[Narrator's POV]

Marinette is expecting Cat Noir tonight, so she occupied herself with baking while she waited. After a knock on the back door she skips her way over to greet her friend.

"Evening, little lady." Cat Noir says as he steps inside.

"Hey—" A sudden beeping has Marinette slapping herself on the forehead. "I forgot I have a bun in the oven!"

Cat Noir gasps. "Who's the father?"

Marinette hasn't got time to laugh. She races into the kitchen to take the bread out of the oven.

"Don't worry Marinette, I won't let you do this alone." Cat Noir continues dramatically. "I'll support you. I'll marry you if I have to!"

"I'm flattered." Marinette jokes as she puts the bun out to cool.

"Just look at our beautiful doughter!" Cat Noir jests.

Marinette laughs. "And what would you like to name our child?"

"How about Naancy?" Cat Noir suggests.

"I loaf her dough much!" Marinette says.

Cat Noir laughs. "Aye! You made a pun! Ladybug never makes puns with me."

Marinette gives a nervous chuckle. "Oh, right, how could I forget? You couldn't marry me, what about Ladybug?"

"I'm not purely motivated by my hormones you know." Cat Noir says. "If you needed me, I would be there for you."

Marinette smiles. "Well, all good things must come to an end." She gets out a knife and slices up the bread bun. "You wonna taste test tomorrow's stock?"

Cat Noir happily accepts a slice of bread. "Mmmm!" He mumbles as he chews.

Marinette stores away the rest of the bread on a high self.

"Marinette you must be a baker cuz girl you got nice buns." Cat Noir says.

Marinette's face goes red. "Stop messing around!" She laughs, giving Cat Noir a playful push.

"Actually, during the fight with Aquamarine Ladybug laughed at one of my puns. Can you believe it?" Cat Noir says happily. "Maybe my humour is finally growing on her."

"Maybe." Marinette says with a smile.

"So," Cat Noir starts. "How did it go down with that friend Alya of yours? I'm sorry I ditched you, I just didn't want to get involved."

"I understand." Marinette replies. "It actually went okay. She was a bit shocked at first but I think once she realised how genuine our intentions are she felt better."

Cat Noir remembers how defensive Marinette had gotten over their friendship. Thinking back to all the things she said makes his heart thump faster, though he tries to act natural.

"That's good, because...I don't want to stop being friends. I enjoy what we have, you know?" Cat Noir keeps his head down as he talks to hide his blushing cheeks. "I'm lucky to have you in my life."

Marinette smiles. "I feel the same."

The streets outside suddenly erupt with the sound of barking and howling, as if every dog in Paris has awoken.

Marinette clasps her hands over her ears. "What's going on?"

"I better go check this out. Stay in here, okay?" Cat Noir strokes Marinette's head before turning to leave.

Marinette nods. She watches Cat Noir leave before taking action herself.

"Tiki, spots on."

After transforming into Ladybug, she peers out the door to check that Cat Noir is nowhere in sight. Ladybug leaps up onto the rooftops and searches for her partner. She finds him perched on a street lamp watching the streets below. Ladybug lands next to him and follow his gaze. The road is swarmed with a stampede of dogs.

"Puppies!" Cat Noir exclaims happily. "Aw, there are so many of them! How cute!"

Ladybug raises an eyebrow. "I thought cats hated dogs?"

"Wow, racist." Cat Noir replies.

He jumps down and attempts to pat one of the dogs but it snaps at his hand and growls.

"Feisty." Cat Noir says, taking a step back.

"You could say they're quite Fur-ocious." Ladybug says with a smirk.

"My lady making a pun?" Cat Noir replies. "Have you gone barking mad?"

"Maybe I'm going mutts!" Ladybug responds.

"I am so turned on right now." Cat Noir confesses.

Ladybug laughs. "TMI, Chat. This is why I never make puns."

"I think this is what they call puppy love." Cat Noir continues, stepping towards Ladybug.

She slaps a hand on his face and pushes him away. "No way." Ladybug puts her hands on her hips as she observes the army of dogs making their way through the streets of Paris. "I'm thinking if we follow those dogs they'll lead us to an akuma."

"After you, m'lady." Cat Noir says.

Ladybug and Cat Noir follow the crowd of dogs to a swarm amongst the Eifel tower. In the middle of them all is a girl that looks like she is part werewolf, blowing on a dog whistle.

"Come to me, friends. Let us take this city!" She hollers into the night. "I am She-wolf and I will lead you to glory! Man's best friend, you are no more."

"And people think cat ladies are crazy." Cat Noir says.

"Let's catch her off-guard." Ladybug says as she takes out her yoyo. "Lucky Charm!"

She slings her yoyo into the air and conjures up an extendable-wire leash.

"A leash. For once a sensible item for the current situation." Ladybug says.

"You're using your Lucky Charm straight away?" Cat Noir questions. "You should fight her first and think about a strategy. Scope out the enemy, ya know?"

Ladybug swings round the leash like she would her yoyo. "It's a leash versus some mangy mutt, Chat. An easy win."

And with that, she charges into battle. Unfortunately, it was not such an easy win. There are hundreds of aggressive dogs protecting She-wolf. They attack Ladybug and Cat Noir all at once. The heroes couldn't bring themselves to hurt the poor animals so retreating was the only option. Ladybug swings round using her yoyo with one hand and the extendable leash with the other. This allows her to go much faster than usual. She can dodge the dogs with ease, but Cat Noir is having trouble. The dogs have surrounded him. She-wolf blows on her dog whistle and one of the larger canine's leaps at Cat Noir, chomping down on his arm with its fangs. Cat Noir cries out in pain.

"Cat Noir!" Ladybug screams.

She swings herself at She-wolf and launches her foot into the villains face. This causes She-wolf to drop her dog whistle. She and Ladybug both dive for it, but She-wolf grabs it first. She blows on the whistle and all the dogs lunge at Cat Noir in a literal dog pile. She-wolf laughs at Cat Noir as he struggles to defend himself.

"You're barking up the wrong tree, She-wolf!" He yells angrily. "Cataclysm!"

Cat Noir slams his hand down on the concrete below him. The road begins to crumble and concave. A large pit is opening in the ground. Cat Noir shoves his staff into the side to stop himself from falling in, but the dogs aren't as lucky.

"Awe, it's like a pool of puppies." Cat Noir says. "What I wouldn't give to go swimming in that." One of the dogs growls and snaps at Cat Noir's feet. He quickly pulls himself onto safe ground. "Oh, okay. Maybe not."

With all the dogs trapped in the pit Cat Noir had created, he and Ladybug are free to attack She-wolf. Ladybug swings around her rapidly, tying her up with the extendable leash. She snatches the dog whistle and smashes it on the ground.

"Time to de-evilize!" Ladybug shouts as she slings her yoyo to capture the akuma. After releasing the purified butterfly, she unwraps She-wolf and throws the leash into the air. "Miraculous Ladybug!"

Red light whizzes around the streets of Paris, returning all the dogs to their homes. She-wolf turns into a normal teenage girl and returns home as well after apologising to the heroes.

"Pound it!"

Ladybug's earrings beep as she fist bumps Cat Noir.

"L-Ladybug...!" He says fearfully. "Your last spot, it's disappearing!"

Ladybug clutches her earrings in terror. If she swings away on her yoyo and transforms in the air, she could get seriously hurt. Cat Noir looks around frantically. They are out in the open, he can't let anyone see her.

"This way! Hide in the bushes!" Cat Noir grabs Ladybug's hand and starts sprinting towards the gardens surrounding the Eifel tower.

They stumble to a stop next to the bushes. Now it is time for Cat Noir to leave. He has to leave. But it is too late. Ladybug's body begins to shine with pink light. It's beautiful. Cat Noir can't seem to tear his eyes away. He stands there, transfixed as his dreams come true right before his very eyes. His heart is pounding.

[Marinette's POV]

My eyes widen in horror as pink light begins to consume my body. I am paralysed with fear. What will Cat Noir think when he sees me? I have been lying to him this whole time as both Ladybug and Marinette. What if he hates me? What if he is disgusted by my true identity?

I look up to see Cat Noir frozen in place, staring. My body moves on it's own.

"Don't look!" I cry as I lunge forward.

I leap into the bushes for cover, pushing Cat Noir to the ground in the process. He screws his eyes shut to brace for impact, just in time for my transformation to complete.

"Don't look!" I repeat, my voice shaking. "Please! Please, keep your eyes closed!" I feel weak. My voice quivers until it is a barely distinguishable whisper. "Please...don't look at me..."

"Okay. It's okay." Cat Noir says softly as he strokes my head. "My eyes are closed. I haven't looked."

This feels wrong. After all this time...After all we have been through. Cat Noir probably thinks I don't trust him, but it's not that at all. I'm afraid if he sees, he won't trust me. He deserves better...but I'm scared.

It feels as though my very heart is shaking. Tears begin to well up in my eyes. I grip Cat Noir tightly and cry into his chest.

Cat Noir wraps his arms around me, using one hand to stroke my head softly. His embrace is so warm...his touch is so comforting... What would he say if he knew who he was cuddling right now?

"Shh...It's okay." Cat Noir whispers gently. "You're okay."

"I'm sorry...I'm so sorry!" I cry.

"You're not ready." Cat Noir replies. "I understand."

[Adrien's POV]

Ladybug and I stay where we are. On the ground, in a garden. I comfort her as she cries into my chest. She cries until she has nothing left. And then she leaves. I keep my eyes closed and I stay where I am. On the ground, in a garden. I lay there by myself until my ring times out. It still wasn't enough time. There is so much going on inside my head. Ladybug still isn't ready to show me her true self. I cradled her in my arms, but I couldn't look at her beautiful face. It was torture. I want to go check on Marinette, but Plagg is exhausted and I have no food. I hope she doesn't wait up for Cat Noir because I think I just want to be Adrien right now. I'm tired. And dirty. I want to go home and take a long, hot bath and sleep.

But most of all I just want to be in my lady's arms.