OK, so after being inactive for about a year, I've decided to start writing and posting fanfic! This is my first Miraculous Ladybug story. I do not own ML or any of it's characters(sadly).

"So, why again do we have to rush home after school?" Plagg asked Adrien as he munched on a slice of his favorite Camembert cheese. Adrien rolled his eyes. "For the fifth time, Plagg, my cousin is coming today! I haven't seen him in four years."

"But I'll still get cheese, right?" Plagg asked hopefully. Adrien rolled his eyes yet again. "Yes, Plagg, you'll still get cheese." Adrien grabbed his schoolbag and stuffed the black cat kwami into it before walking to the car that would take him to school.

When he arrived, Adrien was greeted by Nino. "Hey, what's up?" Adrien said, fist-bumping his best friend. "Adrien, my man!" Nino said. "Guess what?" "What?" Adrien asked. Nino grinned. "Guess who's got a date with Alya tonight?" "Dude! No way! You finally asked her?" Nino sheepishly rubbed the back of his neck.

"Well…" "I ended up asking him instead." Alya said, walking up to the two boys with Marinette on her heels. "Either way, good job you two!" Adrien said. He turned to Marinette. "Hi, Marinette!" "H-hey, Adrien! You how are! Um, I-I mean are you how? I mean-" Adrien got that she was trying to ask how he was, and he smiled politely.

"I'm good, thank you for asking. How are you?" He asked. "Good I me. I-I mean, I'm g-good." Adrien was about to say something else when he was tackled into a hug by a yellow and white blur that shouted, "Adrikins!" "Hey, Chlo. What's up?" Adrien asked politely as he dodged Chloe's attempts to kiss him.

"I'm just fine, Adrikins. You remember that ball tomorrow night in honor of your cousin?" "Of course I remember, Chlo." "Well, we're obviously going together, so I need you to wear yellow so that we match. Okay, Adri-honey?" Chloe said. "Sure, Chlo. See you later." "You most certainly will." Chloe tried to kiss him once more before walking off.

"Dude, you have a cousin?" Nino asked. "Yeah. He's coming back to Paris today, and it's the first time we've seen him in four years, so Father is throwing a big ball to celebrate." "Cool." Alya said. "I was hoping that maybe all three of you could come? I could use the company, what with Chloe going to be around and all." "A-all THREE of u-us? As in, m-me t-too?" Marinette asked.

Adrien smiled brightly. "Of course you too, Mari!" The school bell rang, and the four friends walked inside. Alya left Nino to join Marinette. "Mari. He called you Mari! And he invited you to go to this ball tomorrow night!" "Yeah…" Marinette said with a dazed look on her face. "But he invited you and Nino too. It's just a friend thing."

She said. "Cheer up, girl! Isn't your cousin coming today too?" Alya asked. Marinette immediately perked up. "Yeah! Bridgette's coming today! I haven't seen her in a while. Like, four or five years." Marinette said as the two girls took their seats in the classroom.

The teacher walked in soon afterward, and everyone quieted as she began the lesson.

Bridgette was not having a good day. First, she left her suitcase in the cab she had taken to get to the Chicago International Airport. She had to chase the cab four blocks before finally managing to wave it down and get her suitcase, then sprint five blocks back to the airport.

Second, she had forgotten to leave her pocketknife at home and got in trouble with security, which confiscated it. Third, she barely made it onto the plane in time, and she found herself in a window seat next to two very loud, very obnoxious teenagers who's endless chatter didn't seem to cease.

Yeah, not a great day. Chin up, Bridgette. At least you're going to get to see Paris again, along with Aunt Sabine, Uncle Tom, and Marinette! The bluenette smiled to herself, smoothing out the white blouse and black jacket she wore with knee-length shorts and black flats. Her hair was tied in its signature two, long bunches with her cowlick free above her head.

Her pale blue eyes closed as she fell asleep for the entire flight, only waking up when the teen next to her shrilly screamed that she could see the Eiffel Tower. When the plane landed and she got off, Bridgette decided to walk to the Dupain-Cheng Bakery as it was not terribly far.

Upon walking in, Bridgette was greeted by Sabine. "Hello, my dear! So lovely to see you!" "Hi, Aunt Sabine! It's great to see you too. Where are Uncle Tom and Marinette?"

"Tom is baking right now, and Marinette should be home from school any ti-" Sabine was cut off by the door opening and a cry of "BRIDGETTE!" "MARINETTE!" The two girls ran at each other and hugged. "It's so great to finally see you again!" Marinette said. "You too!" Bridgette replied, stepping out of the hug.

"How old are you now, fifteen?" "I turned sixteen last month." Marinette said proudly. "And you're twenty-one?" "Yep." "Cool! You can drink legally in the US!" Bridgette laughed at her younger cousin.

"How about you and I go upstairs to your room to talk some more?" The older bluenette suggested. "Sure!" The younger replied, grabbing her cousin's hand and pulling her up the stairs to her room.

Bridgette looked around Marinette's cozy loft room, taking notice of the magazine pages and photos pinned up. She stepped closer to study one. "Interesting choice in wallpaper, Mari." Said Bridgette. "I actually used to know an Agreste boy. It definitely wasn't this one, though. Felix never smiled and they don't look too much the same." Bridgette stepped back.

"Oh, yeah, that's Adrien Agreste. He's Gabriel Agreste's only son. Should I have heard of a Felix Agreste?" "Not in the fashion world, no. He had no interest in fashion or modeling. He's kind of cold and distant, but that didn't seem to stop me from getting a crush on him. He rejected me so many times, now it seems ridiculous."

Bridgette laughed, recalling her schoolgirl crush on the grey-eyed Agreste. "So, is school going well?" Bridgette asked her cousin. Marinette nodded. "Yeah. How's Chicago? It sounds exciting." "Chicago is… different, I guess, from Paris. English is also very, um, interesting as well. Very different from French."

Marinette giggled. "Do you have anything going on the next couple of days?" Bridgette asked. "Well, Adrien, the Agreste in all of those clippings, invited me and our friends Alya and Nino to keep him company at this ball tomorrow. Chloe Bourgeois is going to be there." Bridgette raised her eyebrows.

"Bourgeois? As in, the mayor?" Marinette nodded. "Yeah, she's a brat who won't leave Adrien alone ever. It's a fact, not jealousy talking." She added. "I figure as much." The two girls giggled and chatted. Tikki watched from the corner, also very excited to see Bridgette but for different reasons than Marinette.

Felix was not in a great mood. Then again, he never was. He didn't smile often, and the traffic that morning in Melbourne had not helped. He had almost missed his flight. His uncle's car was at the airport in Paris to pick him up when he arrived, and he rode in silence.

It was nice to be back in Paris, he would admit. It had been four years since he had left. Felix was actually kind of excited to see his younger cousin. Adrien had always shared his pain with the fashion industry. Felix hadn't wanted anything to do with his family's fashion business, so he went to Melbourne to study art.

Felix had always loved art; it had been his passion since he was a young child. Felix hoped that Adrien wouldn't be forced to stay in the fashion industry, as he knew his younger cousin loved writing. No one else knew but he that Adrien wanted to be an author and not a model.

The silver car pulled up outside of the Agreste mansion, where Felix had lived up until four years ago after his parents had died. The day of the car crash had not been a pleasant one, and three Agrestes had lost their lives. Felix exited the car after thanking the driver and walked into the mansion.

Gabriel was in the foyer waiting for him, as was his assistant Natalie and Adrien. "Felix." Gabriel Agreste said in his usual monotone. "Wonderful to see you again." "You as well, uncle." Felix replied. "Natalie." He nodded at his father's assistant, who nodded back. "Hey, Adrien. How are you?" "I'm good, how are you, Felix?" His cousin asked, both boys remembering to maintain the formalities around Gabriel.

"I'm well. I was hoping that perhaps we could talk some more in you room? There is a new book I simply must tell you of." Felix said. Adrien nodded, smiled quickly, and walked up to his room with Felix following. As soon as the door closed, Adrien ran over and hugged his cousin. "So, how was Melbourne? Did you meet anyone at art school? Are you married? Or, if not, do you have a girlfriend? You must have a girlfriend. Did you-" Felix laughed.

"Slow down with the questions, Adrien. Melbourne was very nice, it's a pretty city. I have some friends back there who I did meet in art school." "I don't believe it, THE Felix Agreste actually has FRIENDS." Adrien mocked.

"Oh, come now. To answer your other questions, no I am not married nor do I have a girlfriend." "Do you like a girl and you just haven't asked her out yet?" Adrien asked. "No." Felix answered simply. "Oh. Well, are you at least a little excited for the ball tomorrow night? It is for you." Adrien said. "Don't remind me; I always hate your father's parties. Has Analise moved away yet?"

Analise was Chloe Bourgeois' older cousin who, much like Felix, had lost her parents. She had had an older sister who moved away many years ago, as she was seven years older than Analise, who was Felix's age. Adrien nodded. "Yeah, I heard she actually got into a college somewhere in northern France and we won't be seeing her for a while. Chloe is still invited to everything, though."

Much like Chloe pinned over Adrien, Analise had pinned over Felix. She had, actually, been worse that Chloe. Chloe was conservative and at least left when Adrien wouldn't comply, but Analise had seemed quite desperate. Felix shuddered at the memories.

"You did invite your friends, though, right?" Adrien nodded. "I did, I'm just concerned about one of them. Her name is Marinette Dupain-Cheng, and-" "Cheng?" Felix interrupted. "Yeah, why?" Adrien asked. "Do you have a picture?" Adrien nodded, and scrolled through his phone to find one. It was in a text from Nino of him, Alya, and Marinette from about two weeks ago.

Adrien handed Felix the phone, and the older Agreste studied the picture. "She looks exactly like her." He said. "Like who?" Adrien asked. "An old classmate of mine named Bridgette Cheng. They look almost exactly the same, except Bridgette's hair is longer and her eyes are a less vibrant blue."

Felix described his old classmate, still remembering her countless attempts to ask him out. More vividly, he remembered the clear sadness on her face every time he turned her down. Felix suddenly felt very bad. Adrien tilted his head. "You OK?" Felix shook his head. "Fine, thanks."

Adrien smiled and shook it off. The two boys continued to talk as Plagg watched. He, too, was excited about Felix's return, but for other reasons than Adrien.