek, the other still on her shoulder he pulled himself to her, resting his forehead on hers.

"Marinette. I get why you didn't give Adrien the truth, okay. I see your point, but why keep it from me? I'm your partner, where is the trust milady?"

Marinette closed her eyes, unable to continue looking into his green ones that were now so close to hers she could feel his lashes brush her skin when he blinked. With a sigh, she pulled back away from Chat, her eyes still tightly closed. It was like she couldn't stand to see the look on his face as she told him her reasoning.

"Chat, you know I trust you with my life. It's you and me against the world, but if only I knew. If I was the only one with the information then there was no way for it to get to Adrien. There could be no accidental reveal that his father was actually the bad guy all along. That he made the wish and rewrote the world we are now in. Hell, Plagg, Tikki and I are still not completely sure there wasn't a side effect, but all I know is that if Adrien doesn't know, if he can live his life without ever knowing then he won't get his heart broken. I... I just didn't want to take the chance that what happened that day got out to anyone, even... even you, Chat and I'm sorry. I know it was selfish of me to not tell you, but you have to understand," the bluenette began beating her fists softly on the black cat hero's chest. "I had to protect Adrien, no matter what. He comes first."

Grabbing her fists after allowing her time to finish, Chat stopped her from hitting him anymore. He could barely feel it honestly, but he needed her focused on what he was about to say and do next.

"Marinette, as much as I appreciate that you are being totally honest now. There is nothing else to hide right?"

A small whispered yes came from the bluenette, Chat acknowledged her then continued, "good," he said placing a small kiss on the top of her head.

"I think it is time for me to get rid of some secrets too," the bluenettes's eye shot up to look at her partner, her brows narrowing as she silently questioned what he was talking about.

"Look Marinette. It's too late now, Adrien already knows about everything."

A shocked gasp sounded as Marinette's face began to turn red. Her voice came out in an octave too high for Chat's liking as she began to scream at him. In the moment he didn't think. He only knew he didn't want Tom and Sabine to hear her and came up to her room to find Chat Noir in their daughter's bed. Especially since it had only been a week since their break up as Adrien and Marinette. He wasn't too keen on finding out how Weredad Tom would be without the Akuma. The man was huge, he usually reacted like a teddy bear, but when it came to his only daughter, Chat didn't want to find out cause he was sure it definitely wouldn't be good.

So instead of using his hand to cover her mouth and stop the sound, he used his lips. His mouth covered hers, instantly halting to shrill screams emitting from her. Holding her to him as best he could, she finally relaxed in his arms, returning the kiss until he slowly leaned his lips away from hers.

"What was that, Chat Noir!" She whispered this time. A sheepish grin finding his facial features as he answered her.

"Sorry, force of habit, I guess," the blonde hero shrugged before chuckling. "You will understand it all momentarily. Plagg Claws-In"

A blinding flash of green light filled the room. Marinette's eyes not only closing at the brightness but also to keep from seeing Chat's identity. Even though the Monarch was gone, the butterfly miraculous was still out there somewhere. It could be anytime that an akuma showed up and they had another villain to face.

"Chat you cannot show me your identity. It's bad enough that you know mine! It isn't safe!"

Chuckling again, Chat now Adrien, gripped Marinette's hands that had flown to her face to provide additional protection in case she were to accidentally open her eyes, and pulled them away. As soon as both her small hands were safely and firmly in his own, the blonde leaned forward again, his lips meeting Marinette's soft pink ones. Her eyes shot open at the impact while she attempted to pull her hands free, but she stilled as green met blue.

He could see it when she recognized his eyes. When she realized that they weren't the lime green cat-like eyes of her partner, but the beautiful grassy green of the other boy who had been her partner in a different sense.

"A-Adrien, no."

That was it, tears started to stream down her face again. Adrien quickly pulled her onto his lap, rocking her gently as he tried to calm her.

"Mari, please... it's okay, love. I understand why you did it and I forgive you," Adrien whispered to her. The declaration seemingly slowing the girls sobs.

"Wh-Why? How can you forgive me for keeping so much from you all this time?"

Smiling at the love of his life, who he was holding in his lap, arms wrapped protectively around her frame, he said, "because... even if you went about it the wrong way, I know you were trying to protect me. You thought it was best, but Marinette..."

The blonde paused a moment, waiting for any form of response. A small hum reverberated from his shirt, her face still buried in his chest.

"Even though I forgive you, I need you to know that I'm a big boy, Mari. I can take some bad news."

Pulling back from his chest for the first time since he became Adrien, Marinette looked at him, placing a hand on his cheek, "I'm so stupid, Chat or Adrien. How did I not know?" She shook her head and then looked back into those big green eyes saying, "I didn't want you to hurt more. You have been through so much over the years. You lost both of your parents, Adrien. I couldn't let it become an even more horrible experience for you. I wanted to protect you."

"And, I love you for it, Marinette. Though, you know what is the worst part of all of this? No matter how mad I am, I still love you. I will always love you and the worst part of all of this was last week when you broke things off with me. It sucked when I found out about my father, but I have never felt the pain I felt that day. You are my life Marinette. You are all I have ever wanted, and knowing you are Ladybug, just makes this much sweeter, because I have loved you for so long. You were my first love. You are the only girl I have ever loved, aside from my mother, and Natalie but that's not the same thing."

Adrien's rambling caused Marinette to giggle, "I'm usually the one thought vomiting."

"Maybe it's contagious," he told her with a wink. Giggles erupted from her again as her cheeks turned pink.

His lips quickly pecking hers before he continued, "in all seriousness Mari. It's going to take me some time to work through this, but I don't want to do it alone. I want you by my side, milady. No, I need you to be by my side."

"I can do that, Adrien. For you, I can be there no matter what you need. I love you so much. I'm so sorry I hurt you."

Kissing her forehead, Adrien carried on, "no more sorrys Princess. All I need you to do is promise that no matter what happens, no matter how horrible you think something is, or how negatively it could affect me that you will still be honest with me. No more keeping secrets. I want to trust you aren't hiding things from me. As long as I have you by my side, I know I'll get through it."

Marinette smiled at the boy holding her. "I promise."

"Good, now for the most important part..."

"What would that be?" The bluenette looked at him questioningly.

"Will you take this stray back, not only into your heart, but into your life? Cause Marinette Ladybug Dupain-Cheng, I can't live without you."

Before she could answer a black blur flew between them, "please Pigtails, I can't take another hour of his mopey butt. He wouldn't even leave to go buy me my cheese! Take him back, please."

Two pair of green pouty kitten eyes stared at the bluenette. The cuteness overload was over powering her as she burst out into peals of laughter.

"Mari, I'm serious, what's so funny?"

"Nothing, just you two are such silly kitties. Of course Adrien. I love you so much! I never wanted to break up. I thought it would be easier, but I was wrong. So incredibly wrong. I can't live without you either, Chaton."

Leaning forward, Adrien captured Marinette's lips with him, Plagg screeching with disdain at being between them as they began their nasty human love rituals. Tikki quickly grabbed the black cat and pulled him into the miracle box with the other kwamis as Adrien lay Marinette down on the soft mattress of her bed.

While hovering over her small form, he whispered against her lips, "I love you Marinette, My Lady."

As she answered from under him, "I love you too, mon Chaton, my Adrien."