A/N - I just want to send out a huge thank you for all your continued support. A little reminder that you can also follow me on Instagram @ liquifiedstars_mlb

The first thing Gabriel became conscious of was the distinct smell of chloroform clinging to his nostrils. The next was the thumping pain of a headache and the uncomfortable springs of the bed under him which was clearly not his own. Slowly he opened his eyes, the room unfamiliar and unclear.

Sitting up, Gabriel found his glasses on a side table. Putting them on, he could see more clearly the old dust covered furniture. As he stood he almost immediately fell back into the bed, his ankle writhing in pain. Looking down he found a crudely secured bandage with dried blood. Struggling up again, he hobbled his way over to the small window. He couldn't see much except for a high density of trees as though he was in some kind of forest, the long shadows they cast indicating the lateness of the hour.

"Nooroo." He said, but there was no answer. Gabriel reached up and felt for where his Miraculous should have been, but there was nothing there. "No... Nooroo." He said disparagingly.

"Looking for something!"

Gabriel turned to the source of the smug voice. Lila was leaning against the doorframe of the bedroom with her arms folded.

"I do apologise for your ankle." Lila said without a shred of sincerity. "It appears my boys were a little heavy handed with the car door as they shoved you in, but as I'm sure you could understand we were pressed for time. It could have been worse, you could have been conscious when it happened."

Gabriel furrowed his eyebrows at her and mused at the irony of the fact that he had used Lila many times over the years as one of his supervillain. She made an amazingly effective akuma because of her complete willingness to cooperate, but he had soon learned her unhinged hatred for Ladybug was making her a liability, not to mention her unhealthy obsession with his son. Gabriel was no fan of the spotted heroine, after all she stood between him and getting Emilie back, but he didn't have a wish to harm her. Lila on the other hand...

"How long do you think you can keep me hidden here? The police will be looking for me. I'm Gabriel Agreste, one of the wealthiest men in Paris."

Lila looked at him amused. "Yes, a man best known for his reclusive behaviour. I'm sure Nathalie will have explained away your absence and no one will have battered an eye. I seriously doubt anyone is looking for you right now, least of all the police."

She threw an envelope at him. Opening it, Gabriel found two photos of him in his home study, one of him dressed as himself, the other as Hawk Moth.

"I left a copy of those for Adrien in your office. I'm sure your loyal little assistant has already had to explain to him about your extracurricular activities. Poor Adrien, it must have been quite the shock to him to find out the real reason you pay him so little attention. I wouldn't be surprised if he left you here to rot as punishment, I know if it was me I would have."

Gabriel wasn't going to dignify that accusation with a response, although deep down he feared the shock of such a revelation would inevitably erode his already strained relationship with his son. Not that he would want her to know that. "If this is some desperate ploy on your part to win him over..." Gabriel was cut off by her infuriating laughter.

"Oh don't worry, I have no intention of trying to become an Agreste. Adrien was only ever a pretty face with no substance; you saw to that didn't you? The face of your brand, a perfect specimen to boost your sales... but he's damaged goods now isn't he, so what's the use of him?"

"That was your doing." Gabriel snarled. "You tried to kill him."

"I never wanted to kill him." She said, acting offended.  "I'll admit, Ricardo did let his jealousy get the better of him, and it was a shame to ruin such a beautiful bike, but I only really wanted to put him out of commission for a while, which we did. Tearing down your company was only phase one of my plan. Now the real fun begins, and I have my cap set on a new, more lucrative target."

"You mean Félix?" Gabriel speculated. Lila raised an eyebrow at him and Gabriel folded his arms. "Did you seriously think I didn't know about that night the two of you spent in London? I have eyes and ears everywhere Miss Rossi and it cost me a pretty penny to keep that story out of the local tabloid for his mother's sake. Félix can be quite obnoxious when he's drunk and attracts a lot of attention."

Lila pursed her lips with a small smirk. "He's also quite talkative when he's drunk too." She dug her hand into her pocket and held up the Butterfly Miraculous. "Did you know he wanted this? Said his life depended on it, whatever that meant. I wonder what Félix would offer me in return for it? Some of the De Vanily fortune perhaps?"

Gabriel said nothing as he observed her, full of conceit and self confidence. He knew that Félix would have been referring to the Peacock Miraculous, but Lila wouldn't have known that. Obviously in Felix's drunken state he muddled up what he was talking about, but in this instance it could work out in everyone's favour if they played their cards right.

"What exactly is it you want, Miss Rossi?"

"I want what you wanted. I want the power that comes with the Ladybug and Chat Noir's Miraculous."

Gabriel fisted his hands on his knees. "So you think that just because you found me transforming on a surveillance camera you know all about what I want?"

Lila let out a menacing chuckle, shaking her head. "You're one of the richest men in Paris. Clearly you weren't trying to get money, that only leaves power. I would however love to know what you keep under the floor though that you disappeared through."

Gabriel looked over his glasses at the irritating Italian. "What I do in my own house isn't your business."

Lila shrugged. "It isn't important. What's important is the Miraculous and ruining you. If you ever want to leave here though, you could give me the account numbers for that Swiss bank account of yours."

Gabriel gritted his teeth. "Over my dead body." He growled.

"That can be arranged." Lila shot back.

"That's my wife's account and that money belongs to Adrien."

"Then make yourself at home Gabriel because I have a feeling you will be here for a long time."

"And what if I escape?"

"I wouldn't advise it." Lila warned. "You're hardly equipped for the long journey out of these woods, nor to combat the wild animals that inhabit it. But don't worry, you won't be alone."

Lila clicked her fingers and a very large man with a bald head and goatee stood behind her with folded arms. "Meet Paulie." Lila said cheerfully. "He and his twin brother Charlie will be your new best friends. This property is also surrounded with a sophisticated security system installed by Ricardo. Oh, and in case you were wondering, Ricardo's father is well connected and taught him everything he knows. We like to keep things within the family here." She finished with a cheeky wink.

Gabriel watched as Lila turned and walked away, giving instructions to her henchman. "So do I Miss Rossi." He whispered to himself. "So do I."

~~~~~
Marinette was worried. In the days after Gabriel's disappearance Adrien had become very quiet and she knew he was concerned he was internalising his feelings again. She tried teasing out what was really going on in his head and with his feelings, but he would just smile and assure her he was fine, even though she was sure he wasn't fine at all. The only good thing that had happened in the last week was that the external fixtures holding Adrien's leg together were finally able to be taken out. His leg was now being supported by a moon boot, and he was able to move around with only the aid of a single forearm crutch, putting some weight on the leg again. It was a vast improvement and was a promising sign.

On patrol one night she confided to Alya about everything. It was the first night since before Christmas the two of them had gone out as Scarabella and Femme Chat. That felt like years ago, even though it had only been a matter of about six weeks or so. Marinette wasn't even sure what the date was anymore. Parisians had also become uneasy at the absence of their heroes and the apparent quietness of Hawk Moth. While she knew they would have preferred to have seen Ladybug and Chat Noir out, it was clear that the "replacement" heroes were a welcome sight.

The young reporter blamed herself for not being there when the proverbial hit the fan, but Marinette told her there was nothing she could have done had she been. If someone as clued in as Félix didn't see what Lila did coming, no one else would have. Alya had her doubts though, most of those extending to Adrien's cousin. She didn't trust him, and that was fair, but Marinette wasn't about to reveal his secret without his consent. They had all been played by Lila in a plan that was much larger than anything they could have believed possible. With the threat of a new Butterfly holder in Lila looming, Marinette gave Nino his Miraculous to hold permanently as well as Kagami before she left for London to visit Felix's mother.

"Maybe Adrien needs an adult he can talk to." Scarabella said, hanging her feet off the edge of the roof they were sitting on. There was still a chill in the air, but the promise of spring carried on the breeze.

Femme Chat scoffed at her. "Alya, the last time I checked we are all turning 21 this year. I think we already ticked the adult box a while ago."

Scarabella looked at her friend patiently. "Technically yes, but sometimes you need someone who is more adult if you know what I mean - an adultier adult."

Femme Chat fell quiet and looked out to the horizon. The sun had almost set and the lights of the city had turned on. "You mean like my parents?"

Scarabella placed her hand on her best friend's shoulder. "I know you want to be the one who is there for Adrien through this, but this is so much bigger than anything we thought possible. I mean Adrien's mother is in what? An ice chamber? His father is the villain of Paris and is now nowhere to be seen and for all we know Lila has the Butterfly Miraculous."

"But if we tell them all of that, we would have to tell them our identities too." Marinette said worriedly.

"I know that feels scary, especially with more people now knowing, but keeping your identity a secret from Adrien for so long didn't help either, did it?"

That thought settled uncomfortably on Marinette, and she knew Alya was right. She just had to look at the incredible bond between Alya and Nino had shared over the years to see how erosive her own relationship had been with Chat Noir for so long. Adrien had felt abandoned by her on so many levels, even though her only intention had been to protect him. Once the secrets were out of the way, her and Adrien could finally be as close as they had always hoped to be and there had been something incredibly freeing in that.

Marinette realised that maybe she had been the same way with her parents too. Keeping secrets meant keeping her distance, even when she was living in the same house. While she had always stayed in close contact, she knew herself she had been keeping them at a distance. She hadn't shared much of her relationship with Adrien with them. Although she knew they were happy for her, they were worried that her and Adrien dating had been more a case of his father's interference rather than a natural progression from the friendship they had. Of course if they knew the real history her and Adrien shared, maybe they would be a little less concerned at Adrien's true feelings, or her own for that matter.

"Maybe I should invite them over for dinner tomorrow night." She conceded, playing with one of her long platts.

"I think it would be a good idea, for both you and Adrien. Nino and I really wanted to come around, but I wasn't sure how Adrien would be coping. After everything you've told me though, I think this is the best way to go. Your parents are amazing and I think you both need them right now, especially Adrien."

Scarabella stood up and stretched her back. Femme Chat followed, taking out her baton and extending it. "I will need you to come for a fitting soon too. I haven't forgotten about your wedding dress, you know and I need to make sure the zip is sitting right."

Scarabella gave her best friend a tight hug. "Girl, I already know it's going to be amazing and I can't believe how quickly it's all coming around. I still haven't sent out the official invitations yet!" The girls both laughed before saying goodbye and going their separate ways.

Landing on the small balcony, Femme Chat could see Adrien sitting up on his bed talking with Duusu and Sass. Ever since he had found out about Félix being a senti he'd had many conversations with the Peacock Kwami trying to learn more. While Duusu was still often a little erratic in her behaviour, she did understand how her Miraculous works. Carefully Femme Chat slid open the sliding glass door, causing Adrien to turn to look at her, a soft smile lighting up his face.

"I don't mind admitting, my Miraculous looks good on you m'lady." He said, clearly appreciating her figure in the close fitting outfit. "Although I think I liked the Lady Noire costume a bit more."

"I think I do too." Femme Chat admitted. "These twin tail platts do get in the way a bit. When we get back to normal I'll change back to Lady Noire if you want to be my Mister Bug again?"

Slinking over to the bed, Femme Chat curled up next to her boyfriend who was looking slightly flustered. He hooked a finger under her chin, turning her eyes up to him. "Keep your blue eyes." He said, looking deep into her crystal blue cat eyes. "I love seeing your eyes blue."

He dipped his head and gave her a soft kiss before Marinette dropped her transformation. She gave Plagg a chunk of camembert and he and the other two kwamis then left to go into the other room. Adrien wrapped his arms around her, and Marinette snuggled into his side. Her hair was loose and a little damp still because she had been running late for patrol.

"Did you learn anything new?" She asked. Adrien nodded.

"Yes. Duusu was talking about the existence of Sentibeings. Only one can be created per holder, but also more than one senti can exist at one time."

Marinette touched her finger to her chin in thought. "I guess that's how Félix was able to co exist while Feast did, or the other sentis that had been created." Adrien nodded, threading his fingers through her hair as she talked. The look of adoration in his eyes she found still quite disarming.

"I think he did the right thing by leaving his amok with Kagami." He said, still playing with her hair. "It could have been risky if Lila got her hands on it."

"Do you think Lila would have controlled him with it?"

"No," He replied. "Duusu said only the creator of the amok can control a senti. Which means only my mother would be able to. He can still be akumatized though if she tried to, although Félix isn't exactly known for showing his emotions so good luck to her on that one."

Marinette noticed Adrien's face dropped slightly. She sat up to look at him. "What is it?"

Adrien reached out and picked up her hand. "Duusu talked about my mother. She was kind, Duusu said, but she didn't understand the Miraculous all that well. Sass said that there had been cases of other users with a broken Miraculous before, but he had never seen anyone as affected as my mother was, or how Nathalie almost ended up." Marinette saw Adrien had fisted the sheets with his other hand and gritted his back teeth.

"Are you feeling angry at Nathalie?" She prompted as his eyes became glassy.

"Not angry so much, more disappointed. I looked up to Nathalie." He said, trying to hold back his emotions. "When my mother was gone, Nathalie was the only real mother figure I had in my life. Sure my Aunt was there, but you know Félix and I weren't very close though our teen years so I didn't see her all that often. Nathalie was the one I went to for everything. She would go to my father on my behalf when I wanted to go on a school excursion or hang out with my friends. When she was sick I was so scared for her. I had no idea what she had been doing or why?"

"I think Nathalie thought she was helping." Marinette tried to say comfortingly. "It's clear she misses your mother very much."

Adrien hung his head, squeezing his eyes shut. "I don't know what to think anymore. I just feel like everyone in my life has been lying to me and I don't know who I can trust anymore." He screwed his eyes shut, turning his head from her.

"Even I lied to you." Marinette said sorrowfully. Adrien swung his head around to her.

"I didn't mean you m'lady." He said hastily, sitting himself up and wrapping his arms around her. "We had reasons for our secrets. I don't blame you for that."

"I still should have told you sooner." She lamented. "I had a good talk with Alya tonight and I can see so clearly how wrong I was. We could have had what she and Nino have if I hadn't been so stubborn."

Adrien cupped her cheek with his hand and smiled at her lovingly. "We have more than they have Bug. You and I have been to hell and back, but we're still here, still looking out for each other. The doctor said my leg is healing really quickly and in no time I will be there by your side just like I always have been. You and me against the world, right? Until death do us part."

He gave her an expected look. Marinette put her hand over his and linked their fingers, her mind clearly elsewhere. "I'm scared." She admitted, squeezing his hand. "I can understand what your father was hoping to achieve, and I wish he had of just come and talked to us instead of trying to win all the time, but Lila... I can't even begin to imagine what the Butterfly Miraculous could become in the hands of someone so filled with hate." She took both of Adrien's hands in hers. "Adrien, I want to invite my parents over for dinner tomorrow night if that's alright with you?"

"Sweetheart I already told you that this apartment is as much yours as it is mine, of course you can invite your parents around, I'd love to see them." He could see on her face there was more to the question. "What is it?"

Marinette bit on her bottom lip, unsure how he was going to feel about what she was wanting to do. Adrien placed his thumb on her chin and gently unhooked her lip from her teeth. He leaned in and gave her a gentle kiss. "What is it Bug?" He whispered.

"I want to tell them... about everything." She said, her eyes searching his. "I'm tired of keeping secrets from them and think maybe we both need someone a little older we can confide in."

Adrien swept her hair back from her shoulder and gave her upper arm a light squeeze. "I'm okay with that." He said, cocking his head to one side and looking at her. "I trust your parents. Actually I probably trust them more than my own at this point in time."

For a moment he continued to keep his gaze on her, or more specifically her lips as they moved while she talked through what things she would tell them and what she wouldn't. She stopped mid sentence when she caught his soft gaze on her. "What?" She asked with a nervous chuckle. There was something disarming with the look in his eyes and it made her heart beat faster.

"Just observing how beautiful you are when you're formulating a plan." He replied.

She gave him a playful shove. "Adrien, I'm being serious here."

"So am I." He said, picking up her hand. "I'm seriously looking at you and your beauty." She tisked and rolled her eyes, but he felt her shiver when he softly placed a kiss on the inside of her wrist. "I trust your judgement m'lady, you know that." He added softly.

"But it's your family Adrien." She reasoned back feeling flustered. "I don't want to be presumptuous in what I say or say too much. I mean I want to tell them, but I don't want it to come as a shock even though I know it will be a shock and when they find out I'm Ladybug they are going to freak out and what about the kwamis and..."

"Shhh." Adrien said gently. "It's fine Bug. Your parents are going to be fine. This isn't just about my family, or your family, it's about both of us."

Marinette pursed her lips but then relaxed her shoulders. "I guess you're right. We've been doing this a long time haven't we Kitty?"

Adrien hummed in affirmation. "We do make a great team." He was still giving her that soft look like he always did. Marinette could feel herself starting to blush.

"But what about the company?" She suddenly panicked.

"What about it?" He asked calmly, gently stroking his fingers up and down her arm.

She gave him an incredulous side eye while trying hard not to let his ministrations affect her. "What do you mean what about it? Adrien we still have a whole Miraculous Collection to get ready in only a few weeks to show. We have no staff, no models and you know couture isn't my strong point."

"So don't make it couture." He replied. "Marinette, you are brilliant and amazing. I know you can turn the collection into something that will blow everyone away. You've said yourself before that couture isn't practical anyway, so change it."

"I don't know Adrien." She sighed. "There isn't a lot of time, and the only reason we are even getting this showing is because the mayor wants it for the anniversary. Audrey Bourgeois has made it quite clear she wants nothing to do with me now after the fur fiasco."

"So show her she's wrong."

Marinette frowned at him. "How can you be so calm about this? If we fail this it will be the end of the Gabriel brand. The company will go into receivership, your father will lose the mansion, Nathalie will be out of a job, you're going to be bankrupt, I'll never work in fashion again and what if Lila tells everyone about who your father is..."

Adrien shushed her gently again, pressing a finger to her lips, still quietly amused at her spiralling thoughts. "I believe in you." He said, disarming her once again with his eyes.

"But Adrien..."

"Marinette..."

"If anyone else finds out about your father being Hawk Moth..."

"M'lady..."

"...they will come after you..."

"Will you marry me?"

For a moment it felt like the world froze. Marinette's eyes fixed on his. "Yes." She replied, her expression unchanged.

Adrien tilted his head to one side and regarded her for a moment. "You will?" He double checked, a smile creeping onto his face.

Marinette nodded her head and began to giggle, then both of them laughed together.

He ran his thumb across her bottom lip and they both felt the air shift around them. "It's that simple huh?"

"Yeah." She whispered back, leaning in to kiss him. Adrien pulled her closer to him and she moved to straddle over his lap. This time there was no pain for him with the fixtures now gone. Adrien pressed her warm body to his, his hands finding their way under her shirt and searching every part of her back as her fingers found purchase in his soft blond locks.

"Maybe I should have waited and done something more special." Adrien admitted breathlessly, his forehead resting against her shoulder.

"Let me guess, your idea involved champagne, red rose petals and a rooftop with candles."

Adrien chuckled against her skin. "Am I that predictable?" He asked, trailing kisses along her neck.

"You know I like you best when you're unpredictable Kitty." She said, sounding more breathless, her pulse feeling like fire through her veins.

"Then I'll still surprise you with them one day anyway." He cooed behind her ear. "But not red rose petals, blue ones, just like the eyes I first fell in love with."

She pulled back slightly so she could see him, caressing his face gently. "Still looking for the impossible minou?"

He shook his head with a lopsided grin, but something had darkened in those emerald eyes of his and it made her feel like putty in his hands. "Not looking." He whispered, his hand finding the buttons on her shirt. "Because I already found it." The last words drifted away as he pulled her back into a more heated kiss.

~~~~~

Félix didn't make his presence in Milan immediately known, choosing instead to observe Lila from a distance. She had moved her business from being exclusively on line to opening a new store front. To celebrate the grand opening, Lila was organising a large gala event to coincide with her new Spring line and had invited all the big names in the Italian industry. It was an invite only event of course. He would have to find a way into that.

Félix had found the perfect hotel to base himself in while he was in Milan. A quiet exclusive boutique place, that was centrally located and with windows that just happened to overlook the entry of Lila's new store.

Behind the vintage Art Deco curtains, Félix set up his long range telescope and watched as Lila and Ricardo fitted the new gowns onto their models, many of them ex Gabriel models that Lila had befriended during her time there. Félix had learned through some well placed bribes that Lila was paying the models exorbitant fees, although he wasn't sure yet who was funding it. Lila was the daughter of a diplomat, so she couldn't be funding it herself. Illusions was profitable, but they were a long way from making that kind of money and while he had gathered that Lila had underworld connections through Ricardo's late father, the money had to be coming from somewhere else.

As for Gabriel's whereabouts, he had no idea yet. Lila had mostly only moved between the store and her apartment, with about the same being said for Ricardo. As Félix continued to observe them early on the Friday before their big event, he recognised many of the outfit designs from the ones he had seen in Marinette's office. Ricardo's designs though, not Marinette's. Clearly they were wanting to be seen as a legitimate company and not simply as knock offs. Procuring Gabriel Incorporated would go a long way in that and this gala was a way to stamp their presence on the fashion scene. 

Félix packed away his equipment so housekeeping wouldn't see it and made himself ready to go down to breakfast. He was going to have to find a way to get himself an invite to that event tonight, even if it meant sucking up to Lila. He shuddered at the thought.

"May I take your order?" The waitress asked when he sat down in the restaurant.

Félix perused the menu. "I'll just get the English breakfast with Lady Grey tea."

The waitress looked at him blankly. "I'm not sure we have Lady Grey tea. Do you mean Earl Grey?"

Félix huffed and rolled his eyes, folding the menu back up and passing it to her. "Fine, Earl Grey then."

"Feliakins!" He heard exclaimed behind him as the waitress walked away. He cringed inwardly knowing exactly whose voice that belonged to. "I thought that had to be you. Only you would try to order a boring Lady Grey tea while in Italy."

"Chloé. A pleasure to make your acquaintance again." He said standing up and extending his hand. The blonde socialite ignored the hand, wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing both cheeks.

"Don't be so insufferable, Félix." She chided playfully. "I'm not just some random acquaintance."

"I thought you weren't speaking to me." He said flatly. Chloé raised a well manicured eyebrow at him.

"I guess I shouldn't be, but I can't entirely blame you for what happened at that gala." She conceded. "I had no business loading you up on alcohol like that and trying to crack onto you. I guess I was just suffering a bad case of jealousy because my half of a sister had started dating that garbage musician and she was totally rubbing it in my face." She waved her hand around dismissively.

Félix folded his arms and gave her a suspicious look. "I don't know your sister all that well, but it doesn't seem like her to rub anything in."

"Well she didn't have to be so happy all the time." Chloé snapped back with her hands on her hips. She then relaxed her shoulders and pulled out a chair, sitting herself down, flexing her fingers against the table and taking in a deep breath before letting it out again. Félix also sat down, watching her as she went through her little routine.

"Dadykins suggested I see someone for my anger issues. That's what I was doing in New York. See, I'm trying to be more mature about things now. Besides, it's too tiresome holding a grudge." She then started to giggle and Félix looked at her confused. "But I have to say, watching you sing Backstreet Boys to Kagami and her shutting you down like that was absolutely hilarious. I wish I had recorded that."

Félix only gave her a reserved half grin. If someone had told him that night what Kagami would end up meaning to him he would never have believed it. He was already missing her more than he thought it possible to miss anyone, the chain usually around his neck feeling more noticeably absent then ever, but it warmed his heart to know it was hanging around her neck.

"So what brings you to Milan?" Chloé asked brightly, oblivious to Félix's mind being elsewhere. "You're not suddenly into fashion are you?"

"Just some business stuff." He fibbed. "I thought I might stay on for a few extra days, see the sights, you know how it is."

"So you're not here for Lila's launch? I thought you guys dated for a while."

Félix thought it best to feign ignorance. "I didn't know about it. Lila and I were some time ago. What about you?"

Chloé shrugged. "Sabrina had to return back to university and Manhattan is boring on my own. I was passing through Rome when Lila sent me an invitation."

Chloé clicked her fingers at a passing waitress and ordered a skinny soy extra hot double shot latte. Felix had to restrain his eye twitch at the pretentious order, focusing instead on the pot of tea along with his breakfast that was set down in front of him. Chloé inspected his plate and screwed up her nose at the sausage, egg and tomato.

"I didn't realise you and Lila were friends." Félix said casually as he took a bite of his food. The sausages were a little over cooked, but otherwise the meal was passable.

"I wouldn't call her a friend exactly. Actually, my mother was the one who insisted I attend. She's planning to do a spread of the spring collection in Style Queen and wanted me there to appreciate the situation so to speak. Now that her dealings with Gabriel have gone down the gurgler she's keen to find the next big thing."

Félix noted Chloé seemed to have been troubled somonewhat. "You're not happy about this?"

Chloé pursed her lips. "I don't care much about Gabriel Agreste, and I've never cared much for that Dupain-Cheng, but I do care about Adrien."

"You do know Adrien is dating Marinette don't you?"

Chloé waited while the waitress sat her coffee down before answering. "Yes, I'm aware. I also know how happy he is about it. I called him the other day to see how he was and all he could do was gush about her." She rolled her eyes but then her expression became more serious. " Adrien is my oldest friend, I don't want bad things happening to him. Is it true that Lila made an offer to buy out Gabriel?"

Félix nodded his head, unsure yet how much he should tell Chloé. He, as well as the rest of Paris, knew Chloé had been Queen Bee, but that was a long time ago. She had made mistakes since then, serious mistakes, but Félix knew she was being genuine when she said she cared about Adrien.

Chloé then suddenly reached across the table and grabbed Félix by the hand. "Why don't you come with me to the gala, Félix. I have an extra ticket and it would be so much more fun with someone to criticise everyone with."

Félix had to hold back a smirk. This was working out better than he had hoped. "I thought you said you were being more mature?" He teased.

Chloé flicked her long ponytail and flashed Félix a dazzling smile. "Well, you know what they say... If you can't say anything nice about someone, come sit by me."

Félix saluted her with his teacup, taking a sip as Chloé continued to prattle on about her time in New York. Maybe she might just turn out to be a useful ally after all, Félix mused to himself.