[Narrator's POV]

Marinette is making her way across the school courtyard when Adrien comes up behind her and slings his arm around her shoulder.

"Marinette!" He greets spiritedly. "Morning, my princess. I hope you're ready for a magnificent day."

"And why is that?" Asks Marinette.

"Because it's your birthday!" Adrien answers, pulling her into a bear bug. "Don't think I didn't remember."

"Adrien, you're crushing me!" Marinette laughs.

Adrien releases Marinette and smiles gently. "Happy birthday, princess." He says softly.

Adrien holds out a pink envelope. Marinette takes it, gently opens it and takes out two concert tickets. Her eyes widen.

Marinette gasps happily. "Adrien, are these?"

"Tickets to Jagged Stone's upcoming concert? Yes!" Adrien exclaims. "You and I are going together. But of course, that concert's not until January so I've also gotten you something else."

Adrien bites his lip with anticipation as Marinette peers into the envelope and takes out a slip of paper.

"It's an invitation to your birthday party! As I recall, you gave me the best birthday ever, so I wanted to do the same." Adrien explains happily. "Chloe and I planned this together, so it's really a joint gift. She's going to organise a grand ball in her dad's hotel—fit for a princess!"

"Adrien, this is..." Marinette is lost for words. She smiles broadly and throws her arms around Adrien. "Thank you so much!"

Marinette pulls away from Adrien to bounce on her feet excitedly.

"The party is this weekend but I thought maybe we could have a small get together today as well, just close friends. Me, you, Alya and Nino celebrating your birthday at your place with your family." Adrien says.

"Of course!" Marinette agrees.

.

[Adrien's POV]

Alya and Nino are late—on purpose, I suspect. But I don't mind. I'm sitting on Marinette's living room couch and she is sitting on the floor in front of me. I'm playing with her pigtails. I've seen pictures of Marinette from back when her hair was longer but I think it looks cute now. Come to think of it, she started wearing pigtails around the time Ladybug became a hero. I wonder if she is a fan.

"Do you style your hair after Ladybug?" I ask.

"I, um..." Marinette stammers.

"It's okay to admit you're a fan." I say with a laugh. "I'm a total dork when it comes to Ladybug."

"Yeah, I guess Ladybug's hairstyle is pretty cute." Marinette replies.

"You're hair is so soft." I say. "Sorry, I'm not sure if that sounded girly or just creepy."

Marinette giggles. "That's okay, I'm flattered."

"Well in that case, mind if I braid it?" I ask.

"Go for it." Marinette replies.

I take out Marinette's hairbands and run my hands through her hair, enjoying the feel of her silky locks. My hands seem to move on their own as I begin rapidly braiding her hair.

"You're surprisingly good this." Marinette says. "How do you even know how to braid hair?"

I pause for a moment, my hands just seem to freeze up. "I...used to braid my mums hair." I answer before continuing to intertwine her beautiful tresses.

"Oh..." Marinette says quietly.

I take a deep breath as I finish up Marinette's braid. "Yeah...all the time actually. She had wonderful, golden hair."

"Like yours?" Marinette says.

I smile softly. "Yeah, like mine I guess."

Marinette turns around to face me. She looks very pretty with a braid but I still favour her usual pigtails. Maybe that's just because they are styled after Ladybug.

"Well, now it's my turn." Marinette says. "You do have beautiful hair."

She stands up and begins playing with my hair. Her touch sends shivers done my spine. I feel Marinette tie up two clumps of my hair.

"Tada!" Marinette says as she presents me with a mirror. "Styled after your favourite person in the world!"

I look into the mirror to see my hair tied up in two little pigtails. A small chuckle escapes my lips. "Ladybug?"

"No, me." Marinette replies proudly.

I laugh. "Of course, how could I forget my princess?"

The door suddenly bursts open. Nino and Alya enter the room, followed by Tom Dupain and Sabine Cheng, who is carrying a large pink cake.

"Happy birthday Marinette!" Nino and Alya shout.

They both stop and pause.

"Were you...doing each other's hair?" Alya asks with a raised eyebrow.

Nino bursts out with laughter at the sight of me. "Oh, I'm sorry, we must have the wrong house. We seem to have barged into a nine-year-old girl's slumber party."

"I will destroy you." I threaten him.

This just causes Nino to laugh harder. "Dude. Adrien, you're wearing pigtails right now!"

"I think he looks cute." Marinette says.

My cheeks flush pink. I give Marinette a smile before poking my tongue out at Nino.

"Still, you've just given me an idea Nino." Marinette says.

"What's that?" I ask.

"A slumber party!" Marinette answers happily. "You guys should all sleep over!"

"Alriiight." Nino says as he puts his arm around Alya.

"No funny business." Tom says sternly, pushing Nino and Alya aside. "You can all have a sleepover but the boys are staying downstairs. We'll set out a couple of mattresses for Adrien and Nino, and Alya can sleep with Marinette."

"Yes, it's going to be so much fun!" Alya says excitedly.

"Alright, alright, settle down." Sabine says as she sets the cake down on the table. "Save your energy for singing happy birthday!"

Tom flicks the lights off and Sabine lights the candles. We all stand around the table and start singing. Nino was surprisingly the loudest; I think he was just real hyped to eat. He definitely ate the most out of everyone. The cake was a sweet strawberry, just like Marinette. Looking around the table at all my friends laughing and joking around, and Sabine and Tom who treat us as their own children, it's such a fun and loving environment. I wonder if this is what a family dinner is like. It certainly feels like a family.

Alya and Nino's parents drop off some stuff like toiletries for the sleepover. I don't even bother to ask my father if I can stay over, I just call up Nathalie and request she bring me my stuff as if he has already agreed. It's not like he will notice I'm gone, and what Nathalie doesn't know won't kill her. She arrives with a giant duffle bag stuffed with enough stuff to survive on a stranded island, along with the contents of my entire bathroom.

"Dude, what have you got in here?" Nino asks.

"Hair and skin products." I confess shamefully.

Alya, Nino, Marinette and I play video games and watch movies until late at night. Nino falls asleep first, probably tired out from eating all that cake. An hour later, Sabine tells the rest of us to go to sleep so Marinette and Alya head upstairs while I tuck myself into my mattress bed. This sleepover was really fun, but I wasn't expecting it. I have to admit that I was hoping to visit Marinette as Cat Noir tonight. Cat Noir is her friend too, he deserves the chance to say happy birthday as well. I had the whole night planned out. Would it be too risky...?

Before I can even come to a conclusion, my body makes the decision for me. I lift myself out of bed and carefully stuff my blankets with pillows to look like a sleeping body, just in case someone wakes up.

I sneak downstairs and out the back door.

"Plagg," I whisper. "Claws out."

I transform into Cat Noir and leap up onto Marinette's balcony. I give her bedroom hatchet a light tap, hoping that I don't wake Alya. To my surprise, Marinette pops her head out within a matter of seconds.

"Chat!" Marinette says happily as she climbs up onto the balcony.

"Were you...waiting for me?" I ask.

Marinette's cheeks flush pink. "N-No, I was just having trouble sleeping. I've had a very exciting day."

"Right, my little lady is growing up." I hold out the thin present I was hiding behind my back. "Happy purrthday, Marinette."

Marinette's eyes light up as she accepts my present. "How did you know?"

"Cat Noir knows everything." I answer complacently.

"Whatever, stalker." Marinette teases.

She tears open the wrapping paper, revealing a supply of art pencils.

"Chat...this is the finest art brand there is." Marinette says in awe.

"Only the best for my lady." I reply, giving Marinette a bop on the nose.

Woah. Did I just call Marinette my lady? That's my special name for Ladybug...strange, it must just be a habit. Luckily, Marinette was too transfixed with her new drawing supplies to notice. I clear my throat and continue casually,

"S-So anyway, that's not my only treat for you tonight."

Marinette looks up at me with bright eyes. She's so adorable! How could I not dote on her?

"There's this tiny place in a quiet street that sells good food. We won't be disturbed there." I say.

"You mean, you're gonna take meowt?" Marinette replies.

"Purrcisely." I say with a smile.

I take Marinette by the waist and she wraps her arms around my neck. I then use my staff to carry us both to the outskirts of the city. We stop by the small café I was talking about and each get a crepe. Then we take a nice night-time stroll as we munch on our delicious food.

"I'm getting so pampered today, you would not believe!" Marinette says. "My friend Adrien bought me tickets to Jagged Stone's concert! He's also throwing me this grand party, I wish you could come...but at least I get to spend tonight with you."

Marinette is beaming with happiness. It brings warmth to my heart. She gave me the best birthday ever this year, she's always doing things for me, this is my chance to give back. I'm so glad I got to spoil her on her birthday.

"Jagged Stone, huh? That sounds cool." I say. "This Adrien guy must be real generous."

"Oh he is!" Marinette replies. "It's funny actually, when I first met him I thought he was just some rich daddy's boy. But he's the total opposite! He's so kind and smart and—" Marinette stops herself. She smiles bashfully and pushes a strand of hair behind her ear. "H-He's a good friend. Actually, sometimes you remind me of him."

"I-I do?" I ask nervously.

"Yeah, but I think you're a lot more wild. Adrien is responsible and organised, he would never go jumping around in the night when he already has to balance his schoolwork with his modelling. Not that you're irresponsible! Obviously, you're responsible for the safety of Paris. I don't know, you just remind me of him in the way that you're both so caring...especially when you're taking care of me." Marinette smiles to herself as she talks. "You're both so good to me."

"Oh." I say, trying to contain my smile.

Marinette suddenly stops walking. I turn back to look at her and before I know it she has wrapped her arms around my waist tightly.

"I want to thank you again, Chat." Marinette says softly as she hugs me. "This has been the best birthday ever."

I smile and hug her back. I couldn't have asked for a better way to treat my princess.