Adrien had managed two more table swaps and neither girl seemed suspicious about his behaviour. It was all going well, aside from the shiny burn mark on his top, the lingering dampness in his trousers, and the chocolate streaks in Alya's hair, and he knew he was only a matter of minutes away from being home free. He could finally breathe.

He was still curious about Marinette's text message to Alya. Could he actually be lucky enough that Marinette would want to be with him? They had been friends for so long, and he really hadn't had a clue she saw him more than that. He'd had situations where he thought maybe she liked him a little more than just a friend and it both thrilled and terrified him. But then she'd lead him away from it, the statue incident being a prime example. Then again, she'd done it with her super identity too.

She was smart, sophisticated and stunning. She'd finally relaxed when the mains had been brought out and she'd become a lot of fun. This is what he'd expected from a date with Marinette, a date with Ladybug. She became sassy and endearing, and he really couldn't get enough. Thoughts about their next date constantly swirling through his head.

Only dessert left and he would be home free and hopefully with a second date on the cards. He swore he had hearts in his eyes as he spoke to her, and he wouldn't be surprised if she'd seen it too. Now would she prefer a movie or ice skating for their next date?

He'd also done well with his excuses. Faking phone calls from Nathalie when he was with Marinette (thank you Plagg for the idea) and his new best friend 'Rick' wingmanning him and coming up with emergencies to pull Chat Noir from his interview. He was almost one hundred percent sure Rick had pieced Adrien and Chat together, though whether he knew Chat Noir was one of the crime stopping duo who saved Paris on a daily basis was another question for another time. The guy was that old he thought Chat Noir's outfit was actually a badly made Batman cosplay; West being the greatest, Affleck the worst, and Adrien stood good for a possible chance for the next film, if Pattison hadn't already snagged it. He'd made a mental note to leave Rick a big tip.

Arriving for the last part of the interview with Alya, he pulled out cash to pay the bill when Alya placed a hand on Chat's arm.

"Look!" She whispered. Alya was pointing over to a table. A table he knew very well. One that had Marinette seated as she played with the bouquet of roses."That's my best friend. She's on a date with the guy she's been in love with for years."

Adrien smirked as he looked over, only for his heart to stop. Marinette wasn't sitting alone, in front of her was a guy with short brown hair and a very expensive looking shirt.

"I've never seen this guy before! I really thought she was on a date with Adrien. I wonder who he is and why I don't know about him?"

A low hiss left Chat's mouth as he noticed the guy reach out to touch Marinette's hand. She placed her palm up to him and Chat watched as the guy stroked it. Suddenly, he wondered if the date was actually going as well as he thought it was. He pulled out his baton and flipped it open, making wide eyes as though he'd just gotten a message.

"Oh, would you look at that?" He turned the baton towards Alya quickly, before bringing it back and closing it. "Seems I've got to go. Alya, if you need anything else please contact Ladybug." He stood up and began to walk away before realising the money was still in his hand.

Spinning around a little too quickly his tail caught on the chair and spiralled around his leg, tightening its grip and tripping him over, chair and all. The banging and yelping caused the chatter around the room to stop. Standing up he noticed everyone in the restaurant, and he meant everyonewas looking at him. Coughing he stood up and brushed his suit down, straightening his bell and placing the money on the table.

All eyes still on him, he had a decision to make. He could either walk back to the bathroom and change back to Adrien, make his way to the table and attempt to demand the guy leave, or he could waltz over now, as Chat Noir, and scare away this new dude. Of course Adrien being the man of bad choices, he went for option two.

Stalking his way to the table he stopped in front of a confused Marinette.

"Chat Noir? What - why?"

"Is this fellow gentleman here refusing to leave?"

Marinette opened her mouth to talk before Adrien (as Chat) grabbed the guy by the back of the collar and ordered Rick to come over.

"Please take this gentleman back to his table." Dragging this 'dude' to Rick, Chat took Marinette's hand and kissed the back of it. "There you are, fair maiden, he will no longer be disturbing your date with that handsome model of yours."

Chat Noir turned around and stalked his way to the restrooms, winking at Alya as he passed. The room was silent, watching the cat hero's movements and Marinette's expressions could rival that of a fish.

As soon as he made it into the restroom he climbed through the window and into the alley detransforming and making his way back to the front of the restaurant. Taking his phone out of his pocket, he walked back in phone to ear and headed back to his seat.

Marinette was a bright shade of red, face currently hiding behind the roses, and eyes wide open. She looked mortified. Adrien placed his phone in the pocket of his jacket which was currently hung on the back of his chair and sat back down.

"Are you ok?" He asked his date, only to be met by a muffled 'yes' and a nod of her head. She looked around at the other tables and noticed everyone was looking at them, gossiping behind wine glasses and forks full of food.

"Are you sure?" He asked, only to be interrupted at that moment as a screeching Alya came pounding down the aisle and ended next to their table.

"Girl, what was that?" Alya was yet to notice Adrien as she slammed her hands on the table, shaking the glasses, and the forsaken candle, and questioned her best friend. Marinette continued to stare at Adrien causing Alya to follow her eye line, "oh, hi Adrien!" She turned her head back to Marinette, before shooting back to Adrien. "Adrien?"

He lifted his hand and gave her a quick wave, a tense smile on his face. She didn't know? Did she? He was quite sure she knew who Marinette was but she hadn't guessed him, had she?

"But ... that guy? Who -?" Alya noticed others staring at the table. She turned around and announced the show was over and that everyone should go back to their overpriced dinners.

Marinette groaned and placed the flowers down, covering her face with her hands.

"I'm so embarrassed," the raven haired girl announced. "While you were out Adrien, Chat Noir kind of ... well ... There's this guy, Frederick, he comes into the bakery often and we talk. He's big into gaming and he likes to discuss it."

"A guy was here? With you?" Adrien knew full well there was. The guy was stroking her hand and making her smile, he should be doing that, not some random guy who comes into the bakery.

"Anyway, he's blind and responds to hand touches. He was asking me about you and, well, I was telling him and allowing him to smell the flowers. Anyway, Chat Noir came and dragged him from his seat and kind of threw him out."

A full on boulder crashed into Adrien's stomach, making it plummet down to the floor. Big mistake. Adrien jumped out of his seat.

"Well, I best go and find him and make up for Chat Noir's mistake. How dare that stray cat cause my girlfri- girl who's a friend, to feel so bad." He said his goodbyes to Alya and ran after Rick thinking of how he could make it up to Frederick, and in the long run, how he could make it up to Marinette.

He paid for four meals that evening plus Alya's desserts.

Thirty minutes later, they were on the walk back to the bakery and Adrien felt like the biggest loser on the planet. He'd had her right there, she'd wanted to be there and he'd messed up. He'd messed up big time. Her silence as they walked out the door was deafening, he really had no idea how they were going to get past this.

"So?" He started. He had zero idea what to say.

So did she enjoy the food?

So do you regret going out with me?

So is she going to give Luka another chance now that you know Adrien Agreste/Chat Noir is really not worth the effort?

The internal kicks he was giving himself began to hurt.

"So?" She questioned back. He looked at her face and took note of the blue eyes he would never have. He would never have his lady, or his best friend, as a life partner.

A sharp stab hit him in the peck and he realised Plagg was awake. Pulling out his jacket pocket he looked down into kwami's wide eyes, and he could tell he was being ordered to get his act together.

"Are you ok?"

Adrien slammed his jacket back into place and looked at his date. God, she was so gorgeous.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Just checking my pocket for rats."

"Rats?"

"Cheese!"

"Cheese?"

"Yeah, I - um - bought some cheese home. You know, for a midnight snack." Tensing he looked into the eyes of a curious Marinette. He was a walking disaster. This was a date from hell, and his jeans still had a slight damp patch in the crotch area.

A few more steps, and a few more minutes of awkward silence passed, and Adrien noticed Marinette was shivering. A whoop of joy sounded in his head as finally he could start his redemption arch.

"You look cold. Here."

He took off his jacket and slung it around her shoulders.

"Adrien, it's - ouch!" She'd turned her head just as the zip made it to the front of her body. The movement was fast and uncontrollable, and Adrien watched as the zip lifted and met with Marinette's eye.

Oh dear, God! He'd just blinded Ladybug!

"I'm so sorry, Marinette. Please let me look." He moved forwards, lifting his hands to place either side of her cheeks.

"It's fine Adrien, honestly." The exasperated sigh leaving her mouth deflated him like a balloon. She was so done with the night and with him. What a colossal mess.

They walked the remainder of the way in silence, Adrien fighting hard against the tears pooling in his eyes. He really was the epitome of bad luck. The one thing he didn't want to do was mess this up, but that was all it had been one big mess.

Finally, they were outside the bakery and the night could come to a close, Marinette free to live her life without the curse of the black cat. They stood facing each other as Adrien swung his one foot backwards and forwards, watching the ground as his shoe rolled the pebble beneath it.

"I - um - I'm sorry the date wasn't better ..." He kept his head down to the ground as he spoke. "I was just so nervous and excited, and honestly I seem to attract bad luck. But I really enjoyed spending time with you, you know, just you and me for a change." His hand reached to rub the back of his neck.

Adrien braved a look up into Marinette's eyes, she was studying his face and he couldn't help but gulp. She was yet to speak, but he saw movement out of the corner of his eye. Her hand began to reach up towards his bicep, placing it delicately on his upper arm before leaning forward and lifting onto her toes.

What happened next both thrilled and shocked him as Marinette placed her lips delicately against his cheek. Looking at her wide eyed he noticed the red blush over her cheeks and the shy expression in her eyes. She'd kissed him. Ladybug had kissed him. Marinette had kissed him. He couldn't help move his hand up to his cheek and cup the warmth of where she'd touched.

"Goodnight Adrien, please message me to let me know you're home safe."

He stood staring as she stepped over the threshold and made her way into her home. Smiling to himself he couldn't stop the spin and the loud 'yes' as it left his lips, he was that caught up in the kiss and the perfect ending to the not so perfect date that he'd forgotten he was no longer wearing his jacket, and being so engrossed in his own fantasies, he never heard the scream coming from Marinette's apartment.