[Marinette's POV]

Today is the big day. It's Valentine's day. I've got a box of perfectly homemade chocolates in my schoolbag, waiting to be eaten by Adrien. I was up all night making them. They had to be glorious, just like him. I decided to use the extra chocolates I made as gifts for Alya and Nino. Maybe giving all of my friends chocolates will make it easier to give Adrien some because I will feel slightly less awkward and embarrassed.

I rest my head in my hand and gaze down at Adrien. He and Nino are sitting in front of Alya and I again this year. I'm so thankful for this time in class when I can stare at Adrien without getting caught because he can't see me and is too busy doing work.

"So," Nino whispers to Adrien. "Hoping to get chocolates from anyone in particular?"

"Haha, the only Valentine gifts I ever get are from fans I don't know or Chloe." Adrien replies in a low voice.

"Must be nice though." Nino says. "Getting so many love notes from so many girls. You have to appreciate them just a little bit."

"Actually, there was this one last year..." Adrien says, lowering his voice even more.

I lean forward eagerly.

"It was a poem, beautiful and mysterious." Adrien continues in a hushed whisper. "It really moved me, but I have no idea who wrote it. It wasn't signed."

"Of course the fencing, Chinese-speaking, piano-playing dreamboat would also be a poet." Nino says sarcastically. "Still, a secret admirer. That's pretty exciting."

I know my heart is buzzing with excitement. Not only did Adrien read my poem, he loved it! Maybe when I give him his chocolates I should recite the words. It'll be a dramatic reveal-yes, Adrien, it is me. Your mystery lover!

Who am I kidding? I can't even say hi to Adrien without stammering, let alone recite a love poem. But Adrien did sort of imply that he is hoping to get a Valentine's gift from the secret admirer who wrote him that poem last year, which means me giving him chocolate is exactly what he wants. There is no way I can chicken out now.

As soon as the bell rings everyone files out from their desks and begins chatting excitedly.

"H-Hey guys," I speak up anxiously. "I made you all some chocolate."

"Yes!" Nino exclaims.

"Marinette's homemade goodies are the best!" Alya agrees.

She and Nino then proceed to fist bump each other before invading my schoolbag greedily. Nathaniel walks by timidly carrying a bag close to his chest. Chloe smirks and sticks out her foot to trip him. Nathaniel falls over. The contents of his bag spill out across the floor, including a pink box with a white ribbon. Chloe treds on the box, completely squishing it, and then quickly retracts her foot as if surprised.

"Oops! Where those your Valentines chocolates for Marinette? That's cute. Although they look pathetic, but it's the thought that counts right?" Chloe taunts. "Too bad Marinette doesn't share the same consideration for you. Looks like you didn't make the cut for her little chocolate giveaway."

I look down at Nathaniel sadly. He quickly scoops up his belongings and runs out of the classroom.

"That was cruel, Chloe." I say before grabbing my bag and chasing after him.

I run out into the school courtyard and search for Nathaniel but he will be hard to spot in the crowds of students heading out of their classrooms for lunch. Gasps suddenly fill the courtyard. I look over the railing to see the students down below running from a familiar figure.

"What?" I gasp. "The Evillustrator?! I didn't know that people could be re-akumatised."

"When you use your lucky charm to fix everything, it also heals the heart of the victim. But if the feelings are strong enough or if the trauma that first caused the akuma infection repeats itself then it is possible for the wound to reopen." Tiki explains. "In this case, Nathaniel's love for you is the strong emotion and Chloe is the repeated trauma."

"Poor Nathaniel..." I mutter guiltily.

Before I know it, I am sprinting down the stairs and towards the Evillustrator.

[Adrien's POV]

"H-Hey guys," Marinette says. "I made you all some chocolate."

"Yes!" Nino exclaims.

"Marinette's homemade goodies are the best!" Alya agrees.

She and Nino give each other a fist bump before helping themselves to Marinette's bag. My spirits lift with excitement. I love Marinette's cooking, I hope she made me some chocolates too!

After Nino and Alya retrieve their chocolate boxes, I take a step forward and look at Marinette hopefully but she is distracted by something else. Nathaniel had tripped over right beside us and Chloe is causing quite a scene about it.

"Valentines chocolates for Marinette, how cute. They look pathetic but it's the thought that counts right?" She says. "Too bad Marinette doesn't share the same consideration for you. Looks like you didn't make the cut for her little chocolate giveaway."

That was really harsh of Chloe to say...but it makes me feel strangely good about myself. Nino and Alya talk so highly about Marinette's homemade treats and I get some. Even though I get tones of chocolate every year from all my admirers, getting Valentines chocolate from Marinette would make me feel really special.

Nathaniel gathers the things he had dropped and hurries out of the room.

"That was cruel, Chloe." Marinette says.

I reach out my hand longingly as she grabs her bag and runs away. Nino and Alya have already begun digging into their chocolates. I know she is a caring person but I don't know why Marinette feels responsible for cheering up Nathaniel.

"I think I'll go find Marinette and Nathaniel." I tell Nino and Alya.

They both mumble in response, their mouths full with delicious chocolate.

I hear gasps and screams as I walk outside. I hurry over to the railing and look down at the courtyard to see students running away from the Evillustrator. Seriously, him again? Maybe I could just pretend I never saw anything and let Ladybug handle it.

I notice one girl going against the flow of the crowd. She is sprinting towards the villain. I chuckle to myself, thinking it is probably Alya filming on the Ladyblog. But-But Alya is inside... I peer closer and my eyes shoot open when I realise it is Marinette running into battle.

"This is bad." Plagg says. "Often when someone gets re-akumatized, the darkness infecting them intensifies causing them to be more powerful and much more evil."

"Crap." I mutter to myself as I quickly run into the closest empty classroom.

Why does Marinette have to be so stubbornly selfless?

"Plagg, claws out!" I order.

My body sparkles with green light as I transform into Cat Noir. I burst out of the classroom and jump over the railing, landing in the courtyard below.

"Nathaniel, please stop this! This isn't you." Marinette is pleading. "You're sweet and kind, you wouldn't want to hurt anyone."

I feel a tinge of annoyance. If he is so sweet and kind then why has he been akumatized freaking twice already?!

"My heart got broken last year on my birthday, then again today on Valentine's day." The Evillustrator says. "You will be mine, Marinette!"

He takes Marinette's hand but she resists.

"Hey!" I shout. "Let her go!"

I rush forward to help Marinette, but she seems quite capable of saving herself. She twists the Evillustrator's arm around and then kicks his shin, which causes him to let go of her.

"Y-Yeah, that's right. You better let go!" I say strongly. I turn to Marinette with a dashing smile. "Don't worry little lady, I can take it from here. Why don't you go and find a safe place to hide?"

Marinette had already turned away without even paying attention to me but before she can run away, the Evillustrator quickly scribbles on his tablet and a bunch of chains wrap around her tightly. The sudden constriction causes Marinette to fall to the ground.

"I'm sorry, my love." The Evillustrator says as he grabs the chains and lifts Marinette up. "Don't worry; soon we will be far away from this wretched ally cat. No one will ever prevent us from being together."

The Evillustrator wraps his arm around the chained Marinette and draws up a jetpack on his back.

"Stop!" I demand, sprinting forward desperately.

I grab onto Marinette just as the Evillustrator's jetpack blasts off.

"Let go!" He yells.

"You-can't-have-her!" I say through gritted teeth as I try to pull Marinette from his grip. "She's-MINE!"

"I'm not a tug-a-war rope!" Marinette yaps, flailing her legs angrily.

My feet slowly leave the ground. I'm getting pulled up into the air with them, I've got to think of a plan fast!

I notice that the Evillustrator is holding onto the chains wrapping Marinette.

"Cataclysm!" I call out as I grab the chains.

The metal slowly crumbles away, leaving nothing but air in the hands of the Evillustrator. Marinette lets out a scream as she and I go falling to the ground. I wrap my arms around her tightly and brace myself. Pain surges down through my body as my back slams down on the concrete. I groan in agony, but at least Marinette landed safely on top of me.

I look up at Marinette, who is no doubt taken back by my selflessness. Being a hero, it's a small sacrifice to make to save a damsel in distress. Actually, hero isn't the right word. I was like Marinette's knight in shining armour.

"Thanks for breaking my fall." Marinette gives me a pat on the shoulder before running off.

That...That's it? I'm a hero, not a pillow!

I allow my head to fall back and hit the concrete. I'll just lie here and wait for the Evillustrator to kill me...apparently no one needs me anyway.

I close my eyes and sigh dramatically.

"Get up you lazy cat."

"Hm?" I open my eyes to see Ladybug standing over me.

She smiles down at me and extends her hand. "I need you."

My heart flutters.

"Ladybug!" I say happily as I take her hand. After I pull myself up, I bend down to kiss it. "Do you need me to be your Valentine, bugaboo?"

Ladybug slips her hand out of my grip and flicks me on the forehead. "Nope. I need you to help me take down this akumatized villain."

I pout and rub my head where Ladybug had flicked me.

"Lucky charm!" She hollers, extending her yoyo into the air. A red love heart shaped card gently drifts down into Ladybug's hands. "I know what to do, distract him and keep him here until I come back." She tells me.

I whip out my staff and ready my stance. "Right."

[Marinette's POV]

I sling my yoyo onto the railing above and swing up onto the second floor. I burst into my classroom to see Alya filming the battle through the window with Nino munching on chocolate anxiously beside her. I flash them a quick smile before grabbing the closest pen and scribbling away furiously on my lucky charm card.

"Ladybug!" Alya says, pointing her camera at me. "Is that love card for Cat Noir?"

"Not a chance." I answer shortly before sprinting back outside.

I jump down onto the courtyard and hold the card high up in the air. "Hey! Evillustrator! I've just been snooping around your classroom and looky what I've found-a Valentines card from Marinette to her crush Nathaniel. Do you know where I could find him?"

The Evillustrator's eyes widen. "That's mine! Give it to me!"

He lunges forward but I pull the card away.

"This isn't to you, Evillustrator. Marinette is in love with Nathaniel." I say. "But if you can prove that you are Nathaniel by handing over your pen, then I will give you your card."

The Evillustrator growls impatiently. "Do you think I'm stupid? You're probably tricking me-Just like every other cruel girl I've met!"

"You think I'm lying?" I open the card and hold it out. "This is a love letter for Nathaniel written in Marinette's handwriting, is it not?"

The Evillustrator peers down at the card. His breathing slows as he reads the letter. I quickly throw the card up into the air. The Evillustrator's head shoots upwards, his gaze instinctively following the card. While he is distracted, I grab his pen and snap it in half. The akuma flies out from inside.

"Time to de-evilize!" I shout, capturing the black moth in my yoyo. I wave as the now purified butterfly flutters away. "Bye Bye butterfly."

The evilness infecting Nathaniel fades away.

"What happened? What is this?" He asks, looking at the love heart card in confusion.

"Sorry, I'll take that." I say, plucking the card from his hands. "Miraculous Ladybug!"

I throw the card up into the air once more. It bursts in a firework of red sparkles that flow around me like magic.

"Pound it." Cat Noir says, holding out his fist.

I extend my hand to give Cat Noir a fist bump but he instead grabs my hand, twirls me so that I spin into his arms and plants a kiss on my cheek.

"Happy Valentine's day, my lady." Cat Noir whispers, his breath on my neck sending shivers down my spine.

He spins me around again as he releases me. By the time I regain my balance, Cat Noir is out of sight.

"C-Cat Noir!" I yell, shaking my fist weakly. "You-You mangy ally cat!"

I try to sound angry but my voice is wavering as if reflecting the emotional rollercoaster I am going through right now. Above all I just sound confused, which I have every right to be. Cat Noir has never pulled anything that smooth. Ah, not that is was charming or anything-completely uncalled for more like! I know he is a flirt but gosh who just goes kissing girls unexpectedly? Even if it was only on the cheek, I feel so shocked and flustered. Alya is probably recording right now. How embarrassing! I feel hot. My cheeks are burning. I need to get out of this costume before I boil alive.

I disappear into the girl's bathrooms, slamming the door shut behind me and leaning back against it for support.

"T-Tiki, spots off please." I say.

Wisps of pink light circle my body until I am completely untransformed. Tiki hides away in my purse and I quickly splash my face with water before going back outside. I head straight up to the classroom where most of my class is already sitting inside, chatting excitedly.

"Marinette!" Alya exclaims ecstatically. "Did. You. See that!"

"Oh, I was so close I practically lived it." I reply gloomily.

Nathaniel enters the classroom, keeping his head down low as he passes me. Valentine's day is supposed to be fun but he is probably having the worst time of his life. I watch him sadly before turning back to my schoolbag. I never gave Adrien his chocolates. I worked so hard to make them perfect for him. I want to impress him and make him happy. I want so badly to give them to him...but every nice bone in my body is telling me otherwise.

I sigh in defeat and sling my bag over my shoulder before approaching Nathaniel's desk. He looks up at me fearfully.

"M-Marinette! Hi." Nathaniel stammers. "I-I'm so sorry for terrorising you...again. I hope I didn't hurt you..."

"I'm okay. I know you could never hurt me even if you're akumatized. And it's not your fault. Hawk Moth is the evil one, he infects people's hearts with darkness and makes them do things they don't really want to. Plus, Chloe is the one who pushed you over the edge. I'm sorry she said mean things to you and...I'm sorry about your chocolates. I know how it feels to work yourself up and then have your efforts wasted, so..." I take out the box of chocolates I had intended to give to Adrien and instead offer them to Nathaniel with a smile. "Here. You can have mine."

"You...You're giving me chocolates on Valentine's day?" Nathaniel says, looking at the box of chocolates in awe.

"Yeah. I made them myself, hope you like mint chocolate." I reply.

Nathaniel smiles and takes the box. "Thanks Marinette. You really are a sweet girl."

[Adrien's POV]

I walk into class to see Nino and Alya turned towards the back of the room. I follow their gaze and my stomach drops. Marinette is handing Nathaniel a pink box with a green ribbon. She is giving him the last box of her very special homemade Valentines chocolates. Did she ever intend on giving me chocolates or was I just getting ahead of myself? I don't know what to think. Just this morning I felt so special, like I had something that everyone else didn't, but now it's being ripped away from me. My mind is clouded by disappointment.

Marinette probably just felt sorry for Nathaniel because she is such a nice person. But she shouldn't have to give Nathaniel my chocolates out of pity. They're mine!

I make my way to my desk and sit down without once taking my eyes off of Marinette and Nathaniel.

"Jealous?" Alya giggles.

"Uh, yeah. Those chocolates looked delicious!" I reply.

"I don't think that's what she meant." Nino says.

"Stupid tomato head stealing my chocolates..." I mutter bitterly.

"Are you sure those 'chocolates' aren't a metaphor for something else you're losing to Nathaniel?" Alya prompts.

I finally tear my eyes away from Marinette and Nathaniel to look at my friends in confusion.

Alya sighs and pushes her box of chocolates towards me. "Never mind! Just take mine."

"Really?" I gasp happily, excitement lighting up inside me.

"Go for it kiddo." Alya says.

I pick out a heart shaped chocolate and put it in my mouth. It's dark chocolate with a gooey peppermint centre that melts in my mouth. I love mint chocolate! Marinette just seems to get everything right. Her cooking really is amazing. I hope she makes me Valentines chocolate for the rest of my life.

"Mmm..." I mumble as I chew slowly and contently.

As I thought, Marinette's homemade treats taste like pure love.