Adrien stood on the balcony of his new San Valentino residence and watched as the sun's golden light bathed the landscape in a warm, fading glow. The resort was bustling with evening activity, painted in hues of amber and rose by the descending sun. His view extended over terracotta rooftops, winding cobblestone paths, and patrons enjoying their meals alfresco.

In the distance, the coastline sparkled as waves gently rolled onto the sandy shores, reflecting the sky's vivid colours. Seagulls soared overhead, their calls blending with the distant hum of resort life. Beyond the city, verdant hills stretched out into the horizon, crowned by ancient olive groves and cypress trees.

As twilight settled over the island, Adrien felt a sense of tranquillity wash over him, accompanied by Plagg's quiet contentment beside him. The evening promised serenity, the perfect backdrop for reflection amidst the resort's timeless beauty.

"It's gorgeous here, isn't it?" Adrien sighed, his hands expertly fastening his buttons, making sure to roll his sleeves and hide the unique Gabriel label his father stitched into his clothing. The personalised branding of Adrien Agreste—would he ever be free?

"Are we really going to ignore the fact you're now in a relationship with Ladybug?" Plagg raised an eyebrow, a ridiculous smirk plastered over his face.

Adrien shook his head, a pent up amount of breath leaving his mouth as he did. "We're not together. We're just making sure our time here isn't wasted. Who would have thought this resort would be couples only—without being couples only?"

"And what do you think Marinette would say if she found out?" Plagg asked, settling himself down on the balcony.

"She won't find out. Plus, she made it very clear that she didn't love me anymore." Adrien grabbed his ring and spun it around his finger. He thought back to a week ago and Marinette's heartbreaking declaration and trash can full of photos. "Sometimes I wonder if I should just give up on love altogether."

"There's still time. Pigtails is obviously dealing with something at the moment. Just give her a chance to figure herself out, then maybe try again. Or you could just make it real with your partner. She seemed more than willing this afternoon."

"Maybe," Adrien said, leaning his arms forward onto the balcony.

Plagg was right. It didn't take her too long to come up with the convoluted plan that they should 'date' whilst they were here, taking full advantage of the wonderful hotel and all its amenities.

And he couldn't deny that there was still something there between himself and Ladybug. After all, they'd been through a lot, and he did genuinely love her. But Marinette had just...he couldn't even explain it. She was just there and so easy to fall for. She crept under his skin and made herself at home without even trying. The way she was with him was something he hadn't felt in years—apart from with Ladybug.

She was kind, considerate, and strong, and he wanted nothing more than being able to call her his own. But he needed to focus here and now. He'd snuck off to collect his bags and put them into their room without Ladybug noticing, after all, they were plastered in labels stating his true identity which he needed to wrestle off. So now, here he was, spending the week in a one-bedroom villa with his partner... One bedroom. One bed.

He never considered that his first time sleeping with a woman would be like this... To be honest, he wouldn't want anyone to look into his thoughts about his 'first time' at all—sometimes he even disturbed himself.

"Just enjoy the break. Your father doesn't know you're not at home, you're in paradise with someone you care about and who cares about you...and your cousin will be here in the morning. What more could you want?"

Adrien scoffed. "What more could I want? How about Marinette here in place of Ladybug, and for her to say she loves me as much as I love her?"

Félix being here with him was less than desirable, but there was nothing he could do, not without revealing himself anyway.

"I can't perform miracles, Adrien."

"Kitty?" The soft tones of his partner's voice oozed through the air and wrapped him up in a tight hug. One word from her lips could still send him into a tizz.

"Out on the balcony." He looked at Plagg and smiled. "We'll speak soon, my friend."

With a flash of green, his quantum masking reappeared, and he could feel his Lady behind him. The increase in his powers made her scent drift almost effortlessly to his senses, the smell of flowers and fruit adding a new layer of relaxation to his vacation. Did she always smell this good?

"Are you all ready to—" he trailed off, frozen in mid turn, as his breath was taken by the beauty standing before him. He couldn't help but think the glow of the light was nothing more than an angel's calling, because right now, backed by the lights of their bedroom, she looked ethereal. "You look...wow!"

"Do you really think so?"

She brushed a stray lock of hair behind her ear in an unsure motion, and he felt his own hand twitch to go and smooth it down. He hated the way his heart was so torn between the two girls, constantly to-ing and fro-ing like a breeze on a windy day.

When he'd been to Marinette to let her know how he felt, he had fully committed, telling himself that it would never happen with Ladybug so to look into something more real and more true. He never expected Marinette to turn him down, not after what he'd heard at André's. But she had, and now he had to live with that.

Stepping forward with whatever confidence he could muster, he took her hand in his, and brought it to his lips, looking at her from underneath his eyelashes. Her cheeks blushed a light shade of pink, joined by the sensual lowering of her lids. This was a different Ladybug to what he knew, part of him wondering if maybe catching him in his birthday suit earlier was a stroke of luck on his side.

"Shall we go and eat?" he asked, letting go of her hand and offering out his arm, feeling pleasantly surprised when she took it.

"Sure."

They headed back through the bedroom, down into the main area of the villa, before exiting and following the track towards the main building. He looked down to her, something so familiar pulling at his heartstrings. "So, how's things with the boy you love?"

Diverting his attention back to the front, Chat Noir focused on where they were going and not the way her red dress clung to all the right places and made her eyes pop.

"Oh...um, he told me he loves me."

Ouch! That hurt a lot more than he expected it to. "And what did you say? Let me guess, you told him you loved him, too, jumped into his arms, and planted a rather dramatic kiss on his lips."

He felt her tense before she left out a humourless laugh. "You know me so well."

Yes, he did, and he knew she was lying. "What happened, Bug?"

She shrugged. "I think I decided I wanted something else—someone else."

His own body reacted to the words, his eyes keeping fixated on the path in front and not his partner who he was quite sure was staring at him.

"Someone else, eh? That sounds like unfortunate timing."

"Yeah, it is."

They continued in silence, stepping in unison down the cobbled path and in the direction of the main area of the resort. He didn't know what to say? Did he bring up the point he still had some kind of feeling for her but was fighting for another? Or did he just give up on Marinette and take a chance with Ladybug? That's if he was the new interest she was talking about.

The silence consumed them like a malfunctioning elevator, trapping them in a series of uncomfortable pauses and forced small talk.

"I've made you uncomfortable," she said, her voice quiet and blending in with the soft sounds of the sea waves crashing against rocks.

"No, it's fine, honestly." He turned his head to smile down at his partner, her teeth nervously nibbling on her bottom lip. "Hey." He stopped, coming in front of her and taking her hands. "You would never make me uncomfortable. We've been through a lot and I'm sure there's still a lot more to come. Maybe, we just see how it goes this week. We deserve this break. Let's just enjoy it..." He grabbed her hands and pulled them into his chest. "Together."

Ladybug smiled at him, stretching onto her toes and pressing a soft kiss to his cheek without any sign of hesitation. "Thank you."

"Always."

They continued walking to the restaurant, but regardless of what he'd said, his nerves were still there, bugging him.

"Are you okay?" And obviously she could tell.

"Yeah, yeah!" he stuttered out. "I'm fine—no, cool. I'm as cool as a cucumber...actually no, not a cucumber because they scare cats, maybe a yoghurt or...or Elsa!"

Elsa? Oh yes, compare yourselves to a Disney Queen. Great idea, Adrien.

Ladybug snorted. "No need to be weird about this, Chaton. I'm not going to do anything to you. I promise I won't jump you in bed."

And there was that idea, well and truly planted in his maturing brain. She wasn't going to jump him in bed—bed—a very tight, intimate space they would be sharing. A place he was sure would be the greatest awkward moment in the history of all moments. Forget Ross saying Rachel's name at the altar; he was about to share a bed with the woman he used to love, who he saw topless that morning. Oh, hell! Nothing here was going to work.

He froze on the spot, the words moving around his head like lost luggage on a baggage carousel.

Maybe, just maybe, he wasn't exactly as over Ladybug as he originally thought.