Reader's discretion is advised - this chapter contains mild sexual scenes towards the end.

Marinette dreamt of Chat Noir that night. She had been cold all day long until she dreamed of him. Her dreams consisted of him telling her he would never leave her side and lying in bed with her, holding her and keeping her warm. She vaguely remembered the touch of something against her lips, a sweet, soft touch that she didn't want to end.

Marinette stirred awake, Tikki flying to her side in a joy. "Marinette, you're awake!" The kwami smiled. Marinette sat up, stretching with a yawn. "How do you feel?"

"I feel much better. I had a dream that Chat was here last night." Marinette watched as Tikki giggled, holding her hands to her mouth as if she was trying to suppress it.

"What if I were to say it wasn't a dream?" Marinette looked at Tikki curiously as Tikki gave a smirk.

"What do you mean?" Marinette asked, slightly afraid to hear the answer.

Tikki giggled. "Chat Noir did come to see you last night. Part of the reason you don't remember is because you were delirious from the fever. But Chat did come into bed with you." A teasing smile played on Tikki's lips. "His transformation wore off too."

Marinette's eyes widened. "You mean you saw his real identity?"

Tikki floated, her legs crossed as she smirked. "Oh, I've known who he was from the beginning."

Marinette gave a loud gasp and held Tikki in her hands. "Tell me, tell me!" She cried and Tikki shook her head.

"Sorry Mari, it's not my secret to tell." The kwami passed her hand across her lips, tossing an imaginary key away. Marinette gave up with a sigh and Tikki giggled.

Feeling up to it, Marinette went downstairs for breakfast, beating her mother, who was planning on taking her breakfast.

"I'm glad to see you're feeling better, sweetie." Her mother kissed her forehead.

"But don't push yourself too hard, you don't want to catch that fever again." Her father put a large hand on his daughter's head, messing up her hair.

"I promise I won't papa." Marinette said before thanking her mother for the food and digging into breakfast.

After breakfast, Marinette was sent up to her bedroom when she would usually help clean up.

"Stay upstairs and rest. Come down for lunch whenever you're ready."

"Close your door because we will be opening up the bakery. Have a good rest!" Her parents called out to her.

As soon as Marinette was in the security of her closed room, did Tikki come out to talk to Marinette.

"Maybe we should patrol early today. Your parents may want to do something with you tonight." Marinette nodded, agreeing.

Ladybug arrived at Champs de Mars, a beautiful and large garden that was in front of the Eiffel Tower. As she walked through the gardens, she was stopped by someone.

"Ladybug?" She turned to the voice, feeling once she realized who the voice belonged to.

"Oh, you're Adrien Agreste, aren't you?" She smiled. In the back of her mind, Ladybug could hear Tikki giggling.

The blond boy nodded, smiling fondly. "Ah, you know me?"

"Well, you're only one of the most popular young models of Paris. How could I not know you, you're so handsome." She blabbered.

The boy gave an embarrassed chuckle, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly. "What brings you here?" Adrien asked her. He knew that Ladybug wasn't supposed to be patrolling until later in tonight. To be patrolling this early, something must have come up.

"I might have something to do with the parents tonight, so I decided to patrol a little earlier today." Ladybug had said it so casually, she didn't realize she hit a nerve.

Adrien's father didn't care for him, although he claimed he did. His mother disappeared when he was young, but he could remember the sweet moments he shared with her and her beauty through pictures.

Nathalie was next in line after his father, his so called "guardian", but she felt more like an evil stepmother sometimes, the way she droned on regarding his schedule.

Adrien knew that Ladybug didn't mean to step on a landmine. She barely knew him. She didn't know any better.

So when Ladybug said she took patrol early so she could go do something with her family, Adrien couldn't relate. All he wanted now was to be devoid of all interactions with other people.

Ladybug was about to ask Adrien what he was doing in Champs de Mars, when he reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone. He excused himself, answering the call. It was quick, maybe, half a minute long, but he turned around once he hung up, an annoyed expression on his face.

"Sorry. I have to go back to my shoot." He waved and turned, marching off. Ladybug blinked and waved a silent goodbye.

Adrien's phone didn't even ring, he just pretended it did so he could leave Ladybug's presence. Although he loved being around his lady, this time, he couldn't.

Adrien's mind had a storm running through and he couldn't concentrate. He wasn't making the correct expressions, his poses were sloppy and he wasn't masking his emotions. He got in trouble with the camera crew for being uncooperative, got scolded by Nathalie and got an even bigger scolding and a lesson from his father.

Whenever Adrien was finally able to excuse himself, he didn't have to say to Plagg or vice versa when he called out to transform.

With the transformation settled, Chat Noir jumped out of the window and raced across the midnight sky towards the familiar smells of a bakery.

Chat knocked on the door gently. While he waited for a response, inside, he could hear the faint sounds of movement coming towards his direction. The hatch opened to reveal a shiny, blue eyed, loose haired girl.

"Chat?"

"Can I come in?" He asked, straight to the point.

Marinette nodded and Chat held the hatch open as she climbed down. Once she was off the ladder, Chat jumped down and not seconds after, he went straight to Marinette, hugging her.

Chat's embrace was desperate, desperate to know that she was there, that she was real. Desperate to know that at least one piece of his life was still present; his anchor of sanity. Marinette was surprised and her arms hesitated to hug him back.

Chat leaned his head into her neck, taking in a deep breath. She smelled of grapefruit body wash and the faintest smell of freshly baked cookies.

By this time, Marinette had felt several shudders rake through Chat's body and was now holding him comfortingly, yet firm enough to reassure him of her presence in this time of unease for him.

"Chat, what's wrong?" She spoke softly, bring him to the chaise and sitting beside him.

He sat, hesitated briefly to answer her question. "I've had a shit day." He softly admitted. Usually when it came to saying something was bad, Chat would pull out his "cat-astrophic" pun, but Marinette knew something was really wrong when he didn't use puns.

"What happened?" Marinette put her and on his knee, rubbing encouragingly, assuring him that he can trust her.

"Someone... Someone I was supposed to meet tonight had a change of plans due to having to a family business, which resulted in them leaving me earlier than expected. They hit a nerve they didn't know and I was very close to losing my temper. Then whenever I got home, my father got on my case. That I'm the world's most 'unprofessional and imperfect' son. Not only did I get shit from him, but two other people. My father said that a stray child would do much better than I ever would." He let out a long sigh, bringing his hands to his face, shielding himself from Marinette's view. "I just... My father is such a fucking prick and I miss mom so much..." He reached his breaking point when he spoke about his mother. Chat let out a choked sob.

"Oh Chat." Marinette whispered, standing up and getting in front of him and wrapping her arms around his shoulders. Chat opened up his legs, bringing the girl closer to himself. He wrapped his arms around her waist as she pulled his head to rest against her chest, shushing him gently, humming softly while she stroked his hair.

Chat Noir was never this weak in front of others but it seemed like his superhero persona or Plagg could hold back all the negativity he was feeling. The only thing that was able to help was the teenage girl in his arms. The one who was telling him sweet words about himself and his mother, the one who was holding him back, the way he's always wanted to be held.

Chat let out several straggled sobs, one arm wrapping tightly around Marinette's waist while the other palm pressed flat against her back, pressing her into him more.

The two remained this way, motionless, except for their breathing and Chat's occasional shudder or sob, until he was able to take deep inhales and exhale, calming himself.

Whenever Marinette noticed that his breathing rate settled, she pulled back, looking down at him. "Feeling better?" She whispered. Their faces were only inches apart, their breaths intermingling with each other.

Chat pressed his forehead against hers, closing his eyes. Their noses brushed. "A little." He whispered back. They remained silent and Marinette started running her fingers through his hair, twirling her finger around a lock of blond hair.

As Marinette played with his hair, he let out a shuddered sigh, reveling on the proximity of their bodies. She was practically pressed up against him and although his leather suit was a suit of armor, he could feel the natural heat she radiated and could hear the flutters of her heart. Her scent was intoxicating and calming, alluring and addictive all at the same time. So much that Chat wanted to get a taste.

"Mari?" His voice had reached a sultry tone that was so low, if Marinette hadn't been paying attention, she would have missed it. His eyes opened and Marinette felt like she was hypnotized by the emerald jewels. She felt something pool low in her stomach as she hummed in response.

"Yes Chat?" She replied just as softly, knowing his cat ears would catch her words anyways.

The hand that Marinette's back slid down to her hips, the arm that was around her waist unfolding and grabbing her hips as well. He passed his hands over the thin light pink pajama shorts she had on, feeling the way her hips curved. One hand dared to go upwards, feeling every curve there was to her.

She wiggled against him as his claws scrapped her sides in an arousing fashion, Chat enjoying the friction.

Chat continued his movement up her body, noticing how she didn't have a bra on. He wanted to explore but decided he would have to save that for another day, first wanting to see if he had the consent of his princess.

Chat's hand went up her neck and cupped it, feeling her pulse under his fingers. With his thumb, he tilted Marinette's to an angle. "I'm sorry." He muttered as he leaned in.