"Tikki, I cannot believe the day that I just had!" I squealed while jumping on my bed and burying my face in my oversized cat pillow. My heart was pounding and butterflies were swarming inside of me. Tikki flew over and landed on the pillow next to me.

"Do you still like Adrien?" she asked me in a singsong voice.

I had thought that I had gotten over my long time high school crush after he had gone off to college. I had four years to convince myself that I was over him, but who was I kidding? I had never found another boy that I was interested in, and seeing him today just brought back all of those old stored up emotions. However, this time the emotions felt stronger and more intense. Maybe it was because he was actually showing somewhat of an interest in me unlike in the past. There was also something different about him that I couldn't quite put my finger on. I just moaned in my pillow choosing not to answer Tikki.

"It's alright Marinette," she said. "You don't have to tell me. I already know how you feel."

I turned over to look at the ceiling with both of my hands tucked under my head. "You know, Tikki," I sighed, "something about seeing Adrien today made me really miss Chat."

Tikki flew over landing on my chest. "Oh, really?" she chirped. "And what makes you say that?"

"I don't know," I shrugged, "I guess seeing one long lost friend made me want to see another one as well. I know it sounds silly, but I really miss Chat."

I sat up placing Tikki to my side pulling my knees up and wrapping my arms around my legs. "I used to always find Chat annoying, but now I would give anything to hear him make one of his terrible puns." A warm tear found its way down my cheek as I added, "We were partners for so long. I trusted him with my life and believe it or not, he was one of my best friends. I can't stand not knowing where he is or how he is doing. It's eating me away inside." I leaned my head forward resting my face on my knees as I softly began to cry.

"Awe, don't feel too bad Marinette," Tikki comforted me as she rubbed against my cheek, "I'm sure you will see him again someday. He won't be gone forever. Just think... if he really went off to college like he said he was going to, then maybe he is back just like Adrien is."

Tikki's words filled my spirit with hope. Chat had said he was only leaving because he was going somewhere else for college. Maybe he really was back. But how would I find him? It's not like Paris needed us to do nightly patrols anymore, and if Ladybug was spotted, then mass hysteria might ensue.

"Tikki," I groaned, "how would I even find Chat Noir if he is really back? It's not like either of us are transforming anymore."

Tikki flew to the front of my face and lifted my chin off of my knees looking at me directly in the eyes. "You will know him when you find him, Marinette. Even if he is not dressed like Chat Noir, he is still the same person." Tikki had a huge grin on her face. "Just look for someone who acts like Chat, and you will have found your guy. I know you will find him if you are paying attention. It may not be obvious at first, but Chat is Chat. His qualities will eventually shine through no matter who he is under the mask."

With that, Tikki took off and fell asleep on my pillow. I decided to turn off the lights and do the same. Before I fell asleep, I couldn't help but to think about what Tikki had said about finding Chat. Did she know something that I didn't know? Did she know Chat's secret identity? I tried to push those thoughts out of my mind, but they remained until I must have fallen asleep.

I dreamed that I was Ladybug and I was running across the rooftops of Paris. I could see someone dressed in black in the distance running away from me. No matter how fast I ran or swung on my yoyo, I could not catch him. In fact he was getting further and further away. I finally gave up and stood there crying because I knew that would never see Chat Noir again.

"Where would you like to go to lunch today?" Adrien asked as we met up in the lobby after a long morning of work. "I picked yesterday, so it's only fair that you pick today." He flashed me a big silly grin that I was still not used to seeing him use.

For some reason, I had been craving Mexican food all day, so I told him so. He agreed that that would be a good choice and we proceeded to walk out the door together.

"So... Marinette," he said awkwardly as we walked towards the restaurant together, "are you... have you been... seeing anybody?"

I froze in my tracks. Was Adrien Agreste asking me if I had a boyfriend? Why would he even care? Did that mean that he could be interested in me? Or maybe he just had a girlfriend of his own and he wanted to make sure that I was taken, too. That way he wouldn't be leading me on.
When Adrien realized that I had stopped walking, he turned around and came to stand in front of me face to face. I was too embarrassed to look at him, so I studied the pink floral designs that were printed on my shoes instead.

"Um... no," I quivered, "uh...what about you?" I winced as I expected him to tell me all about this amazing girl that he met during his time in China. He would tell me how perfect they are for each other and how I would get to meet her someday soon.

"Well, actually," he began here it comes, "I was kind of hoping that we could spend more time together." I looked up to see his rosy red cheeks and piercing green eyes gazing right me. I could feel my pulse thrumming in my ears as Adrien continued, "I just... feel so bad for never truly getting to know you in high school. You were always there, but I never really paid attention." He reached forward and brushed the hair that was covering my face behind my ear causing that thrumming to become even louder. "I am paying attention now, Marinette. I just hope that you want to get to know me as well."

I couldn't breath. Adrien wanted to spend more time with me. He wanted to actually get closer to me and to learn more about who I am. All of my childhood fantasies were coming true and I could hardly function. I couldn't talk. I couldn't move. I couldn't even blink.

"Are you okay?" Adrien asked as he placed a hand on my shoulder. "You look like you need to sit down." When I didn't respond, he grabbed my hand and lead me to a nearby bench forcing me to sit. I looked down to see that he was still holding my hand as he gazed at me with concern in his eyes.

What was I doing? I was making a complete fool of myself. I had to snap out of it and actually say something to Adrien. But what would I say? Would I tell him that I had always had a crush on him and that I was completely freaking out right now? No, I couldn't do that. I had to play it cool.

"I-I," I finally managed to squeak, "I would love to get to know you more, too, Adrien!"

Adrien just chuckled and had a beautiful smile on his face. "I'm glad to hear that," he said as he stood up now offering both of his hands to help me stand. "Now let's go eat; I'm starving!"

Lunch was rather uneventful compared to the walk to get there. We met for lunch everyday that week sharing more and more information about our lives. I learned about how Adrien and his father had grown closer over the years. Apparently, his father had been pretty cold to him after his mother had died, but had finally gotten past that becoming a real father again. I could see in Adrien's eyes how much his relationship with his father used to hurt him. I wished I had known about this when we were younger. I would have tried to comfort him. However, his whole demeanor warmed up when he spoke of his current relationship with his father. I was glad to see him so happy.

"Are you planning of going to my father's gala tomorrow evening?" Adrien asked as we were waiting on our food on Friday.

"Uh... yea," I responded, "all of his designers are expected to be there." I took a bite of bread and then added, "I'm really nervous. I have never been to anything like this before." This was embarrassing for me to say because I was sure that Adrien must have attended hundreds of these events.

Adrien played with his fork and admitted, "It's been a long time since I've been to one, and I'm kind of nervous, too." Then, he put the fork down and outstretched his arm grabbing onto my hand. "Would you like to go with me. You know... so we don't have to be so nervous?"

Electricity flowed through my body emanating from the hand that he was touching. "A-are you asking m-me out on a date?" I stammered. I shouldn't have been so surprised. We had been going out for lunch everyday and he had told me that he wanted to get to know me better. But this... an actual date? I felt like my heart was going to explode.

He just laughed, "Y-yea, I guess I am." His eyes sparkled and his smile nearly melted my heart. "So... what do you say, Mari?"

Dreams really do come true. "Yes!" I squealed much louder than I had intended to. "I would love to go with you, Adrien!"

"Alya, you have to come over right now! There is so much that I have to tell you!" I screamed after I had answered the phone. Alya had left Monday morning to go to the United States to work on some important news story for work. I had not had the chance to tell her anything about my first week of work or of my time with Adrien. She was going to flip out when I told her everything.

"Okay girl," she responded, "I will be there in about an hour."

That gave me some time to put some finishing touches on my dress design for the gala the next day. For some reason, I had not been able to get Ladybug and Chat Noir out of my mind all week. I wanted so badly to become Ladybug once again, but I knew that that was out of the question, for now. I decided to make a Ladybug themed dress for the event. I grinned as I looked at the drawing of the poofy knee length red dress with black polka dots. The tight sleeves would reach my elbow and there would be a collared neckline. A sleek black ribbon would be placed around my waist. Just as I had signed my name at the bottom of the design, I heard a knock at the door.

"Okay, Marinette, spill the beans!" she demanded as she entered my room. Seeing her face immediately reminded me of the ring that Adrien and I had helped Nino pick out for her. I wondered when he was going to propose, but I had to push those thoughts out of my head.

"Adrien Agreste asked me out on a date!" I squealed as I grabbed both of her hands and started jumping up and down.

Alya just started at me and then pulled her hands from mine placing them on my shoulders to hold me still. "Hold on girl," she said skeptically, "when did Adrien get back? When did you see him? And what made him ask you out?!"

I told her everything starting with how he helped me out in the parking lot and ending with his asking me out.

"Wow," she said as she sat down in my computer chair, "I'm gone for less than a week and your entire life changes, Marinette. I'm so happy for you! What are you going to wear?"

I pulled out my sketchbook and showed her my design. "That's gorgeous, Mari! He is going to love you in that dress!" Then, she started rubbing the Ladybug necklace that Nino had gotten for her on their first Christmas as a couple. "You know, that pattern reminds me a lot of Ladybug. I wonder whatever happened to her and Chat Noir. They kind of just vanished into thin air."

Her words sent a pang of guilt running through my stomach. No one had taken Ladybug's disappearance harder than Alya. For a while she had kept the Ladyblog going begging people to report any sightings or to give any leads on their whereabouts. However, she eventually had to shut it down when it became painfully clear that no one would ever see the famed superheroes again.

"I'm sure they're doing fine," I assured her. "They must just be living out their normal lives. Being a superhero was probably pretty exhausting, and with no one being akumatized anymore they figured that they were no longer needed."

Alya sighed, "I know your right, Marinette. It's just that... I really do miss them."

"I do too," I agreed. "I really wish I could see them again." I hadn't transformed since the night Chat and I had said goodbye. I had nearly forgotten what it felt like to be Ladybug and of course I missed Chat dearly.

"Well," Alya said as she stood up, "I'll let you get to work. I know you want your dress to look perfect. You better get started."

As soon as she walked out the door, I began gathering materials and pinning pieces together. Tomorrow was going to be perfect. I sung quietly to myself and Tikki flew around the room handing me pins and various other things as I needed them. I was glad to still have Tikki by my side even though Ladybug was no longer needed. I didn't know what I would do if she ever had to leave me. I shuddered at the thought and continued on completely lost in happiness and anticipation of the evening to come.