Adrien had never been the best person for timing. But right now, he was absolutely certain that this was the right moment.

After all, he hadn't spent hours plotting just to have his well-laid plans tossed in the trash. Adrien was firmly convinced that it was time to put Operation MLFILWCN into action.

Coming up with catchy titles clearly wasn't Adrien's strong point. His plan's name was correctly pronounced as 'mil- fil- wicken', and it stood for 'Make Ladybug Fall In Love With Chat Noir'.

Duh.

But the title didn't matter. It was the plan itself. Why, you may ask, was Adrien so convinced that the timing was right? Well, because Ladybug was furious at Chat Noir (for unknown reasons). Adrien often heard the saying 'There's a fine line between love and hate", usually from Nino, when Adrien commented on how much he hated Chloe constantly invading his personal space. If Ladybug was angry at Chat now, surely it wouldn't take much to turn it to love.

Adrien held out the page containing his detailed plan, studying it for the umpteenth time. If this was going to work, he needed it memorised.

Plagg floated up, nibbling on (of course) a piece of his beloved camembert cheese. "Are you sure you've thought this through?" He sounded strangely concerned.

Adrien rolled his eyes. "Of course, Plagg. I'm not stupid."

Plagg chewed, then spoke, spraying crumbs as he did so. "Normally, I might let that comment pass. But I don't think you realise exactly how stupid you are when it comes to wooing your precious crush."

"It's not just a crush! Ladybug is my soulmate, Plagg. She just doesn't know it yet."

"And that's where you're wrong," muttered the kwami under his breath. God, Adrien was so dense. Couldn't he see that Marinette was head over heels for him?

Thankfully, Adrien hadn't heard Plagg's last comment. He was too busy staring at his paper. Plagg sighed and floated over. Quickly skimming the page, the cat kwami felt a sense of panic surge up in his gut, much like the feeling he got when he ate too much cheese.

"Adrien, I don't think this is a good idea," Plagg warned.

Adrien looked up. "Why not? I think it's great."

"You're going to hurt Ladybug."

Adrien scowled. "What? No! I would never do that."

Plagg shook his head, exasperated. "Adrien, she loves you. You're going to reject her. How do you think she'll feel?"

Adrien stared at his kwami. "But Plagg…. It's not a real rejection!"

"She doesn't know that," reminded Plagg.

Adrien suddenly looked unsure. Then he shook his head, a look of determination on his face. "No. It will work. It has to. Plagg, claws out!"

"ADRIEN!" yelled Plagg furiously. "DO NOT DO I-" The kwami's rant was cut short as he was sucked into the ring.

Moments later, a freshly transformed Chat Noir leapt off his bedroom window and into the city, which was bathed in the golden light of dusk. Technically, they hadn't confirmed a patrol tonight. But they almost always patrolled on Tuesdays. Chat Noir hoped Ladybug wouldn't break the tradition. This phase of the plan was extremely delicate, and required incredible timing. It also required Ladybug.

Chat Noir gave his signature smirk. She would come. He knew it.

"He won't come, I know it," Marinette wailed. She was slumped on her rug, a pile of pale blue material gathered on her lap. "This is a complete waste of time. I may as well just wear jeans and a t-shirt and be done with it."

"Don't say that!" squeaked Tikki. "Even if he doesn't come to the dance, that's no reason why you shouldn't dress up and have a fun evening with your friends!"

"Sure, Tikki," grumbled Marinette. "Except this isn't just some dance. This is the Valentine's Dance! The event for couples! If I went, I'd be the ultimate third wheel. No way."

"Well, I'm sure you could find a partner somewhere," said Tikki sensibly. "Nathaniel would be more than happy to go with you."

Marinette tossed her dress aside. "Yeah, but if I go with him, he might think I'm interested. And so will Adrien, and then he'll never ask me out!"

Tikki smiled at Marinette. "Don't lose hope, Marinette. Adrien didn't say for sure that he wasn't coming. Besides, if you really don't want to go, then don't!"

"Then I would be the biggest loser alive," lamented Marinette.

Tikki sighed. "You're not giving yourself many options here, Marinette."

"Welcome to my world."

Tikki shook her head, then perked up. "I know! You could go as Ladybug!"

Marinette turned to Tikki so fast that she almost gave herself whiplash. "Are you out of your mind?"

Tikki huffed indignantly. "No, I'm not crazy. You and Chat were invited to the dance, right? So if for whatever reason Adrien doesn't end up going, just go as Ladybug!"

Marinette sighed. "I don't know, Tikki. I think I'm gonna have to take a raincheck on that one."

Tikki shrugged indifferently. "I don't mind. Just as long as you end up making a good decision. Now, are you going to patrol tonight?"

The girl groaned. "Just when I thought the panicking was over…. Do I have to?"

"Well, of course not. No-one's forcing you to," replied Tikki. "But you really need to work stuff out with Chat."

"Honestly, I think I scared him off," admitted Marinette.

"I'm inclined to agree," said Tikki dryly. "I think shoving him off the roof might have done it."

Marinette rolled her eyes. "I don't need sarcasm right now. But seriously, do I have to? Can't I skip a patrol, just this once?"

"Marinette, the sooner you smooth this whole mess over, the sooner you'll be back to normal. Just head out, meet Chat, and tell him the truth. You'll be fine," said the kwami encouragingly. "I believe in you."

Marinette stood resolutely, smoothed her unfinished dress, and carefully hung it up. With a deep breath, she uttered her command. "Tikki, spots on!"

A few pink flashes later, and Ladybug stood there. She glanced at herself in the mirror, remembering how uncomfortable she had been with the idea of a bodysuit when she'd first started being Ladybug. She'd just felt so exposed. Every lump and bump was visible, and for Marinette, who was the kind of girl who preferred one-pieces over bikinis, it wasn't what she was comfortable with. But now, she barely gave it a second thought, though that might have been because she hadn't been the receiver of any body- shaming.

Ladybug wondered if it was the skin- tight bodysuit that had attracted Chat Noir at first, rather than her personality.

Shaking away her thoughts, Ladybug leapt out onto the rooftops, running hard. After just a few minutes, she almost felt out of breath, pushing herself harder than normal, just so that the physical hurt could take her mind off the emotional pain.

Ladybug's ribbons whipped at her face, stinging a little as the wind caused them to snap and crackle. With a final practiced throw, the superheroine hurled her yo-yo at the Eiffel Tower, tugged, then landed lightly on the cool metal beams. Shivering slightly, she turned to scan the city, watching for a sign of her partner's approach. Against Ladybug's will, her pulse quickened with anticipation.

Suddenly, there was a hand on her shoulder. Reflexes kicking in, she moved to attack, but a black-gloved hand stopped her. "Relax, it's just me."

Chat Noir.

Ladybug had never had a heart attack, but maybe this was what one felt like. Her heart fluttered and stopped in an irregular pattern.

What in the world was she going to say to him?

Her brain went into panic mode, dozens of tiny Ladybugs running around in her head, screaming and flailing their arms. Then through the chaos came the voice of Tikki, reassuring as always.

'Apologise. Just tell the truth.'

With a deep breath, Ladybug gathered up her shreds of composure and opened her mouth. "I'm so sorry," she blurted out. But to her surprise, she wasn't the only one who did so.

At the exact same moment, Chat had said the exact same words. Ladybug's eyes widened. "You don't need to apologise."

Again, Chat's words were in unison with hers. Their eyes met, and suddenly Ladybug felt something new bubbling up inside her.

Laughter.

And then they were both laughing, at themselves and each other, letting loose everything they'd feared in the past couple of days. Ladybug found herself studying her partner, the light in his eyes, the freedom of his movements.

He didn't act like someone who had recently been rejected by the love of his life.

When they could laugh no more, Ladybug spoke. "Chat Noir, I really am sorry. I should never have done that to you. It was a horrible thing to do, and I completely understand if you're mad at me."

Chat nudged her playfully. "I could never be mad at you, Bugaboo. Question is, are you mad at me?"

Ladybug hung her head. "I was. But I'm not now."

"I really am sorry, you know," said Chat seriously. "It was a stupid thing to say, but I'm not very good at reading people."

"It's fine, Chat, don't worry." Ladybug felt like she was Atlas, and Chat Noir had just lifted the weight of the world off her shoulders. She felt like dancing, leaping, running. But most of all,she felt relief.

"I'm glad." Chat took her hand, and for once the red-suited girl didn't protest. "There's something I have to tell you."

Ladybug looked him in the eye, and Chat felt like he was going to die. She was so gorgeous. It hurt him, the fact that he couldn't take her in his arms and kiss her right then and there.

Patience, he told himself. Soon. First, he had to put phase one into action.

And so he did.

Carefully, slowly, he uttered the words he'd been rehearsing for days. "Listen, Ladybug, I know now might not be the best time," he began, his gaze steady, his heart the complete opposite. "But it's about Adrien." He waited, watching for her reaction.

It came.

She dropped her head, looking shy. "I shouldn't have told you about him, Chat."

Chat took her chin in his hand, forcing her to look at him. "Oh, yes, you should have. Because I talked to Adrien. And he said….. He said that he wants to talk to you."

"You told him?!" Fire blazed in Ladybug's eyes. Chat Noir backed up, waving his hands like windscreen wipers.

"No, no, I swear I didn't! But I happen to be friends with him, and I also happen to know that he has feelings for you." Chat smiled mischievously. "In fact, he sent me here to tell you that he wants to see you. Right now."

"Right… now?" Ladybug's heart fluttered. She hadn't been prepared for this! But she couldn't let Chat know. He was trying to do something nice for her. "I didn't pin you as a matchmaker, Kitty," she joked, trying to keep her tone light.

Chat smiled, holding her gaze with an intensity that made her blush. "Anything for you, m'lady."

Why was she blushing? Her heart belonged to Adrien!

He's just being sweet, Ladybug told herself, trying to believe it. That's all.

"Thank you, Chat," Ladybug replied, her tone sincere. "Thank you very much. Do you mind if I….?"

Chat shook his head. "Not at all, m'lady." He gave a bow. "Enjoy yourself."

With a smile, Ladybug zipped away, in the direction of the Agreste mansion. Chat smirked to himself. "I'll see you there, Bugaboo," he muttered under his breath.

Hi! So excited for the next few chapters! Sorry-not-sorry for leaving you on another cliffhanger, but what can I say? I love keeping people in suspense! But don't worry, the next chapter should be ready in the next two or so days. Until then, stay miraculous!

PS. Thank you so much for the reviews/ follows/ favourites! I love you guys!