When I wake in the morning, I expect my leg to still be hurting, but there's no pain at all. Sending a silent thank you to Stala and Puff, I get out of bed. I walk over to the small mirror and examine myself.

Despite my messy hair, I look the same as I always do, and wonder if a fresh look is needed. "What do you think, Tikki?" "Do you think I should try out a new hair style?" Most days, I've been throwing it up in a ponytail, where the days of me wearing it in two twin tails are gone. Its not the style I don't like, its the memories that come with it. "If your trying to impress Cat, he already loves you," Tikki reminds me. "I know, but I'm just ready for a change."

I brush out my long hair till its smooth and silky and no longer resembles coiled snakes ready to strike. Then, I carefully make two buns on the side of my head. There. The look is cute if I do say so myself, and it won't hinder my work as Ladybug when I need to transform. After dressing, I walk out to see Cat merging from his room as well.

"Well, don't you look beautiful!" Cat says, admiring my new style. I giggle as he takes me in his arms and I do a small spin. "How's the ankle?" he asks, bending down to check on it. I flush, but I like his kind attentions. "Good as new." My face is fire when his hands feel along my leg. "Its like there was no injury at all. Stala's medicine was truly magic." "We'll know for sure when your naughty and I give you a kick in the rump," I laugh. Cat laughs to, then bows like a gentleman, but when he straightens his eyes are twinkling. "Then I'll have to be on my meowy best behavior." "Come on, before I turn into the Grump Monster who didn't get her coffee." I take his hand, and we walk to the main house. Cat opens the door for me, grinning happily, I thank him with a surprise kiss and he meows happily.

"There you two are!" Candy sings. "I have everything on the table, so go wash up for breakfast before our big morning ahead. Unless you two have to be on your way right after breakfast." "We can stay at least through this morning," I decide, and Cat nods, eyeing the food eagerly.

After breakfast, Candy shows me to the barn where all the sheep are kept and have to giggle as they all baa when they see us. And I thought Cat liked to meow. Candy shows me the process of sheep-shearing, but she says we have everything at the house for she already has wool ready for the loom.

The loom is much harder then it looks to use, but after a few tries and a few snarls I get the hang of it. "Just think, Marinette. You'll be able to add this to your list of skills when you become a fashion designer."

A movement outside the window catches my eye and I can see Cat working hard at plucking beans off the bean pole. Am I certain I want to be a designer? Or maybe a simpler life would be better. Cat could farm off the land while I raise the children I've always wanted. "I do want to be a designer," I tell her and we move to the chairs in the living room. "But I have other dreams as well. Ones that didn't even get off the ground in Paris." "So, that's where your from. Why did you leave, Paris is a beautiful city, at any time of year, or so I've been told," "Because, I was invisible there, and I wanted to be seen by someone that loved me." Sure, Cat was by my side, but things were different back then, we had a mission, a duty to carry out. At least for me, there wasn't any time for love.

But now that I'm older and wiser (hopefully) I've opened my heart to love, even if the enemy I seek is still out there, waiting to destroy us both.

"Its getting hot out there!" Cat interrupts my thoughts as he tows a big basket overflowing with fruit and veggies. Its like a rainbow or….. "Look like all that nature's candy!" Candy smiles. She laughs at our expressions. "Sure, it may not be the candy your used to, but its much better for me. So, before you continue your journey, let me make your provisions!" With a wave of her wand. Delicious food appears, knapsack sized and looking tasty.

After a quick glass of lemonade, Candy walks us to the door. "I don't think I'll ever forget you," she hugs us both in turn. "Thank you for your kindness, and putting us up for the night." "It was my pleasure. And Marinette, don't give up on your dreams even if they change."

Its back to the coolness of the woods, and its chilly enough I wrap a shawl around my shoulders. "Reminds me of fall back in Paris," I tell Cat, but he's deep in thought, and he just nods. "What are you thinking, Kitty?" I walk closer beside him, so I can take his hand. "Marinette, what do you think Hawkmoth will be like? Will he be as mean as we remembered?" "Cat, do we have to discuss before?" "I wasn't. But what if, by some miracle, he can change." "From what we've seen from the Plant Creature, I highly doubt it." Cat sighs, his tail seeming to droop. "Its not like you to give up hope." Then, he lets go of my hand and walks forward on the path, and without his hand in mine, I feel small and alone.

Great, just when it looks like our relationship is getting somewhere, I have to say something stupid. "Cat, maybe we should stop for the night," I tell him when I catch up. "Since your in charge, do I have a choice?" His harsh words hurt, but I hold in my tears. "I'm….I'm going to go freshen up in the stream. If you want to start gathering sticks for the fire, that would be great."

I don't even wait for his answer, for if I do, he might see my tears. Once at the stream, I follow it until there's a curve in the bend, and taking off my sweaty things I duck into the water. I surface a moment later, breathless and cold, and though my body feels refreshed, my spirit does not. Lathering myself with soap, I scrub myself clean then duck under again.

Changing into fresh clothes, I climb onto a high flat rock that overlooks the stream, laying out and catching the late afternoon sun's rays. I stare at the bend in the stream, wondering where it goes, just as I wonder how my relationship with Cat will be repaired.

I hear a rustling in the bushes and turn to see Cat carrying a fishing pole with a dead look in his eye, and I sigh.

We work in silence to get supper, and then we each find a tree-hole without saying goodnight. I curl up in a small ball, hating that we are fighting.

Though Cat and Marinette didn't notice, a farmer worked in her pumpkin field, for harvest time was near. She watched the two travelers, and sensed that something was amiss, and she wondered if she could repair what it looked to her like a very special friendship.

Pumpkin, for that was the name of the farmer was up early, for she liked to watch the sunrise. But she was surprised that the Cat-boy who emerged from his tree-hole was just a boy, and he held something in his hand.

Maybe now was the time to introduce herself, she thought. She hadn't always been this brave, but the boy looked kind and sweet, and a good listener. No wonder the girl was in love with him, Pumpkin thought.

Adrien dipped in his toes in the chilly water, and opened his hand, staring down at the locket of his father and mother. On his wrist, he wore his oldest treasure, the bracelet Marinette had made for him so many years ago.

Taking a deep breath, Pumpkin crosses the stream, causing Adrien to jump up. Marinette was right, they had to be cautious on their journey and was this girl friend or foe? Adrien was about to find out.