Marinette sighed as she noticed the vines of the trellis hadn't shifted in quite awhile.

She knew exactly what that meant.

It was late fall and Marinette was preparing the garden for winter.

She glanced at the ivy on the trellis.

A smile crept onto her face as she pulled out the blanket she'd brought this time.

She snuck over to the back of the trellis to find Chat Noir curled up on the concrete.

Marinette giggled as she draped the blanket over him.

She rooted in her bag and laid a preserved chrysanthemum beside him.

It had been about mid summer when she'd finally noticed him.

She'd gone to prune the trellis vines and imagine her surprise to see Chat Noir asleep on the ground contentedly.

Marinette had decided not to wake him and after that became quite aware of his presence.

But now he should know she wouldn't be coming around with colder weather, which was why she left the flower.

To communicate with him.

The bluenette pulled out a forget me not. For remembrance.

She hoped he'd realize it meant that she'd no longer be dropping by, and if she did, not as often.

There just wasn't as much to do during the winter for her garden.

Marinette bit her lip as she looked down at Chat.

Unable to resist the urge, she gently brushed her hand over her messy blonde hair fondly.

After that she slung her backpack over her shoulders and slipped out of the small garden.

.

.

.

It had been about a week and a half since that day and Marinette hadn't thought anything of it.

That is until that night.

She was relaxing up in her room with a cup of hot cocoa when a knock on her window made her frown.

What was Chat doing here?

His eyes were large and full of distress which made her leap from her seat and let him in, worried about her partner.

She opened her mouth to voice her concern when a bouquet of pale pink peonies got shoved into her hand.

Their meaning was clear.

"I'm sorry?" Marinette said aloud in confusion as Chat dropped to his knee, staring at her feet as his ears and tail drooped.

Marinette frowned. She thought he'd understood her message perfectly clear. Though it was possible he'd messed up their meaning.

Marinette cringed as she though back to the Gardenia incident with Adrien that happened over the summer.

She'd been instantly suspicious and as much as she wanted to accept it as him confessing his feelings for her. She just couldn't. She knew there was something wrong and she was glad she brought it up.

Because it had been a mistake.

Marinette's heart constricted slightly in her chest and she shook her head, pigtails bouncing as she turned her focus to Chat.

Who looked as if she'd kicked him.

"Chat why are you sorry?" She asked.

He still wouldn't look at her, his frown just deepening.

Marinette let out a breath. Oh boy.

She took her hand and used a finger to tilt Chat's head so he had to look up at her.

That didn't mean she could make his eyes look at her though.

He was glancing to the side, lower lip trembling like a kid about to cry.

"Chat I'm not mad at you," she coaxed.

Chat looked at her finally, pouting, his eyes reminding her of Manon.

"But you never came back to the garden!" He blurted out.

Marinette kneeled to the floor to be at his level.

"Its going to be winter soon, I've finished prepping the garden so there's nothing left for me to do," Marinette explained gently.

Chat didn't look convinced.

"You left a forget me not, it means to remember, I thought you were never coming back because you were mad at me for -" Chat broke off.

Marinette tried not to laugh knowing he was going to say something along the lines of spying or stalking her.

"And then you never came back," Chat finished.

Marinette hummed.

"What about the chrysanthemum?" She asked, curious as to why he didn't mention it.

"You left me a friendship flower?" Chat asked, eye brows knit in confusion.

Marinette nodded and tapped a finger against her cheek, trying to figure out why he didn't see it.

Even if he'd rolled onto it, he should've seen it when he got up.

Chat cursed under his breath and Marinette noticed an annoyed look on his face.

He caught her stare and became flustered, face reddening a bit.

"What?" Marinette questioned.

She wanted an answer to this mystery, her curiosity was often as bad as his anyway.

"Plagg," Chat muttered under his breath.

"Plagg?" Marinette asked, pretending not to know what a Kwami was or that Tikki had specifically mentioned his Kwami.

"He's my kw- Er - cat. A stray that started following me around, he must've eaten the chrysanthemum because I think I did see a petal or two and when I woke up, and his tongue was really swollen.

Marinette's eyes widened.

"Um. Those are poisonous to cats," she pointed out.

Chat's mouth was pressed into a straight line.

"Yeah he threw up a flower later but I couldn't make out what it was," he muttered.

Marinette shuddered.

She didn't blame him. If the Kwami liked Camembert cheese like Tikki had told her, than that flower of Plagg's was probably the worst smelling flower in history.

"Yikes," Marinette muttered.

Chat laughed but then his expression fell.

"What's wrong?" Marinette asked, leaning forward to peer at his face.

Chat found himself leaning back and blushing furiously.

"I - Er - I'll miss the garden," he said half truthfully.

He would mostly be missing her.

Marinette smiled warmly at him.

"Next summer you can help me in the garden if you'd like," she offered.

Chat perked and snatched her hand, pressing a kiss against the back of it.

"I would love to Princess," he purred.

After that Marinette offered him a cup of cocoa and some treats, realizing later that he would probably return because she'd fed the stray.

Oddly enough, the thought didn't bother her.

In fact. She was also looking forward to gardening with him next summer.

Gardening was something she'd never want Adrien Agreste to see her do, she always wore such old ratty clothes.

But Chat was a good friend.

.

.

.

Even though it was winter it didn't stop Marinette and Chat from talking about flowers.

Marinette was curious about how much info he'd retained so she quizzed him on flower meanings.

He didn't do too bad, exceeding her expectations and impressing her.

He had asked her for help in improving though, saying he'd never want to mistake a flower's meaning.

Marinette had only chuckled at that one, remembering Adrien once again.

Her heart didn't even hurt to think about it anymore.

After that Chat started bringing her a flower a visit. Sometimes he'd bring a couple chrysanthemums a week, other times he'd mix up what he brought for an unmatched bouquet.

It had started off with very friendly flowers but when Marinette had received an orchid she had just looked at Chat and raised an eyebrow.

His gaze and voice were unusually soft and sincere when he'd replied.

"Because you are indeed beautiful Princess," he murmured.

Marinette had turned bright red at that one, quickly excusing herself to find a vase so she had a chance to cool down.

.

.

.

Marinette took the pink and white ombré tulip from Chat without a word.

She was aware his eyes were on her, looking for a reaction.

She was also aware of his smirk - which made her scowl - as he noticed her blush.

"Now you're just teasing me!" She complained.

Chat strode over to her and trapped her in a friendly hug as he nuzzled her hair affectionately.

He'd just been getting more and more comfortable around her lately.

It seemed to translate into touchy cat like behavior.

"Your eyes are beautiful though Princess!" He argued.

Marinette sighed and reassured herself that he was just in a tulip kick.

It was almost spring time. Which meant gardening.

She smiled at the thought and then dead panned at another.

She swore to god if he brought in red (deep love) or white (eternal love) tulips then she would throw them off her balcony.

"And what about the purple tulip a few visits ago?" Marinette huffed.

Now that had to be teasing. Purple tulips were for royalty. Marinette snorted. Which she was most certainly not.

"What? You're a Princess," Chat defended.

Marinette shook her head but couldn't help her smile.

.

.

.

It had been a few days later when Marinette received her next visit. It was unexpected and.

Loud.

CRASH!

Marinette jumped up and rushed to her trap door, throwing it open as she saw Chat on the ground.

Her heart skipped a beat as she rushed to his side.

Was he hurt?

A Calla Lilly shoved into her face answered her question.

"Chat I was worried about you!" She hissed as she held the flower close to her heart.

Chat looked up at her with a goofy expression.

"Better put it in water Princess, or it'll wither. Pretty flowers need water," he giggled.

Marinette reeled back.

What was wrong with him?

He was acting like a drunk.

She pulled him to his feet and felt herself redden as she leaned close to his face to see if she could smell alcohol off his breath.

Nope.

Minty fresh.

"Want a taste too?" He murmured with a smirk.

Marinette glared at him.

Whatever had happened to him.

Well now he was twice as insufferable as normal.

Marinette had only just added the Lilly to her vase when Chat wrapped his arms around her.

She expected a hair nuzzle but jumped when he licked her neck.

She flew across the room to put some well needed distance between them.

"What is wrong with you!" She cried as loudly as she dared with her sleeping parents.

Chat looked dejected and scuffed his boot against her floor shyly.

"When I went to get you a flower they got a shipment of catnip in," he muttered.

Marinette felt her eye twitch.

HE WASN'T A REAL CAT!

She took a deep breath.

Well, he did purr. And chase laser pointers.

Marinette giggled as he remembered the time she'd made him run into a wall.

By accident of course.

Next thing she knew Chat had picked her up bridal style and was carrying to her bed.

"Chat!" She squeaked in protest.

She was not above screaming for her parents.

But how would she explain to them that he'd been visiting her for quite awhile...

"I just want to cuddle," said kitty whined as he threw her onto her bed.

Marinette did her best to try to scramble of it only to be trapped by Chat who pressed his face into the crook of her neck.

"Pretty Flower. Preeeeety floweeeer," he cooed.

Marinette groaned.

Mon Dieu, it was going to be a loooong night.

.

.

.

When Marinette woke up the next morning she found the largest bouquet of forgiveness flowers in her life.

White and pale pink peonies even fell out of said bouquet.

Marinette could only imagine what had happened.

Chat Noir must've woken up, completely back to himself only to semi remember what he'd done. Or even remember all the events that had transpired.

How mortifying.

Marinette could only imagine his horror. It had been quite horrifying to endure.

.

.

.

Marinette was not surprised when Chat sheepishly showed up that evening with yet another bouquet of forgive me peonies.

His hand strayed to the back of his neck as she relieved him of the flowers.

"So um. What did I do?" He asked.

The peonies hit the floor as Marinette spun around to face him.

"You seriously don't remember?" She exclaimed.

Chat's face reddened.

"Not enough," he choked out.

Marinette laughed, the sound making him even redder.

"Okay, So first of you brought me a Calla Lily," she began, watching his face for change.

He shrugged that one off.

"Then you licked me," she listed.

Chat stiffened at that and all the color returned to his cheeks.

"I- I - w- what?" He stuttered.

"You licked me," Marinette sighed.

Judging by his expression she would probably have a truckload of peonies.

"I'm so sorry!" He groaned.

Marinette held up a hand and smiled.

She was almost enjoying this and it was almost worth dealing with high Chat.

Almost.

"There's more," she said.

Chat looked like he wanted a black hole to open up under him and swallow him whole.

"You picked me up and threw me on my bed because you wanted to cuddle me," she continued, "then you wouldn't let me go."

Chat nodded dumbly.

"AND you called me a pretty flower," Marinette couldn't help but laugh at the last part.

Chat turned his back to her and flung her window open.

"Hey where are you going?" Marinette asked.

"I should end my life now because I'm already dying of embarrassment," he said casually.

"Was cuddling me really that bad or do you really not think I'm pretty?" Marinette teased.

Chat whirled around and stalked over to her, face flushed as he leaned over her.

"Princess I've told you you're beautiful when I wasn't... on catnip... and," Chat's blush deepened, "and I'm actually unhappy that I don't remember cuddling you."

Marinette felt her mouth make an "o" shape.

She'd just been teasing him and yet...

Yet he was quick to reassure her that he cared. That he did think she was beautiful.

"I wish I had some pink tulips," she murmured quietly.

"Confessing Princess?" Chat teased, his eyes filled with mischief.

"Dang I said that out loud!" She cursed.

Chat smiled fondly at her.

He wish he had red tulips to give her.

Because she had completely and utterly stolen his heart, even from his Lady.