AN: Thanks so much for the comments so far! This chapter is a little long because it was just a bit of filler at first but then I decided to just make it long instead of two separate chapters. Next chapter should be up tomorrow unless I'm somehow super productive tonight! Keep commenting I'd love to hear your thoughts and suggestions!

Chapter 4: Dresses and Opportunities

Adrein finally made it home just as his transformation wore off. He had never noticed how close Marinette's house was to his, well by rooftop anyway. His grumpy kawami landed with a huff on his desk.

"Cheeeesssseeeeeee!" Plagg moaned, Adrein rolled his eyes and went for his secret stash.

"Here you go." The kawami that had been completely drained before sprang to life and attacked the cheese full force.

"Wut-h-was-tht-lbout?" Plagg mumbled through a mouthful of cheese.

"Plagg you know I cant understand you with cheese in your mouth," Adrein grabbed a spare towel from the closet and began to towel dry his hair.

"I said, what was that all about?" Plagg said before immediately stuffing his face again.

"You mean Marinette?"

"Mhmmm-mmmm"

"I don't know Plagg, I mean at school she seems almost scared around me." He sighed, he really did want to be friends with her but it was clear something about him had scared her off.

"But when I'm Chat…she's…different…more confidant. She even jokes around with me almost like…" Ladybug. He felt his heart clench. What was he doing flirting with another girl? His heart had always undoubtedly belonged to his Lady. But recently…she told him about another guy, which means she didn't have feelings for him. Well at least not in the way he wanted. He would always love her and respect her but lately it was becoming more and more painful with each rejection.

"I'm going to go see her again."

"Mmmmmm, who now?" Plagg peered from over his bulging cheese filled belly.

"Marinette. I think I'll go see her, as Chat Noir. Tomorrow." Adrein made up his mind, committing to the plan. Plagg had fallen asleep on the desk and was mumbling about cheese in his sleep. Adrien smiled and got dressed for bed.

Marinette woke to the smell of fresh pastries. That was one of the upsides to living in a bakery. She stretched, glancing at her alarm.

9:00AM

"OH NO!" Marinette jumped a foot in the air and dashed out of bed to her closet, scrambling for clothes.

"I'M LATE! I'M LATE! I'M LATE!" she yelled as she dashed about her room. That stupid cat had kept her up later than she had planned and now she was paying for it.

"Mari? Sweetie?" Her mother called up from downstairs.

"MOM I'M LATE!" Marinette yelled with one foot in her pink jeans causing her to loose her balance and topple over.

CRASH

"OOFFF-"

Sabine shook her head; sometimes her daughter could be so dramatic.

"Honey! Listen to me!" she called again.

"What mom?!" Marinette stopped while trying to brush her teeth and simultaneously brush her hair.

"Sweetie it's Saturday." Sabine replied.

"Oh." Marinette let her arms fall to her side. She placed her toothbrush back in the bathroom and placed her slippers on her feet.

"Grab me some cookies will you?" Tikki called from her spot on Marinette's pillow.

"Sure thing." She proceeded down stairs and was met by her parents busily making breakfast.

"Eggs Honey?" he father asked, cracking two eggs into a pan.

"Yes please!" she stuffed a few scones into her pocket for Tikki.

"So what are you up to today dear?" Her mother inquired, taking a seat at the table with her tea.

"Oh I think I'm going to go to the movies with Alya and Nino tonight."

"Well I'm sure that will be fun, but sweetie…" her mother gave her a concerned look, "Won't that be a little awkward?" She knew what her Mom meant. Recently Alya and Nino had started dating, and she was for the most part happy for her friend. But it did make things, difficult sometimes.

"You might be right…" Marinette didn't mean to sound so dejected, but sometimes she just needed some girl time.

"Well maybe if you brought a date too?"

"Wh-What?!" Marinette almost chocked on her eggs.

"What about Nino's friend, the blonde one?"

"ADRIEN?" Marinette didn't mean to yell, and quickly tried to recover her composure by stuffing her mouth full of food. Her Father looked startled, but her Mother just looked pleased with herself.

"Um…I mean…actually on second thought I think I'm feeling a bit under the weather I think I'll stay home and work on my new designs instead…"

"Oh sweetie I only meant you should find someone to go with, I didn't mean to put you off-"

"No Mom it's really okay, I've actually got a lot of work to do on a few commissions I've got." She really hadn't wanted to go the movies anyway; it was some science fiction horror movie that Alya and Nino had been dying to see. The only reason she was just going along to spend time with Alya.

"Thanks for breakfast I'm going to head out and buy some fabric for that dress I'm making, Kay?" she placed her dishes in the sink and gave her mother a quick kiss on the cheek.

"Okay honey!" Sabine smiled as her daughter climbed the stairs back to her room. As if she thought her own mother didn't know about her crush on the Model boy. It was just a matter of time. Mothers know everything.

Marinette ventured out into town and stopped by her favorite fabric supplier.

She had been eyeing a particular spool of deep red material for a dress she designed.

It was rather expensive but she needed a pick-me-up if she wasn't going out with Alya tonight. As she walked out of the shop with her new project a hand reached out grabbing her shoulder. Her Ladybug like instincts kicked in, dropping her bag she gripped the hand on the pressure point between the knuckles and swiftly twisted upwards contorting her attackers arm into a painful angle.

"Whoa hey! It's me! It's me!" It was Chat Noir and he was bent over with a pained smile on his face.

"Oh my god Chat! I'm so sorry!" Marinette said hurriedly releasing him, he stood up rubbing his arm, but he didn't look mad.

"Who would have guessed kitty has claws?" he winked and picked up he bag she had drooped.

"Don't be cheeky! What do you want Chat? " Marinette stuck out her hand motioning for her bag back.

"What's this Princess?" Some of the red fabric had jostled out of the bag when she had dropped it.

"Just some fabric for a dress I'm working on." Her hand was still outstretched, Chat handed the bag back to her. Marinette turned and started to walk away quickly.

"So you like to design clothes?" he said quickly matching her brisk pace.

"Yes, I do. Are you following me Chat?" she said turning on him, her hands were on her hips and she had one eyebrow raised. She was kind of cute when she's mad, Chat thought.

"Of course not Princess, I was merely concerned for your safety!" he said giving a dramatic swooping bow. When he looked up from his bow she was already half a block down the street.

"HEY! Wait up!" he dashed after her, as she glanced behind her she shook her head and sighed. He's just going to keep following me if I don't stop, thought Marinette. She stopped long enough for him to catch up.

"Really Chat, what is it you want from me?"

"Nothing but the pleasure of your company Princess." He said his voice breathy from running to catch her.

"Don't you have a ball of yarn to play with or something?" Marinette said a small smile playing on her lips.

"No, and it seems Paris is at peace today so I'm free…" she began walking again but not at such a fast pace, and chat fell into step beside her.

"Well unfortunately I'm not. I have a lot of work I have to get done on this dress tonight."

"Ah well maybe I could come and visit you while you work?" Chat had meant the suggestion to sound smooth but it came out a little too eager.

"Well…." Marinette had a thought, she smiled and her grin gave Chat a bad feeling.

"I do need a model, so I can make the needed alterations…." She smirked at Chat's scared and slightly puzzled expression.

"I-uh-well…" Chat stumbled over his words, not knowing how to respond. Of course as Adrien he modeled clothes all the time but the thought of standing in a dress getting stuck with pins and needles didn't thrill him.

Marinette laughed, in the time they had been talking they had managed to make it all the way back to her families bakery.

"See you later Kitty." She giving him one of his own signature winks, and headed inside.

"What have I gotten myself into?" Chat said scratching his head.

Marinette grabbed a few cookies from the shop slipping it into her purse and headed up to her room.

"Do you think that was smart Mari?" Tikki said munching on the cookie.

"Hmm? Oh Chat?" She removed the fabric from the bag, smoothing it out over her work surface.

"If your spending time with him as Marinette and Ladybug he might make the connection." Tikki said finishing the cookie and reaching for the next.

"I think it will be fine Tikki and you heard him he wouldn't leave me be!"

"Uh-huh, but still I think you should be careful." The kawami cautioned, going from cute to stern in an instant.

"I will be Tikki. I promise." Marinette patted the kawami on the head and retuned to her work. Maybe it wouldn't be too bad to have some company while she worked. It would at least be someone to talk to, since Alya was so busy all the time now with Nino and the Lady Blog. And besides all that, Chat would look ridiculous in a dress and who could pass up and opportunity like that?