Welcome back! Thank you so much for all of your amazing reviews. It really makes me happy to see so many people enjoying the story. Also, we're on our final bird chapter, YIPPEE! It feels so good to know that I don't have to deal with anymore birds. It was starting to feel a bit repetitive and had me struggling to come up with ideas that were unique. So, phew, I'm glad that part is over ahahaha.

Seven Swans a Swimming

"You know, Kitty, you really don't have to keep doing all these things for me," Ladybug tried to explain as Chat Noir once again tied a blindfold around her head.

"Yes I do," Chat Noir insisted, "especially since your other surprises ended in disaster." He walked back around in front of her, waving a hand in front of her face. When she didn't flinch away, Chat Noir knew that she definitely couldn't see, and that the blindfold was properly in place.

He had spent all day working on this new surprise. Once again, he had stayed up practically all night trying to come with something new. His eyes were burning and begging for sleep, but Chat Noir was able to ignore it. He had fallen asleep at his desk and gotten an hour of shut eye, so he should be good. Though no doubt his father would kill him once he noticed the dark circles under his eyes. Luckily, his mask hid them from Ladybug. She would probably kill him too if she knew that he was losing sleep over trying to find the perfect gift for her.

But once again, Chat Noir was determined to get her the perfect gift. So far, all of his attempts had ended in disaster one way or another. He refused to give up. He refused to let Ladybug go without simply because he seemed to be cursed with bad luck lately.

Chat Noir had even more meticulously planned out this surprise. It had taken him a while to come up with the idea, but a spark was set off in his mind when Plagg mentioned the mushy poetry that he had written for Ladybug some time ago now. The poem that Ladybug seemed to have answered.

Did that mean that she liked poetry?

Chat Noir felt like it was a pretty safe bet. However, he didn't just simply want to write her a poem and read it to her. He really wanted to go all out and read it to her during the perfect romantic moment. His poem made a lot of references to swans and water, so Chat Noir wondered about maybe reading it to her by some sort of pond. That's when he had spotted a row boat hire add while browsing through possible locations. He made extra sure to check if that pond was frequented by geese. It wasn't. The pond often had swans and ducks, but those birds weren't aggressive little devils. Him and Ladybug would be perfectly safe.

At the memory of the geese, Chat Noir shuddered, still feeling the ghosts of their beaks pecking and biting at his arm. He couldn't believe he had put Ladybug through something like that. He was honestly surprised that Ladybug still wanted anything to do with him with the amount of confusion and embarrassment he had put her through lately.

Chat Noir couldn't help but smile at her. He was so unbelievably lucky to have her as his friend and partner. He only wished that they could be something more. But maybe his plan for today would help with that. Of course, he did just simply want to give Ladybug a gift to remember, but if that could lead to them ending up together, then Chat Noir certainly wasn't going to complain. It would be the best Christmas present ever.

He could just imagine it now. Ladybug being amazed by the beautiful scenery of the pond, in awe of his poem and how he felt about her. As they drifted across the large pond, she would lean forward, her eyes becoming hooded as he too leaned towards her, captured by her gravity. Her warm lips just inches away from his own, the distance between them growing ever smaller –

"Chat?"

Chat Noir shook his head. "Huh? What?"

"Are you okay?" Ladybug asked, beginning to sound worried. "You completely spaced out on me there."

Chat Noir couldn't help but smile goofily at her, getting giddy at the thought of his fantasy possibly coming true. "I'm purrfect, my lady. Nothing to worry about."

Ladybug sighed, and Chat Noir imagined her rolling her eyes underneath the blindfold, his pun and playfulness seeming to quell her concerns.

"As I was trying to tell you before you zoned out on me," Ladybug continued to explain, "I hope you're not putting too much pressure on yourself to come up with a gift for me, because I get the feeling that that's what this has been all about. It's not that I don't appreciate it, but the first –"

"Don't worry, my lady," Chat Noir interrupted her, causing her to frown slightly, "it's no trouble at all. Now follow me."

Chat Noir gently took hold of her hand, and Ladybug sighed, but relented, allowing herself to be pulled along by him. Chat Noir lead her down the park pathway towards the pond, ignoring the odd looks they were receiving from passers-by. Nothing was going to spoil this moment. Chat Noir refused to allow it.

Finally, Chat Noir managed to locate the little hut that lead onto a small, simple wooden pier where some cute looking boats were tied to the wooden pillars. A bored looking man was waiting inside, and Chat Noir placed his hand over a very confused Ladybug's ears as he asked to hire one of the boats. He handed the money over, and soon the guy came out of the back of the small boat with a set of oars in his hands. He gave them to Chat Noir before untying the rope, holding onto it and motioning for Chat Noir to climb inside.

Grabbing hold of Ladybug's hand again, Chat Noir helped her climb into the boat. She was extremely wobbly on her feet, but luckily he managed to help her sit down in time before she fell over. Chat Noir would definitely never get over the shame if he had allowed that to happen. He'd already put his lady through enough.

Chat Noir climbed in after her, sitting down and inserting the oars into place. Confident that they were all set, the man let go of the rope and gave the boat a gentle kick to push it out into the large pond. A few other people were out rowing, but they were all quite some distance from each other, guaranteeing him and Ladybug the peace and quiet that they needed.

Rowing the boat was much easier as Chat Noir, and soon they were heading towards the centre of the pond where seven swans were gracefully swimming around, just minding their own business. Though Chat Noir was careful not to stray too close to them as he didn't want a sneezing fit to ruin the moment.

As he kept them drifting further out into the pond, Chat Noir reached down and grabbed a piece of paper he had kept tucked into his belt. Unfortunately, he didn't have time to memorise his poem, but that was okay, he was sure that Ladybug wouldn't mind, especially when she was swept away by his romantic gesture and amazing gift to her.

"Okay," Chat Noir finally said to Ladybug, "you can take your blindfold off now."

Ladybug wasted no time in reaching up and untying the piece of cloth. Her eyes instantly widened as she could finally take in the scene before her. The water surrounding them was glistening in the evening sun, and the sky was beginning to turn a brilliant shade of orange, making the water appear darker and sparkle even more. The swans continued to swim around them, as if they were part of some intricate dance.

"Chat…this is amazing!" Ladybug gasped out, sounding almost breathless as she smiled over at the swans that were circling their boat.

Chat Noir found his eyes drawn to them too, watching them as they swam around in circles, slowly and gracefully. They were so peaceful to watch. It was like a lullaby for his eyes. All that was missing was some beautiful classical music to make this scene even more complete.

They swam this way and that way, and both Ladybug and Chat Noir couldn't help but be hypnotised by them. Chat Noir was grateful for the calming effect that they were beginning to have on him. It was like they had tamed his mind, slowing his racing and nervous thoughts down to a point where he was beginning to feel light and weightless. It made him just want to close his eyes and enjoy the tranquillity of the moment…

"CHAT!" Ladybug suddenly screamed.

Chat Noir's eyes snapped open just in time to realise that he had slumped to the side, but it was too late. He had leaned too far over. The small boat capsized under his weight, tipping them both to the side and into the freezing pond water. The coldness was the first thing that hit Chat Noir as he fell in. It sent shockwave after shockwave through his body, and his mind began to race in panic. Luckily, he had managed to keep his head above the water. He kept his arm held above the surface too, making sure that his poem didn't get soaked and ruined by the water.

Ladybug! Was Ladybug okay?!

He instantly turned around in the water to see Ladybug treading water next to him with a very confused and worried expression on her face. She didn't seem to care that she had just been tossed into the water because of him, but rather looked more concerned for him.

"Chat, are you okay? Did you just fall asleep?!" Ladybug sounded increasingly terrified for him.

The boat began floating away from them, leaving them stranded out in the middle of the pond. Chat Noir could feel his teeth beginning to chatter slightly, but he could feel a mad destination building up inside him. His poem was safe. He could still read it to Ladybug!

However, a nearby swan suddenly took off out of the water and flew towards him, easily plucking the piece of paper out of his hand, leaving Chat Noir to stare at where his poem had just been moments before with his mouth wide as if to scream, only no sound came out. He'd done it again. He'd ruined everything!

"Chat?" Ladybug asked in concern again.

Chat Noir couldn't bring himself to say anything. He couldn't even bring himself to look at her. What must Ladybug think of him? He had just fallen asleep on a boat and tipped them both out of it. He was nothing more than a walking disaster. The moment had once again been ruined.

He would not cry in front of her. He would not cry in front of her. He would not cry in front of her.

As if she could sense his thoughts, Ladybug sighed and swam towards him, gently grabbing hold of his hand under the water. Her dark hair clung to her face as she smiled at him reassuringly, and that instantly helped Chat Noir fight back the tears that were threatening to burst free.

"Come on," Ladybug urged caringly, pulling Chat Noir along, "race you back to the shore!" She then took off, leaving Chat Noir to stare after her in surprise.

She wasn't mad? She wasn't annoyed with him? She wasn't fed up of everything he had been doing lately?

Ladybug truly was one in a million.

Chat Noir quickly shook his head before laughing and taking off after her.

I can kinda relate to Chat Noir in this chapter. Whenever I would go on a boat, it would always end in disaster. Poor guy still hasn't managed to create the perfect gift for Ladybug. It breaks my heart having to write about all of his torment. Feel free to leave a review letting me know your thoughts, and I'll see you guys again tomorrow.