Narrator's  POV:
           For the current time, Marinette has been back for two months but managed to keep this fact a secret from everyone. She has not told Chat Noir.  She has not told Adrien, Alya, Nino, or even Master Fu.  

       Now, Marinette did not mean to deceive anyone, it is just she felt like she needed more time to think alone.  It is almost as if she did not reflect on much while she was away.

        Chat Noir has wondered where his partner Ladybug has been all this time since she did not say she would be away.  Also, he misses Marinette, who he loves.  He sighs as he recalls his deep love for her despite her refusal to love him in return.  He thinks if only I could see her again.

      Chat's  POV:
         Chat feels a small tear fall from his eyes. He does not brush them away as he goes on patrol. He is surprised Hawkmoth does not send any akumas after him. Then, again he was akumantized while she was away so maybe the villain does not want to bother which such things again.  He leaps around glad to see everything is at peace but sees a light on in the distance.

       The light is an all familiar one to him why it is Marinette's place. He grins when he realizes this could only mean one thing, Marinette is safe and she is no longer away from Paris.  He decides to drop in on her for a bit.

          Marinette's  POV:

            Marinette sits on her balcony to think. She is not sure when to contact anyone to let them know she is back home for good.  She feels even more unsure of herself now than she was when she left.  She thinks how can things be so difficult?

          "I suppose it is just one of those things I will never know the answer too," Marinette says.

           Marinette does not notice when someone else shows up.  She is to busy looking at the view as she is chillixian on the balcony.

       Chat's POV:

         Chat stands beside Marinette uncertain how to approach her.  He knows it has been a while since he last saw her.  He was on patrol when he saw the lights to her place were on for a change. He was glad to see he was not wrong and she is back.  He feels his heart race just a little at the excitement he feels to be near her again. 

        He hears her speak to herself and wonders what she means.  He does not wait for her to move. He bravely reaches out and touches her shoulder.  It is not like he made any promises as Chat Noir towards her only as Adrien.  

      "Marinette, it has been months since we last spoke," He says.

       Chat notices she fletches less at his touch and waits for her to turn around.  He sees the sad look in her eyes. He wonders what could have taken place while she was away.  He sure hopes no one hurt her.  He knows he never did stop loving her.

      "Chat, I am sorry I did not tell you I was back," Marinette says.

       "How long have you been home?" Chat asks.

      "I got back two months ago," She answers.

      "Oh, and why did you feel a need to hide from me?" Chat asks.  He looks sad as he was somehow betrayed by her words.

     Marinette's POV:

       Marinette did not expect Chat to drop by like this, nor did she expect him to be so upset.  She wonders what she did to hurt him.  She hears him sigh just a little.

       "Chat, I never meant to bring you harm, honest," Marinette answers.

        "This still does not explain why you did not show yourself for two months,"  Chat remarks.

       "Oh, did you worry about me?"  She asks in a teasing manner.

         "Yes, as a matter of fact, I did worry about you, so did Adrien," Chat replies.

           "I did not mean to make either of you worry about me," Marinette says.

              Chat gently holds her hand and is amazed when she does not pull it away. He feels his face flush under the mask.  He closes his eyes afraid this is all a dream.

              Marinette sees Chat close his eyes. She notices his face is red.  She can not say she recalls his blushing around her before so this is a defiant first. She reaches out with her free hand and places it on his cheek. She feels something wet touch it.  

            It is then she realizes Chat is crying. She feels so bad she made him cry. 

           Marinette leans in and slowly kisses his cheek. She feels her face turn red. She pulls away. She thinks what have  I done?

         Chat's  POV:

             Chat feels Marinette's lips brush across his cheek as she kisses him.  He feels her pull away before he can have a chance to respond to her sudden show of affection towards him.

             "M-Marinette, I am sorry, it was a mistake for me to have come," Chat says. He turns away and leaps off the balcony leaving her alone with her thoughts.

           Chat hurries home where he detransforms with a small sob. He feels himself tremble. He thinks why?  Why did she kiss me as Chat?  

         
         Plagg's  POV:             

        Plagg saw the whole thing and does not say a word. Somehow he knows Adrien does not need teasing now. Instead, he needs a friend he can rely on at the moment.             

        "Adrien, I am sorry, she kept her arrival a secret from you," Plagg says.

         Adrien does not answer, so Plagg continues on with his speech, " I sure she has a good reason for it, and it is okay if you do not have cheese."

        "Here," Adrien says sadly as he hands Plagg the chunk of  Camembert.

            Plagg eats it slowly but sees Adrien is still sad. He gives Adrien a small piece,  "Here, I know it is not much, but maybe it can help."

           "Thanks, Plagg, buddy," Adrien says as he takes a bit of the small part of cheese.

      Meanwhile, Tikki speaks to Marinette a bit now that the two are alone again for the moment.

      Tikki's  POV:

       "Marinette, I know you think you have no feelings for Adrien, but you still owe him an explanation,"  Tikki tells her.

      "I know, but I not sure what to tell him,"  Marinette says.

     "I could not even explain it to Chat, Tikki," Marinette goes on to say.

       "Marinette, I am sure you will come up with something, you always do," Tikki remarks.

           Tikki smiles, as she sits on a chair while Marinette gazes back out across the Paris sky. She sure hopes Marinette discovers soon the truth about how she feels about Adrien.  She knows the young lady owes him the full truth.  

        She shakes her head as Marinette mutters something under her breath about her and Adrien being no more than friends. She knows Marinette wants him to hold her close and kiss her. She can tell because she can read her thoughts.  Besides, she also knows since Marinette told her as much while she was on her trip.

       Tikki can not wait for things to be set right between Adrien and Marinette.  If anyone deserves happiness it is those two.

        Find out more in Chapter  19

     -Summer out!