It feels so good to know that there are no more birds. Thank you so much for all of your reviews! They really help me out. I'm so glad to see so many people enjoying this story. Also, thank you to those who have followed this story and added it to their favourites. Every little bit of support helps.

Eight Maids a Milking

Okay, this idea had to work!

Though Ladybug didn't seem to be too bothered by all of his gifts to her ending in disaster, Chat Noir certainly was. At this point, he was really getting sick of embarrassing himself in front of her. He was sick of putting her in awkward situations. That last one was probably the most humiliating yet. He couldn't believe he had fallen asleep and caused them both to fall into the water.

Ladybug should have been angry at him, yet she wasn't. After everything he had been doing to her lately, he was surprised that she didn't just tell him to leave her alone. She must have the patience of a saint. Though everyone had a breaking point, and Chat Noir was terrified that he was going to find Ladybug's if he didn't find the perfect gift for her, and soon!

But today, Chat Noir was sure that he had come up with the perfect plan. A Christmas market and fair was currently going on in Paris, so he had decided to turn it into a day trip for him and Ladybug. Then, if Ladybug spotted some stuff that she liked, Chat Noir would secretly get it for her, then he could give her a gift that he definitely knew that she was going to like.

However, there was always the chance that Ladybug wasn't going to agree to the trip. She could have been busy, or just not want to go. He had been so nervous about asking her, because if she said no, then his plan would be ruined before it had even took off. But luckily, Ladybug seemed to be out and about in the city a lot more often lately, patrolling when Chat Noir was sure that she wasn't scheduled to. Chat Noir wasn't going to complain though. It meant it was easier finding her when he needed to enact his gift ideas. And much to Chat Noir's surprise and good fortune, Ladybug had agreed! Though she did seem a little uncertain at first.

It was a good thing Chat Noir was the master of begging and cute kitten eyes. So it was impossible for Ladybug not to fully relent and tag along with him to the market.

"Are you sure it's a good idea for us to be here?" Ladybug asked beginning to sound unsure again. "I know you want to go shopping with me, and I'm happy to, but what if people become distracted by us?"

Chat Noir chuckled. "It's only a few days until Christmas. I think people will be more concerned with buying last minutes presents than they will be by us."

"Maybe you're right," Ladybug began to relax more once she looked around and realised that Chat Noir was right. Most people did seem incredibly distracted by their shopping.

People were pushing and shoving their way towards all of the different market stalls filled with a wide variety of gift related material. It was all rather cute and cosy once you ignored the stress and panic radiating off most of the shoppers. Pretty lights were strung above them, and there were a few game stalls as well that filled the air with laughter.

Chat Noir wasn't really sure what Ladybug's interests were, so he just walked casually along, making sure to keep a close eye on Ladybug in case her face began to light up at the sight of anything she liked or might want.

They kept walking and walking and walking, but Ladybug seemed to be showing little to no interest in anything. Chat Noir could feel a nervous sweat droplet dripping down his face the longer they remained walking together in silence. It was beginning to feel increasingly awkward as they walked forward with no purpose. Soon, it was getting a point where they were reaching the end of the gift stalls and more towards the fair side of the event.

The bright lights of the rides in the distance were hypnotic, and Chat Noir quickly looked away, terrified that he might accidentally fall asleep again like he did the last time. He had made sure to get some more sleep last night, but he had lay awake, tossing and turning for hours, worried about finding Ladybug a Christmas present.

Chat Noir looked down at Ladybug again as she walked alongside him. She wasn't even looking around at anything! In fact, she looked rather distracted as she stared down at the ground as she followed him. She was supposed to be looking around at stuff! Why wasn't she? How was he going to find the perfect gift for her if she didn't look around? Great, did this mean that this plan was also ruined? Why wasn't Ladybug interested in anything? If she wasn't going to bother looking at anything, then why did she agree to tag along?

This was very quickly going downhill. Chat Noir really needed to try and save the situation.

"So, what is it exactly you're looking for?" Ladybug asked as they came to a stop by the last stall. She placed her hands on her hips as she looked back and smiled at all of the shoppers.

"Oh…I…" Chat Noir stuttered.

So that was it. She was under the impression that she was just tagging along to help him shop for someone else. Ugh, he really should have been clearer when he was trying to get her to come with him. Maybe he had tried to play on her heroism trait a bit too much and accidentally made it sound like he needed help trying to find someone else a gift. How was he going to save this now?

Think Chat Noir, think!

"Maybe if you pointed out some of the stuff that you liked, that might –" Chat Noir quickly cut himself off once he looked back up and realised that Ladybug was no longer standing next to him. His eyes widened, and he whipped his head around to look in every direction. Where had she gone? What was she doing?

However, he soon sighed with relief once he realised that she hadn't wondered too far. Her bright red and black spotted suit made her stand out in the crowd. She was standing by some fenced off area and it looked like she was bending down to look at something. Did this mean that she had finally seen something that she liked?

Wasting no time, Chat Noir quickly bolted over to her, skidding to a halt just behind her to try and peer over her shoulder and see what she had found. Much to his dismay though, it was nothing more than a baby goat that was peering at her between the bars of the fence. Ladybug was cooing at it, reaching in through the fence to stroke the top of it's head, and the little goat baaed happily in response.

Chat Noir's leather cat ears flattened on top of his head in annoyance.

"Awww, Chat, look, they're having some sort of animal show," Ladybug squealed as she pointed towards a large tent that a lot of people were beginning to gather in.

"Yeah, that's great, but," Chat Noir murmured as he looked back towards the shopping stalls before glancing towards Ladybug's eager and excited face again as she stared at the large red and white tent.

He could feel his resolve instant beginning to weaken. He really couldn't deny his lady anything.

Chat Noir sighed. "You want to go in and watch then?"

Ladybug turned back to look at him. "No, that's okay, I said I would help you with your shopping."

"It doesn't really matter that much," Chat Noir replied, already having wrapped his arm around Ladybug's shoulder, marching them both towards the tent, "I can tell that you really want to watch it."

When they entered the tent, Chat Noir realised it must be some sort of farm display. In the middle of the tent, surrounded by the spectators, were eight women, dressed in traditional peasant attire, milking the cows. They were talking to the crowd, explaining how everything worked, and the different methods that were used throughout the centuries.

Ladybug seemed pretty interested in the whole things, however, Chat Noir couldn't help but look back towards the shopping stalls. He really needed to think of a way to get Ladybug to spot something. He was stupid for bringing her in here, however, he just couldn't say no to her. Most of the people in here seemed pretty fascinated by the whole thing, most of them being city dwellers for most of their lives and never getting to see country and farm life.

"Now then, do we have any volunteers?" The voice of one of the women brought Chat Noir out of his thoughts, and he instantly looked back towards the centre of the tent again.

A few of the women then gasped.

"Is that…Ladybug and Chat Noir?" Another one of the women gasped out.

The crowd began murmuring to each other and straining themselves to get a look at the heroes they hadn't noticed in their midst. Chat Noir immediately struck a pose cockily, never able to resist the limelight of being a superhero. Meanwhile, Ladybug gave an awkward smile and wave.

"Perhaps Paris' dear heroes would love to have a go?" One lady suggested.

"That's okay –" Chat Noir and Ladybug immediately began to protest at the same time, however, they were quickly interrupted by the cheering of the crowd.

Well, it looked like they had no choice. They had an adoring crowd to please after all. It looked like Chat Noir's idea would once again have to wait.

Chat Noir and Ladybug made their way into the centre where the cows were, and Chat Noir had to admit that cows were a lot bigger and more intimidating looking than he had imagined. A lot of them were practically bigger than he was. Two of the women pulled him and Ladybug towards separate cows and handed them a stool and pail. Ladybug looked completely lost and unsure, so Chat Noir knew that this could be a perfect moment to impress her and the citizens of Paris.

"Now," one of the ladies began explaining to Chat Noir, "you need to be careful of –"

"Madame, I'm a superhero, I think I can handle a few cows." Chat Noir smirked confidently before tapping the back of the cow he had been assigned. However, he took a startled step back as the cow began mooing loudly before kicking out its legs and charging towards the rest of the cows.

Everyone in the tent gasped as all of the cows began kicking and running around in panic. Ladybug began slowly backing away, her eyes wide in panic before they flickered towards Chat Noir in confusion. He shrugged, smiling innocently in response. The eight women in charge began rushing over to the cows in panic, trying to calm them down.

But the gasps of the audience soon turned into screams as the cows began charging towards them, breaking down the barriers as if the metal bars were as thin as toothpicks. The audience fled for their lives, and Chat Noir knew that he was going to have to fix the mess he had made.

Frowning in determination, Chat Noir leapt up into the air, landing in front of the cows, ready to try and stop them. But they were a lot stronger than they looked, and they easily mowed him down, knocking him to the ground before trampling all over him as they continued to run out of the tent in panic.

Chat Noir placed his hands on the back of his head in an attempt to protect himself, and luckily his suit provided him protection from most of the onslaught. It felt like forever, but the cows finally ran off with the eight ladies still chasing after them.

All Chat Noir could do was lay there, once again feeling completely humiliated, but also like he had just been run over by a huge truck. The breath had been knocked out of him, and Chat Noir let out a wheeze as he tried to push himself up off the ground before collapsing again under his own weight. However, he looked up as he saw a shadow beginning to fly over him.

"Who knew you could cause so much damage without your cataclysm." Ladybug shook her head in disbelief as she swung over him, her yo-yo hooked around a lamppost. She landed in front of him before offering him her hand.

Chat Noir growled in frustration, but he took it and let her help pull him back up. He'd done it again. He'd ruined everything. And even worse this time, his actions had not only just affected him and Ladybug, but an entire market full of people. How was Chat Noir ever going to get over the shame and guilt of this one?

However, Ladybug's voice soon interrupted Chat's self-deprecating thoughts.

"Now come on, let's go stop those rampaging cows."

"Right behind you, my lady," Chat Noir replied miserably as they both took off towards the commotion.

Did you know that cows are statistically more dangerous than sharks? There's a fun fact to help you sleep at night. Makes me think twice before walking in a field full of them. Awww, Chat, will you ever find your perfect gift for Ladybug? I had a headache while writing and editing most of this chapter, so I hope I managed to catch all of the typos. Feel free to let me know your opinions, guys, and I'll see you all again tomorrow.