We make good progress over the next few days, and at last, even if it is a mere smudge in the distance, we see Corvus's castle.

"I bet you ten cones there will be crows circling the castle once we get there," I tell Ladybug. "What is it with you and cones on this trip? Are you missing Philox?" "She was nice, wasn't she?" I ask. Ladybug nods. "It was nice for her to give me supplies for the trip. If I'm ever going to be a wife and a cook, I'll need to know how to cook and bake more then dessert and mac and cheese."

I stop, crossing my arms. "Hey, what's wrong with that? Mac and cheese is awesome." "Adrien, our future kids can't live on that! They need healthy food, proteins!" I hold my hands to my ears, grinning. "Love, I already got this lecture as a model." "Sorry," she smiles.

"So, you do want kids?" she nods, slipping her arm through mine, and I love it when we walk like this. "I've wanted kids since I was teenager. Though its funny, I've always known I wanted to be a designer since I was really little. It has me thinking, can I be a mom and a designer at the same time?" "You can design clothes for yours truly," I kiss her cheek, and she gives me a playful shove. "Oh, stop. You'd look good in a potato sack in the right design." Her eyes brighten, looking me up and down.

"My love, your not thinking what I think your thinking, are you?" she giggles, zipping her lips. Its getting to be noon, and the sun is hot in the sky. "Time for rest and a lunch break. You see that ribbon of water up ahead?" I nod. "Race you!"

Ladybug is relaxing, her toes dipped in the water as I run up panting. "There you are," she flutters her lashes. "Were were you?" I gasp, hands on hips then double over. "I….I need to get in shape." "See, its all that cheese."

"That's it," I lift her easily, throwing her over my shoulder. "Adrien, no! Don't you dare! Eeek!" I "accidentally" stumble into the water, but its very refreshing. Plus, being in our suits keeps our clothes dry. Hm, I should take a short bath.

"Can you make food while I take a deep further up stream? I'm a bit smelly." "Course. Just don't float away."

I follow the curve in the river until I disappear from view, dropping my transformation and shedding my shirt and jeans. A small pool gurgles and I jump in. Who said cats don't like water?

Giving myself a quick scrub, I decide to dry off a little in the sun, and I pull on my Cat Noir shorts, leaving my chest bare. I mean, might as well get a slight tan while I'm at it, right?

"Adrien! Adrien, where are you?"

I open my eyes, then shoot upright. How long was I asleep? But just then...Ladybug comes around the corner.

"Oh, my…" her voice trails off, as she sees me shirtless. Then she starts fanning herself. "My Lady, there's nothing scandalous here. Did the heat get you too?" "Adrien. Shirtless. Muscles. Must breathe. Breathe."

I smirk. "Me being shirtless has this effect on you?" I double over in laughter into she gives me a playful slap on the tummy, cheeks still burning. "Put your shirt on before I have a heart attack!"

"Princess…." I struggle to form sentences as I'm still laughing as I struggle to put on my shirt. "I would be lonely without you, so I will bid your command."

"Come on, lunch is ready," she grabs my hand and begins to march me back to camp. "Yes, My Lady." She stops, glaring then surprises me with a kiss, wrapping her arms around my neck, then reaching up tangling them into my hair.

Just as the kiss begin, its ends. "What was that?" I gasp. "Payback."

At night it grows mercifully cooler and Ladybug sleeps by the fire as I belt myself into a nearby tree.

During the night, my branch is shaking like crazy, waking me from a wonderful dream. I blink sleepily as I sit up, finding myself face to face with Ladybug. "So, it wasn't a dream after all," I yawn, and Ladybug puts a finger to my lips. "Do you mind keep down the snoring? I need my beauty sleep." "Oh." I can't help letting a laugh escape. So, this is what she means of "Bugaboo's Wrath". "What about purring? Purring aloud?"

"Can you be good for five minutes?!" I pretend to think, tapping my chin. "No?" "Arrgh. You know what? Here," she pulls something from her yo-yo. "That is the Horse Miraculous. As soon as your eyes crack open, you'll use to go back to Paris and get me my Starbucks." "But what about the greater good?" Ladybug takes a deep breath. Oops. "Yes, Princess." "Sweet dreams." She slips out the tree. Was that a threat? I'm asleep again before I can answer that.

True to my word, I get her and me some Starbucks and I laugh as her mood instantly changes. "Oh, cold brew, how I missed you!"

I try to be good for the rest of the day, but when Corvus's castle comes into view, all playful goes out the window.

"Bummer, no crows," I say. Okay, maybe not all of it. "To be undetected, we're going to have swim in the moat, Kitty," Ladybug says. I grumble. "Hasn't he heard cats don't like water?"

Transforming, we slip into the water with barely a slasph. But then, Ladybug begins to sink, and I realize were being sucked into a whirlpool.

We thud against one wall, then the other, and I lose unconsciousness. I drift into darkness, but this time I don't want to dream. When I come to, we've drifted into a small alcove and I hold Ladybug close, waiting for her to come to.