Paris's two heroes danced over her rooftops. One in dotted red spandex led ahead. She twisted and twirled as if she had wings like her namesake. Her partner had more innate agility and better technique but he couldn't match how his partner could use her small body to glide. The duo raced to the Eiffel Tower.

"You won't beat me!" Chat Noir doubled his pace.

It would be for naught. He couldn't swing his weight up the metalworking with the same briskness Ladybug could. He found himself speeding after her like a cat after smaller, more agile prey. Chat watched helplessly when Ladybug climbed up to shock some tourists.

"Sorry citizens. Chat Noir is just losing to me again," she boasted to them.

"Slander and lies," he huffed as he finally made it.

"The only reason I lost to you is because I had more weight to pull up on the Eiffel Tower," Chat claimed to her on the trip away.

"Sore loser, kitty?"

"Analytical and critiquing, my lady," he corrected. "I guess being so tiny has one advatange," Chat teased.

"I'm not going to keep playing with you if you get mad when I win."

Marinette Dupain-Cheng knew she was small even for a female. They were both over 14 but she was rounding at about 5'2. Chat was approaching 5'8. Height was always more important to girls than boys, and her mother was short, so she never bemoaned her height. Girl stopped growing after about 15, so she had another few inches but that was it.

"Hey I love you pocket size, my lady." Chat waved his arms above her head to emphasize her stature. "I could eat you right up. I would if you weren't sure to give me cavities."

"Yeah, don't worry I'm pretty sour right now," she said half annoyed and half amused by Chat.

"Just like that American candy. First-"

"Do you enjoy having teeth to chew while on the subject?"

Chat had matured enough to know when to back off.

Their patrol, which was really an excuse to hang out, ended early that night. Chat mentioned he had to be away for tomorrow. His job required him to leave Paris for a day.

"If you have a job that requires that much responsibility then you have no excuse for putting so much on my plate, kitty." She dangled over legs back and forth over the ledge she sat on.

"My lady, I see you as my superior." He gave a mock bow.

"Then, give me your miraculous, you're fired," after the words left her mouth she regretted them. Chat's worse fear quickly came flashing back to her.

"Being the boss doesn't instantly give you authority to fire," he said, luckily taking it in strides. "Don't worry I'll punch in again soon," he called back to her as he took off.

Ladybug smiled, relieved he wasn't offended and happy he was getting over his insecurity. Her parents were both fast asleep that night. Working all day in a bakery takes all your energy. She still tiptoed down to the kitchen.

"Can I grab a cookie?" Tikki was already going to get it, though. The question had become a formality after so many iterations.

"Sure, just don't go for the bigger ones. My parents will definitely notice."

She still felt guilt bubble up in her stomach but the hunger panged deeper. These days she had been getting hungrier and hungrier. It was probably just the side effect of magical crime-fighting. Tikki had assured her as much. Yet, no matter how many more helpings she took during meals, she just seemed to never be satiated.

After hypocritically ignoring her own call for discretion she swallowed two baguettes. Tikki took advantage of her hypocrisy to get herself another cookie. When Marinette's head hit her pillow she went out like a log.

On weekends Marinette takes her time getting up. There is no school to perpetually be late to. Breakfast is guaranteed to be waiting at her pace. Akuma attacks don't occur until later in the afternoon so Paris doesn't need her either.

When Marinette finally stretched out of bed, enticed by the smell of food downstairs, her clothes felt tighter. Her sleeves barely stretched past her elbows. Her pants legs felt stuck at her shins.

'Maybe they shrank after too many washes?"

She would find something more comfortable to wear after breakfast. She felt a little bit more clumsy than usually that morning too. Once or twice she nearly tripped on her way down the stairs. When she descended to the kitchen her parents were both already waiting. They knew she wasn't a morning person, especially on weekends.

"Morning mom," she sat down. "Morning dad," she broke a piece of bread and began eating.

"Marinette, will you please stand up, honey." Her mother had already risen to join her side. Confused by the request, Marinette obliged.

"Well, I'll be. It looks like you take more after your old man than you thought," Tom said. Marinette looked to Sabine hoping for explanation and found it on sight. She had to crane her neck down to look at her mother.

Marinette and her mother had reached equal height. Her or her mother may have had an inch on the other, neither ever bothered to check. Now Marinette was nearly a head taller than her. She could lift her chin on top of her head if she raised it high enough.

"It seems like all those cookies and baguettes you stole went somewhere," Sabine said. Marinette went flush. "Yeah. we noticed the missing inventory," she giggled at her embarrassed daughter.

"Sweetie, I think you and your mother have a long day ahead of you. I imagine judging by those pajamas a lot of your closet won't fit anymore."

"What?!" Marinette obviously prided herself on what she wore everyday. What future fashion designers wouldn't. To think she had to get a new one with her mom. No matter how sweet she was, Marinette is still a teenage girl.

"Don't worry you can pick what we buy," Sabine assured her. "I just have total veto power."

Marinette, Sabine, and Tom worked together to put away what clothes were now outgrown in storage. Multiple times Marinette almost tripped or hit her head.

"I'm already missing being shorter," she moaned.

"Hey, don't worry," her father called out to her. "No matter how big you get you will always be my little girl." That was factually true. Tom was a giant of a man.

"Girls are as nearly as tall as they are going to get by your age," Sabine explained. "By the time I was your age I was pretty much done growing. There isn't much growing time left for you anyway. I estimate you are about 5'4 right now. You do have some of your father's genes so you will probably stop at 5'6 at the tallest."

"I'm okay with 5'6. That's high enough for me and I guess it has the added benefit of no one being able to call me a shorty."

Marinette's family sorted through her closet by lunch time. Marinette and Sabine decided they would go shopping for new clothes tomorrow.

"Don't be afraid to eat more Marinette. When I was your age I had to eat to get his massive," Tom flexed a bicep.

"I'm not really interested in that, but thank you for the extra food," Marinette's face was red at her father's antics.

After finishing lunch, Marinette climbed back to her room. She was careful not to bump her head or trip this time. Tikki came out of hiding.

"Marinette, I'm so happy you are molting so healthy."

"Molting?" Marinette looking at the happy, beaming kwami. "So there is a magical explanation to this much growth?" She did think her sudden growth spurt was suspicious.

"Well the miraculous has blessed you with it's magic. You do notice the effect on your body so far right?

She had. Her stomach fat had virtually disappeared. Her small frame had felt a little hardier like it could take a hit or two from an akuma out of the suit. She didn't think much of those effects. It might be magical but being Ladybug was still physically demanding.

"So I'm growing more than I would have?"

"The miraculous is unlocking your body's full potential. Meaning your body will be as developed as far as it can go."

"My genes will be fully read, is that the right word?" Tikki shrugged.

"Maybe, I obviously know little about genetic science."

"Wait, my dad is a giant," Marinette began. "Is it a possibility I have my dad's genes? I could grow as big as him."

Images of herself with her dad's body flashed in her mind. She barely fit into her chair. In the school pictures she had to walk to the far back while Chloe and Lila snuggled close to Adrien. People avoided her in fear. Adrien turned down her confession of love in disgust.

"Oh Marinette," Tikki had been with Marinette long enough to know when she was catastrophizing. "You won't look like your dad. Your figure will remain beautiful. You are you so you will always be beautiful."

The encouragement did it's trick on Marinette. "You are the best kwami ever. Chat would beg me to trade if he met you." Tikki nuzzled against her cheek.

Marinette took the rest of the day in stride. She decided to recognize the opportunity. The young fashion designer had several sketches. She could fill her closet with her own designs. Besides, Lila wouldn't be so quick to corner her in the bathroom now.

She nestled into bed content.

That morning she stretched out only to find her clothes in the exact same condition.

"Tiki," she called out to her kwami.

"I guess a lot of your dad's blood is in your veins after all."

Marinette hurried downstairs. She stamped down her steps tripping on her longer legs. Her parents snapped their necks at their daughter tumbling down. They were quickly around her, helping her up.

"Honey are you alright," Marinette rose only to see her mother's head was now below her shoulders. "It's a good thing we decided to put off shopping," she muttered to herself.

"I told you that you were going to take after me," her father pulled her into a hug. Now, though, his daughter's head wasn't smushed against his solar plex. Marinette felt her head pressed against his breast. "You have to be 5'7," he guessed.

"Hopefully it ends here," Marinette muttered, pushing herself away from her father's embrace.

"Please, I would like you to keep growing. It would make the boys think twice before trying to steal you away. Hell, they wouldn't be able to steal you away if you were a giantess," he laughed.

"Dad!"

"Don't worry, you will always be my beautiful little giantess," Tom hugged her again. Marinette groaned sensing a new nickname.

"Still I want to make sure this growth is natural," Sabine had remembered reading about excessive growth from brain tumors. "Let's stop by the family doctor after getting you those clothes."

Marinette was grateful her mother let her pick a new wardrobe without comment. She only made sure there was enough room to grow into them a few extra inches. Her mother did disapprove of a few miniskirts, however, claiming they were too risque now. That she was no longer little and cute so she had to think about her womanly modesty. The fact she said it near some kids her own age made Marinette abide by her mother's wishes zealously.

Tikki had assured her the doctor wouldn't be able to detect anything. Yet, she still breathed a sigh of relief when the doctor said she was simply having an exceptional growth spurt and the sight of her dad removed what suspicions he had of anything abnormal.

That night, Marinette paced in her room.

"Calm down Marinette, you don't have to worry. Everyone's body changes."

"Yeah, but what will everyone at school think?" She had always been one of the short girls. She might have been in the running for shortest were it not for Alix. She was probably taller than some of the boys now.

"Anyone who would pick on you for that isn't worth your time to begin with," Tikki wisely said. "Your real friends will probably just find it novel before that wears off."

Tikki's words were always as magical as her.

In the morning Marinette stretched out of bed again. She felt some growing pain but luckily her clothes still fit comfortably. Her nerves had actually caused her to wake with enough time to not rush. That was good because she would have done nothing but trip.

"Hey girl!" Alya waved at her approaching friend. Marinette felt her stomach drop as the first trial began.

Alya kept her eye and smiled on Marinette. Her eye stayed on Marinette but her smile morphed to a gape when her friend's familiar form came in longer than usual. Alya was taller than average for girls their age but here eyeline was to Marinette's chin.

"So apparently I'm a late bloomer," Marinette tried to offer in the way of explanation.

"Bloom you did," Alya agreed. "I like to see Chloe try to tower over you now," she laughed. Chloe had mellowed but Marinette always did hate when she did that.

"That means you have no excuse for not meeting Adrien's eye when you are on his eye level, girl." Marinette felt her face boil.

At school many turned a glance at her. They were all probably wondering whether or not she was actually Marinette.

She felt her stomach churn. The unwanted attention was bringing back her anxiety. She quickly ducked into her seat. Class proceeded as normal, meaning she was lost the entire way.

"Marinette," she heard Adrien say. "I think you are taller than me now." He was right. She barely beat him but she was.

"To think little Mari would grow so big," Kim called out. "I feel like a proud papa."

"I think you look great Marinette," Nathaniel shyly remarked. He did admire how the extra height made her figure look so willowy.

"I think it's great, you look better than you were before." Lila's backhanded compliment was obvious to them both.

"Dude, were you just hunching over?"

"The probability of such growth is unlikely," Max chimes in agreement.

". . . Massive overnight growth spurts were common in my father's family."

"That just means she'll be even more dangerous to be around with her clumsiness," Chloé sniped.

"I want to see you try to intimidate her now you hero reject."

Chloe wanted to scream at Alya but was thankfully stopped by a look from Adrien.

The phones of the class beeped in warning. It was an Akuma attack. Procedure dictated that if it was close enough to the school students were to evacuate until Ladybug and Chat Noir resolved the situation. Marinette quickly slipped out of the room.

She stopped inside of the bathroom. One quick scan of her surroundings saved her from transforming in front of Lila. The Italian girl followed her to the restroom, again.

"I want to let you know something. Adrien is mine. This also ruins your chances with him freak," she pointed at Marinette's chest. "No guy wants a girl who is taller than him."

"Duly noted," she grabbed onto Lila's finger and lorded her height over her like Chloé used to do.

The Italian girl looked up at her in reconsideration. She quickly snatched her finger away and made for the door. Her grumbling could be discerned by Marinette. She stopped by the door embittered before leaving.

"Don't think you are so tough. You are a walking stick, I could snap you like one."

Ladybug quickly met up with Chat. One the way over she had come up with a brilliant revenge plot. So many nights of being called a tiny bug, little lady, and so many other teasing remarks by him were going to be repaid.

"So kitty what's the akuma?" Chat was shocked by the feeling of arms being folded on top of him.

"Ladybug?" She held herself fully erect so Chat could see her. Her intuition was right. She was beating, barely but still taller.

"What's the panic little kitty," she savored each word.

"First a surprise, now karma," Chat laughed.

"If you want I could carry you the rest of the way in my arms." Ladybug didn't let up.

"I'd take that offer," he smiled. "First M-my classmates. Now my partner."

"Your classmate had a massive growth spurt?"

"Yeah, she was pretty short for a long time. Even before I met her. This morning I saw her get out of her desk and she grew so much. I almost didn't believe it. She was also taller than me." Chat leapt away towards the akuma.

Ladybug watched him go.

"Damn," she swore to herself.