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{{trope}}
[[File:
{{quote|'''Max:''': ''(As Agent 99 tries to kiss him on the cheek while in the middle of CONTROL headquarters)'' 99, no one at Control knows we're dating.
'''Chief''': ''(walking past with a piece of cake.)'' [[The Not-Secret|Yes they do.]]
|''[[Get Smart (film)|Get Smart]]'' 2008 Film}}
Two characters suddenly wind up in a relationship together, and decide for some reason to keep it a secret from everyone. The reason can be perfectly solid, e.g. one of them is the other's boss, but just as often it can be an ill-defined "I'm not ready for them to know" excuse. They remain awkwardly but successfully concealed for several episodes, speaking in [[Unusual Euphemism
Eventually they will be found out. This is not a
This can also be played for drama. Two people might be good friends, while aware that their parents, or the outside world, wouldn't approve of their friendship. In an attempt to prevent that from being discovered, the friends do everything they can to hide it, but sooner or later, hell will break loose. ''[[Romeo and Juliet]]'' may be the most well-known variation of this.
Naturally, a necessary precaution when [[Dating Catwoman]].
{{examples}}▼
▲{{examples}}
== Anime
* Meiko and Nachan in ''[[Marmalade Boy]]'', because [[Teacher-Student Romance|he's her teacher]]. While Yuu finds out early on, the rest of the cast doesn't until they're caught and it becomes a scandal. Later, Miki and Yuu get tangled up in one because [[Brother-Sister Incest|they're stepsiblings]] and Miki's mother warned her not to fall in love with Yuu in the first place.
* Also the premise of ''[[Please Teacher!]]'', where Mizuho and Kei are married even though [[Teacher-Student Romance|she's his teacher]]. She's also [[Human Aliens|an alien]], but that's treated as a much less dangerous secret.
* Nanao and Matsumoto from ''[[Junsui Adolescence]]'' keep their relationship secret due to it being a taboo [[Girls Love]] [[Teacher-Student Romance]]. Their friend Hanada-sensei figures it out regardless.
* ''[[Ai Yori Aoshi]]'''s leads- Kaoru Hanabishi and Aoi Sakuraba- have an [[Arranged Marriage]] [[Childhood Marriage Promise|from way back when]] and are [[Perfectly Arranged Marriage|very much in love]], but Aoi's family, in order to avoid a scandal (the marriage had been called off when Kaoru left the Hanabishis), force them to keep it a secret. Since this is a [[Harem Series]], and several girls with romantic interest in Kaoru come to live with him, [[Hilarity Ensues]].
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* In ''[[School Days]]'', Makoto and Sekai both decide to date (and sleep with) each other, while Makoto is still in a relationship with Kotonoha, which he also never really breaks off and continues to lead her on. [[It Got Worse]] from there. [[Axe Crazy|Much, much worse]].
* Subverted in ''[[Fruits Basket]]''. While their relationship may not have been intentionally kept a secret to people outside of the Sohma house, Kana and Hatori formally go to the Sohma leader with the intention of getting a marriage blessing. Akito treats this knowledge as a secret that was kept from her, and flips out accordingly by smashing a vase into Hatori's head, [[Eye Scream|effectively blinding him in one eye]] in the process. Kana's witnessing of this and Akito's [[Mind Rape|accusation that this happened because of their relationship]] breaks Kana to the point where Hatori had to [[Laser-Guided Amnesia|erase all her memories of their relationship]] to save her from her depression.
* While most of their friends, and their parents, are well-aware of their relationship, Shuichi and Anna from ''[[Wandering Son]]'' have this type of relationship. It mainly has to do with the fact Anna is a model, and that Shuichi is [[Transsexualism|Transgendered]].
* ''[[Ranma ½]]'': Played for laughs when [[Belligerent Sexual Tension|Ranma and Akane]] try to pretend they were secret lovers all along. Most people don't buy it though. [[Unlucky Childhood Friend|Ukyo]] is convinced Akane is forcing Ranma to lie and the rest of the school knows the two of them aren't really [[Happily Married]] because they're not arguing.
* Ohgi and Villetta of ''[[Code Geass]]'' have a relationship that remains hidden throughout most of the series.
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== Comic Books ==
* ''[[Empowered]]'' gives us [[Vain Sorceress|Sistah Spooky]] and {{spoiler|[[Disability Superpower|Mindf**k]]. Even after their breakup the former is horrified by the idea of anyone knowing she was in a romantic relationship with a ''blonde'' woman.}}
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* The ''[[Fullmetal Alchemist]]'' fan fiction [http://www.fanfiction.net/s/2974475/1/bBest_b_bKept_b_bSecret_b Best Kept Secret] uses this trope as its basic premise, exploring how the story might have gone if Roy and Riza were secretly married throughout the entire thing.
* Many ''[[Soul Eater]]'' fanfics that pair Soul and Maka together have them trying to keep their relationship a secret. Usually it has more to do with Maka's [[Overprotective Dad]] than with their friends.
* The
* [[Beta Couple|Tsukasa and Miyuki]] in ''[[Stars Above]]''.
* {{spoiler|Hisao and Misha}} in the [[Katawa Shoujo]] fic From Shizune's Perspective {{spoiler|Shizune}} is upset by the fact that they kept it a secret from her.
* Possibly due to [[Values Dissonance]]
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== Literature ==
* In the ''[[Tortall Universe|Song of the Lioness]]'' quartet, Alanna and Jon start a relationship in the second novel. However, seeing as she's [[Sweet Polly Oliver|disguised as a boy in order to become a knight,]] and he's the heir to the throne, they keep this under wraps.
* In [[The Bible]], Abraham kept his marriage with Sarah a secret from two different local rulers (claiming she was his sister) for fear that those rulers would [[Murder the Hypotenuse|murder him so they could take her for themselves]]. This makes this [[Older Than Feudalism]].
* Used a lot [[Rule of Drama|for some reason]] in ''[[Warrior Cats|Warriors]]'', as there are four separate Clans and the cats have a bad habit of falling in love with someone from another Clan. As you can imagine, [[Star-Crossed Lovers|these never end well]].
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== Live-Action TV ==
* Monica and Chandler milked this for almost an entire season of ''[[Friends]]''. And the other characters found out one... by... one.
** Later, beautifully subverted in a plot where Ross is dating one of his students. They agree to keep it secret, as it's not something Ross would get fired over, but it is "frowned upon." Later, sick of keeping it secret, Ross announces the relationship to his fellow professors, who inform him he will be fired if the administration finds out (it was not just "frowned upon"). Thus, they go back into
* This happens three times in ''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer]]''.
** In season two, [[Hollywood Nerd|Xander]] and [[Lovable Alpha Bitch|Cordelia]]. This is [[Played for Laughs]].
** In season four, [[Les Yay|Willow and Tara]]. It is implied, but never explicitly stated, that Willow is uneasy about telling her friends about [[Suddenly Sexuality|dating a girl]].
** In season six, [[The Hero|Buffy]] and [[Anti-Villain|Spike]]. This is a case of [[Dating Catwoman]].
** Xander and Willow also briefly had a fling in the third season (when they were dating Cordelia and Oz, respectively) but it was wrapped up after a few episodes.
* Dave and Lisa (briefly) in ''[[News Radio]]''.
* Mike and Nikki in ''[[Spin City]]''.
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** A less pleasant example is Chiana and Jothee behind D'Argo's back. The two begin an affair because of disatisfaction with D'Argo's plans for the future (quiet married life on a farm). D'Argo finds out the next episode and is very, very unhappy.
* In the British sitcom ''Executive Stress'', a husband and wife must hide the fact that they are married from their employer. The employer has a policy that if two employees marry, one of them must quit or be fired.
* Subverted in ''[[Battlestar Galactica
** This happens a lot in ''
*** Tyrol and Boomer, probably the first example in the series. He's a chief and she's an officer. Fraternization is frowned upon, so they have to keep their relationship a secret.
*** Billy and Dualla have some kind of a relationship that's not exactly public.
*** Dualla and Apollo have a somewhat secret relationship before they're married.
*** Apollo and Starbuck have a secret relationship after Apollo is married to Dualla and Starbuck is married to Anders.
*** Cally has an affair with {{spoiler|1=HotDog}}. We only find out after {{spoiler|we find out that Tyrol is a Cylon and he's not the father of the baby he thought was his}}.
*** Baltar's relationship with Number Six prior to New Caprica is a secret.
*** The secret lesbian relationship involving Admiral Cain.
**** Hardly secret. Cain kisses Gina in front of her officers.
*** The relationship between Kat and her former drug dealer.
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** And earlier in the series, J.D. and Elliot ''think'' their relationship is this. [[The Not-Secret|It isn't.]]
{{quote|'''Dr. Cox:''' "And, if you listen closely, you'll hear the sound of no-one caring."}}
* Jackie and Hyde (briefly) on ''[[That '70s Show]]''.
* David and Michelle on ''[[Kings]]'': Michelle has taken a vow to devote her life to God, and in any case, her father is the King and probably wouldn't approve. (Though he may suspect...)
* In the US version of ''[[The Office]]'', there was Dwight and Angela's relationship from the second to fourth seasons ({{spoiler|and then becoming a full-out secret affair when Angela is engaged to Andy in Season 5}}). Only Jim and Pam each find out individually, {{spoiler|and the entire office learns just before both Dwight and Angela truly break up in Season 5's "The Duel"}}.
** The thing is, before Angela is dating Andy, Dwight and Angela keep it secret for no apparent reason; office relationships are not forbidden. They're just weird like that.
** For the first four episodes after the Season 6 hiatus, Andy and Erin keep their newfound relationship a secret. {{spoiler|Until they admit their relationship to everyone by the end of the episode.}}
*** However, {{spoiler|they broke up in the next episode after Erin found out about Andy's history with ''Angela.''}}
* Blair and Chuck for a few episodes in ''[[Gossip Girl]]'s''' first season.
* In a nod to the ''[[Star Wars]]'' reference above, when Jake and Miley were secretly dating in ''[[Hannah Montana]]'' they used the code names Anakin and Queen Amidala.
* [[The Mentalist|Rigsby and Van Pelt]], since coworkers are not allowed to date.
* [[Sonny With a Chance|Sonny]] and Chad attempt this during the two-part episode that has them start dating. It works out about as well as one would think, and the So Random cast finds out (twice... it's hard to explain) before the second part ends. (And there was plenty of [[Bad Liar|bad lying]] to cover up the first reveal.)
* [[Robin Hood (TV series)|Robin Hood]] and Marian for obvious reasons.
* As of Season 3 of ''[[Castle]]'' Esposito and Lanie have begun a relationship that they're trying to keep secret due to working together. This is failing epically, as Esposito's partner, Ryan, Castle, and Beckett have clued in.
* Pacey and Joey in ''[[Dawson's Creek]]''.
* Jimmy Palmer and Michelle Lee on ''[[NCIS]]'', though it later turned out to be an [[Open Secret]] amongst Team Gibbs.
* On an episode of ''[[The Wonder Years]]'', Kevin eventually finds his [[Adorkable]] dance partner [[Meganekko|Margaret]] [[Cloudcuckoolander|Farquhar]] to be genuinely sweet and
* Jeff in ''[[Community]]'' has had a couple. First season he had a brief one with {{spoiler|Slater}} before they were outed by Pierce and then in season two it turns out he had 'friends with benefits' status with {{spoiler|Britta}} for most of the year.
* Played straight between Abby and Brody in ''[[Against the Wall]]''. Eventually revealed in-universe and Richie, both Abby's brother and Brody's cop partner, is not happy.
* ''[[Pretty Little Liars]]'' is chock full of this trope. This trope applies to practically every couple in the series, [[Portmanteau Couple Name|Ezria]] being one of the more dramatic examples.
** Not to mention Spoby, Haleb, and Emaya at certain points.
* Leslie and Ben in ''[[Parks and Recreation]]" had one of these in season 3, since Chris did not allow coworkers to date. Only Ann was privy to it, but Ron eventually found out and warned them that they were terrible secret keepers and everyone was going to find out eventually. They finally, reluctantly broke up when Leslie was given a chance to run for city counsel, knowing the scandal could destroy their careers.
* The entire relationhip of Quinn and Logan on ''[[Zoey 101]]'', since both were embarrased to be dating each other. They were quite succesfull in keeping it a secret, actually their big reveal at the Prom, when they came clean about their romance, did come as a shock to everyone present at the moment.
== Theatre ==
* Curly and Laurey in ''[[Oklahoma!]]''. Inevitably, their duet "People Will Say We're In Love" is reprised as "Let People Say We're In Love."
* Jason and Peter in ''bare: a pop opera'' have one of these.
* In ''Street Scene'', Mrs. Maurrant goes to lengths to conceal [[Cheating with the Milkman|her affair with Sankey]] from others. Unfortunately, most of her neighbors already know about it.
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== Videogames ==
* In the execrable [[Full Motion Video]] game ''[[Phantasmagoria 2]]'', the protagonist Curtis insists on this with his co-worker girlfriend. {{spoiler|Which paves the way for freaky BDSM sex with the only other female co-worker.}}
* ''[[Persona 3]] Portable'': This is the Female Main Character and Ken's relationship because [[Shotacon|of the normal reaction]] [[
* One option for Damien's path in ''[[Magical Diary: Horse Hall]]'', at the end. For the best ending, you ''have'' to keep it a secret. {{spoiler|Potsdam knows, no matter what, but she doesn't do anything besides suggest that you cover up your hickey.}} Failure to do so leads to your friends turning on you if they find out - but by this point, they've seen their worst nightmares about your relationship with him come true, so they're justified in believing that you're [[Love Martyr|suicidal and possibly insane]] for trying to continue ''any'' kind of relationship with him.
== Webcomics ==
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** Lia asks Fiona not to date James, but when James asks, Fiona can't seem to say no, even though she wants to and has made a promise.
** Jake and Don's relationship is secretive because Jake's parents are anti-gay and because Jake goes to a Catholic high school.
** When Lia and Fiona do start dating, Lia asks Fiona to keep it a secret [https://web.archive.org/web/20120821045002/http://rosalarian.com/yume/?p=475 here] and [https://web.archive.org/web/20150602041904/http://rosalarian.com/yume/?p=483 here]. It does cause some strain in their relationship, as seen [https://web.archive.org/web/20120821034155/http://rosalarian.com/yume/?p=525 here].
* In ''[http://betweenfailures.com/ Between Failures]'' one of these has begun between {{spoiler|Thomas and Carol}}.
* Winsbury and Janet in ''[[Gunnerkrigg Court]]'', {{spoiler|at least, until [[The Reveal]] is made in Chapter 34}}. In-comic, it's not clear exactly why its a secret; perhaps the fact that Janet is the Headmaster's daughter has something to do with it. Out-of-comic, it's a reference to the folk song "Willie O'Winsbury" ([[Child Ballad]] #100). The Willie and Janet from the song keep it a secret because Janet's dad is the King. [[Word of God]] stated that the couple is hiding the fact that they're also "romantic dorks" {{spoiler|which they ''also'' reveal in the strips immediately following the initial reveal}}.
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== Western Animation ==
* Principal Skinner and Edna Krabappel on ''[[The Simpsons]]'': they keep it a secret for half an episode, get found out, get fired, hold the empty school hostage, then pretend to break up. Afterwards, they (literally) put their relationship back in the closet, with varied degrees of secrecy after that. It's one of the few Simpsons plots not completely affected by [[Negative Continuity]].
* Jake and Rose form one within the [[Dating Catwoman]] scenario in Disney's ''[[American Dragon: Jake Long]]''.
* Shaggy and Velma in ''[[Scooby Doo Mystery Inc|Scooby-Doo: Mystery Incorporated]]''. At first it seems like Shaggy's just afraid of commitment and using Scooby as an excuse, but his reasons for keeping the relationship a secret become more understandable once we see Scooby's hostile reaction to having Shaggy ditch him to take Velma to the prom.
* ''[[Kick Buttowski]]'' gives us Kendall and Ronaldo, after Kick finds out about them in "Frame Story"... albeit, even the viewers are confused about wether they're together or not, consistently. Since that episode there have been numerous episodes in the second season where they're still dating, yet Kendall either breaks-up with Ronaldo, prefers Kick and even cheats on him behind his back ('''literally''' behind his back).
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[[Category:The Secret Index]]
[[Category:Plots]]
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