Adrien sat in the car outside the store for ten minutes before Plagg physically kicked his ass out. Then he sat against the car for another ten.

"Kid, stop being a wimp. It might not even be her," Plagg came to lean on the car next to him.

Adrien listened to his words and tried to take comfort in them, but a part of him knew. He knew she was in there...but what if last night was all in his head? What if she'd left without a word because she didn't want to see him again? Was he a stalker for trying to track her down?

Then he watched from across the street as a familiar face walked into the shop.

Nino.

If he was here...It had to be her. He mustered his courage and walked across the street.

Marinette was flipping through pieces with Alya in her large back cabinet, her pride soaring every time the woman gasped over another design, when she heard a familiar voice from the front. Tikki came around the to back, needlessly informing her of who had arrived before moving to gush with Alya over a cotton sundress she'd hand-dyed the other week. Leaving them to it, Marinette walked to the kitchen, grabbing another croissant and mug of coffee as she went.

Nino rounded the corner, his nose following the scent of her offerings and head whipping to hers as he took them greedily.

"Marry me," he murmured, to her or the coffee, she wasn't sure.

"Ew, no," she replied for both of them, reaching up to ruffle his beanie while he stuck his tongue out at her.

"So," he drawed after taking a fortifying sip of coffee. "Has lover boy called yet?"

Marinette froze.

"You mean, you got him my number?"

"I'll take that as a no, then," Nino looked deflated, like they were already his OTP and she was crushing his hopes and dreams. "I could have swore he would have…"

"Okay," Alya's voice echoed from the back and Marinette watched as Nino's head snapped up at the sound. "I don't know what witchcraft you perform here, but this is the most magical dress I've ever seen, and I need it." Alya rounded the corner wearing one of Marinette's creations. A midnight blue chiffon day dress with golden constellations sprinkled over it. Marinette had screen-printed the fabric herself before designing the long sleeved dress with cold-shoulders and a deep V in the back that cinched with a ribbon at the waist and fell in pleats to the knees. It fit Alya perfectly, accentuating every curve on her body and making her toffee skin luminescent.

"It's yours. That dress was made for you," Marinette replied, turning to gauge Nino's reaction and taking his open-mouthed wonder as success.

"Alya?" he choked out, and Marinette looked back at the reporter only to see his shock mirrored on her face.

"Ohmygod!" She put it together looking at the two of them. "This is the person you met last night?"

She watched as Nino shut his mouth and just nodded. Clasping her hands, she started to squeal at how perfect it was. She was a sucker for a meet-cute.

Then the bell over the door rung again, and she forced herself away from her friends to walk out from the back and into the main storefront. She couldn't remember anything scheduled for today, but she had so many supplier appointments set up for this week, maybe something slipped her mind.

She turned her gaze towards the door, and froze as her eyes met his. She'd never seen his face in person before, but she knew him instantly, his emerald eyes captivating her even more in the light of day. He wore black jeans and a green sweater, a plaid scarf wrapped carelessly around his neck and carrying a bundle of fabric in his hands that she recognized as her coat from the night before.

He stared at her too, not saying a word and just drinking in the sight of her.

"You," he breathed out, an impossibly wide smile stretching across his face as he took a step towards her. The bundle in his hand was too wide though, the tulle catching on the barren coatrack by the door. In a flurry of movement, the coat tangled, the coat rack tipped, and Adrien went down with it all, laying on a heap by the front door, the top half of his body engulfed by tulle.

She ran over immediately, kneeling next to him as his arms flailed in an attempt to push the tulle out of his face. She giggled despite herself and saw one green eye peer out at her in amusement.

"Well, M'Lady," he said as he pushed the mass of fabric aside and propped himself up into a sitting position. "Look's like I've fallen for you twice now."

He grinned his crooked grin at her and she felt her heart start to beat out of her chest. She still didn't know what to make of him, or how to comprehend the way he made her blush yet feel unstoppable at the same time. She laid a hand on his chest and leaned towards him, trying to think of a witty response, but coming up with nothing.

"What's the matter," he smirked at her. "Cat got your tong-"

Before he had a chance to finish, she leaned over and kissed him, effectively wiping that smug smirk right off his face. It started chaste, but she sighed in pleasure as his arms encircled her waist and pulled her closer, her hands moving to curl around his neck and thread through his hair. Breaking away, she leaned her forehead against his in an attempt to catch her breath.

"Yeah, chaton, he did," she answered his unfinished question with a wink and grinned as a blush creeped across his cheeks.

Someone cleared their throat from behind her, and she turned to see her friends with bemused looks on their faces.

"Marinette, care to introduce us to your...guest?" Tikki asked, looking like a laugh may bubble over at any moment.

"Marinette," Adrien murmured, looking into her eyes with such adoration it was her turn to blush. Then he grunted as the door was opened behind him, smacking him squarely in the back.

"Kid? While you make a very effective doorstop, I always had higher hopes for you."

She watched as Adrien rolled his eyes fondly and moved to stand, offering her a hand and pulling her up with him. She looked at the gruff older man to introduce herself, but saw his attention was otherwise occupied.

"Tikki," he gasped dramatically and Marinette's eyes darted to her mentor's, whose eyes rolled skyward, looking away and suppressing grin.

Then Plagg was pushing past them, gathering Tikki in a hug and twirling her in the air.

"Where have you been all my life?"

"Down the street, you oaf. Put me down," she smacked lightly at his shoulder and rolled her eyes again.

"Wait, what is going on?" Marinette took a step forward, Adrien moving with her instinctively. Plagg looked at her.

"So this is your kid," he stated, looking at Marinette but addressing Tikki. Her mentor nodded, looking at her fondly before nodding towards Adrien.

"He's yours?"

"On his good days," Plagg responded with a shrug.

"Hey!" Adrien protested in a confused manner, but he moved to wrap an arm around Marinette's waist, and she leaned into him with a bizarre sense of familiarity.

"Ooo, there's a story here," Alya stepped forward, eyes eagerly darting between the two and Tikki laughed.

"Just old friends," she waved a hand.

"Best friends," Plagg corrected easily, as if he'd been doing it all their lives. "Now these, two. There's your story." He pointed to Marinette and Adrien and she watched as Alya's eyes rounded on her.

"Hey!" Marinette turned on Nino who had remained suspiciously silent. "You two first!"

Alya sighed.

"Alright, alright. We're going to need chairs," she pointed to Nino and Plagg and then pointed to the back. The two men dutifully followed orders. "And sustenance," she pointed to Tikki and heralded her to the kitchen. Just before she rounded the corner, she winked at Marinette and she had to laugh. Marinette had known her one day, and Alya Cesaire was already her ultimate wingwoman.

She turned back to Adrien then, watching as he took a step away and rubbed the back of his neck nervously. She raised and eyebrow at him, and took a step closer to cancel out the distance he'd just created.

"Where do you think you're going?" She laid her hands against his chest and he wrapped his arms around her waist again.

"Well, I didn't want to presume...I mean we only just met...I literally learned your name 10 minutes ago…"

"I kissed you, chaton," she reminded softly and smiled. "I think you can presume at least as far as to return the favor."

She tilted her head up towards him and watched as his eyes seemed to dance, a mischievous grin gracing his face. Then he pulled her close and gazed at her with a look of unabashed love and she was struck with the realization that she was looking at him the same exact way. He'd only learned her name ten minutes ago, true, but she had a feeling they'd have more than enough time for their minds to catch up with their hearts.

In that moment, she'd never seen someone more beautiful. Whether it was just who Adrien was or some sweet invention of a lover's dream, she didn't know. What she did know was that she was in his arms, he was kissing her, and she was flying.

And for all she cared? She may never come down to earth again.