Story is here. Read it. Still hiding in a box from all those people that wanna smack me.

Marinette's POV

I finish putting together my travel suitcase for the week long cruise that we're going on today.

"Did you remember to bring lots of towels?"

"Yeah Tikki, I think I'm all set. Now I have about, what time is it?"

I glance over at the clock and jump in realization.

"I'm late! They're gonna leave without me!"

I grab my purse and suitcase and rush down the stairs and out the door, grabbing a muffin along the way.

I book it down the street and into an alley. There was no way I was making it on time by myself.

"Tikki, I know that you don't like to do this, but could you help me out here?"

"Yeah, sure! You try your best not to so I don't see why not."

"Great. Tikki, Spots On!"

Alya's POV

I look around, wondering how late Marinette is gonna show up this time. The entire class is gathered right outside the bus, as Mrs. Bustier goes over the rules.

"Hey Alya, have you seen Marinette?"

I turn around to see Nino talking and Adrien with their suitcases ready to go. I shrug my shoulders.

"She hasn't responded to her phone since yesterday, so I don't even know if she's going on this trip."

"What do you mean I'm not going?"

I jump at Marinette's voice behind me and turn to face her.

"Geez Gurl! Give me some warning before you sneak up on me like that! Where've you been? Are you okay? Is there anyone I need to strangle for you? Was it something tha-"

"ALYA! CALM DOWN. I'm fine okay? I just needed a 'me' day, if you get what I mean."

I stare her down, as she gives me a nervous face. 'I know there's something more, but I probably shouldn't push it right now.' I back off, but still keep eye contact.

"Mmmkay....I've got my eye you you..."

I turn around to see the guys baffled faces and laugh.

"It's a female thing, you wouldn't understand."

A/N - Unsure if I said this already but as a reminder, it's a week long cruise. And in case this was also forgotten, they're all 18-19 yrs old cause the cruise is a graduation party. Also, they're already on the boat now, thanks to a time skip brought to you by Bunnix.

Adrien's POV

I enter my room with Nino, grateful we were able to choose who we bunked with. As I tossed my suitcase on my bed, Nino broke the silence.

"So do you have any idea what's going on with Marinette?"

I sigh. "It's kinda complicated, and I'm also pretty sure she hates me."

"What makes you say that?"

I start unpacking and look over at Nino. "Do you mind if I rant for a bit?"

He nods, "Yeah, I don't mind."

"Well, she's been avoiding me for so long and barely talks to me. I dunno if it's cause of something I did, or something I did against my will when my Father forces me around. And he's so protective, that he rented an extra ship for himself to stay within reach of me."

I could feel Nino wince behind me in pain. "Dude, really? You're dad needs to CHILL. If I could talk to him I would-, hold on let me take this call."

He answers the phone and leaves the room while I ponder in my thoughts. I hardly notice as Plagg flies out of my bag eating cheese. 'I guess I should check the itinerary, maybe prepare for protecting Marinette from water activities.'

Marinette's POV

"So it looks like today is just for getting settled, but water activities start tomorrow afternoon. Is this karma for exploding the girl's bathroom with water?"

Alya barks out a laugh in the middle of organizing the room. "Nah, I doubt it. Sabrina totally deserved that. We'll figure out a way to work around le agua."

I roll my eyes, "How about I just pretend to be sea sick, that would keep me away and I'll just hide in this room for a week."

"No."

"But it might actually-"

"No. Just no. Besides, you would miss out on seeing Adrien, I know he's especially worried for youuu~"

I duck under the covers, attempting to hide the rose color developing on my cheeks. "Can we at least spend the rest of today in here? It'll guarantee I don't have to be as careful."

"Okay you win this one. But tomorrow, we're gonna go out and have some fun gurl!"

4 Days later

Adrien's POV

I can't keep count of how many times water has somehow found it's way to Marinette, but today was the most unfortunate. Her dorm was too far away to make it in time, and since I knew Nino was out doing activities, we made a run for it to mine. As soon as we both rush in and I lock the door, Marinette collapses and is transformed on the floor. The good news is that no one can come in and see anything. The bad news is that the floor is covered in a thin layer of water due to a giant wave that hit the boat, which is why she transformed in the first place. I know she realizes the predicament we're in as soon as she tries to dry herself, and her eyes widen in fear.

"I can't dry off! I'm stuck! What are we gonna do?!"

"I'm sorry, but I don't know. This water was completely came out of the blue." She shot me a glare for my unintentional pun, looking like she's about ready to strangle me.

"Sorry! I actually didn't mean that joke this time, it sorta slipped out. I think I have an idea though."

"Well, what is it?"

I look over to my bed, it's attached to the wall and above the water enough to get somewhere. "I could help you onto my bed, it should be dry." Her face turns a shade of pink, but when she looks like she realizes she has no other options, she reluctantly nods her head.

I help move her over where she can lift herself up with her arms while I raise her tail for her. After some situating, she barely fits onto the bed without her tail hanging over the edge. As she dries herself, I sit down on the bed next to her, exhausted from lifting and shifting around for a good position. She must've noticed my labored breathing because she said something.

"Are you okay? It looks like you just ran a marathon or something."

"Yeah I'm fine, it's just your tail was heavier than I expected."

"...Are you calling me fat?"

I feel my face heat up, "NO! I meant that it was more difficult because you-, no wait, I mean-"

I turn to look over and she's stifling laughter, clearly enjoying herself at my expense. "I couldn't help myself, you made it too easy to mess with you-" I smirk at her, relieved she was only joking, while she giggles uncontrollably from messing with me.

"Oh, you're so evil. If you weren't already a mermaid right now, I'd be tempted to push you overboard."

"Ha! As if you could. And even if you did, I'd take you down with me."

"Bold statement for someone who can't even walk right now."

"Oh, shut up."

"Make me."

A moment of silence settles over the conversation, waiting in anticipation for what will happen next. I realize in that moment the double meaning to my words, but don't back down in fear of looking like a coward in front of Marinette. We lock eyes for a moment, I catch her eyes glance down to my lips briefly before looking back up again. Suddenly, something grabs me from behind and pulls me into the floor, soaking me in freezing cold water. I stand up shivering, looking at her mischievous grin with a glare.

"You asked for it, not my fault anymore."

"C-cheater! I d-don't have voodoo m-magic so that's not fair. I'm f-freezing!"

I look down and the water soaking me is slowly pulled out of my clothes until they're dry, but I'm still shivering.

"Okay fine, I'll be nice. Come sit close to me, the evaporation from my tail will warm you up."

I roll my eyes as I walk back over to her and sit on the bed. I lift my legs up and tuck them under the cover to try and warm up faster. Remaining sitting up, I turn around to look at her, still shivering from the cold.

"M-Meanie. I help you a-and this is what I get? S-so ungrateful."

"You'll be fine. Besides, using my powers takes up much more energy than you think, it's pretty tiring just to dry myself off. And that's still less energy than using water to shove someone that's being annoying."

I lie down next to Marinette, pulling the covers up to my neck to keep me warm. "S-Still unfair, I d-don't have cold immunity like you."

She yawns, making it noticeable how exhausted she was. "Eh, you wouldn't like the trade off, trust me."

"I dunno, it s-sounds pretty fun to use p-powers to pull you into f-freezing water."

"Nah, I don't...agree with..you..."

I turn to look at her to retort back a sarcastic comment, but her eyes were closed and her arms were relaxed. 'I guess it really was that tiring.' She still doesn't have her legs back, so I carefully shift the blankets to cover both of us without waking her, hoping that will be enough to dry her off. I try to do more to help, but it's just too cold and I lie back down beside her, facing her, my eyes threatening to close. 'Not fair, I didn't ask to be cold.'

A few hours later

Marinette's POV

I woke up to the feeling of being warm and hugged. When I got bearing of my senses, I felt myself heat up to the color of a cherry tomato. A certain blond-haired man was cuddling me, with one arm over me and our legs intertwined. 'Legs! Thank goodness I transformed back.' I carefully moved his arm so I could sit up, but I didn't dare move more in fear of waking him up.

"So that's why you two ran off in such a hurry."

I turn my head to the voice and lock eyes with Nino. A faint smirk is plastered on his face, with what looks like an idea of what happened.

"IT'S NOT WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE!"

"Okay, what does it look like?"

I shook my head in desperation. "Please Nino, this didn't mean to happen, trust me."

"It's okay. You're secret is safe with me. I was confused when the door was locked, but when I turned my key to get in, it all made sense. Also you talk in your sleep."

"Thanks, I appreciate you keeping this on the down low, especially because of Aly-Wait, what did I say in my sleep?"

He was clearly holding back laughter. "Oh you know, the usual things. Adrien's name or some random cat pun for reasons unknown. Also you said 'Please come back, I can't do this without you.' What's that all about?"

"I-oh, Um- it's nothing don't worry about it. I have strange dreams, heh."

He gave me one of those looks, like he knew something I didn't. "You should probably be more clear to Adrien about your feelings, he thinks you hate him."

"Wait, why would he think that?"

"Avoiding him, stuttering around him, running away if you can, etc."

"But you know that's just because I can't face him all the time, I get flustered too easily."

"I know, but he doesn't. It's pretty clear his feeling towards you, but you have to be clear as well."

"I can't just tell him I love him!"

Suddenly, there was a small movement beside her, she quickly stilled to make sure he was still asleep. Nino tried not to laugh, failing miserably.

"You gotta be quiet, don't forget the predicament you're in."

"I know, okay? You're making things complicated, leave."

"But it's my room?"

"Go bug Alya in her dorm, I won't mind. Just make sure to tell her that I'm fine if she asks and speak NOTHING of what happened here."

Nino raised his hands in surrender. "Okay fine, you win. But remember, you gotta face this sooner or later." He got up and left, locking the door behind him.

I sighed in relief, looking down at Adrien sleeping against me. I lift one hand up beside his face, tucking the loose hair behind his ear and cupping my hand around his cheek. "I really wish I could tell you, I really do. I just can't bring myself to do it yet, I need help." I leaned backwards to lie back down beside him, adjusting my hand down to hold his. 'I'm so screwed'

YEARS. ITS BEEN YEARS. I've finally updated. I won't bore you with the details, but I finally have a plan for the full outcome of the story. Plz don't hate me