Adrien melted into the lips pressed against his. He'd only been kissed by two other people; Ladybug and Kagami, and neither of them made him feel this way. He was floating in the softness of her skin, and becoming more and more addicted to her flavour as he tilted his head to take more. This was romance, and this was passion, and he wanted to live in it for the rest of his life. He placed his hands on her delicate hips and pulled her in closer, enjoying the contact of their bodies together. Minutes seemed to pass by as they kissed each other, completely absorbed in the other's passion.

Marinette wrapped her hands around his neck, and began to play with the small strands of hair at his nape. As though he was transformed, he could feel the urge to purr and paw at this tantalising woman locked in a tight embrace with her. As far as he was concerned the world could stop spinning and he would die a happy man, happy in the love of a beautiful, amazing woman who, after only a few short weeks, had become a warm feature in his cold and dreary life. But he knew she was not his to keep, that the bad luck of the black cat would strike any moment.

A sudden picture of Kagami flashed behind his closed eyelids, causing them to open in shock. He shouldn't be doing this, no matter how much he wanted it, he shouldn't be doing it. He was getting engaged tomorrow for crying out loud, and as much as he wanted to be with Marinette he couldn't.

Pulling back from her lips, his eyes begin to tear up, only to be mirrored by the glistening of her own. He hated himself so much, and it was breaking his heart knowing exactly what he needed to do next, thinking about what he would give up to not have to do it. He never wanted to hurt her. He would die a thousand painful deaths just to make her happy, but that wasn't his job. He had no right.

"I'm so sorry," he whispered, his hand coming up to his lips, hoping to embed the feel of her and the taste of her forever.

She nodded her head allowing the tears that she'd been collecting to fall. He felt so low and so small. He hated himself.

"I - I can't. I'm getting married." He added on.

He watched as Marinette intertwined her fingers in front of her body and looked down, her head nodding in understanding. Even with the sorrow lacing her features she still looked like the most beautiful woman in the world, and his whole body begged him to forget his deal with Kagami and Chloé. To take this incredible woman and run off into the sunset, living their very own happily ever after.

"I just -," she took a deep breath and closed her eyes, allowing tears to continue leaving their marks on her otherwise flawless skin. "I'm being selfish, and a truly horrible person, but I just wanted to kiss you, just once more, just so I could remember what it would feel like. To kiss someone I liked so much. I'm so sorry, I shouldn't have come on to you. It's my fault."

He was dying to tell her the truth, to tell her everything. He wanted her to know no one and he meant no one had ever made him feel the way she does. He wanted to tell her how she had become a source of light in his otherwise depressive and dark life. How her friendship had become his most important, his most fun and his favourite. He loved spending time with her so much, he loved being around her crazily contagious personality. He loved her eyes and her hair, her fashion sense. Her creativity, her loyalty, her smile. He loved her.

He loved her.

"Marinette, I -" he went to speak, to tell her, but nothing came out of his mouth, as the two young adults simply stared at each other. She'd began to retreat towards his front door, and without thinking his feet were already chasing after her.

"Adrien, please don't. This hurts bad enough, I don't need your pity added on top. I should have known this wouldn't - I should have known you wouldn't -" she could let herself finish any of the sentences. Just leaving them to linger unspoken in the air. She sighed and looked down at her hands. "I'll leave you to it."

Turning around Marinette began to make her way to his apartment door, grabbing her shirt from the side table and clutched onto her bag, her pink fluffy boots echoing through his sparsely decorated apartment as she stumbled to put them on. The fluffy boots he called 'Foot Muppets', the fluffy boots which he began to long to see, no matter how hideous they were.

Grasping his hands in his hair, he began to pull hard. He didn't know what to do, looking up at the ceiling and exhaling he ran his hands down his face. He felt so constricted by what was the right thing to do, he'd forgotten to think about what was in his heart, who was in his heart. She'd come around and admitted that she liked him. Those simple words had rejuvenated him. She'd brought him back from the Black Hole he was currently spiralling in and allowed him to breathe again. She allowed him to be Adrien - the misunderstood dork of a guy with bad jokes, and she'd praised him for it, she'd embraced him for it.

But he couldn't have her. He'd made a promise and one thing Adrien prided himself on was that he followed promises through to the end. He'd sacrificed his life so his two friends could be together, so they could have a chance of a future and a good life.

He was a superhero. There was only one person who would understand, and she didn't want to be with him, and as of right now there was only one person he wanted to be with and for once it wasn't his partner.

"I've enjoyed meeting you, Adrien," he watched the tears roll out her eyes as he wiped vigorously on his own. He never spoke, he never stopped her leaving, he never said a damn thing to stop the single greatest thing that ever happened to him walk out the door. It closed with a startling click and he headed to his couch where he collapsed, head in hands and heart in pieces. He turned to the pillow next to his and slammed his fist against it leaving an indent in the soft padding.

"You ok, kid?" Plagg floated to Adrien's side, and looked at his forlorn holder.

Adrien lifted his red rimmed eyes to meet the intense green of Plagg's, the black kwami flinching back in terror. His head rotating side to side.

"Why can't I just have what I want for once in my life?" He vented, each piece of his broken heart airing out its little bit of disdain. "Why is it that the only thing that makes me happy is unreachable again?"

"You could just cancel the engagement, Adrien?"

"Ha," he scoffed, "I can't do that Plagg, you know I can't! This is a mess, a complete and utter mess. I never should have gone to that arcade, I never should have helped her. I should have lived up to the Agreste name and been an ass to her."

"Adrien -"

A sob left Adrien's mouth causing him to cover it with his hand. He couldn't help it, he couldn't hide it, he'd never felt so broken. His fingers brushed over his lips remembering every detail of hers against his. It was the most wonderful feeling he'd ever experienced and he'd just let her escape out the door.

"I need to get out the house," Adrien suddenly said standing up. Plagg nodded at his holder, praying that he'd meet with the bug once he'd escaped the confines of his apartment. Plagg was mellow from what had transpired. He really thought Adrien would ditch his friends and run after her heart, but no! He was just too noble. Again, their stubborn holders had smashed through their plan and took it on a detour.

"Say the words." Plagg flew up to Adrien's face and hugged him. Adrien grabbed a coat and placed it on, just in case, and headed up the stairwell to the roof of his apartment block.

"Claws out." He called, as the chill of the winter's air brushed against his face. He pulled his baton from behind his back, unsure where he was going to head off to.

He jumped a couple of rooftops before contemplating heading towards the bakery. He wasn't sure that's where she'd be, but from what he'd discovered over the past three weeks she was a home girl and that's where she went to make herself feel better.

Three weeks? Had it really only been that short a time? He felt like he'd known her forever. In those three short weeks he felt as though he'd spent time with an old friend, and a close one at that. He'd learned to love in a way he never thought he would, and he learned a lot more about himself. She liked him for him. Marinette liked Adrien Agreste in his entirety, and if tonight was any indication there was a chance she loved him. Him. Not the model and not the superhero, but the combined personality of them both.

He needed to see her. He'd made a big mistake!

Adrien extended the baton again, moving him seamlessly through the Parisian night. Jumping rooftop to rooftop, hearing car horns, high emotive singing of Christmas Carols, and a woman crying.

The sound of the sobs wracked his skin. Whoever this was who was crying, well, it was full of heartbreak. He looked around, the sound seeming to come from a rooftop close by, and listened using his enhanced hearing until he found it.

Three rooftops to the left.

He made his way, hoping a good deed could brighten his own day, but the sight which landed in front of him stilled him to a stop. Sitting against a red brick chimney, knees pulled up to her chest and crying her heart out was his partner. His strong, confident partner, and his already fragmented heart shattered even more significantly.

"M'lady? What's wrong?"

Adrien watched as Ladybug wiped her eyes and nose with her fist and sniffed.

"Nothing. I'm fine, Chat."

He slowly made his way towards her and slid down the chimney. As soon as he'd hit the cold tiling of the roof, she wrapped her arms around his waist and tucked her head under his chin releasing sob after sob.

"I'm lying, it's not fine and I'm not fine."

Lifting a hand he began to run his claws through her hair, releasing each pigtail from its restriction to allow him to comb through the length.

"I'm here if you want to tell me." He whispered, barely containing his own tears. He needed to be solid for her, he needed to be the strong shoulder he always was, once he'd helped her then he'd express his own heartbreak for now she was the one that was important.m, she was his priority.

"I'm going away for a while." She sniffed up the new round of sobbing, hoping to break free from her mouth. "I'll be back in the New Year."

He stilled, an ice cold fear running down his spine.

"How will I get in touch with you? What if Paris needs Ladybug?" He couldn't let her leave. He'd already lost Marinette today, he couldn't lose Ladybug as well.

"Rena will know how to contact me if you need me, but please try and do without me. I can't be in Paris for the next couple of weeks, it's going to be too hard." She moved away from his warmth and wiped her eyes roughly. "I've made such a mess of my life, Chat. I don't know if I can come back from this."

"Woah! Don't say that! Please tell me what's wrong, or at least give me an idea. I hate not being able to help."

"I can't Chat, identities remember."

"Screw the identities. You need me." He grabbed hold of her upper arms and turned her to sit opposite to him.

"I fell in love," she whispered, and he felt as though he'd been slapped. He didn't know what to say, however, she never gave him a chance to speak as she continued with her story. "I fell in love, twice actually, two guys who are unattainable." She let out a gut turning laugh. "I'm pathetic."

"You've been in love twice? I thought you said your ex boyfriend was a sap, I didn't think you loved him."

Ladybug shook her head.

"I tried to stay with him to get over you. I thought with time I would, I thought it was love but unfortunately not."

"To ... get ... over - when were you under me?"

"Now's not the time to be quoting Friends, Chat!"

"Sorry, carry on ..." he didn't know his heart could beat so fast. He was spiralling and he felt sick, the heartbreak being only one of the current issues he was faced with.

"Now there's this other guy, this guy who is so perfect and wonderful, and sweet and funny, he's - he's getting married, and like the idiot I am, I kissed him. I believed he might feel the same way and I kissed him. I made him cheat and he's not that type of guy. He's so perfect it hurts." She let out a frustrated groan and placed her head in her hands. He sat there in silence unsure what was running through his own head to be able to comfort her.

"I'm an idiot, Kitty. I really, really thought I'd found the one. Well, another one after I finally grieved for you. I'm in love, Chat, with two guys and neither of you want me. I'm unlovable and a mug for thinking it could change. I just can't do this anymore. I need to get out of Paris. I can't see his wedding pictures. His dumb blonde haired, green eyed face and wonderful model looks, next to the beautiful woman he's marrying. Someone who's not me. I've done so much for everyone why isn't it my time! What have I done so wrong that even when I throw myself at a guy he refuses me? What have I done to deserve this? Perhaps I should have been happy that at least one guy loved me, I should have tried harder to love him back, I shouldn't have been swayed by exciting arcade dates, and fashion shows and - "

She stood without a second's hesitation and placed both hands over her mouth to cover it. He knew she was about to lose it, about to spiral out of control.

"I've said too much. I'm sorry. I've got to go, I need to go. I'll keep in contact through Rena, and I'll see you in the New Year."

Throwing her yo-yo, she shot off into the night leaving Chat Noir alone on the rooftop, thoughts still struggling to catch up with what had just transpired.

Blonde haired, green eyed model.

Getting married.

She had been in love with Chat Noir.

She was in love with this new guy; with blonde hair, green eyes, who was getting married.

Arcade dates and fashion shows.

She'd kissed him.

It was as though the puzzle pieces were slowly starting to slot together, finding him the answer he needed to complete the conundrum. She loved him, and she loved Adrien Agreste, that much was clear, which led to only one answer. Ladybug was the girl of his dreams in every single way, and he'd just let her go ... again. He was an idiot and he'd let her go.

He sprung onto his feet and extended his baton, making his way towards the bakery. She would be there, she would have to be, he needed her to be. The wind swept through his hair as he pushed off, making his way to the warmest home in Paris.

Jumping and running at a speed he never knew he possessed, he'd made it there in mere minutes, dropping down near the bakery and de-transforming. Glad that he'd worn his coat under the suit, he made his way through the cold winter night, to the front entrance of the Tom and Sabine Patisserie praying that he wasn't too late.

His phone began to ring, again and again and again, but he didn't want to answer, there were far more important things to do now. He needed to get to Marinette and then work this out. Adrien had his mind set; tell Marinette he loved her, reveal he is Chat Noir, reveal that he knew she was his partner and then explain that she'd got it all wrong. That the relationship he was in wasn't real, that he wasn't going to marry Kagami if she would accept him, that he was only doing it to help his friends and to stop him from going after Ladybug, from going after the relationship he never thought was going to happen.

He stopped on the sidewalk, and allowed a taxi cab to turn the corner and give him the opportunity to check his phone before crossing the road safely. It was seven ten in the evening and the streets around him were beginning to fill with locals and tourists, each out and about to celebrate the countdown to Christmas.

His phone greeted him with six messages from Kagami, four from Chloé and an abundance of missed calls from both girls. Knowing Chloé it was to do with the wedding, about whether he wanted white wine or rose waiting for him on the table, when he knew full well both girls knew he wanted red.

Putting his phone back into his pocket he ran across the road. He ran to his lady, he ran to get to his future. The bell chimed in signal of his entrance of the bakery and he came face to face with Sabine.

Luckily, the bakery was empty apart from the small woman who had treated him like one of her own, who made him feel more like a son than he had ever felt from either of his parents.

"Adrien?"

He powered forward and placed his hands on the counter, looking down at the smaller woman.

"Is Marinette here?"

Sabine looked at him with concern in her eyes. Her eyebrows creased and Adrien felt his stomach churn, this was not the face of a woman who was going to reveal information to him.

"She's gone away for Christmas."

"Where?" He asked.

"Tom!" Sabine shouted towards the kitchen. "We don't know, Adrien. She just packed a bag and left."

"When?" Adrien questioned.

Tom walked into the shop wiping his hands on a towel. He noticed Adrien's face and Sabine's concern as he stepped towards the young male.

"What's going on?" The big guy asked, looking between his wife and the ex-model.

"Where's Marinette? Please, I need to know." Adrien's voice broke as tears ran down his cheeks. "Please," he continued, "I need to know, I need to see her." His voice whispered out as he begged Tom to tell him.

The husband and wife duo looked at each other, faces solemn.

"I'm sorry Adrien, but she's gone away for the next couple of weeks with Luka."

Adrien's world crumbled around him with that similar to the effect of his cataclysm. He felt his legs give way and the cold floor beneath him, as he collapsed and howled in sorrow. He'd lost her. His one chance of happiness ... gone.

His phone rang again. It must have fallen out of his pocket as now it sat laughing at him face up, the picture of Kagami gracing the screen. With shaking hands he went to reach it, pressing the green button and placing the phone on speaker.

"Ka - ga -" Adrien rattled off into another round of sobs, stopping him from speaking more than a couple of syllables at a time. Sabine hurried to place her arms around his shoulders as Tom reached out and took Adrien's phone.

"Sorry, whoever this is, but Adrien isn't in a situation to talk at the moment. Is there any way you could send someone to come and pick him up? He's at Tom and Sabine's Patisserie near Notre Dame."

Adrien heard Kagami's voice on the other end of the line talking to someone who he thought would be Chloé.

"We're on our way." The tone sounded through the phone's speaker as the call ended.

"Tom, can you stay with him? I'll get him something to drink."

Tom crouched down and took the place in which his wife was just sitting, comforting Adrien as he sobbed his heart out on the big man's shoulders.

"I've lost her. I can't believe I've - " Adrien gasped for breath as he spoke to Tom.

"Sometimes things don't work out the way you want them too, son. Luka knows something about Marinette that she would have never been able to share with you. It's probably for the best, it would have only made you angry and caused you to fall apart. You're much better off marrying the beautiful girl on your phone, it seems in the press you're made for each other. It'll all work out the way it should. You don't need the additional stress of Marinette's life."

Adrien huffed out a pained laugh. Luka knew did he? That must mean that Luka was Viperion, another piece of the world's most complicated jigsaw slotting in.

"You have no idea," Adrien said, moving away from Tom to wipe his eyes.

A cup of tea later, and the door banged with the sound of hard knocking. Sabine moved forward, unlocking the door and a tumble of people fell in. Kagami, Chloé, Nino and Alya. Adrien had no idea why the last two were here, and at the moment he was too numb to care.

"Adrien," Kagami ran forward and wrapped the broken guy into her arms, feeling the wet tears hit her cheek as he released more of the liquid held in the confines of the bottom of his eyes. "Chloé, make sure the doors are locked, beautiful, we don't need the press getting in."

Chloé locked the door as she looked over towards Alya and nodded, Tom and Sabine stood nearby confused by the sudden gang of people in their patisserie.

"Adrien, we've spoken to my mother and you deserve to be happy too, we're sorry we forced you into this. But the only part in the wedding you need to play is our maid of honour and best man. You don't need to be upset anymore, you don't need to sacrifice yourself again for us." Kagami explained, holding Adrien's hands and kneeling in front of him. "I did what I should have done months ago, I've stepped away from the family for Chloé."

Adrien looked at Kagami and didn't know whether to smile or cry. They thought he was sad about having to marry her? She had got it wrong on so many levels, yet his heart fluttered with gratefulness of love and care.

"You and Chloé?" Sabine asked, indicating between the two girls. Chloé was the one to respond.

"Good old hero boy"

"Wonderboy," Alya corrected.

"Whatever," Chloé rolled her eyes at Alya before continuing, "Well 'Wonderboy' was once again sacrificing his own happiness, his own life for someone else. But don't worry M. Cheng, Adrien can now romance your daughter to his heart's content; writing her poems, dating her and running off into the sunset full of rainbows and hamsters," Chloé looked around the room, finally noticing the raven haired girl was missing, "Where is Dupain-Cheng?" She asked, looking from Adrien to Tom and Sabine, before landing on Alya.

"She's gone with Luka," the red head said, sounding small and embarrassed by the revelation.

"She's -" Adrien started, puffing out his cheeks before releasing the breath he held. He shook his head and looked down at the floor.

"Who's Luka?" Kagami asked, looking over towards Nino.

"Her ex boyfriend." Nino walked towards Adrien and placed a hand on his shoulder, giving his new friend the support and the care that he needed.

"Viperion?" Chloé asked Alya, who answered with a nod.

"I've told him though, that this is all probably for the best. Marinette has responsibilities which would only affect their relationship. Luka knows and can help her, it's not something so easy to understand." Tom seemed to have missed the introduction of Luka's superhero form being thrown around the room.

"No way, is she?" Chloé walked up to Adrien and placed a hand on his upper arm, looking to Alya for confirmation. The repeat of the slight nod was all she needed to understand.

"M'Lady," Adrien whispered through the quietness of the store, eyes still firmly placed on the floor.

He felt Nino flinch and let go of him as other gasps circulated the room. Kagami lifted his chin up to look her longtime friend in the eyes, looking for the confirmation that Marinette was indeed his Ladybug.

"So does that mean -?" Sabine covered her mouth, understanding the implication of Adrien's words. She grabbed a hold of Tom's arm, feeling the heartbroken emotions of the boy sitting in their home.

Kagami stood to address the room, holding onto Chloé's hand as she gazed down at Adrien.

"He's Chat Noir."