Chapter One: Candy.

The class get a sweet start to February and Adrien is determined to spoil Marinette even more than usual now that he has the excuse of Valentine's Day.

Saturday 1st February 2020. 07.45 a.m. Tom and Sabine Boulangerie-Pâtisserie.

It was a dull, grey, and rainy morning, but Adrien couldn't be happier.

The bakery door opened just as he got there and he quickly sidestepped the woman walking out. She was fussing with the fastening of her umbrella in her attempt to put it up and keep the bread she had just purchased dry. She didn't seem to notice him as he slipped through the door behind her.

Adrien looked around the bakery as he closed his own umbrella, tapping the excess water off, but he was the only person there save for Sabine. She was tidying up one of the counters and hadn't noticed him slip in. "Good morning Sabine!"

"Adrien!" Sabine looked and gave him a happy smile.

He knew it was because he was finally using her name without hesitation - he and Marinette had been dating for nearly six weeks now and her parents had spent most of that time trying to coax him to use their names. It still felt strange but he was trying.

She came out around the counters and bussed his cheek in greeting. "Good morning to you too. Are you here for breakfast?"

"Sort of. I was hoping to surprise Marinette with breakfast today, if that's alright?"

"Oh she'll definitely be surprised!" Sabine chuckled, before gesturing to the counters. "Why don't you pick out some breakfast goodies for the two of you? Tom's just finishing this morning's last batch of croissants so they'll be fresh and warm when you're ready to head up. It'll only be a minute or two."

Adrien grinned. Purr-fect timing!

Sabine grabbed a bakery box and started filling it with the things he pointed out. They chatted idly about school and his modelling work, and she once again expressed her concerns that he would be lonely with his father and Nathalie out of town for the next week, but he assured her he was fine with Gorilla and the mansion staff. Plus, he had Marinette. There was no way he would go lonely with her as his girlfriend.

Tom arrived just as Sabine set a final pain au chocolat in the box and immediately ditched the tray of croissants to round the counters and give Adrien a bear hug in greeting. Adrien laughed at the exuberant greeting he was fast becoming used to and quickly answered all of Tom's rapid fire questions - yes he was here for Marinette, yes he would love some more food, and yes he would be around for some UMS III as soon as he could.

Sabine prised them apart and gave Adrien his breakfast box, now with four warm and buttery croissants included. She made him promise to come and see them on his way out and they would let him have some croissants to give to Christope on the short walk over to school, then shooed him upstairs to see Marinette.

Adrien didn't need to be told twice. He hurried up the stairs to the Dupain-Cheng home, eager to see his girlfriend.

This wonderfully happy morning was only possible because his father was on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean right now. New York fashion week kicked off on Monday and his father was presenting five different lines. This was the biggest show the Gabriel brand had put on in years and it had been distracting and stressing Gabriel Agreste for weeks.

Adrien felt a little guilty that so much of his relationship with Marinette was possible because of his father's distraction - he had permission to date her simply because Gabriel didn't have the time for a lengthy discussion on the topic, Nathalie allowed him to spend time with her to get him out from underfoot, and this morning he could freely have breakfast at the bakery because his father and Nathalie weren't here - but if it gave him these precious moments with his Princess then he wasn't going to complain.

His cheery morning greeting died on his lips when he walked into their living room and couldn't see Marinette.

Was she not here? Had she gone to school early? Was she out as Ladybug? No, no, her parents sent him up to her, and there was no reason for her to be transformed, akuma or otherwise. Maybe he should have called ahead to let her know he was coming round? Was she in another room? Was she still asleep?

A yawn and shuffling footsteps from her room answered that question and he huffed a laugh as he walked to the kitchen stairs to greet her.

For the second time in their relationship he was met with the vision of her slowly descending the stairs towards him. There were no bright jewels, delicately coiffed hair, or stunning ball gown in sight this time, but Adrien could honestly say he had never seen a more beautiful sight than a drowsy Marinette.

Her hair was wild about her head, curling into odd shapes and sticking out at all angles, and her eyes were bleary and half closed. Her favourite blanket, the red and white snowflake blanket that had been Chat Noir's Christmas gift to Ladybug, was draped around her shoulders but hanging open and revealing the black and green of her fleecy pyjamas through the gap.

Oh sweet fondue she was in Chat Noir pyjamas. His Lady was in his colours. The was the most wonderful moment of his life.

By the time her drowsy gaze focused on him, Marinette had walked all the way down her staircase and stood in front of him. She blinked. Once, twice, three times. Marinette suddenly blushed with an intensity to rival her Ladybug suit and squeaked. "Adrien?"

"You are the cat's meow, my love."

She gave another squeal and covered her face with her hands, hiding her embarrassment and fortunately missing his own cheeks burning brightly. Cat's meow? Of all the things he could have said about her beauty and he goes with a cat pun. It was those damn pyjamas. He lost his mind when he saw her in his colours.

"Wh-what are you doing here?"

Words. He needed words right now. "Gorilla sprung me for breakfast with you since Père is in New York."

"Fashion week, right." Marinette nodded slowly. Even half asleep she knew the fashion world very well. Her face suddenly brightened. "Does this mean you'll be over here all week then?"

"If you'll have me."

"You know I will."

He melted at the soft look she gave him. "Princess…"

He leaned down to her, both of their eyes fluttering shut, but Marinette suddenly tensed and instead of meeting her lips he found her fingers. He opened his eyes and saw her looking at him sheepishly. "No kisses yet kitten."

"But you're in my colours. How can I resist?"

"You can and you will. I've got morning breath, I haven't brushed my teeth yet. You can't kiss me yet?"

Adrien smirked when he saw the tiniest flash of regret cross her face. She was obviously too sleep deprived to watch her words just yet and realised too late how her words would come out. "Can't? Is that a challenge?"

"I-eep!"

She squealed and tried to fend him off but he was too quick for his sleepy love. Adrien made sure to leave no part of her face unkissed as she giggled and tried to push him away, but he reached around her hands to kiss her cheeks, forehead, nose, temples, eyelids.

Adrien was delighted when she was the one to give in first and press her lips to his in a sweet and soft embrace. He pulled back with a happy hum and let his forehead rest against hers. His heart skipped a beat. Happy, blushing, and thoroughly kissed was an amazing look on her.

"Okay kitten, you've had your kiss." Marinette murmured, opening her eyes at last. "Now why don't you start some coffee for us while I get dressed?" she booped his nose and pulled herself away, hurrying up the stairs.

"As you wish."

She snorted but didn't turn back around. "Stop Princess Bride-ing me!"

Adrien just laughed and pulled two mugs out of the kitchen cupboard. There was no way he was going to stop. That film was awesome, the fencing scene was epic, and it was a story of true love almost as good as his relationship with Marinette. She was his Princess and one day she would be his Bride. No way was he going to stop teasing her with it.

Saturday 1st February 2020. 08.20 a.m. Collège Françoise-Dupont.

Marinette didn't notice anything wrong with the classroom at first. She was far too caught up in the feel of her boyfriend's arm around her waist and trying not to giggle as he accidentally on purpose tickled her.

"What are those?"

Alya, however, was not as easily distracted. She immediately noticed the small red squares on their desks.

Marinette was usually quite frustrated by Alya's stubborn determination - her crusade to figure out Ladybug's identity was a constant nuisance, as was getting stranded in the snow during one of Alya's well-meant but pointless attempted set-ups back in December - but sometimes it came in handy.

Such as seeing the tiny red squares on their desks. Or, like this morning, when she phoned to remind her that they had school today. Marinette could have done without the commentary though.

"Girl, stop being gross and locking lips with your model boyfriend, and get your butt over to school. And don't try to tell me he isn't there because I can see his bodyguard's car outside and your parents have that 'grandchildren' look in their eyes again. Put him down and grab your bags before you're late!"

She'd have to think of some suitable payback for Alya.

They'd just been having breakfast, for kwamis sake. They didn't deserve this teasing. So what if that included a few kisses, or a few hundred considering she'd put her new Chat Noir jumper on to deliberately rile her boyfriend up, and so what if he'd insisted she sit in his lap to eat because he wanted cuddles? That wasn't gross. That was romance.

Yes, she would get Alya back.

After this mystery, of course.

She let Adrien walk them towards his desk, not at all surprised when he pulled her into his lap again. Nor was she surprised when both Alya and Nino gave them near identical eyerolls at how physically demonstrative they were. Again, Marinette promised herself vengeance, this wasn't gross this was romantic.

Nino picked up the red square on his desk, turning it over to examine it from all angles. Marinette could now see it was a square of red card, wrapped in clear plastic, and containing a small sweet.

Marinette recognised it at once. "A love heart?" she looked to Alya, wondering.

"Like I'd leave something like that for him. We're not big saps like you two," Alya snorted. She picked up her love heart and smirked at it. "Sassy? Yep, that's me alright."

"Cool dude, huh?" Nino read his own and shot Adrien a questioning look.

He held his hands up. "Hey, this wasn't me. Although…" Marinette could practically see the ideas and possibilities spinning through his mind. No doubt she'd be getting quite a few of them in the near future.

Alya goaned. "He doesn't need any more sappy ideas Nino!"

"He's not sappy!" Marinette immediately protested. "He's romantic!"

Marinette heard her boyfriend give a happy hum and knew he would be purring if they were alone. He settled for nuzzling against her temple and brushing a kiss there, squeezing her to him just a little more, and Marinette almost wished she could purr. It would perfectcly express her contentment right now.

"See. She gets it." Adrien taunted Alya and stuck his tongue out at her, Marinette had to muffle a giggle at Alya's predictable scoff and fond eye roll, but her attention was quickly drawn to Adrien love heart as he picked it up from his desk. "Looking good?" They both snorted at that and he nuzzled against her again. "Did you do this by any chance, love?"

"Well, the sentiment might be mine, hot stuff-" she giggled at the tinge of pink that appeared on his face and the happy little hum that escaped him "-but I didn't do it. Everyone got them though. I wonder who could have done this?"

"Whoever they are, they've obviously got a good read on people." Alya commented. Marinette hadn't noticed her drift away from them while she had been flirting with her boyfriend. Her ever curious best friend was going from desk to desk reading the messages on their love hearts. "Rose's says 'cutie pie' and Juleka's says 'nice smile.' Max has 'pretty smart' and Alix has 'cheeky girl'... pfft I can't wait to see her face when she sees this!"

Marinette giggled too. It was bound to be interesting. She reached behind her to get the heart from her desk, blushing when she saw it simply said awesome.

"They've definitely got a good read on you Princess."

She just eeped and hid her face in his shoulder. He always ended up at his most flirty when she was in black and green

The rest of their classmates wandered in over the next few minutes, in ones and twos and threes, and were as curious and clueless about the sweets as the four of them had been. A few people accused Marinette and Adrien of doing this until they saw that Chloé also had one. No way would either of them have given her one of those sweets after she had tried to break them up at the New Year's gala.

In fact, the only person in class who would possibly have given a love heart to Chloé was Sabrina. But she assured them all that she hadn't as she took her new seat behind Marinette and next to Ivan. Alix had suggested that Sabrine choose one of the empty seats in the class, away from Chloé, just before school started up again in January, and with everyone supporting her and offering their seats to her if she wanted them, Sabrina had gratefully accepted. She preferred not to sit at the back of the room and so took the seat next to Ivan.

It had been a good move for her and she was coming out of her shell a little more each day.

Marinette reluctantly left Adrien's arms for her own seat when she saw Mlle. Bustier approach. He stole a quick kiss for her before she left and Marinette could feel her face burn at Alix's wolf-whistling. Thank goodness Adrien was blushing too.

Mlle. Bustier walked in then, stopping any teasing in its tracks, a bright smile on her face. "Good morning everyone! I see you've found your little gifts."

Alya perked up. "Wait, you did this?"

"It's just a little something from me to you to show how much I appreciate all of you - and because this is the school's plan to try and avoid a Valentine's akuma this year."

Mlle. Bustier looked almost sheepish as she gave Kim an apologetic look. He had the somewhat dubious honour of being the first Valentine's Day akuma two years ago. But he was also the least disruptive Valentine's akuma. Last year's had been a nightmare for the whole city and had ruined the day of love for everyone.

Remembering last year's Valentine's akuma was enough to make the class shudder. That alone was reason enough for them to go along with this scheme the school was putting in place. The fact that they were getting sweets out of it was just a bonus.

"I won't be in a rush to repeat that any time soon, don't worry." Kim reassured everyone. Then he smirked. "But how awesome an akuma was I? I could fly!"

"Thank you, Kim."

Marinette breathed a sigh of relief then as Mlle. Bustier wrestled control back from the class before Kim could start yet another 'my akumasona was better than yours' competition. She's barely survived the last one she'd had to referee.

Their teacher dropped her papers on her desk and looked at them all. "This will be going on for the first week of February before we break for the winter holiday and, although we can't make you do this, we would like you to carry this on until Valentine's Day to carry on spreading good feelings around. Marinette, Alya? There will be a school council meeting about this on Monday after school. Can you both attend?"

Marinette nodded - she had nothing planned then - and Alya checked her phone before nodding too.

Mlle. Bustier gave them a relieved smile. "Wonderful. Now, go ahead and eat your love hearts everyone, we've got a full day of learning ahead of us!"

Saturday 1st February 2020. 7.00 p.m. Marinette's balcony.

It was dark by the time he landed noiselessly on her balcony that evening. There were a few sparse clouds in the sky, but the streetlamps and the quarter moon in the sky provided enough light to see by even without his Miraculous-enhanced vision, the rain from this morning had cleared up by mid-afternoon and it wasn't too chilly out.

It was a purr-fect evening to woo his Lady-love.

Chat Noir listened for a moment, making sure he wasn't interrupting anything. His cat ears twitched and he could hear movement below, the soft rusting of clothes and blankets, and a tiny kwami-sized giggle. Looks like she already knew he was here and was coming to let him in. He still reached out and knocked though. He was a gentlecat.

He did take a moment to place the box he had been carrying on the chair out of her sight. It wouldn't do to give the surprise away immediately.

She opened the window hatch and stuck her head through. Chat was delighted to see she was still wearing his colours, and she had the blanket he had gifted her wrapped around her shoulders. It wasn't a very cold night but she was particularly sensitive to cold. He'd have to keep this quick.

Those thoughts fled from his mind when she smirked at him.

"What brings the dashing Chat Noir to my balcony tonight?"

Oh, she wanted to play it like that, did she? His Princess should know better than to play games with a cat.

He stepped back and fell into a grand bow, offering her his hand. She took it immediately and he helped her step outside before bowing over her hand again and turning it over to kiss her palm. "Why, 'tis a quest of the greatest importance that brings me to you."

"My how heroic!" she grinned. "And what, pray tell, is this important quest?"

"You."

Oh he adored the pink blush on her cheeks. Especially when he had been the one to put it there. How had he gotten so lucky to have such a wonderful girl in his life?

He knelt and bowed over her hand again. "Oh fair princess, your humble knight is here to present the kindest and most beautiful maiden with a small token of his devotion and love."

Marinette was Ladybug red by the time he reached for the box and offered it up to her. She gasped when she saw it, covering her mouth with her hands.

"Chat…" her voice was barely a whisper. "That's the deluxe box from the Tessier chocolatier."

"So it is."

She shook her head. "Those things are so expensive, I-"

Chat pressed one claw-tipped finger to her lips, cutting off a speech he had heard a few times already. "If you're going to try and tell me that my wonderful girlfriend isn't worth this then don't."

She opened her mouth, no doubt to protest at the expense, and so he bent to kiss her and prevent an argument. He had such a stubborn bug. Marinette returned his kiss and then melted against him when his purr started up. She grumbled something against his mouth that sounded like 'cheater' but he didn't care. He carefully maneuvered them towards her balcony chair and twisted around so that she was straddling his lap when he let them fall into it.

When they broke for air that wonderful glow was back in her cheeks, and he was sure that his must look the same. Chat gently nuzzled his nose against hers. "Let me spoil you a little Princess."

"This is because of the love hearts in class this morning, isn't it?"

"There may possibly be a link, yes."

"And since the school is doing this until Valentine's Day-"

"-then I am too. Yes."

Marinette sighed and pressed her forehead against his, noses almost touching. "I'm not getting out of this am I?"

Chat smirked. Ah, sweet victory. "Nope."

"Silly kitty." Marinette pulled back and pressed the softest of kisses to his forehead, and Chat could feel the beginnings of a purr in his throat. She was too good to him. "Fine, but don't go overboard. I don't need expensive gifts. The greatest gift I have is you."

The purr did escape him then. Nothing could have held it in. Not when the girl of his dreams was looking at him like that and saying such sweet things. He held her tightly to him. She gave a small squeal as he nuzzled her neck but soon relaxed against him and his purr began to work it's magic on her.

"So…" he drawled, barely concealing a laugh at her theatrical groan. She could obviously hear the tease in his voice. "...you're telling me I should return those chocolates since you don't want gifts, right?"

"Don't you dare!"

He did laugh then. God, he loved this girl!

Author's note: I know I said I wasn't going to do a sequel to All I Want For Christmas but I saw the Miraculous Valentine's prompt list on tumblr and the plot bunnies started multiplying and I couldn't stop them from taking over. So here it is. You can find it over there under the tag mlvalentines2k20 and I'll copy the prompt list here too.

1. Candy.
2. Love.
3. Flowers.
4. Secret admirer.
5. Hearts.
6. Crush.
7. Pink and red.
8. Heartbreak.
9. Cupid.
10. Balloons.
11. Party.
12. Be mine.
13. Sweethearts.
14. Valentine's Day.

A few content notes. The red and white blanket was mentioned in All I Want For Christmas chapter 22, and Adrien's reaction to seeing Marinette in anything Chat Noir themed was mentioned in chapter 27. Christophe Guérin is the name I have given to Gorilla in my headcanon. Alya's well-meant but pointless attempted set-up was in All I Want For Christmas chapter 11. I mentioned the Tessier family of chocolatiers in Just Another Day in Paris, chapter 15. In my headcanon they make the best chocolates in Paris, they're based in the 21st arrondissement several streets over from the bakery, and they're the only chocolatier who Chloé will accept chocolates from. They're just that good.

And finally two small reminders. Chapters will be posted when they're ready and not at a particular time of day. I'm far too busy with the sproglet and preparing for my upcoming driving test to post this fic at a set daily time. Also, I have not yet seen all of season 2 and none of season 3. If this fic doesn't agree with the canon in those seasons then please consider it an AU. Enjoy the story!