This story takes place prior to Season 4 of "Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug and Chat Noir." I do not own the rights to any of the songs used within this story, and I will credit songs and artists when they are used.

Chapter 1: Bakery Bop

Marinette didn't always get a chance to work in the bakery with her parents. Between school, friends, designing for too many projects at once, and saving Paris as Ladybug, she didn't have much time for other things. But she tried her best to make time for herself and for her parents.

Today, was one of those rare days where Marinette had nothing better to do than spend time down in the bakery with her parents. An order had come in for 500 macarons and a rather extravagant cake, so the trio was happily working like a well-oiled machine as they danced around each other in the small space.

During a lull when the latest tray of cookies were in the oven, Sabine Cheng snuck off to plug her phone into the bakery's speakers. She returned to the opening rift of one of her favorite songs beginning to play throughout the shop. Marinette wasn't expecting the sudden noise in the relative quiet of the bakery, and ended up with flour all over her apron. Looking up, she saw the smile on her parents' faces as they helped her tidy up her work space. Marinette couldn't help but join in with their smiles. By the time the chorus came in, Marinette found herself singing along with her mom to the 80s pop song.

But in a world without you

Where would I be?

Where would I be without you babe?

In a world without you

Where would I be?

Where would I be without you babe?

I couldn't breathe without you babe.

The trio resumed their work on the latest bakery order, but this time their dances around each other in the kitchen had a few more twirls and laughs to them. By the time the next song began to play, even Tom, who was much more of a rock fan, was beginning to sing along to the love song.

Oo Baby, do you know what that's worth?

Oo Heaven is a place on Earth

They say in Heaven, love comes first

We'll make Heaven a place on Earth

Oo Heaven is a place on Earth

"You're really feeling Belinda Carlisle today, aren't you, Sabine?"

Sabine gave a little shoulder shimmy towards her husband as she made her way over to the oven to grab the next tray of cookies. "If you don't like my taste in music, then you shouldn't have married me."

Before the woman could set down the hot tray, she was scooped up in her husband's strong arms and swung around, throwing fresh cookies off the tray in all directions and eliciting a delighted cry from Sabine. Marinette giggled to herself as she began preparing a new tray of cookies to go in the oven.

Ladybug swung across the rooftops on her way to meet up with Chat Noir for the nightly patrol. She was thinking about how nice it had been to spend the day with her family without any akumas to interrupt them. Without thinking, she began to hum one of the tunes from that morning as she swung through the cool night air.

A lone figure stood in the shadows of a chimney, watching the heroine as she leapt from building to building. His feline sensitive hearing picking up every note of the song coming from his lady. Chat Noir cocked his head to the side in very cat-like gesture, his ears angling to pick up the sounds better. What song is that? Pulling out his baton, the feline hero began to make his own way to where he would be meeting Ladybug for their nightly patrol.

"Hey, Bugaboo! How's my favorite lady this evening?"

Ladybug rolled her eyes at her partner. "How many times do I need to tell you not to call me Bugaboo?"

"But, m'Lady, it's the purr-fect nickname for someone as cute as you." As he spoke, Chat reached out to take her hand and planted a kiss on her knuckles, to which he received another eye roll and a smile as Ladybug shook her head at his antics.

"Do you ever get tired of flirting with me?"

"Never, m'Lady." This time, there was no eye roll; just a genuine smile.

"C'mon, Kitty," she said, flicking his bell. "I'll race you to Arc de Triomphe."

Before Chat could agree, Ladybug was zipping away on her yo-yo. Oh, so that's how it's going to be, is it? With a wide grin, Chat Noir took off after his lady.

Marinette landed back down on her balcony after transforming back some time later, still smiling. She didn't always have so much fun out on patrols, especially when the weather was getting cooler. But tonight had been surprisingly nice, even with that song still being stuck in her head.

She climbed back down into her room and began pulling out her sketchbook with Tikki floating around her head. Marinette didn't get too far in her sketching before letting out a heavy sigh as she dropped her head on her desk.

"Tikki, I can't take it anymore. I've had a song stuck in my head all day!"

"Why don't you try listening to something else?"

"Not a bad idea," Marinette sighed with a shrug. She pulled out her phone and set it to shuffle on her desk as she went back to drawing.

Two songs later, a tapping came from the trap door up to her balcony. I thought Chat went home already. What's that cat doing out so late?

She called up softly "It's open."

A moment later, Chat Noir dropped down through the trap door. "Good evening, Purr-incess! Why are you up so late?"

"I could ask you the same thing." Marinette turned around in her chair, arms crossed and raising an eyebrow. The hero of Paris actually looked apologetic for his intrusion, and Marinette took pity on him. "Well, if you're going to be here," she said with a mocking sigh, "then I need your opinion on this design."

Chat's green eyes seemed to brighten at the invitation, and he made his way over to his customary seat by her desk. Marinette handed him her sketchbook and patiently waited for his response.

"I like the cut of the skirt, and the neckline fits nicely. But are you sure about the bell sleeves? They might be a bit much…"

"I liked the sleeves… What if I changed the bodice like this? Or lengthened the skirt..?"

But in a world without you

Where would I be?

Where would I be without you babe?

Chat Noir's ears perked up. He had been sitting on the floor of Marinette's bedroom with her for quite a while listening to music and watching her work on her designs. It was getting late, and maybe he was getting tired, but the song that had just started playing sounded like the one Ladybug had been humming on her way to patrol that evening.

"Um… Marinette?"

"Hmm?"

"What song is this? I swear I've heard the tune before, but never the words…"

"Oh, uh… this is… 'World Without You' by Belinda Carlisle. It's one of my maman's favorites. She actually put it on earlier while we were all working down in the bakery together." A happy smile crossed her face as the memory came back. "I think my papa likes it too, but mostly because it makes maman smile."

Adrien dropped through the open window of his room, Plagg zipping away from him towards the cheese cabinet.

"Cheese! Oh my beautiful cheese!"

The boy shook his head with a light laugh as he walked after his Kwami, making his way over to his bed. It was late. Really late. He'd probably stayed too late at Marinette's house, but he really enjoyed getting to spend time with his friend when she wasn't nervous.

He laid back on his bed with a sigh, and then pulled his phone out, finding his music app.

'World Without You' by Belinda Carlisle. Do you wish to purchase this song?

Adrien slid under his covers with his headphones in, listening to Ladybug's song on repeat, and wondering who she thought of when she heard the lyrics. He could only think of her.

Chapter 1 songs (in order of appearance):
"World Without You" - Belinda Carlisle
"Heaven is a Place on Earth" - Belinda Carlisle