Adrien stood at the bakery's doorstep. He smiled at the sign above his head. Last time he was here there were tears, this time he was determined for there to be smiles and laughter.

Six months ago:

"Leaving?" Marinette whispered as his news washed over her. "I know, my lady, and I hate it. But Father says I have to take it, and in a way, I'd be an idiot to pass it up." He had been offered a very special opportunity to work in a high-profile physics lab in New York. He'd be getting loads of college credit if he took it as well as boosting his resume even higher than it already was. If it wasn't for the fact that he had to leave Marinette here in Paris, he wouldn't have hesitated.

"Your father is right." Marinette said, her voice quiet yet steady. "This is an opportunity you've been dreaming of for a long time." Adrien could see the tears forming at the corners of her eyes. "But- how long?" Her short question told him she was losing her battle to stay calm. He took her hands in his own. "Four months." He said, feeling the heavy atmosphere thicken around him. Marinette nodded silently, and Adrien pulled her to him. "I don't have to take it, you know." He whispered to her. "I don't want to leave you." In Adrien's perfect world, he could have taken Marinette with him. But, he knew that wasn't an option. She was working for his father now, and thriving as he'd never seen her thrive before. He couldn't steal her from that. Besides, even though hawkmoth had been defeated, Paris needed Ladybug.

~End of flashback ~

Adrien stepped through the bakery door and was immediately greeted by familiar sights and smells. The line was long that morning, but Adrien didn't mind. He had planned for it actually. He had told Marinette he was coming back that week, but had never mentioned what day. He so desperately wanted to surprise her. His plan was to stand in line and wait like any other customer, and then order when he got to the counter. He wondered what her reaction would be when she saw him. He could hear her taking orders from behind the counter. It was a Saturday, so she was here instead of at the studio. The line moved forward, and Adrien followed.

He looked around as he waited. Everything was exactly the way he remembered it, from the positions of the tables to the color on the walls.

The other customers hadn't seemed to notice him. His time in New York seemed to have dimmed the light of his fame among the Parisians. He was thankful for that, for it meant no one would be announcing his presence to Marinette before he reached the counter. The line moved up again, only one more customer to go before he saw her.

When the woman in front of him had finally paid for her order and stepped aside, Adrien stepped up and felt his breath catch in his throat. Marinette seemed to be even more beautiful than he remembered.

"How can I help you, today?" She asked, looking up at him absently. Adrien chuckled as he realized she hadn't truly paid enough attention to register who he was. A Chat-Noir smile crossed his lips. "I'll take a Marinette-special, please." Marinette looked down and lifted her hand up to the register, but suddenly froze. "Matinette special" wasn't a menu item. The only person who ever ordered that was-

"Adrien." Marinette whispered, her eyes slowly trailing up his torso and meeting his eyes. "Adrien!" She squealed. She nearly leaned across the counter and as she threw her arms around his neck. Adrien laughed as she muttered unintelligible greetings. Oh, how he had missed her flustered stutters. When she broke their tight embrace, she was beaming at him merrily. "It's so good to see you!" She said, her excitement unbridled. "Oh! Hold on! Papa!" She called to the back, "Can you come take the register?" Mr. Dupain-Cheng came from the kitchen with a confused expression. As his eyes fell upon Adrien, his expression morphed into understanding and joy. "Is that who I think it is?" He asked with a laugh. He pulled Adrien into a tight hug and ruffled his hair for good measure. "It's good to have you back, son! We have to celebrate! Oh, I know! We'll make a cake, or no! Macaroons! Your favorite!" Tom continued to stutter out how best to celebrate Adrien's return. He might have gone on for hours, had an amused chuckle from one of the waiting customers not caught his ear. "Tell you what, You two head on upstairs and after we get all these people taken care of Sabine and I will join you."

Adrien nodded happily as he took Marinette's hand and led her up the stairs into the Dupain-Cheng's apartment. Plagg and Tikki leapt into one another's arms with cheerful voices as soon as they were out of the public eye. Marinette and Adrien giggled at their greeting as the two kwami's phased through the wall and disappeared from their sight.

"Oh! It's so good to be back!" Adrien exclaimed as he flopped down on the couch dramatically, allowing his arms to land wherever gravity took them. Marinette giggled at his antics and bent over the back of the couch with a smile. "I'm glad to see you making yourself at home." She chuckled. Adrien looked up at her with a glorious smile. He raised one of his previously limp arms up to where she leaned over him and tickled the edge of her chin with his finger. "I've missed this place so much. I've missed everything about it, especially you." Marinette blushed at his comment and walked around the couch. He sat up to make room for her and she sat down on the other end.

"About that, Adrien. Do you still...?" Marinette asked, looking down at her fingers.

Adrien looked at her in wonder. He didn't understand why she suddenly felt unsure, but he comforted her none the less. "My life has been so bland without you. I love you, that hasn't changed." Marinette looked up at him with a smile as a look of relief washed over her. "I love you too."

Adrien's smile turned mischievous as he leaned in to her. "So, I take it you didn't find yourself a more perfect guy while I was gone?" His voice was low and teasing. Marinette smirked, "I did not. Guess you're stuck with me." Her words were teasing, but her eyes were sincere. With any underlying fears of having been replaced finally gone, Adrien's smile widen and he moved his hand to Marinette's cheek. He leaned forward, and she did as well.

Ding-Dong

The two jumped back in surprise. Marinette got up, her cheeks a deep red, and opened the door.

"Oh, Nathaniel?"

Adrien leapt up at the name of the young artist. "Hey, Marinette!" he replied lightly. "I was wondering if you wanted to-"

He spotted Adrien who was now standing just behind Marinette. "Adrien?" He asked suddenly. "You're back from New York?"

Adrien smirked at Nathaniel's sudden nervousness. "I am." He answered, lacing a possessive arm around Marinette's shoulders. He deeply cherished the way Nathaniel scowled at the movement. "Did you need something?" Adrien asked, careful not to chuckle at the redhead and lose his advantage. Nathaniel swallowed nervously, doing his best not to let his old shy tendencies take hold. "Yes, I did." He answered in the strongest voice he could muster. "Marinette, would you like to go with me to the park? I could really use a beautiful model." Adrien scowled at Nathaniel's obvious attempt at flirting with Marinette. He wondered how many times things like this had happened since he'd been gone. Adrien pulled Marinette tighter to himself before slamming the door in Nathaniel's face. A few seconds later they heard muttering and quick footsteps heading down the stairs.

Adrien turned to a stunned Marinette with growing embarrassment.

"So... Nathaniel?" He asked, carefully watching her face. Marinette shrugged, a humorous emotion laying across her features. "I've had to fend off a few interested parties since you left. While the cat is away the mice will play, right?" Adrien smirked, "Mice? How about rats?" Marinette chuckled in response before pecking his cheek gently. "Don't worry princess," Adrien continued, "the cat is back now. I'll be chasing away all of the rats."

The two headed out shortly after, Marinette's parents still busy in the bakery, and found themselves sitting in the park. While Tikki and Plagg chattered to one another in the tree top above them, Marinette laid her head on Adrien's chest. She asked him about his time in America and he happily recounted everything to her. After about thirty minutes, Adrien spotted an ice cream stand not far away and jumped up to go by the two of them some.

Marinette hadn't even been alone for ten seconds when another one of the rats showed his face. This one, however, came with a guitar case and neon tipped hair.

"Hello Marinette." Luka said as he came to stand beside the bench where she was sitting. "Your song is running pretty high tempo, good day today?" Marinette chuckled and nodded. "It's been wonderful. You playing somewhere today?" She asked, noting his guitar case. "Yah, I've got a gig at a café today. Should be pretty low-key. Do you want to come? I always love having you in the audience." His eyes sparkled with hopefulness, and Marinette nodded with a smile. "That sounds fun, I'll ask Adrien if he wants to go." Luka's expression changed instantly. His hopeful smile morphed to one of curiosity's and his eyes narrowed. "Adrien? He's back?" "I sure am." Luka turned towards the approaching voice and smiled gently as he saw his old friend. "Adrien!" He greeted, waving at the former-model. "Hello Luka!" Adrien answered as he handed Marinette her ice cream cone. He smiled back at the musician, eyeing his close proximity to Marinette. "How have you been?" He asked, doing his best to stand between the two. Luka smiled and shrugged. "I've been pretty good. Been staying on beat as best I can. Marinette has been helping with that too. You should have seen the costumes she made for the last gig." Adrien nodded, his smile growing faker by the minute. "I'm sure they were wonderful. I've worn tons of Marinette's designs, and each one is flawless and unique." He winked at Marinette, and smiled triumphantly as she blushed.

Luka continued in an even tone, but Adrien didn't miss the threatening glint in his eye. "I was just telling Mari about my gig today. You two should swing by." Adrien nodded. "That sounds fun, but we won't be able to make it. Marinette's parents were cooking up quite the celebration when we left." Luka nodded and answered in a gentle tone. "Ah, that makes sense. Well, next time maybe. See you two around!" Adrien smiled back, fully aware that Luka's 'see you around' was there to let him know he hadn't given up yet.

Adrien plopped down on the bench, and pulled Marinette down next to him. He cast a glance to his ice cream, thinking of it as his reward for victory.

Plagg descended from the tree's branches cackling maniacally. "Oh my! Haha Of all your fantasies to come true- I can't believe it's this one!" Adrien scowled as he looked at Plagg, and then at Marinette who was chuckling. "Fantasies?" She asked between giggles, "What do you mean, Plagg?"

Adrien shot Plagg a warning glare, which he pointedly ignored. "Oh, you should have heard him on the jet over here! 'oh Plagg, What if Marinette has replaced me? What if some guy has been driving her crazy and I haven't been there to run him off? I guess if that's the case I'll just have to kick his butt down the stairs or something.'"

Adrien blushed in embarrassment as Plagg continue to quote his previous babbles. "I was sleep deprived!" He defended as Marinette's giggles intensified. His protests fell upon deaf ears as Marinette and Plagg continued to laugh. "You really shouldn't be embarrassed, Adrien." Tikki said, floating down from her perch. "Marinette has been muttering about every possible circumstance since you left." Marinette's giggles suddenly subsided as turned deep red. Adrien smirked as he responded to Tikki. "Every possible circumstance? Paw-lease enlighten me ,Tikki. Marinette snatched Tikki out of the air as she began to babble. "No! Uh, I mean, that's not necessary. I babbling wasn't anything about! Er! I mean- I wasn't babbling about anything! That would be realistic! I mean- Unrealistic! Why don't we talk about something... else?" Adrien had leaned in close to her. His eyes had a predatory look to them, and his lips were curved in a satisfied smile. Marinette took a deep breath. The sun hit his blonde hair perfectly, giving him an angelic look. Her previous stuttering forgotten, she found herself transfixed by the deep pools of green that were his eyes.

"May I, my lady?" He asked in a low voice that made Marinette's skin crawl. She nodded.

Permission now given, Adrien captured her lips on his own. It was gentle and loving, and he planned on savoring every second. But his plans soon changed as Marinette pulled him closer. She kissed him with a fire. Her lips were sweeter than sugar, and the soft sounds that escaped from her mouth were like beautiful music to his ears. He felt her hands in his hair, and he moved his hands to her side. When they broke apart, he was gasping for air. "Wow," he said, taking in her ruffled appearance and hazy eyes. "I guess you really did miss me." She scowled as he smirked, and soon she had brought her lips against his again. Thinking failed him, and any fear of people seeing them left him as he kissed her. Oh, how long it had been since he had kissed her!

"You know," he said pulling back slightly and fixing his eyes on her intensely. "I think Chat Noir is ready to return to his Lady's side." "He'd better be." Marinette answered in a breathless voice, "Because, Lady Bug has been on her own for far too long." She fingered his ring mindlessly, and he smirked at her. "Shall I whisker you away, Princess? We could do something claw-sic like dinner and a movie. Or purrhaps you'd rather we just lock ourselves away in your room and whisper sweet nothings to one another?" He could get drunk off of her blush. She leaned against him, and buried her face in his neck. "I've missed you, so much."

"I've missed you more." He countered, kissing the top of her head. "You know who else has missed you?" She asked him, sitting up a little so that she could look him in the eyes. "My parents." Adrien laughed suddenly, remembering Mr. Dupain-Cheng's earlier proclamation of a celebration. "Yah, we should probably be getting back." He said. "I don't want you getting in trouble for hogging me all to yourself."

(Later)

Sabine watched intently as Adrien ate his dinner. "I do hope you were getting enough to eat in New York. I'd hate to think of you missing a meal." Adrien opened his mouth to respond, only to be interrupted by Tom, "Now, sweetheart, Adrien is quite capable of looking after himself these days. Which he'll need to be capable of doing if he plans on beating me at UMS3 later! I've been practicing. I even managed to almost defeat Marinette the other day!" Adrien laughed, "Lucky for me, I've been practicing too! I won't go easy on you!"

Tom laughed. "It really is good to have you back, son, and I don't just mean that for gaming." "Oh yes!" Sabine piped in, "You're so good to Marinette. I couldn't imagine better. Of course, now that you've come back, you'll be able to deal with those models who have been flirting with Marinette at work too."

Adrien nearly spit out his food at this revelation, and Marinette's face grew warm. Looks like the rats had decided to hold a whole convention while the cat was away.