When Marinette arrived at the studio for the shoot, Adrien was already being prepped by the style team. The shoot was for an advertising campaign to launch Gabriel's new women's fragrance 'Le Soleil Noir' (The Black Sun). Marientte had to chuckle at the irony of sunshine Adrien and his black cat other half in the name. The dress code for the advert was formal wear, stylish and sophisticated, like the fragrance was supposed to represent, but with an underlying romantic feel. A call to seduction she had heard it described. Well, this could be...interesting.

"Marientte." She heard him call her. She ran over to his welcoming arms as he picked her up to hug her, giving her a kiss on the cheek before seeing the bag being offered to him.

"I knew you were coming early so I thought maybe you might have skipped breakfast." Adrien all but devoured the flaky croissant goodness within.

"If I knew being with you got me your dad's croissants for breakfast, I would have dated you years ago." She just smirked at him.

"Oh I see how it is." She scoffed. "You're just using me for my croissant connections." Adrien had a lopsided grin on his face as he looked at her. She'd worn her hair in pigtails today which she hadn't done all week, and he had to wonder if there was a special reason for that.

"Okay, I confess, I'm the real gold digger here, because your family is loaded in dough." Marinette's false bravado crumpled under that. It was so Chat, and yet so Adrien. Even without knowing for sure she was Ladybug, he'd almost completely let his guard down around her.

"Oh Adrien, that was terrible." She laughed. "Don't let my dad hear you pun like that, he might just try and adopt you."

"I wouldn't object to that." He smiled. "I think I'd feel like I'd won the lottery."

"Why?" She giggled. "Because of all the dough?"

"Partly." He replied, picking up her hand to kiss it. "And because I would get to spend everyday with you." Marinette wasn't sure she would ever get used to Adrien flirting like Chat at her.

"Adrien, we are almost ready for you now." Nathalie approached over carrying a jacket. "Marinette, would you mind checking this with Sasha and then bringing it back to Adrien. We've had nothing but trouble with this jacket for days." Marinette took the jacket, while Adrien went into his dressing room to change.

Sasha was adding a final touch to Veronica's dress for the shoot. The red head was dressed in an ivory figure hugging evening dress with lace trims and embedded swarovski crystals in the bodice and around the hem. Marinette had to admit, she looked quite stunning in it. "Nathalie asked if you could check this jacket before Adrien wears it." Sasha turned and gave Marinette a warm smile before taking the jacket.

"You know, I have told Nathalie not to use apprentices for the shoots. I think it's still going to be a bit too tight on him."

"Maybe if he layed off the pastries, it wouldn't be." Veronica laughed. Marinette glared at her. Why couldn't they have found someone else for the shoot?

Sasha turned away ignoring the red head before focusing back on Marinette. "See how it is on him. He has gained quite a bit of muscle in the last year or so and I think the girl must have used measurements that were out of date. If it's still tight, maybe he can sling it over his shoulder or something. I'm sure Vincent will figure something out." Marinette nodded and gave Veronica one last glare before walking away.

Inside the dressing room, Adrien hummed to himself as he finished dressing. He was in a simple black ensemble so as to offset the ivory dress Veronica was wearing. Plagg zipped around the room looking for the tie that was supposed to go with it.

"You know kid, you haven't been all that careful with your secret identity around pigtails. What with that 'your knight will protect you' waffle you were going on with last night." He said as he handed Adrien the tie. The model just shrugged as he tied it up.

"Only Ladybug would have known the reference." Plagg floated up into his chosens face.

"And what if Pigtails isn't Ladybug?" Adrien stopped what he was doing and looked up at his Kwami. He knew full well Plagg knew who Ladybug was, he was just testing him.

"I still love Marinette, if that's what you're getting at. Whether she is Ladybug or not doesn't change that, and I'm still going to tell her tonight who I am anyway. I can't keep a secret like that from the girl I love. Besides, if Marinette isn't Ladybug, then that still means that Ladybug trusted her with the Mouse Miraculous, right? So I trust her either way." Plagg folded his arms and smiled to himself as Adrien went to put his shoes on. He knew the kid was ready, he just had to hope Tikki got to talk some sense into her chosen about revealing their identities sooner rather than later.

"So I suppose you're taking her out somewhere tonight to be all sickly sweet and gross?" Plagg whined. Adrien just laughed.

"Actually we are having dinner with her parents tonight, so I can grab you some of those cheese puffs you have been waiting for." Plagg's face lit up and he was practically salivating. "We just have to drop some stuff off to Luka for Kitty Section first." The Cat Kwami suddenly puffed up like a fur ball.

"Don't take pigtails there." Plagg growled. "Those damn snakes are always trying to steal the bugs away from my kittens." Plagg's eyes suddenly went wide and he covered his mouth with his paws. Adrien's face looked puzzled for a moment before the light dawned on him and he broke out into a broad smile.

"I knew it. Marinette is Ladybug. She had to be." Plagg flattened his ears to his head.

"Don't say I said anything. Tikki said I wasn't supposed to interfere." Adrien just laughed, plucking Plagg out of the air and planting a loud kiss between his ears before running for the door.

Adrien raced out the dressing room and crashed straight into Marinette as she was about to knock on his door. With quick cat reflexes he grabbed her waist and brought her closer to him.

"I think you've already fallen for me once before m'lady, but I'll fall for you everyday." Marinette's cheeks burned bright red before it registered what exactly he had just said. Grabbing her hand as her mouth gaped open, he quickly pulled her into the dressing room, shutting the door behind him. Before she had a chance to react, He whirled her around and his lips were on hers, one hand behind her head, the other holding her waist and her back up against the door. She didn't question it, but melted into him, embedding her fingers in his silky hair, whispering 'Chaton' against his lips. He'd called her m'lady, she was still his lady, and he was her Kitty. All masks had finally been stripped away and Adrien was pouring every inch of love he had for her into his kisses. This wasn't how she had planned their reveal to happen, but now that it had, she wouldn't change this reaction for anything.

When he finally broke the kiss, Adrien pulled her into a tight hug, burying his face into her neck. That amazing smell of vanilla and cinnamon making his head whirl. "I just knew it had to be you m'lady, you couldn't have been anyone else." She looked up at him and saw the pure joy and love in his eyes.

"But how did you...?" Plagg then floated up, his ears down and his expression apologetic.

"It's my fault Marinette. I panicked and blurted out something I shouldn't have. I'm sorry." Marinette quirked her head curiously.

"Panicked, what for?" Adrien chuckled and explained Plagg's freak out about them visiting Luka.

"You idiot Plagg." Tikki shided, having come out of Marinette's bag. "You know it never works out between snakes and Ladybugs anyway. Besides, Luka isn't that kind of snake." Plagg just huffed, folding his paws and turning his head.

"I'm sorry Sugarcube, but the kid mentioned cheese puffs and then my brain just went to mush." Tikki laughed hugging her counterpart. "Besides, my kittens don't always get to have their Ladybugs, and I just wanted to make sure he did, you know, for the cheese puffs and all."

"You silly Stinky Sock, you do care, even if it is motivated by your stomach."

"I'm so sorry Marinette..." Adrien began before she pressed a finger to his lips, which he promptly kissed.

"Oh Kitty." Marinette laughed, touching his face with her hand. "It's alright. I was going to tell you tonight anyway." Adrien kissed her on the nose.

"I was going to tell you too." He said. "I couldn't be happier though Bug. You mean everything to me, and I love you, all of you. I couldn't imagine ever being with anyone else."

"I love you too mon Chaton." She said softly. Adrien's heart felt it would burst hearing her call him that. "You're the only person I would have ever wanted as my Chat Noir."

"Adrien, they're ready for you." Came a voice through the door.

"Alright Nathalie." He called back, running his fingers through one of Marinette's pigtails. "We can talk more about this tonight." He kissed her lightly on the forehead before rubbing his nose against hers. "And we can definitely do lots more of this." He murmured against her lips before kissing her again.

Leaving the dressing room, Adrien took Marinette over to where Sasha was, holding out a seat for her. Leaning down, he gave her one more soft kiss. He was aware of Veronica watching him, but he couldn't care less. Maybe if she knew he was taken, she might keep the shoot more professional.

Adrien and Veronica went through the motions for a few shots as Vincent called out instructions. He was avoiding touching her more than was necessary, while she was all hands as usual. Marinette shifted uncomfortably in her seat and could hear Sasha and Nathalie grumbling about unprofessionalism. They stopped photographing to move a few set pieces around and Adrien ran his hand through his hair looking to make eye contact with Marinette. She caught his gaze and smiled supportively to him. He could already feel the world was a better place, just from her smile, his Lady's smile.

"There was the look I wanted." Vincent called out. "Now you give it to me." Adrien shrugged unapologetically. It was a bit hard to look like a guy in love, when she wasn't the girl you are holding.

Moving back around the set, Vincent got Adrien to lean back on the wall, holding Veronica by the hips. Vincent moved Veronica's arms to drape off Adrien's neck, which felt suffocating to him with the heavy perfume she was wearing. A fan was positioned to gently send her flaming red hair flying behind her. The shot would have been perfect except for the strained look on Adrien's face.

"Adrien looks like he has a knife in his back." Sasha leaned over to Nathalie to say.

"Because that is how he feels." Nathalie responded despondently. "You know he hates it when the models flirt with him, and Veronica is one of the worst for it. I honestly don't know why Gabriel keeps her on the books." Marinette got the impression that Nathalie was fully aware of Veronica's indiscretions, but had been at a loss as to how to intervene.

Veronica's lustful stare was making Adrien even more uncomfortable, like she was trying to undress him with her eyes. She had to have been at least 21 by this, and had quite a reputation for doing the rounds of most of the models employed by Adrien's father. Truthfully, the blonde wasn't sure why she had set a cap for him. Maybe it was just to add to her list of prior conquests, or simply for the fact he was the boss's son.

"So, Adrien, I hear on the grapevine you found yourself a little squeeze to keep you warm last night." Veronica's honey tones whispered in Adrien's ear. Adrien pulled his head back to look at her.

"If that was a reference to Marinette then I'm not going to dignify that comment with a response." He snapped at her, trying to keep his voice down for Vincent's sake.

"Oh come on Adrien, you're not fooling anyone. I know you want a piece of me." She pressed herself closer against him. "Why don't you let a real woman show you how it's done." The red head slid her obscured hand down the inside of his jacket, slipping lower before grabbing onto his buttcheek. At the same moment a light bulb blew overhead momentarily distracting her and Adrien took the opportunity to push her back, the model almost losing her footing in the heels she was wearing. Marinette thought she saw a flash of black dart away from the blown light to Adrien's dressing room. She reminded herself to thank Plagg later with some extra cheese puffs.

"I told you last time, that was enough Veronica! And you don't speak about my girlfriend that way." All eyes were now fixed on the scene taking place on the set. No one had ever seen Adrien lose his temper like that before.

Veronica had a deviant glee in her eyes, and an innocent voice from her lips. "Adrien, really. Just because you slept with Marinette in your office doesn't mean you have to protect her dignity by pretending she's your girlfriend. Lila already told me all about it and it's okay. I know you really wanted me instead and I appreciate you wanting to get some experience first." There was a loud gasp from those in the room, including Marinette. Whatever Rachel thought she had seen last night, clearly had spread like wildfire and was just ripe for Lila to grab and run with. Marinette felt Sasha's hand on her shoulder in support. At least some people were not believing it.

Adrien shook his head in disbelief. "Don't tell me you fell for Lila's bullshit too. I thought you might have been a little smarter than that Veronica?" The girl just smirked.

"Is it a lie Adrien? Rachel saw you two in your office. 'Disheveled' I believe was the word used, or are you going to accuse her of lying too." Adrien could feel his blood begin to boil. In true Lila fashion, she had manipulated half truths to serve her purpose. He was going to rip her a new one the next time he saw her.

"Rachel didn't see anything except us eating dinner."

"Um, yeah, with your little floozy over there wearing nothing but your shirt." Adrien knew Veronica was trying to bait him, but two could play at that game.

"So? She looks damn hot in my shirt, which is more than I could have said for you." He smirked, folding his arms across his chest. Marinette could feel her face getting flushed. Clearly Adrien had forgotten the audience he had watching this, either that, or his Chat was bleeding through into his civilian life. Veronica was taken aback by the remark, but only for a moment.

"Well at least I could get modelling jobs by my own merit, and didn't jump the cue into Gabriel by jumping the boss's son."

"That's enough Veronica!" Marinette shrugged away Sasha's hand and ignored Nathalie calling her, approaching the scene of the argument. "I don't know what rubbish Lila has been feeding you, but I would never take advantage of Adrien like that because I love him." Veronica folded her arms, still looking smug.

"So you're telling me that for love you're going to turn down the summer internship I saw on offer on Nathalie's desk yesterday." Adrien wasn't even going to ask how she knew about that. Nathalie had only just mentioned it to him that morning. Marinette stepped up onto the set, looking the red head dead in the eyes, their faces inches apart.

"Yes." She replied coolly. Veronica's eyes widened in disbelief as Adrien grabbed Marinette's arm and gently turned her towards him.

"Marinette, don't do that. People like Veronica and Lila aren't worth it." He said, gently touching her face. She leaned into his touch, reaching her hand up over his.

"It's not just them." She said softly. "Lila's lies were so readily believed because it was what people wanted to believe. If I accept your father's offer, everyone will naturally assume I'm getting special treatment and I don't want that. I am going to be a designer, but I want to make it on my own merit like I always have with everything I do. Besides, I'm not sure working at a place like this is what I really want anymore." Adrien cupped her face in his hands.

"But this was your dream. You planned your whole life for this." She smiled softly at him, her eyes full of love for him.

"Plans and dreams can change Adrien. I still have my commissions which just keep growing, and who knows, maybe I might even start my own label and open a boutique store where I can design clothes my way and not someone else's." she reached up placing her hands on each side of his face. "But there's only one you, and I would give it all up in a heartbeat just to be with you." Despite the audience they had, Adrien gathered her up into his arms kissing her in front of everyone. He didn't care what they thought, but he couldn't love her anymore than he did right at this moment.

"Marinette I can't let you..." she placed a finger to his lips.

"Do you trust me Chaton?" She whispered into his ear. Adrien took her hand, kissing it and holding it to his chest.

"Always m'lady." He replied softly, though she could see his confusion. She smiled at him knowing her Kitty would always trust her blindly.

"Trust me now then. I'll explain everything later, I promise."

"Get off the set Veronica." Nathalie's voice broke through the room. "You have disgraced yourself and the Gabriel brand for the last time." Veronica folded her arms in annoyance. She'd been had and she was pissed.

"Gladly." She seethed through gritted teeth. "I'm done with this place." With a final glare at Marinette and Adrien she stormed off the set.

"Nathalie, what about the shoot?" Vincent lamented. "We are on a time pinch for the launch and the photo's have to be taken today."

Adrien let go of Marinette to put a hand on the assistant's shoulder. "I don't want you getting into trouble." Nathalie looked at him, a grim smile on her face.

"That might be unavoidable now." She said quietly. Her mind was racing. Not only was their lead model now walking out the door, but the shoot was in disarray and Marinette was not going to be taking the offer Gabriel insisted she make happen.

"Is there something I can do to help Miss Sancour." Marinette offered. Nathalie looked up between Adrien and his petite girlfriend, the wheels turning in her head.

"Sasha, do you have something that could be modified to fit Marinette?" The bluenette turned to her with wide eyes as Sasha looked her up and down.

"I'm sure I could manage that." He smiled. Marinette took a step back.

"Woah, hold up, I'm not a model, I'm short and clumsy and I'd just ruin the advert and Mr Agreste will probably banish me from the premises and..." Adrien wrapped his arms around her.

"Nonsense Princess, you would be perfect as always. Sasha, you wouldn't happen to have something in green would you?" He asked, twirling her pigtail around his finger.

"I think I know the perfect dress." Sasha held a hand out to Marainette. "Come my dear, let us work our magic and turn you into that Princess." He winked at Adrien with a knowing grin. Marinette looked hesitant at Adrien, but he just smiled and nodded at her with those kitten eyes. How could she say no?

"Alright then." She conceded, taking Sasha's hand and heading over to the prep team. Adrien stepped back towards Nathalie as Vincent busied the workers with rearranging the set.

"You know Lila Rossi was behind this." He said. Nathalie nodded her head slowly.

"I'll have to ring your father and inform him of what happened." She said, nervousness clear in her voice.

"Do you want me to ring him?" Adrein offered, but she shook her head. She knew she would have to talk him out of turning Veronica into an akuma, if he hadn't tried to already.

"No, you take care of the shoot and Marinette. I'll handle your father, and Miss Rossi."

When Marinette finally emerged sometime later, Adrien felt like his breath had been taken away. Her dress was a similar style to the ivory one Veronica had worn, but this was in a soft emerald green, similar to the shirt she had worn last night. The crystals in the dress were matched with a spray of crystals in her dark hair which had been styled to fall delicately on her shoulders. She wobbled slightly as she approached the set and he reached out to steady her. She lifted the bottom of the dress slightly to show the impossibly high heels she was wearing.

"We had to compensate for my height." She laughed. "But I can hardly walk in them." Adrien held an arm around her waist as he guided her over to the set.

"Don't worry Princess, I'll be here to catch you." He discarded the jacket and tie and undid the top three buttons on his shirt, Vincent having decided he wanted to change the tone of the shoot slightly. The feel of the shoot had instantly improved, Marinette all but forgetting the camera as Adrien told her jokes and whispered sweet nothings in her ear, making her laugh and blush. Vincent ran around them clicking excitedly, but he knew he had been all but forgotten as the two love birds disappeared into their own little bubble.