This chapter was so much fun to write! Please enjoy!


The next month was filled with akuma attacks. They pushed Marinette and Chat Noir to their limits. One was the akuma who nicknamed herself Stormy Weather who almost sent Paris back into the ice age. Marinette had been left with an unshakable chill for the rest of the day. Then there was Timebreaker who nearly created a time paradox. The only plus side to that was that Chat Noir temporarily got to spend time with two Ladybugs to his great pleasure. And Marinette didn't even wanted to bring up Horrificator. The image still gave her nightmares.

By the end of the month, Marinette felt completely exhausted and stressed out. Paris had been attacked by akuma so frequently, Marinette wondered if there was anything she could do to stop it. She desperately wanted to sneak into the castle and scope things out, but Tikki and Chat Noir wouldn't let her. It was starting to weigh on her. She felt like she could be doing something more to defeat Hawk Moth. They were fighting the side effects instead of the disease.

The effects of all this stress were clearly visible to Chat Noir. Marinette wouldn't smile as often and when she did, her smiles weren't nearly as bright. When they fought akuma, her usual energy and confidence was lacking. She still seemed to get a kick out of the fight, but it wasn't the same. During meals, she mostly picked at her food and never ate much. She woke up in the middle of the night, suffering from chronic nightmares. Chat Noir began to get worried. Was holding her back the right choice?

Early one Saturday morning, Chat decided that he wouldn't let Marinette be depressed any longer. "What kind of friend would I be if I didn't help?" he thought as he watched the sun rise. "I'm going to make sure Marinette has the best day ever. That'll definitely make her feel better."

Before the rest of the Dupain-Cheng family woke up, Chat Noir snuck downstairs in his human form to make Marinette breakfast. He brought Tikki along, hoping she might know how to cook. They found the bakery stocked with ingredients, but neither of them knew exactly what to do with them. Neither had any type of culinary training.

"These are eggs, right?" Tikki said, peering into a large bowl sitting on the counter. "I think you crack these open and put them on a hot pan."

"Let's try it!" Chat Noir exclaimed, grabbing a handful of eggs. He started the fire in the back of the bakery and set a pan on top of the burning logs. He hit one of the eggs against the side and it cracked open into the pan, gushing yolk and shell everywhere.

"Is the white stuff supposed to be in there?" Tikki asked, pointing at the shell.

Chat Noir shrugged and replied, "Shouldn't you eat the whole thing? We don't want to be wasteful."

"That's a good point. Crack a couple more and I'll get some jam and bread." Tikki flew to the cabinet and opened it to find a wide array of jams and jellies. "Which one would Marinette like best?" she wondered, reading through the labels. "Strawberry, grape, peach, blackberry... Oh! This one looks delicious!" Tikki pulled out the jar labeled "Peanut Butter". "I wonder what fruit is used to make this!"

Tikki flew back to Chat Noir with her jar of peanut butter. He was still cooking the eggs, but they looked more than a little brown. "I think that means they're done!" Tikki squeaked. "Take them off the fire and put them on this plate." She handed Chat Noir a glass plate and he dumped the eggs onto it. Wiping the sweat off his brow, Chat Noir admired the dish. Maybe cooking was his hidden talent.

"What do I do with this?" Chat asked, holding the peanut butter.

"You put it on the bread," Tikki explained. She flew over to the front display and grabbed a day old loaf. "We need to cut this into slices and find something to spread the jam on with. I think Marinette uses some kind of utensil..."

"Like this?" Chat Noir grabbed a fork that had been left lying out on a nearby counter. It was silver and shiny so it looked similar to what he had seen Marinette use before.

"That's perfect! Now cut off a few pieces and put the jam on it. Marinette's going to love this breakfast, I can already tell!"

After a few minutes of struggling, Chat Noir was able to cut the bread with the fork. Next, he stuck the fork in the jar of peanut butter and began to slather it on the bread. "How much should we use?" he asked. "This doesn't seem like enough."

"Put on as much as you can fit," Tikki advised. "Fruit is healthy, so it'll definitely make Marinette feel better. The more the better!" Taking Tikki's advice, Chat Noir put a big glob of peanut butter on every slice of bread.

With their gourmet breakfast complete, Chat Noir brought it up to Marinette's bedroom with Tikki flying at his side. They were excited to see her reaction. It was only the beginning of the amazing day they had planned for her.

"Wake up, Marinette!" Tikki shouted as they entered the bedroom. "Wake up! Wake up!"

Marinette rubbed her eyes and pushed herself up. "What's going on?" she moaned, still half asleep. "Why are we yelling so early in the morning?"

"We made you breakfast in bed!" Chat Noir explained, setting the plate of food on Marinette's lap. "Tikki and I are going to make sure you have the best day ever, so you'd better eat up. We have a lot to do!" He gave her a wide smile and waited for her to take a bite of her breakfast.

Marinette gave the food a cautious look. "It's obvious they tried, but..." she thought, poking the eggs with her fork. "The eggs are completely burnt and there's bits of eggshell in them. And this bread is smothered in peanut butter. I don't think I'll be able to swallow it! I should pretend to like it though. From the looks on their faces, I can tell they worked hard on this."

She took a bite of the eggs and began to chew. The texture was rough and the taste definitely wasn't five stars. The eggshells mixed in made for an... unusual experience.

"How is it?" Chat Noir asked eagerly, waving his tail in the air. "Is it delicious?"

"Yep... it's delicious." Marinette gave Chat a thumbs up though in her head she knew it was a major thumbs down.

"I knew I had the makings of a great chef! My cooking is purr-fect," Chat Noir replied haughtily. "Maybe I should start making you breakfast every morning."

"No! No, no... You don't have to do that. Really. Please don't."

"If you insist, princess. But if you ever want something special to eat, all you need to do is ask!"

"I'll take that into consideration." Marinette took a bite of the bread, the only edible thing on the plate. It was hard to swallow all that peanut butter. It coated her throat and mouth which made it hard to get down. Somehow she managed a few bites and then quickly set the dish aside. She would grab something else to eat downstairs when Chat Noir and Tikki weren't watching.

"Now that you've finished eating, we can get going!" Chat Noir exclaimed, nearly bouncing off the walls with excitement.

"Go where?"

"We're going to spend a day on the town. There's so many fun areas to explore! And then we can stop by the pond and catch fish again!" It was the perfect day at least in Chat Noir's mind. He hadn't really taken into consideration the things Marinette liked to do. The schedule was more the things he enjoyed.

Chat Noir grabbed Marinette's cloak off her chair and threw it on. "Look! Now I can travel around like a human and you can show me everything. I want to see all your favorite places! Oh! I also want to visit the music shop again and say thank you to that nice friend of yours."

"You seem more excited than me," Marinette giggled as she stepped out of bed. "I'll get ready then. Just let me fix my hair and change out of my nightgown, alright?" She decided on her usual pigtails and normal pink dress. Nothing too fancy since they were just spending the day in town.

Once she was changed, Marinette told Chat Noir, "Lead the way! It sounds like you've already got a plan in mind. I'm just along for the ride."

"Let's go then!" Chat Noir scooped up Marinette in his arms and opened the window, leaning over the edge. Tikki quickly flew into Marinette's pocket before she and Chat Noir could escape.

"Wait! What are we doing?" Marinette asked. She was surprised by the strength of Chat Noir's arms. He was muscular and fit which maybe wasn't unusual for a cat. His joyful expression and vivid, emerald eyes warmed her heart. He looked like a normal, human boy having fun. It was hard to believe that he was a black cat instead.

"We can't get caught by your parents, can we? So we'll have to go out this way. Hold on tight, princess!" Chat Noir fearlessly leaped from the window, his cloak fluttering in the wind. In a panic, Marinette grabbed tightly onto his arm. She wasn't used to such death-defying stunts when she wasn't Ladybug. At the touch of Marinette's hands, Chat Noir began to smirk, something she didn't notice. They landed safely on the ground and Chat let Marinette back onto her feet.

"Come now, my lady," Chat Noir bowed, offering Marinette his arm. "I'll be your escort today and your every wish is my command."

"Why thank you kind sir," Marinette curtsied. She hooked her arm around his and grinned. "You're the only boy in the world who can make me feel like a princess." She pulled herself close to him and set her head on his shoulder. She was the perfect height for it. With a sweet laugh, she added, "You must be my Prince Charming sent from the heavens. I've never met a gentleman as fine as you."

The sudden contact sent Chat Noir's head spinning. The suave attitude he was playing evaporated into nervousness. His chest tightened and his mouth was drier than cotton. "I-I..." he stammered, his cheeks turning bright red. "Um... Of course not! There's only one Chat Noir after all. I'm destined to be the hero of your dreams."

"You think so? There's some stiff competition out there. Think you can handle it?"

"I know I can."

To prove his point, Chat Noir lifted Marinette's head off his shoulder and promised to be right back. He sped off around the corner to a flower shop that he had noticed walking home with Marinette the other day. He pulled a few coins out of the cloak's pocket which Marinette had probably left by mistake and walked over.

He perused the options, looking for a flower that would suit Marinette. A pink carnation caught his attention. The shade of pink matched Marinette's gown and would look lovely in her hair. "Excuse me!" Chat Noir called, catching the attention of the girl working the shop. "Can I please have one of these?"

"You bet," the girl smiled. She pulled the carnation from its vase of water and handed it to Chat Noir. "Is it for a special young lady?" she giggled as she took Chat's money. "It doesn't look like you're buying it for yourself." Chat Noir nodded, trying to conceal his blush. "How cute!" the blonde girl gushed. "I bet she'll love it. That's so thoughtful of you." Chat Noir nodded and then quickly hurried back to Marinette.

"And where did you run off too?" Marinette asked as Chat Noir came back into view. "I was beginning to think you had abandoned me."

"I got you a special present." Chat pulled the carnation out from under his cloak and offered it to Marinette. "A beautiful flower for a beautiful princess."

"Oh! It's wonderful!" Marinette happily accepted the flower and smelled the petals. "It smells delightful. Would you help me put it in my hair? I want to wear it for the rest of the day."

Chat Noir used his claws to carefully cut the stem of the carnation to an appropriate length. Making sure not to scratch her face, he placed the carnation in Marinette's hair, just above her bangs. He stepped back and noticed the joyful expression on Marinette's face. She appeared to adore her present.

"How do I look?" she asked.

"Lovelier than every star in the sky," Chat Noir smiled. He had been waiting to see that cheerful countenance. All he wanted to do was make Marinette smile and it looked like he already succeeded.

"You're really laying it on thick with the compliments today so I have to find some way to repay the favor. Come closer." Marinette gestured for Chat Noir to draw near. Confused, Chat Noir stepped towards her and cocked his head to the side. What kind of repayment was she thinking about?

Marinette leaned forward on her toes and gave Chat Noir a peck on the cheek. "Thank you, kitty," she whispered into his ear. If only she knew how hard that hit him.

"She kissed me!" Chat Noir screamed internally as he touched his paw to his cheek. "She really kissed me! Her lips were so soft and... Princess, you don't know what you're doing to me." He had a strong feeling of butterflies in his stomach. He felt so light he thought the wind might blow him away.

"Is that music?" Marinette said suddenly, straining to hear into the distance. "I wonder if they're playing music in the square today! C'mon Chat! Let's go check it out! I absolutely love music!" She grabbed Chat Noir's arm and began to run towards the square, full of excitement. It had been a long time since she had experienced such a grand celebration.

The two made their way to the town square which was bustling with music and people. The square was the heart of the city. In the center was an old, marble fountain from the founding of Paris. Children were sitting on the edges, splashing themselves with water. The outskirt was surrounded by popular shops and a stage for performances. During holidays and festivals, the square was the best place to be. Sometimes people gathered around to have a little fun even if there was no cause for celebration.

In the center of the stage was a band playing music for the crowd. Two men were playing the violin, harmonizing with adjacent tunes. Another had a flute. The final man was playing a wooden guitar along to the sounds of the crowd. Chat Noir noticed his appearance was a bit odd. His hair was bright purple and his clothing quite eccentric. However, his playing was excellent.

"This is amazing!" Marinette exclaimed as she looked into the crowd. People were dancing around the square carefree. Everyone was swept up by the music and enjoying the fun. "This music is remarkable! Just listen! And look at all these people dancing!"

"Shall we join them?" Chat Noir asked, gently taking Marinette's hand. He gave her a kiss on the hand as an invitation.

"O-Oh... I don't know," Marinette blushed, biting her lip. "I'm not that good at dancing. I have two left feet. I'll step all over you."

"It's okay, m'lady. This alley cat has never danced a day in his life. Surely you must have at least a little more experience. We'll just let the music be our guide." Chat grabbed her other hand and spun her in a circle. "Shall we dance then?"

The two stepped into the dancing crowd. The music was upbeat and fast, so they didn't have much time to think. They interlocked their hands and let the music sweep them away. Filled with energy, they began to dance around, heart beats in sync. They wouldn't let their lack of skills slow them down.

"I thought you said you couldn't dance?" Marinette laughed as Chat Noir twirled her around. She lifted her dress as she danced around his body. Joining hands with him again, she winked and said, "You're quite good. Were you just trying to make me feel better?"

"It must be another hidden talent," Chat Noir remarked. "I'm full of surprises!"

Their bodies leaned in close, so close they were almost touching. He could feel the heat of her breath when she looked up at him. Thin beads of sweat were beginning to form on both their faces, but they were having too much fun to stop.

As the music began to pick up even more, Marinette found herself easily led by Chat Noir's movements. He took command of the rhythm, guiding her through a series of steps. Even when she stepped on his toes, he never said a word, only smiled. In his hands, she felt safe and secure. Mistakes didn't feel like mistakes. Her usual clumsiness didn't faze her with Chat Noir at her side. Perhaps it was because she couldn't tear herself away from his eyes.

They had an enchanting glow, full of life and vigor. Chat Noir was a happy cat so Marinette was used to seeing this expression. But today it somehow felt different. A strange warmth filled her body. It was a familiar feeling that she remembered experiencing a long time ago though she couldn't recall when. It felt like she was floating, like she and Chat were in their own little world.

"You're a quick learner too," Chat Noir smiled, dancing to the side. "You've already attracted the attention of everyone here." He glanced over at a group of young men sitting on the fountain. They were watching Marinette and whispering amongst each other. One of them pointed at the pigtailed girl. Chat felt a surge of jealousy and wished he hadn't said anything. He didn't want other guys throwing themselves at Marinette though he knew she wouldn't give them the time of day.

"I don't need their attention. The only person I care about is already my dance partner."

Chat Noir's ears stood straight up. "What does she mean by that?" he wondered, almost stepping on Marinette's feet. Her sudden comment was disrupting his dancing. "She probably didn't mean anything by it, but she's getting this poor cat's hopes up. Gah! I wish I could just tell her!" Unable to think of a response, he simply gave her an awkward cheshire-sized smile.

"Don't look so embarrassed," Marinette blushed as she jokingly pushed Chat away. "I'm one to talk," she thought. "Why am I getting so flustered? It's just that smile of his... Who does it remind me of?"

"The dance seems to be slowing down," Chat Noir noticed as he came to a stop. "Would you like to take a break? There's an area in the shade over there where we can rest."

He led her over to a patch of grass where they sat down under a tree. The area was well shaded, but they could still hear the music from the square. They both leaned their backs against the tree's trunk, relaxing.

"That was wonderful!" Marinette smiled, recounting a few minutes prior. "That's the most fun I've had in months. I didn't you think you'd be such a talented dancer."

"I didn't know either," Chat Noir replied humbly. "I'm discovering a lot of things about myself I didn't know. Did you know I can apparently play the piano?"

"Really? When did a cat like you get musical training?"

"Ha ha... I wish I knew. I just sat down and tried it when we went out a month ago and somehow my fingers just knew how to play. It's like today. Somehow my body just knew how to dance."

"Maybe you were nobility in your past life," Marinette joked. "I hear they spend all their time at parties, dancing and acting fancy. I try to pretend I'm not jealous, but I definitely am. Wouldn't it be incredible to have a ballroom dance every night and get to try on gorgeous dresses? And the food? I bet it's delicious, feasts for every meal! You wouldn't have to have a care in the world either. There are servants at your beck and call. What I wouldn't give to live a life like that..."

"I wish it were that nice..."

"What do you mean by that?" Marinette's eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "Did you secretly live in a castle without me knowing?"

"Oh no!" Chat Noir exclaimed, waving his hands in denial. "I don't know why I said that. It just kinda came out... But I don't know. It doesn't seem like all it's cracked up to be. Think about all the stress that comes with having power, all the restrictions. You're not free to do what you want."

"I never thought about it like that. Is this what you think about late at night?" Marinette giggled. "I didn't expect you to be a deep thinker. Cats must have just as many problems as humans."

"I guess so..." Chat Noir had a faraway look in his eyes that bothered Marinette. For the first time, he seemed so distant. Only a few minutes before he had been full of smiles, but now he looked depressed. It was if something was nagging at the back of his mind like a memory he had long forgotten.

"Maybe you really did live in castle," Marinette remarked, catching Chat's attention. "I mean, you don't remember anything, right? It's totally possible. Speaking of your amnesia, I know we haven't talked much about it. Have you begun to remember anything? I wish I could do more to help..."

"Don't worry, princess. It isn't your fault. Unfortunately, nothing comes to mind, but it might be better that way. I like the life I'm living now with you. It's hard to imagine being anything but Chat Noir at Ladybug's side. To think that there was something before that, I don't think I want to know anymore."

"Marinette's become my entire world," Chat Noir smiled to himself. "She's my everything. I don't think I need the past anymore now that I've got her. The future is brighter than the past ever could have been."

"Are you sure? What about your family? Friends? They might be out there looking for you."

"Alley cats don't have families or friends," Chat Noir sighed. "I'm just a stray off the street. I can almost guarantee there isn't much to my story. I don't know why I was obsessed with finding out in the first place. There was probably nothing to discover." Marinette noticed how dejected he sounded.

She placed her hand on his head and coaxed him into lying down on her lap. She pulled back the hood of his cloak and stroked his hair like she would his fur in his cat form. In the past, it tended to calm him down. "You have friends and family now," she whispered. "Tikki and I are always here for you. You won't be alone again."

"Thanks... Sorry for ruining your special day with my worries. It was supposed to be all about you, but I only made it worse."

"That's a complete lie. A day without you wouldn't be worth living. We're a team and your problems are my problems. We work through everything together. That's what partners do. You're not just some pet cat. You're my best friend. And besides, being with you makes me happy. Spending time like this has already made it the best day ever. You can consider it mission accomplished."

"Marinette, I-"

"You don't have to say anything," Marinette said, hushing him. "Thank you for giving me the best day ever. I know I've been mopey lately with all this Hawk Moth stuff. It's probably been stressing you and Tikki out. I'm sorry for that. I'm supposed to be a great hero, but even I find myself losing hope. With the two of us together though, I know we'll beat him someday. I shouldn't be worrying."

"I'm not lying. Being with Chat like this feels good. All my stress has somehow disappeared," thought Marinette, the warmth of the sun calming her. "I haven't felt this good since I first met Prince Adrien. He was my ray of sunshine... That's who Chat reminded me of! Those two have the same smile."

She glanced down at Chat Noir who had shut his eyes, finding peace on Marinette's lap. "They really are similar," Marinette giggled. "I don't know how I never noticed. With Chat here, it feels like Prince Adrien isn't that far away."

For once, thinking about the prince didn't upset her. Instead, she was recalling the brief, fond memories they shared. She didn't feel the need to lock her love up and throw away the key. "Maybe I can tell Chat now. I did promise to tell him eventually about the prince. He deserves to know. I mean, it's not like it's a big secret, but it's always been hard for me to talk about. But I don't feel that sad anymore."

"Chat, can I tell you something?"

"Only if I can tell you something first." Chat Noir opened his eyes and took a deep breath. "I know she only sees me as a partner, but now's my chance." His heartbeat to quicken. "The mood is perfect and she said so herself. I'm not just some cat anymore. Part of me is saying this is a bad idea, but I have to tell her! It's my only chance."

"Sure," Marinette innocently smiled. "What is it?'

"Marinette, I..."