"OH GOD TIKI!" Marinette screeched. "I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO WEAR!"

It was late on Thursday evening and Marinette had a little under twenty four hours to go until she was dining with both Adrien and Gabriel Agreste! She had been stressing over this for the last two days to the point she almost hyperventilated right there in the middle of class!

What if she messed up and accidentally tripped over and fell on top of Adrien or Mr Agreste, and ends up being dragged out of the mansion by the hulking tower that Adrien called the Gorilla? What if she accidentally spilled soup or something down her front and grossed the Agrestes out? What if she accidentally said something stupid and Mr Agreste decides to banish her from Adrien for all eternity? What if somehow she accidentally gave away her identity and...and...and...?

It was needless to say that Marinette hadn't slept well or paid much attention to her surroundings when her mind was worrying twenty four/seven, and she now had several bruises from walking into things repeatedly these last few days.

Now, her biggest concern was what she was going to wear.

After all Gabriel Agreste was a fashion designer and he would be critiquing every item of clothing with his expert eye.

"At first I thought I should wear this," Marinette held up a formal Chinese dress that her uncle sent one Christmas and she only ever worse for extra-special occasions, "but then I thought that would be too formal and over the top, and so I thought about this one," she held up a sparkly pink dress that she had made, "but then that might be too flashy? And then I thought I might just go as myself but Adrien might think I'm a slob if I do that, but none of my other skirts or trousers and tops look right, and I don't really have any other dresses. It's really last minute but if I don't sleep whatsoever, and don't go to school tomorrow, do you think I'll be able to design and make a new ultra-cool outfit in time for the dinner?"

If she binged on energy drinks, managed to find the right material at bargain price, and powered through it all, she would probably make something acceptable in time.

"Oh Marinette!" Tiki giggled. "I think you're worrying over nothing."

"What do you mean I'm worrying over nothing?!" Marinette shrieked. "I'm about to have dinner with Gabriel Agreste – one of my fashion heroes and the father of the boy I am madly in love with! If there was ever a time I should be worrying over my appearance, it's this time! I have to make a good impression."

"You already have made a good impression," Tiki said soothingly, "but you shouldn't have to worry about what to wear because you're going to dinner as Ladybug, and Ladybug already has something to wear."

"Oh."

Realisation and waves of exhaustion simultaneously crashed down on Marinette as she dropped her dresses onto the floor and sank onto her knees. She had forgotten about that little titbit. It wasn't Marinette going to dinner to meet the father of the love of her life. It was Ladybug, who had been invited for her heroic actions.

"Oh yeah," Marinette murmured. "I forgot about that."

She didn't need pretty dresses because she was stuck in the same scarlet suit as always.

"I wouldn't worry about anything, Marinette," Tiki said as she nuzzled Marinette's cheek comfortingly, "I'm sure this dinner is going to go fantastically, and then one day you will be invited as Marinette, and you will wear one of your designs, and impress both Mr Agreste and Adrien."

Marinette cupped Tiki close to her cheek. "Thanks Tiki," she smiled, "I hope you're right."

"Go and get some rest," Tiki said softly, "you don't want dark circles under your eyes at the dinner tomorrow, do you?"

"What?" Marinette frowned bewilderedly. "How would they see dark circles under my eyes? I wear a ma – oh, ha, ha!" Marinette dead-panned as realisation of Tiki's teasing sank in, "very funny!"

"I thought so!" Tiki giggled.

Marinette flung her dress at the Kwami but it did little to stop Tiki from laughing away at Marinette for the rest of the evening.

Marinette didn't mind much though as she was now no longer bubbling over with nerves about the dinner as she realised how silly she had truly been before.

Tomorrow, she decided, is going to be a good day.

MLBMLBMLBMLBMLBMLB

Adrien, however, had been bouncing between being ecstatic that he had a dinner date with Ladybug to be sick with fear that something was going to screw his chances of having a chance with Ladybug.

At first he was on cloud nine, wishing Friday would come sooner. "I just can't wait, Plagg!" he had babbled excitedly. "This is it. An actual dinner with no Akumas. I finally have my chance."

"Uh-huh," Plagg mumbled through a mouth full of cheese.

And then a sudden thought popped into his head.

What could he say to Ladybug?!

She didn't know he was Chat Noir, so all the normal topics about fighting Akumas, and finding Hawk Moth, and playful, witty, puns were off-limits. There was so little that Adrien Agreste could talk about to Ladybug. All he had in his life was modelling – which was never as glamorous or interesting as people believed it to be – and his many classes, and Nino always said no girl liked a nerd. He had no cool passions or hobbies, and he didn't actually know any of Ladybug's!

Chat Noir was the only interesting part of his life that he also had in common with Ladybug!

"Plagg, what am I going to do?!" He wailed. "She's going to think I'm totally boring and not want anything to do with me!"

"Uh-huh," Plagg mumbled through a mouth full of cheese.

And then he went back to hopeful.

"I should just be myself, right?" he smiled sheepishly. "This is it. My chance to really show Ladybug who I am and that I'm worthy of being her partner both professionally and romantically. I can use this time to really woo her away from that other guy."

"Uh-huh," Plagg mumbled through a mouth full of cheese.

"Plagg, are you even listening to me?!" Adrien snapped irritably. "I'm trying to sort through my feelings here and you're not helping!"

"Uh-huh," Plagg mumbled through a mouth full of cheese.

"ARGH!"

And with that Adrien stormed off to his shower where he could sulk and brood in peace without Plagg's infernal cheese chewing and general unhelpfulness. This was, of course, the routine of every evening for the next few days as Adrien got more and more excited and anxious at the same time. His stomach simultaneously fluttered and twisted itself every time he thought of sitting across from Ladybug at a candlelit dinner table.

What if he accidentally spilled food down his front, and she thought he was gross? What if he accidentally said something totally boring and stupid, and she thought he was an idiot? What if he got so over excited at her presence that he accidentally revealed his identity, and she got so cross she refused to ever speak to him? What if...what if...what if...

And then as Friday finally arrived, Adrien realised he didn't know what to wear! And he had to wear something purr-fect if he wanted to win over Ladybug with his charming debonair presence and incredible wit!

Unfortunately there was absolutely nothing available in his wardrobe that would fit the occasion! His formal wear was too formal, his casual wear was too boring, and anything in between while suited his complexion perfectly (as if Father would ever let him having clashing colours in his wardrobe!) didn't feel right. He either looked too uptight or too casual, and it was driving him demented!

"PLAGG!" Adrien shouted despairingly. "I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO WEAR!"

"Really?" Plagg drawled. "Because I have literally just seen you throw out eighty seven different pair of trousers, a hundred and twenty nine different shirts, and eighteen different jackets onto the floor. And last time I counted you had way too many pairs of socks and underpants for a boy who has his clothes washed daily."

"I didn't mean it like that!" Adrien spluttered. "I meant nothing is right for tonight."

He decided to not ask why Plagg had taken to counting his underwear. There were just some things he didn't want to know!

"Kid, I don't know why you're bothering," Plagg rolled his eyes, "I mean sure, you get to have dinner with your beloved Lady," Adrien tried to ignore the sheer mockery in Plagg's tone at that particular endearment, "but you're also having dinner with your old man. Trust me on this one, nothing romantic is going to happen tonight."

Adrien almost collapsed face first at that.

He had been so besotted with the mental image of the glow from the candles dancing on Ladybug's face that he had totally forgotten that every action would be overseen by his father's cold, overbearing, gaze!

Adrien was never going to be able to woo his Lady in a frosty atmosphere like that!

His dreams, shattered within seconds!

"Urgh Plagg!" Adrien groaned. "I totally forgot about that bit."

"I figured," Plagg said dryly, "chin up, Kid. It really doesn't matter what you're wear or say, Ladybug will always like you."

Adrien brightened up hopefully at that. "Do you really think so?" he asked eagerly.

"Kid, trust me," Plagg smirked, "I know so."

And so Adrien was dressed appropriately with his button down shirt actually buttoned and a smart pair of black trousers and matching shoes instead of his usual jeans and trainers. All of which got a nod of approval from his father when Adrien arrived in time to stand by his side.

"Perfect," his Father murmured, "as always."

Adrien flushed at the compliment but had no time to reply when the doorbell rang and suddenly every nerve inside of Adrien's body jumped with anticipation. He couldn't run across the foyer and answer the door like he really wanted to as his father would never approve and instead fidgeted impatiently as he waited for Nathalie to do it for him.

"Ladybug, Sir," Nathalie said flatly as she stepped aside to reveal Ladybug in her scarlet and black glory. Ladybug looked as beautiful as ever though there was an anxious aura around her as her big blue eyes jumped round to take everything in and her cheeks were slowly growing pinker and pinker by the second. "I will go and inform the chef, Sir."

His father nodded stiffly before he smiled down at Ladybug warmly. Adrien tried to ignore the niggling feeling that something wasn't quite right about that smile. His father's smiles hadn't exactly been right since his mother vanished. The warmth never quite entered his eyes any more.

"Ladybug," his father said loudly, "welcome to my home."

"I, erm, ah, thank you, Sir," Ladybug stammered slightly, "it's an honour to be here."

Her eyes darted all over the place before they suddenly met Adrien's own green gaze, and they locked into one another as Adrien felt his own cheeks heat up. "...Hey," he mumbled shyly.

Ladybug's cheeks glowed the most radiant shade of pink. "Hi!" she squeaked back in reply.

Adrien's heart did a somersault.

This dinner, he decided happily, is going to be the best dinner ever!

MLBMLBMLBMLBMLBMLB

The dinner was the most awkward affair ever!

She always knew that the Agreste family was super-rich, after all Gabriel Agreste was one of the most successful designers in the world, but it never occurred to her that it would mean a gigantic, cold, dining room with the longest dining table ever and everyone sat so far away from one another. She couldn't quite shake off the image of poor Adrien sitting alone in this big, empty, room almost every single meal looking miserable despite the fact he was grinning radiantly at her right this very second.

To top it off she was sat between both Agreste men.

Well she says between, but Gabriel was sat at the head of the table, and Ladybug was on his right a good four or five feet at least away from him, while Adrien was a good five or more feet away further down the table. She might as well be sitting on her own!

And then the silence was deafening.

Gabriel Agreste looked content to be silent as he took a small sip of his wine and then gazed at both her and Adrien with a small, pleased, smile that unnerved Ladybug to no end while Adrien gazed at her with his beautiful glimmering eyes and the sweetest smile that made her all tongue-tied and incapable of speech.

So they all just sat there in silence.

And it really made her feel like a total lemon just sitting there.

Was it too late to ask Chat Noir to come with an emergency so she could run out and pretend this weird, awkward, evening hadn't happened?

It was just on the very tip of her tongue to shout out she needed the bathroom so she could message Chat Noir (or maybe just jump out of the bathroom window?) when Nathalie appeared with the food trolley. She looked prim, strict, and imposing as ever and Ladybug immediately swallowed her words as her eyes landed on the three modern-chic china bowls filled with a thick, sickly, yellow liquid.

"The soup course, Sir," Nathalie said flatly, "Spicy Root Vegetable Soup."

The soup course?! Ladybug thought alarmed. How many courses were there?!

Her eyes landed on the large array of different spoons, forks, and knives, and she immediately gulped.

She was totally out of her depth here.

"Spicy?!" Adrien perked up brightly.

"Root Vegetable," Gabriel replied instantly, "so you will still be kept to your diet's needs."

Adrien didn't look to bothered at that while Ladybug bristled a little. Adrien was perfect the way he was, if a little too skinny at times, he didn't need to be kept on such a strict diet all the time! "As long as it has taste," Adrien said sweetly, "I've been sick of the bland stuff chef has been serving all week."

She swore right there and then on her parents' lives that she was going to bring a cake into school each and every day for Adrien to eat.

Or one of their savoury goods, or a little bit of leftovers from Mum's Chinese cooking, or anything, just so he could savour the taste of good, hearty, food every single damn day!

"That bland stuff keeps you healthy," Gabriel said stiffly, "I won't have any son of mine collapsing because he hasn't eaten right."

"Yes, Father," Adrien murmured.

Ladybug shifted awkwardly as she glanced round wishing she was anywhere else. She was so grateful that there was a distraction in form of their starter that she immediately snatched up her spoon and shovelled the thick, yellow, liquid into her mouth.

And instantly choked.

Nathalie wasn't kidding when she said it was spicy.

The hot liquid virtually set her mouth on fire! Ladybug spluttered and coughed as she tried everything in her power to not spit the soup out on the clean, snow-white, tablecloth.

Gabriel, however, looked unruffled by the spiciness of his dish as he took small, slow, sips savouring every drop of his soup, and Adrien was happily slurping his soup away without even a drop of sweat.

She took a deep breath and reminded herself it would be rude to not eat what was put in front of her. Her parents would lecture her to death about being ungrateful and inconsiderate for not finishing her soup if they were here. So, with all her determination and stubbornness, she returned to the monstrous task of finishing her soup.

Though she was probably so flushed and sweaty now that she'll probably be asked to leave and never come back for stinking out the Agreste dining room.

"So Ladybug," Gabriel said calmly, "what does a young woman like yourself do when she isn't saving all of Paris?"

"Oh!" Ladybug swallowed the soup hastily. Her throat blistering at the hot sensation as the thick liquid trickled down. "Erm, ah, not much really, school, homework, hanging out with friends, that sort of thing."

"I see," Gabriel's eyes flashed with something that she couldn't identify whatsoever, "so you're close to Adrien's age then?"

"I'm sorry Mr Agreste," Ladybug smiled her best, professional, smile that she usually gave to reporters and Chloe, and her father, "I can't give out details like that. My identity must remain the utmost secret."

"I understand Ladybug," Gabriel replied, "but surely you can give us some glimpse to the girl behind the mask without accidentally giving your identity away."

"I'm just like every other teenager," Ladybug said, "I go to school, I do my homework, I watch telly with my parents, I play games every weekend morning with my Dad, I hang out with my friends, and I go to bed hoping for an uneventful day."

"I don't think you're like every other teenager," Adrien piped up with another sweet smile, "I think you're extraordinary."

Ladybug blushed at that.

He's talking about Ladybug! She reminded herself with a small pinch to her leg. Not Marinette, his friend!

Yet the reminder did nothing for the palpitations her heart had or the squirmy, happy, feeling in her stomach, or the burning sensation on her cheeks.

Though arguably that could also be from the soup at this point.

She hastily took several more gulps to avoid having to stutter and stammer like the incoherent mess she truly was.

"I agree with my son," Gabriel said, "you are quite an extraordinary young lady to take on such a dangerous burden on your shoulders."

"Ah, well," Ladybug said awkwardly, "I really couldn't do it without Chat Noir."

"So modest as well," Gabriel murmured, "tell me, Ladybug, do you have any aspirations for the future? You're surely not planning to fight Hawk Moth for the rest of your life."

"I certainly hope not!" Ladybug exclaimed. "That would be awful if that was the case! I can't imagine my future employers would be happy if I arrived late or skipped out early to deal with an Akuma attack!"

"Certainly not," Gabriel agreed, "I, too, hope that Hawk Moth will not impede on your adult life like he already has on your childhood. You deserve to go to succeed in your classes without such hindrance."

Ladybug smiled as she took several more sips of the soup. It was a little cooler now and a bit more bearable to swallow though the spices and chilli were certainly destroying what was left of her taste buds on her tongue. "I can't wait for that day," she admitted, "it would be nice to go back to the way things were."

"But...but...but..." Adrien stammered out as a yawn suddenly overtook him, "surely you don't hate being Ladybug that much?!"

"Being Ladybug as taught me a lot," she said quietly, "I have learnt to be a stronger, more confident, and better person for it. I have done things I never would have done if I never became Ladybug, I have seen new sides of people I never believed existed, and I have made friends I would never have had without being Ladybug, I can never regret or hate that...but I want to be able to spend a day with my best friend without having to lie and run away, I want to be able to go to class on time and not make up embarrassing excuses to run right back out, and I want to have a moment with the boy I like without an Akuma ruining it."

"I am sure," Gabriel said silkily, "that you will get your wish very soon Ladybug. You have done such good work already."

"Thank you," she murmured as she took another sip of her soup. "What about you, Mr Agreste?" she asked eagerly. "Have you got any aspirations for your upcoming line?"

"Oh," Gabriel smiled, "merely that it surpasses my last line in terms of success and profit. Are you interested in fashion, Ladybug?"

"Actually yes," Ladybug flushed, "I hope to design my own line one day. In fact," she added shyly, "you're actually one of my id-"

THUMP!

Ladybug whirled round to see, much to her everlasting horror, that Adrien had fallen asleep face first into his bowl of soup.

Good Lord was she really that boring?!

"A-A-Adrien!" she cried out anxiously as she scrambled out of her seat. "Are you okay? What hap..."

It suddenly overcame her like a strong Akuma spell. Her legs suddenly felt as if they were made from iron as she could barely move them and her whole body crumpled on itself as she doubled over the table. Black spots whirled across her eyes as the dinning room bent and unfolded itself before her.

She was suddenly on the brink of sleep itself.

"Wha...?" she mumbled uncertainly.

"Interesting," Gabriel observed, "your transformation appears to protect you from being immediately effected by the sedatives. However I did ask Nathalie to ensure you had an extra large dosage and it appears to be working now."

"You..." Ladybug slurred as her knees gave out and the only thing keeping her at all upright was her arms desperately clutching the dining table. "...why?"

"Because," Gabriel purred, "my Akumas were getting me nowhere."

Ladybug's eyes widened at the revelation but before it could sink in or she could say something, the dark spots got bigger and bigger as they obscured Gabriel's victorious smirk from view...

...And Ladybug tumbled into a deep, dark, void of unconsciousness.