This is the first of my stories that takes into account Season 4 (what I've seen of it so far) and Shanghai. Hope you enjoy! I do not own MLB.

It was the end of another successful akuma battle. Ladybug beamed as she bumped fists with her partner.

'Pound it!'

Cat Noir smiled his brilliant smile at her.

'You were wonderful as always, m'lady.'

'Not so bad yourself, Kitty.'

She stared up into his mesmerising green eyes, and then, without warning, he snatched her up in his arms and began to kiss her passionately. She returned the kiss with equal enthusiasm. If anyone was around to watch, they melted away into the background.

'I love you, Bugaboo,' he murmured as they stopped to catch their breath.

'I love you too,' she replied in a blissful daze. What could be better than this?

Marinette woke feeling hot all over, her heart pounding. Still half asleep, she pulled the covers over her head, not wanting that wonderful dream to end.

'Marinette! Wakey-wakey time!'

Since becoming Guardian, the young superhero had had no need for an alarm clock. The kwamis did a pretty good job of waking her up.

'Five more minutes…' she mumbled dreamily. Her lips were still puckering in a kissing position, and she may or may not have been imagining the bedcovers were a pair of strong arms encased in black. 'Mmm.'

'Marinette, you'll be late!' Tikki, Pollen and Mullo began to pull the bedcovers off her body. As the cold air hit her and she woke up properly, she sat bolt upright.

'Whoa…' She rubbed her eyes groggily. 'What on earth was that?'

'Sorry, but we needed to wake you up so you're on time for school,' said Tikki.

'Oh no, not you guys. I just had the weirdest dream.'

'Oooh what about?' The kwamis all crowded round.

'It was…' Marinette hesitated. 'A really weird akuma attack. The person who was akumatized kept changing into different people. And their powers kept changing too. One minute they were turning everything into sweets and chocolate because they were a kid whose parents wouldn't let them have candy. The next, they were someone who'd been fired from their job and were making everyone resign from their jobs.'

'Sounds like the stress is getting to you, Marinette,' said Wayzz.

'Yes, luckily most akuma victims only have one set of powers. And they stay the same,' added Ziggy.

'And then Cat Noir and I…well…we saved the day and everything was fine.'

'Yaaay!' Everyone flew in little circles around each other to celebrate. Marinette smiled. They were too cute. Everything she'd told them had been true, but that hadn't even been the weird part. Strange akuma attacks often showed up in her dreams - that was no big deal. But that last part...now that had never happened before. Absolutely nobody needed to know about that. Especially no blond, catsuit-wearing superheroes. Hopefully it would be an akuma-free day and she wouldn't have to face him – it would just feel a little weird and awkward. When she caught Tikki's eye, she had the feeling her kwami knew she hadn't told the full truth. But luckily she didn't press the issue.

As she got ready for school, she went over it again in her head, trying to make sense of it. She should have known it was a dream. Why had it felt so real? And so…good? He'd been kissing her and calling her Bugaboo, and she'd – enjoyed it? Why?

It's okay, she told herself as she walked to school. It was just a dream. No-one will find out.

No-one.

'Okay, girl. Spill. What's going on?'

Marinette flinched under Alya's stare.

'What…do you mean?'

'You were a million miles away in class today. I know you have that crazy crush on Adrien, but this is bad even for you. And the weird part – you weren't even looking at him.'

'What? Of…course I was.'

'Uh, no you weren't. You were staring into space. Are you feeling OK?'

'Yes…in fact I'm feline great. UHHH…I MEAN – feeling great. Feeling.'

Marinette had to stop herself clapping a hand over her mouth. Why had she made a cat pun!?

Alya's eyebrows knitted together ever so slightly.

'Oooo-kay. Well if you're sure you're…feeling alright, how about that study session at yours? After today, you could probably use it.'

'Yes. Cat's fine. THAT's fine.' She looked anywhere but at her best friend. Eventually, she made eye contact and immediately regretted it. Alya was gawping at her with an expression of smug delight.

'No way. Marinette Dupain-Cheng, are you in love with Cat-'

'Not so loud!' Marinette yelped. 'Ugh, I mean…What!? That ridiculous flirt? Nuh-uh. No way. In your dreams.' Thinking back to that morning and what she'd woken up from, she realised how ironic that sounded.

Alya just looked even more smug.

'I knew it.'

Marinette sighed in defeat.

'Okay. Maybe a tiny bit. Like, this much.' She measured a tiny amount with her thumb and finger.

Alya gave a squeal which made several people turn their heads.

'But this is perfect! You guys are meant for each other! Is it official? And I'm the first to know! Just wait until I put it on the Ladyblog. We can do an exclusive interview about…'

'Whoa, whoa, whoa. Nothing is official. I haven't even told him yet. I mean…not that there's anything to tell. It doesn't even make sense. He's not even my type! He's way too full of himself. And I'm in love with Adrien.'

'Not anymore, it seems.'

'Can we talk about this when we get home? And…is it okay if we do the study session at your place? I'm not ready for everyone to know yet.'

Alya could see how much this meant to Marinette. She knew that by everyone she meant the kwamis.

'Sure, girl. My sisters are out of the house for a few hours. Let's get over there so you can tell me everything.'

As predicted, the girls didn't end up doing very much studying.

'It only started this morning after a dream I had,' Marinette confessed. 'We were, um, you know...'

'Marinette!'

'Kissing, Alya. We were kissing.'

'I was just gonna say, girl. Those three kids you wanted to have with Adrien – is it three kittens now?'

'Alya! You're as bad as my dad. That's what he said last time.'

'Sorry.' She laughed. 'That must have been one intense kiss to shake you up this badly.'

'It was! And it just came out of nowhere. I just dreamt we battled an akuma. Or several akumas, I don't even know. And then…that!'

'It's a sign. You really do have a crush on him. Probably have for a while, you just haven't realised because you've been too busy chasing Adrien. He's going to be so happy when you tell him!'

'I dunno. I can't tell him yet. The last thing I want to do is get his hopes up and then let him down. He's one of my best friends in the whole world. I really care about him and I would never want to hurt him.'

'Now that sounds like love alright,' said Trixx.

'That's probably a wise choice,' said Tikki. 'Give it a few weeks and see if your feelings develop or change.'

'You probably think I'm ridiculous. First Adrien, then Luka, and now Cat Noir.'

Alya shrugged.

'You're a teenager. Heck, you're human. Crushes happen. Besides, you were never in love with Luka. You liked him. But you didn't love him. Am I right?'

'I…guess.'

'And with Adrien it's kind of a weird obsession. But this…this is love. You really know the guy. You've been through so much together.'

'Do I though? I mean, I know him, but at the same time I know nothing about him. Nothing about his life, his home, his family.'

'Then isn't it time you did? We know each other's identities and it works fine for us.'

'Fine, meaning you had to go undercover?'

'Well…' Alya trailed off sheepishly. 'You have a point there. But it's worth thinking about.'

'Yeah, I suppose it is.' Marinette turned to the two kwamis.

'Can you two promise not to mention this to the others?'

'We promise,' Trixx and Tikki said.

'Ugh, imagine what Plagg would say,' Marinette shuddered. 'He'd find it hilarious.'

'He'd probably compare the whole situation to cheese in some way,' said Trixx, 'And then say how disgusting love is compared to Camembert.'

'Then he'd tell you to ask the boy out already and have done with this whole thing,' Tikki giggled. 'Not that I agree, of course. Slow and steady is the best way to go.'

'I don't think there'd even be any need to ask him out. He's told me he's in love with me enough times. I'd just have to run up to him and go hey, I'm yours!'

They all laughed.

'Now I'd love to talk about this all day,' said Alya, 'But this Geography assignment isn't going to write itself.'

'You're right. Let's get to it.'

That night, Marinette's dream took on a similar theme to the night before. There was no passionate kiss this time, instead they were sitting on a rooftop, his arm round her shoulder, gazing out over a moonlit Paris.

'You sure know how to keep me waiting, m'lady,' he said.

'Sorry, my Kitty. I broke your heart for such a long time. But I know now that I love you. How could I have been so blind?'

She nestled her head into his shoulder and he purred contentedly. She relished the vibrations and the warmth from his body spreading through hers.

'Now you really are my Lady.'

Marinette sighed into her pillow. She wasn't surprised at this point. Part of her had thought it would just be a one-off thing that she'd look back on and laugh about. Was it a coincidence that it had happened twice now? Or had she really given in to what her partner called 'the inevitable'?

She slid down from her bed. It was Saturday and there was no school to worry about. The kwamis were all snoozing away on their various cushions and pillows. She got dressed, taking her time, and when Tikki had woken up, decided a refreshing walk along the banks of the Seine would help clear her head.

She was wrong.

Andre the ice-cream maker was pushing his cart along the bridge when he spotted her. His face lit up.

'Pretty Marinette! So lovely to see you, my dear. But what is this? Something has changed.'

'Ch-changed? What do you mean, Andre?'

'Your heart has been pulled in a different direction. Very different. But also very similar. I have just the combination for you.'

'I don't know what you mean,' she babbled, knowing perfectly well what he meant. But what did he mean by similar?

Andre handed her an ice-cream cone with three distinct colours.

'Blackberry ice cream with mint for his eyes. Banana for his hair, and his strong disguise.'

Marinette's stomach turned over as she took the ice-cream. It didn't look quite like it had last time. Strong disguise… Now where had she heard that before? She was very glad nobody was around to see this. As she took a lick of the yellow flavour, she had a sudden flashback of a ridiculous banana costume a certain feline had once used to disguise himself. Bananoir. Suddenly, she burst out laughing. How funny it was that he'd ended up wearing that while she'd been wearing nearly every single Miraculous at once. And they'd still been able to work perfectly as a team. Not to mention the time he'd ridden through Paris on a scooter wearing it. It hadn't seemed that funny at the time when they'd been fleeing from that sentimonster, but now it seemed hilarious.

'Thanks, Andre. This is delicious. Who would have thought those flavours would go so well together?'

'Indeed, sweet Marinette. When love is burning in your heart, Andre knows it from the start.'

'You certainly do,' the young girl said under her breath as she walked away, before giving Tikki a mouthful of green minty goodness, finishing the rest of the ice-cream and licking her lips.

When Marinette arrived home about an hour later, her father was waiting in the bakery for her.

'Marinette,' he called as he handed a customer their baguette. 'Can you do a few deliveries for me? Your mother or I would do it, but you know how busy we are on Saturdays.'

'Sure, Papa.'

'Great. Your mother is just out back, she'll show you.'

Marinette headed round to the back of the shop where Sabine was loading some boxes onto the back of a delivery bike.

'There you are. Did your father tell you about these?'

'He sure did! Don't worry. You can count on me.'

'Thanks, sweetie. As you can see from the labels, these are for the Chamacks, these are for the Couffaines and these are for the Lahiffes.'

'No problem. I'll get them delivered in no time.'

Marinette checked her phone before hopping on the bike. Still no more akuma alerts. Hopefully it would stay that way.

The first couple of deliveries were successful. Flying through the streets pedalling with all her might helped alleviate some of the butterflies that had taken up residence in her stomach since the previous morning. She dropped off macarons and bread at the Chamacks' house, stopped by the Liberty and said a quick hello to Juleka and Luka who were having a guitar lesson from Jagged, and set off for Nino's house.

She was just beginning to think about how successful the day had been when something dark streaked in front of her. A cat! It was a black cat – a real black cat. On instinct, Marinette swerved. As she did, the box of pastries slid off and hit the ground with a thump. She screamed as she lost her balance, put a foot down and felt her ankle give a nasty twist. Letting out a moan of pain, she collapsed off the bike, catching herself with her hands and grazing them on the floor.

'Ughh. What a disaster.'

Adrien had just shaken off his bodyguard and was sneaking down a side street when he witnessed Marinette's accident from the shadows. His first instinct was to run and help her immediately, but something stopped him in his tracks. It would be a lot easier to help with superpowers. There were a lot of people around and he'd rather not be photographed with Marinette again in case the press started gossiping about her, saying she was his girlfriend like last time. Nor did he want the Gorilla to find him and take him home. And after all, she was a Parisian who needed his help…

'Plagg, Claws Out!'

'Are you all right, Miss?'

A concerned lady with a baby had approached, as well as a few on-lookers who had gathered. Marinette recognised them as baby August and his mother.

'Oh…yes. I think I'll be OK – ow!' Marinette was proven wrong as she tried to stand on her injured ankle only for it to give way beneath her.

'Oh, dear. That looks painful. Perhaps you should see a doctor.'

'I could take you,' offered a young man with a motorcycle.

'I could drive you,' offered an old lady, gesturing to her little old car.

'No need for that, Ladies and Gentlemen,' came a very familiar voice. It was the voice she'd been hearing in her dreams the past two nights. 'I'm here.'

Marinette swallowed. She looked up into a pair of gorgeous green eyes and her heart did that little dance in her chest which was usually reserved for a different blond, green-eyed boy.

'Superhero at your service, Marinette,' he said with an elaborate bow and a wink. Her insides began to tie themselves in knots as he dropped to a cat-like crouch next to her. What were the odds of this happening? It was just her luck. She was not prepared to have those lips so close to her face. They looked so soft, and so kissable…Snap out of it, she told herself. Trying to ignore the flashbacks to that particular dream, she said…

'Um…hi, Cat Noir. That's kind of you to help me.'

Good, so her voice was still working. She hadn't gone into Adrien-crush-mode and started tripping over her words. That was a huge relief. Paris would be doomed if its heroine went to pieces every time she saw her partner.

'Just doing my duty, Marinette. Now, that looked like a nasty fall. Do you need me to take you to the hospital?'

'Oh, no, um…I think my ankle's just twisted. If I go home and rest it should be fine.'

'If you're sure, then I'll take you home. Then you can rest your ankle and bandage up those hands of yours.'

'I'd really appreciate that, thank you.' As she talked with him, the butterflies started melting away.

'We'll have to do something about this bike and this delivery box. I can't bring them and you at the same time. I'm pretty awesome, but not that awesome.'

'Yes you are. You're the best in the whole world,' she said under her breath, then shifted awkwardly, hoping his enhanced hearing hadn't picked that up.

'Maybe I'd better call Ladybug.' He reached for his baton.

'No!' Marinette exclaimed. 'Uhh…I mean…I don't want to bother her with this.'

'She won't mind. She loves to help people. She's so kind and caring like that.' His eyes took on a dreamy expression, reminding her that she wasn't the only lovesick one.

'That's really sweet. But I don't think it's necessary. You can use this to secure the bike.' She handed him a chain from inside her purse, being careful to keep Tikki hidden. 'And we can deliver the pastries together.'

'Excellent idea. You really do think of everything, Marinette.' He did as she said, securing the bike to a metal bike stand and waving goodbye to the dispersing crowd. Then he came back and held out his arms. 'May I?'

'Yes, of course.' As he gently lifted her up, she thought about how crazy it was that she'd once pretended to be in love with him. And now she really was. Well, maybe. Just a little bit. Okay, a lot.

It felt wonderful flying through the streets of Paris being held by him. It was completely different to running by his side as Ladybug. She relaxed into his arms, feeling safe and protected, completely at ease. How could she have dreamed of feeling nervous or uncomfortable around him?

The Lahiffes were surprised to have their pastries delivered by a superhero carrying an injured Marinette in his arms. Nino's parents let them in, let Marinette wash her hands and bandage them up, and made Cat Noir promise to take her home straight away. Which he did.

All the heads in the bakery turned as they entered. Sabine looked up from the counter and rushed over.

'Oh, Marinette! What have you done this time?'

'I fell off the bike,' she explained as he set her on her feet. 'And I twisted my ankle.'

'She swerved to avoid hitting a black cat,' he added. 'A different black cat.'

'Oh, thank you, Cat Noir. What would we do without you?'

'Always a pleasure, Mrs Dupain-Cheng.'

Tom Dupain emerged from the back room.

'Ah! I thought I heard something about a black cat.'

'Yes, dear,' said Sabine. 'Marinette injured her ankle and Cat Noir found her and brought her home.'

Tom clapped Cat Noir on the shoulder, making his knees buckle.

'Thank you, son. You must take some of our macarons as a thank you for saving Marinette.'

Marinette rolled her eyes. Her parents were acting as if he'd pulled her from a burning building or something. Not that she was complaining. He did save her from getting hit by akumas on a regular basis. She'd happily give him a lifetime supply of pastries if she could. If or when they revealed their identities, that would be high up on her to-do list.

'It's such a relief you were there at the right time,' said Sabine.

'Oh, yes. I saw that Marinette had dropped her bread and I…rose to the occasion.' He chuckled at his own joke.

Marinette raised her eyebrows.

'Oh really? Because there were actually cinnamon buns in there.'

'Yep. I knew that of course.' He tapped his nose. 'When I saw you fall, I knew I could never dessert you.'

Marinette groaned.

'Sorry. I know my jokes are a bit much sometimes.'

'Oh, no. Don't stop now. You're on a roll.'

This time, they both laughed. Marinette's parents exchanged a knowing smile. The chemistry between the two was obvious. It wasn't anywhere near as awkward as the time their daughter had pretended to be in love with Cat Noir.

'You two are putting me to shame with those jokes,' said Tom. 'Now, how about those macarons?'

Cat Noir breathed in all the wonderful scents of the Dupain-Cheng bakery. His powerful sense of smell had picked up the scent of his favourite passion fruit macarons, which made his mouth water. Remembering how Marinette had given him one of these as Adrien, knowing it was his favourite, he decided not to risk it and picked his second favourite flavour, the one which reminded him of his Lady.

'Could I have some of the strawberry ones please?'

'Of course.' Sabine handed him a box. He opened it and tried one. The sweet flavour danced over his taste buds.

'Mmm. Thanks. I'll share these with Ladybug, too.'

Marinette giggled.

'Oh, and while I'm here, I don't suppose you have any cheese bread?' He turned to Marinette to explain. 'My kwami is crazy about cheese. If I came to a bakery with getting him anything he'd probably cataclysm me.'

'He sounds like a very kneady kwami,' Marinette replied with a grin. 'Get it? Kneady?'

He laughed.

'Very good. He's very kneady.'

'Of course we do, son,' Tom replied, heaving a large box of cheese bread into the boy's arms. 'I don't know what a kwami is, but anything for you, Cat Noir. You and Ladybug have done a lot for this family, and for the city. It's the least we can do.'

'Thanks, Mr Dupain. I'd better get going and get that bike back to you. And Marinette, I'll see you next time you need a knight in shining leather.' He threw her a charming wink and her insides promptly turned into mush.

'See you next time, Cat Noir.'