Adrien gulped as the giant man stared at him, arms crossed. The blonde mentally cursed himself. How did he allow himself to forget that Marinette's parents were also in the kitchen?

'Stupid,' he thought. 'You are stupid. He is going to kill you.' Adrien shook his head. He could already hear Kim and all his guy friends at school making fun of him for attempting to make a move on Marinette in front of her parents. How dumb was he? 'Apparently a lot,' he thought again.

But give him a break. It wasn't that he wasn't trying to control himself, he really was, but his emotions seemed to grow in the past hour. It was becoming really hard for him not to express himself. Especially as it was the first time that Marinette was by his side without the interruption or constant teasing of others.

Adrien sighed. He was sure he would be shipped off to China with his cold father first thing in the morning or even worse. Mr. Dupain Cheng would likely murder and bake him into a pile of Agreste cookies.

Would Marinette miss him? 

"Is there something you want to tell me, son?" Tom spoke gently. "Do you have feelings for m daughter?"

'Wait, son? Is he not mad at me?' Adrien thought. 'Of course, he is stupid! You made a move on his daughter in front of him. AGAIN!'

"I-I," the model hesitated.

Adrien looked around the room in search of Marinette. The last thing he wanted was to be overheard by the bluenette. Yet, at the same time, the blonde boy didn't know what to say. Did he like the designer? Absolutely! Without a doubt! Yes! Adrien couldn't deny that any longer. But did he have a right to like her? Probably not.

Tom lifted his left eyebrow, signaling he was still waiting for an answer.

Adrien gulped again. "I- No- Yes- I don't know, it's complicated," Adrien stammered nervously.

Tom hummed questionably at the blonde's response. "No, yes, you don't know, it's complicated," tom repeated almost in a question. "Well, it can't be all, can it?" Tom asked, leading Adrien outside the kitchen and towards a diner table. He had a feeling Adrien was just nervous. Maybe he could respond if Marinette wasn't around.

"Look, son, I am not angry at you. In fact, if I am being honest, you are one of the few young men I would be okay with dating my daughter, as long as I am made aware, of course," Tom stated, giving Adrien an encouraging smile.

"So, as I am being honest with you, I would like you to be honest with me."

Adrien nodded understandingly. He could be honest. Mr. Dupain Cheng was not asking for much. Any man would be worried about his daughter. 

"I like you, Adrien. I know you are a brilliant and respectful young man, but as you are probably well aware, I am a very protective father," Tom continued, his voice going from playful to serious. "I want was best for my daughter, and I do not allow anything less. Therefore, I will ask again, do you have feelings for my daughter?"

Adrien gulped nervously but soon found himself sitting up straight. For some reason, Tom's words made him feel like he needed to act like a real man. He was not a boy anymore, he was a young man. Adrien wanted to prove he was a man and one worthy of his daughter.

"I do," he responded with a nod. "Verry much, sir."

Tom nodded. "For how long?"

"A while," Adrien responded almost in a whisper.

"Then why now?"

"It's complicated," Adrien responded truthfully.

Tom lifted a brow, "how so?"

"I have liked your daughter for quite some time, but I am also aware of my best friend's past feelings for her. Then there is Luka. When I realized I had feelings for her, Marinette was already in a relationship with him and I decided to keep quiet. There is also the fact that I don't know if she feels the same. To be honest, I don't think I could handle her rejection well. She was one of my first friends, and I don't want to allow my feelings to get in the way of our friendship. There is also my father. He is- he- well, I am not sure if he would approve of her. I know he does anything to get what he wants and the last thing I want is for him to ruin her future as a designer. I guess I don't want to hurt anyone, especially her," Adrien confessed.

Tom smiled. Adrien's honesty was enough to convince Tom that he, indeed, was the right guy for Marinette. That was also one of the reasons Tom liked the blonde. He was an exceptional young man. The fact, that he didn't want to jeopardize Marinette's designer dream made Adrien the man for his daughter. 

But his issues were as dumb as putting salt instead of sugar on a cookie. Nino wanted the blonde to get with Marinette, him and Alya made that much clear many times before. Luka? He wasn't a problem, the musician knew where Marinette's heart lay. Marinette? His daughter was in love with the blonde. Of course, she wouldn't reject him.  His father would be the only small issue, but Tom doubted it as Mr. Agreste made it very clear in the phone call that Marinette could very well be the future of Agreste and he wanted the two to get along. 

"Well, that's an issue, isn't it?" Tom asked, almost amused.

"Just quite a pickle. How could you ever get out of this situation?" He continued, and Adrien chuckled.

"Would you like my honest advice, son?"

Adrien's eyes lit up at Mr. Dupain Cheng's question. He had never had a father-son moment. It was not like Adrien could go to his father and speak of his feelings. Hell, he had to schedule an appointment just to see his own father. But right now, the blonde imagined this was what a father-son moment would feel like. And it felt great!

"Yes, sir."

"Correct me if I am wrong, but when you say friend, you mean Nino, right?" Tom asked, earning a nod from the model.

"Well, I don't think he would care much. Nino had moved on. Most importantly, he is a real friend. We have known Nino since he was a kid, and we know that he would never get in between his friends' happiness. He indeed had a thing for Marinette, but that was the past. I am sure Nino would be happy that his best friends found love as he has with Alya. But that doesn't mean you shouldn't talk to him. Call him, let him know how you feel, and ask him for his thoughts. I am sure he will understand."

Adrien nodded, tears feeling his eyes. The whole situation, the advice, everything, it all meant the world to him. "I will, thank you, sir."

"As for my daughter? Well, I can't really tell you how she feels. That's confidential, but maybe get to know her better? See what she is like when no one is around, and most importantly, show her who you are, the real you. If it's meant to be, then the relationship will happen on its own. I have learned that real love begins with friendship."

Adrien smiled and nodded once again.

"Now, as for your father? I am not sure what I can say. Sometimes we as parents do things to protect our children from things they don't quite understand yet. Most of the time, we are right, sometimes, we are wrong, but we do it with the best intentions. I know your father can be strict, but does he do it for himself or you? Now, that is up to you to figure out. But I wouldn't write it off too quickly. After all, you are here, aren't you? He was well aware my daughter would be around you and still allow you to stay. I would talk to him if I were you. He could surprise you. But if he disapproves, it will be up to you to decide if Marinette is worth being the reason you stand up to your father."

Tom stood up as he finished his advice to the blonde, but before he could leave, Adrien ran to hug him. "Thank you, Mr. Dupain Cheng, it means a lot."

"No problem, son. You can always come to me."

"Cookies are ready!" Marinette called out from the kitchen, and Adrien nearly jumped. "We better get to those cookies."

"Adrien," Tom called out before the blonde entered the kitchen. "I only ask that if you are not sure how you feel, then don't lead her on. Don't break her heart. If she is now who your heart belongs to, please stay away, don't cause her pain."

Adrien nodded understandingly. "I would never hurt her."

______________________________________________

Adrien smiled as he watched Marinette as she took a bite off her cookie and hummed happily. He kept thinking of what Mr. Dupain Cheng had asked of him just minutes prior. The blonde knew the man was right to ask that, but the thing was, Adrien was not confused. Each second he spent with the bluenette made him more certain of it.

Adrien wanted more than just friendship.

He wanted more, much more.

He wanted a relationship.

With her!

"Staring is not polite, you know?" Marinette said teasingly, after taking a second bite of her cookie.

"And neither is talking with your mouth full, Princess. So I guess we are the same," he smirked.

"Shut up and eat your cookie, Agreste!" Marinette responded, knowing he had once again gotten her.

"I was, but then I remembered I haven't gotten my reward yet," He teasingly flirted, making Marinette blush.

"I-I," she stuttered.

Adrien let out a laugh. "Relax, princess," Adrien laughed, "I was only messing with you," he continued. "I enjoyed baking with you. Almost as much as I enjoy having the ability to make you speechless. But, hey, I get it. I mean, look at me," he added, flexing and posing.

Marinette let out a loud laugh as she watched Adrien flexing and posing as if he was some sort of superhero. She then picked up another cookie and threw it at him, but to her surprise, he caught it with ease and took a bite.

"Nice try, princess, but I got skills," he said, taking another bite.

Marinette squinted her eyes as she thought of a way to get him back. Getting an idea, she faked a pout, pretending to accept her defeat.

That was until she came closer to him and her pout turned into an evil smirk.

'Like watching me speechless? Okay, Agreste. Two can play that game,' Marinette thought as she came closer and closer to him.

Adrien's smirk disappeared, and he gulped as he noticed her walking towards him almost sexily. The blonde then took a shaky breath as Marinette stepped in front of him. Adrien was close to being pinned to the counter, which would have been easy to do since he was leaning on it.

Marinette bit her lip as she placed her hands on the counter, giving him no escape, and got at a closer distance. Adrien gulped as he could feel her breath on his lips.

The bluenette watched as Adrien gulped nervously. She knew she had him.

Adrien couldn't help it. His body began to react on its own. His hand automatically went straight to her hips, pulling her closer to him. His heart pounded as once again their lips were only centimeters apart.

"You're right. You do deserve your reward," Marinette whispered. Adrien took a breath and found his eyes closing.

Marinette smiled as she saw the blonde ready for his kiss.

"But, Not today!" She said louder, removing his hands from her waist and walking away in laughter.

Payback was really a dish best served cold.

Adrien gasped and let out a chuckle. That was it. Adrien knew he had to call Nino. TONIGHT!