Marinette barely got an hour of sleep the night before the party. Between taking a longer night shift with Chat Noir and worrying about the party, her bed had become a place she could no longer find solace. When Alya came over that morning (carting with her several cups of coffee at Marinette's request), she couldn't help but stare at the dark circles under her friend's eyes.

"Girl, did you get any sleep last night?" Alya asked, raising an eyebrow and pressing a cup of coffee into Marinette's hands. "You look – exhausted. Kind of sick."

"What? I look sick?" Marinette asked, raising her fingers to brush underneath her eyes, "Is it that bad? I've been so nervous over this party that I've hardly slept."

"It's nothing a little make-up can't fix." Alya shrugged, leading Marinette to lay down on the chaise. "You shouldn't have made yourself so anxious over this! It's just a party, it's supposed to be fun."

"I will have fun! Adrien is coming to get me at six and we're meeting you and Nino at the party, right? What if I can't make conversation with him? What if I say the wrong thing or do something wrong or get overexcited or – I've been dying to get close to him for so long now and it feels like I'm going to mess it up." Marinette sighed, closing her eyes and taking a long sip of the hot coffee. She tangled her fingers together around the cup, holding it tightly in her palms. Alya sat at the end of the chaise and did the same.

"We're meeting you at the party. We'll be right there as soon as you pull up, and you'll be able to make conversation with him! Talk about school and – and Ladybug and Chat Noir. They're always a topic of conversation." Alya insisted, and Marinette nodded, "You won't do anything wrong, Marinette. This is just a party. It's Chloe's birthday party, and she promised us cake and a good time! And you know how much I love a good time –"

"And I love cake." Marinette smiled. Alya giggled and set her coffee cup down. "Thanks, Alya. Do you want to play a video game before we start getting ready?" Marinette asked.

"Um, yeah! I've been practicing. I'm ready to kick your –"

"You're on!"

Two hours before the party, Adrien found himself staring down at the suit laid out on his bed. He'd told his driver that he needed to leave in an hour and a half, but he couldn't bring himself to put the suit on – or even bring himself to think about putting the suit on. Something about the affair made him feel like he was cheating on Ladybug (an odd feeling, he knew) – and a small part of him felt like he was going to the dance with Ladybug. Marinette and Ladybug had some similarities, especially in hair color and eye color, but their personalities were worlds apart. He considered cancelling for a moment – a very brief moment – but quickly decided he couldn't. Marinette was too excited, and the act would be so selfish (would it?) and it wouldn't be fair to her in the least bit.

He reached for his phone and sent a text to Marinette: Excited for tonight?

She responded within seconds: Very!

He smiled, set his phone down, and reached for the suit.

Alya left Marinette's house an hour before Adrien arrived. As soon as her friend's calming presence disappeared, she started to panic. She curled her hair and pinned it back in a few places and then panicked again, pulling the pins out and trying a different design – again and again she pinned her hair back, but every time she found herself unsatisfied with how her hair looked.

She finally stopped, realizing that oh my gosh, he was going to arrive any minute, and she had to get her dress on. She pulled it on and zipped it up, smoothing out the skirt. She slipped on a pair of shoes and then turned and looked at herself in the mirror, only to find that her parents were pushing open the door to her room. "Marinette? Can we see you?"

"I – sure." Marinette smiled, turning around to face them, "Do I look nice?"

"Oh, Marinette!" Her mother gasped, clapping her hands together. Her father quickly turned on a camera and started taking pictures. Marinette blushed and put her hands up in front of her face.

"Hey!" Marinette laughed, covering her face with her hands, "Dad! I can't see!"

"Just one more – great! Marinette, you look beautiful." Her father grinned, and Marinette rolled her eyes at them as they gushed over her.

"You made your dress all by yourself? The stitching is incredible." Her mother said, walking up to her and admiring the clothing, "You're so talented."

"Thanks! Yeah, I used a zig-zag stitch on the sides," Marinette began, but the sound of the doorbell downstairs interrupted her.

"Is that your boyfriend?" Her mother asked, and Marinette blushed bright red.

"He's not my boyfriend, mom." She replied, and her parents quickly left her room before Marinette could stop them. Answering the door, they immediately started off on a parental spiel.

"You look so handsome!" She heard her mother say, and her father quickly agree. Marinette turned to look at herself once more in the mirror before grabbing her purse and a small, wrapped present she'd bought for Chloe. She held her breath and walked down the stairs.

Adrien looked sharp. The black made his eyes gleam brighter than they ever had before, and when his gaze met hers, she felt she might faint. He gawked at her before breaking into a grin, walking up to her and taking her hand.

"Wow, Marinette – you look great!" He smiled, giving her hand a small squeeze before turning to her parents.

"Can we take a picture?" Her father asked pleadingly, and Marinette widened her eyes at him. Before she could make up an excuse, Adrien had already agreed.

His arm wrapped around her waist as he pulled her closer, and Marinette felt her cheeks burn. She smiled for the camera and reluctantly pulled away afterwards, pressing her lips together for a moment. "Should we go?" She asked Adrien, and he paused for a minute before nodding.

"Probably – thank you, Mister and Misses Dupain-Cheng. What time should I have her home by?" Adrien asked. Marinette swooned.

"Don't worry about it." Her mother waved a hand, "Just enjoy yourselves."

Marinette shot one more thankful look towards her parents before Adrien took her hand once more, leading her out of the room.

He opened doors for her and helped her into the car (A perfect gentleman, Marinette thought ), make sure not to accidentally sit on her dress. Marinette set the small present between them, along with her purse.

"What'd you get Chloe?" Adrien asked, eyeing the small box.

"Oh, it's just a small broach. She wore one last week, so I thought maybe she was trying to start a trend." Marinette replied, smoothing her hands over her skirt nervously.

"That's a good idea. Our parents are friends, so my dad insisted I got her something – special." Adrien chuckled, and Marinette arched an eyebrow up at him. "It's some diamond necklace."

"Some diamond necklace?" Marinette laughed slightly, "You say that like it's nothing!"

"Diamonds aren't nothing – the present is expensive, but it's not really heartfelt." Adrien replied, fumbled with the cuff of his jacket, "It's just a present."

"I get it." Marinette nodded, "You look great, Adrien. Super sharp."

"I told you I look good in black."

"I never doubted you for a second. I knew you'd look great," Marinette started to ramble, but bit down on her tongue.

"I have to say Chloe looks the best because it's her birthday," Adrien said, "but you're a really close second." Marinette rolled her eyes and he reached for her hand, squeezing it for a moment before the car rolled to a stop in front of Chloe's home. Nino and Alya were standing out front, laughing loudly (and standing very close together, Adrien noted). Adrien opened and held the door open for Marinette. She gathered her things and slipped out as Adrien's driver handed him Chloe's present. He shut the door and followed Marinette as she tentatively approached the laughing couple, reluctant to ruin their moment.

"Marinette!" Alya laughed, gasping and reaching for her friend, "Oh my gosh, you will not believe what just happened!"

Nino couldn't even breathe – he clutched at his stomach and seemed to laugh harder and harder. "What is it?" Marinette laughed slightly, staring between the two. She glanced into Chloe's house through a window to see everyone inside laughing as well – all bent over at the waist, clutching at their sides, "What's so funny?"

"Chloe! She's inside – and – she – akuma!"

"What?!" Marinette gasped, dropping the present and her purse and running to the doors. She shoved them open, Adrien trailing behind her, and shoved through the laughing crowd to see Chloe standing on top of a small stage in the back of the room, pointing at people and forcing them into incessant laughter.

"You want to laugh at my outfit?" She roared, zapping Rose into howling hilarity, "Have fun laughing forever!" Chloe's bright purple, green, and orange gown was hilarious, but Marinette was at a loss for words.

"Marinette!" Adrien yelled, pushing her out of the way as Chloe pointed directly at them. He grabbed her arm and pulled her down a hallway, pushing her toward a bathroom. "Hide in here! I'll – call Chat Noir!"

"Adrien!" Marinette yelled, but Adrien had already closed the door behind her. "Tikki!" Marinette whispered, and the small kwami flew out a small dress pocket, "Time to transform! Spots on!"

Tikki flew into her earrings and she spun, transforming into Ladybug quickly. Ladybug shoved the door open and ran out. Chat Noir fell to the ground behind her, groaning and holding onto his head. He stood up after a moment, rubbing at his forehead before running back towards the source of the pained giggles.

"Chloe, stop this! I'm sure they weren't even laughing at you!" Ladybug insisted, dodging Chloe's strikes, "Please!"

"I'm not – Chloe! I'm the Gigglifier!"

"Ladybug!" Chat shouted, and Ladybug glanced over at him. The Gigglifier looked up and Ladybug grabbed one of her wrists, pinning her arm behind her.

"Chat! Her akuma is in her dress – you need to rip it!" Ladybug shouted, reaching for her other hand. Ladybug dodged another strike and winced as someone behind her screamed before erupting into laughter.

"I'm not going to rip her dress! She'll kill me!" Chat yelped, narrowly avoiding one of the strikes of laughter. The laughter left her fingertips in hot white bolts. The Gigglifier turned and shoved Ladybug hard, sending her crashing into a table. "Ladybug!"

"Oh, Ladybug." The Gigglifier grinned, walking toward her, "You thought you could stop me? Hand over your miraculous now," she said, pointing a glowing fingertip at her, "or laugh forever. You pick."

"Neither! Don't lay a hand on her!" Chat yelled, grabbing the Gigglifier around the waist and falling backwards, pulling her onto the floor. The Gigglifier elbowed Chat in the side, rolling over and pressing her fingers hard into his ribs. Chat exploded with laughter.

Ladybug ducked behind an alcove, pressing her back into the wall as she tried to calm her nerves. It was all up to her now. Adrien was probably hiding in a bathroom, scared out of his mind. Do it for him, she told herself, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath. "Lucky charm!"

Ladybug found a seam-ripper in her hands and she stared down at it for a moment before smiling, peeking around the corner. The Gigglifier was overturning tables as the people around her laughed, simultaneously trying desperately to hide from her wrath.

She stared up at the chandelier in the middle of the room and reached for her compact. Bounce there, kick her down, twist of the rope, rip the seam – Ladybug nodded, tossing her compact out.

She swung from the chandelier and hit the Gigglifier across the back. She yelled and fell to the ground, and Ladybug swung her compact around her, tying her arms against her body. She swung the seam ripper around her hand, leaned down, and ripped the side of the dress.

A butterfly flitted out of the rip in the fabric, and Ladybug quickly caught it in her compact. "No more evil-doing for you, little akuma. Time to de-evilize!" The white butterfly flew from her compact, and she smiled, "Bye-bye little butterfly." She glanced around the room for a brief moment before shouting, "Miraculous Ladybug!"

In an instant, everything returned to normal. The laughter ceased and Chloe stood up, smoothing out her dress and looking around the room. Rather than laughing at her attire, the room cheered for Ladybug. Chat Noir stood, staring at Ladybug with admiration. "No! No, please – give it up for Chloe! It's her birthday, after all." Ladybug sighed, turning toward Chloe. Chloe marveled at her, blushing slightly. "Happy birthday, Chloe."

"Thank – thank you, Ladybug!" Chloe grinned, and Ladybug could tell it was genuine happiness. "Do you want to stay? For cake?"

"I'm sorry, I can't. But please – enjoy your party." Ladybug smiled kindly, before turning and taking off toward the bathrooms. Chat waved to Chloe and quickly turned, taking off after her.

"Ladybug, wait!" By the time he found himself in the corridor, Ladybug has disappeared. Chat slipped into the men's bathroom and transformed back into Adrien. When he left the bathrooms he was nearly hit again by the bathroom door as Marinette walked out, turning toward him.

"Adrien! I'm so sorry." Marinette blushed, reaching for his arm. "I didn't mean to almost hit you."

"It's fine! Really, Marinette." He laughed, gazing at her, "You didn't get hit, did you?"

"Me? No, I – I hid in the bathroom. You didn't?"

"I hid, too."

"We're just a couple of cowards, aren't we?" Marinette giggled, letting go of Adrien. He chuckled and slipped his arm through hers, leading her out to the main room.

"I guess you could say that." The music filled the room and Chloe stood in the middle of the dance floor, her classmates complimenting her dress. Marinette smiled a bit as Chloe warmly received the compliments – and she smiled even wider when Chloe barked at someone to get her a drink. "Same old Chloe." Adrien sighed, and Marinette laughed and nodded.

"She can be a pain."

"But she's our friend." Adrien said, and Marinette agreed. Before they could lapse into silence, Adrien turned to her. "Do you dance?"

"Um – not often. I'm probably not very good at it." Marinette replied, biting down on her lip. "Do you want to -?"

"May I have this dance with you, my lady?" Adrien asked, and Marinette's smile faltered for a moment. Those eyes, that phrase – she pushed all thoughts aside and nodded, grinning at him.

"Of course."

Adrien grinned and pulled her toward him, tangling their fingers together. "I'm happy to be your first dance, Marinette." Adrien said to her. Her cheeks warmed and she pressed a hand against his chest.

"Thank you."

That's all, folks! Thank you for taking the time to read this fic, favorite it, follow it, and review it! All feedback is appreciated.