Adrien's 18th birthday was three weeks away and he couldn't wait. He wanted to know all the details of his gift. He wanted to find his soulmate, and he wanted to know if he was right. He had figured out that his gift must have something to do with his ability to read people. His father had trained him to be a manipulator and that he was, he played the girls, only he got smart he turned into Chat to be a player and Adrien was the poster boy perfection that every girl wanted. Chat could be the player he that every girl loved to hate but dated anyway.

Adrien loved it, Chat could be whoever Adrien wanted him to be. He and My Lady Fashion also had fun being silly and flirty online. This is also why he had realized who My Lady Fashion was, and kept that secret very guarded because after all his best friend's secret was worth protecting until it served him best.

Adrien had also realized two interesting facts about his best friend. Mari never said no, she always did what she was told by her friends and family. He tired and could never get her to not do something she clearly didn't want to do. She always played along. Sometimes he'd have to tell her to stop. He couldn't understand why; he always knew when she was unhappy with what she was told to do, but she did it anyway. He also knew that she was head over heels for Luka, he'd heard Mari say that Luka had invited her to move in with him after grad. Mari was convinced Luka was her soulmate. Adrien wasn't. He may have set them up, but now he was rethinking that choice.

Mair, on the other hand, was loving her life, when she wasn't being told what to do. She was in love with a boy who played the sweetest music and never told her to do anything, he always asked. Her My Lady Fashion business was growing, she had a website now, her friend Max built it for her and swear to keep her secret. Luka also new she was My Lady Fashion only because she wanted to use the costumes she had made for the band in her Instagram account.

So Luka found out, and because he loved her and wanted to help grow her business, as it grew her brand and portfolio which she would need to get into the fashion school she wanted. "On one condition Mare, you have to do a reveal after you get accepted into that fancy fashion school." This was the only time Mari could remember Luka telling her what to do.

Luka had also realized something, Mari wasn't his soulmate, He had figured it out on his 18th birthday a year ago, his gift was the one of melody. His pair was harmony, and they had run into each other several times at music events. Both of them dating other people but agreed to make music together, and both joked they had a backup plan if their current dates ever left them.

Alya and Nino had started dating and were in love with one another. Their birthdays fell between Adrien and Marinette's so they would soon confirm what everyone already knew, they where soulmates. Alya had a need for justice that was only matched by Ninos need to be a protector. They completed each other.

Three Fridays before his birthday, Adrien, Mari, Luka, Nino and Ayla were all sitting at a table after school, going over Adrien's birthday party proposal for his father. "Seriously dude, why do we need to write a proposal for your party?"Nino complained falling into his girlfriend's side.

"Because" Alya sat up causing Nino to fall backwards, "My son needs practices for how things work in the business world, so that way he can graduate top of his class in college and take over for me one day as the world first CEO model." Alya gave her best Gabriel's impression.

The whole table broke out into laughter. "Hey, that was a good one! Though the first CEO model is my goal, not fathers." Adrien started to gain his composer. "Alright, reports guys."

"Look at him all professional" Ayla giggled, "Here is a list of guests, and invites for each of them assuming Lukas location is a go. And mom agreed to cater for free promo."

"Yep mom said we could use the house bout, she's even getting it professionally cleaned. She'll do it free of charge since my band is playing and the promo is all she wants for us." Luka added his stack to of papers to Alyas.

"And I whipped up an awesome list of tunes for when the bands not playing and worked out a sweet light show for my list and I am going Lukas band practice to work out lights for his show. Also free of charge." Nino added his paper to the stack.

"And I got my parents to do some baking, they'll make a cake, passion fruit macaroons and several other treats, again just for the promo of catering your party. They also love you so would have done it for free but they felt your father would have not let that slide. And I cleared space in my schedule to design an outfit for you free of charge if your father lets me." Mari added her paper to the stack.

"Wow, Mari you don't have too..." She brought her hand up silencing him.

"I want to. We've been dreaming about this since we were kids."

"Alright then. Looks like everything is in place. All that's left is to get my father to approve the party date, the Saturday after my birthday." Adrien looked down at the stack, he hoped this worked. He made it cost nothing other than photos on an Instagram story and view posts that night. He wanted to prove that he could plan an event.

"Right your birthdays on a Wednesday this year, your father is taking you to lunch to tell you all about your gift right?" Adrien nodded, "Lucky you. I still have to wait for 5 weeks for mine." Nino complained.

"Well, I have to wait 8 weeks for mine." Alya shot back, "Oh well they're just gonna tell us we are meant to be." she leaned in and kissed his cheek.

"Well, I still have three months until I find out my future." Mari leaned into Luka.

"Well, guys sometimes it's not all it's cracked up to be." Luka looked away from the group. Nobody seemed to hear him, they were all busy talking about parties and soulmates.

Adrien noticed he didn't look down at Mari or make any comment about Mari being his soul mate this made him mad. He wanted Luka to look at Mari with love, the same way Mari looked up at Luka. Adrien at that moment knew Luka wasn't her soulmate and Luka knew it too.

"Alright, guys well we have everything we need, I'm meeting with father tonight so we will touch base on Monday?" everyone nodded and got up to leave, "Hey Luka before you and Mari runoff, can I ask you something."

"Ah sure, Mare you head to your locker, I'll meet you there." Luka leaned down and kissed her cheek. He watched her walk away. "Alright what's up?"

"She's not your soulmate and you know it." Adrien stood there, arms crossed. He wasn't gonna mess around not when it came to his best friend. "You know her dream is to be with her soulmate and you're taking that from her!"

"I know, but I met my soulmate, and she was with someone else to. I might not be Mares soulmate but she has my heart and when she turns 18 and learns the truth, I'll let her choose. I won't force her." Luka challenged him.

The boys had a staredown and Luka left to find Marinette.

---------------------------------------------------Adrien's Birthday------------------------------------------------------

It was his birthday lunch with his father. His father had been impressed with his proposal and had said yes to everything. He had his final fitting with Mari tonight and the traditional pizza supper that he had with her parents for years. His father had always made time for lunch on his birthday but that meant giving up supper. So Mari's family took him in for the evening.

"So Father, will you tell me now?" Adrien had finished his meal.

His father chuckled, "Yes my son. I'm sure you already know, your gift is the gift of Observance. That's why you can read and manipulate people so well." his father smiled.

"So what's my soulmates gift?" Adrien hopped it would be clear.

His father remembered well what Plag had said all those years ago, "Your soulmate will be a girl who does everything she is told, she has the gift of Obedience. You will always know when she happy or not with what she is being made to do. When his soulmate turns 18, his commands will override even her parents. Son do you know what that means? She is yours, no matter what, even if she doesn't love you she is yours." His father smiled down at his son.

Adrien smiled. He knew who his soulmate was. "Father I know who she is." His father's face lit up, "But I don't want to tell you just yet. I want to test it first, and if I'm right I want to hire her as my full-time live-in assistance and move out of the house, she and Natalie will work together, and I will work for you in the day and take even classes at night."

His father was pleased with his son's plan, he knew his son would do well. "Well, my son then I think it's time for you to get your gift from me." his father side a small box across the table. Adrien slowly opened the box and a set of keys fell out.

"Father? You bought me a house?" Adrien was shocked. He couldn't believe it.

"Sort of. It's a house your mother I bought before you were born. I was going to be our hideaway from public life as I already a big deal in the fashion world" his eyes got cloudy. "But after she passed, I couldn't live there but couldn't sell it, so I kept it to give it to you."

"Wow Father, this is amazing." he started at the man he thought didn't care about him.

"I've hired a contractor to help you make changes you want to the house yours. You can move in after grad, and hopefully, your assistance is with you. And when you get that all settled I want to meet her." His father smiled.

"Of course Father." Adrien looked up at his father seeing a man he'd never seen before.

A while later at Mari's, he wanted to test his theory, not in a jerk like way, that was Chats job, Adrien was a golden poster boy. "Hey Mari, tell me do you think Luka is your soulmate?"

Mari tensed clearly she didn't want to talk about this, "I don't know." she looked back realizing the blazer she had made need to be taken in for the look that she wanted.

"Will you leave him if he's not?" He pushed as she removed the blazer.

"I guess it depends on who it is." she worked on taking out the seams and mutter under her breath "If I get a choice."

"Repeat that." Adrien was testing his theory, while it was just the two them, he more commands and fewer questions.

"If I even get a choice," she said with annoyance.

"What do you mean by that? Tell me." he softens his voice, he was actually curious. Had she like him figured out her gift and was just waiting for confirmation.

"Well, I'm sure you notice that I always do what I'm told." Mari sighed.

Adrien had never shown Mari in person his Chat side, she only knew Chat as an online personality. So he would have a little bit of fun. "Oh do you? I hadn't noticed."

"Right Adrien, you the boy who knows all didn't notice something." She rolled her eyes and handed him the blazer. He posed for her and she clapped. "It's perfect, grown-up but still fun. You change and I'll be back in a few." she ducked down out her trap door.

Adrien smiled, supper was still an hour away, and he would have fun teasing Mari. He changed and placed the clothes in the bag Mari had left for him. She pocked her head back in, "All clear?"

"Yep come in." He smirked. "So you always do what you're told eh?" she nodded, "So if I told you to come here and stand next to me, you would?"

"Please don't Adrien." when she made the mistake of making this comment to Alya, Alya had made her tell Ayla kinds of things.

"Come here, Mari." Adrien looked at her daring her to say no. but she couldn't. She walked over.

"I don't have to like you, you know." She stood looking up at him.

"Of course you do, I'm your best friend" He smiled, she was sassy, she may be forced to listen to him, but he wanted to make sure she knew she would have the freedom to speak her mind. If she ever got too lippy for his liking, he had Chat to make her pay. "Turn around."

She rolled her eyes and did as she was told. "I hate you."

"Admit your lying," he smirked as she sighed.

"Fine, I don't hate you." she crossed her arms.

"There's my good girl." he wrapped arms around her waist and pulled in to a hug. "See I just wanted a hug from my best friend."

"Then you could have just asked for one." she huffed relaxing into a hug.

"Ya but if asked then I couldn't have lured you into my trap," he smirked remembering the trick from when he was a kid. Mari clearly knew what he was referring to as she tried to sneak out of his arms. She was to slow for her own good and found herself being tickled until she lost her balance.

"Adrien!" she laughed, "Stop!" she twisted, "We haven't fought like this since we where kids!" she couldn't get away.

"Well, Mari maybe I'm feeling nostalgic. So come on fight me." he knew this was one order Mari was open to, even if it was just to get herself free.

Before long they where in fits of laughter and Mari forgot the fear that welled in her chest when Adrien first commented. She could trust him, they were best friends after all. If only Mari knew all the plans that were in her best friend's head, she would know the boy wasn't as sweet as everyone thought.