Marinette placed her hand delicately in that of the handsome male next to her. The date was going perfectly. After a wonderful meal at a resort next to theirs, they were now strolling along the path looking out at the moonlit sea. Looking down at her feet as she walked she couldn't help the smile crossing her face. This was everything she ever wanted, and everything she never thought she'd have.

The weather on this Hawaiian night was perfect. Her hair was still magnificently held within its confines, and her dates gentleman side had been ... well ... perfect.

"If there was one day you could change, what would it be and why?"

They'd stopped, and were sitting on a bench shaded with palm trees. The hidden lights illuminated the walkway, giving the evening darkness a safe and satisfying glow. Adrien had been quite inquisitive that evening, not that she minded. There were no secrets between them anymore, no reason to have to second guess what the other meant.

New book, clean page. The tales of Adrien and Marinette.

"New York, the first time we went together." Adrien looked at Marinette throughtfully, wanting her to carry on. Which part did she regret? He knew he regretted a lot of that trip, and every regret centred around what he did to her.

"Which part? I royally screwed up, most of, that trip."

Marinette giggled, before taking his hand in her own.

"You're not the only one, but yes, I'm going to say yours was the biggest mistake out of the two of us."

"Thanks for the award."

They both laughed as Marinette played with his Miraculous. Stroking it and rolling it around his finger. Obviously this made things uncomfortable for him, but in true Adrien style he just let her continue her exploration. It's amazing how something can indent on your finger so much, along with your heart.

"When you gave up your ring, I should have chased after you. I should have been braver and chased after my Kitty. I had nightmares for weeks that you'd do it again, especially after you found out my identity, but this time because I knew who you were I would stop you and I would tell you exactly how much you meant to me." She took a deep breath and looked out over the perfect calm of the ocean, allowing the gentle tide to settle her nerves.

"Then there's what that jackass Adrien Agreste did, That was a whole different array of problems." She looked over to him, only to find a smirk on his face. He hadn't spoken yet, he seemed to understand that she needed to talk.

"Adrien, well, he caused me numerous issues. But my biggest regret was not admitting to you how I felt. I loved you so much in both forms, I think that is why I always failed with my admissions to you. I couldn't tell just Adrien because really I wanted to say the exact same thing to Chat too. Two blondes who made me feel like I could take on the world and win. But apart from that, the museum was another of my epic fails."

"Mari, I'll be honest with you. If you'd told me at the museum that you loved me, I would have denied you. Don't take it personally, it's just -" he took a deep breath and started to trace circles on the back of her hand, "it's not that I didn't respect you, or adore you. It's just, it was Ladybug all the way. No one could touch her, well you, and because I didn't know it was you I would have said no without a second thought."

"I can understand that now. After all, how many times did I turn you down for you."

"Exactly. We had one track mind, and we loved who we loved. It's not like we could have just moved on from feelings that were so intense." He turned his head to look at her. This was turning into a deep conversation for a first date. Not that he'd been on many to compare it to.

"Except Kagami."

He stiffened in his movements and glared at his Lady.

"Oh, har - de - har."

"But it's true though, Adrien. We both moved on, we got over our silly crushes and looked for bigger things with other people." At that moment he knew she was about to go into one of her full Marinette meltdowns.

"Did we really get over them? Because I'm quite sure this morning we declared our love for each other and now we're on a date. Oh, and we're each other's silly crushes."

Marinette pushed his shoulder playfully. Why did he always have to be so smart?

"Ok, ok, you win. It didn't work out. Do you think they'll understand when we get home?" Marinette didn't like to admit it out loud, but it bothered her tremendously to think about Luka's reaction. They were still friends, he said he'd wait for her and he also told her he'd support her with Adrien.

But now she's appearing back in Paris with a boyfriend who, anyone could tell, have been together for a while. So an official status might be new, but together they're the perfect team. They're Ladybug and Chat Noir. Yes he had a girlfriend, but there was still something which made her feel guilty for finally being with Adrien. Perhaps it was because she was in love with Adrien endlessly? That he was right when he thought their split was about him? She regretted the relationship with Luka, not because she didn't like him, but because she respected him and never ever wanted to hurt him.

"Kagami still isn't talking to me the way she used to. We can be civil nowadays, thanks to your intervention, but I honestly think she expects it. She expects me to be with you. Your bracelet was a prop in our breakup, she's incredibly smart and I know she'll be expecting something. Especially after my insta post earlier."

Adrien reached up and scratched the back of his neck as he peered under his eyelashes at Marinette.

"Kitty! What did you do?" Marinette twisted in her seat, eyes wide, glaring at her current date. She may have spent the evening with the gentleman who is Adrien Agreste, but now, now, the man in tight leather who is one step away from joining P.T. Barnum was definitely coming out to play.

"I may have posted a picture of the two of us and declared my undying love?"

"Is that a question or a fact?"

"It's a fact, Pigtails! Guys a smush when it comes to you."

Plagg's voice appeared from Marinette's clutch bag bringing both their attentions to his nasally voice. One thing was for certain. Plagg knew how to spoil the mood.

"Thanks for that Plagg." Adrien facepalmed as Marinette giggled.

"It's a good job I love you, Kitty." She turned to his cheek and delicately placed her lips upon it. She could, and hopefully would someday, kiss every inch of him. There wasn't a inch of Adrien Agreste she wanted to leave untouched from her love. He was hers and she was his, and my God was she going to shower him with affection, heaven knows he deserves it.

"I like sitting and talking to you. You've always been so easy listening and wonderful." Marinette sighed and rested her head against Adrien's shoulder. As she looked out over the sand something random came to mind. Something she'd always wondered about with him.

"Why do you like Passionfruit so much?"

Marinette had always been curious. She's not saying it was a bad flavour, but it was most certainly random, almost as random as the macarons she used to obsessively create for him, in that specific flavour.

"My mother always enjoyed it. She used to have these Passionfruit drinks, I'm not sure what else was in it, maybe some type of soda water. But wow, did I enjoy it! We'd sit out in the garden, watching the butterflies-" he stopped mid sentence. Watching the butterflies? He felt as though suddenly something had struck him, and struck him hard.

"You ok?" Marinette broke through his thoughts, obviously responding to the crease in his brow.

"Yeah, I've just-" he let out an uncomfortable cough and shifted in his seat a little. Instinctively, Marinette reached out and held his hand in her own. She could feel the unease radiating from him and knew whatever memory had just surfaced wasn't one he was content with.

"It's ok, you don't need to say anything if you don't want to. Just know I'm here if you need to speak."

Adrien took a deep breath and slowly let it out.

"We said no secrets, and communication needs to be strong if this is going to work. I used to watch the butterflies with my mother in the garden. Pure white butterflies."

"Akuma's?"

Adrien thought about it for a moment. Were they akumas? Could it be that his mother and father had been working together and doing this for years? Maybe, just maybe, they were doing something good. They might have been helping people build their confidence, or saving people from making mistakes, or, maybe, none of these. Maybe his family were, and always will be, a family of terrorists. Would she want to stay and be associated with such a family?

"I can see your train of thought, Minou. Stop! Stop exactly what you're thinking right now, because it is certainly not true."

"They could have been hurting people for years, Marinette. Both of them. I have this vision of my mother being the perfect saint, whereas she could be just as bad! We know what the Peacock miraculous can do. We know Nathalie grabbed it from somewhere, and the only logical way would be from my mother."

Cupping his blonde hair in both hands, he placed his head in between his knees and began to take in deep breathes. In through the nose, out through the mouth ...

"Adrien, we need to speak to your father when we arrive home and we're not leaving the mansion until we have the truth. I won't let it happen. I will be your strength. Lean on me. Trust me. We're in this together." Marinette placed a hand in between Adrien's shoulder blades, calming him down and letting him know he wasn't alone. If it was up to her, he'd never be alone again. They were a team. Regardless of their form.

"You know, it could be worse. You could have asked your childhood crush to buy you constipation medicine. It worked a treat by the way." He could hear the smile in her voice as she spoke. She was trying to cheer him up, and she was most certainly doing it. She was perfection.

Lifting his head to look into her beautiful bluebell eyes, he couldn't stop the smile from spreading over his face.

"It took me twenty different pharmacies to get that prescription. Everyone thought I'd lost the plot. I wasn't going to let one of my best friends down. Even if it imposed on my time with Kagami."

Marinette knew he was joking, but there was no way in hell she was letting him off with that one. Without a second glance his way, she stood up and began to walk in the direction of their hotel.

"Oh come on Bugaboo, it was just a joke." Adrien's somber mood had, once again, been extinguished thanks to the quick thinking of his Lady. She lightened his world like he'd never expect.

Standing to chase after her, he couldn't help the chuckles escaping his lips. God he loved her.

Marinette was jolted forward as Adrien's arm looped around her neck and pulled her in towards his body. He had an evil smirk over his face and she braced herself for the question about to leave his lips, knowing he was about to unleash his devious side.

"So, what do you think about us having kittens, M'Lady?