Nino was in the studio working on his next top selling anthem as Adrien sat throwing and catching a soft basketball. Nino's studio was set in the back garden of his and Alya's shared home not too far from Marinette's. The little outbuilding was decked up like a top class Ibiza club zone. The house was a large detached property with a white picket fence, white wooden shutters and a huge back garden which Adrien was sure would soon be full of childhood toys and laughter.

It had been a few days since he'd been round to Marinette's house yet the image of her in those skin tight leggings and an off the shoulder top had been a regular presence in both his conscious and unconscious memory. He threw the ball up into the air before his imagination kicked in again ending with the damn ball bouncing off his head. Christ, her body was practically perfect.

"Dude! That's like the twelfth time in ten minutes you've dropped that ball on your head? If you're not careful you'll wreck that pretty face of yours." Nino had swivelled around in his chair to face his old friend. "What's going on?"

Adrien wasn't sure if it was the right time to confine in his friend about his growing fascination to all things Marinette, however there had been one thing bothering him.

"Why does Marinette think my father is blacklisting her?" Adrien spoke, Nino would know the answer.

"Oh? This is about Marinette, eh? She's changed a lot since high school hasn't she?" Nino gave his best bud a wink pleasantly surprised when Adrien's face seemed to suddenly heat up a notch.

"No it's not about Marinette, well it is, no ... no it's not." Adrien took a deep breath. There was no need for him to ramble over a woman, especially this one. "It's just Lila and Marinette have both mentioned it to me but only in passing and I want to know what my asshole of a father is playing at."

Nino sighed and rolled forward in his chair towards his friend.

"For some reason yours and Marinette's friendship has not been appreciated between your father and Lila. I think Lila always believed Marinette would end up with you and your father saw her as a threat to his business, especially if she managed to snag you. They thought that you'd model for her brand not his." Adrien stared with an open mouth at Nino.

"Why would Lila think Marinette would be with me?" He slept around in lycée too, he wasn't know for being committed to only one girl. The only relationship, for want of a better word, was the eighteen months he'd spent with Kagami at the beginning of his fencing tour, and even that wasn't innocent. He cheated on her; multiple times. Just like his father, his partners were only that, partners.

Nino looked around the room as if pulling his words together.

"Everyone thought you and her would end up together. You were both so close, and the way you looked at her ... well Alya's first words after I asked her out were 'you better look at me the way Adrien looks at Mari.'" Adrien scoffed at Nino's words.

"You know I don't do relationships. I don't even know what one is." Nino just looked him over and sighed.

"I don't know why you just don't try man. Though, I wouldn't want to see Mari hurt, she's been through a lot regarding you. She's too sweet for your antics."

"Sweet? Man, the girl threw rotting food at me whilst I slept." Nino laughed, he still couldn't get over Marinette doing that to Adrien. Especially considering how in love with him she is, or was. No one really knew her feelings these days. "I can't believe my father would stoop so low! Geez, he tried to get her expelled from school too?" Nino nodded at his long time friend. "What's wrong with the man?"

"Have you seen him since coming back?" Nino roller further to the right to collect a bottle of beer from the mini fridge. He threw one over to Adrien and then took one for himself. Adrien shook his head as he opened the beer Nino had just handed to him.

"No and I intend to keep it that way." His mind was swirling the thoughts around. Of course his father would mess things up with his friends, but ruining her career this was low even for Gabriel Agreste. Marinette was young, and she was good, no one could deny her talents. She should have the opportunities just as everyone else had.

"By the way, we've had an idea for your bachelor party." Adrien continued after taking a swig out of his bottle.

"Awesome. Where is it?"

"Monaco." Nino jumped up from his chair and started dancing around the room. He jumped onto Adrien's lap and the two started to laugh. If anyone walked in now they'd seriously be questioning Nino's relationship with Alya.

A sudden continuous buzz started up in Adrien's jeans pocket.

"Adrien if you were happy to see me you should have just said and we could have gone somewhere private." Nino winked as he jumped off Adrien's lap. Adrien stood up laughing. The number on his screen was unknown so he pointed in the direction of the hallway to take the call. After exiting the room and shutting Nino's soundproof door, he tapped the green icon on his phone and placed it against his ear.

"Hello, is that Adrien Agreste?" The voice on the other side of the phone was male and gruff. Adrien would guess in his mid to late 70's.

"Yes it is sir, who might this be?" Adrien responded. He wasn't expecting a call.

"This is Principle Damocles from SciencePro college. We've heard your back in town and was wondering if you plan on staying around?" This question infuriated Adrien and he wasn't sure why. Did no one think he could commit to anything?

"Yes, Monsieur Damocles. As of now I intend to stay indefinitely. What can I do for you?"

"We know this is a long shot and I apologise if we are wasting your time Monsieur Agreste but I understand you have high accomplishments in both advanced physics and fencing, and we would be interested in offering you an interview for one of our upcoming leadership positions within the college taking advantage of both your skill sets." Adrien's shoulders relaxed, he was being offered a chance of a job, and not just any job his childhood dream job.

From when he was thirteen, and finally had the freedom to attend public school he wanted to be a teacher. He loved mathematics and physics and wanted to help children become more than they could be. He remembered his last few weeks before the end of lycée exams when he helped a fretting Marinette with her science and maths revision. A small smile pulled across his lips before he pushed the thought quickly away. He didn't do relationships.

"Oh wow, I'm flattered you thought of me for such a prestigious position."

"We feel it would help our students and our college."

"I wouldn't let you down." Adrien spoke confidently. Was his bad luck about to turn around?

"We do have one condition though. You see with you being a member of staff we ask everyone to up hold certain standards. For example, your reputation proceeds yourself and it's not something we'd like to promote to the students." Adrien placed his hand to the back of his neck and closed his eyes. He finally got the freedom to take his dream job and he'd already messed it up.

"What can I do?" He asked down the phone.

"Become more ... family friendly. Settle down with a nice girl, show you can commit, pop out a few kids?" Adrien laughed. "Just show us Adrien that you're the suitable material for our college."

"Yes, Principle Damocles."

"Keep the seventeenth of November free, its the colleges sports gala. It'll be good to see you there." The man on the other side of the line chuckled.

"See you then." Adrien ended the call and placed it back in his pocket. What had just happened? Had he actually achieved what he wanted to do when he was just a naive thirteen year old thinking the word was his oyster. When he used to have dreams about teaching, his father would would be quick to shoot them down. Apparently he only had one option for his future and that was working for the family company. After all Gabriel needed to keep face regardless of his sons feelings.

When he'd received his position in the French Olympic team he jumped at the freedom it would give him, it also gave him Kagami to jump onto, until he was a big name that is, then he could bounce around like a ping pong ball. One woman wouldn't work for his dad so it wouldn't work for him either.

He walked back into the studio to see Nino deep in rhythm of whatever he was doing. Adrien wandered around looking at the different computers and buttons then something caught his attention. A calendar. It was Tuesday. He looked down at his watch. 6pm. He was late.

Giving a quick wave to Nino he ran out to the driveway and jumped into his car. His father had messed around with her and he felt guilty for not helping more, now he was helping out even less by not turning up for her photoshoot.

Placing his car in gear he drove off towards Marinette's house, hoping she'd at least waited. But of course not. Outside her bungalow was parked a very nice sports car with a 'Kitty Select' bumper sticker. Luka. Something pulled in the pit of his stomach. There was definitely a displeasing feeling floating around his body. He'd never felt this before.

He looked through the window and could see Marinette dressing Luka in the hoodie he had taken a fascination to when he was around on Sunday. The two were laughing, they obviously shared a pretty close relationship. Though he wasn't surprised, they always hung out together and she'd designed outfits for their band when they'd first started out. However, at this moment in time he wanted to know why Luka was there with her, and by the looks of things they were making plans. Like maybe a date? Or a marriage? Or a future?

Adrien made his way round to the door and knocked. His pulse started kicking at the base of his neck and he didn't know why. Why the hell did he care if Luka was in there organising a way to wine and dine Marinette? Marinette opened the door and looked different, and by different he meant not the same.

She was standing there in a tight black tank top with a green paw print positioned in the middle and short jean shorts. They were frayed at the edges and the pockets were hanging low out of her shorts. Her hair was loose, and reached just the middle of her back. He can't recall many instances where he'd seen her hair down. But at this moment he felt like his breath had been taken away.

"Errrmmm ... Adrien. Are you ok? Have you banged your head at all today?" He shook himself out of the trance he'd found himself in. He was just staring at her. Good one Agreste, he mentally face palmed himself.

"I'm here to do the modelling." He finally squeezed out.

"That won't be necessary." She replied, staring straight into his piercing green eyes.

"I'm only two hours late, please, come on Marinette? You know I can do better than Luka."

"I'm quite happy with Luka volunteering. After all as soon as I posted on our WhatsApp group no one was really surprised you didn't turn up." Adrien was struck back, he felt like he'd received a blow to the head. WhatsApp group? Why wasn't he included in the group? And if Nino was in it why didn't he say anything.

Marinette stepped back as if to close the door. He stuck his foot out to restrict her movement.

"I said I'd do it." He stepped forward and grabbed Marinette into a hug. Pulling her tightly into his body, she fit perfectly into him. He kissed her on the top of the head yet she still hadn't moved. "I'm sorry, I should have been here earlier."

He breathed in her sweet smell of strawberries and vanilla, and sighed out. Had she always smelt like this. They'd hugged plenty of times in their school days but nothing ever struck him like this smell. His heart started to race. Was his heart racing for Marinette? Marinette pushed out of Adrien's hold.

"You need to go, I have Luka here now."

"Seriously, you're not forgiving me." Adrien felt panic start to set in. Does this mean she doesn't care anymore?

"I've forgiven you, I'm just not asking you to do the photos for me anymore. Actually I don't remember asking you the first time. You invited yourself. Then you let me down." The two were interrupted by a third voice joining the conversation.

"Agreste! I heard you were back." Luka had exited the studio wearing the exact same hoodie he just saw Marinette fitting on him.

"I am, and I told Mari I'm help her out." He didn't dare look at her in case she killed him with her death glare.

"No need. I've got this one man." Luka walked over and patted Adrien on the shoulder. Was he patronising him? There was always some weird built up tension with Luka. Ever since they were about fifteen it just seemed to appear.

Though Luka was taller, Adrien was broad shouldered and incredibly muscular. Luka had slight muscle, but no where near the cuts Adrien displayed.

Marinette looked between them as the two men were basically glaring at each other, sizing each other up. Rolling her eyes she made it down the hall and into her kitchen.

"Ok, well Adrien if you plan on staying for a while you're welcome to, just don't get in our way." She left the two men to continue their stand off.

She was soon joined by Adrien who took a seat at her kitchen table as if he owned the place. He stretched his legs out crossing his ankles and crossed his arms over his chest. She looked him over and had to stop the swoon as she saw his biceps flex. Luka approached the door but Marinette dragged him back out and into her studio.

Adrien sat looking around for ten minutes whilst listening to the excitement and giggles in Marinette's voice coming for the room next door. Why was there a strange knot in the pit of his stomach? He couldn't be getting feelings for Marinette could he? The girl who stuttered around him and wore her hair in toddler piggy tails. The girl with the golden smile and angel laugh, wow no! Where were his thoughts going?

Her laughter broke through the room again as she made her way back into the kitchen, Luka in tow.

"So, how did you two meet back up?" Adrien asked. His face was serious and slightly possessive. Marinette looked him over, why was he acting like a clingy boyfriend? Over and over again he'd push her away, and everyone knows Adrien Agreste isn't boyfriend material. As much as she'd like to think differently.

"I made his daughter her second birthday Princess dress." She replied, raising one eyebrow at Adrien. Seriously, what was his problem. He visibly relaxed in front of her eyes.

"Oh so you got married Luka? Congratulations." Luka held up his bare left hand.

"Divorced." Adrien nerves began to wind so tightly he thought they would physically snap. The look in Luka's eyes told him one thing. He was set on Mari. For some reason this didn't sit well with Adrien. Suddenly a lump formed in his throat.

"Adrien, I think it's time you left." Marinette commanded Adrien, and pretty much pulled him from his seat, marching him to the front door.

He stopped a couple of feet from the exit and noticed a collection of pictures on the wall. Marinette with her parents, Nino and Alya after they'd just gotten engaged, Kitty Section and, what was that one hidden in the corner, he moved slightly to get a better look. It was him, in high school. Dressed as a black cat. They'd been set a challenge to create superheroes and he'd been paired with Marinette. Ladybug and Chat Noir. God they had fun doing that assignment.

With one last look into her clear blue eyes, he opened the door to leave.

"Adrien," her sweet voice broke through the tense atmosphere lingering in the air around them. He turned around to see her with her hands clenched in front of her chest. She was messing with her fingers as a way to steady her nerves. Suddenly Adrien had a flashback of her beautiful smile at school and the way she would look at him as more than a messed up kid. She was kind, caring, sweet, beautiful.

He felt his breath hold as he waited for her to continue whatever she was going to say.

"It's good to see you out and about again." He nodded towards her, letting his eyes pursue her grown woman body one last time. Her smooth porcelain legs, tiny waist, long hair and stunning eyes. She truly had became a masterpiece.

He walked to his car and sat behind the wheel. Placing his hands at the ten and two position he took a deep breath. He looked up just in time to see Luka leaving Marinette's house. He couldn't help but feel jealous of their relationship. Luka would get the girl because he could give her what she wanted. Adrien, on the other hand, couldn't give her anything.