A/N: Thanks for clicking on my writing! This is my first fanfiction but I have a lot of experience with writing so I am excited to expand to fanfiction. I do have a plan for this story and I can't wait to see it roll out. I also want to say that I will be trying to put as much French culture into this as I can (seeing as it takes place in France) but I live in the USA so there may be inaccuracies. Hopefully we can all learn something and enjoy the story while we do! - AspenMarie, January 11th, 2018.

Chapter 1:

Marinette pushed away from her desk with a sigh. She had been sketching since she got home from school, which had been approximately two and a half hours before. She had finished quite a few ideas, but that was no surprise. She always worked best when it rained, and it had been raining since that morning when she left for school.

Marinette stood up and walked over to her window trimmed in lace curtains, staring out onto the shining Parisian street below. A blush tinted her cheeks as her thoughts started to wander. The rain also made her think of the first day she had met Adrien. The streets had been lush and warm with the rain and his eyes had reflected the damp grass around the school. She remembered the way his hair swept to the side and how his eyes had lit up when he laughed.

When he had given her his umbrella that day, he had stolen her heart in exchange.

Tiki yawned and landed on Marinette's shoulder, considering her as she stared out onto the glistening paved street in front of the bakery. People rushed by, holding black umbrellas to keep dry as they went about their daily tasks. Marinette glanced over at Adrien's matching one, propped up next to her bed. Tiki grinned up at Marinette, "Let me guess. You're thinking about a certain boy with "hair that shines like the sun" and "green eyes of luck"?"

Marinette rolled her eyes but her blush deepened at the reminder of the poem she had mailed Adrien on Valentines Day almost a year ago. Alya still gave her grief over forgetting to sign it. Before she could respond to Tiki however, Marinette's phone buzzed and a picture of Alya filled the screen. She quickly picked it up, glad to have an excuse not to answer Tiki, and answered. "Alya?"

Alya's excited voice responded, "Girl, my dad is taking me to the parade for Jour d'armistice at the Arc de Triomphe and I want you to come with!"

Marinette glanced at her calendar hanging on the wall. It was open to November and the picture was a fashion sketch of a woman in a long trench coat. The calendar was published by Gabriel Agreste himself, and she had received it for her birthday from Alya. The 11th of November, Jour d'armistice, was only 3 days away but she didn't have any plans. "I would love to Alya! Let me check with my parents and I'll let you know at school tomorrow."

"Okay, but don't forget to ask like you always do," Alya teased. Marinette could tell she was smiling on the other end

"Okay, okay, I'll go ask right after we're done talking." Marinette said as she sat down on her desk chair. She pushed off the ground, sending herself to the other end of her desk, the end near the wall covered in fashion sketches and pictures of Adrien. Even when she was talking with Alya she couldn't help but think about him.

"So" Alya said on the other end, "I heard there is going to be a Christmas fashion gala in early December, held at our own school!"

Marinette was surprised by that. She didn't see how the school could ever look beautiful enough to hold a fancy gala. "Really? What is it for?"

"I think Gabriel Agreste is hosting it, but that's all I've heard" Alya sighed. "Can you imagine going to a ball?"

Marinette nodded, forgetting that Alya couldn't see her. "Think of the dresses and floral arrangements." Everything would be so elegant and sophisticated. "And the music!"

Both girls sat in silence for a moment, thinking about the idea of attending a fancy event. "And think about it; If Gabriel is hosting it, what certain model son would be forced to attend as well?"

Marinette blushed just thinking about Adrien in a formal suit at a dance. She sighed into the phone and Alya chuckled. "Girl, you've gotta do something about this. You can't just keep living in a daydream."

"He's a daydream, Alya." Marinette said dreamily.

"You barely know him Mari. If you're going to be obsessed you might as well change that. Get to know who he actually is!"

Marinette thought about that for a moment. She knew Adrien. They were friends. He had given her his umbrella. Sure, she didn't get to talk to him much because she was so awkward, but Alya made it sound like she had made him up.

Marinette heard a muffled voice on the other end of the call and then Alya spoke, "Anyways, I've gotta go! Nino and I are going to go get ice cream. See ya tomorrow!"

"Yeah! See ya!" Marinette smiled and then ended the call with a tap. She looked over at Tiki, who, while Marinette was distracted, had started shifting through Mari's most recent dress designs. "Hey!" She said when she spotted what the little bug was doing. "What do you think you're doing?" Marinette smiled and walked over to where Tiki was hovering, a large and guilty smile spread across her tiny face.

"I know I'm supposed to ask permission before looking at your designs but these are magnificent!" Tiki landed yet again on Marinette's shoulder as the girl picked up two of her drawings, staring at them. She had to admit they were some of her best work yet. She was getting better every day.

"Thanks, Tiki." Marinette said with a smile and slight blush. "And you don't have to ask permission- that's only my rule for other people. You know basically everything about me anyways." Marinette laughed lightly. "In fact, you're probably bored out of your mind sitting in here with nothing to do."

Tiki laughed but didn't deny the fact. Marinette put a hand to her chin, thinking. "How about we go for a walk?"

"In the rain?" Tiki asked, peering at the pouring sky out of the window.

"We'll bring an umbrella of course. But there's something about walking in the rain that really clears your head." Marinette said, walking over to her closet. She pulled out a light pink raincoat and black galoshes. Luckily her pants were several shades darker than her coat so she didn't need to worry about looking like a blob of pale pink. She knew that was a fashion mistake. She would just have to embrace the monochrome look.

She got buttoned up and then walked to the trapdoor in her floor. "You ready, Tiki?" The little bug nodded and flew into one of the spacious pockets of Marinette's coat. She carefully climbed down the ladder that lead into the kitchen, trying not to jostle Tiki too much. Her mom was in the kitchen with the fridge open. She was probably grabbing a snack for Marinette's father and herself before they got back to work in the bakery.

"I'm going for a walk to the park." Marinette told her mom with a smile as she walked to the door. Her mom smiled back and nodded before continuing to search through the fridge. They had established a long time ago that whenever Marinette took a walk it was to get a break from her homework, and her mom didn't try to stop her. Even when it was raining apparently. On her way out, Marinette grabbed a gray umbrella. She had a perfectly good black one upstairs but it had the habit of closing at random times and it was too special for her to use.

Marinette opened the door and descended the stairs onto the landing that lead into the bakery through one door and outside through the other. She took the latter and a chill swept over her, accompanied by the alluring scent of fresh rain. Marinette took a deep breath and closed her eyes, as if trying to absorb the feeling it gave her. Tiki peeked out from Marinette's pocket and watched the girl with fondness. She had grown to love her human companion over their time together.

"Are we going for a walk or just smelling the rain?" Tiki said, a teasing lilt to her voice.

Marinette opened her eyes and looked down at the little bug, a blush tinting her cheeks. "Sorry! I get caught up in the moment sometimes."

"So I've learned." Tiki said with a smile. "But there's nothing wrong with that. You just feel things deeper than most do."

Marinette made it to the park, only to find it deserted. It was no surprise to her though and she twirled around, the cold air brushing against her cheeks and turning them pink.

"Princess?" A warm and teasing voice sounded from right behind her and Marinette immediately stopped her twirl. Her eyes widened as her mind connected that voice to where she heard it before.

Chat Noir.

She spun around only to find him so close that he had to move back quickly to avoid getting poked by her umbrella. "Sorry!" She said, realizing what had almost happened.

Chat chuckled, "I already have enough Akumas trying to kill me Princess, I don't need you trying as well."

Marinette put her free hand on her hip, raising one eyebrow. "I'll have to think of another tactic. Umbrella warfare didn't seem to work."

Just then a loud crack of thunder sounded, which made Marinette look up, only to see the bottom of her umbrella. She peeked out from under it, trying not to get too wet. Only a moment after she had returned to under her umbrella, the rain was gone. Clouds parted and the sun shone down on the glistening park. Chat looked around with his eyes narrowed.

"What just happened?"

Marinette lowered her umbrella and stuck her hand out, trying to feel a drop of rain. All she felt was the sun and a cold breeze.

"I AM SOLAIRE AND RAIN WILL NEVER FALL ON PARIS AGAIN."

Marinette and Chat looked towards the other end of the park, where the loud voice came from. A woman in a white and red checkered dress with a matching mask was walking towards them. Marinette cringed- she looked like a walking table cloth.

"My eyes." Chat said in disgust, "What is she wearing?" He made a face before realizing that Marinette could be in danger. "I'll handle this Princess. You need to get somewhere safe, I don't think she'll run after a regular civilian."

Marinette didn't hesitate before following Chat's orders. She normally wouldn't do what he told her to do but she needed to leave and transform into Ladybug anyways. She ran over towards the park entrance and ducked behind a tall shrub. She opened her pocket all of the way and Tiki flew out.

"Tiki, spots on!"

A/N: Thanks for reading the first chapter! Please leave a review and let me know what I can improve on and what you'd like to see in future chapters. Also, please let me know what your preferred chapter length is! -AspenMarie, January 11th, 2018.