Adrien could hear the rain hitting up against the bedroom windows. In a few minutes Marinette's alarm would ring and she would have to leave him to go into work. For a few more minutes though, he could be selfish, relishing in the warmth of her body curled up into his.

Ever since Marinette revealed herself to him to be Ladybug, and all secrets had been shared, Adrien had never felt closer to the woman secure in his embrace. They had been sharing his bed before then, but now it came with bedtime kisses, and Adrien was convinced it was the magic of her lips that had chased his nightmares away.

Softly he ran his fingers through her hair, and ghosted his lips across her forehead as she rested her head on his chest, her hand lightly gripping his shirt as she slept. He knew he loved her before but knowing that his Ladybug was also Marinette only increased his love for her tenfold. This was no longer an unattainable dream, but reality. There would be no more blue roses for his Lady, only the deepest of red to show her how much he loved her, how much he had always loved her. He pressed a light kiss to her forehead, hearing her breathing change as consciousness came to her. Marinette flitted her eyes open, looking up to him with a sleepy smile across her lips, her happiness shining in her eyes and melting his heart.

"Morning Kitty." She murmured, cupping his face and reaching up to kiss his cheek softly.

"Good morning Princess. I didn't mean to wake you." He said, only sounding half apologetic.

"I'd rather you than my alarm any day." She replied, rolling more towards him. She raised herself slightly over his chest so she could look at him, running her finger over the patterns on his shirt. "I don't want to have to go to work. I'd rather stay here with you."

There was something in the way Adrien looked at her that made Marinette catch her breath. He tucked a few messy strands of her hair behind her ear and lost himself in her bluebell eyes. "I don't want you to go either. I could stay with you just like this all day."

"Well I want my breakfast." Their little bubble was burst by a certain black Kwami demanding to be fed. Marinette giggled and the annoyed look on Adrien's face and dropped her head onto his chest.

"You know where it is, go get your own." Adrien grumbled.

"Sorry kid, I don't believe you are my holder right at this moment so I can't take any commands from you." Plagg said sarcastically with a cheeky grin, flicking his tail mischievously.

"I'll cancel that order for the aged Roquefort you were wanting for."

"Ungrateful." Plagg mumbled as he left the room. Adrien huffed, pulling himself up so he was partially sitting up. Marinette sat up more also, still facing him with her hand resting on the other side of him on the bed.

"How on earth did you put up with him?" Marinette asked, still amused at Adrien's pout. "He isn't exactly the most tactful is he?" His face softened.

"Truth is, he's really been my best friend. I don't know how I wouldn't have gotten through high school without him being there. All the times my father would tell me I couldn't go out with you guys, or he didn't turn up to dinner, or he would schedule another photoshoot with Lila, Plagg would be there to lift me up and remind me I was something more. Being Chat Noir gave me a purpose and a meaning to my life, and you." He smiled, tapping her on the nose and making her smile. "Plagg might be grumpy and annoying, but he was always there for me."

"Just to warn you, I can be grumpy and annoying too, especially in the mornings." She said with a cheeky grin.

"No you're not, you're beautiful." He smiled softly, kissing her on the nose. He pulled back to look at her, the need in his eyes making her heart race. Brushing his fingers across Marinette's cheek, he buried his fingers into her hair and brought her lips to his. Soft kisses soon gave way to more fevered ones. Marinette felt his free hand slide down her side and rest on her hip, guiding her to straddle him, allowing them both to be closer.

Adrien began to trail kisses across her cheek and down her neck, finding a soft part that made her gasp, her hands fisting his shirt. Forgetting himself, he moved to sit up more before a sharp pain in his leg reminded him that his mobility wasn't what he would like it to be. "Are you okay?" Marinette asked, worried at his grimace as he sat back against the bed rest.

"Yeah, I'm okay." He chuckled, clearly disappointed at his lack of mobility. He cupped her face and lightly ran his thumb across her bottom lip. "I guess some things are just going to have to wait, at least until after the fixtures are removed." Seeing the adorable blush spread across her cheeks made the pain worthwhile.

The sound of Marinette's alarm hailed the end of their quiet time together. Reluctantly Adrien let her go so she could have a shower before hobbling his own way out to the kitchen.

"You have to put the bread upside down and inside out." Fluff insisted, poking a paw at Pollen who was holding a slice of bread.

"But that doesn't make sense." Pollen replied. "How can bread be inside out?"

"It doesn't matter which way you put it." Trixx interjected with an all knowing air. "Just make sure you turn the dial right up so it's nice and crispy."

"Hold up there." Adrien called out, making his way over to them and leaning against the counter. "What are you three trying to do?"

"Make breakfast for our dear Guardian." Pollen said happily. "We wanted to surprise her."

Plagg came over and sniffed at the toaster suspiciously. "Yeah, it would have been a real surprise if you burned the apartment down."

"It's alright Plagg, no harm done." Adrien smiled, moving closer to the toaster. "But maybe if I supervise, we can at least manage not to burn the toast."

When Marinette came out of the bathroom she was more than a little concerned that she could smell food cooking and hoped Adrien hadn't tried to do something on his own again. Finding the table set though with crusty bread and an array of jams accompanied by several kwamis brought a smile to her face.

"You might need to get the cups of coffee from the counter Bug." Adrien said as he came out from the kitchen. "I didn't quite trust them carrying something hot."

"I wouldn't have trusted them cooking at all." Barkk offered, helping himself to a piece of bread.

Marinette walked over to Adrien as he leaned on his crutches and cupped his face between her hands before raising up on her toes to kiss him. "You didn't have to do all this for me."

"Actually it was Pollen's idea, I just supervised." He said with an adoring smile. He badly wanted to wrap her up in his arms, but even with the added strapping supports to his leg, he still couldn't put any weight on it.

"Well, I guess I'm leaving you in safe hands then." She said, grabbing the coffee cups and helping Adrien to sit down.

"I wish I could say the same for you." He said, worry clouding his features. "I don't trust Ricardo being around you."

Marinette wasn't exactly looking forward to seeing him either. It had been pleasant spending the first week back at work with Ricardo not there. He apparently had a "family emergency" to attend to, although she had a feeling he was just avoiding coming into work. Tonight was the sowing of the Rena Rouge dress though, and he would be sure to be in at work today.

"I don't trust him either, but your cousin will be there and I'm sure Ricardo won't try anything around Félix. Besides, I'm sure Ricardo will want this showing to be a success tonight as much as I do. He's a good designer, even if he is a little flirty."

"I'm not so sure, Bug. I think this runs a lot deeper than him still trying to get you into his bed. Remember he was pretty peeved he got looked over in favour of you as father's protégé, and I know he blames me for that too. I'm kind of glad now Félix will be there with you tonight."

He picked up her hand and pressed a kiss to the inside of her wrist making her chest tingle. She was still getting used to this, seeing Chat in Adrien and knowing they were one in the same.

"You think Kagami couldn't protect me?"

Adrien's face lit up in a broad smile and he chuckled. "If anyone could, Kagami would, but Félix is the one who will be at the office today though, and I've told him to look out for you, especially around Ricardo."

"Possessive Kitty." She teased, taking a bite of her toast.

~~~~~

"Violet, Spanish Violet, French Violet, Russian Violet, Chinese Violet, English Violet, African Violet... is this a colour wheel of a meeting of the United Nations?"

Marinette walked over and snatched the colour chart out of Félix's hand. She had met Félix a few times over the years when he had visited Adrien from London. She found him difficult to be around at first. Some people you can read right off the bat, but not Félix. It was as though he harboured some great secret or knowledge, but she put that down to his upbringing and no doubt the stuffy English schools he attended. Later she realised that despite the hard exterior he liked to show people, he wasn't all that bad once you got to know him. Although there were times, like right now, where he could be a right royal pain in the butt!

"Don't you know anything about design?" She said, sounding exasperated at him snooping around the office. She could feel Plagg shifting around in her purse and wondered why she heard him whisper "cheese murder" under his breath. Félix shrugged.

"My interest in design is about the same as Adrien's in modeling. Something that I didn't care much for, but didn't have much choice in."

Félix saw Marinette's expression drop as she looked through paperwork on Adrien's desk. Not many people knew how much Adrien had disliked modeling through his teen years, but Félix could see Marinette clearly did. He sat down on the settee and poured himself a cup of tea that Marinette had ordered up for him. "I know how much being on that Olympic team meant to Adrien. I'm sure he would have won that gold medal."

"It wasn't just about winning a gold medal." She said softly, clearly heartbroken for him. "It was about Adrien being more than what his father expected of him. He wanted to be known for something other than being his father's son, to make being an Agreste something he owned for himself and not just bestowed on him. That meant everything to him."

"So do you." Félix saw her smile to herself, the touch of a blush pinking her cheeks.

"He told you about us?"

"He called me yesterday before I left from London. Throwing you two together might have been the only decent thing my Uncle has done. The difference in him from even a week ago was remarkable, even over the phone, and I know you are the reason for that." He leaned forward on the couch with his arms resting on his knees. "You know he doesn't want to be CEO of this place, it's just another one of his father's grand plans for him. His whole life Gabriel has tried to groom Adrien into a perfect version of himself."

"I know." Marinette said, putting the folders down and turning to Félix. "He feels like he doesn't have a choice, especially now since he can't compete anymore." She then gave Félix a knowing look. "But being CEO would suit you though, wouldn't it?"

Félix let out an amused chuckle. "You're more perceptive than I gave you credit for."

Marinette looked at him suspiciously. "Why are you really here Félix? I don't believe you came just to babysit me tonight."

"Not entirely no, although I did promise Adrien I would look after you and I am a man of my word. No, I have some unfinished business with my Uncle that we didn't quite get to discuss in London."

"Regarding Adrien?"

Félix looked at her over his tea cup as he took another long sip. "Partly. I think what I want will be mutually beneficial to both of us. I'm sure you would want that for him too."

Marinette folded her arms around herself and leaned back against Adrien's desk. "I would do anything to make sure he is happy. Adrien means everything to me."

Félix regarded her for a moment. He wasn't the kind of person to just believe someone at their word, but somehow Marinette seemed different. He had noticed it before when she came to Adrien's twentieth birthday. He had watched the two of them that night, the way they were with each other. It was obvious how they felt for each other. Félix knew then that she cared very deeply for his cousin, even if she couldn't find the words to say it. He wondered if he would ever find someone like that, someone who could accept him for who he really was, but he pushed those thoughts aside.

"Would you leave Gabriel?" He said suddenly. "Would you be willing to throw away the chance of being his father's protégé?"

Marinette's mouth dropped open slightly, but she quickly closed it and looked away from Félix. "I thought this was what I wanted. Ever since I was a little girl I dreamed of working for a large fashion house and being a household name. Even without knowing Adrien, to get an internship at Gabriel was something everyone wanted, what I wanted. When the opportunity came up, Adrien was right there supporting me."

"And now?"

Marinette let out a heavy sigh. "Now? Now I'm not so sure. This Miraculous Collection isn't really something I wanted to do. I would rather have left that to Ricardo. I mean, I love couture, don't get me wrong, but I feel this was pushed at me for some reason, almost like Gabriel was testing me, to see if I was up to task. I don't know why he would though. I know Adrien would stay and be what his father wants of him if he thought it was what I wanted, but I don't want him to do that. I'm not sure I ever want that."

Felix's features took on a more serious tone. "I don't think Adrien knows what he wants, or who he even is right now. He may never be the person he used to be, you know."

"And what was that exactly?" Marinette questioned with agitation. "The face of Gabriel? The perfect model son? World Champion? You know as well as I do that none of that was ever the real him. I love Adrien for his heart, for the person he is, not for whatever label people chose to put on him. Adrien is more than just a pretty face, or the son of Gabriel Agreste, he's...."

A brisk knock came to the door and Marinette's face formed into a frown when the door opened.

"Finally you show up! Where is the dress?" Marinette asked when Ricardo walked into her office empty handed. "Delight to you again to mon amore." The Italian started his suave swagger and smoulder when he was taken aback by the well dressed blond who was sipping a cup of tea on the settee.

Félix stood up, placing his cup down on the coffee table and extending his hand. "Félix Graham de Vanily. I'm Adrien's cousin."

"Ah, I see." Ricardo chuckled, giving Félix a firm handshake. Félix never flinched, but was well aware of the too tight grip Ricardo was trying to intimidate him with. "Ricardo LaBella, future designer sensation if I do say so myself. I can see the similarity between you and your cousin, but I guess you must get that all the time. Tell me, does that similarity run into your taste in women too?"

Félix saw Ricardo flick his eyes over Marinette who was scowling at him.

"I told you Ricardo, I'm not interested. I love Adrien."

Ricardo simply gave her an uncaring smirk. "Shall we ask his body double here?"

"I'm not here to cut my cousin's grass if that is what you are implying." Félix replied indignantly, folding his arms. "I am here at the invitation of my uncle to accompany Marinette to the function tonight as a member of the family."

"How cosy. It seems we are both keeping tonight within the family then." Ricardo quipped. "It just so happens my own cousin returned with me from Milan and will be joining me tonight."

"Speaking of tonight..." Marinette interjected, annoyed. "Where is the Rena Rouge dress? I haven't seen the finished product."

Ricardo waved his hand around dismissively. "It was already sent through to the venue early this morning cara mia. You will just have to see it tonight along with everyone else. I must say though, I think it will be the pièce de résistance - a real show stopper."

Marinette wasn't amused. "It's my design Ricardo. I should have had the final say on whether it was ready or not. You had no business sending it through without my go ahead, especially since you haven't even been here all week to show me."

Ricardo sidled up next to where she was leaning against the desk, bumping over Adrien's name plate with his butt and picking up her hand. "I know you must have missed me sweetheart." He said, rubbing his other hand across the back of hers. "I give you my word this dress will definitely have the Gabriel name in all the headlines by morning."

Marinette raised an eyebrow at him while trying to tug her hand out of his grip. Although she was quite pleased with the Rena Rouge design, she didn't think it was anything that exceptional. He really was full of himself at times.

There was another abrupt knock on the door before Gabriel entered followed by Nathalie. The Italian quickly dropped Marientte's hand and stood up straighter to greet his boss.

"Ricardo, I haven't received the plans for the spring racing collection yet. Fascinators are not going to make themselves you know."

"I'll get onto those right away Mr Agreste." Ricardo replied, the hint of sarcasm not being lost on the experienced designer. Gabriel watched him from the corner of his eye as Ricardo left.

"Well that was rather interesting." Félix observed, sitting back down with his cup of tea.

"Don't you think it's odd that he has a cousin he is bringing tonight, from Milan of all places?" Marinette asked.

"Another model no doubt." Gabriel said dismissively. "Marinette, would you take Nathalie and show her the samples for the Viperion outfit? The order needs to be made ASAP if we have any hope of getting back on schedule."

"Oh, sure." Marinette replied, distinctly feeling as though she had just been dismissed and following Nathalie out. Gabriel walked over to Adrien's desk and straightened his name plate that had been knocked over.

"I see what you mean about that Ricardo." Félix said, sipping his tea. "And you are certain he is the mole?" Gabriel nodded. "So what exactly do you want me to do?"

Gabriel straightened the tie that was around his neck. "Keep an eye on Marinette. My man in Milan tells me the woman he is bringing tonight is the force behind Illusions. If that is the case, she is already responsible for one attempt on Adrien's life, I don't want them taking liberties on Marinette too. Ricardo has already been pushing the boundaries of decency, although I have a feeling that was for personal reasons." He walked over to the window and looked out over the city, clasping his hands behind his back. "Adrien has always been my first priority, and I will protect him at all costs."

"At all costs?" Félix queried, standing up and walking over to his Uncle. "Or have you forgotten our agreement?"

Gabriel glanced at his nephew's hand as he rested It against the glass, the de Vanily twin ring he had stolen years earlier on his finger. "No, I haven't forgotten." He replied between gritted teeth, his hands balling into fists by his sides.

"I kept my side of the bargain, Uncle. I didn't tell Adrien about who you really are, or about anything else, but I'm running out of patience."

Gabriel let out a strangled breath. He had no one else to blame but himself for the situation he had found himself in. It was almost 12 months to the day when Félix had followed him down into his lair and discovered he was Hawk Moth, and saw Emilie. Gabriel's desperation had made him careless while his nephew was visiting and he was caught out. After a heated argument Gabriel made him a deal; his silence in exchange for not pursuing back the ring Félix had stolen. Félix had agreed after making a few demands of his own, but like any agreement where one person has the upper hand, Gabriel knew blackmail was always a possibility.

"I gave Adrien the freedom you demanded from me in return for your silence. I let him get that apartment and I let him pursue his fencing. I even set him up with that girl he likes."

"Come on Gabriel, you and I both know you set him up with that girl for your own reasons."

Gabriel looked back out the window, a little more wistfully. "I won't deny that I want them to have children. Adrien is all I have, my only legacy. If anything happened to him..." He took a deep breath through his nose and let it out again. "Listen Félix, you could help me. If I had all the Miraculous, Adrien would never be in danger again..."

"The only danger to Adrien right now is you." Félix cut him off. "All your useless akumas, this mess you are in with Illusions, letting a mole into your design team. You're losing your grip Gabriel."

"What do you want, Félix?" Gabriel asked angrily. "My soul on a platter?"

"No. I want half of the Gabriel company."

Gabriel glared at him. "You what?"

"You heard me." Félix replied, squaring up his shoulders. "Make me an equal partner with Adrien as your successors."

Gabriel folded his arms defiantly. "And what if I refuse!"

Félix narrowed his eyes at Gabriel, stepping closer to his uncle. Félix might not be the young boy he once was, but Gabriel was still slightly taller than him. Even that little advantage wasn't enough to intimidate his nephew.

"Then I'll tell him the truth about his mother."

Gabriel's nose flared. "You wouldn't dare."

"Wouldn't I?" Félix smirked. "What's the matter, Uncle Gabriel? Don't you think Adrien has a right to know how his mother ended up in a shrine under your house?"

Gabriel didn't answer him, turning his head away. Félix picked up his coat and was about to leave the office when he stopped at the door, turning back towards his uncle.

"By the way, besides Nathalie, does anyone else know about you?"

Instinctively, Gabriel rubbed the place under his tie where he wore his Miraculous. "No. No one."

Félix nodded and left the office, leaving his uncle to stew. Gabriel slammed his fist down on the desk. If it's one thing Gabriel hated, it was not being in control, and right now Félix held all the cards. If only he had not lost the Peacock Miraculous, maybe he might have had something to bargain with, but he was getting nowhere on that front. Almost five years of chasing the Miraculous and for what? His son almost got killed anyway by forces not even related to the Miraculous. Now he's compromised the whole integrity of the Gabriel brand by letting a fox like Ricardo into the hen house and now Félix is making threats to expose him.

Nathalie and Marinette returned a few minutes later, Marinette carrying her dress for the evening over one arm and Nathalie with a suit in the other.

"Oh, is Félix not here?" She asked. Nathalie could see a strange look in Gabriel's eyes.

"No, he left, but Nathalie can send his suit to the hotel. You may have the rest of the afternoon off Marinette. I'm sure you will want to look your best for tonight."

Once Marinette had left, Nathalie placed the suit down on the couch and walked over to Gabriel, laying her hand on his arm.

"Something's wrong isn't it? What happened with Félix?"

Gabriel took his glasses off and rubbed his eyes. "He wants an equal partnership of the company with Adrien or he's going to tell Adrien the truth."

"About Hawk Moth?"

Gabriel put his glasses back on and looked out the window. "And Emilie."

"What are you going to do?"

Gabriel rubbed his fingers over his Miraculous again. "I don't know Nathalie." He said as though the weight of it was strangling him. "I honestly don't know anymore."

~~~~~

"That just looks nasty." Félix said, screwing his nose up at his cousin who looked far too amused at his discomfort.

Adrien let out a laugh at the disgust on Felix's face for the external fixture sticking out of his leg as it was propped up on the couch.

"Oh, you mean this?" Adrien said cheekily, picking his leg up by the bar and swinging it from side to side.

"Seriously?" Félix groaned as his cousin laughed at his expense.

"Adrien, stop doing that to people." Marinette shided, walking into the lounge room as she put on her hanging diamante earrings.

"Aww, come on Princess. If I don't laugh about it I'd probably cry."

"If you do that to Nino when he gets back he'll probably faint."

"I might just faint right now." He beamed, taking her hand and kissing the back of it. "You look stunning, my love. Have I ever told you I think red is my favourite colour on you?"

Marinette giggled as she squished in to sit beside him. Adrien ran his thumb over his Miraculous on her finger. He was glad that Plagg was going to be with her tonight. "I thought the other night you said green was your favourite colour on me?" She said, leaning in closer to his face. Adrien reached up and tucked a stray hair behind her ear and lightly touched her cheek.

"Every colour is my favourite when it's on you." Adrien cooed, nuzzling his nose with hers.

"You know I'm still sitting here." Félix deadpanned. Marinette gave Adrien a quick peck on the lips before getting up to get her bag. Adrien stretched out, folding his arms behind his head.

"You need a girlfriend, Félix. It might help you lighten up a bit."

"I'll be right. Speaking of which, I'm not going to be running into Chloé tonight am I? We haven't exactly been on speaking terms since that gala last year."

"Puking that bottle of Tequila over her new shoes wasn't exactly the best way to endear yourself to somebody."

"I was hardly trying to endear myself to her anyway. Besides, you know it was completely Chloe's fault I drank that much." Félix tried to defend himself. "Just because I didn't return her apparent affections for me, now she won't talk to me."

"I guess you're in luck then. Chloé took off for New York a week ago with Sabrina. Her sister Zoé will be there instead."

Félix looked like he was trying to strain his memory. "I don't know Zoé all that well. As long as she doesn't call me Felikins I'll be happy."

Adrien shook his head with a laugh as Marinette walked back into the room. "Zoe's not like that, don't worry. You couldn't meet anyone more sweet or more opposite to Chloé. Anyway, if you're worried about not knowing anybody there, Kagami will be joining you. I think you're picking her up along the way." Marinette could see that Adrien was absolutely delighting in the panic Félix was trying to hide.

"Oh, great." Félix said, trying to plaster on a smile. "I haven't seen her since that last gala either." Félix was sure that the universe must hate him. Either that or he has an innate talent for pissing off every female he knows. "Well, we better get going. I promised Nathalie we wouldn't be late."

Félix turned his back to pick up Marinette's red coat, giving Adrien and Marinette a moment to kiss goodbye before holding the coat for her to put on. Opening the apartment door to let Marinette walk through first.

"Félix." Adrien called out. His cousin stopped to look at him, his face serious. "Look after her. I'm trusting her with you."

"Don't worry cousin." Félix replied. "She's safe with me, I promise."