Four years later...

Juleka had hired a new designer. Luka knew she really didn't like the one they had used for this past tour, but he thought they would interview a few people and see their work not just take someone's recommendation. Although, he mused, the recommendation did come from Penny, and was someone Jagged Stone had used in the past, if Juleka's information was correct.

His sister had met with the woman and hired her on the spot, without even consulting Luka. That meant she was either extremely talented or extraordinarily beautiful. His sister was a sucker for a beautiful woman, and her tastes had always run to the delicate, ephemeral types. Part of him was glad that he'd always preferred strong women, and that they'd never fallen for the same person.

The first thing that caught his eye as he walked past the glass window of the studio's conference room was the designer's ass. She had her back to the door, one foot planted firmly on the ground, and the other, kneeling in a conference room chair. She was bent over the table, focused on her work, body moving along to the beat of music he couldn't hear, due to the soundproofing in all the rooms in the studio's office suites.

He stared a little longer than was polite, before taking in the rest of her. Grey pencil skirt that fit her perfectly over grey stockings with little pink hearts in a line up the back. Her shoes had been discarded, as she was barefoot, and she'd shucked her grey and pink-lined jacket and placed it over the back of the chair she knelt on. Her sleeveless shirt was perfectly tailored and pale pink, accentuating her muscular arms. His eyes traveled up her long slender neck to the chignon of dark hair at the base of her skull.

Over the top of her head, his eyes met his sister's that sparkled with amusement, as a smirk played across her face. She gestured to the pictures that sat on easels around the room, ideas, he realized, that featured some of the things he wanted for their next album. His jaw dropped open. The artwork itself was stunning, and this designer had almost perfectly captured the mood he'd been hoping to set with the tracks.

Completely forgetting what he had been planning on doing, he decided he needed to introduce himself to the new designer, both to compliment her work, and to learn her name. He was only mildly surprised when he opened the door and heard his own voice coming at him from Juleka's computer; one of the songs they'd just recorded for their newest album. The designer was completely focused, not even flinching as he stepped through the door.

As Luka stepped closer, leaning closer as he glanced down at her drawing tablet, catching a glimpse of swirled teal, silver and purple, before the woman in front of him gasped and straightened, almost catching him in the chin with the top of her head. He stepped back, an apology on his lips, as she turned, and looked up at him with luminous blue eyes. Now he understood why his sister had hired her on the spot. It wasn't her beauty, or her talent, although she had both in spades, it was because she was an old friend. A soft smile played at the corners of his lips as a pink blush colored her cheeks, and he let it wash over his face as he spoke. "Hello, Marinette."

"L-luka! Hi!" She smiled up at him and gestured around the room. "Juleka said to bring along a few ideas, but I, uh, got a little carried away after listening to some of the songs from the new album. Do any of them come close? I didn't know what the name of your album was going to be, so I went with a few of the different moods the songs evoked."

Luka chuckled. "All of them are great, actually. I like how you've highlighted different songs. He pointed at several of the pieces, naming the songs that went along with them. "Like the River. Swirls of Scarlet. Heartless. I'm not sure about that one, though." He pointed to a fourth piece, a little apart from the others. "It's stunning, and it definitely calls to me, but I'm not sure what song inspired it."

"That's because I drew that one before I heard any of your songs. It's you. The two of you. Warm memories and prior albums. It's just you guys." The blush returned to Marinette's cheeks as she looked at him.

Juleka grinned at him. "That's the one that she showed me when I met with her. Just one of the reasons I hired her."

Marinette smiled at Juleka. "I'm so glad you called me! I'm excited to work with you guys on this project." She looked shyly at Luka. "If you agree, of course."

He threw up his hands. "Don't look at me, Juleka already hired you."

"On the condition that you agreed."

"And seeing that it's you, and your work is stunning, how could I disagree?"

Breaking into a sunny smile, Marinette threw her arms around Luka enveloping him in a hug. Stunned, he was a little slow to react, and by the time that he did, Marinette was already pulling away. "I'm sorry. That wasn't very professional, was it? I'm just so excited!"

Luka just smiled at her, touching her shoulder, and basking in her exuberance. "Don't worry about it, Marinette. Don't change who you are for anyone." Her face split wide in a smile, and she reached out as if to hug him again, but stopped herself. He finished the motion for her, pulling her close for a brief hug, before stepping back. "Welcome to the team."

Reaching into her bag, Marinette pulled out her sketchbook, placing it on the table, showing the Couffaines ideas for stage outfits that highlighted their personalities. Juleka's was all velvet and black lace with accents of electric purple and topped with a purple velvet top hat. Her waistcoat was cut low enough to show off the pink rose tattoo right above her heart, but high enough for her to move around on stage and not worry about any mishaps.

There were no completed outfits for Luka, everything had been left unfinished, or completely scratched through. Marinette claimed that she couldn't get the right feel for him. An offer to reconnect over coffee had her agreeing, but when she stepped towards the Keurig in the corner, Luka laughed, tucking her hand into the crook of his elbow, and telling her about the cute little coffee shop down on the corner.

Marinette turned nervous eyes on Juleka, but she just smiled and waved her lace gloved fingers, instructing her brother to bring her back a tea and one of those scones she liked. Then with an admonishment to have fun, she waved them on their way, turning her back on them and peering down at Marinette's sketches.

Once they were in the hallway, Luka released Marinette's hand and turned towards her. "Sorry. I realized I never actually asked you if this was alright. Is it?"

She cocked an eyebrow at him and smirked. "Of course. I'm with Juleka. The scones sound delicious." Before he could respond, she tucked her hand back into his arm and gave it a gentle tug to start him moving.

He grinned to himself at Marinette's new confidence and attitude. Luka was definitely going to enjoy getting to know the new and improved Marinette Dupain-Cheng.