Dear Journal,

"I think that's the last of it," Marinette says, looking around her empty apartment. Her voice sounds a bit hollow, just like the room, the sound of our voices echoing. Mama and Papa came over to have a cup of tea and after we repacked the tea set, its time to go. Papa is the first to start crying, setting the rest of it off. I may have had a loving aunt during my childhood, but there wasn't anyone but Papa that could fill the role as my father-figure.

Mama, as always, has some final advice before we leave. "Now, call anytime, both of you. But above all us, love and take care of each other." More hugs and kisses follow, plus more tears. Marinette and I hold hands as we wave goodbye, going to our "car."

We find a quiet alleyway to transform, reminding me of old times, and Marinette makes the portal. I wait for her to step through, but she's staring at something I can't see. "You go first, Kitten," she says, her voice soft.

Then I understand. Though I had the duty of M'lady's partner, Ladybug was the only one who could fix things. She's saying farewell to the city she protected for so many years. Then she steps through with me.

It takes our eyes a moment to adjust to the harsh tropical sunlight, and then the heat sets in. Marinette lets out a soft giggle, poking me gentle in the side. "Probably not the greatest outfit to be wearing, love." I give her a grin, hoping to cheer her up. "So, that does that mean I can break out the shorts and the Hawaiian shirt?" She shudders playfully. The things are gaudy with bright colors and Marinette can't stand them. "Tell you what," she thinks up a plan. "How about we do some cleaning and we get all hot and sweaty, we take a swim to cool off." I smile, and cradle her cheek in my hand. "You always have a plan, don't you, M'lady?" "A through Z, that's how this mind works." "There's just one problem with it though," I tell her, struggling to keep a straight face. "Oh? And that is?" "I'm already hot."

Her mouth drops open. "Why didn't I see that coming?" "Because you don't have the brain of a floofy floofball," I say, booping her nose. "You are so vain. Now, lets get started."

The cabin is dirty and Marinette hands me a broom as she gets the bucket heading down to the water to fill up the pail. As I dance with my broom of a partner, I keep my eye out for spiders. "Don't worry," Marinette says as she begins to clean the window with sudsy water. "Once we get this place sparkling, I think it will be very cozy."

The cabin may be a bit cleaner then when we started, but now we are the dirty ones. What a relief it is to transform into our Aqua Powers and take a refreshing swim. But I'm confused about something. "Where are all the fish?" I ask Ladybug. I mean, this is supposed to be a tropical island right?

"I know where they are," Ladybug says smugly. "There hiding from the catfish." That's it, Swishy Tail Mode has been activated. "I'm going to catch us a fish for dinner if its the last thing I do."

Marinette hunts for sticks around the island as I make my fishing pole, and find a large rock to perch on while I wait for a bite. I growl as I pull up another stick, another false alarm. "How's it going?" Marinette asks as she walks by with an arm full of wood. "These fish mock me," I growl. "Yeah, they mock you because they know you'd give them a big old chomp! Bye!" She sauntered off.

At last, I catch one and carefully bring it over to where she has a fire going and innocently looks up from a blue mug. "I caught one. Are you drinking coffee and didn't think to tell me?" Her face flushes in the heat of the fire. "Who said I was sharing?" I laugh and we both get to work.

For all the work that went into catching the fish, it sure tastes great cooked over a fire. Marinette bakes some baked potatoes and we have a small slice of pie that Mama made for us. "Would you like to turn in? Or stay out under the stars?" I ask. Marinette gives a huge yawn. "As romantic as that sounds, I think stargazing will have to wait until another night." Her voice slurs at the end and I lift her into my arms. "Okay, I'll carry you." "Does that make you feel happy?" she asks with a sleepy smile snuggling into my chest. "What?" "You finally got to carry your Princess." "Hey, one of these days, you really will be in distress and I'll be the fur ball you saved you." "Can't wait."

We set up the floor mattress earlier as I have yet to put the bed together. Hm, does that make me a handyman?

The bed is so soft and comfy that we both fall asleep at once. Morning comes before we know it, but we're together. "Coffee," Marinette groans sitting up. "Oh, come on. Aren't I supposed to b the first thing on your mind in the morning?" Marinette breaks into a grin, snapping her fingers. "Oh, right! Your the one who's going to make the coffee!" I should have seen that coming. "Okay, I'll make the coffee if…." my hand is gilding over to her getting ready to tickle. "If you can escape the tickle monster!" "Adrien, no!" Marinette shrieks and we stumble out of bed chasing each other.

Finally, we do a truce at the island and she comes around wrapping her arms around my bare stomach. "Why do I feel this is another trap?" I ask, hugging her back. "Is not a trap, because your so warm and and so squishable." "Thanks. I feel so loved." She snorts as I fill the coffeepot with grounds. "So, love, can I ask you a question?" I ask all innocently, knowing she loved one of perfume ads when we were younger. "Shoot." "What smells better? The smell of coffee, or the scent of Radiant. Carefree. Dreamy. Adrien the Fragrance." "You...you…" she splutters. "I'm still waiting for a answer." "Your going to need some that perfume to cover up your sweat when I'm done chasing you!"

So as the coffee brews its another round of chase. "M'lady, all this chasing has made me hungry. Would you be so kind to make some vittles before I pass out from hunger." she rolls her eyes and gets out the pancake mix from the cupboard. "Like I said, Drama King."

After we eat, Marinette wants to do some more cleaning and I want to inspect where to put the garden. Its a beautiful day and Marinette was nice enough to make me a sunhat so I come back looking like Cat and not a lobster.

However, once I see the green patch and the scent floats past my nose I'm a goner. "Claws Out!" I yell as I run towards the green. Its my lucky day for I have a found a small patch of catnap! I meow with delight, rolling about. This is a cat's coffee, all right. And I have to say, bring it on. But when I sit up, I am covered head to toe in mud. Oh, no, Marinette is going to kill me. But hey, if I don't survive, what a way to go.

"Princess?" I stand in the open doorway, and Marinette looks up, hearing the tone of my voice. "I have have found a patch of catnip?" Marinette comes over to lean in the doorway. "Why am I not surprised? Okay, I'll run the bath."

She sends me back out as soon as I'm dry, but warns me to stay away from the evil catnip. Heeding her advice (this time) I take a different route.

I find a perfect spot for the garden with just the right amount of sunlight and shade and even better, a small stream is right beside it. I can already picture the colorful veggies, and I start to get excited.

Even though I joke about veggies being evil, there a good source of niturion. I make a quick detour to pick up a hoe, and head back to start digging in the soil. I can't wait to start planting seeds and even Marinette comes to check on my progress with a glass of lemonade.

"Looking good. I'll have lunch ready in about a hour. But if you get to hot, come back early. That sun is scorching."

I take a nap after lunch, for being out in the hot sun has zapped my energy. Marinette encourages me to take it easy, and she's right, I don't want to get overheated.

Instead, we bake a batch of cookies and have them with a jug of milk. When buying the place, I purchased a canoe and soon we plan to explore the other islands. Marinette is very excited about one of them, especially when she found out that there's a Farmer's Market Day and a Craft Fair Day. "I'll brave to get some more supplies of course," she tells me that night at supper. "But we could bring in some extra money after I get back into sewing." "And I could sell fish and veggies there once in awhile." It feels good to talk about our new beginnings in our new home.

I don't even miss the hustle and bustle of Paris, for we are always hustling and bustling around here. To my delight, Marinette falls in love with the island and immediately makes some new friends. Even I make a friend or two with their husbands, who are all hard working farmers.

We're still settling into our new life, but for new beginnings, we couldn't ask for a sweeter start.

-Adrien Agreste