A/N: I just wanted to take the time to apologize to all of my viewers for my hiatus on my fics for the last eight months or so. I know it's very wrong to keep everyone waiting, but the school year was very rough for me. When you attend a college preparatory high school and slap that together with junior year you make a brand new layer of hell that renders any chance of having a social life or maintaining hobbies futile. However, now I've finally made it to summer break so I hope to update more often, especially since Miraculous Ladybug has had many great episodes that have fueled new ideas for me lately. Thank you for hanging in there everyone and my deepest apologies to you all. Love you 3

6. Stand Out in the Rain

Marinette let out a breath of contentment as she observed raindrops tiptoeing along the Parisian cityscape in a light drizzle. On a gloomy day under the cobblestone overhang of her school, she had learned to appreciate its cascading choreography as it opened her eyes to her first love

Adrien Agreste.

Wiggling her fingers, Marinette stretched her arm out to greet the mist. The cool drops felt like light, effervescent kisses against her pale skin - both inviting and invigorating. Keeping a steady pace with its rhythmic pitter patter, she departed on her stroll to her parent's bakery. Before she could move very far an arm gently draped over her shoulder.

"It's raining cats and dogs out here y'know. Why aren't you using the umbrella I loaned you before?"

Green eyes bore into her cerulean orbs and for a split second, she'd mistaken Adrien Agreste for none other than Chat Noir. However, her cosmic good fortune allowed her to dodge that train of thought before it ran off the steep side of a cliff.

"H-hi Adrien." She stammered, hoping she could pass her nerves off as chills from the frigid drops.

"Hey. Saw you standing out here alone. Thought you could use the company." He greeted, noting her shivers. "Here, use this instead." He shrugged off his raincoat and placed it atop her shuddering shoulders.

Her features bloomed a scarlet red.

"T-thanks."

"No problem. Let me walk you home." He offered, ever the charming gentlemen.

Marinette fumbled, sporadically waving her hands from side to side. "Y-you don't have to do that. My house isn't that far from the school. I'll be fine."

"It's no trouble Marinette. Besides, I like the rain. As I can see you do as well. When you were watching it earlier I could've sworn that your eyes looked just like the drops in the sky." He trailed off, blushing as he realized the gravity of his words.

Again, she flushed a bright crimson.

"S-sure." She finally muttered, clutching the poncho as if it could ground her.

He broke out into a big grin, one that could catch fire and melt malice.

It was then that she realized he was her sun. Again, she'd fallen head over heels for him like the rain that danced before her feet.

7. Summarize the 1,000 Words of a Picture

"Miraculous Ladybug!" Paris's famous super-heroine shouted with the toss of her yo-yo.

In an array of dazzling colors, her powers restored the city, its inhabitants, and a worn, sepia photograph in the palm of her hand.

Though its corners were frayed and the image was smudged it was clear that the subjects of the photo were as happy as could be.

In the center of the scene, Chat Noir laughed as a flock of children tugged at his limbs.

The picture had been taken for a newspaper article and it had obviously been damaged; perfect fodder for an akumatization.

Although Ladybug often chastised his incessant flirting and his inappropriate comedic timing, she always knew he had a big, warm heart. She just hadn't realized how much he impacted the world around him until now.

Spotting him with the disoriented victim, she pulled him aside and showed him the heartwarming illustration.

"You know, someone valued the love between you and those kids enough to fight for it. That says a lot." Ladybug professed, beaming at him with pride.

"Really?" He asked, casting her a vulnerable glance. "Sometimes I just feel like yesterday's news."

"According to this picture you're worth more than a thousand words. Pound it?" She asked, extending her first.

"Pound it."

8. Daydream Into the Night (about her of course)

"Adrien." Plagg called, prodding the boy with a midnight black paw

"Adrien." Again, he nudged him a little harder.

"Adrien!" He shouted as the teen jumped with a start. "You were daydreaming again." He supplied, easing the tingling hairs on the back of his neck. He'd feared that Plagg's alarms were signaling another akuma's arrival.

"Then why would you scare me like that?" He asked with an exasperated sigh.

"Because this pastime of yours is becoming borderline obsessive. Though it doesn't hold a candle to my relationship with camembert, that flame is starting to spread like a forest fire."

"Sorry, but that ad on my computer reminded me of Ladybug." He explained, rubbing the back of his next abashedly.

Plagg stared at him with a dumbfounded expression.

"And how exactly does a car commercial bring Ladybug to mind?"

"Because it was showcasing a beetle bug…" He chuckled. "I'll have to start calling her that. Maybe she'll do that thing where she scrunches up her nose and her eyes flash like traffic lights warning you to slow down or stop altogether but only make you want to pump the gas pedal and-"

"Kid, you're doing it again!" Plagg snapped. "If you keep this up you're going to have to start storing camembert in some very unsavory places!" He threatened.

Adrien paled.

"Fine, fine! I'll just have to settle on seeing her more. And I know just how to do that." He glanced at Plagg with a smirk.

"Wait, wait Adrien think about what you're doing here-"

"Plagg claws out!"

9. Connect Her Dots

Ladybug cracked her knuckles with a sigh. Another akuma down and rather than reveling in the wake of her latest victory, she could only yawn with fatigue.

"That was quite a match. You really knocked the spots off of Timetagger m'lady!" Chat Noir joked, hoping she would offer him a slight smile.

"Yeah, but I feel beat too…" She trailed off, looking at him with tired, bluebell eyes.

His heart dropped. He hated seeing his lady so worn down.

"But I guess that's the price to pay to save Paris from the baddies." She continued rolling her shoulder as if it were a cog in a clock that was out of place.

"Here, let me help with that." He offered. Before she could protest he gently grasped her shoulders and started rubbing light circles. He made his way down her back, kneading the surprisingly hard knots that bunched around her blades.

She relaxed into his touch, relishing in the relief it brought.

"It's almost like you're making biscuits, huh Chat Noir." She quipped, giggling at her own joke.

He laughed as well. He would give anything to hear his lady laugh like that for the rest of his life.

As the time passed, she seemed to melt more into his touch. She showed no inclination to move as the stars started to dot the dusky sky.

Chat Noir too, grew more content as he lazily drew hearts along her spine. He soon started to trace lines between each dot that adorned her suit.

And the two sat like that for the remainder of the night, connecting like dots with no resolve to let go.

10. Put a Cherry on Top

"Strawberry with black chocolate chip, blackberries for her hair, blueberry ice cream just like her sky blue stare." Andre recited as if he were singing lyrics to a love song.

Adrien watched with downcast eyes as he constructed the mountain of ice cream before him. Not even the sweet treat could put him out of his misery today.

"On the house!" Andre exclaimed, hoping he could bring a smile to the boy's face. He hated seeing his customers frown when they should be spending life with a smile. Especially after he had been akumatized by Hawkmoth when the daughter of Tom and Sabine (one of the most infamous couples he had brought together) had denied the power of his deserts.

"Thanks Andre." Adrien muttered, offering him a polite grin. It wasn't much, but Andre had learned that he couldn't force magic to casts its spells instantly. He'd have to wait and hope that the boy would find his love soon.

With a wave, Adrien walked to a park bench and sat down to nibble at the first scoop.

"Want some company?" A bubbly voice asked as he came face to face with Marinette.

"Sure." He answered, making room for her to join him.

"What's the matter Adrien? You seem down." She asked concern etched across her features.

"It's nothing." He responded automatically. As the son of Gabriel Agreste, he had learned to bottle his problems, for anyone in the fashion industry had to look good for the camera and the audience behind it at all times.

"Maybe this will cheer you up." Marinette commented, plucking the cherry from her own ice cream and placing it atop his. "I always find that a cherry on top makes the problems stop." She laughed nervously.

"Now you sound like Andre." Adrien laughed, touched by the sweet gesture. Though he wanted to open up to Marinette, he didn't want to drag her into the depths of his woes. Even if he did, that would take time that he didn't have as the Gorilla parked along the side of the Pont Des Arts.

"Looks like I have to go. Thanks for saving my day, super Marinette." He said, offering her a genuine smile.

As he walked towards his ride, he couldn't help but glance back at the girl. Had her lips always looked so cherry red? He wondered as she smiled brightly at him, waving her hand in return.