I don't mind getting up at 4 a. m. as much as I used to help Papa in the bakery, but I still give a little groan.

Already when I enter the back kitchen the ovens are hot, the bread is baking and Papa is singing. Mind you, my father isn't the best singer in the world, but he sings because he's happy and loves his job.

"Good morning, dear!" He sings, sliding me a cup of coffee. "I have the dough balls waiting." I begin to knead the fluffy clouds, and Papa looks at me with a twinkling smile. "Marinette, if you need money all you have to do is ask." I blush. "No, I needed your advice about something." "Oh?" Papa looks curious. "It wouldn't be about the blonde haired green eyed boy that's been visiting lately, is it?" "Well, yes. But not in the way you think. I want to show him my sketchbook. Who knows, maybe we could work on a design together….Papa!" "What?" "Your mustache is twitching!" Papa's mustache always does this when he's trying to hide a laugh. "And that would mean more time with him, hm?" I nod. "I was hoping for that anyway."

"He's welcome here anytime, sweetie. I haven't seen you this happy since…." Papa's voice trails off, and I look up at him. "Since when, Papa?" "Since Cat disappeared." "Oh." I can't help a few tears slipping down my cheeks, and my father is right there with a hug.

There were times that I felt very alone as Ladybug, and though my parents didn't know that till recently, I would come to the bakery for love and comfort when I was younger, and I always felt at home. Okay, this is my home, but you know what I mean.

"Cat will always be in your heart, honey. And I know for a fact that he never stopped loving you." I sniff and grin. "You've always been a romantic. Maybe someday you'll have little ladybugs and cats running around the bakery with cooking pots on their heads."

The bakery opens soon after, and I'm caught up in my work until about 9 a.m. Then I grab my sketchbook and head downtown where the large skyscrapers are, where Adrien works.

I have butterflies so I decide to skip my usual Starbucks until later, and I push into the revolving door. I look up and around, finding myself surrounded by glass, glass everywhere.

I make my way to the front desk, sketchbook clutched tightly in my hands. I'm not sure why I'm so nervous because the worst that could happen is Adrien is busy and doesn't have time right now.

"Can I help you?" the front desk person asks, her name card reading Paige. "I'm here to see Adrien Agreste," I ask, glad my voice doesn't seem to be shaking. "Do you have an appointment with Mr. Agreste?" she asks, not seeming to care of status. I wince, Adrien hates being called that. "Don't you call him Adrien?" "Look, if you have…."

"She's with me," a harsh grating voice calls and I turn, finding a tall man with a cane staring at the gatekeeper. Immediately her expression clears. "Mr. Corvus! I didn't see you standing there. I'll open the gate for you."

Corvus gestures that I should go first, and I step into the elegant elevator. "Thank you. Are you a designer too?" "Yes. My, isn't this a treat, meeting the famous Ladybug." I nod, though my stomach has a churning feeling. He may have granted me access to Adrien, but this man makes my skin crawl.

"Might I see one of your earrings?" "Sorry, I would reveal my identity." He steps closer, and I feel like a mouse backed into a corner. "Please, I must…."

"No!" I say, loudly just the doors spring open and a group of men in business suits stare at us curiously. "Pardon me, gentleman," Corvus pushes past them and I follow out slowly.

Agreste Inc. is scrawled across the doors right in front of me and I pull it open. "Are you okay, Ladybug?" the girl at the front desk stands up. "Corvus can be an intimating man. Here, why don't you sit for a moment, your looking pale."

My legs feel a bit jelly like and she hands me a cup of water. The water is cold and refreshing, and soon I feel like my old self again. "Thank you for your kindness… Lilac. Is Adrien in?" Lilac types on her computer. "He's a meeting right now, but he should be out shortly."

We make small talk as we wait, and soon I hear one my favorite voices in the word. "Ladybug? This is a pleasant surprise."

Oh my, does he look handsome in a brown suit, eyes twinkling though he would look good in a potato sack. "Hi-hi, Adrien," I stammer. Arrgh, really, Ladybug? Didn't we get past the stammering stage at sixteen? "Come on, I'll show you my office."

Lilac clears hers throat. "Corvus scared her in the elevator, Adrien. I'm not sure what he said, but Ladybug looked scared." I shoot her a grateful look, though now Adrien is looking at me with concern. "Thanks, Lilac. I'll take care of it."

Adrien shuts his office door and asks, "What did he want, Ladybug?" his voice has a protective edge, not a tone I hear from him often. "He wanted to see my earrings." "I never wish they'd given him space here, but he's a designer too. You doing okay?" I nod. "I wanted to show you my sketchbook." Adrien flips through it while my eyes wander reading the different awards. "This is impressive. I wouldn't want be your competition, Little Bug." "I was hoping to make something together, actually." I twist my fingers together in my lap. "Mind if I hang on to this for the moment? I think we could work something out." I nod. "Good," he stands. "There's something I want to show you too."

Adrien holds my hand as we shoot up another floor, and I gasp in delight. Dresses, gowns, suits, everything a designer would dream of is in this room. "This is my mother's private collection," Adrien tells me softly. "Someday I plan on launching several collections. Your one of the few people to see it."

"Wow. May I try on a dress?" Adrien laughs. "I thought you'd ask that! Just be careful and the dressing room is down the hall."

I grab a sparkling purple dress, thinking one of my fashion heroes created this dress, and I'm about to wear it!

When I emerge, Adrien is nowhere to be seen. "Adrien?" I call. I hear musical happy laughter from somewhere above me and look up into the beautiful green eyes of Cat Noir. I gasp and trip, falling heavily to the floor.