The Gorilla dropped Adrien and Marinette not far from where several boats were docked along the shoreline. Helping Marinette out of the car, Adrien slid his arm around her and kissed her on top of the head, she seemed far away in her thoughts, but the small smile
on her face let him know they were good thoughts. "Are you feeling alright my love?" He asked, genuine care and concern in his voice. Marinette looked up at him as they walked.

"I'm fine Kitty." She smiled at him before resting her head against him with a happy sigh. "More than fine."

"Are you sure?" He couldn't help himself double checking. "I mean, I know it was a first for both of us, but it's different for girls and I..." she cut him off by stopping and pulling him down to her, kissing him soundly on the lips.

"You know I would tell you if I wasn't okay." She said, her face pinking up a little at the memories of their afternoon together. Every touch, every movement had been so soft, so gentle that she had felt nothing but being surrounded by his love and yet he still worried that he might have in some way hurt her or made her uncomfortable. "So you don't have to worry about me." Adrien picked up her hand, kissing her on the palm.

"I know." He said, entwining their fingers as they resumed walking. "But you know I can't help worrying about you m'lady." Marinette felt a warmth run all the way through her as they walked through the late afternoon sun, their favourite colours of pink, orange and yellow streaked through the sky and on the water. This, Marinette thought to herself, this is where I belong, right by your side, my Kitty. She had a feeling Adrien was thinking the same thing.

Soon the young couple approached where the Liberty was at anchor along the Seine. There was the faint strings of a guitar filling the air, although judging by what she had heard, Marinette suspected that it was most likely Juleka playing rather than Luka. Walking up the gangplank, Luka's mother, Anarka, greeted them. "I'm glad to see you finally found your true north there young Marinette." She said with a wink at the girl as she patted Adrien on the shoulder. Marinette could see Adrien looking confused and she didn't really want to have to explain to him how everyone thought she had been confused between him and Luka years ago. "I hope you can help my poor Luka here find his way back to his. He's been in a dreadful state since he returned from the states. I don't mind telling you, but I was worried this might happen when Kagami's mother found out. I tried to warn him about it, but he just fell so hard and fast for her. She's his lighthouse, but right now he's lost in the storm."

"Don't worry Mrs Coffaine." Marinette said. "We'll help get his light back." Anarka nodded.

"Well, if I can help let me know. We are ready to sail at a moment's notice if needed." With that she headed down to the shore.

On the deck, Juleka continued to play while Luka sat next to her, the back of his head all that was visible as he looked out at the evening sky.

"Hello?" Marinette called out, capturing their attention. She almost had to hold back a gasp when Luka turned around. He really did look terrible. Marinette had never seen his hair so unkept, or the three day growth on his face, but what really stuck her was his eyes. Lack of sleep evident from the bags under them and the hollow look of sheer hopelessness in his sky blue irises.

"Marinette." He called out, jumping out of his seat and wrapping his arms around the bluenette. "It's so good to see you. Juleka told me what happened to you at school today, are you alright?" He stepped back, hands on her shoulders and looking at her full of concern.

"I'm fine Luka." She said with a soft smile before turning to her boyfriend. "Adrien took good care of me." Luka turned his head to the blonde before stepping over and giving him a hug too. Adrien was surprised at first, but understood Luka's need for comfort from his friends. "You hang on to her Adrien, don't make my mistake and think things will be fine when you come back." Adrien patted him on the back.

"You can't  blame yourself Luka." He tried to reassure him. "No one saw this coming and this is in no way your fault." Luka shook his head, eyes downcast.

"I'm sorry." Luka said, taking his seat again and wiping his eyes. "I'm not really myself at the moment. I can't write, I can't play, I'm hardly able to sleep...I don't know what to do." He dropped his face into his hands. "God I miss her so much. I never thought that love could hurt like this." Juleka slid over next to him, putting a supportive arm around her brother's shoulders as he let out a sob. "I was so happy when we finished cutting the album. It's making me more money than I ever dreamed off. I even went out and bought a ring because I was going to ask Kagami to marry me." He shook his head as more tears fell. "I never thought her mother would take it like this, that she would take her away from me." Marinette knelt down on the floor next to Luka and placed a hand on his knee.

"We're here for you Luka." She said softly. "And we have a plan to help you." Luka looked up with hope in his eyes. "Mrs Tsurugi doesn't know who you are, only that Kagami had been dating without her approval." Luka was surprised. He had really thought that it was him personally that was the problem, that Mrs Tsurugi just thought he wasn't good enough for her daughter.

"Well, maybe if I go and talk to her then?" He asked hopefully, but Adrien shook his head.

"Wouldn't do you any good I'm afraid." He said sympathetically. "Trust me, I've known her for years and she can be a real piece of work if she doesn't get her way. I think ultimately she wanted Kagami and I to get together and now she's taking out her anger on Kagami for finding love elsewhere." He put an arm around Marinette's waist with a loving look. "And so did I." For the first time since they got there, Luka gave a small smile.

"I'm really happy for you guys." He said, accepting the tissue Marinette offered him and wiping his eyes. "So what's the plan then?" He asked with renewed confidence.

Over pizza, Marinette and Adrien told Luka and Juleka about the plan they were concocting with Chloé Bourgeois. Luka listened intently to everything they were saying, nodding his head as he weighed up everything.

"So let me get this straight." He said at the end of it. "I go to this party with the mayor's daughter? Won't people think that's strange?"

"Not at all." Adrien said. "Your new album is set to debut in the top 5 and you're being billed as the next big thing since Jagged Stone and since he can't come because he's on tour, it makes sense Chloé would take you." Luka nodded unconvinced.

"Plus Chloé would never pass up the opportunity to take some eye candy on her arm." Marinette added. Luka blushed at that.

"Maybe I better shave then." He mused, scratching the growth on his chin, Juleka giving him a playful shoulder bump. "And Kagami will definitely be there, with your cousin?" He asked Adrien. The blonde tried to look positive.

"We had to make sure Mrs Tsurugi couldn't pull Kagami out at the last minute. Going with Felix means that his status would make it inappropriate to stand him up. It's an honour thing, you see, and the Tsurugi's will always avoid bad press. Don't worry though, we won't keep him around Kagami more than is necessary." Luka wasn't sure what that meant, but in the scheme of things he was just going to have to trust them.

"So, the mayor will perform the ceremony and we will disappear to London before Kagami's mother knows what happened, sounds easy enough except for one thing." Marinette and Adrien gave each other a worried look before Luka continued. "I haven't asked Kagami to marry me yet." Marinette smiled in relief.

"Don't worry, you will." Adrien nodded in agreement.

"Kagami and I have our last fencing tournament on Wednesday. It's the only chance I'll have to talk to her without her bodyguard being close by." Marinette placed a hand on top of Luka's.

"Just be ready on Wednesday night. A visitor will come with further instruction." Luka looked at her curiously.

"A visitor?" He questioned. "What kind of visitor?" Adrien looked at Marinette before putting a hand on Luka's shoulder.

"Let's just say we managed to enlist a little superhero help." He smiled.

Adrien and Marinette spent another hour with Luka and Juleka going over the plan and arranging what paperwork he would need to lodge with the mayor to get the wedding plans in order and most importantly, legal. They emailed copies to Chloé who replied she would get the ball rolling and just send in Kagami's when they could.

After leaving the Coffaine boat, Adrien and Marinette decided to take a quick patrol across the Parisian rooftops. The evening was balmy and lots of people were out enjoying the summer evening. The heroes waved at the passers by that called out to them as they went before finding one of their favourite rooftops to sit and watch the night pass them by. Chat laid on his back with his head in his lady's lap. Ladybug gently rubbed his head behind his cat ears and could feel the rumblings of a purr emit from his chest. She loved how content he was, that she could make him feel that way.

"So can I tell everyone this Cat finally caught his Lady?" Chat asked with his eyes still closed. Ladybug's hand stopped moving and he opened them to look up at her. "M'lady, you know half of Paris already thinks you and I have been secretly dating for years." Ladybug resumed her gentle scratching.

"I don't know Kitty. We still don't know where Hawk Moth is. What if he tried to use our love for each other against us?" Chat sat up and turned Ladybug to look at him.

"He could have done that at any time, Bugaboo. It's not like I kept my feeling for you much of a secret. Anyway, we haven't heard from Hawk Moth in months. Maybe he gave up." Ladybug looked down into her lap. Images of a destroyed Paris and ice blue eyes danced in her vision and she could feel a tear slip down her cheek and screwed her eyes shut.

"Our love destroyed the world." She said quietly before looking back into his chartreuse eyes. "Hawk Moth knew about us, you were akumatized, everything was gone..." He felt her begin to shake under his hands and he knew what she was talking about. That alternate timeline that still haunted her. Every time she ever made reference to it, he would peice a little
more together and it hurt his heart that he had made her feel so afraid. Chat hooked a clawed finger under her chin and lifted her eyes up to his. She blinked as she focused on them. They were green and warm, just as they should be. "Our love won't destroy the world." He said softly. Ladybug's eyes searched deep into his, like she was still making sure he was there.

"How do you know that?" She asked, her voice pained. Chat ran the back of his finger down her cheek.

"Because you are my world." He whispered against her lips before kissing her softly and then resting her head against his chest. Ladybug squeezed her arms around him.

"I can't risk losing you." She said before looking back up at him. "You mean the world to me too Adrien." It made him feel tingly inside hearing her say his real name while transformed and he held her close to him as he kissed her again, pulling her onto his lap to hold her. They stayed that way as time passed them by, Chat showing her in soft kisses.

"I hate having to take you home." He said when they finally parted to catch their breath. "My bed is going to be so cold and lonely without you in it." Ladybug ran a gloved finger down his nose.

"Aww, poor Kitty" she teased before getting up and pulling out her yo-yo. Chat followed her over the rooftops until they dropped into an alleyway not far from her house. She barely finished saying spots off, when Chat pulled her by the waist into his arms as he leant back against the brick wall.

"You know I could always drop by your balcony later." He said waggling his eyebrows at her before claiming her lips again. Adrien found it intoxicating kissing Marinette like this, her ungloved fingers burying themselves into his hair behind his cat ears.

"Why do I feel like I've opened a pandora's box here?" She said, trying to sound annoyed, but struggling to suppress the sigh that wanted to burst out as he trailed kisses down her neck. "Besides, I'm not sure I'm ready for my father to find out my boyfriend is the same Chat that said he was in love with someone else." Chat stopped his kisses, banging his head against the wall.

"Oh God, your father is going to hate me." He said, resting his hands on her hips. Marinette giggled at him.

"He won't hate you, especially once they know you were actually talking about the same person, but I'm not ready for them to find out about our double lives just yet." Dropping his transformation as well, they walked back out onto the street. Adrien's bodyguard was already parked near the bakery. Kissing her goodnight, Adrien reluctantly let go of her hand and watched her as she walked back into her house.

Returning home to the Agreste mansion, Adrien was surprised to find his father still up in the sitting room, a drink in his hand. Had he been waiting up for him? "Sorry I'm late home father." Adrien began to apologise.  "Marinette and I went to visit a friend and..." His father raised a hand to quiet him.

"It's fine Adrien." Gabriel said, his voice as distant as ever. Nathalie walked into the room from the other door and took a seat. "You don't have to tell me what you're doing all the time. I only ask that you inform Nathalie if you intend to be away for the night, or have plans that need to be considered with your work schedule." Adrien was dumbstruck. His father had already allowed him to drop most of his extra-curricular activities so he could spend more time at the Gabriel offices and with Marinette, but now he wasn't keeping close tabs on him anymore either.

"Is everything alright father?" Adrien asked, almost involuntary. He hadn't seen much of his father lately, not that he ever did, but he noticed his father was looking more gaunt in the face, and seemed to have lost some weight.

"I'm just tired Adrien." He replied. Adrien thought he heard a slight waver in his voice. "I will be spending quite a bit of time at the London offices over the next few weeks, including this weekend, so I will need you to work with Spencer and pick up some more of the responsibilities. Take Marinette with you, she needs to start learning the ropes too." Adrien nodded.

"Does this mean she has the summer internship?" He asked hopefully. Adrien was surprised to see what looked like a smirk on Gabriel's face.

"We'll discuss that next week." He said, then his face changed. "I'm sorry I won't be here for your birthday." Adrien tried to hide his disappointment.

"It's fine father, I understand." He said. "Marinette has something planned with our friends and her parents." Gabriel nodded his head, looking into his half empty glass.

"Good night Adrien." He said, almost dismissively. Adrien bid him and Nathalie good night before heading back to his room.

"Why didn't you tell him?" Nathalie asked, looking intently at Gabriel. "You're having treatment, not working. Adrien thinks you just don't care about him." Gabriel shook his head but avoided her gaze.

"Maybe it's prudent to maintain some distance." He looked over to see the sceptical look in Nathalie's eyes and he let out a heavy sigh. "I wasn't here for his birthday last year either, so he won't think anything of it. It's better this way." He knew Nathalie didn't agree with him, but she didn't argue. "He needs to be with Marinette, that's where his future is. His soulmate if you like." Nathalie blinked in stunment.

"I didn't think you of all people would believe in soulmates." She scoffed and Gabriel let out a small chuckle.

"I don't." He said, giving her an amused look. "But I think it's different with those two, something beyond even their control pulling them together. That's a rare thing Nathalie. A very rare thing." He finished the drink in his glass and sat it back on the table. "I'm scared Nathalie." She was taken aback by his sudden honesty and raw emotion in his voice. "I'm not ready for this...I'm just not ready." Nathalie got out of her chair and crouched down beside Gabriel's chair.

"You don't have to go through this alone Gabriel." She said, a solitary tear running down her cheek. "I'm here with you." Gabriel picked up her hand and placed a kiss to the back of it, holding it between both of his. Her eyes softened at his loving gaze. "Do you want me to come with you to London?" Gabriel nodded his head, cupping her cheek and running his thumb across where her tear had been, bringing his face closer to her. Nathalie felt her heartbeat quicken as the space between them closed.

"Nathalie." Gabriel whispered like a prayer as his lips ghosted her's.

"Do you want me to stay with you tonight?" She asked, her eyes never shifting from his lips. The kiss he gave her was all the answer she needed.

********

Marinette sat high up in the stands with Alya and Nino as Adrien faced off against his second opponent of the day in his fencing tournament. As he parried, she caught glimpses of the lucky charm bracelet she had given him years ago. He said he swore by it and never competed without it. It must have been working for him because he easily won the match. If only it helped him get closer to talk to Kagami.

The Japanese girl stood out in her bright red fencing outfit, but it was her uncharacteristic subdued demure that struck Marinette the most. Not far behind her, Marientte could see that scary looking bodyguard watching everyone Kagami interacted with. Adrien took a seat with his team mates, taking off his helmet and running his fingers through his sweaty hair. Even a sweaty mess, he was still gorgeous. Adrien found his girlfriend and friends up in the crowd and gave her an enthusiastic wave. Nino and Alya waved back excitedly and Marinette blew him a kiss which he pretended to catch in his hand and press to his cheek.

"Dude is such a dork." Nino laughed, the girls agreeing.

"Yeah, but he's her dork now." Alya grinned, draping her arm over Marinette's shoulders. "So are you going to spill on what you two got up to on Monday afternoon? I know you didn't go home and Adrien barely kept his hands off you all day yesterday at school." Marinette could feel her cheeks burning. While Alya May have been comfortable with over sharing her exploits with Nino, Marientte prefered to keep her private moments with Adrien to herself.

"Oh look, Adrien's talking to Kagami." She said, directing Alya's attention to where the water cooler was. Adrien was filling his water bottle next to Kagami. She wasn't reacting, keeping a poker face through the exchange, well aware of her bodyguards eyes on her. Marinette caught a glimpse of hope though in her eyes when she made eye contact with him before taking her seat again. Adrien raced up the stairs to where Marientte and the others were sitting, scooping her up and planting a loud sloppy kiss on her lips.

"Adrien." She blushed brightly, knowing that was most likely his intention. "Everyone is looking at us."

"So, let them look." He laughed, putting her down so they could sit. "I only got few words with Kagami, but she said she can be ready tonight."

"How are you going to bust her out? Isn't her place covered in security like yours?" Alya inquired. Adrien gave her a sly smile.

"There's ways." He said with a small chuckle. "Security never kept me in." He gave Marientte a wink, pulling her closer to him and planting another kiss on her plump pink lips.

"Dude, ease up on the PDA. You two are too much." Nino teased with an elbow to his best friend's ribs.

"Just a little payback my man." Adrien retorted amid Marinette's giggles. Alya's mouth dropped open.

"We're not that bad, are we?" She directed at Nino who shrugged.

"I just go with the flow babe." Nino conceded. "You know I can never say no to you." He added, nuzzling the side of Alya's neck. The aspiring reporter rested her head on his with a contented smile.

It was much later that night when Ladybug and Chat Noir raced across the roofs of Paris before splitting into different directions. Chat Noir paused on a concealed rooftop, sussing the surrounding area before approaching a window with a solitary dim night light. Balancing on a window planter, he lightly tapped on the window. Kagami quickly emerged from the darkness, opening the window and letting the cat hero inside.

"Good evening Miss Tsurugi, it's delightful to see you again on this purrfect evening." Chat said elaborately, giving her a grand bow. Kagami rolled her eyes, but gave a small smile.

"Thank you for helping us Chat Noir." She said, trying not to sound too emotional, but Chat could see she had been crying. "I have my papers here for you to make copies of." Chat took the papers from her hand and twisted a concealed knob to turn on Kagami's ornate desk lamp. Taking out his phone, he opened it and took pictures of her passport and birth certificate before sending them through to Chloé. The mayor's daughter replied that she would pass the information on and promised everything would be a go in time for the soirée. Chat could feel Kagami watching him intently.

"I'm not sure why you needed this information." Kagami asked, perplexed. "Can you tell me what this is all about?" Chat gave her one of his famous grins.

"Why don't we let Luka tell you himself." He answered. Kagami frowned at him, but her face soon turned to surprise when Chat held a familiar box out to her. Kagami took it cautiously, opening the box and guarding her eyes to the bright light.

"It is an honour to see you again Kagami-San." The red dragon Kwami greeted.

"The honour is mine Longg-Sama." Kagami said with a small bow. "But I don't understand...I thought you said I was seeing Luka."

"You are." Chat said, pointing towards the window. "Ladybug and Luka are waiting for us." He reached out and took one of her hands in his and patted it. "Trust me." Kagami looked back at Longg who gave her an encouraging nod.

"Okay." She said quietly. "Longg, bring the storm."

Ryuko followed Chat Noir across Paris. He was being guided by the beacon on his stick phone to where Ladybug was waiting. As he narrowed in on the location, he realised the surroundings were familiar. Dropping to the ground, they followed the pathway of where the Spring fair had been that he and Marientte had gone to. He smiled as he drew closer to where he could see Ladybug waiting by the lake at one of the picnic tables. Viperion was sitting next to her, playing his lyre. He was looking so much better than when they saw him the other day.

"Luka?" Ryuko said, barely above a whisper to Chat. He nodded to her, his face beaming as hers clicked with recognition. Before Chat could say anything more she was already running towards Viperion.

"Luka!" She called out this time. Viperion stopped his playing, standing up to accept her into his arms.

"Kagami." He said into her neck, holding her tight to him. "Oh baby, I thought I might never see you again. Let me look at you." He put her down, holding her face in his hands, looking deep into her hazel eyes before dipping his head to kiss her. Kagami wrapped her arms around his neck, the two of them sinking to their knees on the soft grass amid tears and laughter.

Chat took Ladybug by the hand and walked a short distance along the lake shore before sitting down by some trees to allow Luka and Kagami some privacy. Chat rested his back against the tree trunk, wrapping his arms around Ladybug who sat between his legs in front of him. The moon was high, reflecting on the rippling water.

"You know the last time we came here, I already knew I was falling in love with you." Chat said as he held her close. Ladybug rested back against Chat's chest and sighed with contentment. "I think it was the same day I figured out you were Ladybug too."

"Really?" She giggled, twisting around so she was straddling his lap. "How did you figure that out?"

"My belt." He said, twirling his clawed finger around one of her pigtails as she looked at him curiously. "The way you said for me to give you my belt when we were rescuing Manon, I forgot for a moment that I wasn't in cat ears and this wasn't an akuma. You just sounded the same, well obviously you did, you are the same." He chuckled, resting his forehead against hers and kissing her on the nose. "What about you? How did you figure out you were really in love with this stray."

"You're puns." She said flatly. Chat burst out laughing.

"You're kidding." Ladybug shook her head.

"Nope, I figured I couldn't be that unlucky to have two blonde dorks in my life with the same woeful sense of humour."

"Hey." Chat pouted, folding his arms. "My puns are legendary." Ladybug laced her fingers behind his neck, leaning her face closer to him.

"Just as well I love you then." She whispered as she kissed him. Chat unfolded his arms and ran a hand up her back to hold her head, tilting his own and deepening the kiss.

""Yes! Oh Luka of course I'll marry you." Chat and Ladybug broke their own kisses to see Ryuko jump back up into Viperion's arms as he swung her around before kissing her again.

"I wonder if that's the reaction you'll have." Chat mused, placing a kiss on Ladybug's neck.

"I guess you'll just have to wait and see." She teased,
flicking his bell.

"Ladybug, Chat Noir." Viperion called as he and Ryuko walked down along the water's edge.

"Over here." Chat called out as he helped Ladybug back up to her feet.

"Thank you both for helping us like this. I don't know what we would have done without you." Viperion said, hugging both Ladybug and Chat.

"Oh, it's our pleasure." Ladybug replied. "But you should really thank your friends for organising it." Ryuko gave a soft smile before wrapping her arms around Ladybug.

"Then thank you...Marientte." She said quietly. Ladybug's mouth fell open.

"But how did you...?" Viperion slipped his arm around Ryuko's waist as she continued.

"Chat knew how to turn on the lamp on my desk." She explained. "It's kind of unique and the only person to have ever been in my room to know how to do that was Adrien. Since I know for a fact Adrien would never be a cheater, it made sense who Ladybug was." Ladybug pinched her nose between her fingers.

"Oh Kitty." She sighed. Chat shrugged his shoulders with his hands in the air.

"Hey, at least it wasn't a pun." He laughed. The others joined in as he hung an arm over Ladybug and kissed her on the forehead.

"I'm afraid we really do need to go now." Ladybug said, looking at the time on her bug-phone. They allowed Viperion and Ryuko a moment to say their goodbyes for now before each was escorted back home.

Landing on her own balcony, Marinette dropped her transformation and returned the Snake Miraculous back into the Miracle Box. She had already gotten into her pajamas before she left earlier, which she was grateful for. Moments later, she heard the sound of boots landing above her. She popped her head out of her skylight to find Chat admiring the rose bush his Aunt Lottie had given her.

"Is Kagami alright?" She asked. He nodded his head, slipping an arm around her waist and dropping the Dragon Miraculous into her hand.

"Better now I think." He said. "Luka is going to give her ring to her at the wedding." Marinette nodded with a yawn, her flowing hair flopping around her face. Chat carefully moved her bangs, holding her face in his hands, illuminated by the moonlight. "You look tired Princess." He said. Marinette let out another small yawn.

"Well it is almost one in the morning if you hadn't noticed." Chat placed a soft kiss on her head.

"Then I better let you get to sleep." He dipped his head and gave her a chase kiss on the lips. "I'll come with coffee in the morning."

"Hmmm...I love you." Marinette mumbled sleepily. Chat laughed, wrapping both arms around her.

"Me or the coffee?"

"You my Kitty." She smiled up at him. "Always you." Chat gave her another soft kiss before leaping off into the night.