He didn't know how it had happened. He hadn't seen a thing. The fight had been annoyingly long and demanding, but nothing they wouldn't have faced before. Yet, right after Ladybug had released the cured butterfly she had collapsed on the ground, body going limp in seconds. Rushing to her side Chat had noticed that she was bleeding from the back of her head and not only that, but something else in her body didn't felt right either. Call it a cat's intuition or something similar but had been more than enough to draw all the blood away from Chat's face.

"This isn't happening", Chat spoke frantically to himself, eyes huge with worry. "Ladybug! My lady! Can you hear me?"

He shook gently her shoulders, but the unconscious woman didn't reply. A panic rose up to his chest, tightening his heart in an iron cold hold.

"…A Hospital! I need to take her to the nearest hospital!" he yelled, knowing that Plagg would hear him. "She's hurt and I don't know how badly. We have to hurry!"

Chat scooped her into his lap hastily and scanned the area to see which way to go, thanking the whatever higher power was granting them a silent place with no by-standers witnessing this event. They didn't need to see Ladybug injured.

Than it hit Chat. The horrible realization.

Her kwami wouldn't be able keep the transformation on long enough for her to get the treatment as Ladybug.

Her identity would be revealed in the hospital if he took her there like this. Everyone would find out who she was. It would end Ladybug's mystery and what worse, it would definitely make the woman's life miserable. She would become a target, a celebrity to be hunted by the whole Paris. Adrian knew how it was thanks to his modeling career and surname, and with Ladybug it would be hundred times worse.

Besides she had managed to keep her identity secret for 5 years, even from Adrien. She couldn't be exposed to public eye like this. He rather took the blame and her hate for witnessing her private face than letting it be revealed to every single soul in Paris.

"Ladybug's kwami, Tikki, you know what happens if I take her to a hospital like this. You must release her now, quick, before her condition gets worse", Chat Noir plead looking at Ladybug's pale face.

He wasn't sure was Tikki able to hear him, was that something kwamis were able to do (he never asked from Plagg) but soon he saw the transformation sparkles in his hold and the red cute kwami jumped out, landing on the woman's stomach.

"I know", she said sadly, voice tottering, "But you better hurry. Transformation protects the body when the host has injuries, but now she gets weaker every minute without my powers. I can tell she's gotten internal injuries. You must run as fast as you can, Chat Noir".

"I will!" he replied sternly and turned to take a look at the mysterious Ladybug's face to see how she was doing. She was pale, she was weak and she was definitely his old junior high classmate Marinette.

His heart sunk down to his stomach.

Marinette woke up in an unknown room and it took a while from her to register that she wasn't dreaming, but the odd room was a private hospital room. Her waking up caused a small commotion after the nurse came to check her out and noticed her being awake. Her parents were summoned and her mother arrived there in a so short notice Marinette thought she might have just made a Guinness World record. She was tearing up at Marinette's neck, hugging her daughter like her life depended on it.

"Oh my sweet little baby", she sobbed and squeezed her face between her small palms. Marinette offered her a bit confused smile.

"Mom, I think I'm OK", she said without knowing was that actually true.

"Yes, yes you are, you are a fighter like your father and the hospital staff has taken so much care of you, and oh, that Chat Noir—"

"Chat Noir?" Marinette interrupted her mother's hearty babbling.

"Yes, he found you injured, battled the whatever monster did this to you and brought you here. You are so lucky that he was there! He promised us to look after you, apologizing that he had let you to get hurt", Sabine wiped her tears away, smiling gently.

Marinette felt how she paled at least tree shades, hoping her mother wouldn't pick that up. Luckily she didn't. Marinette suspected she was looking already so pale a little sudden loss of blood from her facial blood circulation wouldn't be noticed.

"Oh, I see", she managed to say with a bit tottering voice, tens of different thoughts rummaging through her head. She had a memory of them fighting together, then the akumatized monsterized "thing" hit her, she managed to release the person from the curse and then she blacked out.

And now, she was Marinette. Not Ladybug.

Chat must have seen her as Marinette. The thought made a cold sweat appear on Marinette's forehead. Had someone else seen her transformation? Was she exposed?

Perhaps not as her mother didn't say anything about Ladybug and there were no journalists lurking in the corridors, trying to get into her room for an interview.

Come to think of it she couldn't feel the presence of Tikki anywhere. Was Tikki alright? There were so many things she didn't know about kwamis. If she got injured in a mission, would it affect Tikki, too? Oh god, if something happened to Tikki because of her she-

"Oh darling, you look so pale", her mother interrupted Marinette's worst case scenario thoughts, "You should rest more. I'll talk with the doctor about when we can get you back home. I'm sorry I can't stay longer, father is in a trouble with a big order that came for an important wedding…", Sabine apologized but Marinette just smiled and shook her head.
"You said Chat Noir himself was looking after me, plus I'm in a hospital. I'm fine, mom. A bit sore and dazed but that's all".

Her mother bid her farewell, kissing her for many times on both cheeks, telling half of the pecks were from Marinette's father. Marinette assured she would be in good hands. As her room's door closed behind Sabine, a slight panic hit Marinette.

Where was Tikki? Where was Chat Noir? How was her Ladybug identity?

Like being summoned by her sheer thoughts Chat Noir walked inside the room, grinning from ear to ear.

"My Lady. I just saw your mother and promised her to take extra good care of you", he flashed a smile and placed a bouquet of blue flowers on her night stand. She eyed the gift but couldn't find any words.

"Th—thanks".

Chat sat down on her bed side, staring at Marinette's face.

"I'm happy you are alright. That was a big blow. Forgive me for not being able to protect you my Princess", he bowed his head down, seeking Marinette's palm between his hands and kissed her fingers. "I promise this will never happen again. It's my duty to protect my partner", he murmured against her skin.

"Chat…" she sighed with a beaten tone, not feeling like wanting to argue against his eccentric manners this time. "How's Ladybug? I can't find Tikki and everything feels like a mess. Did anyone see me?"

"Negative dear Lady. I couldn't allow anyone to find out the truth, so I had you returned back to yourself before I left the scene. Tikki here agreed with me", Chat spoke and Tikki appeared slowly from the back of his neck, underneath his wild mane. "I've looked after her. I couldn't leave your kwami here, just in case someone might have spotted her".
"I'm sorry, I did the best I could with everything", Tikki also apologized with big, disappointed eyes.

Marinette freed her hand from Chat's hold and allowed Tikki to land on her palms. She kissed her kwami gently and smiled at her. "You did good, Tikki. Thank you".

Chat frowned.

"I know this was an emergency but I still want to apologize for finding out who you are, Marinette".

Her name sounded odd on his lips. She let out a nervous chuckle.

"Ah, well, it was the price I had to pay for not being careful enough…" Marinette mumbled, her gaze falling down to her lap. "Thank you, Chat. For everything".
His wide trademark grin appeared onto his face and he reached out to seize her tiny hand.

"Anytime, my Lady. I'm at your service", Chat said while guiding her hand up to his lips and sealed his promise with a kiss on her pale skin. "Your secret is always safe with me", he underlined his services when Marinette said nothing.

She kept her eyes cast down, her palm lazily in the hold of Chat Noir. There was no spicy spirit in her and even Chat was able to understand this wasn't normal to Marinette. He didn't know how she was in private and was the side he had seen of her at school 5 years ago her truest self, but he had a feeling the young woman was indeed spicy and the fact she allowed him to flirt with her twice without consequences was alarming.

"Marinette…" Tikki's concerned voice broke the silence.

"Ah, I'm sorry! I got lost in my thoughts", Marinette snapped out from her mind and gave both of her companions a quick smile.

"If you have something on your heart I'm always all kitty ears", Chat offered with a gentle tone, surprising Marinette. Before she managed to thank Chat a sharp beep rang across the room.

"Maybe some other time?" she smiled at his suggestion after the transformation alarm. Chat grinned again, straightening his back and bouncing up from her bedside with a one fluid movement, never breaking his eye contact with Marinette.

"I'll keep that in mind".

Marinette was allowed to leave the hospital next evening and boy was she happy to be able to be back home. She was still living at her childhood home, helping her parents with the bakery while she studied fashion designing. Due her injuries a doctor had told Marinette should avoid any heavy exercises for the next weeks. She was happy her injuries weren't too bad – something she thanked both Tikki and Chat about – but Marinette could still feel the soreness here and there in her body.

"You know we need to stay away from Paris saving for a while", Tikki spoke to Marinette from the safety of Marinette's attic room. "I think Plagg and Chat Noir will manage without us for the time you are recovering".

"But we need still a way to release the cursed butterflies if Hawkmoth attacks, Chat can't do that himself. Besides, isn't it a bit too dangerous for him to go there alone?" Marinette pondered. There was no way she couldn't help the dark sinking feeling in her stomach when she thought about the whole mess she had gotten herself into. Chat was on his own, Hawkmoth was still out there and here she was, recovering from an accident she had caused herself for being so careless, and if the butterflies started to appear Paris would be in a trouble without Ladybug. Not to mention Chat Noir…

"You are very considerable towards Chat Noir", Tikki noted with a sheepish smile, making Marinette to turn her head toward Tikki so fast the room spun in her vision for a second. Before she was able to argue against Tikki, the pink kwami continued "I'm sure Chat Noir has been thinking this same problem and whenever he appears here, we need to talk about it. I have a plan, so don't worry".

"What do you mean 'whenever he appears here'"? Marinette asked sitting on her divan's edge. Tikki only smiled at her knowingly.

"Trust me, Marinette. He will come. Miraculouses are always connected and Ladybug and Chat Noir have a very deep bond. That's how it goes, and how it was since the very first Ladybug and Chat Noir".

"Well… I don't know…" Marinette muttered back rubbing her arm. She was thinking of Adrien and how they had just launched the new ad campaign all around France with his handsome face. He had grown up to be a most marvelous 20-year-old male and Marinette was sure he would end up looking like a Creek god within the next 5 years. She was a bit miffed they hadn't kept that much contact after junior high, Marinette blaming herself for it.

The rain that had loomed in the air for the last hour started to finally pour in. Marinette laid on her divan with a sigh and closed her eyes. She was angry with herself, she would have never wanted to Chat Noir know who she was. On the other hand, he now knew only her name, face and parents – apparently also her address if Tikki's words hold any truth. And why wouldn't they, Tikki was a much wiser with the whole Ladybug and Chat Noir thing than Marinette.

Marinette kept listening the raindrops hitting the roof above with a steady rhythm. Soon the tapping rhythm got a new beat, heavier than just a rain and Marinette opened her eyes.

"He's here", Tikki smirked flying to the tall window.

Indeed. On the other side of the wet window screen a more wet black cat waved at Marinette, tapping the screen once more after his wave. Marinette jumped up and hurried to let the wet cat get inside. Chat landed with a one swing on the floor and shook his dripping hair.

"Such a dog weather outside. Not suitable for us cats", he noted with a humorous tone.

"Wait, and don't move!" Marinette told him, running away from the room and returning soon with a bath towel. "Here".

"Thank you, dear Lady", Chat wiped his face and dried his hair, turning then to look at his almost completely dry suit. "Special material, dries fast", he winked.

"What are you doing here? And how did you find me?"

"Oh, I can find anyone I want in the whole Paris", Chat smirked again and placed the wet towel to hang on the hand trail leading to Marinette's bed.

"And the second question?" Marinette asked crossing her arms, though she already knew the answer.

"Of course I'd come to see you. How cold blooded you think I am?" the cat sighed dramatically rolling his eyes. Then he turned to look at Marinette straight into her eyes, those green eyes piercing through her soul. "I promised you, my Lady. It's my duty to protect my partner".

His intense stare sent shivers to Marinette's spine. He looked at her as keenly as he looked at Ladybug. Marinette lifted her hands up to air and groaned.

"I'm not Ladybug now. I'm just Marinette", she noted and sat back down on the divan.

Chat Noir followed her, his tail swaying with the steps.

"Of course you are. Though I assume dear doctor furrbid you to swing and run around Paris for a while, hmm?" he asked while sitting next to Marinette. Somehow his closeness felt odd to Marinette, but she made no effort to shoo him further away.

"Yes she did. I'm sorry but you need to be on your own for a few weeks. I can't even help my parents with the bakery as much as usually. I return as Ladybug soon as I can. Speaking of which, when it comes to return the cursed butterflies back to normal, only Ladybug can do it. That's why you really came here, right?" she explained with a sad tone, eyes cast down to her lap. She played around with her fingers, avoiding Chat's gaze.

"I figured that much out", Chat agreed, leaning closer to Marinette, "but I mostly just wanted to see my Princess", he purred deep from his chest.

"Tikki said she had some kind of solution", Marinette tottered under Chat's closeness and lifted her head up to Tikki's direction. The pink kwami was hovering near the computer screen.

"Yes. Anyone with kwami can break the cursed item, but only Ladybug can release the curse. If the butterfly isn't cured, it will infect someone else. Thus I propose if Hawkmoth attacks, Chat Noir captures the butterfly and brings it here, where Ladybug can perform the releasing ritual. Hopefully we won't have many incidents while Marinette is recovering".

"That is a great idea", Chat nodded at Tikki, scooping suddenly Marinette under his arm. "I bring you as many butterfly purrsents as I can to cheer you up", he grinned from ear to ear, face just next to Marinette's.

"…Please, don't hoard them. I'd prefer if we could manage to avoid Hawkmoth's plans while I recover, just like Tikki said", Marinette mumbled with a frown. Her face was getting hot. She stood up, freeing herself from Chat's hold and walked forward.

"Besides, it wouldn't be good for Paris if we both got injured. This time I'm not there to save your tail, kitty".

"Aaaw, worried about me, Princess?"

"Chat", Marinette turned around, her brows knitting together. "I'm serious".

Chat was seemingly taken back of Marinette's concern, but after a few surprised blinks he laughed out loud, throwing his head slightly backwards.

"That warms my heart. I'm happy to hear you are concerned of the safety of my hide, when you seemingly already have another man in your heart", Chat spoke between his laughs, mischievous stare in his eyes.

Marinette's face flushed with red all the way up to her ears in a second. Adrien! She still had Adrien's pictures all around her wall behind the computer. Of course he had seen them, that cat had an excellent vision and he was too curious not to stick his nose in her personal matters.

"I shouldn't have let you in!" Marinette cried hiding her face with her hands and turning her back to Chat Noir. She hoped a lightning would hit her in this instant and kill her.
Chat stood up from the divan and walked behind Marinette, lowering his head next to Marinette's ear. She was still hiding her red face under her palms.

"I can see why you fancy him. He's handsome. Though I'm a bit surprised the Ladybug is drooling after a male model. You didn't strike me as such a woman, to be swooned by a famous face", he smirked.

Angry muttering was heard between Marinette's fingers.

"I'm not drooling after him".

"Of course you are", Chat laughed.

"It's not like that!" Marinette shout shaking her head fiercely. "I… He was my classmate in junior high. I sat behind him in every class, always". She was ashamed to tell Chat all this.

"I see", Chat stretched his words, eyeing all the Adrien's pictures. "I bet you asked him out?"

"…No, I couldn't. I was so ashamed. You know… well, you don't. You don't know how I am, how I truly am. I'm not like Ladybug, I'm actually just a blubbering piece of a clumsy jelly, foaming from mouth whenever I thought about asking Adrien out. I still do that, a lot. I feel like being again 15 whenever I think about reaching him".

"I think he would be delighted if you contacted him", Chat offered, but Marinette shook her head again, her voice sinking lower.

"I don't think so. Besides it's been a long time since I heard from him. I'm busy with school, he does modeling around the Europe… Who knows… maybe… he… even… has… a girlfriend…", Marinette's last words came out from her mouth as a small whimper, each word quieter than the previous one. Her shy, gloomy behavior drew out a hearty laugh from Chat Noir behind her.

"If he had a girlfriend the media would already brought that up, wouldn't you agree?"

"You never know!" Marinette protested, this time letting her face rise up from her hands. She stood still, looking at Adrien's handsome face staring back at her from the big poster near the computer screen.

"Oh Princess, you are being poisoned by your thoughts", Chat noted with a sing-song tone, swinging his tail with his left hand. "May I ask you something, dear Cupcake? Even when this hurts my heart so very, very much?"

"… I don't know if I should say yes, but I take my change with it", she hesitated, hoping Tikki would say something to end her misery with Chat, but the kwami was hiding somewhere, most likely laughing herself for all this. She was sure Marinette and Chat Noir – whoever he truly was – where destined to find each other and while Tikki supported Marinette with anything, she was a bit skeptical about her crush with Adrien due that reason.

"Are you in love with Adrien Agreste?"

Chat's voice sounded louder in the silent room than Marinette had anticipated, but perhaps that was because of his choice of a question. Marinette wanted to turn around and do her wiggly "negative! not possible!"-dance she always performed to Alya when they met and she was getting too close to the truth for Marinette's comfort, but for some reason she didn't do that with Chat Noir. Maybe relying your whole life into someone's hands in tire situations while saving Paris and doing that for 5 years did its miracles.

"…Yes. Every since I saw him I have loved Adrien", Marinette managed to blurt out, face flaming from embarrassment. She couldn't believe she was talking about her love life with the Paris's most flirty feline.

"I know it's lame but…"

"No, no it's not", Chat Noir spoke, his voice oddly composed and calm. She had expected him to laugh, flirt, sound hurt with moaning like 'but my dear lady how could you, I'm such a handsome cat and you chose him' but he simply stood behind Marinette, head still lowered next to hers. Marinette almost wanted to turn to look at him, but her face was already so red she couldn't do it. She had never told anyone about her love to Adrien before except for Alya and Tikki.

"My darling, as much as it hurts me to know your heart has been captured by someone else, I'm also very happy to hear your love confession", Chat sighed, his breath brushing Marinette's cheek. Goosebumps formed on Marinette's forearms.

"Oh?" she said, because that was all she was able to come up with. Chat was acting completely different than she had anticipated.

"Do you want to know why?" his trademark mischievous tone returned and Chat threw his right arm around Marinette's shoulder.

Funny. She hadn't noticed just how much also Chat Noir had grown up. Not only Adrien, but he, too. His arm felt heavier over her than she remembered.

"Su-sure", Marinette tottered, hoping he hadn't noticed that.

"It's because I know Adrien Agreste".