"Tikki, I overslept! What am I going to wear?" I cry as I tumble out of bed. "Now, just be calm, Marinette. You have plenty of time." I take a deep breath. "Right. Calm." I head over to my closet.

So, this isn't a date, but still I want to wear something nice to go out with my partner. The sky is a perfect blue and I can tell its going to be a lovely day. I go with a pink top and jeans, tying my hair up in a ponytail. "Makeup or no makeup?" I ask my Kwami, as I sit down at my vanity mirror. "Marinette," Tikki says, shaking her head at me. "What?" "Cat likes you for you, so be yourself. You have natural beauty." I blush. Loneliness washes over me like a cold wave. "I only thought happened with the mask on." "Marinette, you have a good and kind heart, and you are willing to help others even when they are unkind towards. Besides, having inner beauty is much better then outer beauty." I bite my lip, thinking. "Tikki, do you think wants to be my friend? Or this the way he's getting over Ladybug?" "I don't think he can "get over you" when your both the same person. And Cat cares about you. You'll see."

Checking the time, its time to head downstairs. Cat isn't here yet, but I can see him leaping across the rooftops still a ways off. I slump back against the bakery window and sigh. If only my fear of rejection didn't hold me back from telling Cat who I was after we defeated Hawkmoth. And my heart is still pulled in two different directions like a game of tug-of-war with Cat and Adrien pulling and me in the middle.

"Good meowing!" Cat walks up, a big smile on his face. I take a moment to study him, and find that those emerald green eyes are soft and kind. I giggle. "Good meowing to you, too. Ready for Starbucks?" Cat grins. "Princess, we're going to a festival, not just getting coffee!" "Right. I've never been to a medieval festival, so I'm a bit nervous." "Don't worry, its going to be fine."

Coffee does help, and I like how the festival is set up at the park. Just inside the entrance there's a juggler and I'm impressed at his skills. What skills to I possess beside coming up with outfits, hats, anything a designer would wish for! "That's impressive, but I'm better at punning myself."

"I wouldn't say that's your only skill," I say. "Oh?" "Your a great friend." Before Cat can say anything, a colorful outfit catches my eye. I snort, and Cat cocks his head curiously at me. "Look!" I walk over what looks like a small clothing area and pick up a brightly colored jester costume. It even has the hat with bells! "Princess, I'd be laughed at for sure if I put this on," when I ask Cat to try it. "Please? I won't laugh." "I doubt that, but I'm willing to take the chance."

Cat comes out a few minutes later, and I have to bite my lip hard to not laugh. I think Cat would look good in anything, but the colors clash and the jester hat is a bit wonky. "Not your best look, but you tell excellent jokes." Cat wiggles his eyebrows mischievously. "Are you giving me permission to pun more?" I shoot him a mock glare. "Don't go overboard. But a little is okay." Cat punches the air in victory, and waddles off to chance.

I begin to browse the peasant style dresses, liking the muted colors: Gray, dark purple, blue. "The dark purple one would look beautiful on you." I jump slightly finding Cat close to my back. My cheeks turn red and I tilt my eyes up to look at me. "You think so?" "You'd look beautiful in anything," he whispers. "Guess I have to try it on then."

I grab a few others and scurry into the changing room, fanning my face. I try the purple one and just as Cat said, it fits my frame perfectly going nicely with my black hair. Shyly, I walk out for Cat to see it. "I think you found a winner, Princess." "Mind if I try on a few others?" "Of course. The day is ours."

Its fun trying on dresses, and my nervousness washes away. Though I keep track of the time and while showing Cat the dark blue one, I wince. "What is it? You are ill?" "No, I…." I duck my head. Two black-gloved fingers tilt my chin up. "Princess, I can't help you if you keep secrets." "The last time I went on a "date" I went to the mall and I wanted to try a few things on. When I was finished, the guy yelled at me for taking to long. I never saw him after that." Okay, maybe it was a half hour but he could easily done something in that time. "If he was that impatient with you, he doesn't deserve you. Come on, lets pay for your things."

"You hungry?" he asks. "Let's look around some more first." We merged back into the flowing crowd, and I'm deep in thought. Cat obviously cares deeply about fairness and manners. Its not like I didn't know this, but the "gentleman" side of him doesn't come out every often.

"What that, over there?" I point to where a large crowd is gathered and Cat and I slip into the audience. Its a play, Rapunzel with a twist by the looks of it. Though I'm not locked away in a tower, my thoughts go to Adrien. As soon as he turns eighteen, I'm sure he'll move out and be rid of his Father's controlling thumb. A wicked queen comes on the stage to capture the princess, but her knight in shining armor comes to her rescue, and the evil queen is flung from the tower. I hear Cat sigh besides me, and shift in his seat. What is he thinking about? The princess and prince lives happily ever after, and after the crowd disperses on to new activities.

Cat looks still deep in thought, and I nudge him gently. "Ready for some food?" He nods. We find a taco stand and buy two tacos and they are massive.

"What are you thinking about?" I ask, after I've taken a few bites and a swig of my lemonade. "Don't you think that most fairy tales are all the same?" He asks. "Cat, finding your wife or husband is a good thing." "No, I mean, the villain always dies in the end, and there's not even a chance of redemption. I wish they'd give them a second chance." I twist my hands together. "Its not like I don't agree with you. But they made their choice."

I gave Hawkmoth (now I know its Adrien's father) once, but he made his decision. He wears an ankle bracelet now and is strictly under house arrest, but is still allowed to designing. I couldn't take that away.

"How is your garden?" "Cat, we just started it yesterday! But I need to water and check for weeds when I get home." "You wouldn't want an extra set of paws, would you?" "I'd love that." I also love that he sounds more like himself now.

We head out and the sky is still blue, but now streaked with Mare's Tails. Rain is coming, but for now I want to soak in as much sunlight as possible.

Cat mans the hose at home, while make sure the watering cans don't get to full. Cat dangles one above my head, and I gulp. "Careful, Kitty. What, you think if you water me I'll grow?" Cat splashes just a bit on me, both we both giggle.

After being around people all day, its nice to have quiet time in the garden. Cat stops after watering what will be a sunflower and pulls out his baton. "Leo's is showing Beauty and the Beast tomorrow night. What to go?" "I'd love to!"

All of a sudden, there's a bright flash and I think it may be lighting, but then I spot a drone zooming away. "What was that?" Cat asks, rubbing his eyes. "A drone. But why would it be taking pictures?" Cat narrows his eyes. "Good question, Princess. Perhaps its for a gossip column and we'll be Paris's hottest new couple." "Its not like I'm not open to a relationship, but I'd rather not have happen through a gossip magazine."

Now, actual thunder rumbles above us, and it begins to drizzle. "I'll text you tomorrow." Cat walks over to the balcony railing. But then he slides back and walks over to me. "Be safe tonight, Marinette."

Then he's gone, lost to the rain and open the skylight to my room. What did he mean "be safe" unless he knows about my legendary clumsiness.

I lay back on my soft pillow, reliving the memories of today, two sticking out more then others. The first is his patience the other when we talked about second chances. What did he mean by that? My thoughts whirl inside my head, and I sit up, planning on making some tea.

Downstairs, as I spread peanut butter on my bread, Tikki is fumbling with her little hands. "What's wrong, little one?" "I have a feeling that something bad is going to happen tomorrow." "Tikki, that's unlike you to think that way." I sit down at the table to eat my food. "Marinette, will do something for me?" "Of course." "Wear your Multi Mouse necklace to the movie. It just might come in handy."
"Tikki, I don't need to eat cheese there. I'm sure they'll have plenty of snacks." "Marinette, please."

"Okay, I promise." This morning everyone was loose and relaxed, and now their uptight. Is something going to happen to me? I rub my earrings, tempted to turn into Ladybug and do a quick sweep of the city. But no, I put the suit away for a reason. No need to get hasty now.