Juleka was freaking out all day at School. Rose's birthday was apparently tomorrow, and she had absolutely no idea what to get her, her friends had all assured her that Rose would be happy with anything she gave her but that didn't help much. Something Adrien understood pretty well, sure, Rose would be grateful regardless but of course Juleka still wanted the gift to be perfect. Who better to help out his fellow Feline than Chat Noir? Paris's recently self-appointed love master!

He'd accidentally overheard her mentioning she was going to go looking after school for something and decided to try and help out. He wasn't really making an attempt to hide himself and there seemed to be a few people who noticed him including Juleka.

"Chat Noir? Do you need something? Is there an akuma?" Even if there was, she wasn't sure why he'd go to her? she couldn't help anymore. Everyone in Paris knew Hawkmoth had all but two of the miraculous.

"No Akuma I just heard your S.O.S" Chat spoke dramatically much to Juleka's confusion.

"I didn't send any S.O.S" She replied simply though Chat Noir simply shook his head in response.

"No, the S.O.S" Chat paused, putting his hand over his chest. "From your heart" Chat clenched his fist over his heart as he finished in a dramatic tone.

Juleka didn't really get it, but this seemed like something Rose would really like she enjoyed Romantic stuff.

"So… uh you're here to help me?" She replied, sounding pretty unsure of herself or what was even happening right now.

"Bingo, a little birdie tells me you're trying to find the purrfect gift for one Rose Lavillant" Chat confirmed in a confident tone. Which left the young girl with more questions than answers.

Why was he helping her? How did he know Rose? Did he have the slightest idea what he was talking about? All valid concerns that were swept aside outweighed by her desire to find the right gift.

"Well, I appreciate that, but i'm not sure how much help you'll be, I know she'd be happy with whatever I give her but just buying something makes it seem like I don't care" Juleka's sighed the way she spoke was almost always kind of gloomy, but she seemed genuinely distressed.

"Well, if you don't want to buy something maybe you could try making something for her yourself?" Chat suggested though he assumed she would have already thought of that.

"Sure, I would if I had any talent for making things" Juleka replied in a defeatist tone, but Chat wasn't about to give up on her.

"Perhaps not but you've got plenty of friends and you know her best there's gotta be something you could make for her." Chat prompted in his usual chirpy tone trying to get Juleka to come up with something.

"Well, how about a Strawberry Cheesecake? I remember her mentioning it was her favourite dessert, I'm sure Marinette would be willing to show me how it's done" Juleka suggested, Chat simply nodded in response.

"Sounds like a good Idea, I'm sure she'll love it, but I should probably head back glad to be of assistance" Chat seemed a little tense at the mention of Marinette, things we're still a little awkward between them.

"Wait, why did you decide to help me?" Juleka interrupted Chat just as he was about to leave.

"Well…" Chat paused for dramatic effect "a love master has to do all they can to help those in love" Chat Noir flashed a mischievous smile and before Juleka could say anything else he had vaulted away into the city; it wasn't exactly fitting for a superhero to run away but he couldn't exactly cataclysm the tension between him and Marinette best he wasn't there for the moment.

—

Juleka had headed to Marinette's place as soon as she could though she'd been sure to call ahead to make sure it was okay, Marinette hadn't expected Juleka of all people to ask for help with baking, but she didn't have anything else planned for today and if Juleka needed her help making something for Rose's birthday of course she'd be willing to assist her.

"So, you ready to get started?" Marinette asked as she tied an apron around her waist, they were using the kitchen in the house as Tom and Sabine were busy in the bakery.

"Uh yeah could you just talk me through it? It wouldn't really count as me making it for Rose if you did everything" She knew Marinette liked to help but she hoped she understood.

"Of course, I hereby promise that I will not do anything but give you advice, unless you set the kitchen on fire" Marinette joked but if she saw the look on Juleka's face she might've been concerned. "First things first to make the crust you'll need to mix the biscuit crumbs together with the butter and the sugar" Marinette explained simply before looking back to see Juleka trying to mix the ingredients without melting the butter first, this would be harder than she thought.

They had to start again.

After making sure the butter was melted this time Marinette explained the method step by step and Juleka seemed to be doing alright.

"I'm glad you managed to think of something to give her" Marinette spoke absentmindedly as she watched Juleka work her eyes scanning for any mistakes no matter how small.

"Well, I wouldn't have come up with it if it wasn't for Chat Noir, he just told me I should get a little help from people I know" Juleka replied a little quieter then she intended she was focused on making her strawberry puree.

"Sounds like it worked" Marinette responded before realising who she said had given her the advice. "WAIT CHAT NOIR!? Why did you ask him?" Marinette asked in a puzzled tone, almost causing Juleka to knock over the cream.

"I didn't he approached me, apparently he heard I was having trouble and decided on a whim to help, he was calling himself a love expert or maybe it was love master?" Juleka was trying to focus on the conversation, but she was also trying to figure out how she was supposed to bloom gelatin or what that even meant for that matter.

"That sounds about right for him" maybe it's because she was purple tigress? Marinette thought to herself though it could very Well just be Chat's good nature.

"Do you know him well?" Juleka was a little surprised to hear that, but Marinette had probably hung out with the catsuit clad superhero more than any of them.

"Well yeah I do, I actually kind of had a crush on him, but he shot me down. He said it wouldn't be right for him to date a fan" There was a hint of sadness to her tone, but she was a little happy that Chat would consider something like that, even if he wanted to, he knew it was wrong and stopped.

"Sorry to hear that" Juleka's tone was as flat as ever, but Marinette could tell she meant what she said. She looked back to see Juleka had made a lot of progress; she was already mixing the strawberries into the filling as well as the gelatin.

"Alright your nearly done you just need to pour the filling into the crust, put it in the fridge for an hour or two and, barring any toppings you might want to put on, you're done" Marinette beamed patting Juleka on the back who hadn't expected it nearly dropping the cake.

They had a little time to kill so Marinette and Juleka watched TV until the cake was ready. Juleka topped it with a few different types of berries before Marinette gave her a box to take it home in. She just hoped Rose would like it.

—

Unfortunately, Rose's Birthday happened to fall on a Thursday meaning they'd spend most of it in school Juleka had arranged to meet up with Rose after school at a cafe to give her the gift and curious to see how it went Marinette asked if she could come along, she'd keep her distance of course, Juleka couldn't think of a reason to disagree, so she let Marinette come as thanks for yesterday.

Unbeknownst to Marinette a certain Feline was following at a distance eager to see if his advice would help, he still hadn't noticed Marinette as he was a little too focused on Juleka.

"Happy Birthday or whatever." Juleka handed Rose the box in her usual deadpan tone though that was something Rose found endearing. She opened the box and took a look inside, A pink cheesecake, topped with mixed berries. "I made it myself, well Marinette talked me through it, I hope you like it"

Rose took out her fork and tried the dessert, it was to die for, smooth, creamy, sweet with a burst of freshness from the berries that cut the richness of the filling perfectly. "You did a great job Jule, this is great!" Rose exclaimed much to Juleka's relief she had been agonising over whether this was a good idea or not all night.

"I'm glad you like it," Juleka said simply before Rose held out the fork to her.

"Say Ah." Rose prompted, she was hesitant she found the idea of Rose feeding her a little embarrassing but there was no use arguing with her, you wouldn't guess it from looking at her, but Rose was a difficult girl to argue with.

Rose was right though; she'd never made anything this good before she'd have to make it again herself sometime. "No Outside Food!" One of the serving staff at the cafe interjected and Rose put the cake away, still Juleka was glad she'd got to see Rose try it.

Chat didn't see the point of sticking around much longer, things seemed to have turned out well, another win for the love master, albeit with an assist from Marinette speaking of whom…

"Chat Noir? What are you doing here?" Chat froze in place Marinette had seen him and his brain just stalled.

"Guiding others to a treasure I cannot possess" Chat answered in a dramatic, mysterious tone before vaulting away, mentally kicking himself he didn't have the guts to talk to her and just deflected with a joke.

So, Rose x Juleka is a pretty universal OTP right? I think it's pretty cute hope you enjoyed.