Mairnette stood impatiently on the bottom of the staircase waiting for Adrien to arrive. He'd given her strict instructions; dress up nicely, wait outside the apartment at exactly 7:30 that evening, and prepare to be wooed. But the problem was being wooed by Adrien could be quite a scary prospect. It could mean anything from a bouquet of roses to a candlelit picnic on a random rooftop somewhere. She had learned in the short time of dating him to expect the unexpected, and most of the time that meant she had the wrong shoes on.

Bang on 7:30 (of course he was prompt) she was greeted on her doorstep by a white stretch limousine ... nope, not black, that would be normal, and less conspicuous, but definitely not Adrien's style. The limo came to a complete stop in front of her only for music to blast out of the sunroof followed by Adrien Agreste rising up with a single red rose placed in his mouth.

She didn't know whether she was excited, romanced, or embarrassed? The older couple walking past seemed charmed by her boyfriend and definitely sent her over into the embarrassed group.

"Good evening, lovely lady." He began, shouting out over the music and onto the street. The older couple now standing on the corner of the street to watch the display happening right in front of them. Her embarrassment level kicked up another notch. "I have travelled this land long and far in search of a fair maiden."

"Adrien," she hissed, looking over to where the man and woman stood staring. Oh God, she was going to throw him the length of the city.

"It seems, through the power of the powerful magician, Googial Mapious, I found the maiden who my heart was yearning for." He continued to express himself out of the sunroof, arms flying around it over the top gestures, performing not only to her and the older couple, but also the group of teens now standing on the opposite side of the road.

Marinette watched as one of the teens pulled out a phone, pointing it straight at them, most likely filming. Her hand lifted to her head and a small smile pulled at her lips. Even this embarrassed he still affected her, making her smile at his sheer ridiculousness.

"I defeated my wicked father, saved my half-brother, and now I need a Princess to love and cherish, and lucky you, Ms. Marinette of the Dupain-Cheng, Dupain-Chengs, this Prince has chosen you." He dropped down into the limo and she had half a mind to dive in and make sure the conversation stopped there. But this was Adrien Agreste, and her heels were restricting the speed of her movement.

An attempt at stepping forward ended up with one heel in the rim of the skirt, her bag on the roof of the limousine and her face aiming for a nice greeting with the concrete pavement.

Closing her eyes and bracing for a total train wreck of an evening, she was pleasantly surprised when the unmistakable smell of a freshly showered Adrien without a hint of stinky feet, plus the completely recognisable feeling of his arms encompassing her, allowing her to relax her into his embrace.

Thank God for that!

"Awww, ladies and gentleman," oh, dear Lord; he was off again. She opened her eyes only to find people were now looking out of her apartment block windows, including Marjory, her nosey neighbour who may have given her the stink eye a couple of times after rather active nights when Adrien's stayed over. Now the woman was getting the full show. "The fair maiden has fallen for me, and now I shall take her away to my Kingdom, only to return in the new year. I bid you farewell."

Without a moment's hesitation and in a completely unpredictable way, Adrien swooped down and scooped Marinette into his arms, carrying her towards the limo.

"Wave to the crowds fair maiden, for when you return, you shall be a Queen."

The teens over the road started cackling and heckling the hell out of them, until Adrien turned to face them. The young girls screamed as the guys began to stand a little taller and puffing out their muscles. Marinette was quite sure that after this evening's encounter those teens were going to have to try harder to impress their girlfriends. Her embarrassment changed to amusement as Adrien placed her into the seat and ran to the other side. Oh, boy, she had definitely found one of a kind.

•••••

The night had been wonderful, and they were now on the main countdown to midnight, standing outside on a balcony freezing their asses off.

Adrien had taken her to the sellout shindig at Le Grand Paris hotel in the center of Paris, a night full of famous and very beautiful people, including Adrien's close friends Chloé, and Kagami. Where Kagami had kept herself out of their way, Chloé Bourgeois made sure her presence was known.

Marinette had been at collège with Chloé and hadn't seen her in at least six years. Even though they'd never seen eye to eye during their time in education Chloé seemed almost complimentary of Adrien's new girlfriend. Fawning over Marinette's outfit and even asking about possible commissions, and then she found out her name and linked the dots.

"Ridiculous, utterly ridiculous! Of the two million people who live in Paris, you choose her!" Turning around in a huff, Chloé stormed away and into the crowd, becoming just another expensively dressed person in a sea of riches.

"Well, that went better than expected." Marinette said with a laugh, pulling herself in closer to Adrien by the arm she was holding onto. He bent his head down and pressed a kiss to her lips.

"She's always been a sour puss." He laughed out, pulling her around the room and introducing her to the next 'must know' person.

However, when they finally came face to face with none other than Jagged Stone, it was Adrien that was in awe. She watched as he froze, the adorable startled impression of meeting with one of his idol's was comical. The usually suave hero of Paris was stumped speechless by one of Marinette's clients.

"I can't believe you know Jagged Stone like that!" Adrien stood behind Marinette on the balcony, his jacket and arms wrapped firmly around her, protecting her from the cold. She rested back into him, adoring the feel of his body against hers. She adored everything about him.

"I've known him for a few years, an eccentric but alright guy."

"He seemed it. He adored you too, which isn't surprising. I don't know of anyone who doesn't." He rested his chin on her shoulder before turning his head to kiss her neck.

"I can name two," she sighed out. "Kagami and Chloé."

"They'll come around, especially Kagami. I think once she has got over everything with me, you two could be good friends. She needs someone like you in her life; someone so free and ea-"

She elbowed him in the stomach. "Finish that word and you won't be getting any tonight."

He laughed, the vibration flowing through her back, before he kissed her cheek.

"I love you." He said, removing his lips from her skin.

"I love you too." She wrapped her arms over his pulling him into her tighter, the countdown starting ready to enter the new year.

10 ... 9 ... 8 ... 7 ... 6 ... 5 ... 4 ... 3 ... 2 ... 1 ... Happy New Year!

The fireworks around them exploded in a multi-colored sprinkling of hope and joy. Of the opportunities and disappointments that would come with the year upon them, and the array of possibilities and changes.

Marinette spun around in Adrien's arms, grabbed hold of his tie and pulled him towards her. She was like a woman possessed as she took her partners lips with her own, Adrien reaching for the balcony behind her to keep his balance as he attempted to keep up with her kisses.

One hand on the balcony, he brought the other to her face, kissing her with the same hunger she was feasting on him. Her heart slammed against her rib cage as she took all the passion and power he was placing on her. Each kiss painting its own picture; one of thanks, one of longing, of love, of forever, of them.

Not realising the snow was beginning to fall, melting on their warm faces and decorating Marinette's hair like stars in the sky, the two continued their heated kisses on the balcony, the crowds dispersing from the balcony and heading back inside. Wolf whistles were sent their way as people passed, followed by the laughter and singing of many drunk guests welcoming in 'the best year of their lives'.

The heroes, however, stayed put, alone and hungry for each other and this was all they needed, all they wanted ...

"Ladybug and Chat Noir, it's nice to finally meet you." Pulling away with pouting lips, they kept a tight hold on each other as they turned their head in complete synchronisation to look to the side.

Two men stood staring at them, amused smiles on their faces. One tall, one short, the one who they both described to each other after helping him out on retrospective days.

"I am Master Fu," the small one said.

"And I am Su Han." announced the taller, "it's time to start your training."

At five minutes past midnight, on the start of a new year and to the soundtrack of firework explosions and singing, Ladybug and Chat Noir took to the snow covered rooftops alongside two of the masters of the Miraculous and their new mentors.

Whatever this new year was going to bring them, at least they were in it together.