I am sorry for the delay in updating this story. I'm currently doing an accelerated MBA program and have unfortunately had to focus on writing about economics and accounting lately rather than this. Writing fanfiction is of course objectively better so I'm glad to be able to return...

After her first visit, Marinette had been caught off guard by how to interact with Adrien and her other friends the next time she saw them. Not this time. She was going to be ready. At least, that's what she told herself. The benefit from her most recent visit was that it had been on a Saturday night, meaning she had an entire day to recover mentally and prepare. She had also been able to text Alya consistently throughout the next day, allowing her to feel more normal about any interactions with her best friend. Sure, she felt guilty about keeping more secrets, but at least she didn't have to think up any on the spot cover stories for why she was in a good mood.

And this was not only a good mood, it was the best damn mood Marinette had been in since becoming the guardian. After getting back from Adrien's she hadn't been able to fall asleep for hours. She just laid on her bed grinning and occasionally responded to Tikki's lecture about responsibility. The Kwami had not been pleased with the idea of secret date nights, but did at least acknowledge that Marinette had been cautious in her conversation with Adrien if nothing else. While Tikki admitted she couldn't stop the two teens from having more dates, she did drive home the importance of maintaining that caution in all future conversations. Marinette had hummed her agreement, her mind more focused on what Adrien might plan for their first official date than on what Tikki was saying.

She and Adrien had agreed on a Friday night date so as not to feel rushed on a school night. Marinette had to laugh at how one of her big fears of going on a date with Adrien used to be how to explain her absence if an Akuma attack happened in the middle of it. I guess the benefit of wearing spots to our first date is he'll understand why I have to run off without being offended or figuring out my identity, she thought with a giggle, though it is disappointing that I won't be able to put together a nice outfit like I'd always imagined.

She was currently sitting next to Alya in the library, pretending to study almost as much as she was pretending she didn't have a date scheduled with the blonde boy across the table from her. She had spent much of yesterday developing all manner of reasons for being in a good mood and excuses for not paying attention to her surroundings, and it had paid off. No one seemed to think anything was up. Of course, it also helped that they were too busy alternating between complaining at the amount of history homework that had been assigned and groaning at the history-based puns that Adrien was firing off to notice that Marinette had been reading the same page of her book for the past twenty minutes.

"I swear, dude," Nino said with a grimace, "if you say one more terrible pun while I'm researching for this essay on the founding of the Fifth Republic we are no longer best friends."

Adrien gave Nino an over the top offended look before saying in a mock-hurt tone, "Terrible puns? I can't believe you have De Gaulle to say that to my face."

Alya sunk her head into her hands and Nino shot Adrien a dirty look. "That's it. We're done forever. Marinette, tell Adrien that he has forfeited his best friend privileges. If he wants to earn them back he can apply for the now vacant position along with everyone else."

At the mention of her name, Marinette's head popped up. She had been so busy daydreaming about Saturday night and her upcoming date this Friday that she hadn't actually been listening very closely to what the others had been saying. She quickly tried to piece together the bits that she had heard, but was coming up short.

"I'm sorry, I missed that. What is Adrien applying for?"

Alya gave a light laugh as she responded, "Girl, I haven't seen you focus so hard on schoolwork in ages. You must really be motivated to write your essay. But how could you miss Adrien's terrible puns? He's been rattling them off for almost ten minutes now."

Marinette met Adrien's eyes briefly before she turned red and quickly glanced down at the table.

"Oh I'm sure they weren't that terrible."

Alya and Nino quickly disagreed while Adrien snickered. "Maybe I shouldn't reapply to be Nino's best friend since he has no appreciation for good humor. Marinette, are you accepting applications for someone to take Alya's spot as your best friend? It would be nice to have a best friend who likes puns."

Marinette couldn't help the laugh that escaped at that comment. Oh, if only Chat Noir could hear Ladybug described as someone who likes puns. "Oh no no, I wouldn't say I like puns. I was just giving you the benefit of the doubt that yours weren't completely terrible."

Alya looked both shocked and impressed that Marinette had not only responded to Adrien in a complete sentence without stammering but had even done so with a hint of teasing sass. Of course she had no idea that the only thing Marinette was nervous about now was blowing her secret identity. Spending a Saturday night making out with the boy of your dreams could do wonders for one's self-confidence. Adrien, for his part, was delighted with the banter and feigned an over-the-top sigh of despair and flopped back in his chair dramatically.

"All the great ones are never appreciated in their time," he sighed, "though perhaps my jokes are cheesy, because I am prov-alone."

Marinette and Alya both groaned and Nino threw a wadded-up paper ball at Adrien. "I never should have given you the benefit of the doubt, Adrien," Marinette said with a grimace. "Alya and Nino were right. Your puns are terrible."

Adrien just gave a mischievous grin while Alya glanced at the clock. "I think it's pretty clear we're not going to get much more research done at this point. We should leave before the librarian kicks us out for groaning too loudly at Adrien's puns."

Nino nodded in agreement. "I'm just glad this paper is due Friday morning so we don't have to spend our weekend on it. Do you dudes want to get together Friday night to celebrate its completion?"

Marinette managed to maintain a straight face but internally she flew into a panic. I didn't prepare any excuse for why I'm going to be busy Friday! Alya's going to be able to tell I'm lying and wonder why and Adrien will probably figure out that I don't have a good excuse because I'm actually coming to see him and then Tikki will tell me I have to give up the Miraculous and then…

Her mental freak out was immediately halted by Adrien's calm response to Nino's question.

"Actually I've got a photo shoot Friday evening, but Natalie just let me know this morning that my Saturday afternoon is free, so I can join you guys then."

Nino gave Adrien a high-five and Marinette simply nodded when Alya asked if Saturday worked for her. He really saved me just now, she thought to herself as they left the library. I could kiss him for that. But not now. I'll save that for Friday...