A/N - Hello and welcome to my new story! I'm really excited to bring this to you and I hope you enjoy it. Just one point, I'm working this story off the basis that Adrien and Marinette received their Miraculous at 16, not 14. Don't forget stars and comments give me encouragement 💜

Marinette ran in, a little flustered, a little late, but she was there as promised. Brushing down her hair and straightening her dress, she scanned the room of familiar faces in the apartment before her eyes met with her best friend Alya.

"Girl, I was starting to think you stood us up." The young reporter laughed, picking a few stray threads off Marientte's dress. "Don't tell me you were still working on it?"

"Just finished it." Marinette grinned, giving a twirl. It was a simple lavender cocktail dress with a 50's style flare and red trims, matched with red kitten heels. "It was one of the designs I sent in my portfolio to the Gabriel internship applications. I tell you, nervous doesn't even begin to describe how I feel. I have my final interview on Monday and I think I'll die if I get rejected."

Marinette was suddenly aware of a presence standing behind her. "He would be a fool if he did."

She turned around and almost tripped over her own feet. Adrien grabbed her arm and helped steady her amid Alya's chuckling. Some things never changed.

"Adrien." Marinette exclaimed. "I didn't know you were back".

The blond gave her a fond smile, running his fingers through his soft locks. Over the last few years Adrien had let his hair grow out little more than his father approved of but he had cemented his status as an international supermodel and a world champion in Fencing. After Lycée he had thrown much of his energy into the sport as a distraction from modeling, going pro and competing at the European World Championships. While Gabriel had reservations at first of loosening the leash so to speak, the international coverage for the brand due to Adrien's achievements had generated the kind of publicity money couldn't buy.

"I got back from the championships a few days ago. Besides, I wasn't about to miss a dinner party thrown by my best friends. Congrats by the way Alya. I know you and Nino will be so happy."

"I'm glad you made it back in time. It wouldn't be a family celebration without you two here." Alya held out her hand so Adrien could see her engagement ring. It was a classic diamond solitaire and suited Alya perfectly. Nino had proposed a few weeks back while on holiday in Saint Tropez, but tonight they were finally getting a chance to celebrate with Alya's family.

"I love your dress by the way, Marinette. It really suits you." Adrien said, the twinkle in his eye was missed by Alya. An adorable blush spread across Marinette's cheeks when he smiled at her. She barely managed to say thanks as she tucked a stray hair behind her ear, looking away shyly.

"Where were you yesterday?" Alya asked Adrien curiously. "I was going to call you, Nino said you were out of town. On a location fashion shoot?"

"Nope, I was picking up my baby." Adrien said mysteriously. The two girls looked at each other questioningly and Adrien took out his phone. After a moment he turned it around to show them the picture of a very sleek, very expensive motorbike.

"Whoa, dude!" Nino exclaimed. Coming over to them he wrapped his arms around Alya's waist and rested his chin on her shoulder. "Is that it?"

"Yep." Adrien said with a gleam in his eyes. "It's a Kawasaki Ninja." The three of them looked at the sleek black bike with emerald green trims. It screamed speed, even when standing still.

"Bro, your old man must have blown a fuse when he saw that?"

Adrien chuckled and looked a little guilty. "I didn't exactly tell him about it." He admitted, then he straightened up and looked more confident. "Besides, what's he going to do? I'm going to be 21 soon, I live in my place now, and I can't keep relying on my bodyguard to drive me everywhere. This way I can beat the heavy traffic to get between photoshoots and training more quickly. I'm sure even he couldn't complain about that."

"Bro, that Olympic gold medal will be in the bag." Nino gave his best friend a fist bump. "So when do you find out if you make the team?"

Adrien rubbed the back of his neck bashfully. "Well, actually...I wasn't going to say anything since this is your night, but because I won the European championship I've already been pre selected for the French team."

"No way!" Nino exclaimed. "That's so awesome dude. Hey everyone, Adrien made the Olympic team."

Alya's parents congratulated him and Nino took Adrien to talk to them in the kitchen. Alya's little sisters had already taken over the gaming console playing the latest version of The Adventures of Ladybug and Chat Noir, while Nino's brother Chris chilled out on the lounge with his headphones and iPad.

"Is Nora not here?" Marinette asked, noting the absence of Alya's older sister.

"Not for at least another month." Alya said, pouring Marinette a drink. "She's through to the Kickboxing semi finals in the Nationals and if she wins she will be going through to the worlds."

"Wow, that's awesome." Marinette smiled. "Both Adrien and Nora are competing at such a high level, we really know such amazingly talented people."

Alya gave Marinette a sly look. Marinette knew that look. "So...when are you going to tell him?" Alya asked over the rim of her own glass of bubbly.

"Tell who what?" The ravenette answered, taking a sip of her drink and feigning ignorance. Alya looked at her over her glasses.

"Don't give me that girl. I don't care how good of a friend you say you are, I know you still have deep feelings for Adrien. You know when his father gives you that internship, which he will..." She emphasised before Marinette could rebut. "...you and sunshine there will probably be working together, very closely together." She dropped her voice low and seductively.

The two girls went out onto the small balcony, passing by Nino and Adrien as they went. Nino was bragging about his new retro stereo he had just bought and telling Adrien he should come around and check it out.

"It's not that simple Alya, you know that." Marinette sighed, looking down into her glass. "What if his father thinks I'm using him to get into the company? It's been my dream to work for Gabriel, I didn't study three years of fashion at university just to get rejected because my future boss finds out I'm in love with his son."

Alya slowly shook her head. "Marinette... now you and I both know that's not the real reason, is it?"

Marinette put the glass down on the small table and looked at her best friend. "Alya, you know why I can't. You know yourself how impossible secrets become when you're close to someone like that. I already put your relationship with Nino at risk before with my secret, I can't do that to Adrien too. He deserves better than that."

Alya looked away from Marinette to where Nino and Adrien were talking inside. She did know how hard secrets were. Marinette wasn't happy when she found out Alya hadn't kept her secret about being Rena Furtive from Nino, but she understood that for the sake of their relationship it had been necessary to be open and honest with the truth. Marientte wanted that too, but as Guardian she had to be more careful.

"I'm not just Ladybug, Alya, I'm also the Guardian. Master Fu..."

"Master Fu isn't you Marinette." Alya interrupted, placing both her hands on her shorter friend's shoulders. "You don't have to make the same choices that he made. You love Adrien, and I'm pretty sure he has feelings for you that run much deeper than just a friend, even if he won't admit it to himself."

"I'm just really happy to be his friend and have him in my life" Marinette said with a level of resignation. "I never thought I would ever get over my stutter and insecurities enough to actually be close to him and I treasure his friendship. I don't want to jeopardise that. Besides, I don't have time for a relationship right now."

"And what about Chat Noir?" Alya asked, her curiosity clearly evident. "You can't tell me you haven't thought about it, and let's be honest, he's pretty hot in that leather suit."

"Alya!" Marinette whined. She wasn't going to admit just how hard it was ignoring how good that damn cat looked as he got older. "You know I can't entertain that possibly, for a lot of reasons, least of all the danger it puts him in."

"He already does that himself." Alya reminded her, making her flinch. "Don't even try to pretend your feelings for him are only in friendship. I've seen the look in your eyes when you think you've lost him in a battle. He means more to you than that."

"Of course he means more to me than that." Marinette said exasperated, wrapping her arms around herself and leaning onto the rail. "He's my partner and one of my best friends. I don't think I could have been Ladybug this long without him."

"But it's not the same thing, Marinette. It's not the same as having someone to love. I just hate seeing you alone." Alya was interrupted when out of the corner of her eye she saw Ella stumble over Etta and fall onto Chris on the lounge with a yelp. The two girls giggle at the antics of the trio.

"Alya, can you get the meat out of the oven?" Mrs Césaire called out from the kitchen.

"I better go help with dinner. You coming back in?"

"I will in a minute." Marinette reassured her. "I wouldn't want to miss out on your mother's cooking."

Alya went back into the apartment and Marinette rested her arms on the railing, letting the cool Autumn breeze wash over her. Alya was right, it wasn't the same as having someone to love. The truth was, she was lonely at times, more so at night when her parents were asleep and the Earth was quiet. Sure she had a whole Miracle Box of kwami's to keep her company, but it wasn't the same as having some hold you. She had almost considered giving Chat Noir a chance at one time, but ultimately felt it would have been unfair on him, not to mention it would have put him in danger if they were in a relationship. She had convinced herself of that.

Perhaps it was the lot of a Guardian to walk the Earth alone, she pondered. She had chosen not to pursue a relationship in her civilian life either, not since that failed attempt with Luka back in high school. It's too hard to lie to someone you care about. Chat had agreed to do the same, but she feared that he was only doing that because he was still waiting for her, and she wanted better for him than that. He had so much love to give, and deserved love in return, love she couldn't give him.

~~~~~
"You know you can either keep staring at her, or you could just ask her out."

Adrien quickly looked at Nino with wide eyes. He hadn't even realised he had tuned out of what Nino had been saying. "I wasn't staring." Adrien defended, even though he knew he must have been. "I was just admiring the dress. I saw the designs when she submitted them in her portfolio, but it looks so much better on her...I mean in real life."

"Haha, Yeah, sure." Nino mused, giving Adrien a playful fist to the arm. "You can try to lie to yourself dude, but you ain't fooling me. I see the way you look at Marinette, you've been looking at her the same way ever since we left Lycèe."

Adrien wanted to refute it, but he couldn't. There had always been something about Marinette, something that was different to his other friends. When they were at school, she had always been so shy around him, but later her confidence grew and they became a lot closer, texting often and meeting up with their friends.

She drew him in, like a moth to a flame, in a way that only Ladybug ever had. More than once he thought she might have even been Ladybug, until the day she wielded the Mouse Miraculous. Marinette had been amazing that day, but it had confused him no end ever since.

Still, Adrien was so excited when he found out she had applied to his father's internship. He didn't always get to see Marinette as often as he would like to between her studies and his competitions and modelling schedule, and he was really looking forward to them getting to spend more time together.

As Chat Noir he had spent years pinning for Ladybug. He still loved her, perhaps he always would, but a relationship with her was out of the question while ever Hawk Moth was around. She had made that very clear, and he understood her reasons. While they had successfully retrieved the Peacock Miraculous back two years ago, the danger was still very real, despite the decline in Hawk Moth's activity in recent months.

In the end, Adrien believed that Marinette deserved nothing less than for someone to love her with their whole heart, and right now he wasn't sure he could give her that. He would rather die than see her hurt, especially because of him, and he didn't want to risk the closeness they had grown between them over the years.

"I'm not arguing with you." Adrien finally relented. "Marinette is special to me, I won't deny that. It's just not the right time. I've got to keep my focus if I want to win that gold medal and I know Marinette is committed to this internship coming up. Besides, I don't think she's ever felt more than friendship towards me, and I wouldn't want to do anything that could scare her off, she means too much to me to lose her friendship."

Nino had to hold back an internal groan.

"Watch it, you knocked off my Spotify." Chris complained as the twins picked each other up after crashing into him.

"Girls, leave Chris alone." Alya's dad called out from the kitchen. "Come do something useful and set the table. Dinner is almost ready."

"Alya, can you get the meat out of the oven?"

"I should get some tunes happening for dinner." Nino said, patting Adrien on the back. "Why don't you go check on Marinette, I'm sure she would like a friend to keep her company." He teased, laughing when Adrien rolled his eyes.

Adrien opened the sliding door that led to the balcony, but at first Marinette hadn't heard him. He hesitated a moment, worried that he might be disturbing her when she suddenly looked around, her bright blue eyes widening when she saw him.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you." Adrien said with a soft smile. "You seemed really deep in thought."

"Oh...I...um...I wasn't meaning to be antisocial." She said, trying not to get flustered. "I guess I'm just worried about the meeting on Monday." She turned her face away from him hoping it wasn't turning as red as it felt.

Adrien leaned his back on the rail but kept his eyes on her. "Marinette, you easily have some of the highest marks in your cohort. I know my father is impressed with you and your portfolio. I have no doubt you will make it into the internship program."

"But he's only taking in two interns." She counted, holding her hand up into the air, like she was pleading for some kind of celestial help before placing it back down to grip the rail. "Your father hasn't opened the internship program in years. Competition has been really competitive and I'm not sure I'm up to the high standards he sets for his interns. I've staked everything on this. I've worked so hard and if I get rejected..."

"Marinette." Adrien interjected gently, placing his hand on top of hers. Her hand was so warm, despite the chill in the air. "You know you always have a tendency to overthink things. You just need to believe in yourself, and others will believe in you too, just like I do."

Marientte's lips parted at his words, her eyes becoming transfixed in his soft gaze. "You...you really think so?" She asked. Adrien nodded his head.

"I know so." He said confidently. "I'm going to be in the office tomorrow after training. I'll come and give you some moral support, okay."

"I'd like that." She replied with a shy smile. The breeze picked up again and Marinette shivered. Adrien slipped off his jacket and wrapped it around her shoulders. Marinette knew he had done it as a friendly gesture, and that she shouldn't read into it, but it smelt of him and it made her giddy, especially the way his hand had lingered on her arm and the way he was looking at her.

"Dinner." The twins called out in unison. Adrien and Marinette turned to see them racing across the room to drag Chris off the lounge. Alya carried the roast to the table with Nino placing two bowls of vegetables. He leaned across, giving Alya a kiss on the cheek, her engagement ring shining in the light when she touched Nino's face and gave him a peck on the lips.

"Eww, gross." Chris screwed up his nose in disgust at the display of affection before taking off his head phones and hanging them around his neck. He had started to turn into a younger version of Nino.

Nino went to turn the stereo up and Marinette was almost certain she saw Alya wink at him. When the next song started to play, Marinette was now positive that Alya had.

"Hey, I know that song." Adrien said, turning to look at her. "May I ask a lady for a dance?" He said with a theatrical bow.

"Wha...he...Here?" Marientte stammered, feeling her face starting to burn up again.

"Why not?" He shrugged, slipping his arms around her waist under his jacket that still hung from her shoulders.

Marinette placed her hands around his back and followed his lead as they swayed slowly to the familiar music. She rested her head against his chest and could hear his heartbeat racing, despite the slow speed they were dancing at.

Friends don't really do this, she told herself, but she could scarcely breathe let alone pull herself away. If Alya was right, and Adrien did have feelings for her, then it was wrong of her to lead him on, but she couldn't help it. There was something comforting, something safe in just swaying like this in his arms.

"You know, I think this is officially our song now." Adrien said, resting his chin on top of her head.

"Our...our song?" Marinette squeaked.

"Yeah." He replied. "I don't dance with girls too often, but when I do, it always seems to be with you, to this song. So I'm claiming it now as ours."

Marinette couldn't help smiling to herself. Adrien really could be a dork sometimes. Maybe that's why she was still in love with him after all this time. "Well, then you can't dance to it with anyone else." She tried to sound teasing, but it came out a little breathless. She feared she may have gone too far when his grip on her waist tightened.

"That's a promise." He whispered above her hair. There was a faint scent of vanilla, and he realised it was coming from her hair. Maybe it was selfish of him to be holding her this close when his heart was still in a duel, but right now he wanted to be a little bit selfish.

"Shouldn't we call them in to eat?" Mrs Césaire asked her daughter who was grinning like a proud mother hen.

"Let the song finish first." Alya said with a pleased smirk on her face and a high five with her fiancé.

~~~~~

"Ugh, what on Earth is she doing?" Ladybug exclaimed, throwing her yo-yo to scramble away from the latest super villian of Hawk Moth's creation. "I don't have time for this."

Ladybug was getting exasperated. The villain had been keeping them running around in circles for almost an hour now and she had her meeting with Gabriel at 2pm. It was already almost noon. She really didn't want to be late, not today of all days.

"This wasn't exactly how I planned to spend my Monday morning either, M'lady." Chat said, landing next to on the roof so they could observe the villian from a safe distance. "I'm supposed to be giving moral support to a friend today. I wouldn't like to think what she'd think of me if I didn't show up."

"I'm sure you'll make it in time Kitty." Ladybug smiled. "I think I might have an idea how to deal with this. Lucky Charm." She called. When they were younger, Ladybug's suit would upgrade with the lucky charm. These days it was her usual suit. Chat had to admit he liked it on her, and it was nice that their timers didn't run out anymore. Plagg had offered to upgrade his suit, but Chat declined. He knew Plagg wasn't a huge fan of the bell, but Adrien liked it, and he suspected Ladybug liked it too.

"Okay, I have a plan." She said, giving him a too wide smile.

"Why do I have a feeling I'm not going to like this?" He said nervously.

"I have a feeling you're going to hate it." Ladybug laughed, throwing her yo-yo up and down threateningly with one eyebrow raised, and a smirk on her lips.

"Why, what are you going to do?" He asked, eyes widening and his cat ears flattening to his head.

"Live bait." She said, throwing her yo-yo and wrapping him up in it.

"Oh no. Can't you get someone else." Chat whined. "Isn't Vesperia or Tigress in town?" Ladybug couldn't help chuckling at him.

"No time Kitty Cat. I've got places to be. Just get your cataclysm ready and trust me."

"You know I always do." Chat sighed, summoning his power and trying not to scream when she threw him off the roof.

Once the villain was defeated and the poor victim sent on her way, Chat and Ladybug met up on the top of Notre Dame to part ways.

"Are we still on for patrol later tonight?" Chat asked. "I haven't seen you all week."

"You mean you haven't seen my croissants all week." She laughed.

"You wound me M'lady. You know I love you more than your croissants, even if they are the best in town."

Her face softened. "I've got something I need to do tonight first. Is 11:00 too late for you?"

Chat gave her a cheeky grin. "For you, never. Besides, you know cats are nocturnal M'lady." He said, taking her hand and kissing it. "I'll see you tonight." He called out as he extended his staff and leaped away.

Ladybug made quick time across the rooftops of Paris back to her balcony. Slipping through her skylight, she dropped her transformation and quickly found the outfit she was wearing to the interview.

"I don't know if this is a good thing or a bad thing." Marinette said as she threw on her blush pink button up blouse over her rose A-line skirt.

"What do you mean?" Tikki asked as she ate her cookie.

"I mean I'm too frantic now to be nervous." Marinette chuckled.

"Sounds like a good thing to me." Mullo piped up.

"You'll be great dear Guardian." Pollen added. The other kwamis nodded in agreement.

A few moments later, her mother came knocking on the door and the kwami's flew to hide in the Miracle Box.

"It's open." Marinette called as she sat down to put some makeup on.

"Marinette, I thought you would have been ready. You haven't even done your hair yet." Sabine said, walking over to Marinette's dressing table and picking up her brush.

"Mamma, I can do my own hair." Marinette protested, but she relented when her mother picked up her hair and started brushing it.

"You're never too old for your mothers help." Sabine said softly. "I know you're nervous about today, but you need to just believe in yourself." Sabine picked up a decorative silver hair clip, sweeping Marientte's hair up and pinning it.

"That's what Adrien said on Friday night." Marinette said with a soft smile to herself remembering back to their impromptu dance.

"Well it sounds like he knows what he's talking about." Sabine said, patting her daughter on the arm. "Which reminds me, when you're ready, there is a surprise for you downstairs."

"Oh Mamma, you didn't have to get me anything." Marinette said, finishing off her mascara.

"I didn't." Sabine replied cryptically, a smile playing on her lips. Marinette paused what she was doing, looking at her mother in the mirror.

Without saying anything, Marinette stood up and went down the stairs to the family kitchen. On the counter top was a beautiful bouquet of bright yellow daffodils with white daisies. In amongst the flowers was a small white envelope. Marinette reached in, taking it out and opening the note inside.

Today will be the start of something wonderful and exciting. I'll wear my lucky charm for you, but I know you won't need it.

Adrien x

Marinette bit her lip and smiled. She carefully folded the note, placing it inside her purse. Sabine squirted a spray of water over the blooms. "He likes you a lot, you know." Sabine said knowingly.

"Mamma." Marinette groaned, a fierce blush invading her cheeks.

"You really should invite him around for dinner."

"Mamma."

"I'm just saying..."

"We're friends Mamma, just friends."

"And yet he sent you flowers."

"They're not red roses." Marinette protested. "You know Adrien is sweet like that. It doesn't mean anything."

Sabine put down the water bottle and looked at her daughter. "Marinette, he clearly went to the trouble of finding out that daffodils and daisies represent a new beginning. The two of you are going to be working together. Perhaps he means a new beginning in more ways than one."

Marinette folded her arms. "You're an incurable romantic like Papa." Sabine let out a small laugh.

"Well, when you live with someone as long as I have, they rub off on you sometimes. You'll find that out for yourself one day. Now you better hurry or you really will be late."

Marinette kissed her mother on the cheek and ran towards the bakery door.

"Good luck sweetheart." Tom called out from the bakery counter. Marinette did a quick turn, giving her father a kiss on the cheek too.

"I'll be back in time for dinner."

"Don't forget to ask Adrien to come with you." Sabine called out as Marinette headed out the door.

"No promises." Marinette replied with a wave.

A/N - Fluffy Adrienette and flirty Ladynoir is always a good start. I'm setting updates for every second Sunday as I will be working on some one shots as well, so look out for those