"Adrien! Adrien!" The reporters rush into the alleyway just as Ladybug disappears and swarm around me, reminding me of annoying flies. "Was that Ladybug with you? Why did she run away?" I give a fake smile and push down my anger. "You scared her, and she rarely gives interviews. What if a villain saw it? You should be more considerate." The reporters back away, mumbling under there breath and I don't care if I'm tomorrow's gossip in their paper.

I leave in the same direction Ladybug did, expect more slowly and head towards home. Father left me the mansion when he died, and knowing that Felix being a bachelor all alone in London, invited him to live with me, for I have plenty of room.

I go up to my room and dig through my drawers, having to tug on one drawer that's a bit sticky from lack of use. "Lend a hand here, Plagg?" I ask my Kwami. We count to three, and the drawer slides out suddenly, catching me in the stomach. "Ugh," I groan, giving the drawer a glare. Moments later though, I'm reaching into the drawer taking out several photo albums and plopping down on my bed. I leaf through my secret photo stash slowly of pictures of M'lady from old times past. I smile fondly at one of my oldest pictures when I local artist made a statue of us. I knew Ladybug enjoyed my company "most days" but wasn't quite ready to accept me as her best friend yet. However, she had already captured my heart. Looking at all these pictures brings back warm and happy memories , but it makes my heart ache at the same time for old times.

I jump as Felix raps on my door loudly. "Enter!" I call, and try not to giggle as he walks in with a spalta and wearing a striped apron. "I thought you were home when I saw your light on under your door. What were you looking at?" "Oh, nothing," I try to keep my voice light, but Felix sees right through me. "Come on, let me see." I hand him one of the albums and he smiles at me. "So, got a soft spot for the bug, huh?" "Yeah. I saw her earlier today. She looked sad." "Come on, you can tell me about it over lunch, before the grilled cheese gets cold." I grin. "We need to find you a wife that actually knows how to cook." Felix may be as sharp as a whip, but he doesn't know how to cook much. Unfortunately, I'm not much better. "Hey, I've been talking to Kagami over Zoom. She may just arrive in time for the sewing class I'm hosting. Marinette Dupain-Cheng is coming." If there would be any girl in the world besides Bugaboo I would date, it would be Marinette. But soon I'll be busy making a shoot with a random girl for the magazine. "I'm to busy working to date," I tell Felix as I tuck into my sandwich.

Felix turns to me, a serious look on his face. "If they were special enough, you do anything to make time." The days after that pass quickly, and before I know it its the day I interview people for the shoot. My photographers have set up several mock shoots so the girls can get comfortable in different settings and posing for the camera.

I can tell right off the bat at who is comfortable and who is shy, and some are a little to comfortable. "Fifteen minutes!" Vincent yells, and I try not sprint away from a girl who if my mangers weren't watching, I'm sure she would have tried to kiss me.

I grab a water bottle and start drinking thirstily when the next girl comes in, and I nearly drench myself in the water. For its not any girl walking in for the photo shoot, its Ladybug. I walk over to her a soft smile on my face. "Hello, ready to have some fun?" As the words leave my mouth, I want to take them back with a groan. How dorky can be a Agreste? But to my surprise and delight, Ladybug giggles. "Adrien! You have water all over your shirt! Go change and we start, yeah?" I give Ladybug a sly wink. "Sometimes they can be bossy, but they can be a lot of fun."

The first shoot is an autumn one with Ladybug and I sitting on a park bench, gazing off at a fake view. One of the assistants sneaks up behind us and dumps a barrel of leaves over us, making poor Ladybug jump up and squeak with fright. "No, no! She's like a little mouse, nervous and trembling!" "I'm-I'm sorry," Ladybug stammers. "Hang on, I have an idea. The scene is to be romantic, right?" Vincent nods. "So, how about you have Ladybug examining a leaf as she looks back at me romantically?" "Yes, yes! You there, get me the tree!"

Ladybug does has she's told, but I can still hear her rapid breathing. I scoot closer and place a gentle hand at her back, and she looks back at me with surprise. I gaze down at her tenderly just as the camera flashes. "Perfection!" "Thanks for helping me, Adrien," Ladybug whispers to me as we wait for the next scene. "I'm always willing to lend a helping hand. But why did you run away from me the other day?" "Well, for one thing those reporters. And I was feeling alone and lonesome."

I smile as I take her hands and "glide" onto a fake ice risk. "Alone and lonesome? Sounds like something Dr. Adrien should cure." "What's my subscription?" "Plenty of hang out time with yours truly and plenty of fun." The happy look leaves her face, and I can't ask what's wrong until the photo shoot is done.

"Ladybug! Wait!" I catch her arm as the director calls a wrap for the day. "Don't you want to hang out with me?" I try to keep the pleading tone out of my voice. "Adrien, I…." Ladybug sighs, running a hand through her black hair. "Come with me," I say, finding a spot that's more private. "I want to hang out with you," she turns to me as I shut the door. "But if I hang out with you publicly, it could be very bad for both of us." Her eyes look sad as they search my face and I understand her words. If one of her enemies saw us and captured us we would give up our Miraculous. Even though Ladybug doesn't know I'm Cat Noir, the situation still stands. "There must be some way...unless.." I snap my fingers. "What if you came and saw me only at night and only at my home?" Ladybug looks up at me, hope now instead of doubt shining in her eyes. "It might work," she says, slowly, rubbing her chin. "I would be able to stay a hour or two at most, but I think its a fine idea." I want to punch the air with victory, but she stops me first. "But there is one rules: If I am picked to do the shoot, we must act as a strangers and not as friends." My heart sinks a bit, but its a start. "Deal. So, can you come to tonight?" "Do you have pizza?" "I didn't think ladybugs ate pizza, I thought they only drank nectar." Ladybug laughs. "Sounds like you have a lot to learn about this little Ladybug." "I look forward to it," and before I can help myself, I lean down and brush a kiss on her cheek. "See you tonight!"

As soon as she's gone, at last I can punch the air with victory. I'm seeing Ladybug, tonight! And at last, I'll be able to get to know her better!

I walk back into the room where my manager and Vincent are waiting. "Well, well, you and Ladybug certainly hit it off. I think we should hire her for the spread. What do you think, Adrien?" "I'd be happy to work with her." "Good! Its settled, and I'll mail off her acceptance letter in the mail soon."

Back at home, I vacuum and glare at Plagg who is fascinated by it. "Do you think you could eat a little more neatly instead of having cheese crumbs all over the floor?" "But, my dear Adrien, to enjoy one's cheese, you must devour it!" He's a hopeless case, but I love him. After my room is presentable and crumb free I log in to work on emails.

"Supper!" Felix bangs on my door. "Its take-out tonight!" I push away from my desk. "You'll have to enjoy it alone, I'm afraid. You see, I'm having company later." "This is news. Do I know her?" "What makes you think its a girl?" "Oh, the pink cheeks and the sparkle in your eye." "Ladybug's coming tonight!" I blurt. "But if you see her before I do, don't say I told you." "So, a date, huh?" "No, I...I don't know!"

"Great, because Kagami messaged me earlier and said she had long flight, so they'll be plenty of time to chat!" Kagami has been in Japan the last few months, and she and Felix have been Skyping back and forth. I have a hunch they like each other, but Felix will tell me when he's ready!

"Enjoy your date!" Felix sings as he waltzes out of the room and I throw a pillow at him. Thud! Just missed.

When I'm nervous or about to try something new, I like to play my piano or listen to quiet music. Seeing that even thinking about Bugaboo makes my palms sweat, I go for the latter and lay down with my headphones on.

It doesn't take much of the relaxing music to send me to dreamworld, where Ladybug and I frolic in a meadow filled with flowers. I'm still sound asleep when she arrives, much to my embarrassment.