WHO'S BUGGING YOU?

'Mode Mania' has been inundated with reports of Ladybug swinging through the city of Paris in a less than desired way. Not only was she ignoring the calls of fellow citizens, and avoiding helping the police, she was seen to be flying erratically from building to building. One fellow citizen posted on their Instagram and Facebook page a video along with the following caption:

'[Ladybug] flew past my window, grabbed my underwear and used it to wipe her nose. It then seemed like she discarded it somewhere else in the city. If you read this Ladybug, you owe me €5.'

Ladybug's vigilante partner was nowhere to be seen which leads us to wonder, is there trouble in paradise?

The power couple haven't been seen together in at least three weeks, missing their regular patrols and sending other heroes out instead. Which makes us question whether Paris' number one couple is following down the same slippery slope as Adrien and Vivica Agreste? Has the city of Paris lost its romantic touch?

•••••

Marinette thought she was dreaming, that whatever had just left her partner's lips was nothing more than her mind playing tricks on her. Big, big tricks. Her body felt like it was swimming, submerged under a depth of water where she was trying her hardest to stay afloat, to fight against the feeling of being submerged into the deep water, and taken away from oxygen and the natural needtobreathe.

She was holding her breath. The quiet words egging her on to breathe in and out. In through the nose, out through the mouth. To hold her breath in and count slowly to five before releasing and repeating. His calm words of support bring her out of the water and back onto dry land, to safety.

"Marinette."

There was no way she'd misheard that. He had most certainly said her name. Not Ladybug, not M'Lady, definitely not Bugaboo...but Marinette. Her name. Her real name.

"If only it's all that simple, Marinette."

"Ma-Ma- Marinette? Wha- who is Marinette?"

"M'Lady, please."

"No you just called me Marinette! Do you know?"

He was silent for a couple of seconds before nodding, his eyes and shoulders lowered to the ground.

"W-w-what?" She pulled away from him, stumbling backwards, her back connecting with the wall behind.

"Marinette, please, don't freak out."

"D-d-don't freak out? I'm not freaking out. No way. Look at me, cool as a cucumber, actually no, I shouldn't be a cucumber because they scare cats. Maybe I'll be as cool as a refrigerator, because they're cool right? Like not too chilly, because I'm not chill, I'm just cool."

Chat stepped up towards her, his eyes keeping locked on hers. She knew he was watching for her to give him the yes or no to continue moving towards her, and she also knew her eyes were like a magic eight ball.

'Concentrate and ask again.'

'Reply hazy, try again.'

"Can I come closer?" His voice was smooth and soft, almost as though he was coxing a small, feral animal; his arms stretched out towards her in a way to see he meant no harm.

"Sure, I mean, why wouldn't I want you to come closer. You're Chat Noir, my kitty, my partner, you don't do anything to hurt me right? Apart from that one time when you blew up the moon, but that was in the past, we're now in the future and you don't blow stuff up now you're what? 24? It's so strange because that's the same age as me. We're the same age, it's like we could be friends." She let out a terrified laugh, one you would pass off to an axe wielder murderer that she was not going to run or scream. That she would be a good little kidnappie and just do as they asked.

"Mari, please, calm down. You're rambling, you're going to have a panic attack if you don't calm down."

"I am calm!" she shouted, quickly covering her mouth and cowering back away from him even more, tears building in her eyes and a whimper escaping her mouth. "I didn't mean to shout. I don't want to make you angry. I'm sorry."

"Okay, I think you need to sit down."

She nodded, dragging herself down the wall to a seated position, Chat mirroring her actions to sit opposite her.

"How long have you known?" Ladybug asked, her voice timid and more Marinette than Ladybug. She hated when she was thrown like this. She was meant to be strong, she was a hero of Paris, it seemed she'd forgotten a couple of important facts; she was still only a young adult and she was still vulnerable, especially when it came to three things: her secret identity, Chat Noir and Adrien Agreste.

"Three years," he whispered, his eyes looking directly into hers. She didn't know whether she wanted to look away or whether to stay focused on him. Her heart wanted one thing whilst her head was telling her to do another.

"Three - three, you've known for three whole fucking years and you've never thought to fucking tell me!"

"It's not been that simple!"

"Oh really! And why's that?"

"De-transform."

"No!" She crossed her arms over her chest and glared at him. Like she was just going to do what he said.

"De-transform, LB, Tikki will help with this conversation."

"Don't you dare tell me what to do! You have no right!"

"Stop being so stubborn will you! Listen to me for once in your goddamn life! This whole conversation will be easier if you have Tikki with you to help explain."

If there was one thing Marinette struggled with it was taking advice from others, hence this whole mess to begin with. Standing up, her sorrow turned into anger and she began to storm over towards the window ready to make a dramatic exit. She was not staying here with Mr Liar who had suddenly turned into Mr Bossy Pants.

"Where are you going?" Chat asked, Ladybug continuing her mission to the window.

"Away from here. You have no right telling me what to do! Especially as you decided to keep the most important detail a secret from me! Three fucking years, what a fucking joke!"

"Don't you dare run away! Not now! I've come too fucking far for this!" He stood up too, marching after her, before jumping over her head and landing in front, blocking the window.

"Move!" she demanded, Chat standing his ground and making himself taller with his stance.

"No."

"I said 'move'." She unhooked her yo-yo ready to make her move. They'd sparred before, she knew he was pretty good and wouldn't go easy on her; he never did. The competitive, arrogant arse.

"I heard you the first time, LB, and as I said before 'no'."

"What the fuck is wrong with you? Just move out of my goddamn way!"

"Make me!"

Her jaw dropped before her eyebrows narrowed. Oh, okay, so they were actually going to do this. She started to swing her yo-yo around, building up the momentum so when it hit him it left a decent bruise.

"What did you just say?" she asked him.

"You heard me. Want me to move then make me!" She watched as he pulled out his baton, extending it and preparing to strike. Oh he was asking for it now!

"Are you sure you want to do this? I know all your weak spots, Kitty Cat."

"And I yours, M'Lady."

They stood staring at each other, Chat now joining in the spinning contest, twisting and twirling his baton around and around, both slowly edging towards each other.

"I'm not going to go easy on you, Chaton."

"I'd hope not, Bugaboo."

Silence crept past them for a couple of seconds before they moved at the same time. Ladybug flipped herself backwards, as did Chat, before throwing her yo-yo out towards him only for his reactions to quickly knock the object out of the way, his baton extending in response and aiming to sweep her feet.

"Ooooo, kitty cat is playing nasty." She retracted the yo-yo, before throwing it up around a beam, using it like a makeshift trapeze and swinging towards her partner. Her reactions were quicker this time, both feet hitting him in the stomach before he could defend himself and sending him backwards into the wall; chips of brick and dust flying around the room and marking his black suit.

"Right, that's it!"

"Ooooo, I'm really scared." Suddenly the seriousness changed to giggles, Ladybug feeling them bubble up in her stomach before moving up and releasing out her mouth.

"Find this funny do you?" Chat Noir said, moving away from the wall and brushing the dust off him.

"I actually find it hiss-terical!"

"Using my puns now are we? That's going to cost ya!" He extended his baton once again, sweeping it under Ladybug's feet and knocking her down to the ground. "Now, who mite be winning?"

A growl left her mouth as she sprung back onto her feet and extended her yo-yo towards him, once, twice, three times...each and everyone being deflected and knocked back towards her. He was on form tonight.

Running towards him, she slid along the floor, the main aim to go through his legs and jump out the window behind him. Unfortunately, as she slid he moved one foot, tripping himself up on her body and tumbling on top of her, the two ending up in a tangled heap on the floor, Chat's body weight holding her in position and stopping any chance of her escaping.

"I win," Ladybug said, both heroes laughing at the situation they'd found themselves in.

"You always win, even when you lose."

"Not this time," she whispered, her hand travelling up to comb a piece of hair out of his eyes and between two of her fingers, before allowing her hand to trace each crease and crevice of his face. The perfectly positioned eyebrows, the well defined cheekbones, the strong jaw line, a face she'd felt both in and out the mask.

A gasp left her mouth and her eyes searched deeply inside his, her other hand moving to repeat the action on the other half of his face. With both hands on his cheeks and his eyes firmly locked on hers she pulled him down, her lips puckering preparing to meet their match, to meet his. Ladybug relaxed into the kiss with her partner. The first one not akuma related or in a future erased, this was Ladybug kissing Chat Noir because she wanted to, because she had to. Her eyes closed as she lost herself in memories of these lips, of ways they'd caressed her body all over, she was quite sure there wasn't a single section they hadn't touched. Their softness, their passion, everything about them she knew.

Pushing him away from her, she licked over her lips, using her top teeth to scrap along the lower lip, pulling his flavour into her mouth. Opening her eyes she looked into his eyes and saw it all.

Sorrow.

Despair.

Heartache.

A man who'd spent three years hiding a secret and living a lie.

A man who'd told her time and time again that he was broken, that he'd been forced into things he had no choice on.

A man who still loved the one that got away.

The man who loved her.

She pulled him down again, kissing him the way she did the final night in Argentina. A kiss that expressed how much she adored him, how much she wanted him, and now, how much she needed him. His own lips sending the same message back.

"Just give me time," she whispered, hoping the message was clear, before taking his lips once more with her own.

"Whatever you need." He kissed her forehead, her eyes closing and enjoying the small hint of Adrien's love.

Adrien

Wow! That was something else.

Her mind became lost in the history from the past three years, she missed him moving off and away from her. The extreme coldness was reminiscent of when Adrien had left her in bed all those years ago.

"You know where I am," he said, his voice soft and full of longing. He offered his hand towards her, a hand she was very grateful to take, as there was no chance in hell she would be able to stand up on her own. As he moved away she saw his throat moving, obviously swallowing thickness similar to what was in her own.

"Yeah," she replied. They stood in silence, their heavy breathing from their tussle the only sign of life in the room.

He went to step forward only to retreat and scratch the back of his neck. "I'll just-" He pointed over his shoulder towards the window, baton in hand and ready to launch.

"Wait!" Finally having some clarity, she moved forward. Still having a carousel of memories running through her mind, one was prominent and never moving. This man standing in front of her had never left. Her partner had been her rock through everything. She loved him, in every possible way and even though her head was struggling to keep up, her heart had already made its home with him. Stretching on her tiptoes her lips met his cheek in a soft kiss.

"Just... give me time." The young lost girl had suddenly found her feet again, her voice coming out strong and demanding, her eyes instructing him to wait for her, that she would come around in the end.

He nodded, his voice thick with emotion as he replied, "Okay."

She smiled. "Thank you."

He gave her one last tentative smile before launching himself out the window and into the night, his black suit camouflaging into the closing day, the sun now given up on lighting the Earth.

"Tikki, spots off." Her small friend appeared beside her, both just staring out the window in silence. Marinette had no idea what she wanted or needed to say.

Time. She'd asked for time, but to be honest she just wanted to chase after him. To follow him and say forget the past, let's just look to the future, but that would be unfair to both of them. The past was as important as their future, and what a web they needed to untangle.

Where do you start when you find out the love of your life has unknowingly been beside you for three years, listening to you slag him off in the most unmentionable ways? She couldn't think that far back, not yet. So instead she looked over the past few months. Had she been blind for not seeing it?

Kim's wedding, the first time they had interacted with each other knowing who the other was. Her mind began to rummage through any possible clues he'd dropped her, and now she could see it all. She should have questioned him. He knew about Dominic, about her throwing the ring at him when she broke off the engagement, he knew more about her than Alya had - Chat being the only one knowing all her deep dark secrets.

When they'd saved the little boy from the river he had been so broken up. The way he cradled her to him muttering words about losing her, and how broken he sounded at the possibility she was harmed...which then led to the phone.

The Chat Noir case and her birthday passcode, she had to laugh. Only Chat Noir would send Ladybug a 'Chat Noir' phone case.

The puns they'd been messaging each other were only worthy of one person in her life, of her Chaton, and how could she forget the movie, both wanting to escape so badly, neither happy with what they were watching.

The more she thought the more obvious it was all becoming. He'd been there the whole time, and in plain sight too. It's like he wanted her to find him. God, he'd even described himself as her new trap. He knew, this whole goddamn time she was trapping him he knew. Oh my God, she'd even admitted she still had feelings for him, he'd used her Multimouse colours in his guest room.

Her mind began to spiral. She was meant to be smart but this was beating her down, what else had she missed?

The cheese and cookies at his apartment the night they had pizza, they'd never eaten them so obviously they were there for someone else. A little mole rat who loved cheese and a flying bug that liked cookies. He really did know. A gust of air left her lungs with the force of someone winding her.

'I'll always be your hero, Marinette.'

'When it comes to her I don't think straight.'

'Does he still hold that title or has it changed?'

'He was a bastard to you all those years ago.'

'I'm being blackmailed, Marinette.'

She plummeted down to the floor, her body no longer having the strength to maintain its stance.

"He's being blackmailed. He's known for three years." She looked up to Tikki, her eyes wide. "He was blackmailed into protecting my identity wasn't he."

"He'd do anything for you, Marinette. He was heartbroken, I've never seen him lose control so much. He never wanted to leave you. It was a very tough day for both of you."

"He needed me to comfort him, Tikki, and instead I just took, took, took. What sort of friend am I? I don't deserve him."

"Don't start that. You both did what you needed to do for the safety of the Miraculous."

"Fucking Miraculous! Sometimes I wish I'd just thrown these fucking earrings in the trash," Marinette said, stretching her legs out in front of her and tilting her head back against the wall.

Tikki giggled, Marinette raising an eyebrow in question. "Sometimes I forget how well matched you two are."

"He said the same then?" Marinette said, Tikki flying closer to answer.

"Surprisingly with a lot more cussing, would you believe? But that day, he lived up to his true destructive nature. The only items in his room not destroyed were anything given by you. He slept with his bowler hat that night."

"I love him so much Tikki, he's just...he's...I can't even explain."

"I know." Tikki snuggled into Marinette's neck, the young adult taking solace in her little bug's comfort.

"Let's go home." Passing Tikki a cookie, she waited for the bug to finish before calling her transformation and heading back to the bakery, her mind still out of control with thoughts of Adrien 'Chat Noir' Agreste.

•••••

Dropping into an alleyway a couple of streets from his apartment block, Adrien stumbled backwards into the wall, the emotion from the day's events draining every last drop of energy from him.

"It's done." Plagg's words were factual; it was true it was done, but it still felt incomplete. He needed to talk to her to explain everything. There was nothing left to hide now, he wanted her in on the whole situation, starting from that day three years ago.

"Yep, let's go home. I'll see if Kagami has any of that tea she raves about. It's either tea or booze and I don't think drinking would be my smartest idea at the moment."

"She'll come around, just give her time."

Adrien patted Plagg on the top of his head, signalling the kwami to hide inside his jacket pocket before heading back towards his apartment. As usual, Adrien greeted the doorman, before heading up to the girls probably as drunk as skunks lazing around his apartment.

Stepping out at his desired floor, he was hit by silence. It seemed maybe the 'Spice Girls' had all departed for the night, meaning he was hopefully walking into an empty apartment, Kagami and Fei having already departed for the guest room.

He opened the door carefully, listening out for any noise only to be met with the television and the telltale voices of 'Modern Family'.

"Hello?" He dropped his keys into the bowl by his door before toeing off his shoes, and placing his jacket on the hook; Plagg zooming away to grab his latest selection of cheeses.

"In here," Fei shouted, guiding Adrien into the lounge, both girls looking at him expectantly.

"Vivica set up Marinette."

"What? I'm going to kill her." Kagami made to stand up only for Fei to pull her back down.

"Where's Marinette now?"

"I don't know!" He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I'm going in the shower, if you need me." The girls nodded as he left the room, both watching as he walked away.

"I hate that woman."

"Who, Marinette?" Fei asked.

"No," Kagami replied, "Vivica. The woman destroyed his life, her and Gabriel Agreste. I hate them both."

"Cheers to that."

They settled down to continue watching the end of their programme before heading off to bed. The wine and lack of food had hit them both, and as they were still recovering from their jet lag, it might not have been the best idea. As the episode ended, Adrien still hadn't returned, the girls powering everything down and heading towards their room.

"I'll just grab some water." Kagami doubled back, aiming to reach the kitchen only to be startled by the intercom. She looked around, seeing if Adrien was about to answer the door, but it seemed he was still locked away in his room.

Moving towards the doorway, slight panic came over her that maybe Vivica had found out where Adrien lived, and believe her, if Vivica attempted to get in the building Kagami was ready to go and kick her ass.

"Hello?" Not known for her rainbow of moods, Kagami's voice was curt and straight to the point.

"Kagami? It's Marinette."

Without a second thought Kagami slammed her fingers on the buzzer, shouting down the phone line for Marinette to make her way up. Bouncing from one foot to the other Kagami didn't know what to do with herself, it was like a romantic fairytale or something. Marinette was here, she had come to her Prince, oh God this was too good to be true. She couldn't control herself, her body taking on some weird dancing wiggle as she waited for a knock on the door.

"What the fuck are you doing?" Kagami turned around to see Adrien in his sweatpants and tee, his hair dripping wet and a mess spiking in different directions.

"What?"

"That, I want to say dance but it looks like you've got an itch or something."

"Come here." Kagami moved towards Adrien, using her fingers to comb through his hair and style it somehow. Well, maybe just attempting to get it out of his eyes would be a more accurate description.

"What are you doing? Why are you touching me?"

"Just, trust me." Stretching up she kissed him on one cheek as she patted the other, progressing to move her hands to his waistband and lower his sweats a little. "Try not to keep us up." She winked. Moving away from Adrien and down the hall to the guest room, getting out of the way as quickly as possible.

Adrien watched with a frown as she slammed the door behind her girlish giggles sounding out the door.

"What the -"

Three solid knocks hit the door, pulling Adrien back to face the wooden object in front of her. He moved forward, stepping up to the peep hole before gasping. He didn't expect this so soon.

"Marinette?" he said, opening the door and welcoming his partner into his apartment. Her face was still, no smile, no anger, no nothing. She walked past him, placing a bag on the floor and turning back, her hands threaded together as she waited for him to close the door. He stood in front of it, unsure whether he should approach or wait for her to make the next move.

He watched her, waiting, but he could see the internal battle playing in her mind. He began to walk towards the kitchen, hoping she'd follow his lead and trail behind him. Never had it been so awkward between the two of them:

"Do you want a drink? I can get you water if you want, or I have some of those bottles of lime water you-" The wind was knocked out of him as a whirlwind of life hit his back at force.

"Marinette?" he spoke her name softly, the sounds of quiet sobs echoing through his back. "Sweetheart?"

"I'm sorry," she whispered, "for everything I ever said. I - I - I didn't know. I didn't understand."

He dropped his head, wrapping his own arms on top of hers, steadying his breath to stop his own tears from spilling.

"It's okay, Bug." His voice was just as soft, the tones sent out to gently caress her, to make her know there was nothing to apologise for.

"No it's not. It never has been or will be again."

He unhooked her arms, turning around and cradling her into his chest, her arms going around him and holding on for dear life.

"Marinette, look at me, everything is okay. We're okay, I promise."

She looked up, the tears spilling down her face and eyes red and glazed over. His poor, sweet Ladybug.

"I love you," she whispered, her voice low through the thickness in her throat. "I'm so sorry it's not a grand declaration, but I needed to tell you and now just feels the right time."

His heart exploded. She loved him. After everything they'd been through they'd beaten the odds and ended up together anyway, more in love then either could have originally considered.

"I love you too, so damn much, and it didn't matter where or when you said it. You feeling that way about me is what makes it perfect."

He took a hand from her waist, stretching up and fanning it through her hair; her face snuggling back into his chest and hiding, as she attempted to control the sobbing. He could feel the dampness expanding over his shirt, the fact she was still crying because of him retaining that hurt feeling he'd had for years. He wanted to make her smile so much. He wanted to go back in time and remember what it was like when they were away from reality. No missing Miraculous, no psycho ex wifes, just them and the monkeys.

"Can I stay?" Her question took him aback, the bag she'd dumped in the hallway suddenly catching his eye once more.

"As long as you want."

"Thank you."

He stood holding her for a little longer before unravelling himself. "I don't want to sound like I'm trying to get you into bed, but it's late and it's been an exhausting day. Would you like to... go to bed?" He winced at his wording. Who says they're not trying to get their girlfriend into bed and then proceeds to ask them to go to bed? He was such an idiot sometimes.

She giggled against his chest, a lopsided smile taking over his face as she slowly came back to her own happy persona.

"Let's go to bed."

She moved to grab her bag only to be stopped by Adrien reaching it first. "Let me get that, M'Lady."

She giggled again before sniffing and wiping under her eyes. "That's so weird to hear coming from your lips. Weird but so right."

He joined her laughter, wrapping an arm around her waist and leading her into his room. "Did you want to ask me anything tonight? Or talk about anything? Just tell me what you need and I can do it. I promise this is it now. You and me together. I'm not going anywhere."

"Maybe we can talk tomorrow, Minou. Tikki explained a lot, and I just haven't got the energy or brain power to think straight. Just be with me, that's enough."

"That I can do."

Leading her to the bed, he placed her bag on his chair, coming back to close the door and sit beside her. She stretched out taking his hand in hers, the look in her eyes a pure want to forget, and for him to allow her to do such.

•••••

He'd welcomed her in with open arms, strong, beautiful open arms and she just wanted nothing more than to curl up and stay there forever. She knew she was taking a chance asking to stay, but she also knew her kitty and his oppressive need to protect her; she'd used it to her advantage, wanting to be no more than a couple of inches away from him, her body craving for his safety and touch.

Marinette took Adrien's large hand in her own, a hand she knew would send her flying to the moon and back, the hand which had saved her time and time again, not only from villains but also from herself.

"I'm sorry I attacked you."

"I'm not," he laughed, "it was hot."

She scoffed as she began to play with the ring on his finger. The ring which brought them together in ways no one would ever understand. She lifted it up, pressing a kiss to the back of his hand in a similar fashion to how he would to her, before turning it over, kissing the inside of his wrist and nipping slightly on his tender, sensitive skin.

"I want to show you how much I love you, I need to do this, please Adrien." She looked up into his eyes knowing her own were begging him, needing him to relinquish control to her.

"Okay." He turned to face her, cupping her face in his hand and moving in. Her lips met him halfway, the tangle of tongues following straight after as she succumbed to the pleasure of kissing Adrien's plump peach lips.

She moved towards him, deepening the kiss as she swung one leg over and straddled him, gripping onto the hair at the back of his neck with tight fists as she explored him. She'd kissed him so much over the past couple of weeks but knowing now who he was in his entirety plus the love she so openly admitted took her breath away, feelings so overwhelmingly deep she didn't quite believe you could feel like this.

A lone tear escaped her eye but for once not a droplet filled with despair but filled with hope. Finally a light was guiding her through the darkness bringing her out the other side, making her feel stronger than ever. She pulled away from him, her hands remaining in his hair, stroking the tiny wisps between her fingers.

"Can you feel it?" she whispered against his lips.

"What? Waking up from a dream only for it to be reality?" His hand went into her hair, grabbing a piece and stroking in down her chest, caressing the length right to the very end.

"I love you," she said, an emotional thickness constricting her throat as she spoke. "I always have and I always will."

"It's always been you Marinette, you're my everything. My life isn't worth living without you in it."

She watched tears begin to leave his eyes, trickling erratically down his cheeks, his eyes closing as his head dropped onto her chest. "I don't deserve you." His voice was barely audible, muffled against her body and his own emotion restricting his speech.

He convulsed against her, her own heart feeling every weep escaping his lips as he broke down on her. She hugged him closer, still straddling his lap, his own arms tightening around her waist as his control broke, and with it the barrier working hard to hold in her tears.

She felt his hands clench onto the back of her shirt, grabbing hold with enough force to rip it in two. The power of destruction ripping away a bandage which held him together, a bandage holding too much in.

"You deserve more than me," her voice hoarse with the tears escaping her eyes, her throat working hard to swallow and stop her from stuttering out her words. She spoke lower, hoping the words could escape in one sentence, speaking through her clenched teeth. "You deserve everything." She pressed her lips into his hair, dotting kisses all over, before lifting his head and kissing the tears collecting in the corner of his lips.

"It's our time now," she said, her voice raspy and exhausted, "we deserve this. We deserve this so fucking much."

"You had to spoil it by swearing didn't you?" His watery laugh caused her breath to hitch as she attempted to breath properly for the first time in years. Her face matched his with a smile.

"How would you tell it's me if I didn't?" She wiped her thumbs under his eyes, taking away as much moisture as she could before kissing the same positions. "You've been so strong, Mon Minou. I may have had my heart broken but you were there healing it with me. You had your own broken and had to break mine too, and you did it all to save me. You shouldn't have to save me," she started to feel her composure break, the small grasp she'd managed to hold onto slipping its way through her fingers with the effect of a grain of sand, "we're a team. It shouldn't always be you that has to sacrifice themselves. It shouldn't always be you."

"Please don't blame yourself, it's my job to protect you." This time it was his fingers and lips drying the tears from her face.

"But who protects you?" Her hands found the front of his shirt, her fists tightening on it and pulling him in towards her. Her lips brushed his once, twice, three times before she pushed him backwards onto the bed, her body dropping down on top of his both in a silent need of expression. No more talking. She couldn't, not without breaking.

He sat up on one arm, looping the other around her back, as he moved up the bed closer to the pillows. She loved his strength; physical and mental. His strength in battle, his strength in life but most of all the strength in his heart. His incredible ability to protect her and everyone around him; there was no one else who matched up to her kitty.

She moved off his body, stumbling around to get her clothing off as he did the same underneath her, both wanting to be free from restraint in the most natural of ways. Adrien stretched over, hand searching for his nightstand when she stopped him.

"No," she said, "I went to the doctor a couple days ago, and I - I know it's a risk but I want to take it. I need to feel you."

He retreated back, his hands moving onto her hips and guiding her in the right direction. She watched his face for any signs of unease, only to find his eyes blown with desire, his once green iris taken over by black as he mirrored her actions by checking her own bluebells. She wanted this, she wanted him.

Straddling on top of him, she lowered herself down, breaking the last wall between them and settling his full length inside her; both groaning with the feeling of bare skin to bare skin. She looked at his face wondering how she'd gotten so lucky, how she had found a person made just for her.

The moonlight reflected off the silvery trails on his cheeks, those left from his emotional upheave earlier. They weren't signs of weakness though, they were signs of healing, of taking out the sting and finally being able to clear the venom inside their veins.

Marinette began to move, her hips rocking as she felt him moving and connecting with her inside, his large hands fanning out and swamping her small waist as he guided her to make him feel good too. She rotated her hips, taking him fully in and out, her hands searching for an anchor on his wrists.

They never looked away as they connected in the light of the full moon, lips locking and bodies colliding each in a passionate dance of their own. They were quiet, just huffed breaths and whispered I love you's as Adrien flipped them over, and took one of her legs around his waist. She cried for him; wanting and needing him more than oxygen as they took off together in a heart mending display of love.

As the world began spinning again, Marinette and Adrien cuddled under the sheets, each wrapped in the warmth and security of each other, exactly where they should be. At home in each other's hearts - together.