2 days until Marinette's Birthday

"Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much." – Helen Keller

The yin and yang Miraculous work together. One can only succeed alongside the other. The soulmark is the representation of a team, of working together.

~~~~~~~~~~

Marinette had been having a lot of dreams since the ice cream venture two days ago, yet there was no explanation for it. Well, no explanation Tikki would give her. Marinette was known for her incredible napping skills, meaning she now had approximately six detailed dreams to over analyse.

Each dream consisted of pretty much the same situation, it was only the context which was different. For example, Chat Noir was Robin Hood, he saved her and made her his bride, next time Chat Noir could be Superman and she would be his Lois Lane, but no matter what the story; Chat saved her. They all felt so real, as though it was a memory more than a fantasy. Reaching out to the Grimoire, she began to look over dreams and soulmates. Unfortunately, the book lacked substance, and she was no greater off than pre Chat dreams.

"Do you think once we reveal we'll be ok?" Marinette was sitting on the floor, books and paper sprayed around her as she spoke with the kwamis. A few times a week she would allow the magical creatures to roam, as long as they promised to not cause any mischief.

"Sure," answered Wayzz, "it just has to be at the right time. It has to be meaningful."

Marinette hummed as she continued looking over her work for the evening. With the Pride and Prejudice assignment speedily coming to a closure, she needed to get a move on with the script and outfit. She picked up the novel, turning to her next page, before placing it down again. She stroked the spine as she thought about the story.

"Do you think Mr Darcy and Elizabeth Bennett fell in love at the right time? It's a long book and they didn't get together until the end."

"That's the idea of romance novels, Marinette. Why would they get together at the beginning? If they did that then there'd be no story." Tikki was snacking on a strawberry macaron as she circled over the book resting open on the floor.

"I understand that, but I want to know if they had children? If they continued to live in such an upper class setting? Did she have a nickname for him? You know, like darling, or lover, or Fitz."

"All love stories are the same. They meet, there are issues, the issues get worse and then they kiss and make up. They have to overcome misunderstandings." Tikki fawned in her usual loved up way. She loved romance, and she loved it even more when it included her bugs.

"Or they blow up the world." Nonchalantly, Marinette commented.

"You need to forget about that, the timeline has passed. It may not happen."

"Would you say that was our drama, or our drama getting worse?" Marinette placed her pencil in her mouth as she sat herself up and reached for a specific selection of notes.

Tikki couldn't say anything, she'd made a deal with Plagg that they would not intervene. Marinette had no idea that they were only at the first hurdle, Adrien's 'relationship' with Kagami. Both kwami's knew this was going to get a lot worse before it got better, and even with their souls being bared to each other, they were still clueless.

"I couldn't say, Marinette. You just need to believe it'll be ok in the end, regardless of what you do," she looked away and huffed out a breath, "or what silly game he plays."

"What do you mean?" Of course Marinette had picked up on it. When she wanted to be, she was sharp. Shame it couldn't be said about her choice in companions.

"Oh, you know. It's just Chat Noir, you never know what he's going to do next. Always a whirlwind of excitement."

Marinette snorted. Tikki was right, that cat could be tricky. She continued to search through her notes until she found what she was looking for.

The next assignment had been set, and Marinette just wanted to check the details before she started her draft copy. Taking the pencil out of her mouth, she began to make notes in the margins.

Never judge a book by its cover.

Mr Darcy was stubborn, yet kind. His first impression left Elizabeth thinking very little of him, though he turned out to be her greatest love.

On the last day of the assignment you will be presenting a detailed description about your partner. From your first impression, through your journey, and finishing at the end lycée.

Your description must include the following;
•A captivating opening paragraph
•Memories of your first meet
•Significant events shared together
•A question and answer section, with your own views and comments of how they affect their character
•What do you think of them now?

You will be graded on your creative writing, however slander will not be tolerated.

Marinette read through the description, grabbed a pink highlighter and drew over bullet point four. They would be asking their partners the questions next week and Marinette needed to start gathering some ideas together. She didn't think why is your dad an asshole? And why are you such a coward? Would work too well for gaining her a good grade, plus she'd probably be sued by Gabriel and blacklisted for the rest of her career.

Like a light bulb going off in her head she had an idea. She could ask those exact questions, she just needed to phrase them in a suitable way. She always wondered about Gabriel's power over his son, after having such high ideals about Gabriel Agreste, it hurt to think her idol was so unforgiving of his only child. Marinette hoped the photoshoot in two days would give her some sort of insight into his brain, but at the moment she'd rather lick a dog's bottom than speak to the once admired designer.

She pulled out her tablet and began to scribble down ideas for questions.

1/ What are your lifelong aspirations and why? (Boring)
2/ What do you like most about yourself? (Interesting/unknown answer)
3/ If you were a pizza, what toppings would you be? (You've lost it, Marinette! Though, now she was wondering what his thoughts were about pineapple on pizza?)
4/ What are your thoughts about Pineapple on pizza?

This was not easy, and she had no idea how it would link to the assignment, or to the unit as a whole. What does Adrien's analysed character have to do with Pride and Prejudice?

Severely frustrated, Marinette let out a growl, threw the tablet on her chaise and headed up to her balcony. She needed air. She was fed up with thinking about Adrien Agreste, and anything to do with Adrien Agreste. He was an idiot, and she just wanted to knock some sense into him. Why was he continuing to hurt Kagami? The longer this went on the worse it was going to be.

Pushing open her skylight, she made it to the railing and leaned her forearms over it. The Eiffel Tower could be seen in the distance in all its glory. Bright and sparkling, pulling the tourists in like moths to a flame. Perhaps that's why she found it so calming? The inner workings of Ladybug.

For the first time in weeks she began to contemplate what was about to happen when her birthday hit. Her parents had been getting deliriously excited with the possibility of her soulmark appearing in the next couple of days, knowing her daughter will be taken care of and loved without malice.

In two days time she will hopefully have the chance to tell Chat Noir that he'd won his bug, and that they could finally be together. She hadn't seen him in a couple of days but he'd been constantly in her thoughts. She'd remember one of his puns and randomly smile or laugh, her friends thought she was insane, now she understood she was falling in love.

Chat was the most lovable rogue she'd ever met, and she adored him for it. The guy was attractive, kind, caring and constantly putting his life on the line for her. To be able to talk to him out of suit was sending her stomach into twisted knots, and she prayed he would like her. That he would be happy with the girl who once said she loved him to hide her identity. He was the guy who was tricked during kwamibuster. The guy who -

"If you keep thinking that hard your brain will explode, Princess."

The guy who was lying nonchalantly on one of her sun loungers.

•••••

Adrien had had one hell of a day.

As he threw his bag on his bed, he walked to his computer chair and slumped down, placing his elbows on knees, holding his head in his hands.

It had started off well enough with school. The assignments were going well, Marinette was becoming outspoken and an absolute blast with her uncensored confidence, and she no longer looked like she wanted to kill him, just cause him moderate to severe bodily harm. He'd had a smile on his face most of the day and went skipping merrily into fencing practise.

The skipping merrily part is what caused the issue.

"Well, not going to lie, kid. That could have gone worse."

"Gone worse? She almost killed me." Adrien was exasperated by what just happened. He still couldn't get his head round it, and hated himself for it.

"Don't be so dramatic. You've got those funny stopper things on the saber so that doesn't happen. It's Pigtails I feel sorry for. She's going to get it." Plagg found a piece of cheese near Adrien's computer and settled on the bed that Ladybug, aka Marinette, had made for him.

Groaning, Adrien placed his head in his hands again. He'd messed up big time and the repercussions from his crappy lies were going to hurt those around him. His best friends.

"Why did I tell her Marinette knew? It came out without me even thinking about it. I felt as though I needed a partner in crime with me, and just threw her in the line of fire."

Plagg had to hold in the laugh, he didn't think Adrien would appreciate him having a comedy breakdown during such an immense time. Not only had Adrien screwed himself, he'd screwed Marinette too. The two superheroes who could defeat dangerous akuma's but couldn't conquer their own love lives. It was hilarious.

Adrien let out a frustrated sigh, again, and Plagg swore if the kid didn't control himself he'd pass out from the lack of oxygen. He knew Adrien didn't want to hurt Marinette, but the power of being soulmates meant they were in it together. Though still, that was no excuse for dragging her into his mess.

Before Plagg could question Adrien's motives, Adrien's phone began to ring. He walked over to his bag and pulled out his phone. Eyes widening when he saw the caller's name.

Kagami

"I don't think I can do this, Plagg. She's going to tell my father and I'll be locked away forever. You know how much he's looking forward to the merger."

Plagg sighed out exasperated. Again, his wielder was thinking about what everyone else felt, whatever everyone else wanted. He hated that Adrien was such a people pleaser, and worst of all was he did it so that no one would leave him. Everything he did was to keep those people close, to get them to love him. At only sixteen years old, he shouldn't be made to feel this way.

Plagg couldn't wait for all the identity shenanigans to be over. The love Marinette had for Adrien was pure, and natural, and he knew Adrien would flourish from sure care and attention.

"Here we go." Adrien pressed the green circle on his phone, face and body prepared to defend Marinette by taking the brunt of Kagami's wrath. "Kagami? I am so, so sorry."

As Adrien had made his way into the changing rooms earlier, he was excited and in a fantastic mood. Being the idiot he was, he decided to place a song on his phone and dance. Why? He still doesn't know himself. He just felt like he wanted to dance. This also included a chance for Adrien to fulfill his fantasy job of being a chippendale. As he got changed into his lamé he incorporated 'moves' to take off his clothing.

In the midst of a routine to 'I'm feeling good' by Michael Bublé, his shirt was off and being swung round his head. Unfortunately this was the exact moment Kagami had walked in on him. Not only could he have died from the embarrassment of being caught topless stripping to Michael Bublé, but two other thoughts crossed his mind. Firstly, she would see this as one of his 'silly' personality traits and probably want to cut any ties with him, and secondly, she'd see his unmarked skin.

"Do you take me for a fool, Adrien? Because you've certainly made me into one."

Adrien didn't know what to say, or how he was going to get out of this. So he went with the easiest option; he would beg for her forgiveness.

"Kagami, I will do anything to make it up to you. I am so sorry. You were so happy when you thought I was your soulmate, and you're my girlfriend so I wanted it to be true, it would have been easier." His face cringed at the full out lie he just told.

"Easier? Easier than what? Telling the truth, that for some unknown reason we're not meant to be, and dragging Marinette into this! That's an all time low!" He could hear the anger in Kagami's voice. "How long has she known?"

Adrien squirmed and closed his eyes. Perhaps it wouldn't hurt as much to say if he couldn't see her? Yeah, he didn't think that through either.

"A few weeks?"

"A few weeks!" She bellowed out. "She's meant to be my friend! You were meant to be my boyfriend! I can't believe this. You made me believe we were soulmates."

"Maybe I'm in the low percentage that don't have a mark, or maybe I'm free to make my own choice. You know some people get that opportunity, I might be one of the lucky ones." Adrien knew he was lying out of his ass. His family always received soulmarks. It was usually inherited, and it was clearly in his genes.

Kagami was silent for a while and Adrien didn't know whether to carry on talking. His common sense told him to stop before he made things worse, thinking about it, maybe it was Plagg telling him.

"You're going to make this up to me, Adrien. My mother has told me you are the only one worthy as my soulmate so I expect you to start living up to it."

Adrien let out a sigh of relief. She'd bought his lies.

"So we're ok? You'll still be my girlfriend?"

"Yes." She answered. "I will need to speak to Marinette about this though. It's out of character for her, and I feel I don't know her as well as I thought."

No, no, no ... Adrien started shaking his head. Marinette couldn't get involved in this, it wasn't her fault.

"It has nothing to do with Marinette. She saw I didn't have a soulmark and threatened to tell you. It was me who told her not to say anything, she was going to tell you. I swear."

"Well what about your display at the funfair, and the ballroom dancing? This needs to be a two person relationship. Not three. You can't keep changing targets whenever you feel like it. I want commitment from you."

Adrien gulped. Even if Kagami didn't know, there would always be three people involved. As much as he'd love to fully commit himself into a loving relationship, there would always be his partner. His Lady would always come first.

If he committed to this now he knew that would be it. His life would be signed into contract by their parents with no way out. He wouldn't get a chance to meet his own soulmate, if he eventually had one, because you don't break contracts with Gabriel Agreste.

The vision of Ladybug entered his mind. What if, by matter of fate, she was his soulmate? Could he really give up the opportunity to be with the love of his life? The girl he'd wanted to be with since he was thirteen years old. Worst of all, could he leave her to remain unloved because of a mistake he made?

Suddenly, a rush of adrenaline kicked in and he was thinking about himself for once in his life. He knew Ladybug's birthday was within the next week, she'd told him during their last patrol. She was happy about it, and couldn't wait to let him know. However, there was always a chance she wouldn't be linked to him, losing another girl in his life who he knew would make him happy.

"How about we have a trial for a week? That way you can make sure you're happy with me?" He prayed she wouldn't question too much into this. He couldn't exactly explain it was to do with Paris' saviour, and that he was holding onto that tiniest bit of hope he had left.

Again, silence took over the call and he knew she was thinking.

"Ok, but seriously Adrien, I am so disappointed. Just don't lie to me again."

The call ended and Adrien let out the breath he never even knew he was holding. The intensity of the call had his nerves on edge. He needed to get out and run off some of his steam and as much as he would love to just go jog the streets of Paris that wouldn't happen, so there was only one thing left to do.

"Plagg, claws out."

•••••

"Chat Noir? Why are you lying on my balcony? Not that I'm against a hero of Paris having a rest. But why here?"

Marinette was confused. They'd patrolled earlier in the day, it wasn't very often they went out at night. After all, they were still young and needed to get up for school the next day. She walked over to him and seated herself on the adjacent lounger. It wasn't very often that she got nervous, however knowing that in a couple of days she would be revealing not only her soulmark, but herself to this wonderful male ... well ... it did nothing for her nerves.

"Just had a lot to think about, and it was as though something was pulling me to think here. It may be the smells." Adrien replied. Marinette couldn't deny it, the smells that usually left the bakery were delicious.

"What's your favourite?"

Now that was a hard question. He could say the sweet treat of a macaron, but the flaky pastry of a croissant always held a place in his heart. He opened his mouth to answer and then remembered the quiche, oh the quiche. Forever the second love of his life. After his Lady of course.

"Is it that hard to choose?" She giggled, and the sound made him relax. He hadn't realised how much tension he was still holding until that minute.

"Well they are the best in town," he said, "and you'll never prove me wrong."

Where Marinette, as Ladybug, would roll her eyes and groan, today she was going to laugh.

"Nice one. It's a shame it was a bit stale though."

Adrien gasped.

"My- my- Marinette Dupain-Cheng puns, who would have thought it."

Marinette laughed again, giving Adrien her best flirty eyes. God, she was smitten with him.

"There's a lot you don't know about me, yet, kitty cat."

"Is that so?" He smirked and sat up, swinging his legs over the side of the lounge. "Well, care to fill me in Mademoiselle. I'm intrigued to know."

Mirroring his actions, Marinette maneuvered herself to face him. Leaving her knees within inches of touching his. A thrill ran through her veins.

"Did you know I have a secret?" She whispered, leaning in towards him. His eyes grew at her words. No he definitely didn't know she had a secret, saying that the intoxicating aroma leaving her at this moment in time was killing all sensible thoughts from reaching his brain.

"You have a secret? Is it big? Can you tell me?" He wiggled his eyebrows. He really wanted to know this secret.

She shuffled forward to the edge of her seat, stretched forwards, and placed both hands on his shoulders. She felt him tense at her movement, and the thought she could frazzle him boosted her confidence ten fold.

Keeping eye contact with him as long as she could, she moved her lips to his ear and spoke in a low husky voice.

"So big, it'll change your life."

The look of shock on his face, when she sat back, made her laugh. She couldn't wait to be with him. Only two sleeps and she could tell him. Only two sleeps and they'll be together. She'd finally get her happily ever after.

He gulped down as he began to speak.

"That big, huh?" He squeaked out his words, sounding more mouse than human.

"Nice sound." Marinette giggled, "you'd make a better mouse holder than me."

Breaking out of his shock from her close proximity and playfulness, he finally gave her the Chat Noir smirk she'd gladly die for.

"I wouldn't look as good in space buns."

Suddenly the intense mood had been broken, and both teenagers laughed. Free from obligation and responsibilities.

"I was wondering," Adrien coughed to clear his throat.

Adrien might not be able to quiz Marinette about the conversation with Alix, but he was sure Chat Noir could charm the girl to tell him something.

"So. have you got your soulmark yet, Miss Dupain-Cheng?"

"I have not. It's my birthday soon though, hopefully it'll appear then."

The dreamy look spreading across her face told him she was excited and romanced by the idea, but when he looked into her eyes something else was there. Something he'd never seen before. Pure love. His heart ached.

"Any ideas who might be the lucky fella?" Adrien asked, suddenly very curious by where this conversation was heading.

"Actually," she started, "I was hit by the soulmate akuma and have a very clear idea who it might be. Just waiting for my mark to appear to verify it."

"Call this cat curious, but do I know this lucky chap?"

"I believe you do."

Chat sat back on his lounger, crossed one ankle over the other and placed his hands behind his head.

"Pre-tell." He insisted.

This moment would be one she remembered forever. The night she let out her feelings without him knowing. They'd laugh about it so much, maybe the story could even be incorporated into their wedding speeches.

My darling wife told me exactly how she felt, and I thought she was describing another guy. When I found out it was me, and she was my soulmate, my life was complete. Marinette Noir, I love you. You have made me complete.

The look on her face must have given her away as Adrien laughed at her.

"Wow! Is he that much of a stud muffin?"

She sighed and leaned back on her lounger, looking up at the stars.

"I don't know where to begin." She thought about the boy sitting next to her and had nowhere to start. He was just - "he's amazing," She said.

He looked over to her, edging her to continue.

"I met him a couple years ago through some work we were both doing, and I was madly in love with someone else so kind of pushed him to one side." She thought back to her mad crush on Adrien, it was so pure at the time, but with Chat it was different, it was more than physical; it was mental and emotional and just right.

"Poor guy." Adrien said, causing another laugh to escape her lips.

"Oh don't worry, I saw the light about a year ago and although I will never admit it to him." She smirked to herself at that comment. He'd write that in the speech too. "He's wonderful and more than I'd ever need. He's such a larger than life character, he's supportive and caring, and I know he'd do just about anything for me."

"Sounds like you've got the guy whipped." He laughed, the sound echoed through the night skies and Marinette felt the need to blurt everything out. He deserved to know.

"No chance. He gives back as good as he gets. You know when you read a fairytale and you want that to be your life, like the music playing, everyone singing kind of romance? Well that's how he makes me feel. I'll listen to a song on the radio and it'll take me to a memory of him. I'll see something in a shop and want to buy it for him, I see someone shoving an ice cream down their throat without an ounce of care for the coldness and it reminds me of him. Heck, I've found myself repeating things he says and start laughing to myself, my friends think I'm nuts. I just know I'm in love."

"Woah! That's something, alright."

"Yeah it is." She giggled. "It's going to be really hard at first. Our whole dynamic will change and I'm quite sure we won't know how to act around each other. But it'll work," she nodded, "we're made for each other."

Adrien sat up and looked at her wide eyed. She panicked instantly that he might have worked it out. Did he know who she was?

"That's amazing, Marinette. I'm so happy for you."

"I'm happy too." Her cheeks took on a crimson hue as she thought about everything she just said. She meant every word.

Adrien stood up. Suddenly feeling uncomfortable. His stomach began to churn and he felt the need to punch something. The emotions were strong, but unjust. Why was he feeling this way?

"I wish my girlfriend would say things like that about me." His voice was low, and she barely heard it.

"What did you say?" She repeated again, her heart increasing to an inhuman speed.

"I wish my girlfriend would say things like that. She's so rigid and factual. It'd be nice to have a fairytale."

Marinette's blood ran ice cold. Girlfriend? Since when did Chat have a girlfriend? He'd never mentioned it to her, at all. Her stomach began to hurt, but not as much as her heart.

"Girlfriend?" The word escaped her lips. How she was holding herself together she'd never know.

"Yeah. We've been together a while. I haven't got a soulmark yet you see, so we've decided that we're going to stay together. I'm quite sure we'll end up engaged shortly."

That was it. She was gone and the tears came. He was getting engaged.

"Engaged?" Her words were accompanied with a sob, and it was taking every part of her will to not throw up.

"Yeah." He laughed. "Insane isn't it? Sixteen years old and tied down to the old ball and chain." Adrien turned and saw Marinette crying.

"Hey," he said, moving to encompass her in his arms. "You ok? Please don't cry."

"I'm just so happy for you," she cried, "you deserve the world."

Her heart shattered into a thousand pieces. She needed him to go.

"Listen, I need to get back to my room. Still a pile of homework to do. You know how it is?" She pulled out of his arms and made her way to her skylight. "See you around Chat Noir." Without even looking at him she made her way into her room.

Adrien stood confused. The mood had changed instantly and he felt worse than when he arrived. He hated seeing Marinette like that, he knew she was lying. She couldn't fool him. He felt uncomfortable as he looked down at her skylight. He'd done something, or said something and the guilt was overpowering him. If only he could make it right. With one last look where she'd disappeared, Adrien made his way back to the cold heartless mansion.

•••••

Marinette flushed the toilet and sat against the cold tiles, waiting for the next bout of nausea to hit. Pulling her phone from her pocket, she selected Alya's number. She needed her friend. Her life was falling apart.

"He's got a girlfriend." Marinette cried down the phone.

"Who Mari?"

"My soulmate." She sobbed. "He's - he's getting engaged. He's happy. I have to let him go. I can't let him go, Alya, I love him."

"Woah, slow down girl. I can barely hear you."

"My soulmate is getting engaged, and has chosen to be with another girl. I don't know what to do. I don't want to see him again, but I have no choice."

Alya was confused. This is the first she'd heard about Marinette having a soulmate, and wasn't she dating another person too.

"Do you see him often?" Alya asked.

Silence took over before Marinette answered. This conversation was heading somewhere dangerous, and she didn't know if she was ready for that yet.

"Every time there's an akuma."

Alya laughed.

"Who are you two? Ladybug and Chat Noir?"

The silence on the other end of the line told Marinette everything she needed to know. Alya had figured it out.

"Oh my God, you are! I'll be right over with a crappy romance film and ice cream."

This moment would be one Marinette remembered forever. The night she let out her feelings without him knowing, the night he told her he was going to forever be with somebody else.