Marinette sat on the balcony, watching the sunrise over the sea, her arms wrapped around her knees, as her chin rested on top. For a couple of weeks of pure relaxation, it was fair to say the first night had been a complete and utter let down. Between the whirling of the air conditioning unit and the fact that she couldn't relax in a bed so big, her sleep had been miserable.

She looked at the sun dancing on the horizon, sending dazzling sparkles across the top of the sea. It was so bright, so shiny, she couldn't help but think of the joy in her partner's eyes. Chat Noir had asked her to go with him...wherever he was going and one night into her own vacation she already regretted not saying yes.

He'd been like a little boy on Christmas as the strict rules of a peace period had been called in the capital. He'd been packed and ready to fly off somewhere before she'd even decided if she was going to go—and who could blame him, they'd been at this for four long years.

"Marinette?" Tikki phased through the doorway and hovered in front of her.

"Oh, good morning, little bug," Marinette yawned, stretching up and loosening up some of the knots in her shoulders. Tikki positioned her hands on her hips, and Marinette knew she was about to be scolded.

"Would you believe I was so excited about being here I just had to see the sunrise?" she feebly attempted to lie.

"Marinette, we've been together now for four years and I'm almost certain the idea of seeing a sunrise has never once entered your train of thought, unless you were thinking that such a time was far too early for anything."

Groaning, Marinette placed her head in her hands. Was she really that readable?

"I couldn't sleep," Marinette sighed. "The bed was too big, and the silence in the room just accentuated my thoughts."

"About?" Tikki questioned.

"Everything!" Marinette said, looking out into the distance.

Tikki studied her for a moment before brightening up. "Well, as you have finally woken up at a reasonable time in the day, how about you head to the restaurant for breakfast, then maybe see about using one of your vouchers?"

Vouchers! She had completely forgotten about the gift basket. Her shoulders suddenly celebrated at the thought of an impending relief, the day looking brighter thanks to the resort's incredible amenities.

Brightening, Marinette scurried downstairs, her eyes catching the picturesque vision of cellophane and pink satin on the coffee table. She yawned again, this time popping her hip out as she stepped towards the welcome present. Stopping at the table, she untied the perfectly formed bow, and slipped the cellophane down, screwing it into a ball before discarding it in the general direction of the kitchen.

Inside the basket, there was a bottle of champagne...she didn't know much about alcohol but maybe she should have put that in the fridge the previous night?

A voucher for a full body massage at the spa.

A booklet of vouchers for discounts on meals, and by the looks of it, some of them quite weighty.

A box of...she froze...Tikki froze...the two turning their heads to look at each other.

Curious, Marinette opened the box and pulled out a silver and pink foil packet. It crinkled in her fingers and mocked her loneliness. The idea of this resort just seemed to be getting more and more unappealing by the minute. Maybe she should have gone to Walt Disney World instead.

"Well, maybe I should Cosmobug these to Alya because I'm quite certain I won't be needing them," she said wryly.

Tikki darted into the basket, reappearing a moment later with a bottle of something promising to give 'warm tingles'. "Along with this too!"

Marinette took it from her kwami's hands and read it, before squealing and throwing it back into the basket. Man, she was so alone it was painful.

The sound of an approaching vehicle outside had Marinette launching from her seat, and sending the box of condoms flying all over the room—scattering on the sofa, the floor...and pretty much everywhere else they could escape to.

She froze on the spot as the engine turned off and the sound of voices and laughter was just outside her patio doors.

"It must be the neighbour," Tikki whispered, Marinette nodding in response. Even with the curtains closed she couldn't help the fear of being on edge.

She needed to transform...and soon.

The voices passed her doors, and slowly quietened as they obviously entered the villa next door, leaving her alone in silence once again. Quietly, she stood from her position on the sofa and headed upstairs back into her bedroom.

"Let's get ready, and go out!" she whispered to Tikki, the kwami nodding in response.

Half an hour later, Ladybug sat on the patio outside the hotel restaurant, mask on and dressed in the first of her summer outfits. A white dress with red strawberries, and a red sash around the waist. On her head was a straw hat with a matching red centre band. The hat was extensive, but it helped cover the fact she was wearing a mask.

When Tikki had mentioned how this reduced transformation worked, Marinette's first thought was...tan lines! If she returned to Paris, looking as though she'd spent her time in the sun wearing a mask, she was quite certain it would raise a few questions. But luckily for her, that wouldn't be the case. The mask was a quantum disguise, meaning even though people could see it, it wasn't actually there. No need to worry about heading home looking like a panda.

She glanced down at the fruit left in her bowl. Her sleep may not have been the five star spectacular she had expected, but the food was to die for. As she'd ordered fresh fruit and cornetto complete with coffee, she'd quickly had a check in with her friends and family. Everyone seemed to have taken this truce as it was intended—the majority of her friends were in a different country, and her maman and papa were planning on closing early each day for the next two weeks.

Everyone was happy. Everyone was relaxed. Everyone was somewhere...except Adrien. He'd gone radio silent. No replies on the WhatsApp group. No posts on Instagram, Tumblr, or X...nothing.

Selecting his name, she looked at their last chain of messages. Just normal everyday conversation about homework and meeting times for different outings. It was different now; she didn't yearn for him the way she used to. There was still something there, something that made the butterflies in her stomach flutter—but not fly.

With a deep breath to calm her nerves, she began to type. Just something informal. A simple Hey, how are you? What are you up to? Nothing too out of the ordinary, or crossing the line. She added a pink heart emoji like she always did...before backpedalling and deleting the whole thing.

It wasn't just her feelings stopping her, it was his too. She didn't want to give him false hope as she battled with these mixed-up feelings she didn't quite understand herself.

God, she needed this break more than she thought.

Finishing up her coffee, she pushed back from the table and stood, making sure her hat was firmly in place and her skirt was down. Last thing she wanted was someone snapping a photo of the famed hero with her knickers out. However, the way everyone seemed caught up in their business—and their business alone—she was almost certain no one would even give her a second glance.

To the spa it was then.

She made her way out from under the veranda and in the direction of the spa, the sun striking her hard and fast. It was so beautiful, but so, so hot! Her skin wasn't made for this type of weather. She'd have to find out her SPF 50 when she returned to the villa, the factor 30 she'd put on that morning already battling against the hot sun. Her skin looked so much better as the colour of Snow White than the colour of Sebastian from the Little Mermaid—unless she was fighting super villains that was.

Taking the cobble path from the restaurant to the spa, she loved how not one single person had even given her a second glance, and even as she made her way back into the lobby the amount of stares were minimal.

The spa was on the opposite side of the resort to where she was staying, past the main pool and bar, and through the entertainment area. She took the stone steps down, absorbing herself in the tranquillity of the waterfalls on either wall leading her to the entrance.

The door was open, the soft sounds of some kind of instrumental jazz played through the speakers and she couldn't help feeling the effects already. Yes! This was the place to be.

"You do realise these are couples massages," the beautician said. "That they're designed for two people."

In the five minutes she'd been talking to the spa receptionist, the relaxed feeling that was building had done a complete 180. "I do. But I would like one just for myself."

"But they're for two people."

"And I'm just one person."

The woman looked at her quizzically, almost frowning at her. What was wrong with just having one person? She had the voucher, they could just take it and pretend a second person was sick.

"Listen, I really could do with this massage, and there's just me. I have a voucher which I will use for two people, but I want to book just one."

The woman stared at her once again, with so much intent Ladybug thought she was going to explode. What was so confusing about this?

"You want to use the voucher for two people, but it's just one?"

How was she not getting this? "Si."

"But it's for —"

"I know it's for two, but there's just me!" She sighed. Completely done with this conversation. "You know what...forget it!"

Turning on her heel, she stalked out of the spa and down the path which led back to the villa. If she couldn't go to the spa, she'd grab a book and relax by her private pool. Maybe she could order some sort of room service, and if she couldn't put herself into relaxation, then she'd eat herself into a food coma instead.

If only Chat Noir were here she was certain he would have made sure they had their massage. She made her way back through the lobby, looking at the different activities they had. Trip to a vineyard—for two. Jet skiing—for two. Diving sessions—for two. Where were all the ones? There must have been some couples who liked to have their own time during a vacation.

The path leading back to the villas was lined with palm trees and decorative rocks—rocks that had been sculptured and styled into the most weird and wonderful shapes. A large selection of them looked like couples intertwined.

She moved to look closer at one rock, which was making some sort of wrestling position, when a bell had her jumping back.

A bike passed her with two seats and two people on it. Seriously, could you do anything here alone? She knew she'd chosen this result so she'd be unnoticed (which wasn't working too badly) but if she'd known she couldn't do anything as a singleton she might have made another choice. Perhaps she should stop being so honest and just claim Chat suddenly had a sickness bug, or something?

Finally reaching the villas, she noticed her neighbours' curtains were closed. Maybe they'd travelled from a distance and were trying to catch up on sleep, all the better for her to have the pool to herself. Even though it was categorised as a 'private pool', it was actually a pool for that section of villas. There were only two in total, so it wasn't like the brochure had exaggerated anything.

It was incredibly private though, tall trees creating a natural canopy and barrier between the pool and the road. It was kidney-shaped. With a small circular jacuzzi on one end. She pictured herself in there, Tikki by her side and a glass of bubbly in hand. That was a nighttime wish though. Right now she just wanted to get into her bikini and chill out in the sunshine—coated in factor 50.

Heading into her villa, she made her way to the bedroom and picked up her phone. She probably should drop her parents a call, a quick check in to let them know she's alive and that she has eaten—priorities of life.

Selecting the bakery's number, she headed to the terrace and onto the sunlounger, checking out the calm, peaceful sight of the sea. It was stunning, she had to give it that.

"Tom and Sabine Boulangerie, how may I help you?"

Her mothers voice caused a dull ache in her chest. She missed her dearly and hated the fact she was lying.

"Hey Maman, it's Marinette."

A soft laugh sounded over the line. "Well, who else would call me Maman?"

"That's true," she chuckled.

"So, how is it, sweetheart? Everything you thought it would be?"

How could she tell her maman that it wasn't, and she was regretting every moment of it. She should have just stayed home. It would've been better for everyone, but her maman and papa were so excited for her, she just didn't have the heart to tell them.

"Yes," she lied. "It's amazing." She faked enthusiasm in her voice, hoping her maman couldn't read her voice through the phone as well as she could face to face.

"I'm so happy to hear that. You deserve this break so much, you and all your friends do." The chimes and voices in the background of the phone meant this brief conversation needed to come to an end.

"Sounds like it's busy there."

"It is! It seems people are happier at the moment, and with happiness comes pastries."

"I'll leave you to it, then."

"Okay. Well, keep in touch, Honey, and have fun. We love you."

"Love you too." Slowly, she ended the call, and looked out over the sea again. It had only been one night. One night! She couldn't call it quits yet.

Fuelled with new determination, she marched back into the bedroom and straight to the wardrobe looking for one of her 'made for the occasion' bikinis. She may have found a liking for 'Love Island' over the past year, and seeing such glorious bikinis and swimsuits kicked her creative gear notch up. She now had a personally designed swimwear for every day of her vacation. From teeny tiny bikinis to swim dresses to die for. She was so pleased with the outcome and couldn't wait to start selling them on her website.

Her finger dragged over the coat hangers, unsure which one to choose, when a daring idea crossed her mind. Her neighbour seemed to have been tucked in for the day, and nobody else could see her...it would be a shame if she had to go home with tan lines.

Opting for a minimal bikini, she swapped her dress for the tiny item of clothing before grabbing her towel, her favourite Katie Bailey romcom and heading down to the pool. A quick glance at the other villa solidified the idea that her neighbour was still asleep. She headed to one of the sun loungers, making herself at home and kicking off her Havaianas.

She lay down on her front, wiggling herself to get more comfortable, then absorbing the confidence of her superhero half, she reached around and pulled the string at the back of her bikini and allowed it to fall to the chair.

She felt naughty. Not the good girl everyone believed she was. Okay, so maybe she was only removing her top—it wasn't exactly committing armed robbery— but it felt so wrong, so sinful.

A small giggle left her mouth as she settled her head to one side, suddenly realising she hadn't put lotion on her newly bare skin.

Sitting up, she grabbed her lotion from where she'd placed it on the side table, before struggling to get it into the right place. With great effort, she'd done it, rotating back around and onto her front, eyes closing and her head getting lost in the sounds of the tweeting birds and rustling of the wind through the trees.

Mere minutes later, the relaxation was broken by the shout of 'cannonball', punctuated by a rather large splash of cold water sprinkling over her legs.