Here's chapter 3! Enjoy!

Read on, my dudes.

-Ballet by Night

-Marinette Cheng-

Tikki had explained to Marinette the night before that she had developed a crush on Chat Noir. That couldn't be right. Marinette had never had a crush before, she was never allowed around anyone other than middle aged fashion men or Chloe. Though she couldn't shake the feeling that what Tikki said was true. Either way, she can't let her crush get in the way of battle, she can just shove her feelings down in battle. That doesn't mean she can't think about it in civilian form. Oh boy, she did.

Though, Marinette still had to get ready for school. Today was her birthday, not that anyone would care in her house. Sabine doesn't even normally come to breakfast. Marinette let out a heavy sigh and got ready. She showered, got dressed in a red and black polka dotted dress and black flats, and put up her hair and did her makeup. She grabbed her bags and headed downstairs to see the long dining table empty, a plate of food sitting out for her. Carly was standing next to it, holding a tablet which held her schedule.

"Hey Carly. Did you ask mother about my birthday party?" Marinette asked hopefully.

"She doesn't thinK it would be a good idea." Carly replied. "Your schedule today after school is Italian, fencing, and then a photoshoot. You have a 30 minute break between your fencing and the shoot, use it wisely."

Marinette ate her food quickly, running out to the car with Gorilla in it, and told him to drive to the school as quickly as possible. She just wanted to talk to Alya, not think about her mother..

-Adrien Agreste-

Marinette's been on his mind a lot lately, much to Plagg's dismay. Adrien can't get over how kind she actually is. She's nothing like Chloe! And her smile makes him want to melt. He got her a birthday present, and planned on giving it to her today. It was a charm bracelet, with the only charm being a heart. She could put the rest on later, preferably when they're dating, but that's counting our eggs before they hatch, isn't it?

Adrien hopped out of bed, basically screaming happy birthday, waking Plagg up. His mom definitely noticed him screaming happy birthday as he got ready and ran out to the car, but didn't say anything oddly.

As soon as he had parked and made it to the school, Nino ran over to him.

"Got the present? She's gonna love it!" Nino exclaimed.

"I hope so..." Adrien says wistfully.

They squatted behind the stairs and watched Marinette get out of her car, and wave as it drove away. She walked with her head down, looking sad about something. It was her birthday, why was she sad?

"You can do it!" Nino says, urging Adrien.

"I.. Can't do it!" Adrien cried out.

"No no, no backing out now!" Nino says, pushing Adrien out in front of Marinette, who was talking to Alya.

"Hi." She said sweetly.

"Hey. I gift you a made... I got gift you to..." Adrien stuttered, hearing Nino facepalm.

"Put of my way, doof!" Chloe says, casually pushing Adrien back towards Nino.

"Hey Chloe... ?" Marinette looked confused.

"Hey, best friend. No need to hang out with those dorks, you have me!" Chloe exclaimed.

"They're not dorks." Adrien's heart fluttered.

"Whatever." Chloe retorted.

"Okay..."

"What was he doing?" Chloe asked, agitated.

"I think he was trying to give me a gift for my birthday." Marinette says, looking over at him scrambled on the floor. She smiled apologetically.

"Oh. Did you get my present?" Chloe asked.

"Not that I know of." She smiled.

"Ugh! These darn delivery guys! Those slackers! It was probably too heavy to carry, so they had to go back and get another guy!" Chloe stormed away. Marinette shrugged and walked to class.

"She stood up for us!" Adrien sighed, lovesick.

"But didn't get your gift!" Nino reminded.

"We can just deliver it to her house after school!" Nino reminded.

"Good idea." Adrien replied. The two walked to class.

-Marinette Cheng-

Class went by uneventfully. The lunch bell rang and the students filed out.

"Hey Marinete, are you having a birthday party?" Nino asked.

"No." Marinette responded.

"Why? You're fifteen, you deserve a party." Nino rebutted.

"I've never had a party. My mom never let me." Marinette says, standing up and walking over to her locker.

"What? Who never has a birthday party?" Nino asks. Alya and Adrien shrug.

The rest of the schoolday went by uneventfully, only Nino was angry about Marinette's lack of party.

She quickly headed home to get ready for one of her mother's business meetings, until she heard the doorbell ring. It was Nino.

"Hey dudette, I want to speak to your madre." Nino says.

"Probably isn't the best idea..." Marinette replies, but Sabine walks down the stairs behind her.

"Narinette, who is this?" Sabine asks.

"Mother, this is my friend, Nino." Marinette replied, stepping out of the way.

"Hello du- I mean ma'am. I've just come to try to convince you to give Marinette a party. She deserves it!" Nino claims.

"I think I know what's best for my daughter. You may take your leave." Sabine says, shutting the door behind Nino.

"I'm sorry, he just came..." Marinette started.

"No need, Marinette. Go to your room, Nino isn't welcome here until further notice." Sabine replied, sending Marinette away.

-Adrien Agreste-

I walked in the park with Alya, talking about what just happened at Marinette's house earlier. He had dropped off his present, and forgot to sign it. Adrien panicked but there was nothing he could do about it. Adrien was talking about how Marinette was going to be with Nathanael or something, but abruptly stopped when they say an Akuma floating in front of them, blowing bubbles.

"Nino?" Alya asked, incredulous. Adrien pulled Alya out of the way and ran to another alley to transform. Chat ran out of the alley, running towards the Akuma, who was blowing bubbles at adults, capturing them and floating them into the sky. Chat yelled when he saw his parents floating too.

"Chat! Just in time, I'm sure. Now, be a good kitty and come to Marinette's party I'm throwing her. Without stick in the mud Sabine, she can have a true birthday party!" Bubbler laughed, flying over to the Cheng mansion.

Chat vaulted his way over too, formulating a plan for when Ladybug shows up.

-Marinette Cheng-

Bubbler flew into Marinette's room. She let out a gasp and ran to her handbag, getting ready to transform.

"Sabine is gone, kids reign supreme! Sabine's gone, you can have your party! Everyone is already here, in the backyard." Bubbler informed, flying out the window.

"Tikki, I have to play along, don't I?" Marinette asked, Tikki flying out of her bag.

"I'm afraid so. But the second you can get away, transform." Tikki replied, diving back into her purse.

Marinette walked outside to where the party was, where Bubbler was mixing tracks and people were looking in a trance, almost. No one looked truly happy to be here other than Nathanael and Chloe. Marinette walked through the party, stopping at the snack table to slide some cookies into her purse for Tikki. Suddenly, a slow song came on at Nathanael's request, and everyone dully paired up with each other. Nathanael walked over to her and held out his hand.

"A dance, Mari?" Nathanael asked.

"I... Sure." Marinette said, no emotion in her voice.

Nathanael led her around the floor, his hand trailing down rather close, but she stopped him every time. Perv. Why did she have to be dancing with Nath? Why couldn't she dance with.. anyone else.

The slow song ended quickly, and Marinette excused herself to the bathroom to transform.

-Adrien Agreste-

Chat was seething. Nathanael not only slow danced, but tried to grope, the love of his freaking life! Marinette ran away after, so maybe that meant that she didn't like it. Either way, there was an Akuma to be dealt with. Chat jumped down from the roof he was watching from, and smacked Bubbler in the face with his baton.

"Kitty, play nice," a voice said behind him. Ladybug. She swung over to Bubbler, stopping his track. He punched her, sending her into a wall. Chat growled.

"The Akuma! It's in the bubble wand!" Ladybug yelled, picking herself back up.

Chat punched Bubbler again, softer this time (he was his best friend), leaving him dazed enough to grab the wand and throw it to Ladybug.

She purified it, crumbling to the ground quietly. Chat ran over, but she brushed him off.

"I'm fine. Just bruised..." Ladybug says, standing up and swinging away.

"Well, now there's an actual party to finish up!" Chat mumbled to himself.

-Marinette Cheng-

She detransformed in a random empty room, and walked back outside. She had seen everyone leaving her backyard, looking relieved to leave. Marinette sighed. Even if they were forced, it would've been fun to have an actual party. But she knew they wanted to go home, and that a rich kid's party isn't about the kid, it's about what the kid will give you. And that would be nothing from Marinette.

Adrien, Alya, and Nino came walking over to her and wished her Happy Birthday, then leaving themselves.

Marinette finished cleaning up the mess, and walked back into the house. Carly looked sympathetic (if she could even show emotion). She handed me a small gift wrapped box, claiming it was from Sabine. She opened the box, and there was a charm bracelet with a small heart on it. It was beautiful. There were small diamonds on the heart, making it glisten.

"Thank you." Marinette whispered.