No room to swing a Cat?

31 - The party

Marinette smoothed a fabric of her dress, checking her look in the mirror for the last time. It was almost seven o'clock, which meant that the guests would come soon. According to decisions made on the top of the Eiffel Tower on their way back home this afternoon, Adrien was to keep the engaged couple away from the apartment until half past seven, meanwhile Marinette had to prepare everything for the surprise party.

She sighed when she recalled the memory of that short visit on the Eiffel Tower. After leaving Juleka and Rose's apartment they'd decided to go back home in their super-selves, because they ran out of time. In a blind alley they transformed – for the first time seeing each other while turning into superheroes. They used to transform vis-à-vis before, yet every time they closed their eyes to keep their identities secret. This time it was different and they found it somehow intimate.

"We need a plan for the evening." Ladybug muttered.

"For the early evening or the late evening?" Cat Noir asked, grinning seductively.

She rolled her eyes, as always when he was flirting. Yet, she couldn't help smiling nor blushing, which made her partner happy. He was about to kiss her, when she used her yo-yo to evade unexpectedly.

"See you on the Tower!" she shouted before disappeared over Parisian rooftops.

Without hesitation he followed her. He caught her on the top of the Eiffel Tower and hugged her that she barely could breathe.

"So?" he asked quietly. "What about the evening?"

"Everyone will come around seven p.m. I'll be there to prepare the party. We have to figure out how to keep Alya and Nino away from their own apartment..."

"So rational, as always..." Cat Noir only sighed.

"Any ideas?" Ladybug asked, and he looked at her so suggestively that she had no doubts what he was thinking about. "Caaat... Focus!" she snorted.

"Uhm... I'm trying..."

"Let me remind you that the top of the tower is not the safest place to do what you're thinking about... So, Kitty, stop staring at my lips, otherwise I'll kiss you and we'll fall and kill ourselves."

"So, let me take you somewhere else..."

"The plan first. We have to make Alya and Nino go out."

"I'll tell Nino."

"Are you going to blurt it out?"

"Of course not! I'm not going to tell him everything. Only that he needs to take Alya somewhere, because you want to prepare something special for them. I'm sure Nino will suggest something silly to buy, like a suit or something equally unimportant... And I'll go with them as an expert." he came up with an idea.

"Great! I'm so glad we..." she didn't finish that sentence, because Cat Noir finally kissed her.

"So, what about our part of the evening, M'Lady?" he asked after a while.

She gazed at him dizzy, surprised by the fact they hadn't fallen.

"First: a date, Kitty... Remember?" she reminded him when she managed to formulate a thought.

"Can I finally stop chasing after you?"

"What are you thinking, Kitty? That you'll get me and you can rest on your laurels? Sorry for disappointing you but you'll be chasing after me every day..."

"You're so cruel..."

"Remember about the awards... Like delicious breakfasts..."

"It's not a breakfast we're talking about right now..."

"Well..." she smiled meaningfully.

"Stop smiling like that, or we'll fall..." he warned.

"So keep us safe Kitty. I'm in your hands..."

"There's no way that we're going on a date tomorrow, M'Lady!" he decided. "We can combine business with pleasure. Alya wanted a party and she'll get it. We can treat that party as our first date."

"Clever..." she whispered.

"Really?" he was surprised that he won so easily.

"Oh, yeah, Kitty..." she laughed and escaped from his embraces. "Now: I'll race you to home!"

"What's the award?" he asked but heard only her laughter in response.

When he caught her, she was already in front of their apartment. She couldn't find her keys again, but this time not because of getting cold but because of laughing.

"What's so funny?" he asked in a suspicious tone.

"We didn't set the award of the race, and I won, so... I'm just wondering what's your offer?"

"Wait for the evening. I'm sure I'll figure something out..." he whispered in her ear.

Marinette sighed again. She could guess what this Cat would suggest... Hearing the holder, Tikki appeared around immediately.

"You look fantastic!" she assured.

"Thanks... I'm a bit nervous..."

"But why? You've managed to invite all your classmates. Everyone's confirmed they'll come..."

"I meant our after-party..." Marinette muttered and blushed.

"I promise to take Plagg to Adrien's room for the whole night!" Tikki affirmed in a solemn tone which made her holder even more embarrassed.

Thankfully a doorbell saved Marinette the trouble of having to answer. Apparently the guests began coming. Soon after everything was prepared for welcoming the engaged couple. Everyone hid where they could and waited. Finally, they heard the door unlock.

"SURPRISE!!!" they yelled, jumping out.

Alya squeaked frightened, but soon after she began weeping with joy. Nino embraced her instinctively, trying to regain his voice – he was also astonished so much. Their friends surrounded them and started congratulating – one after another. Meanwhile Marinette stood aside, observing that scene with eyes filled with tears of joy. Adrien approached her slowly and handed her a rose, winking at her meaningfully. Then he stood behind and hugged her. The date – as it should be like.

"You did it, M'Lady..." he whispered in her ear.

"Thanks to you..." she replied quietly. "I wouldn't make it without you..."

"Being your support is a part of me." he assured, and she smiled softly and cuddled in his arms. "Since forever and for ever..." he added.

Saying that he stroked a ring finger of her left hand, as if there was something important missing there. Marinette looked up in astonishment, but he only smiled and kissed her cheek.

"I'm so glad you rescued me that night, Kitty..." she whispered.

"No, you rescued me, Purrincess..." he murmured.

And then they joined their friends...

A/N: that was supposed to be the end... ;-)