Marinette leaned against her balcony, enjoying one of the last warmer days of autumn. She wasn't sad exactly, as this time of year held many fun activities, but she wished was out and about with a friend.

Marinette heard a scrabbling sound, and she turned, eyes darting around and her heart thumped away as two green eyes winked at her from the darkness. "Who's there?" she called out, using her Ladybug voice.

"Just me, Princess. I'm sorry for frightening you," Cat Noir emerged from the shadows. "Oh, Kitty, its you," Marinette put a hand to her chest. "You only started me a little." Cat landed on the balcony with a soft thump, walking over to her. "I think I have a way of calming you down," he said, softly. Marinette nodded, and found herself in Cat's warm embrace, her heart happy now. Had she been missing her best friend and partner without even realizing it?

"I was feeling alone tonight," Cat told her. "And I was wondering if you'd like to go out." Marinette's heart did a squeeze of sympathy, how little she knew about her partner's life. "I was feeling lonesome too," she looked up at him. Cat grinned. "Then how about we get some ice cream?" Marinette laughed softly. "Kitten, its fall. Shouldn't we be going for hot chocolate?"

Cat held out his hand. "Trust me on this, okay?" His voice was soft, warm and gentle as warm caramel, and Marinette snuggled into his embrace. "Let's go."

The cool night air tickled Marinette's pigtails as Cat jogged across the rooftops. "Are we looking for Andre?" she asked. "More like listening for Andre, you know how we likes to sing."

"Ah, Cat Noir and Marinette? Come for some special ice cream, eh?" "Isn't all your ice cream special, Andre?" Marinette asked. "Yes, but this is a fall special my dear. Green apple for his eyes and caramel for his hair, and small apple pieces for those ribbons of hers. Enjoy, kids!"

"Come on, let's find some place quiet," Cat took her hand. Marinette was quiet as they walked into a small park, finding a bench. "Princess, penny for your thoughts?" Cat asked. "Do you think Andre got right?" she asked. "I mean, I wear ribbons sometimes, but not as much as Ladybug."

Cat sighed. "Princess, I need to tell you something." Oh, no. No, no. Cat was going to tell her that he didn't have feelings for her, only her alter-ego. Sure, she loved both Cat and Adrien, but Cat was special.

"Marinette, your heart is racing. What's going on?" A tear slipped down Marinette's cheek before she could stop it. "Your going to tell me you don't care for me. Of course you'd think that of a shy, clumsy girl." Cat's hand caught and cupped her cheek. "Quite the opposite, really."

"Marinette, I like you too." Be brave, Marinette told herself. "What does that mean?" "It means I feelings for you." Marinette's face jerked. "For me?"

"Not many people know me beneath the mask, and even when I have it on," Cat confessed. "I can be myself around you, when I wear it and when I don't. Your special, Marinette."

Special. Her heart leaped. "Your special too, Cat. I think…." she paused, noticing Cat's look. "What?" "I think I want to kiss you." Marinette closed her eyes. "Think, don't know?" Oh, how could she crack jokes at a time like this? Cat chuckled. "Close your eyes."

And she was soaring, up into the night air to be kissed by the moon's light, and she felt happiness beginning to spread through her.

"Um, Princess?" Marinette's eyes opened. "We should probably eat our cone before its melts, huh?"

Marinette laughed, spooning a bit into the spoon. "Open and say ah," she teased.

After that night, whenever Marinette saw red apples or caramel, she thought of that warm autumn evening with Cat Noir.