The weeks flew by in blissful oblivion for Marinette. She was busy with work at her new company, going on dates with Adrien, fighting crime with her partner, and laughter. There was always laughter when they were together. Spring blossomed over Paris gradually at first, the warm breeze replacing the bite of winter in the air.

Marinette stood at her design table, pursing her lips as she studied the sketches of her most recent creation closely. The dress had taken shape almost of its own accord, the panels of the skirt sweeping like peacock feathers in jewel bright blues and greens.

Behind her, the bustle of the office sounded like surf on the beach, but it always had a soothing effect on her as she sketched beneath the big windows of what had once been Gabriel Agreste's workspace.

"Hey, Bugaboo," Adrien teased, covering her eyes with his hands. "Guess who?"

Marinette chuckled softly. "Umm, Chat Noir?"

Adrien spun her around, planting a kiss on her lips. "No. But I'm flattered you confused me with such a devilishly handsome, charismatic dude."

Swatting his arm playfully, Marinette rolled her eyes. "Very funny."

"You love it, you know you do," Adrien grinned, squeezing her hand. "You ready?"

Marinette nodded, setting down her pencils. Adrien often stopped by her office on his way home to pick her up, and it usually involved getting dinner. Or crime fighting. There was a lot of that too.

"So, how do you feel about something fancy tonight?" Adrien asked as they strolled along the Champs-Élysées, looking in all the store windows. Marinette grinned as she recognized one of her designs in a high-end boutique. She couldn't believe that this was her life. It felt like a dream.

"Look!" she exclaimed happily, pointing it out to Adrien. "Can you believe that?"

Adrien smiled, kissing the top of her head. "I absolutely can. I always knew you'd be fantastic, Mari."

Marinette stood on tiptoes and kissed him sweetly, wrapping her arms around his neck. She felt him smile into their kiss and lifted her eyes to his.

"You didn't answer my question," he teased. "And I'm not going to get sidetracked again."

Laughing, Marinette slid her hand into his and they continued walking. "Wherever you want is fine with me."

"Good," Adrien nodded. "Because I want to make this a special evening with my special girl."

They continued walking until Adrien guided her into the Ledoyen, one of the fanciest restaurants in Paris. Marinette tried not to feel out of place as she stared at the ornate walls and crisp white table cloths. But Adrien just smiled and took her hand as the maître d' led them to a table.

"Do you remember our first date?" Marinette asked slyly, peeking at Adrien over her menu. He was so handsome, she felt so incredibly lucky that the man she had been in love with all her life loved her too.

"How could I forget?" Adrien laughed. "I was so nervous!"

Marinette felt her cheeks pink slightly. "Really? I never knew that! I thought I was the only one. You're always so confident."

"Nah," Adrien laughed, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly. "You just bring out the best in me. Which is amazing because I have dated a lot of girls..."

Adrien seemed to realize he was rambling as Marinette arched an eyebrow at him.

"No, I mean like two. Anyway, not important. Let me try again."

He reached across the table and knocked over the candle which promptly set Marinette's napkin on fire. Reacting on instinct, she dumped her water glass on it and the flames died out.

Adrien was looking steadily at the table, his ears turning bright red until Marinette began to giggle. Soon her laughter infected Adrien as well and he began laughing too in a self-deprecating way.

"I'm not myself tonight," he smiled, taking her hand. "Marinette, you look beautiful tonight!"

Marinette suppressed an urge to laugh again as Adrien visibly cringed at how loud his voice was in the quiet restaurant.

"Sorry, that was loud," he grimaced shaking his head with a rueful smile. "This is a disaster."

Marinette shook her head, her heart warming at how hard he was trying. "No. I think it's cute."

Adrien took her hand, gazing earnestly into her eyes. "Marinette, I..."

At that moment, a rumble sounded outside the restaurant and several people ran screaming from a bank opposite the restaurant where a blast had blown the glass out of the windows. Papers fluttered everywhere and Marinette could see the safe door hanging off its hinges.

A man wearing a mask came charging out of the bank carrying two bags of money that bulged until the seams looked like they were about to split. What was even weirder, was that he made straight for a hot air balloon that had landed in the middle of the street.

In perfect sync, Marinette and Adrien darted out the door into an alley and transformed, running toward the hot air balloon as a second man released the weights holding it to the ground and it began to rise.

"Come on!" Marinette cried, looping her yo-yo around one of the cables and swinging them both up to the basket so that she landed in front of the men and Adrien landed behind them. The two men turned menacing stares on her, each reaching for a weapon.

"You didn't honestly think this was going to work, did you?" Adrien asked as they realized he had already taken their weapons. "I mean, this is probably the slowest getaway vehicle ever. Not such a puurrfect plan if you ask me."

One man dove for Adrien while the other went for Marinette. She dodged his blow but he managed to grab her wrist, forcing her closer and closer to the edge of the basket. Marinette's stomach churned as she saw just how far away the ground had gotten. They had to defeat these men here.

Driving her head forward, she rammed it into her attacker's nose before seizing a length of rope and tying him up while he was still doubled over. Turning, she was just in time to see Adrien use one of the ropes tied to the balloon to swing himself around and kick the other man in the face, rendering him unconscious. He was almost back in the basket when the rope he was holding onto snapped.

Marinette's heart jackhammered against her ribs as she ran to the side and caught hold of Adrien's hands. She strained with all her might to pull him up, but she couldn't do it.

"Tie him up!" Adrien called. "Otherwise he'll attack us again when he wakes up."

Shaking her head, Marinette struggled to hold on. "No way! I can't let go of you!"

"You have to, m'lady," Adrien said coaxingly. "Someone has to land this thing."

Marinette shook her head, her eyes filling with tears. Adrien's gaze softened as she choked, "I can't, Adrien. I can't."

"Trust me, Mari," Adrien replied with a grunt. "I'll be fine. Cats always land on their feet, remember?"

Marinette laughed almost hysterically. But her laugh turned into a scream as Adrien let go and she felt his hands sliding out of hers.

"I love you," he said as his fingers finally squeezed out of her grasp and he began to fall.

"No!" she shrieked as the balloon nearly smashed into a particularly tall building. Pulling on the cord that lit the fire with all her might, they just barely cleared the building as Marinette sobbed, looking wildly around for Adrien. When she couldn't find him, her tears fell harder and faster.

"I love you too," she whispered.

Wiping her eyes, she turned to give the balloon more height when she heard someone speak behind her.

"So you did hear me."

Marinette whirled to find Adrien leaning cockily against the edge of the basket, grinning at her. Marinette gasped, flying into his arms and burying her face in his chest.

"But you fell..." she said in disbelief, staring up at him. Adrien smiled, brushing a stray strand of hair out of her eyes.

"I told you. Cats always land on their feet."

Marinette laughed, swatting him a little harder than she had meant to before drawing him into a kiss. She was so relieved. Adrien was alright. He was here, he was safe.

"Let's drop these two off, shall we?" Adrien grinned and Marinette noticed that the balloon had floated right over the police station roof. With a nod, Marinette helped him push the two men out, lowering them down on her yo-yo string with the money into the waiting arms of several police officers.

"What about the balloon?" Marinette asked, glancing up at the rainbow of silk fluttering above them. Adrien shrugged, pulling the chain so that the fire burned again.

"Nice night for a ride. Don't you think?"

Laughing, Marinette drew closer to Adrien as the hot air balloon floated over Paris. The sun was setting, bathing the city in a rosy glow.

"Wow," Marinette whispered as they floated closer to the Eiffel Tower. The tower was lit like a beacon in the setting sun, dazzlingly golden in color. "Beautiful."

"Yeah," Adrien smiled, taking her hand in his. "You definitely are."

Marinette turned to face him but he surprised her by getting down on one knee right there in the basket.

"I was going to do this at the restaurant, but this is better," he said, his green eyes finding hers. "I love you Marinette. I always have. You're my partner and my best friend and I never want to be apart from you again."

Adrien held out a box with a diamond ring nestled in the velvet. Marinette's heart began fluttering wildly in her chest as though thousands of butterflies had suddenly awoken inside her. Adrien was perfect, he was absolutely perfect for her in every way.

"What do you say? Will you be my lady forever?"

Flinging her arms around him, Marinette covered his face with kisses, even the part that was covered by his mask.

"That sounds puurrfect to me, kitty."