"Kitty..." The heroine started. She stared at her partner, Chat Noir, as those deep emerald eyes stared back at her with the question asked for the hundredth time.

To let their transformation dwindle and reveal their identities to one another.

But Ladybug, also known as Marinette, wasn't ready for that. She doesn't know why, after all these years working with Chat. They grew up together almost and she could clearly see that in him.

Chat would get stubborn about the identity issue and sometimes it would get aggravating to her. Chat knew she admired someone else, but he couldn't think of anyone who spend as much time with "his lady", to steal her heart away. Who could possibly spend more time with her; to make her heart swoon over them more than his partner in crime, battle, war, and overall unrequited love?

Yes, even after all these years he never confessed. He knew little about his lady as she did him. Except how he constantly flirt with her on a daily basis, how she constantly teased him, how she was loving someone else other than him.

He didn't want to be selfish, but he had to. He needed to know.

"My lady..." Chat would say breathlessly. Their transformation were running down. Any minute they would reveal their identities.

"I'm...sorry." He sighed letting go of her wrist. "Until next time m'lady."

"No! Wait Chat." Marinette insisted. "I'm sorry I'm not ready. I'm sorry...but it hurts when you ask me every time. Knowing we're seconds away from revealing ourselves. All these years...I'm...I'm just a coward."

Chat's eyes widen, "No..."

"How can I be your partner if I can't fully trust you? That's it ..." Tears fell down her mask. "I'm sorry...Chat."

Chat grabbed Ladybug in a bruising hug and buried his nose into her hair. Mix with sweat and some perfume, it was his lady and he wouldn't let her shed tears like that. It caused him pain seeing her so hurt about it.

"I'm a fool. I...we're both scared. I want to know you that is all. But I don't want to throw away all these years for something like that." Chat wiped her tears. "I trust you. As you trust me."

"But I-" Ladybug was stopped by Chat's finger.

"Do you trust me?" Chat asked as the last ticking of transformation was winding down.

Ladybug stared at Chat and nodded, "I do."

Chat grinned like the Cheshire he was. "Then until next time, m'lady." He leaned down and kissed her forehead. He dipped into the night and disappeared into the shadows, as a brief flash blinded Ladybug as his transformation dwindled.

She turned away as her transformation ended and she was Marinette, a shy fashion designer. But still afraid.

Afraid of the unknown.

Marinette woke up the next day with Tikki by her side as she got ready.

"Chat knows you trust him. Knowing your identities is another level of trust and responsibility. Anything could happen..." Tikki said. "It's OK to be scared."

"But of what Tikki? Falling for Chat and not Adrien?" Marinette groaned.

"Would it be so bad? Sometimes I think they're the same person." She giggled.

"This is so not funny. First Alya, then Nathanael's art in the school paper, now you?" Marinette huffed. "Adrien is nothing like Chat I tell you, with my own two eyes."

"If you say so." Tikki held back a wide grin. "You might need four."

Marinette got ready as she pulled her hair back in a wolftail and grabbed her backpack. Since getting serious with her fashion career, she decided to mix up her hairstyle. However, her hair will poof back to pigtails when she's Ladybug. She also did this because she was growing paranoid that people will finally see that both her and Ladybug may or may not have the same hairstyles.

"Off to class..." She groaned. "That's a Ladybug problem to deal with later..."

Marinette for some reason couldn't shake the conversation from last night. It haunted her in her sleep, where she feared her beloved partner was akumatized and hunted her for blood. An akuma she fear she can cause. Which is why it made her more wary of their relationship and trying to keep as much peace between them as possible. It happened ever so often in her dreams, but it was another thing that kept her on edge with the stupid identity crisis between them.

Some days they would bicker, compared to long before they never fought. They were both stubborn and the dynamic between them were clearly changing and-

"Maaariii" Alya drawled. "Maaariiiiiii."

"Eh?! Oh, it's you Alya..." Marinette shook from her thoughts. The whole time she was daydreaming. Her best friend studied her and softly smirked.

"Thinkin' about nice and handsome again hmmm?" Alya teased as she smushed Marinette's cheeks. She whined.

"Nooooooo." Marinette pleaded. "Alya c'mon!"

Alya finally gave up.

"Then what's up sis?" Alya asked.

"About your Ladyblog. How's it going?" Marinette asked, switching the topic.

Alya beamed, "Hmm, it could be much better but..."

"But?" Marinette asked.

"I wish Ladybug and Chat will stop bickering like an old married couple." Alya shrugged. "After all these years following them they should be engaged? Ya?"

Marinette flustered almost spitting her drink. "Well why are they bickering?"

Alya shrugged again, "Would be nice to know that huh? Maybe you can tell me."

Marinette almost jumped ten feet in the air.

"WHAT?! M-m-ME?!" She stammered as Alya cracked up.

"Yeah! Don't tell me you don't know about them? Helping you out with your secret fashion line I bet! Just kidding. Hey hey, when I'm going to see your prototypes?" Alya grabbed her friend's arm.

Marinette's eye wandered over her stars and shine and was in a trance again, forgetting about Alya. Even she could hear Tikki say doki doki in her head. He sat down with such grace it should've been illegal.

"EHHHH. MARIIIII." Alya whined. "Whatever. One day you'll show me before the big senior fashion show."

"Yeah yeah..." Marinette still stared at him, how he stood so tall and with coolness. After freshman year she notice how dramatically Adrien has grown. His shoulders more broad, yet his hair kept shorter than it used to be. She wouldn't mind him even growing it out.

Even all these years, they were finally able to talk more and spend some days just being friends. But still at times she catch old habits with her mind blank again and words flowing like a broken piano.

"Now go over to lover boy!" Alya pushed her towards Adrien as she bumped into him.

Marinette squeaked.

"Oh, Morning Mari." Adrien smiled.

Marinette stood back, frozen for several awkward seconds before stammering a hello.

"H-hey so, u-um so...the fashion show. Er, I was thinking, if you could, help me with some of the measurements for uh...one of my costumes." Marinette stumbled. Adrien grinned.

"Of course. That's what friends are for. I can swing by today, since I don't have any plans. Even better, we can hitch a ride back to your place." Adrien suggested which made Marinette steam from her ears. Thankfully she got over her obsession of leaving photos of him hanging in her room and on her computer a long time ago...

Marinette, you're 17...you should already fess up to him...there's no more time to waste now you're going off to school soon...in America.

But no way she's going to tell him today. Not with so much on her plate and just her shy self always dominant in confessions. "Y-yeah!" She grinned as he waved and headed towards Nino to talk to him.

"Aaahhhh whatcha up to?" Alya grinning ear to ear as she surprised Marinette.

"Adrien is going to help with the surprise fashion line I came up with. Please don't be mad, I swear I'll show you soon." Marinette begged. Alya blinked.

"Aaahhh I'm so mad!" Alya pretended to be upset, before opening an eye and winking at her friend. "Hey Mari, betcha I can guess what it is. If I do can I see it? Hmmm?" She pestered her friend as Marinette gave up.

"Fine! But this is-" She whispered to Alya, "Confidential. Promise?"

Alya zipped her curvy lips and locked them with a key and threw it away.

"Alright." As Marinette hugged Alya, "Thank you."

Adrien met Marinette outside the school as they got out. He escorted her to the limo as a loud screech startled the two teens.

"A-DRI-EN!" Chloe wailed as she shoved Marinette aside. "Where are you going with that boring peasant?! Didn't you forget our date?"

Marinette froze. She didn't believe they were dating but for Chloe to be that upfront was probably more guts she'll ever have; Ladybug or not. She didn't appreciate being called a peasant like this was the Stone Age and could gag from Chloe's lame insults towards her.

"Why you-" Marinette started.

Adrien raised a brow, "Date? But I never asked you out. Anyways, later Chloe." As many of Adrien's and Marinette's friends had witnessed a murder.

Quietly, Marinette got inside the limo with Adrien while sticking her tongue out at the window at Chloe as they drove off.

"List of people not invited to Chloe's funeral?" Alya checked with Nino on his blank paper.

"Adrien. Check." Nino snicked.

"SHUT UP! SABRINAAAA!" Chloe screeched.

Sabrina stumbled behind Chloe as she straighten herself . "Y-y-yes?!"

"Find out. Where they're going. It's probably about the senior fashion show..." Chloe hissed between the two of them.

"But the last time we tried-" Sabrina protested.

"Sa-bri-na." Chloe snarled like a demonic Chihuahua. "NOW!"

"Y-yes!" As Sabrina got on her scooter and took off. Chloe went home in her own limo as well, plotting revenge. Alya eyed Chloe as she quickly texted Marinette.

[Oi. Chloe plotting somethin' watch ur back girl. And have fun with boy toy xoxo *] ~ ѧʟʏѧ

-[thx alya! Love u xoxo I promise to pay you back big time. AND WHAT BOY TOY SHUT UP. still love you] ~ *Mari❤

Marinette chuckled at the text. She really did love Alya for being one of the best.

"What are you laughing at? Share the joke." Adrien raised a brow smiling. Marinette coughed as she stammered.

"Pffbt. Nothing. Just Alya you know?" She laughed awkwardly.

"Hmm..." Adrien shrugged. "Anyway is this your place?" As he pointed to the bakery.

"Yeah!" Marinette and Adrien thanked the driver as they got out. As they entered the bakery, the whiff of homemade goods filled Adrien's mouth.

"Hi Mama!" Marinette hugged her Mom. "Dad's out again?"

"Yep. And is this Adrien Agreste? You've grown up a bit last time I saw you! Both you and Mari. Ah, I have day old goodies for you kids. Feel free to help yourself. It was nice seeing you again." Sabine smiled.

"Thank you ma'am." As Adrien and Marinette help themselves. "I can see the resemblance in your daughter."

"Oh? And that is?" Sabine asked.

"You're both young and beautiful. " As Marinette gasped loudly and shoved Adrien upstairs to her room, nearly loosing it. Sabine laughed.

"You! All these years you've been hiding your witty comebacks!" Marinette was pulling her hair. Adrien tilted his head.

"Hmm, I feel like being more honest to people?" Adrien shrugged. "Anyway, can I see this super secret clothing line you came up with?"

Marinette's heart went on a marathon as she tied her hair. Inside her white blazer, Tikki was laughing uncontrollably from Marinette's sky rocketing blood pressure.

"Ah...umm...right here." As she stood by a black curtain. "There some flaws I have to fix but I'm thinking there's a thing or two you can suggest?"

Adrien stood by Marinette, "Of course."

Marinette took a deep breath. "Ok."

This was her. A part of identity was in this line. It may just be the winner and maybe...maybe she can get over her fear of showing her identity to Chat.

She pulled down the curtain and Adrien's face was priceless.

Hello and welcome to my second mobile fanfiction. I won't make these notes super long often and will try to keep them at the end of the chapter rather than the beginning. If you have any questions please message me! Thanks and hope you enjoy this chapter.

These chapters are going through a long-term revision after the end of the fic.