A/N - I'm back with a new chapter. Hopefully we should be back to the 2 week schedule from now on. Thank you for your patience.

"Scarabella, I think it's time to call your Lucky Charm." Femme Chat called as they dodged yet another flying projectile, her long twin plats flying around her head. This was the third akuma in as many days and Marinette really didn't have time for this. She wasn't sure whether Hawk Moth was just toying with them, or whether he was trying to find a weakness in the new duo, but each akuma just seemed more pretentious than the last. Between working on the new designs, dodging Ricardo as much as possible and spending time with Adrien at the hospital, she really wasn't in the mood for whatever had tipped this akuma victim off.

"What on Earth?" Scarabella said as she held a red and black water pistol Lucky Charm in her hand.

"Maybe you need to fill it up first." Femme Chat suggested, spinning her stick to protect Scarabella as she tried to figure the Luck Charm out. The interim  Ladybug hero looked around.

"Right, I think I've got it. You go and keep him occupied while I fill this up."

Femme Chat extended her baton and leaped back over to the akuma, her electric green boots streaking across the sky. Marinette would be lying if she said she didn't miss her Chat fighting beside her. Even on those few occasions where they had swapped their Miraculous, it was still him there with his badly timed jokes and putting his body on the line. Now that she was having to do it for Alya, she appreciated more the hits he had taken for her. Alya was doing an amazing job, and she was getting better with every fight, but it wasn't the same. Marinette knew it was hard for Adrien too, having to just sit back and watch from the television.

Adrien had been putting on a brave face when she would visit him, but as the week dragged on she worried about him blaming himself for what had happened. They had long talks about modeling and fencing. The reality of his injuries hit him hard when the national team contacted him to say that he had been replaced. His dream of an Olympic gold medal was gone, maybe forever. That day he had finally broken down and cried into her arms and she had never felt more helpless as she stroked his hair.

"Bye bye little butterfly. Miraculous Scarabella."

The Miraculous Ladybugs whizzed past, correcting all the damage. Femme Chat breathed a sigh of relief that it was over for today. Her mind had really been elsewhere.

Scarabella and Femme Chat shared a pound it before Scarabella placed a hand on her shoulder. "I'll take care of the victim, you go and see Adrien, I know you've been worried about him." She whispered, giving the cat hero a hug.

"Thank you. I'll catch up with you later." Femme Chat replied before scurrying off. She dropped into an alleyway near the Gabriel fashion house and released her transformation. Taking out some camembert from her bag, she gave a slice to Plagg.

"Why are we here?" Plagg asked. "I thought you were seeing my Kid."

"I will be Plagg, but I have to stop at the office first. I need to give the new Vesperia design to Ricardo. I've been trying to avoid him all week, but if I don't get this to him today Mr Agreste will start to notice I'm getting behind."

Plagg huffed, but didn't argue. "So we sleazebag first and then go and see the kid."

Marinette had to bite back a laugh. "If you keep calling him that, I'm going to accidentally say it to his face one day."

"Good" Plagg said, swallowing the last of his cheese. "Someone should. Remember I'm having to listen to all his flirting with you."

"Plagg." She warned, but the kwami waved her off.

"I know, I know. Stay in the bag and say nothing. I'm only doing it for you Pigtails because I know you like my kid more." With that he flew back into her bag.

When Marinette made it back to her office to collect the designs, she was surprised to see a single red rose encased in a clear tube on her desk. She knew it wasn't from Adrien, it wasn't his style at all. Adrien always gave her fresh flowers, this was one of those everlasting artificial ones and she didn't even have to look at the note to know who it was from. She balled up her fists by her side. Ricardo had been becoming more and more obnoxious as the week had dragged on. With Adrien in the hospital he had been taking full advantage to continue flirting with her, despite the announcement that she and Adrien were in a relationship. She picked up the note and read it out of morbid curiosity.

"The offer is still open xx"

She scrunched the note up in her hand and thumped it down on the desk. Ricardo was really starting to get on her nerves. His casual flirting throughout the week had been bad enough, but now he was just pushing it. She had only ever accepted roses from two people, whom she now knows is the same person, and Ricardo most certainly was not it.

Grabbing the designs and the rose she marched down towards his cubicle on the main design floor. Ricardo had been whinging bitterly that he should have his own office, preferably near Marinette's, but Nathalie had been ignoring his requests. Marinette got the distinct feeling that Nathalie didn't think much of the egotistical Italian.

It was quite late in the afternoon, and being a Friday most everyone else was already gone for the day. Ricardo was at his desk working on his computer with his headphones on and wasn't aware of Marinette being there until she thumped the rose down on the desk in front of him.

Looking somewhat taken aback, Ricardo took off the headphones before plastering on a broad smile across his face. "Well, nice of you to decide to show up Marinette. Too busy to grace us with your presence these days?"

"Stop trying to get me to go on dates with you." She said angrily. "In case it has escaped your attention, I'm now dating the bosses son"

Ricardo smirked at her. "Yes, I saw the press release. It was nice of Nathalie to draw on your long standing friendship from school in her statement. We wouldn't want Paris seeing you as some kind of gold digger now would we?"

Marinette narrowed her eyes at him and threw down the designs. "Here is the revised Vesperia design. If you have any issues with it, take them up with Nathalie."

She turned to leave when Ricardo called her back. "You know I'm not a bad guy, Marinette if you got to know me. I know people in the industry back in Italy and have a lot of connections within my own family, both in fashion and in...other areas. I could introduce you to people that would appreciate your talents and not push you into the undue pressure you've been put under here at Gabriel."

"Pressure? What pressure? I'm not under any pressure except that my designs are being leaked and I'm having to redo them." She folded her arms and frowned at him.

Ricardo stood up and leaned against his desk in front of her. "I don't mean the design work, I mean this facade that you're having to make with Adrien. Sure he's your friend and you feel bad for him. I get it. But you're a designer, a creator, something special Marientte. It must be very draining having to spend so much of your time with him at the hospital, watching all that potential just waste away. I hear on the grapevine that he might never walk again. How long is Gabriel going to make you babysit him?"

"For your information, I would still be at Adrien's side regardless of our relationship status. He has always been one of my best friends and I would never leave him to deal with this alone" She said, putting her hands on her hips. "And he will walk again."

"Sure, sure". Ricardo said patronisingly. "Still, it must feel a little bit awkward, what with him having rejected you so many times."

Marinette gave him a confused look. "What are you talking about? Adrien has never rejected me."

"No?" Ricardo said, sounding surprised. "But then again you never told him how you really felt about him, did you?"

"What would you know about it?"

Ricardo let out a chuckle that grated on her last frazzled nerve. "A little bitty told me. Don't worry Marinette, I'm sure you'll get around to it at some point, I mean, you are dating after all, right?" There was something in the look of his eyes that made Marinette uncomfortable. "Like I said in my note, the offer still stands. I can be patient for a few weeks while you finish this little charade of yours."

Marinette let out a frustrated sigh. There was no way she could explain to Ricardo that this was beyond her just taking care of her crush, or even Gabriel's press release, but someone that was her partner, her best friend, the person that risked his life for her against akumas, someone who in every way was her whole world.

"Look, Ricardo, you need to get those thoughts out of your head. I have no intentions of dating you and I don't love you."

"Who said anything about love?" Ricardo scoffed. "Romance just gets in the way, don't you think? Or are you still hoping that something will happen with that pretty boy model of yours?"

"My boyfriend you mean." Marinette said, sounding irritated. "And the person I also happen to be in love with. Regardless of what you might think of our relationship, I have always loved Adrien and I always will."

She couldn't quite read his eyes as she spoke but there was something dark about them.

"I see how it is." He said, pushing off the desk and standing up to his full height "So you chose the heart over the head. I guess I shouldn't be surprised. It's a pity really, you and I could have been something, Marinette, a real power couple in the fashion world. With your skills and my connections, Gabriel wouldn't have known what hit him. But he won't be top dog forever and I would hate to have to see you go down with him when the time comes." He gave her the once over before moving to leave.

"Aren't you going to take your fake flower with you?" Marinette called out at him. "At least Adrien always gives me real flowers." He stopped and gave her a smug look.

"I think you'll be back to claim it."

Marinette scoffed. "I seriously doubt that."

Ricardo smirked. "You know the problem is with real flowers? - They never last long." Marinette watched as Ricardo left, an unnerved feeling settling in her stomach.

"I really don't like that sleazebag." Plagg said, popping his head out of Marinette's bag.

"I'm starting to really not like him either." Marinette agreed, still feeling perplexed at the conversation. She took off her Miraculous and handed it to Plagg. "Come on Plagg, we need to stop off at the jewelry store before going to the hospital."

~~~~~

Marinette was surprised to find Adrien wasn't in his room when she got to the hospital, but she soon heard his voice call to her from down the hall. She turned to find Nurse Esme helping him on a pair of crutches.
"We'll look at you out of bed and getting about." She said, giving him an encouraging smile.

"I'm getting there." He said, sounding puffed from the effort. His movements were slow and laboured, but he looked proud at the progress he was making.

When he got closer to his room, she stepped in on his other arm, taking the crutch and supporting him as he maneuvered onto the bed. He winced in pain and the nurse helped him lift his leg up onto the bed, resting it on a pillow. Marinette grabbed the other pillow and positioned it behind his head and back. "Thanks Princess." He said, taking her hand and kissing the back of it while the nurse checked through his charts. "You're the brightest part of my fay you know."

"Oh shush you." She said, giving him a playful push.

"You have been making excellent progress." Esme said. "A bit more practice up and down the halls over the weekend and I think you should be fine to go home on Monday. I'll be back a bit later with your meds." Esme replaced the chart back on the end of the bed and left the room.

Adrien closed his eyes and Marinette sat beside him on the bed, putting her hand on his. He looked exhausted and troubled. "Adrien?" She said, squeezing his hand.

"I'm alright." He said, opening his eyes and smiling for her. She knew that fake smile though, the one that didn't reach his eyes. "It's just been harder than I thought it would be."

"You mean getting around on the crutches?"

"Everything." He admitted. "And having to watch Scarabella and Femme Chat fighting out there. I've let Ladybug down, my father, my team, you..."

"You haven't let me down Adrien." She tried to reassure him. "Or anyone else for that matter."

"What about the Miraculous Couture designs?"

"You let me and Alya worry about that. I've redone the Vesperia dress, which I think looks better anyway, and I'm reworking the Chat Noir design too. Now that I know he's you, I want to add a few extra touches to it."

Adrien looked away from her and Marinette squeezed his hand. "I know when you are all better Ladybug will give you back your Miraculous. You are Paris' hero, Adrien, even if the rest of the city doesn't know it."

"Like you Little Mouse?" He said, giving her a soft look. "Paris doesn't know what it missed out on when Ladybug gave someone else the mouse Miraculous."

"Well, that was a long time ago." Marinette said bashfully. "And if you're going home on Monday I better start moving my stuff into your apartment." She added.

"Our apartment now, remember." He said, bopping her on the nose with his finger, his eyes lighting up a little more. "I don't want you thinking of yourself as my house guest. It's your place as much as mine now." He turned his hand over to entwine his fingers with hers. "To be honest, I'm kind of looking forward to having the company. As much as I like being out of my father's house, it gets a bit lonely sometimes."

"Oh, I'm sure you weren't all that lonely in those Ladybug boxer shorts I found in your drawer". Marinette couldn't help giggling at him as he turned bright red. She had found more than one Ladybug themed item in his apartment during the week as she ran back and forth with fresh clothes and underwear for him.

"Oh god." He lamented, running his free hand down his face. "It's not what it looks like."

"You don't have to explain anything to me." Marinette said. "Knowing who you are, it makes sense."

"It's not that." Adrien said, looking somewhat embarrassed. "Yes I had a major crush on Ladybug when we were at school. It was hard not to. We spent so much time together and she isn't just an amazing hero, she's really an amazing person." Marientte could clearly hear the affection in his voice.

"So...you're still in love with her then?" Marinette knew it wasn't fair of her to ask that, but she had to know.

"I...I don't know." He said honestly. "She's never seen me as anything more than a friend and I...well..." he trailed off in thought for a moment. "I don't know if Alya ever told you about a mix up that happened a few years ago when I thought that she had developed feelings for me, well Chat Noir, and I went to ask her about it."

"Oh, yeah, sure." Marinette said, trying to not look like she knew too much about it. "Didn't Nino get akumatized? But it was all sorted out in the end."

Adrien nodded, looking at where his hand was still holding hers. Softly he rubbed his thumb across the back of her hand. "Yeah, but there was something she said to me at the time that I didn't take a lot of notice of, but I've been thinking about more lately. She told me she couldn't fall in love with someone she didn't know." He looked up and met her eyes, sending her heart into overdrive. "In all the years I've known Ladybug, I don't think I ever really knew her. Maybe being so focused on Ladybug I was missing something right in front of me."

The way he was looking at her was making her feel weak. Marinette bit her lip and looked away from him. "I, um...I saw Ricardo today." She said, changing the subject. Adrien huffed.

"Oh yeah. What did he want?"

"I took him the Vesperia designs. I think we are back on schedule now." She wasn't looking at him and Adrien knew something was off from the sound of her voice.

"There's something else isn't there?"

"It's nothing." Marinette tried to deflect. "I can handle it."

"Mari." He called, gently turning her face to look at him. "What's going on? Has he been harassing you?"

"He has a real hard time taking no for an answer." She admitted. "But the rose today was really the final straw."

"A rose!" Adrien exclaimed. "What rose?"

"Nothing, just one of those fake ugly ones with a note saying that the offer still stands."

"What offer?" Adrien prodded, then it dawned on him. "You mean his offer for you to date him?"

Marinette shrugged. "It isn't even an offer to date, more like an offer in the industry in Italy in exchange for sex."

Adrien's face morphed into something fierce. "Okay, that's it. Get me my phone, I'm ringing my father."

"No Adrien, don't do that." She implored.

"Like hell I'm not." Adrien replied, his territorial cat instincts taking over.

"Adrien, he doesn't believe the press statement that we are dating. I'm worried he might try to undermine us somehow."

Adrien held her hand between both of his. "Regardless of whether he believes the statement or not, you are my girlfriend as far as everyone else is concerned and I'm not having him hitting on you just because I'm not there to stop him."

Marinette stopped his hand as he reached for his phone. "Adrien, I don't trust him. There was something underhanded in his manner today, almost like a veiled threat. If he isn't convinced by us then he could go to the media and try to expose us."

Adrien reached out and gently touched her face with a soft smile. "Then maybe we need to do a better job of convincing him."

Marinette was trying to process that statement when the door opened behind them and Nurse Esme came in with his medication. "Time for your shower before dinner." She said cheerfully. "Do you think you can manage on the commode on your own today?"

Marinette stood up to allow Adrien to move himself around to the edge of the bed so he could take the tablets. "I guess I need to if I want to go home." He said, gritting his teeth as he moved. "I can't expect someone else to be bathing me." He gave Marinette a cheeky wink sending her cheeks pink.

"You're lucky not to have to." Esme laughed. "Do you know what this casanova said to me on his first night on the ward? When I told him it was time for a bed bath he put his arms behind his head and said 'oh goody - one back, crack and sack please!'"

Marinette started to laugh while Adrien looked like he wanted the earth to open up and swallow him whole. "Oh come on, give me a break, I was high as a kite on painkillers."

The nurse laughed. "I know that. Don't worry honey, I've been told worse, but you will be sent home with pain meds so your girlfriend should be prepared." Esme had a quick look in the bathroom. "I'll come back with some fresh towels before we try and get you out of bed again."

"I guess I should leave you to your shower then." Marinette said suggestively, causing Adrien to look more red. "Oh, before I forget." She reached into her bag and took out a small ring box.

"Why Princess, I didn't know you felt that way about me." He swooned dramatically, earning himself an eye roll.

"Shut up." Marinette grumbled as he opened the box to find an almost exact replica of his camouflaged Miraculous. "I saw some of your recent photoshoot pictures and realised you can see your ring in almost all of them. It occurred to me that everyone is so used to seeing you with your ring on, it might seem weird if you were seen without it."

"That's brilliant." Adrien said, slipping the ring on. "You really are amazing Marinette."

It had felt strange after almost 5 years not to have had a ring on that finger. The replica seemed lighter than his real Miraculous, but maybe that was just his imagination.

"Actually, I have something for you too."

Marinette looked at him curiously as he reached for his wallet in the side draw and took out his credit card. "Here take this. I know there isn't much food in the place and get yourself whatever you want to make it feel more like home."

Marinette shook her head. "Adrien, I can't spend your money."

He took her hand and placed the card in it. "You can and you will. I trust you with it. While you're at it, can you do me a favour when you go to the apartment?"

"Of course"

He wrapped his hands around hers. "Can you get all the Ladybug merch in my room and box it up for me? Just stick it in my wardrobe or something."

She looked at him curiously. "You don't have to do that on my account, Adrien." It wasn't like she could exactly get jealous of herself.

"I'm not." He assured her. "It's something I should have done a long time ago really. Marinette, there's something I..."

Esme came back in with his towels. "Alright, let's get you sorted out and cleaned up." She said, placing the towels in the bathroom.

"I better go." Marinette smiled at him. Adrien tugged her closer to him and kissed her on the cheek.

"I'll see you soon." He whispered, hating the fact he was going to have to let go of her hand and watch her walk out the door.

A little later, while sitting in the shower, Adrien let the hot water run over his head and face as his mind and heart raced. The more he had thought about it, the more he wanted his relationship with Marinette not to be fake. He might not be in a position to take her on dates or pamper her the way she deserved, but he had feelings for her he was struggling to hide and he wanted to tell her.

He then looked at the fake Miraculous on his finger. There was the real barrier. Marinette knew he was Chat Noir and she knew how he felt about Ladybug. He rubbed his hands down his face. When Marinette asked him if he loved Ladybug, he couldn't give her a straight answer. What was wrong with him? Ladybug had been an enigma, a school boy fantasy - Marinette was here, now and yet at the first huddle he had stumbled. Yes he had promised Ladybug he wouldn't have a relationship until Hawk Moth was defeated, but he wasn't Chat Noir right now was he? How could he expect Marientte to take him seriously, though,  if she thought his heart still belonged to someone else?

~~~~~

"Where do you want me to put this sewing box?" Alya asked as she staggered through the door of Adrien's apartment. Nino was close behind her with another box of clothes.

"Put the box here in my room." Marinette said, moving another box out of the way. "And be careful with that box Nino, your bride's dress is in it."

"Ohh, does that mean I can take a peek?" Nino asked, threatening to lift the lid.

"No." The girls both screamed out in unison. Nino chuckled.

"I'm just teasing." He said, giving Alya a wink.

"Girl, I don't know how you find time to work on this dress with the Miraculous Couture collection on top of it." Alya said, carefully putting the sewing box down on the table. "I feel like I should be trying to help you with it in some way."

"I made you promise I would make your wedding dress Alya, and I'm determined to make sure you are the most beautiful bride in Paris." Marinette said, placing both her hands on her best friend's shoulders.

"I'll just go back down and lock up the car." Nino called, exiting back out of the apartment.

"And what about you Marinette? Are you sure you will be ok here with Adrien?"

"Of course I will." Marinette said, but Alya could see she was worried. "This isn't about my feelings for Adrien, this is about being here form someone who needs me."

"Even though all of Paris thinks you two are dating?" Alya said skepitally.

Marinette let out a sigh. "Gabriel wants to give the public something to talk about aside from the accident and since I'll be living here with Adrien, it made sense to say we were a couple."

"Well you don't look it?" Alya said, looking around the apartment.

"What do you mean?" Marinette queried with furrowed eyebrows. "You were the one that told me we did look like a couple."

Alya pushed her glasses up the bridge of her nose. "When you're together and flirting, and giggling and acting like an old married couple, yes, but not this apartment."

Marinette looked around the spacious and modern apartment. Alya did have a point. It was neat and tidy, she gave Adrien that, but aside from the odd framed photo and Adrien's piano, there was very little that was personal about it.

"It could do with a bit of colour I guess." Marinette said, but her best friend shook her head and rubbed her temple with her hand.

"It doesn't look like a female lives here." Alya finally said as Nino came back in. "Aside from that one bed room with your stuff in it, it doesn't look like you live here."

Marinette looked exasperated. "But, I'm only just moving in today. How could the apartment possibly look like I've lived here?"

Alya rolled her head towards Nino. "Honey, how much of my stuff would you say was in your room before we moved in together?"

"Babe, you practically took over my room." Nino chuckled. "Not to mention the bathroom."

"See." Alya said back to Marinette.

"But..." Marinette gaped exasperated.

"You didn't read the statement Gabriel had put out did you?" Alya asked at Marinette's confusion. When her best friend shook her head, Alya took out her phone and found the press release, handing it to her.

"From the desk of Gabriel Agreste,

It is with pleasure that we confirm recent speculation that the son of Gabriel Agreste, Adrien, is currently in a romantic relationship with long time friend Marinette Dupain-Cheng. Having been close since high school, Adrien and Marinette had chosen initially to keep their relationship private in order to protect their privacy and that of their respective families. As their relationship grows to the next level, we request that the media allow them the space and time to grow as a couple."

Marinette looked back up at Alya who had an all knowing grin on her face. "This makes it sound like we've been in a relationship for years." Well, in a way that had been, just not that kind of relationship.

"Yep." The budding reporter said. "And if anyone comes here, it doesn't look that way."

"But no one would be coming here that doesn't already know." Marinette said, trying to wrack her brain. "Only you, Nino, maybe my parents..."

"What about that weasel you were telling us about?" Nino asked. "If you're working together he might come here."

Marinette held her head between her hands. "Oh my gosh, I never thought of that! If Ricardo saw anything suspicious he would rat us out in an instant."

"Don't worry girl." Alya said, slinging an arm over her shorter friend's shoulders. "That's why we're here to help. You're just lucky we weren't leaving for our Christmas holidays until tomorrow."

Marinette slapped her hand to her forehead. With everything else that had been going on, she had completely forgotten that Christmas was only a few days away.

"Would you girls like me to drop you off somewhere?" Nino asked, already reading his fiancée's mind.

"Come on Marinette, let's see if Kagami is free and make an afternoon of it. We'll make this apartment look lived-in in no time." Alya announced, dragging her best friend out of the apartment.