"So?"

Tikki and Plagg had met on their normal patrol rooftop, no holders in sight. They had agreed to meet as often as they could, covering the day's events and comparing notes on what each of their holders were thinking. They had to get this right, there was no time for delays, no chance of do overs. Adrien was planning on getting engaged and they needed to make sure that didn't happen.

Marinette and Adrien technically had met for the first time that afternoon and, just as predicted,it went well . From the over protectiveness of Adrien to his Lady (unknowingly), to his act of kindness with the umbrella (knowingly), Marinette seemed to have become curious of the green eyed stranger, very similar to how Adrien was haunted by blue eyes. They'd met and made their mark, they just needed the other to want to know more. To dig in a little deeper.

"I can't believe they didn't exchange names " Tikki was mortified when they'd left the arcade. Only Marinette could leave a meet-cute with a void where a name should be. It also didn't help that Adrien had covered his hair and was wearing his glasses. Not the normal clean look you'd think of when your thoughts turned to Adrien Agreste. Lying at home that night her thoughts only turned to one thing, who was her 'Hercules'.

"It's ok, Tikki," Marinette had finally said, with another overly dramatic sigh. "If we're meant to meet again we will."

Tikki could have screamed. She wanted to create her own little soundproof box and scream until her throat was sore. She'd spent most of the evening in Marinette's pocket and could feel the tension between them. For Marinette to return home that evening and not want to search high and low for the guy was beyond her. Marinette was Ladybug, for God's sake, she could find anyone she wanted. Actually take that back, they were still no closer to finding Shadowmoth than they were five years ago. "What about your charge?"

"Oh yes, it worked a treat ... completely besotted, already choosing the name of their three kids."

"Really?" Hope suddenly shot through Tikki, perhaps they'd be done and dusted with this before Christmas Eve, hell, maybe before the end of next week.

"Ha!" Answered Plagg, "if only! 'He doesn't want a random relationship'."

Tikki clapped. "Good Adrien impersonation."

"Thank you," Plagg replied, "I've spent a lot of time around his whining, it's only gotten worse as he got older."

The two friends sat in silence and looked out over Paris, each buried deep in their own thoughts. Today had been an indication of what their life together would be like and it was wonderful. They both thrived off the other, accepting without question and challenging to be better than ever. Together in and out the masks would just solidify an already strong partnership.

"The plan has worked by the way. Adrien will be there tomorrow." Plagg turned to his counterpart and smiled in the cheesy cat way he did best.

"Really?"

Tikki had been a partial mastermind with this plan. Coming up with an idea of how the two could be pushed into different situations together. She'd even tracked down and looked in Marinette's phone calendar to come up with a list of possible meet cutes. The fact Marinette was asleep when Tikki used the Face ID was something to be overlooked, nothing unethical happening here.

The small red kwami had made a note and kept it in a hidden location within Marinette's room. What the girl didn't know, wouldn't hurt her, right?

As they started piecing together rules and policies for this 'mission', it was agreed that, as long as no one was injured too badly, they could interfere with other obstacles (people) as much as they liked. The only rule being they could not, at any point, mess with Adrien or Marinette. Whatever happened, needed to be real and unbiased, a natural progression to the unnatural relationship they were being pushed into.

For example ...

Exhibit A - Derek James, British Supermodel and Gabriel Influencer.

Derek was unfortunately the first collateral damage involved in the mission of love at ten dates challenge.

Derek was due to model Gabriel's new range the following day at the event Marinette was due to be at too (shock horror), but unfortunately some of Marinette's constipation medicine (don't ask) ended up in his midweek bolognese. Tikki, of course, would deny any interference with the cooking and Plagg would plead 'not guilty' to any indication he was involved in this unfortunate event.

Sixteen hours earlier ...
Kalkki set the mission in motion, as Longg, Pollen, Tikki and Plagg followed behind.

"Where do you want it?" Pollen whispered, carrying the bag of medication along with Longg.

Tikki and Plagg were currently flying around Derek's kitchen as he slept, looking for something they could add the constipation medicine into. It would only need two or three tablets to clear the guy out for the next few days, and knowing he couldn't walk and needed a headliner model asap of course Gabriel would turn to his son. Gabriel always turned to Adrien.

"Here," Tikki whispered, directing the kwamis attention over to the slow cooker currently on low in the corner of the kitchen. "Smells amazing, it's a shame he'll never want to eat it again after this afternoon."

Pollen and Longg hovered over the pot as Plagg and Tikki lifted it, Kalkki keeping the portal open for their return.

"Now just drop two or three in the dish,"

"Ooops!"

Tikki watched wide eyed as five tablets slipped into the slow cooking meal. Oh dear! She was glad she wasn't eating this.

Present Time

"Derek won't be modelling for at least forty eight hours, the laxatives will need time to pass through his body." Plagg started laughing as Tikki suppressed a giggle.

"So, tell me. What does Adrien think of Marinette?" Tikki asked, intrigued to know Adrien's first thoughts on meeting her holder.

"He thinks she's the most amazing human he's ever met."

"Really?" Tikki's ears perked up, some good news finally.

"Again no," Plagg continued, letting out a sigh as he seated himself next to his counterpart. "He believes he's made himself a new 'friend'. He's so oblivious sometimes he worries me. You'd think with all the love suck sighs he was dropping he'd have a clue about liking her as more than a friend."

"Let's be honest they're both as bad as each other," Tikki said. "She's so adamant that she doesn't need someone, that being the guardian is enough for the rest of her life. Why can't she see what she's missing out on, on who she's missing out on?"

"True, true!"

The two kwami's sat in silence looking out over Paris, as they listened to the bells of Notre Dame.

"To the big bells as loud as the thunder, to the little bells soft as a psalm. And some say the soul of the city's the toll of the bells ... The bells of Notre Dame."

"That was nice, thank you for the serenade, Plagg."

The two kwami's laughed as they basked in Paris at night. As it reached the winter months the added extras of the Christmas festivities made Paris more beautiful than it already was. The colourful lights and bustling streets ramped up the atmosphere and the Christmas spirit, and what would be greater than true love being found at Christmas?

"Can you remember Perseus and Andromeda?" Tikki asked.

"Of course, it would be hard to forget that the dude wanted flying sandals as his outfit."

Tikki laughed remembering Plagg's dismay at the costume, the guy had taken down Medusa and yet to celebrate, all he wanted was wings on his sandals. It almost made Adrien's desire for a bell plausible.

"They loved each other so much. I thought they would be the ones to beat, you know, our number one couple but -"

Plagg nodded and looked at Tikki. Nothing more was needed to be said. Both stood by the fact their holders were their best to date, regardless of the young age they received the Miraculous. They were a perfect team, connected in more ways than just by their skill set, they were connected by heart. Their love for each other was so pure, so natural, it was the perfect example of what 'true love' was.

"I still thought after dark cupid they would have given into the temptation, then there was the Oblivio kiss ... what more did he need so he'd think 'you know what, I think I might like the girl, I'm going to keep pursuing until she gives in."

Tikki giggled and shoulder bumped into Plagg.

"You know they both love each other, they're just too stubborn and committed to Paris to act upon it. They'll be so wonderful together, but I really don't think this is going to be easy Plagg, Adrien's got himself in a mess and Marinette is stubborn."

"I know," Plagg picked up a tiny pebble and threw it across the rooftop, instantly regretting it and praying it didn't fall off the edge, hitting some unwilling passerby, it wouldn't be efficient for Tikki to have to cure a random civilian. He breathed out a sigh of relief as it stopped just before the edge. "He's such a good one Tikki, I want him to be happy and I know it'll only be with Marinette."

"Me too. So what's the next plan of action?"

"I'm glad you asked. You see, now Adrien is at the fashion show tomorrow, the next thing we need to do is ..."