To Heal a Broken Heart

Chapter 2

"Having second thoughts about rejecting Marinette, Adrien? She smells nice."

"I didn't know you like the smell of strawberries, cinnamon, warmth..."

"Ugh! No, I have no idea who YOU smelled, but I smelled the freshly baked cheese bread..."

"Plagg!"

"What? It's not my fault that I am highly sensitive to cheese smell. It's a survival mechanism!"

"Oh, Plagg. What am I going to do with you?"

"I might have a few suggestions. First...."

Adrien didn't hear anything anymore. That night he was sleeping peacefully for the first time in weeks as he dreamed of strawberry fields and the warm, rising sun.

***

"It's two o'clock in the morning, Marinette... Are you even thinking about going to sleep?"

"I just can't get myself to forget how miserable he was... I didn't know that he had it that bad, that he didn't have anyone to comfort him, to just be there for him. I wish I could help him, but, really, what can I do?"

"You'll think of something Marinette. But now you have to go to sleep. There is still school, you know."

"I'll try, Tikki."

***

"Hello, Marinette!"

"Chat what are you doing here? Get down or someone will see you."

It was Saturday morning, and Chat was standing on her balcony, picking into her room, searching for her.

"Hi, I just wanted to see if you were just as bored as I am?"

There was a wide grin on his face and, definitely, a small hint in his voice.

"Awww, are you bored, kitty? Well, if you want you can help me with my homework. My parents are out of the house today for their conference, so nobody will see you. Do you like physics?"

"I love physics!!! In fact, I am the best in my class!"

The homework was exactly the same Adrien did last night but he didn't want Marinette to suspect anything. He didn't want her to know that he was the boy who broke her heart just a short while ago. He was even unsure why he had come; he just wanted to feel that comfort again, to be free of any pretenses, to be free to be himself - neither cheeky Chat nor serious Adrien. Just himself. Right now, she was the only person he felt the freedom to do so.

The homework was done in a flash and board games were pulled out. Then the fabrics came in a play and an impromptu fashion show was staged, a lunch (which featured cheese bread much to Plagg's delight) and a movie. Adrien had to feed Plagg a couple of times and Marinette was gladly going downstairs while little kwami was devouring the freshly baked treats. They laughed and giggled, made fun of each other and shared their secret wishes. Marinette didn't even mind his light flirtatious remarks. They weren't as persistent and annoying as the ones he granted to Ladybug and she rather enjoyed them. Chat on the other hand was discovering how fun and extraordinary his shy classmate was. She was also very pretty. It was a day they will remember forever, it was a start of a friendship, a bond.

"It was fun, Princess. I wish we could have more of those days. Thank you!"

Standing on her balcony, Chat leaned in and lightly kissed her cheek, causing the red flash to appear on her pretty face. At this moment Chat wished that he wouldn't be so preoccupied with Ladybug to completely miss pretty, sweet Marinette. Unfortunately, it was too late now and he was in love with his Lady. At the same time, Marinette wished that she had met Chat before she met Adrien. Maybe then everything would be different. But it wasn't, she still loved that handsome, out of reach to her Adrien.

"It was fun, Chat. I didn't know you could be so..."

"What?"

"So... likable?"

She blushed again smiling lightly at him.

"Ha-ha-ha! Very funny Princess, I am the most likable cat in a neighborhood! But I am afraid I need to leave, you know. Duty calls!"

"You need to patrol the city? With Ladybug?" She completely forgot about it. "Alright, I wish you a quiet night, Chat. Goodbye!"

Marinette pushed the astonished cat out of the window. She had to sneak out and be at their meeting point in less than five minutes and she wasn't going to let him found out that he just spend the day giggling with the girl who cause him so much pain. She couldn't hurt him again and deprive him of the only truly understanding friend he now had. She couldn't do it to herself either.

***

The patrol went without any troubles. Ladybug noticed that Chat was much happier than he was in weeks. She was proud and scared at the same time. Proud for helping him, scared for him to know the truth and to hurt him even more.

***

"Marinette, you are staring at the ceiling again. What's wrong?"

"Tikki... I can't do it anymore. I am so confused. I know I have to choose but I can't..."

"I don't think, it's the choice that worries you, Marinette." The kwami was smiling knowingly. "I think, it's the acceptance and letting go that worries you so much. Can't you just for one time forget everything and listen to your heart, really listen to what it tells you?"

For the last couple of months, they have spent their days stealing "dates" from time to time. Chat would appear at her window at least once or twice a week. They would spend their time in her room or climb to the roofs of the buildings where none could see them. They would talk and laugh, they would play and giggle. There was no tension between them, both of them were able to really be themselves but each one understood that this could not go on forever. Both of them wanted to reveal to each other who they were but both were terrified to do so. They didn't want to betray each other's trust and cause more pain.

In addition, there were "complications". Just when Chat thought that he might be falling for Marinette, Ladybug became extra attentive to him, reigniting his feelings once more. She would tease him and pet him; she would accept his compliments and flush brightly to much of his satisfaction. He started to suspect that maybe she was keen on him after all. In the same manner, Adrien became more involved in Marinette's life. He was caught starring at her multiple times by Alya, who was quick to point it out to Marinette. He always seems to find a place to have his lunch dangerously close to where the girls sat if not at their table. He offered multiple times to help her carry something, help her with her homework and he even walked her home (together with Alya and Nino of course) on numerous occasions. She was starting to think that maybe, just maybe, he was starting to like her back. But there also was Chat...

"Ugh!!! This is so confusing!"

"It's not really, Marinette." Tikki petted the girl's hair lightly. "Which one of them do you feel more comfortable with? Who makes you feel special? Who do you think will accept ALL aspects of your life, Marinette?"

The girl was looking dreamingly through the window in direction of the balcony for a moment.

"The third one" she whispered.

Tikki's eyes rounded, jaw dropped and ability to speak disappeared for a full minute.

"Wha...? Did I miss...? Marinette! What are you talking about? Who is the third one?"

"Chat, but not the one whom Ladybug knows, Tikki. The one whom I know. Sweet, kind, brave and funny. Adrien is sweet and serious, Ladybug's Chat is brave and a flirt, but the Chat I know is a perfect combination of them both. If only he could be that open with Ladybug... It would be perfect. I wouldn't need to hide my identity and also be myself."

Tikki was floating in circles deep in her thoughts when her eyes grew big and a huge smile appeared.

"Marinette, didn't you promise Chat to help him with Ladybug? Why don't you teach him how to behave with her? Give him some advice and tell him to try them out. I am sure Ladybug will not refuse him again."

"You are genius, Tikki! And it's Valentine Day in a week! Operation Valentine?"

"Operation Valentine!" Tikki smiled happily. At last, she thought, maybe, just maybe, it will all work out well.