So, I've been having a bit of art block for the past month or so. Everything feels harder to draw and takes me a lot longer than usual. Writing-wise, there was a lot that needed to be changed and added in Mae's rough draft, too, so that was a challenge for me as well since I'm still new to writing fanfiction. Anyway, it's finally finished though, I hope you enjoy it!!

(As you may have guessed, the chapter title is a flashback to the events of chapter 2. Give it a listen while reading!)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~

~

~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As soon as the cold metal of the handcuffs closed around their wrists again, both Chat Noir and Ladybug knew that they were totally and utterly screwed.

Again.

They could hear the rising commotion as people emerged from their hiding spots and shelters. In a few moments their current location would become overrun with civilians.

"Adr- Chat--!" Ladybug looked over at him breathlessly, on the verge of panic, glancing over at the dazed woman formerly known as Nostalgiak, who was massaging her temples.

Instead of helping and comforting the akuma victim as they normally would, Adrien realized that their biggest priority had now become getting away from any prying eyes, and fast. Because, let's face it, it wouldn't be hard for people to make the connection between Ladybug and Chat Noir in handcuffs to their civilian selves. The last thing they needed right now was someone else finding out the secret behind the masks. The fact that they had been forced to reveal their identities to each other just a short time before was overwhelming enough.

Chat Noir quickly gained his composure, twirling Ladybug around the same way she had done with him at the start of the akuma attack and picked her up, then prepared to vault out of sight.

He hastily called out to the woman, "SORRYGOTTAGOWEHOPEYOUFEELBETTER, BYE!!" as he darted out of the building and leaped high onto the rooftops. He sprinted as fast as he could, anxious to put as much distance as possible between them and any curious onlooker, racing against the clock before their transformations gave out.

Marinette's time expired shortly after their takeoff into the rooftops. She pressed closer against Chat as her transformation dropped, seeking (and finding) comfort in his familiar embrace as the wind whipped around them. Chat held her tighter, wordlessly reassuring her.

He could feel her shaking; was it from the cold or out of apprehension? He wasn't sure. She felt so small, so vulnerable. So much had happened in such a short amount of time and there had been no time to process it. Adrenaline coursed through his veins as he nervously anticipated the conversation he would be having with Marinette in a few short minutes.

Chat took them back to the school in case people decided to look for them there, now that the miraculous cure had brought everything and everyone back to normal.

Trying to sneak in through a library window proved to be a tougher challenge than anticipated, as the pair tugged and shuffled through the small space, sharing some suppressed awkward giggles at their predicament. They landed in a narrow, deserted row between bookcases and Chat finally dropped his transformation as the last of the toe pads on his ring blinked. Now that they no longer had a pressing threat, (and the repaired handcuffs made sure they couldn't part ways without confronting each other about their secret identities) they stood silently almost chest to chest in these very close quarters, staring at each other with something akin to awe, their cheeks flushed from the effort of squeezing through the window. Or, most likely, due to something more.

"So, uh..." Adrien drawled out, shifting nervously from one foot to the other, extending a hand to take hers before thinking better of it and reaching back to awkwardly scratch his neck instead.

Before Marinette could reply, Tikki flew in front of her, buzzing with excitation. "Guys! That fight was amazing! We hadn't seen those outfits in decades!"

Marinette giggled at her kwami's antics, thankful how it had seemingly dissipated some tension lingering between her and her partner. She playfully poked her little friend on the belly. "Yeah, those were pretty awesome. So, you guys actually had a Ladybug and Chat Noir that wore those suits?"

"Yeah, those are our creations," Plagg chimed in as he flew out of Adrien's overshirt. "Alice and Jack's outfits. They were our holders around... what was it, Tikki? 1910?"

"Jack and Alice? Yes, that's right. Their daughter was born in 1917, remember? She would munch on Plagg's ears and couldn't go to sleep without holding him. That drove him crazy."

Adrien chuckled, "Plagg being used as a chew toy? I'd have to see it to believe it."

Plagg blew a raspberry, making himself comfortable on the top of Adrien's hair. "Alice and Jack were a really good pair."

"Alice was also into fashion, Marinette, you would've liked her," Tikki added, nuzzling against her charge's cheek.

"Now that I think about it," Plagg smirked, "Jack kissed Alice first, too."

A fiery blush spread on both teenager's cheeks upon hearing those words, and Tikki loudly gasped, "I know! Wasn't it the cutest thing?"

Plagg snickered. "You should've seen the look on your faces when you each transformed!"

Marinette let out a long groan, burying her face in her palms as her blush intensified. Adrien noticed how tensed her shoulders were and became worried about her reaction. Were they back to square one? To the stuttering and shy girl who couldn't even look him in the eye?

"Hey, Mari, stop freaking out," he said, putting his hands on her shoulders so she would face him. "It's just me."

Hearing those words, Marinette looked up at him and stammered. "But... You're not just you! You're Adrien Agreste!" She waved her hands up and down his frame for emphasis. "You're Paris' heartthrob, a fashion icon, you have more fencing trophies than I can count; you're so friendly and nice that it's pretty much impossible to dislike you! You're... you're amazing, Adrien." Her lips stretched into a small, timid smile and she added quietly, "But... Now I know that you're even more than that. You're my Chat Noir. Chat is my best friend. He's sweet, smart, funny, brave. I'd do anything for him... for you."

Adrien gaped at her, taken aback by her declaration. "Do... do you really think that? That's really how you see me? B-but why? Marinette, you're the amazing one!" He looked away, almost ashamed, not able to meet her eyes. "Underneath the big name, I'm just... nobody. You deserve someone better as a partner, someone that saves you more often than they need saving. Nostalgiak was right. I've failed you time and time again. I don't deserve all your praise."

"Oh, Adrien..." Marinette touched his cheek and gently turned his head; her eyes bore into his. "I meant every word of what I said to your father. I am so proud of you." Her bound hand found his and she intertwined their fingers together. "You have the busiest schedule I have ever seen for a seventeen-year-old, plus I just found out you're saving Paris a few times a week on top of everything, and yet you always make time for your friends. You're the kindest person I know, both in and outside the mask." Her blush went a few shades redder; she dropped her hand and looked away from him. "I-in fact, Adrien's the only thing that kept Ladybug from falling for Chat Noir."

Adrien stilled in front of her, staring at her like a deer in headlights. "What? Do you mean...?"

This is it. It's now or never. Tell him how much he means to you, Marinette's mind coaxed.

She continued, "I always kept our superhero relationship strictly professional because I had a major and embarrassingly huge crush on someone else."

Adrien visibly swallowed. "Are... Are you really saying... All the nervousness, the running away from me...?"

She looked up at him shyly, tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear. "I've had the most massive, awkward crush on you all throughout lycée, Adrien."

Adrien gaped at her for a few moments, then squeezed his eyes shut and chuckled incredulously. "What a pair we make." He reached out and grabbed both her hands and steeled himself to continue. "Since we're both discovering new things about each other, I'll have you know... I've been madly in love with Ladybug since the day we met."

Marinette let out a small gasp and her eyes grew wide.

"But, you know," Adrien continued, a slight tremor in his voice, "I happen to like the Marinette I've gotten to know in the past few days. A lot. She's fun, caring and outgoing, and I can't help but wonder how is it that I never noticed just how incredible she was before. It all makes so much sense now."

She beamed at him, the kind of smile that would put the stars to shame. "And I really like the Adrien I got to see these past couple of days, too. You seemed more comfortable, more free, and I liked that a lot. And... now that I think of it, it's so similar to my Kitty. The side of Adrien you let me see is just so... Chat. After all," she teased with a playful glint in her eyes, "you two share a disgusting love of lame puns."

"Why, My Lady!" he gasped, draping his free hand dramatically over his heart. "My puns are purr-fectly a-mew-zing, I'll have you know!"

The two laughed like they usually did, their banter bringing a sense of normalcy back into the situation. After a few moments, Marinette's giggles subsided as she noticed the way he was adoringly staring at her, and she found herself lost in a sea of green.

"I can't believe my luck," he said, his voice somewhat raspy. "I fell in love with the same amazing girl two times. I'm so glad that you like me, Marinette. I'm speechless, honestly."

Marinette looked at him then, setting her gaze straight into his eyes. There was a brand new fire in her eyes, something that definitely wasn't there before. "I did too, you know."

"What?" he said softly.

Marinette rested her free hand on his arm and, burying her jittery nerves as deep as she could, she said softly, "Knowing that you're my best friend, my partner, I... it changes everything. It adds a whole other layer to our relationship. I already loved Adrien, but now I realize that I'm in love with all of you. With my best friend, my sweet, dorky Chaton."

Adrien smiled at her, stepping closer. So close that he could smell her perfume, could tell she smelled subtly of cinnamon and vanilla. "I love you too, Marinette. I've spent the last few days falling for the other side of you, falling hard. It was confusing to me that I'd developed such strong feelings for my friend when I was already in love with My Lady."

Marinette lifted misty eyes toward Adrien, her back pressed against the rows of books. "I... I don't know about you, but.... I would like more than friendship."

"I want more too," Adrien grinned. "Marinette, I love you. I want to be with you."

Adrien stepped even closer to Marinette and wrapped his arm around her waist, Marinette's arm lifted up towards his neck, closing her fingers around the back of his head, softly ruffling his hair, sporting a giddy, wide-eyed grin.

"I love you too, Minou."

The teary smile Adrien flashed her upon hearing those words made her insides melt. She was the reason he was grinning like a lovesick fool. She stared at him, knowing her own expression matched his.

He leaned in, their eyes fluttering closed, their lips just a breath away. He could almost taste her lip gloss, almost feel the warmth of her skin.

Suddenly, Plagg abruptly zoomed into Adrien's collar and Tikki quickly phased into Marinette's purse, and the pair sprung apart just as the school's librarian walked past the end of the row. "M. Agreste? Mlle Dupain-Cheng? What are you doing here? School ended a little while ago."

Adrien was the first to regain his bearings, flashing his best model smile. "We have a group research project in Literature due next week. We figured we could get a head start." Next to him, Marinette offered her a wide (though not entirely convincing) toothy smile.

The librarian quirked an eyebrow skeptically, eyeing their matching blushes. "In the computer science section?" The pair stiffened and avoided her gaze, and she tried hard not to smirk. "Anyway, I'm closing up for the day now. Hurry home, both of you."

They hurried out of the library, their fingers closely intertwined and suppressing uncontrollable giggles.

As they walked down the sidewalk toward the bakery, Adrien chuckled lightly. "There is no real way of saying this without sounding like a total douche, so I'll just say it: my place or yours tonight?"

Marinette laughed, "To answer your 'douchey' question, I kinda enjoyed your immense bed way better than my chaise. Plus, we can actually shower at your place. My shower is too tiny for us both to fit in there."

At the bakery, they somehow managed to escape Sabine's fussing unscathed ("Have a croissant, Adrien! A growing young man like you needs a proper diet to stay healthy and strong. There's lots more food upstairs, too. Honey, why are you wearing one of his shirts? Didn't you pack a change of clothes yesterday evening? Be sure to pack some extra clothes, just in case.") and slipped into Marinette's bedroom.

Once the hatch closed, Plagg and Tikki instantly emerged from their respective hiding spots and zipped away together. Tikki stopped briefly to wink at Marinette before joining Plagg on her miniature handmade bed.

"Your mom is awesome, can she adopt me?" Adrien chuckled softly, tentatively pulling Marinette into a hug. Butterflies fluttered in his stomach when she leaned her head on his shoulder, her lips tantalizingly close to his neck.

Marinette giggled in his hold, resting her forehead against his. "Well, knowing my mom she would if you asked. But then we wouldn't be able to date," she answered coyly.

"Oh, does that mean we are dating now?" he replied playfully, planting a featherlight kiss on her forehead. "I wasn't aware. Don't I have to ask you out or something beforehand?"

"I think that if two people have already confessed their I love you's, it's pretty safe to assume they are dating. In any case, Adrien Agreste, will you be my boyfriend?"

He grinned, one of those soft, genuine smiles that made Marinette weak in the knees.

"Of course I'll be your boyfriend, my Princess, I would be honored to. Maybe someday it'll be me asking you a very important question?"

Marinette giggled with a blush. "You're getting ahead of yourself, Chaton," she teased. "How about we talk about that in due time?"

Adrien slapped the back of his hand on his forehead, sighing dramatically. "My Lady refused my proposal, woe is me!"

Marinette laughed heartily and blew a raspberry. "Stop being theatrical, kitty cat, and help me find some clothes that'll be suitable for school. The last thing I need on top of everything is to get sent to the Principal's due to a dress code violation."

He chuckled softly, following her to the closet. She rummaged through the racks of clothes, softly muttering to herself. "Too tacky, too sexy, too short, not handcuffs friendly..."

Adrien laughed out loud, his voice lilting jovially. "I wouldn't mind sexy, you know. Whatever you end up wearing, you'll be the prettiest woman in France."

"Watch it, your Chat is showing," Marinette laughed (but turned her head to try to hide her blush), then returned to the task at hand.

He let his attention wander, looking around the closet, and his eyes fell on a stack of papers lying just within his reach on a shelf. He grabbed them for closer inspection, curious about what a bunch of messy papers were doing amongst the explosion of fabric.

He wouldn't ever have expected to be faced with dozens of Adriens looking back at him.

And not the magazine photos and official pictures that ended up on billboards, the kinds you would expect to find in the room of a girl set on landing an internship with his father's company.

No.

What he was holding was a pretty heavy stack of various photos of himself, taken by friends and family over the course of the past few years. Pictures of him laughing, acting silly, smiling. On some of them he was alone, but more often than not Nino was grinning beside him, or Alya was sticking finger bunny ears on someone. Marinette was in many pictures as well, a warm smile always on her lips.

"Mari?" he asked, bewildered, "why are all these in your closet?"