Sitting in Félix and Kagami's villa, Chat Noir could only really compare it to sitting in the headteacher's office—not that he'd ever been there.

He sat with Ladybug on one side and Félix the other, each of them showing nothing but guilt on their faces—though he was sure his and Ladybug's guilt might be linked to the shower they'd taken together instead of getting ready. They may have extended those three minutes to twenty-three.

"Did I tell you how beautiful you look this evening?"

Chat Noir heard Ladybug suck in a laugh as Félix attempted flattery on the one person he was sure never responded to such advances.

"Absolutely divine," he decided to add, Félix turning and giving him a scowl.

Kagami stopped, her head turning slowly to face them as though she was possessed. "Both of you need to learn when your opinions are appropriate."

In other words: keep your mouths shut.

"Ladybug, anything you want to add?" The look Kagami was throwing her way was equivalent to a knife throwing act. Her glare was sharp, harmful and completely unnecessary. What had she ever done to Kagami?

"Nope, I think the boys said it all." She smiled up at Kagami who didn't even change a millimetre of her face. There was definitely something here that Kagami wanted to get off her chest. "Though, maybe you could give me the number of your hair stylist. This new 'do' looks divine."

"I've been telling her for weeks how poofy her fringe is looking. Like a marshmallow."

Chat Noir let out a chortle, almost certain Kagami was about to dispose of his cousin over the nearest cliff.

"So," Chat Noir coughed, "how much did you actually hear?" His hand sought out Ladybug's, bracing himself for the second reveal of the night. Maybe it would help him with the whole 'not being there for her when they were together' situation—finally some closure to their short lived relationship.

"Enough to know who you are, and that you're cheating on my best friend with this hussy."

This time it was Félix's turn to snort.

Chat Noir and Ladybug sat stock still. He didn't know which was more shocking, the fact she thought Marinette and he were in a relationship or that Kagami Tsurugi had just used the word hussy.

"I'm not a hussy!"

"She's not a hussy!"

Chat Noir and Ladybug spoke at the same time, hands still joined and keeping a united front against their new foe. Together as always.

"You do realise I can't lie to Marinette. She's my best friend. You either phone her and tell her, or I will! No texting, no emailing. You call her or Bibbity Bobbity Boo to her! I don't care! But you tell her."

"Bibbity Bobbity Boo? How much did she drink?" Ladybug suddenly asked Félix, much to Kagami's chagrin.

"I'm not drunk," she stated, before turning her attention to Adrien. "I just feel sorry for Marinette. You're perfect for each other. I don't understand what changed."

That was the most heartfelt thing he'd ever heard her say. With a sigh, he dropped his transformation and stood up, feeling Ladybug's hand reluctantly let him go. "I promise you," Adrien said. "I love Marinette with all my heart. But I love Ladybug too. It's not as black and white as it seems."

"Or red and black," Félix chipped in. Turning sharply, Adrien glared at his cousin. Félix shrugged in response.

"But Marinette!" Kagami stated, moving forward towards Adrien. "Your heart is too fickle, Adrien."

His eyes met with Ladybug's and he could see she was thinking. A consideration running through her head and one he wasn't even going to offer advice on. He'd made his mess; he wasn't going to bring her down into it, too.

She stood up, making her way over to them and threaded an arm through Adrien's. "He hasn't got a fickle heart, Kagami." She looked at him and whispered her transformation words, leaving Marinette in the midst of a pink glow.

"Oh," Kagami muttered, Félix crashing to the floor behind them.

"Hi," Marinette whispered to Kagami, unthreading her arm from around Adrien's to step forward and take Kagami into a hug. "Thank you for being such an amazing friend."

Félix began to lift himself off the floor and back onto his feet. "How did I not figure this out? I should have known that more than one person couldn't be attracted to you."

"Piss off, Félix!" Adrien hissed, stepping forward to join the hug with Kagami and Marinette.

They stayed like that for a while, the three of them soaking each other in.

"So, when did you find out Ladybug was Marinette?" Kagami asked, the group breaking apart and moving back to sit on the sofas.

"After the first contest. Let's just say she gave herself away with her random knowledge no one was ever meant to know." Adrien sat down, holding an arm out for Marinette to slip into. It was so effortless being with her, so natural and comfortable. She tucked her feet under her as she settled into him. The corner of his lips twisted up, he wanted this for the rest of his life. This was where he belonged. He pressed a kiss into the side of her head, a sign of no hard feelings to her crazy behaviour.

"Yeah, I think I need to apologise for a lot that was said during the competitions. My...um, competitive spirit kind of got a hold of me." Félix slung an arm around Kagami's shoulders and tugged her closer, his face once again oozing with a remorse Adrien had never seen before.

"You still have a lot of making up to do, cousin. There's more than just this week you need to make amends for."

Marinette looked up to Adrien with a gracious smile. He had her back all the way.

Félix nodded. "I understand."

"So, what do we do now?" Marinette asked.

"Well, this was what Adrien and I were discussing," Félix said, handing the baton over to Adrien to explain.

"As you know, my father can be a little..."

"Overprotective," Kagami chipped in.

"Stubborn," Marinette added.

"Bit of a dick?" Félix exclaimed, both girls sounding their approval of the term.

"Difficult," Adrien continued. "So we need to make a plan that will take control from him. He thinks I'm here with Kagami for a romantic getaway, and all the press so far has been extremely pro-Adrigami."

"And we need to change that," Félix joined in. "Gabriel likes to be in control and likes everything to be positive about him and his company—his main asset being Adrien."

"Adrien won't do anything to upset his father," Kagami announced, and, even though he knew she didn't mean it maliciously, it still came with quite the kick in the gut.

"But Félix would," Marinette said.

"Too right," Félix replied.

Adrien smiled at how his team was suddenly coming together and writing on the same page as him. "So, what's the plan?" Marinette asked, looking from cousin to cousin.

"I thought you'd never asked." Félix's eyes glistened with mischief as he began to describe the idea, one he hoped would finally put an end to his father's demanding ways once and for all.

An hour later, Adrien led Marinette through the door of their villa, his girlfriend resting her head against him, her eyes barely open.

"Come on, Sleeping Beauty. It's time for a siesta."

"Carry me, please." Her voice was drunk with sleep, the words mumbled in the cutest way.

He let out a small laugh. "What if I drop you?"

She looked up at him under her eyelashes, and suddenly she seemed so young. "I trust you," she said. "I always trust you."

How could he possibly deny her?

He called on his transformation to gain confidence to carry her up the staircase without dropping her.

Scooping her into his arms, she nuzzled into him with a soft sigh of contentment. His heart almost gave out from the love he was feeling. His stomach swirled like he'd eaten too many sweet treats, enjoying the moment and the buzz, but slightly afraid for what might come later.

"You're overthinking, Chaton," Marinette whispered, her lips giving delicate kisses to her partner's neck.

"How could I not?" he replied. "This is like a dream. How do I know I won't wake up at home, alone in my bed?"

"Take me to bed and I'll prove it to you."

Well that was unexpected. "You're too tired, M'Lady."

"Never for you. Put me down."

He hadn't even realised they'd made it to the top of the staircase, now standing in their bedroom, which had become their little haven. Gently, he dropped her feet down to the floor, keeping his arms around her in support.

"Adrien Chat Noir Agreste, I am so hopelessly in love with you I would trade my favourite beret to keep you."

Chat Noir smiled. "You're favourite beret? Hold her back, people."

"Shut up! I'm tired and can't think straight." She was smiling and the dazzling white was his favourite sight in the world.

He leaned down, his nose meeting hers with a delicate brush. "I'd choose you over a chouquette any day."

A low rumble sounded in the base of her throat, her hands moving up to thread through his hair. "I love it when you talk dirty to me."

He chuckled, bringing his lips down to gently brush against hers. "Addio croissants, too..."

She groaned.

"Arrivederci, beignets..."

She pushed herself into him closer, her lips kissing him just on the corner of his mouth.

"Adios, galette."

"Adios is Spanish."

"We can go violate a bed there next. There are a lot of countries, Bugaboo, and I intend for us to start working our way through them all."

"You seem awfully sure of yourself," she said, moving to kiss the other side of his mouth, her hands grabbing his hair a little tighter in her fists.

He wiggled his eyebrows. "You seem awfully sure of touching me."

"Shut up and kiss me."

And so he did, exploring her so fully he could never return to normality again.