Adrien sat at the piano playing while Marientte cooked dinner. He had been making tweaks to that piece he had been writing for her. It still didn't have a name yet though. As he jotted more notes on his music sheets he could hear her lightly humming the tune in the kitchen. He felt his heart flutter at the sound and smiled to himself.

The last few weeks had been a flurry of activity for them. Marientte and Sasha brainstormed ideas, deciding that a spring opening would give them some time to put a modest collection together for the boutique's grand opening. Marinette had a steady clientele through her commissions online, so there was already a market ready to tap into. Having the extra hands working freed up time for Marientte to complete her wedding dress and work on the bridesmaids for Alya and Chloé. Adrien and Nino ordered their Armani suits and got Felix to organise his from London. They were expecting Felix to arrive with his mother in a few days so they could spend some time together before the wedding.

Adrien quietly padded his way over to the kitchen and leaned against the cupboard with his hands in his pockets watching Marinette as she cooked. He never made a sound, his catlike tread barely raising a whisper, but as always she knew when he was there and that he was watching her, but continued on with a small smirk. "Like what you see Kitty?" She teased, tossing the vegetables into the wok.

"Always have." He replied, walking over to wrap his arms around her waist from behind as she cooked. He breathed in the familiar smell of vanilla in her hair. "Smells so good." Marinette started to giggle.

"Me or the dinner?" She asked. He buried his nose into her hair.

"Both." He answered coyly. Marientte turned around in his arms, crossing her hands behind his neck. She looked up at him with a little concern in her face.

"You look tired Chaton?" She said, running a hand down his face. He grabbed her hand and kissed her palm.

"It's just the early mornings down at the bakery. I don't mind though. I love what I do, and I feel like I'm actually doing something worthwhile, not just giving a fake smile to a camera. It's not like modeling contributed much to anything."

"It contributed to Pigtail's walls." Plagg chimed in from the fridge behind them. Marientte flushed red in the face.

"Plagg that's not nice." Tikki scolded.

"Relax Sugarcube, it wasn't as bad as Adrien's Ladybug shrine inside his wardrobe. He even had dolls." Adrien threw his head back and groaned as Marientte giggled at him.

"Action figures Plagg. They were action figures, not dolls - and they were collectibles." Plagg just scoffed.

"I doubt those silky Ladybug boxer shorts you practically lived in were collectibles." Adrien narrowed his eyes at his Kwami before turning his head in thought with a sarcastic air.

"You know, you're looking a little fat there Plagg, maybe we should put you on some light dairy free cheese for a while, help you lose a bit of that weight." Marientte snorted while Plagg recoiled in horror.

"You wouldn't." He gasped. "You wouldn't feed me that abomination...that pathetic excuse of an imitation for cheese." Adrien smirked as he shrugged his shoulders, his arms tightening around Marientte's waist. She pressed her head against his chest, still trying not to giggle at the offended Kwami.

"Try me." He said with a casual air. Plagg was about to retort when a knock came to the door. Tikki and Plagg ducked out of the room and Adrien and Marinette looked at each other perplexed. Who would come knocking at this time?

"Felix!" Adrien exclaimed as he opened the door. "We weren't expecting you until next week. Is Aunt Amelie with you?" Felix shook his head and Adrien noticed his cousin didn't look quite himself.

"No, I came to Paris early on the quiet to spend some time with Chloé." Not wanting to continue the conversation on the doorstep, Adrien invited his cousin in to sit down. "I'm sorry to barge in like this, but there's a problem and Chloé said I should come and talk to you both about it."

"You know you're always welcome Felix." Marinette said cheerfully. "I have plenty of dinner here if you'd like some." Marientte smiled and Felix readily agreed.

"So just how big is this problem?" Adrien asked. Felix closed his eyes and sighed.

"Lila sized." He admitted, pinching his nose between his fingers as Marinette served the food. "And it's giving me a headache. I thought she had left Europe and gone to pursue a career in acting in America. I mean, she already lies for a living so it wouldn't have been that big of a big jump, but apparently she got on the wrong side of the producer so the role was given to someone else. This is really good by the way." He said between mouthfuls to Marinette as he shoved more of the noodles in. Marientte just nodded and smiled. "So she comes back around looking for me, crying a sob story and blaming you for everything being wrong in her life."

"Me?" Adrien asked, confused.

"Well, you and Marinette." Felix clarified. "She claimed that your father had promised you to her and then reneged on it in favour of Marinette, forcing her to sign a new contract and go to London." Marinette scoffed and shook her head, but Adrien didn't say anything. Felix eyed the odd expression on Adrien's face. "Don't tell me there is any truth to that?" Marinette whirled her head around to look at Adrien who lowered his eyes and shook his head. He wasn't going to tell Felix anything about what his father had planned for Marinette, nobody else knew about him wanting to swap her for Emilie, and Adrien was keeping it that way. However it wasn't the whole story.

"Not exactly." He began. "Lila is the master of half truths. Back in Collegé, Lila told a series of lies that got Marinette expelled from the school. I made an arrangement with Lila that I would continue to work with her as a model providing she lied her way to getting Marinette back in school." Marinette reached over and grabbed his hand giving it a squeeze.

"Adrien." She said softly. "You never told me you did that." Adrien smiled at her.

"I didn't really know myself why I did it at the time, I just knew I couldn't bear the thought of not seeing you again." He kissed her on the hand while Felix cleared his throat.

"Yes, well, as touching as that is, it looks Iike you might have just made yourself a deal with the devil." Adrien scoffed at his cousin who raised an eyebrow at him over his food.

"At least I wasn't sleeping with her, especially after you tried to warn me off models. Honestly Felix, what were you thinking?" Felix rolled his eyes, crossing his arms, but Adrien could see the embarrassment in his face.

"I guess I wasn't, at least not with my brain. I'll admit I was weak but she was all over me like a rash from the moment she arrived in London and she was such a vixen, so sensual and intoxicating and I caved, even though I knew from the moment I met her she was no good. She was never my girlfriend, we were clear on that right from the start and in hindsight I think she was just seeing me as a rebound from your rejection of her. After Gabriel Inc collapsed I knew I had to break it off though, it wouldn't have been fair to Chloé to keep Lila on the side. She wasn't happy about it and I let her come back more than once, especially after the failed movie stint. I couldn't help it although I really should have but Chloé was still here in Paris and Lila was right there giving me everything I wanted." He shook his head at himself. "Keeping a mistress though was just going to be more trouble than I needed." Adrien gaped at his cousin in surprise. Felix just chuckled. "Oh come on Adrien, love isn't all sunshine and roses for everyone. Lila was a good time while it lasted, but Chloé is... well we are the same kind of person and I'm comfortable with that."

Adrien reached under the table to Marinette's knee, placing his hand there with a light squeeze. He knew she would never think he felt like Felix did on the matter, but he just wanted to give that little reassurance anyway. "Is that what you really want, to be comfortable?" He asked looking into the warm loving gaze Marientte gave him. Felix cocked an eyebrow looking at the two lovebirds in front of him.

"Not everyone gets what you two have. I'm not a sensitive, feelings kind of person, I never have been but even I realised that there was something different about being with Chloé that I didn't have with Lila. There is an understanding of what is expected of us. I know what I get with Chloé , and I'm good with that." There was a wistfulness in the way Felix spoke. Adrien wondered if maybe there were much deeper feelings than Felix was letting on. His cousin had always had this carefully crafted hard exterior that he presented to the world, but under that Adrien knew there was a person who could laugh at silly jokes, buy flowers for his mother just because he wanted to make her smile and would help you out if you asked. Chloé knew that too. Maybe Felix was a bit of a prickly flower, but there was obviously enough honey there even Chloé to want to stick to.

Felix pulled out his phone and started scrolling through his messages. "Anyway, back to the reason I came. I told you Lila had been harassing me with messages and calls. Nothing major, but a pain in the butt nevertheless. I usually just ignore them, but then this happened today." He turned his phone to them to read the messages.

Lila: So I hear on the grapevine your in Paris

Felix: *you're* and what business is it of yours what I'm doing?

Lila: Fine, you don't have to tell me, I know *your* here for that stupid wedding.

Felix: *eye roll emoji* Why don't you go and annoy someone else?

Lila: Maybe I will...

Lila: I could go and annoy Adrien and Marinette and mess up their perfectly planned wedding.

Felix: What are you going to do Lila? Run down the aisle calling out 'I object'? How original

Lila: Oh no Felix baby, I have a much better idea in mind that will be far more effective.

Felix: Lila what in hell's name are you up to?

Felix: Lila...

Felix: Lila, answer me...

Adrien and Marinette shared a concerned look before turning back to Felix. "I gather this means Lila is back living in Paris?" Marinette asked. Felix nodded.

"We don't know where though. Her mother doesn't live here in Paris anymore since she took up a new diplomatic post in Geneva a few months ago. Chloé has her friend Sabina at the police force looking into it and so far nothing, but she also said that the messages were not proof enough for her to be able to do anything anyway. It could just be empty threats." Marinette shook her head.

"Knowing Lila I doubt it. I guess we'll just have to be on the lookout for her."

Adrien's phone rang. Seeing it was Nino he put the phone on speaker.

"Hey my man, what's up?"

"Dude, got a slight change of plans for the stag night." Nino's voice rang out down the phone.

"I hope you're not planning on getting my fiancé rotten blind drunk Mr Best Man?" Marinette called out as she collected up the dirty dishes.

"Hand on my heart, I'll take good care of him and bring him back in one peice, but we are going to have to change the night for it because I got a really sweet gig offered last minute at that swanky new bar opening at the Bourgeois place. I can't really turn down such a huge offer from the mayor."

"That's awesome news Nino. Congrats." Adrien said enthusiastically. "So what night do you want to have it?"

"Tomorrow if it's good with you. The boys are all on board and Alya said we shouldn't have it too close to the wedding. She's threatened me with a frypan if you turn up with a hangover on the big day." Adrien laughed at that image, although truth be told, an angry Alya was not something any man would want to encounter.

"Actually, that's perfect timing because Felix is here with us at the moment."

"Felix?" Nino dragged out the name in thought. "Oh, you mean that stuck up cousin of yours that's seeing Chloé?" Adrien's face flushed a bright red as Marinette began to giggle from the kitchen.

"Um, bro, you're on speaker." There was dead silence for a moment before Felix started to chuckle.

"Don't worry about it." He said dismissively. "I've been called worse." Adrien finally cracked and Nino began to join in the laughing.

"I'm sorry dude, let me buy you the first round as an apology?" Felix agreed before they all arranged to meet at Nino's the following night. Marinette and the girls were planning on having a bridal afternoon kitchen tea at the bakery and Nino said Alya would come hang the night with her so Adrien and Felix could crash at his place.

Felix stayed for desert and the conversation moved away from Lila and on to other things like Felix's new corporate job, his progressing relationship with Chloé and plans that he was making for the future. By the time he left it was quite late, but even though they had gone to bed, Marinette was feeling wide awake. She knew Adrien must have been exhausted though and fell asleep almost immediately. Most mornings he was at the bakery at 4am ready to start the day. Sabine said he was like a little ray of sunshine each day and her and Tom loved having him there. She could hear Adrien's soft snore, almost purr like, as he drifted off further into sleep. She slipped out of the bed and headed into the kitchen for a glass of water. Moments later she was joined by Tikki.

"Can't sleep?" The kwami asked. Marinette just nodded, looking down into her glass. "Are you worrying about Lila?" Marinete looked up, a tear evident in her eye.

"I just don't know what she will do. I've been wanting to marry Adrien since I was fourteen and now that it's finally happening, she's going to try and find a way to stop it. I thought after Hawkmoth all our worries would be over. I should have known Lila wouldn't let Adrien go that easily." She wiped a tear away with her hand. Tikki floated up to hug her cheek.

"Oh Marinette. I don't think anything Lila could try and do would be enough to stop Adrien marrying you. He loves you too much to let a little vixen like her get in the way." Marinette smiled weakly.

"You were listening to the conversation at dinner?" Tikki nodded.

"I don't agree with what Felix did, but Lila made her own decisions and she can't blame you or Adrien for that." Marinette knew Tikki was right, but still it worried her. If a woman like Lila could use sex to get at someone as stuffy as Felix, then there was no telling what she might try and pull. "You should go back to bed Marinette. Worrying won't help, and you'll just be tired for your fun afternoon with the girls."

Marinette put her glass in the sink before carefully slipping back into the bed. She cuddled up into Adrien's back, her cold feet causing him to wake slightly. "Sorry." She whispered. Adrien reached a hand around to find hers, bringing it to his lips for a kiss before holding it to his chest, a purr like sound once again building up. Adrien never used to purr unless he was transformed, but recently Marinette had begun to notice it, mostly when he was half asleep. She wasn't even sure if he knew he was doing it himself as he hadn't said anything. She found it comforting, and the nightmares that used to always haunt her sleep were becoming less and less now that she was no longer alone. She softly kissed the crease of his back before she snuggled into his warmth and drifted off to sleep.

*****
"Ah, I'm going to run out of toilet paper!" Alya yelled out among all the laughter in the bakery.

"You're going to run out of time in a minute." Marinette called back holding up the timer on her phone.

Alya had found a whole bunch of different bridal shower games on the internet which she as maid of honour decided she was going to get the girls to participate in. They had already played a game of charades based on movies with wedding themes, celebrity head with the names of famous couples and fantasy date where everyone wrote their ultimate fantasy date location on a card and they all had to guess who said what. This final game required the girls to get into pairs and create a wedding dress out of toilet paper. Rose was dressing Juleka, Mylene worked on Alix, Chloé styled Sabrina and Alya fumbled her way wrapping up Kagami. Marinette and her mum were going to be judging the winner, but the way things were going, only Rose and Juleka were going to have a finished product.

"You didn't learn any styling tips from Marinette did you?" Kagami mused, Alya rolled her eyes.

"She designs, I talk. That's how we roll." She said, tucking a lopsided bow to the front of the 'dress'.

"One minute." Marinette called and there was a burst of frantic flying loo paper. Alya quickly bunched some paper up, pinning it to Kagami's hair in an attempt to make a veil.

"It's going to fall off." Kagami said, pushing the veil back from her eyes.

"It's not going to fall off. Be more positive Kagami. Here, hold your bouquet." Alya huffed, shoving a twist pile of toilet paper into Kagami's hands just as Marinette called time.

The girls then needed to parade their dresses for judging, the rule being the garment must not fall off. Juleka went first, the 'dress' staying perfectly. Rose really had been very creative, even making small flowers for details. Next was Alix who became a walking disaster when she stood on a piece of paper that fell down, causing the whole lot to unravel. Alix threw her hands up in the air while everyone laughed. Chloé's creation on Sabrina didn't fare much better, falling off almost immediately. Chloé muttered 'utterly ridiculous' under her breath, folding her arms with a pout. Kagami then took a few tentative steps and while the 'veil' threatened to fall, it managed to stay in place. She ventured a smile to Alya, who held out a fist for her to bump. "Told you it would hold up." Alya smirked.

Marinette turned to her mum in quick consultation before picking up two pastry bags. "So the winners this round are Rose and Juleka with their haute couture masterpiece." She giggled as she passed them their bags of treats her dad and Adrien made the day before. She then picked up two more bags. "And honorary mention goes to Alya and Kagami as the other team not to have their dress fall apart." Alya slung an arm around Kagami's shoulders as they all walked back to the afternoon tea table spread.

"So, Kagami, got a special plus one you're bringing to the wedding?" Kagami shook her head as she picked some treats onto her plate, not seeing the small smile on Alya's face.

"Hey Mari, we can't leave Kagami alone at the wedding. Know anybody else that's going on their own?" Marinette thought for a moment before Rose jumped in.

"Oh, Juleka's brother Luka is going on his own." Marinette looked over surprised.

"I didn't know if he was coming or not?" Juleka looked like she had been put on the spot when all eyes suddenly turned to her.

"Well, he said he was. You know, Adrien and you being his friends and all." She mumbled under her fringe. Alya turned back to Kagami.

"There you go, you can keep Luka company." The blogger's eyes glittered in mischief. "You've met Luka before haven't you? I'm sure he would love to tell you all about his latest tour with Jagged Stone." She then sat a very confused looking Kagami down next to Juleka for Rose to fuss over before throwing a wink to Marinette. The bluenette just shook her head at her best friend. She always had to be trying to set up somebody. Alya leaned up against the serving table, folding her arms at her best friend as Marientte picked over the sandwiches. "What?" she asked as Marinette continued to shake her head and giggle.

"I'm not sure Luka is ready for someone like Kagami." She said, but Alya just shrugged.

"Maybe a bit of fire under the hood is exactly what Luka needs. Who knows, maybe something might spark out of it."

As the kitchen tea began to wind down, the stag night was just getting started. Adrien was a little apprehensive as to what the boys were going to have in store for him. He told Nino that strip clubs were absolutely off limits and although Kim complained about it, he did have Ivan and Nathaniel on his side in that regard. Instead, Nino seemed to have set up a pub crawl around Paris. Kim, not having Alix to compete with, challenged Felix to a series of shots of something Adrien couldn't even get past the smell of. Felix, however, accepted the challenge, slamming the strange drinks down in short order. Max on the timer declared Felix the victor, much to Kim's annoyance. Adrien was concerned though as they walked to the next location. Kim was much larger and fitter than Felix, so he was far less affected by the alcohol than Felix was. The latter was now struggling to stay on his feet and was slurring his words as they made their way into the pulsating lights of a nightclub.

For his part, Adrien had managed to avoid drinking too much. Despite the chance of having to transform being fairly remote now, Plagg had warned him before against the perils of being a drunk Chat Noir. The idea of having to explain to his soon to be wife why he fell off a roof didn't really appeal to him. Especially when she gets that disapproving Ladybug glare. Now though he was more concerned for his cousin's welfare as the boys continued to load him up with drinks. "Nino." Adrien called over his best friend. "Maybe lay off the booze on Felix, he isn't used to it." Nino laughed and slapped his best bro on the back.

"Dude, your cousin is finally starting to loosen up and act like one of the guys. You're not an old married man yet. Just enjoy the ride. It's your last few days of freedom after all." Adrien just blinked at Nino as he wandered off to where the other guys were dancing. Well if you could call what Kim and Ivan were doing as dancing. Nathaniel looked like he was about to die of second hand embarrassment. Adrien ran his fingers down the embroidered lapels of his hooded jacket, the one Marientte had made him. He thought that was an odd thing for Nino to say. It would never have occurred to him that marrying Marientte was losing his freedom. If anything it was the total opposite. Being with her was one of the most freeing things he'd ever done, aside from being Chat Noir, and she was there for that too. He was deep in thought when a body crashed into him, spilling a drink on his shirt under his open jacket.

"Oh I'm sorry." The small voice said. Adrien didn't know the name, but he did recognise her face.

"Hey, I know you. You were the apprentice seamstress at Gabriel right?" The girl looked at him like a deer stuck in headlights.

"Ah...um....oh yeah, that's right...Claire, that's me hehe." She fumbled, trying to wipe at his shirt with a napkin.

"Claire, right. Hey, don't worry about this, no harm done." He said a shrugging off his jacket and placed it on the table with the others from the group. "What was it, vodka?" He asked, noticing it was clear. Claire just nodded wide eyed. "Well, if any of my guys over there ask, I'm just going to the bathroom to clean up. See you round Claire." He said, patting her shoulder and flashing a dazzling smile.

Claire stared after him in a daze before a hand snatched up the jacket from the table and glared at her. "Head on the job Claire. If you want a new position in another fashion house, then you help me out here." The Italian girl poked Claire in the chest.

"But Lila, are you sure about this? He always seemed so nice." Lila rolled her eyes.

"We've been over this Claire, Adrien broke off our engagement to marry Marinette who is nothing but a filthy little gold digger. That school girl look you have might wash past Adrien but Felix is another matter. You just get your phone ready and watch a pro at work."

Lila sashayed her way over towards the bar where Felix was sitting half slumped with a glass of water in a desperate attempt to try and unclear the fog in his head. Doing shots with Kim was definitely a bad idea, he concluded. Felix felt the warmth of a jacket slip over his shoulders and a delicate finger running along his jawline.

"Miss me baby?" Lila said coyly, sitting on the bar stool next to him with her legs crossed. Felix took a moment to focus his eyes as he slid his arms into the jacket sleeves. She was wearing an impossibly tight mini black dress with a plunging neckline and the emerald necklace he had bought her after a particularly wild weekend in Monte Carlo. Her fishnet stockings completing her femme fatal look.

"Lila, what are you doing here?" He was struggling to keep his sentences clear, not wanting to give away how much he had been drinking, but he knew she'd seen him this way before. She ran her stiletto heeled foot up along his inner thigh and Felix had to close his eyes and try to pull his head back in from where it was beginning to drift.

"I came to see you honey. You must be lonely over at that hotel with just Chloé for company." She said as she zipped the jacket up to his neck. The pulsating beat of the music thumped in his ears as his own breathing began to shallow. "I'm sure she can't do for you everything I can do." The sensual tones of her voice sent a shiver down his spine as she continued to whisper in his ear. He pulled back from her to look her in the eyes.

"We can't do this anymore Lila. I'm with Chloé now, it's over." Lila leaned forward until her nose was almost touching his. Carefully she pulled the hood up just enough to cover the back of his head before she cupped his cheek with her hand.

"Are you so sure about that?" She said, bringing his lips into hers. Felix brought his right hand up, gripping her hair deepening the kiss before he suddenly jerked her head back.

"No Lila." His voice was hoarse, as much from the alcohol as his fight against his rising desire. "It's over." He reiterated trying to avoid that lustful glare of hers. Lila glanced an eye over to Claire who was holding her phone and gave a thumbs up.

"Whatever you say Felix darling." She said. Sliding off the chair she kissed him on the cheek before making her exit with Claire in tow.

Moments later Adrien emerged from the bathroom to find Felix with his head slumped down on the bar.

"Okay cousin, threatening to puke on my shoes outside is one thing, but looking like you are going to puke on my jacket is another." Felix looked at Adrien confused as he was helped off the stool.

"Your jacket?" He queried. Adrien just laughed.

"Yes my jacket. Come on, we're calling it a night. How does pizza at Nino's sound?"

"Oh yeah, hook me up." Kim jumped, fist bumping Max as Ivan and Adrien helped Felix out into the fresh air.

"I predict your cousin is going to have an 87% chance of a bad headache tomorrow." Max unhelpfully added.

"Don't I know it." Felix grumbled as the group made their way to Nino's.