The remainder of the week went by so fast Marinette barely had time to breathe, much less time to think.

On Monday her graduation was held in the university's courtyard.

She left her hair down and opted for a subtle, natural face. She looked herself over in the mirror before applying her favorite mascara to add a touch of drama to the look. She was wearing the traditional black robes over a cute, simple burgundy-red dress with tulle trim that she had designed for the occasion. When she looked in the mirror, Marinette couldn't help but smile at the pretty young woman looking back at her. She was perched atop black leather stilettos that were somewhat life-threatening for the clumsiness queen she was. Sure, she had grown quite confident in her field, but she still managed to trip over thin air from time to time. A golden chain around her neck finished her carefully planned look. She was utterly gorgeous and unmistakably fashionable at the same time.

Needless to say, her parents were among the crowd, along with Alya and Nino. All of them hollering loud cheers when Marinette's name was called. With a wide smile, she stepped on stage to receive her diploma with shaking fingers from Gabriel Agreste himself, her university's guest of honour. She stood briefly beside the high-end designer to let the photographer and her family to snap a few pictures for posterity, completely unable to tear the grin from her face. She could perfectly see the pride in her family's eyes for her and her alone. Seeing her mother clinging to Alya's arm, happy tears running down her face, while Nino and her father were grinning widely at her, shooting her thumbs up made her heart flutter. They believed in her.

They always had.

She went back to sit among her fellow graduates, somehow managing to avoid tripping over her feet and way-too-high heels on the way. Marinette couldn't help the overwhelming satisfaction swelling in her chest. She had done it: all by herself, without relying on anyone else. She had worked her ass off in the past years, taking commissions, tutoring fellow students, and doing side projects for her teachers to make ends meet. She had survived on very little sleep and more than a little caffeine, but in the end, it had all been worth it. She had paid her rent and tuition all by herself, went through crazy ups and downs and still managed to graduate top of her class and without owing a penny. Unable to contain the joy and pride in her chest, Marinette snuck her phone out of her purse as the class president began her goodbye speech. Settling her mortarboard on her lap, she quickly snapped a picture of it on her black graduation robes with a little of the deep red tulle peeking out and sent it to Chat Noir.

[Ladybug] I've done it, Chat! University is over! Can you believe Gabriel Agreste handed me my diploma?

The reply she got barely five minutes later sent her heart soaring,

[Chat Noir] Was there even any doubt you could do it, princess? 3

Tuesday proved to be even more stressful as she had to cram in three internships interviews in the same day.

Marinette was running on a meager three hours of sleep because she had spent most of the night trying to figure out the perfect outfit. She couldn't afford a misstep, not when Agreste's internship was rationally out of her reach. If she was honest with herself, none of those interviews were leading to the one apprenticeship she truly had her eye on. But given that she hadn't heard back from Gabriel Agreste yet, it was clear that he had chosen another applicant out of the thousands of portfolios he had received. She had to fall back to one of her second choices.

She had to look pretty yet professional, but she still wanted to showcase her love for fashion that's what it was really about. In the end, after much fretting and a few frantic and desperate texts to both Chat Noir and Alya, she settled on a deep red, high-waisted pencil skirt that fell just below her knees. It was a safe choice that would be both stylish and appropriate for an interview, especially when paired with a more daring shirt that left her shoulders and collar bare. Eyeing her beloved and comfortable pink ballet flats regretfully, she picked a pair of pitch black kitten heels from her closet. Going for stilettos probably would've been more fitting, but seeing as she had somehow managed to walk away unscathed from her graduation ceremony, she wasn't ready to push her luck.

Snapping a picture of herself from the chin down in front of her full-length mirror, she received the feedback she craved in about thirty seconds.

[Alya] You'll have 'em eating out of the palm of your hand! Go get 'em, girl!

[Chat Noir] Wow. Is it too late to offer you an internship so I can see you dressed up like this everyday? =^.^=

She thanked them both for their input, and left her apartment, buzzing with confidence.

All three interviews went incredibly well and two of them led to offers.

She asked both for a few days of reflection, still clinging to a faint hope of hearing news from Agreste, despite knowing that the odds they'd contact her were slim.

Wednesday was the most emotionally straining day of the week.

With Alya's wedding only a few days away, she and Marinette had to do the final fitting for her dress, so the young woman would have enough time to do any needed alterations.

The young designer knew it should fit and live up to Alya's expectations (which had been pretty low, to be perfectly honest), but she wanted it to be the perfect dress that would fulfill her friend's wildest dreams.

Both girls stood utterly stunned, staring at the redhead's reflection in Marinette's mirror. The gown had a ballroom floor-length silk skirt, gathered around Alya's full hips. The bodice was made of white lace sewn on top of sparkling white satin, in a Queen Anne neckline that made the girl look simply amazing.

Gazing at her own reflection, the normally confident Alya stumbled over her words. "T-t-hanks Marinette. It-I… There wasn't anything remotely like this in the stores we went to." Alya chuckled at how cheesy that sounded.

Marinette smiled fondly, straightening the shoulder of the dress. "I'm happy you like it. I worked hard on it, I wanted it to be perfect."

Rubbing her suddenly watery eyes, Alya clasped her hand. "Say, girl… Even when I'm married, you'll still stick around, right?"

The young woman took a second to ponder where that thought might have come from. Seeing as she didn't have a single clue, she just stared at her friend, bewildered. "Don't worry Alya, you're stuck with me through thick and thin. You won't get away from me so easily!" Marinette laughed, wrapping her arms around her friend

Their laughs soon morphed into tears as they hugged each other tightly.

"Everything is changing," Alya tearfully said, wiping her face with the back of her hand.

Marinette hugged her closer, "Not us. Nothing will ever change between us."

That night, Marinette went to bed early, completely exhausted, even though in the end the dress had proved to be perfect just as it was and didn't need any alterations.

Her slumber was so deep she never even heard her phone chime.

[Chat Noir] Goodnight princess, sweet dreams 3

Despite her promises to Alya the day before, on Thursday Marinette woke up with a sudden loneliness weighing down on her. A feeling that she was getting more and more often as of late. A feeling that was stifling her, making her days heavy on her shoulders. Alya and Nino were getting married. Her parents were busy with the bakery and she didn't see them nearly as often as she would've liked to.

Marinette had worked so hard through her university years that she hadn't made any real friends in the process. Every night she came back to an empty and lifeless apartment, and she knew that once she'd start working in the industry things would only get worse. She was the type of person that would spend the night in her office to finish a design if she didn't have a reason to come back home.

Truth be told, the only friend she could always rely on was Chat Noir. And since she had her phone with her at all times, he wouldn't be enough of a reason to go back home at night. She got out of bed, resolving to follow his advice for once.

Two hours later, she found herself in a local animal shelter, scanning the cages for someone to come home to. As she was looking in the different cages, she heard a small sneeze. Turning around, she spotted a small calico kitten wiggling her nose as if trying to avoid sneezing again. It didn't work, she sneezed again and Marinette's heart melted.

"You're getting adopted today, Lucky Girl."

Once she found the cutest kitten in the shelter, she happily made her way to the front, mentally planning her upcoming shopping spree to the pet shop. She'd need a litter box, bowls, cat food, litter, toys, had to plan vet bills…

But looking at the small ball of fur curled up in her arms, she knew it was all well worth it. She paid the adoption fees without even a second thought. The second she stepped foot in her apartment, she quickly snapped a picture of the kitten sound asleep in the crook of her left arm.

[Ladybug] has sent you a picture.

[Ladybug] Hey there kitty. As of this moment, you have competition for my heart!

[Ladybug] Meet Tikki.

His reply came barely five minutes later:

[Chat Noir] Competition huh? Could bring her down in seconds! (Who in their right mind names a cat Tikki?)

Marinette laughed as she released a shy kitten in her living room.

[Ladybug] You do. Well, Ttyki was really, really awkward, so I settled on Tikki for her instead. I hope that doesn't hurt your precious feelings.

[Chat Noir] =O.O=

[Chat Noir] Quite the opposite! I'm honoured you remembered my suggestion. Hey there Tikki!

[Chat Noir] What's our beautiful, brand new daughter up to today? =^.^=

Friday morning found Marinette exhausted, yet ready to tackle the entire world.

Tikki had spent the whole night rather noisily exploring her new environment, managing to knock over a potted plant along with some discarded coffee mugs despite her small size. The ensuing ruckus had meant next to no sleep for Marinette, who decided at some point to spend the night sleeping on the couch supervising her kitten. She didn't have anything important to do that day (finally!) , so she figured she could use a little nap and finally allowed herself to close her eyes while Tikki fought viciously with a piece of yarn. Just as the young woman finally was on the verge of falling asleep, the postman knocked on her door.

Instantly startled out of her sleepiness, Marinette bolted for the door, tripping over Tikki in the process, and almost breaking her neck in her tumble. As soon as she cracked the door open, a clipboard was rudely shoved in her face. "Registered letter for Mlle Dupain-Cheng. Sign next to the X, Mademoiselle."

The postman was already long gone before her stunned brain managed to register exactly what she was holding in her hands.

On the good quality envelope, printed in bold colours, was the Agreste logo.

Hands shaking, she reached for her phone, a reflex that had become a second nature by now. She knew Chat Noir was working at the moment, but she had promised him she'd tell him as soon as she'd heard from her favourite internship.

[Ladybug]: Kitty! It's here! I'm holding it right now!

It didn't even take ten minutes to Chat respond, despite being in the middle of work. Still, that ten minutes felt excruciatingly long to Marinette, who kept staring at the envelope in her hands until she heard her phone chime.

[Chat Noir]: So? Quick, tell me the news! (Before my boss fires me would be nice.)

Giggling to herself, Marinette typed back,

[Ladybug]: I don't know yet. I mean, what am I even supposed to do? Can't stop shaking. What if I'm out?

[Chat Noir]: OPEN THE GODDAMN ENVELOPE LB!

Giggling with giddy anxiety, Marinette opened the envelope with unsteady fingers. There it was: the letter she had been waiting for. The letter she had been dreaming of. Eyes foggy with bent up pressure, she desperately tried to make out words in fine print before her.

"Mlle Dupain-Cheng:

It is with great pleasure that Agreste would like to offer you the opportunity of a design internship with our company.

We feel it worth mention that all five jury members upon reviewing your application this position selected your portfolio as their first choice. This is unprecedented.

We are confident your dedication for your career in design and your work with our team will live up to the expectations set by your portfolio.

We look forward to working with you.

Nathalie Sancoeur

on the behalf of M. Gabriel Agreste"

[Chat Noir]: So? Don't leave me hanging here! Coworkers glaring at me!

Marinette chuckled at her phone.

[Ladybug]: I GOT IN! CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?

It was a few minutes before her phone chimed again.

[Chat Noir]: I always knew you could do it!

[Chat Noir]: Sorry, had to escape to the bathroom before I could answer!

[Chat Noir]: (I don't know if I will make it through today! One of my coworkers looked like he was ready to murder me. If he kills me please send someone over to feed Plagg.) =x.x=

Laughing at loud by then, Marinette only managed to reply:

[Ladybug]: Seeing as I don't even know where you live, that would be a hard promise to keep.

A brief pause, before the three telltale dots began moving again

[Chat Noir]: Gotta go before one of them skins me alive. Can I talk to you tonight?

[Ladybug]: As always. Go kitty, before you lose yet another of your nine lives!

Putting her phone down and grinning ear to ear, Marinette clutched the letter to her heart, still letting it sink in.

No second interview. No additional questions. Her portfolio alone had been enough to land her an awesome internship, one that could really kick-start her fashion career.

Grabbing her coat, she made sure Tikki was safe and hurried out. She couldn't wait to break the good news to her parents and Alya.