Adrien's form hunched as he was weighed down with a multitude of shopping bags. He chuckled halfheartedly, that's what you get for letting a fashion designer roam the horde of clothing shops and boutiques that were scattered all across Lugano. 

Of course, not all the bags were hers. 

They had woken up early (again) because Marinette had heard about a farmers market that ran on Tuesdays and Fridays from 7 am to 12 pm. She had turned her big, blue gaze on him, a plea on her pink lips, and Adrien knew he would agree to anything that she wanted. (Not that he wasn't secretly excited to go (eat) see all the interesting new foods.)

The had wandered around the busy streets of the busy piazza where the Palazzo Civico stood, trying the booths that had samples and picking up strange fruits, jellies and candies they couldn't get in Paris.

Adrien was in absolute heaven. He had thrown his dietary restrictions to the wind that boosted the wings of the plane that had taken Nathalie back to France. He scarfed down pastries, bread, honey, fruits, vegetables, chocolate and was willing to try any other strange treats that were offered to him. Marinette eyed him in a mix of exasperation and shock at just how much he could eat. Speaking of Marinette, Adrien was quite enjoying all the jealous looks that he was receiving from having her on his arm. 

Although, it was already a bit difficult trying to hold her hand when he was burdened by all the bags of food he had bought (and that was before they had moved on from the market.).

After they moved on from the farmers market, the adventure continued. They traveled winding, sloping streets. Passing cafes like the Grand Cafe Al Porto which has been standing since 1803 and whose entire interior still reflected the medieval convent it once was; strolling by jewelry shops that specialized in Swiss watches, such as Gioielleria Prezios; wandering into bakeries that had bread hanging from the ceiling (the bakeries didn't interest Marinette but impressed Adrien to no end, whom managed to buy something from every bakery they entered); and of course, the clothing shops--They went into high end Gucci haute couture shops (Gucci, Hermes, Jil Sander) near the Via Nassa,  Emerold board shop which was tucked in between banks and department stores,  S2 , Il cappello(this one got Marinette very excited as they are a custom clothing shop) and then finally, El Catto which Marinette managed to find by accidentally making a wrong turn that took them down twisting, narrow streets. And these were only the shops that Adrien could remember the names of.  

When she dragged him into a second hand clothing store, he couldn't help but let his eyes widen at the sight. There seemed to be no rhyme or reason, no order to the shop and yet it still felt warm and inviting. Marinette seemed to have a knack for finding places like that. He stared at the colors all swirling together, and there! To the left a purple feather boa paired with a floppy leopard hat and to the right! A wall of shoes where a a pair of neon heels sat next to a pair of platform boots with spikes. Gabriel would have killed him for even setting foot in a store like this, but Marinette just pulled on his hand with a grin and began picking clothes at random. It must have taken quite a while, but it seemed like seconds later she was pushing him towards the dressing room giggling as she handed him a pile of clothes with the instructions to try them on in order. Adrien burst out of the dressing room in a banana yellow suit, complete with a bright yellow bow-tie and yellow star shaped sunglasses as he posed for the girl falling off her chair in laughter. The outfits steadily got sillier and sillier, and soon he convinced Marinette to join in on the fun. There was the big puke colored princess dress that he put her in, and there was the button up shirt that was covered in cats (which Adrien actually liked, much to Marinette's dismay) paired with cargo shorts and sandals that she picked for him. Marinette took a picture of them in each outfit, claiming it was just for the memories when questioned, but Adrien saw the mischievous gleam in her eye.  So he laughed and posed for her pictures like the model he was. 

Normally, Adrien hated modelling. He hated being trussed up like a Christmas turkey. He hated twisting his body into torturous poses. He hated being treated like a human doll, an object that's appearance sells products. But today, he loved modelling. He loved dressing up in whatever odd clothing the giggle Marinette shoved in his hands. He loved contorting his body into ridiculous poses that made her snort and guffaw. He loved the way she looked at him as she snapped pictures of him and her together; mirth shimmering in her eyes, cheeks red and round, and, god, her smile so warm and bright. Adrien realized how much he loved modelling for her. Because when she looked up at him with such happiness radiating off her, Adrien felt complete. In this moment, Adrien felt happy. Truly happy. Utterly and completely happy. An emotion he thought he had forgotten how to feel.  

(Plus, it helped that his heart squeezed affectionately as Marinette came out in the purple feather boa, floppy leopard hat, neon heels and a red dress and posed and spun for around him as he took pictures and chortled.) 

After their little clothing adventure in the second hand shop where he had bought the cat shirt and sun glasses and Marinette bought the red dress and feather boa, he finally convinced Marinette to stop for lunch. They ate at an outdoor sandwich shop, where he practically inhaled two whole sandwiches. After lunch,  Adrien managed to persuade Marinette to head back to the hotel to drop off their bags before heading out again. 

Marinette finally took pity on Adrien and suggested they take a break from walking and take the tourist train that toured the city. While on the ride, Marinette pointed out things she wanted to see later and Adrien pointed out things he knew information about. Halfway through the ride, Adrien finally gathered the courage to put an arm around her waist and tug her close. She had leaned her head on her shoulder and chattered happily while Adrien had pretended that the smile on his face was because of her enthusiasm and not because of how lovely she looked looking up at him. 

 When the train ride ended,  Adrien dragged Marinette into Laderach Chocolaterie SuisseSwiss chocolate shop. It wasn't the first chocolate shop he had drug her into, but really who could blame the boy? He was in a country famous for their chocolate, in a city that had a famous chocolate factory right outside of it for heavens sake, and he no longer had anyone around to scold him back into his dietary restrictions. He was taking his freedom and he was running with it. Luckily, Marinette only giggled at his antics and encouraged his small bit of rebellion by allowing him to buy all the chocolate he wanted. But even her eyes widened when he bought two huge boxes of chocolate and she nearly fainted when she heard the price. He had merely smiled at her giddily, saying one was a gift for Nino...probably. Before handing over his credit card, Adrien glanced at the display that Marinette was wringing her hands nervously by and on an impulse scooped up two more pieces of chocolate to add to the growing pile. 

 "I don't think I've ever seen anyone spend so much money on chocolate." Marinette shook her head exasperated but with a trace of amusement. 

"Yeah, well normal people can buy and eat chocolate whenever they want." Adrien said breezily, taking Marinette's hand with his hand that wasn't holding the (huge) bag of chocolate. Marinette snorted. 

"So what, your gonna eat all that chocolate and all the rest of the food you bought today before we go back home?" 

Adrien's heart warmed at her use of the words "home" and "we". He hummed in thought. 

"Nah, I'll just have to find a way to smuggle what I don't eat back onto Agreste property and then hide it. Oh! that reminds me!" Adrien dropped Marinette hand to rummage in the bag that held the chocolate. Making a sound of triumph as he finally found what he was looking for, he brought out the two pieces of chocolate he had bought. 

"Hold out your hand, Marinette." Adrien was nearly bouncing on his toes in excitement. 

"If this is a dead bird or a mouse or something..."Marinette warned but she couldn't hide the grin the split her face and obediently held out her hand.  

"Oh!" She breathed. Adrien had dropped a pink chocolate ladybug in her hands. 

With a wink and a grin, he showed that he had a matching chocolate ladybug but in green. "Pink's your favorite color, right? And I remember in high school you had a thing for ladybugs." 

Marinette looked up at him, starstruck. 

"You remember...?" She asked quietly looking down at the brightly colored aluminum wrapped chocolate.  Adrien watched her questioningly as she took a step forward and looked up at him before, very suddenly, throwing her arms around his neck. Adrien squeaked and nearly dropped his own ladybug at her sudden movements. 

"Thank you." She breathed into his neck.

Adrien took a deep breath in to steady himself before wrapping his own arms around her waist. Any breath he did take in did not steady him in the slightest. She was so close. And with each inhale he could smell her perfume. And with each exhale, he could feel her breath on his neck. He willed her to stay like that, if only for a second longer, and his grip around her tightened. Marinette seemed to catch(get it, cat-ch ;) ... I'm sorry) the message, as her own grip tightened and she buried her face into his neck. If Adrien was functioning before (he wasn't), then Marinette nuzzling against his skin was enough to cause him to seize functioning all together. 

Marinette was the first to let go. She loosened the hold on his neck enough that she could look back up at him. 

"You're incredibly sweet, you know that Adrien?" She asked with shining eyes and smile tugging at the corners of her lips. She was still so close that Adrien could feel her question blown across his lips. He let a goofy smile spill on his face. 

"Only for you." He whispered in the space between their lips. 

Marinette's breath caught. She leaned forward and her eyes started to close ever so slightly...

*Beep* 

The sound of the scooter horn beeping behind them, made them jerk apart and scuttle out of way. Marinette cleared her throat and scuffed her toe on the ground while Adrien scratched his head, both looking anywhere else but each other. 

"Well, um, better get that chocolate back to the hotel before it melts, huh?" Marinette stuttered out. 

"Y-yeah, the hotel's close by so we can just drop this off and then continue where we left off...in our walk!" Adrien stammered. 

The two red faced adults glanced at each other before looking away again. They started in the direction of the hotel, but as they walked they hands found one another and their fingers intertwined. 

 And that's how they had gotten to this point, their linked hands swinging as Marinette took pictures of arches, columns, iron work details, terraces with flowers, red benches that lined many of the streets, strangely, a gray camouflaged tree and anything else that caught her fancy. Meanwhile, Adrien watched her a smile on his face and, for once, was content. 

They had made their way down to the water front and were walking lazily along the sand that lined the water. Marinette made a squawking noise and Adrien looked down at her in concern as the tugging on his hand got more insistent. 

  "Adrien--Hey Adrien! Look! Look, that's a swan!" 

Adrien giggled at her childlike glee before having his breath stolen away when she turned to look back at him, her eyes shining and her lips curved into a smile so happy, his heart felt full just looking at it. 

He cleared his throat (and his thoughts) before bumping his hips into hers.

"You realize we have swans back in Paris right, buginette?" He teased her lightly. 

"You know, if I realized that when you bought me that chocolate ladybug that it was going to come with bug related nicknames, I never would have accepted it." Marinette sniffed in false disdained. 

"Aw, c'mon, Bugaboo, you know you love them." Adrien crooned, delighting in the way Marinette's cheeks puffed out in a pout. 

Her mouth opened to retort but she was interrupted by the group of musicians they were passing  starting a ballad. 

Adrien grinned before gently grabbing Marinette's waist and bringing her closer. Her hand instinctually went to his shoulder and he started them in a slow, lazy waltz in the street. 

"Dance with me, Marinette?" He asked lightly, the grin still on his face as he looked down into her eyes. Her cheeks blossomed red. 

"Dork, we're already dancing." She had meant for it to come out nonchalantly, but the tremble in her voice gave her away.  His grin only grew wider and more catlike, if that was possible. Marinette stumbled a bit as Adrien pulled her closer. She muttered a curse and looked down at her feet, but her gaze was quickly brought back upwards when Adrien laid his forehead against hers. Marinette could feel her entire face heat up and felt it flush down her neck. 

"If we get run over, I'm blaming you." She grumbled, trying to distract herself from how green his eyes were. 

Adrien laughed. 

"I think I can live with that." 

He was so close. She could feel his breath fan out across her lips. She swallowed hard. Adrien dipped down even farther until their noses rubbed together and their lips only centimeters apart. 

"Mari." He breathed. And she could almost feel his lips on hers. He was so close, just a little closer...

The song abruptly ended and a livelier one began. Adrien took a step back and gave her a small smile, the questions in his eyes mirrored in hers, before quickening their pace to match the jaunty tune. 

He spun her and he watched as she laughed out loud; her pink, off the shoulder sun dress, spinning with her; the tension that surrounding them only a moment ago, seemingly forgotten. Marinette shrieked as Adrien boosted her up into the air and begun spinning again. Laughing again, she threw her arms out and he continued to spin her until they were both dizzy. Both of them laughing and spinning and not really caring about what they actual steps were, they danced to two more songs before Adrien noticed the darkening sky (and his grumbling stomach). 

"We should head back, Mari, its getting late." He said setting her down but letting his hands linger on her waist. 

"Ah, okay." She waved at the musicians and they grinned and waved back, whistling when Adrien took her hand. 

Adrien was already thinking of all the food that was waiting for him back in their hotel room. He was so distracted by the thought of simple carbs that he missed what Marinette said. 

"What was that?" He pulled himself from his food reverie. 

"Oh, I was just saying that there seems to be more lights on tonight. A lot more people too, and it seems that no matter where we are in the city, I can hear music. Is something going on?" 

Adrien thought about it for a moment. 

"It's what, like June 23rd? Its probably the start of the LongLake Festival." 

"What's the long lake festival?" Marinette asked curiously. 

"Its a big festival that goes from late June to the end of July," Adrien explained, "They do things like concerts, and arts and crafts and a bunch of other stuff too. I think they have about 500 events or so, each season. The events are pretty varied, but you can bet that on any night of the LongLake Festival there will be multiple concerts running." 

"Really? And are all the bands local?" She followed up excitedly. 

"No, its a mix of local, regional, national and international," Adrien looked thoughtful before continuing, "When we used to come down here for vacation, I was never allowed to go see the concerts since most of them were late at night but I distinctly remember helping break open a llama pinata in the streets." 

Adrien opened the door for Marinette as they reached the hotel. 

"A llama?" She asked in amusement as she went through the door. 

"Yup." He responded cheerfully. He intertwined his fingers with hers again as he stepped through the door to join her. 

Marinette chewed her lip as she looked up at him carefully. 

"Well, would you, that is you don't have to, especially since I've dragged you all around all day today, but if you want, do you, maybe, wanna go?" 

"To what, the concerts?" He asked in surprise. He watched as she nodded. Adrien considered, he was a little tired but going to the concerts sounded like great fun, plus he could spend more time with her. "Yeah, lets go. After dinner, of course." 

Marinette bounced up and down, and cheered. She dashed forward to press the button for the elevator, chattering excitedly all the time. Adrien watched her with a grin on his face and as the doors to the elevator opened, he gave a little bow. 

"You first, my lady." 

Marinette hummed appreciatively. 

"You know, I like "my lady" much better than the bug themed nicknames." She looked up him impishly. 

"Don't come for my genius nicknames." 

Marinette snorted in reply. A sassy reply dying on her lips as Adrien leaned down to whisper in her ear. 

"But, between you and me, I like "My Lady" better, too." 

Marinette shivered as his breath ghosted in the shell of her ear. Her cheeks heating up, feeling the smirk on his features without even having to look. 

"Is it because it marks me as yours?" She wasn't sure where that bit of boldness came from, but as she was soon rewarded as she watched a deep flush crawl over Adrien's cheeks as she peeped up at him from under her lashes. 

*Ding* 

The elevators doors opened and Marinette sauntered out of them. 

Adrien admired the hips swaying in denim that walked in front of him. A flush crept up his neck and cheeks as he bit his lip, trying desperately to tear his gaze away. But if he shifted his gaze down, there was skin. Long legs that seemed to go on for miles (strange for how short they were). And if he jerked his gaze upwards, more skin peeking out from where the tank top didn't quite meet the waistband of jean shorts. And if he shifted his gaze even further up, soft curves of cleavage peeking out of the low scoop neck of the fabric that covered them. And above that was the slight shadow of collar bones, the sloping of neck up to meet a jawline framed by pretty, dark curls and then it was pink rosy lips, shiny from lip balm and then pretty rosy cheeks and then...Adrien knew that if he stared into blue eyes, it'd all be over. 

"Adrien?" Marinette asked questioningly. 

Taking a big gulp of breath in, Adrien snapped his gaze up to the eyes that were looking at him over her shoulder and just for a second, let himself get lost. 

He let out a soft groan and drug the hand that wasn't in hers across his face as he blushed up to the roots of his hair. 

"Sorry." He mumbled, embarrassed at being caught at staring (read checking her out).

 He watched as her lips curled into a smirk, looking like a cat who had stolen all the cream. He watched as her hair flounced with her as she turned back to face the direction she was walking. 

He groaned internally, both cursing and praising any and every god that ever allowed a tempest like Marinette to walk the earth.

They made it down to the waterfront  where bright lights were flashing and you could feel the beat rather than hear it. The actual band was playing on a makeshift stage that stood on the sand. Marinette immediately threw herself at the squirming mass of people swaying in time on the music, hauling Adrien with her.  Adrien tightened his grip on her hand and let his other hand come up to grip her waist, trying to ensure that he wouldn't loose the petite mass of energy in the crowd. They finally got to a place where Marinette was satisfied that they were close enough to see the band playing on the stage, but not so close that they would lose all their hearing for the next two weeks. Adrien watched as she started to dance, placing both hands on her waist as her hands came up to mimic the rest of the crowd. He found himself slowly relaxing and being drawn into the excitement by the dancing bodies surrounding him. He began to allow himself to be swept up in the music and began swaying in time of Marinette's hips. 

Adrien didn't know how long they had been there (watching Marinette's hips was a bit mesmerizing and dizzying) but it had been enough time that he startled when Marinette spun around and threw her arms around his neck. Bright blue eyes gleaming up at him and he watched rather then heard her lips say his name.  Breathing out a heavy sigh, he leaned his forehead against hers and wrapped his arms around her. This isn't fair, he thought. It isn't fair that she's so pretty and this close and she's looking at me like that with her big blue eyes. It isn't fair that she fits so perfectly in my arms and it isn't fair that I just want to k...

Someone jostled them, and their eye contact broke. Adrien breathed another sigh, straightening up before Marinette motioned towards the the street away from the stage. His hand dropping to take her hand, he let her lead him out of the crowd. Adrien's eyes widened as he saw the amount of people still littered in the space between the large throng of concert goers and the street. Suddenly, Adrien began to feel the day begin to wear on him and realized how much his feet hurt. Adrien scanned the street for an unoccupied bench, but when finding none he lead Marinette to a wide wooden post dividing the sidewalk and the sand they were currently standing on, in a less populated area. He leaned against it before tugging Marinette's hips closer from where she stood a few inches away. He wrapped his arms around her and let his head rest lightly against her abdomen. Humming happily, he didn't see her smile fondly down at him and begin to play with his hair. They stayed like that for a while, letting their hearing return to normal, and just enjoying one anothers company. 

"You good?" Marinette asked and felt Adrien nod against her stomach. She pushed away from him slightly and he loosened his arms immediately, ready to drop them at a single word from her. But she merely pulled far enough away to turn to the front before settling back in his lap. Taking his hands, she wrapped them around her waist again, inadvertently reassuring him that the contact was okay. He tightened his grip and buried his face into her hair as Marinette fiddled with her cell phone. 

"Adrien would you mind if we took a picture real quick?" she asked still fiddling with her phone and he realized it was more out of nervousness rather than trying to get it to do what she wanted. He squeezed her waist before  one hand come up and push her hair behind her ear. 

"Of course." He murmured into her newly exposed ear, delighted as he watched a flush rise to her cheeks. 

"Okay Smile!" She said as she held up the phone and Adrien looked up and grinned. But right before she snapped the picture, Marinette sucked in a deep breath before turning her head and pressing a kiss to his cheek. 

*click**click**click* 

Adrien didn't need to see the pictures to know exactly how they came out. The first one would have him with an awestruck expression, the second with his cheeks as red as a firetruck, and the third with Marinette's lips curling into a smile against his cheek as she felt his cheeks jump into a smile. 

She pulled back and began going through the pictures and Adrien settled back to where he was resting on her shoulder but neither one of them could wipe the grins that still lit up their faces. 

"Do you wanna continue concert hopping." Adrien murmured into her ear, liking the effect of her cheeks lighting up whenever his lips brushed against her ear. 

Marinette shifted a bit to be able to look at him. Even with the brilliant smile on his face, she noticed how Adrien's eyelids were drooping a bit. She smiled up at him. 

"I'm kinda tired, let's go ahead and call it a night." 

"If you're sure." Adrien shrugged. They left their make shift seat and began to wander down the streets in the direction in which they came. Nearing the hotel, they passed by the musicians they passed earlier playing a slow tune. Marinette paused. Adrien turned, the question on his lips dying when he saw Marinette beaming up at him with a smile that could split the sky. 

"Hey, Adrien, dance with me?" She asked quietly, still smiling.

Adrien stood starstruck for a moment before regaining his bearings enough to return her grin. He chuckled before taking her hand and beginning a waltz, continuing where they had left off earlier as if they were never interrupted. After a minute of grinning at each other and giggling like school girls, Marinette took a deep breath and moved to wrap her hands around his neck. Adrien looked at her questioningly but his hands immediately came to circle her waist and slow them to a simple sway. She stretched up her neck and using one of her hands, she put light pressure on the back of his neck so that their foreheads met. A position that they had been in too many times today. Both feeling the others breath against their lips. Both seemed to take a breath at the same time. Both feeling that time seemed to slow down for just a few moments. 

Their swaying slowed and eventually stopped all together. Adrien brought a hand up to Marinette's cheek. He lightly let his thumb stroke the skin beneath it and neither of them breathed. Adrien watched as Marinette's eyes fluttered close as he leaned down and pressed his lips against her lightly. After realized she wasn't pulling back, he pressed his lips against hers a bit harder. He drew back just far enough to whisper her name before drawing her even closer and slating his lips across hers. He let his hands tangle in her hair as he deepened the kiss gently. 

When Adrien finally pulled back, he didn't go far. Everything touching but their lips, Adrien kept his eyes closed and relished in the feeling of Marinette's lips against his. On impulse, he leaned in and captured her lips again, sucking her bottom lip in between his lips slightly, his heart (if it was indeed beating at all) skipped a beat as he heard her suck in a breath and press against his lips a bit more forcefully. 

They broke away when they heard clapping behind them, and turned sheepishly to see the musicians cheering. Marinette squeaked and buried her head in his chest and Adrien felt his own cheeks burn. He untangled his hands from her hair to wrap around her and gently rub her upper back. He felt her arms wrap around his waist, her hands bunching in the fabric. As the band started up another song, they began to sway to the music, both content to stay in each others arms for a little while longer. 

Later that night, as Adrien lay awake replaying the moment in his mind over and over again, he couldn't help but wonder at the rightness of it all. It felt right to hold Marinette's hand, to kiss her, to lie beside her every night, to share the rest of his life with her. He glanced down as Marinette shifted in her position of laying on his chest. His arm came to wrap around her tighter and gently rub circles against her waist where his hand rested. He watched as she settled again but continued the circles as he thought. His mind floated with what ifs and whys, but he couldn't seem to make sense of any of it. He couldn't explain the feeling of rightness, the feeling of happiness that had began to worm its way into his heart. He glanced down again at the dark haired minx that laid in his arms snoring slightly and pressed a soft kiss to her hair before letting a smile split his face. 

Maybe...just maybe... He contemplated as he drifted off the sleep.

Maybe this was what was meant to be. 

*Bonus*

Marinette and Adrien unwrapping their chocolate ladybugs; 

Adrien: "So which part of the ladybug should we eat first?" 

Marinette: "Well, obviously you have to bite its head off." 

Adrien: *taking two large steps away from Marinette*

Author's Note: Wow, guy's its been a hot minute, but this chapter was really long so I hope it makes up for it. But seriously this chapter was long, we broke 5k words for this one! This chapter was pretty much pure fluff (your welcome), next we have the finally day in Lugano and in chapters coming up Nino and Alya will be making an appearance! I hope you guys enjoy all of this fluff, because after this its back to the normally scheduled angst. I have a big chapter of pure angst planned so look out for that. I've left some explanations of some of the locations that were mentioned in this chapter down below in case you were confused at all, and let this be a reminder that I have never been to Lugano, Switzerland but I did try and portray it accurately! As always I love all of you guy's comments, I do read them all even if I can't respond to them all. That reminds me, idk if you guys noticed but I changed both my profile picture and handle on both here and Ao3 so it should be Kailyrnew on both,just so you know. 

Love always, 

Kaily

Places/Locations

Palazzo Civico--city hall that stands in a popular piazza in Lugano 

Grand Cafe Al Porto-- Cafe, that was a medieval convent built in 1803 and the interior is still the same 

Gioielleria Prezios --jewelry shop 

Gucci haute couture shops (Gucci, Hermes, Jil Sander) 

 Via Nassa--intersection, near Lugano tourist office, where a lot of high end clothing shops and boutiques are located. 

Emerold board shop--clothing shop, decent prices

S2--clothing boutique 

Il cappello--custom made clothing shop

El catto--boutique

Laderach Chocolaterie SuisseSwiss chocolate shop - slightly pricey! Smack in the middle of the city centre near Lugano train station. They will allow you to sample the bark.