Marinette was finishing adding the bow onto Juniors present. Adrien had offered to take it home and wrap it as she'd done all the hard work making it, but there was no way he was adding his monstrous wrapping skills to Juniors perfect present. She remembered back to the last Christmas present she'd received from him, it looked like he'd wrapped it with his eyes closed. Apparently the staff were always in charge of wrapping presents but he wanted to wrap hers himself. She wished he'd given it to the staff to do.

Marinette laughed as she stroked over the crease free wrapping she'd done, remembering how proud he was of himself. Very similar to when he finally left last night. Placing her fingers on her lips she could feel the swelling still there. They had kissed for hours. She smiled remembering the noises that came from his throat, she was quite sure he'd enjoyed it as much as she had. Looking down at her watch she squealed.

Running into into her bedroom she realised she only had about ten minutes until her boyfriend was here to pick her up. To say she was nervous about today would be an understatement. She was terrified. As if knowing Marinette was in the midst of a nervous breakdown, her phone began to ring. Alya. Thanking her lucky stars she answered and placed her phone on speaker.

"Alya! I'm having a heart attack I swear!"

Wow, chill girl! I'm glad I rang, she began to laugh down the phone and Marinette threw pretty much all her clothing out of the wardrobe.

"What do I wear?"

It's the first time meeting his family, so what kind of people are they and what will they expect you to be, you know ... considering his past love life.

"Alya! Seriously!"

I'm joking! Felix is a top class doctor so I imagine their going to be similar to him. Perhaps your pink knee high skirt with your off the shoulder white tee. Oh, and have you still got your gold gladiator sandals?

"Yes!" Marinette shouted out rummaging around to find the clothing. Placing them on she had a spin in the mirror. "Perfect!" She exclaimed.

"Hair?" Marinette asked, running to her dressing table. It never took her long to do her make up, she was very lucky that her skin stayed pretty much flawless. Even in her teen years it was great.

Braid it over one shoulder.

"Do you really think looking like Elsa is going to go down well at a kids birthday party?" Marinette positioned the braid over her shoulder.

Marinette, your hairs black ... not blonde. You look nothing like Elsa.

"Ok ok!" Marinette moved out of her bedroom happy with the over all look. She hoped Adrien liked it too.

So what time did lover boy leave last night?

"Don't you mean this morning?" Marinette smirked as she started packing her bag ready.

You dirty bitch! Marinette knew it was a joke but couldn't help feel a little hurt.

"Alya! Get your head out the gutter! We didn't do anything ... but I want to." Marinette whispered out the last few words, luckily she was interrupted by shouting in the background of wherever Alya was.

Listen, Mari, I've got to go my sisters are at each other again. Let me know how the party goes. Bye lover girl!

Alya ended the call and Marinette sighed. She looked down at her outfit again and gave it a brush before adding on her sandals. They took a while to get on, the criss-cross effect up the leg was always a challenge. Especially making sure they didn't slide back down.

Standing up to look in her full length mirror she went to pick up her phone, only she managed to catch her arm on something and  knocked off her bowl of random keys which sat neatly on her side table.

"Crap, crap, crap!" She bent down to pick it up, finding pieces sprawled everywhere across the floor.

Slamming the car door Adrien threw the keys in the air and then caught them. He'd woke up this morning fulfilled with a sense of being. Adrien couldn't help the spring in his step and the smile plastered all over his face. Last night had been something he'd never experienced before. He'd put out his heart and it had been accepted. Marinette cared about him. Not his past, not his money or his fame, or his body. Him. All him.

Whistling he made his way to her front door, stopping when he heard the cursing coming from inside. Fear passed over him as his mind raced through what could be wrong. Opening the door ready to confront the situation, he was not prepared for what confronted him. Marinette was bent over picking up things from the floor with her butt to the door and consequently in his face. He couldn't help the grin at the beautiful mould in front of him.

"Well hell-o Miss Dupain-Cheng! I'm quite sure this is classed as teasing." Marinette spun around ending up face planting the floor.

"Ouch!" He commented, walking over to his girlfriend who was currently sprawled out like a door mat. "You ok?"

"Embarrassed but I'm sure I won't have any bruises."

Laughing, Adrien reached out to help her back up onto her feet. Once stable, she dusted off her skirt again not realising there was a piece of porcelain stuck in it.

"Ow!" Looking at her hand the blood had already risen to the surface and began to stream down her arm, and unfortunately onto both her skirt and pure white top. Great! Just great!

"Mari, your hand." Adrien grabbed hold of her arm and led her through the bedroom and to the en-suite. As they entered the room he noticed the clothing thrown everywhere. What the heck had she been doing in here? Was she going for a complete wardrobe refurbishment?

Walking into the bathroom he placed her hand delicately under the cold water tap, washing away the streaking blood.

"Where's your first aid kit?" He looked around the bathroom without letting go of her hand.

"It's in my studio." Wincing through her words she could feel the sting of every drop of water hitting her cut. "Oh shoot! My clothes."

"I'll find you something." Adrien said as he released her hand and began to leave the room.

"What? How will you know what to choose?"

"Princess, you wound me! I'm a model and my father is the biggest bastard in fashion. I have an idea of clothes."

For the first time since he'd arrived Marinette took a once over of what he was wearing. She had to hold herself back from drooling, yes ... he most certainly DID have an idea with clothes. No one should look that good in a sky blue shirt and jeans. His sleeves were rolled up to just below his elbows showing off amazing muscular forearms.

She looked them over and noticed they were showing muscular guy veins and tendons. His hands and arms were heaven. They were slowly becoming her favourite part of his body. She couldn't stop thinking about how his hands would feel on her body, groping her and touching her ...

"Marinette? Are you ok?"

"Um? I mean - What? I mean - yes, I'm hunky dory."

"Hunky dory?" He questioned, shaking his head. She really was not typical of the girls he'd dated in the past. This tiny woman had so much about her, he couldn't wait to dive in deeper in the past two days he'd managed to get a fandabbydozy off her and a hunky dory. She was too adorable.

"Of course." She attempted to smile through her latest grimace. She had actually said it, hadn't she. She'd graced his presence with a hunky dory and a fandabbydozy all in the matter of days. Firstly she was sure she sounded about twelve and secondly, and more importantly, she'd now solidified the idea in his head that yes, she is an idiot! Great, great, great, great, great!

"I'll go and get the kit and find you something to wear. Try not to cause any mischief for the next five minutes if you think you can manage that." He winked at her before he left into the war zone of her bedroom. Seriously, he'd never understand women. It can't be that hard to choose clothing. Adrien thought about his morning routine. Wake up and choose a colour for the day, pair it with black or blue jeans, and BINGO! Sorted.

Working his way through the house he made it to her studio. In complete contrast, it was a picture of perfection. He began to wander around and noticed her designs plastered all over the walls; her Paris Fashion Show collection took pride of place and he couldn't help the glow of pride, it was looking immense. He continued to look and found ... what was this? A picture of him? He moved closer to have a look.

It was a picture from when they were sixteen. Just before their friendship crumbled. He was sitting in the park. On the fountains edge to be precise and he was laughing, smiling so widely he looked almost like a different person. He thought back to the day and there was no way Marinette took the picture. It must have been Alya or Nino. How did he know this? Because Marinette is the reason he was smiling so much.

If he remembered rightly Marinette had decided that it was going to be the day that she learnt how to judge. Kim could already do it so the plan was for him to teach her. She was that bad Kim went to swimming practise with the worlds biggest headache and a desire to never coach Marinette in anything again.

As Adrien remembered the failed attempts, along with the arguments between teacher and pupil he couldn't help start laughing again. This had all happened the afternoon of when he found out he'd made the Olympic team with Kagami. This all happened the afternoon before they never spoke to each other the same way again.

I don't understand! Why her? How has she supported you through anything?

Marinette, I don't understand what the big deal is. We're both the same, me and her, we match. She understands me, Mari. Please don't go, don't leave me ... I don't understand why you're acting like this. Please talk to me, Princess.

I will always support you Adrien. But I can't talk about this at the moment. I just can't.

The memory of their last conversation played through his head. It made sense now, it all made sense. He'd made a massive error that day. He thought it was Kagami that he needed the support from, the love from, the encouragement from. But he was wrong. It was Marinette. It had always been Marinette.

Sighing he moved away from the picture and continued his search for the first aid kit. If only he could go back in time, there would be so much he'd change. Pulling out drawers he thought about last night. Kissing her was heaven. It felt like the one thing in his life he'd missed out on and needed.

They'd managed to pull their friendship back; it was renewed, it was refreshed and, if he did say so himself, it was better than ever. Why? He knew why, he just wasn't ready to admit it. He needed to protect himself, he needed to be prepared for her leaving him just like everyone else did. So for the time being it was locked away. Pushed to the back of his mind.

"Adrien," his angel broke his thoughts and put him back on track. "Have you managed to find it? It should be in the drawer next to my machine, on my work surface."

He moved swiftly to the location and pulled out what he was looking for.

"I've got it." In the excitement of finding what he'd been searching for he'd turned around too fast and knocked over one of her mannequins. Positioned on it was the most beautiful pink lace dress. It had a thin white belt around the waist and a racer back with gold zip and frills. Picking it up he took the dress back with the first aid kit.

"Here you go Princess." He removed her hand from under the tap and wrapped it in a towel. Pulling an antiseptic wipe out of the kit he wiped gently over the cut before placing on the plaster. She studied his concerned face as he fixed her up, smiling when he placed a gentle kiss on the wound.

"All fixed. Now it's time for Cinderella to get changed."

"Kitty I can't wear that, I didn't ... I mean .. it doesn't ... it's not finished. I haven't got the design right."

"Mari, please put it on." He held out the dress to her raising his eyebrows.

"Fine." Taking the dress she shooed him out the bathroom and swapped her outfit. It actually looked a lot better on her than on her mannequin. Perhaps it would be ok. With one last look she exited the bathroom only to find Adrien putting her clothes back into her wardrobe.

"Who are you and what have you done with Adrien Agreste?" He started to laugh and turned to face her. His breath caught him his throat. Woah! He knew the dress would look good on her but this was something else. She looked like a model.

"Why are you looking at me like that? Does it look that bad? I can change it if you don't want to be seen with me in it." He began to move towards her and she felt self conscious. That's when she noticed his eyes. She smiled widely knowing what his inner most thoughts were.

"You're stunning. I'm sure a lucky guy." He placed his hands on her hips as she wrapped her arms around his neck.

"I never gave you a proper welcome, Chaton."

"We have time now, M'lady."

Bending down, as she stretched up, their lips met in a passionate embrace. She wasn't nervous anymore. She was far from it. Thanks to last night she now felt like a sex goddess when she used her lips against his.

"As much as I would like to continue where we left off last night, we best go." She nodded at him before placing another swift kiss on his lips.

Walking out her bedroom hand in hand, she carefully grabbed her bag off the side table, along with Juniors present. This time not smashing anymore of her fine porcelain accessories. Following Adrien out the front door she locked up and headed to his 4x4. He reached her car door and opening it for her. As she went to walk around him, he pulled her close again kissing her with desire and devotion.

"Don't be nervous about this ok, Bugaboo?"

"I'll try not to." Smiling to herself and touching her lips she made it into his car as he shut the door for her.

The car ride was filled with chatter and laughter. Mainly at Adrien trying to sing along to whatever came on the radio. Marinette swore her ears were bleeding from the horrendous tones in his voice.

About twenty minutes later they had reached Felix's house where the party was taking place. It was so traditional Marinette felt herself gasping at the beauty. It was a dream house and it made hers look like a garage. It was huge.

"Woah!" Marinette hadn't realised the words had came out of her mouth and Adrien chuckled.

"He's a bit of a show off really." She looked at him and smiled.

"You're both similar there then?" He pulled up and looked over at his girlfriend.

"Harsh Marinette! Felix is no where near as bad as me." She burst out laughing leaning over the handbrake to kiss him again. Adrien lifted a hand off the steering wheel and placed it on the back of her head deepening the kiss and turning it into quite a heated make out session. That was until her hand slipped and landed in the middle of his steering wheel, setting off the horn.

"Whoops."

Adrien laughed at her as he unfastened his seatbelt and began to get out the car. Again walking around to Marinette's side to help her out. Taking Juniors present from her in one hand and her petite hand in his other, they began to make their way round to the garden where they could hear a lot of children screaming and splashing. Marinette guessed the Graham de Vanily family had their own pool, and also a lot of children were here.

"You know your hand is like a dolls. So cute and tiny." He lifted it up to meet his lips, causing the bluenette to blush. For some reason his sweet, small gestures caused her more flustering than making out with him.

"Adrien! Sweetheart! Is that you?" Adrien tore his eyes away from the beautiful lady next to him only to be engulfed in a hug. The lady had golden blonde hair, exactly like Adrien's, and green eyes mirroring his too. Marinette was gobsmacked. Was this his mother?

"Aunt Amelia. It's great to see you."

"You too darling, and oh my ... is this your Marinette?" Marinette smiled at the female mirror to her boyfriend as she too was engulfed in a hug.

"It's a pleasure to meet you." Marinette managed to speak as Amelia released the hold she had on Marinette. The woman had one hell of a hug.

As Marinette stepped back, an incredible feeling of belonging came over her. People were happy to meet her. She was part of whatever this was.

Adrien looked as though he was going to speak when suddenly the words dropped out of his mouth, leaving his jaw agape. Standing behind his Aunt playing with the beautiful little birthday boy was the one person he didn't expect to see there, or to be honest to see ever again.

"Mother?"