[31: Always - Part 3]

Best Man's Speech

So here it is...the end of Ladynoir July *sobs* I was at a point today where I almost rewrote this whole chapter...I think I might have been trying to hold onto the fic with very tight grasps.

I have started the first wedding night one shot, and I will be doing the reveal to Tom and Sabine, however I can't make any promises as to when they will be released.

Thank you all so much again for the kind comments and kudos, please let me know what you thought of this fic and I hope to chat to some of you again soon on my other fics.

Also, thank you everyone who has helped my brain freezes and issues with putting this together.

Enjoy the last instalment of A Masked Mistake <3

•••••

"You've got no idea how much I've been looking forward to today. After all the years I've been friends with Adrien, he has finally admitted that I am in fact the best man."

The crowd started laughing as someone shouted an encore from Kim's table–most likely, Kim. The gang had been making the most of the open bar, and Nino was quite sure the majority of their friends were one drink away from committing some sort of offensive viral video, Alya included.

"Before I begin, I must explain that, this morning, Sabine asked me to remove anything resembling innuendo from my speech. Unfortunately, I didn't have time to go through it again, but if I come across anything risqué, I'll whip it out immediately."

"Woooo! Get it out," Alya shouted as she made her way back to the table, slumping down next to Marinette and grabbing her wine glass, drowning it and holding it up in support for her boyfriend.

"Anyway..." Nino diverted that attention back to himself, and away from his drunken other half. "Adrien Agreste; the man, the myth, the legend." Nino reached into his inside pocket of his suit jacket and pulled out an envelope, opening it up he made a whole show of unfolding the paper and holding it in front of himself.

"On behalf of Marinette and Emma, I would like to begin by thanking everyone that is here today and for those who have sent their condolences. We have received countless phone calls, e-mails, texts, flowers, meals, visits, and thoughts and prayers. They have been both comforting during this difficult time and have been a reminder of the impact that Adrien had on so many others."

Nino stopped and picked up the envelope he'd discarded on the table, turning the front to face the guest. "Oooppss, this is his eulogy."

Tom let out a loud laugh, holding up his beer towards Nino as a salute. "Brilliant start, son!"

Reaching into his jacket pocket again, Nino pulled out another envelope, this time with 'Best Man Speech' written on the front big and bold for everyone to see. "Okay, let's try again. Marinette, can you please place your left hand flat on the table," he walked around and guided her hand into the middle of the two newlyweds and pushed down making sure it was flat, "now Adrien, can you put yours on top please?"

Adrien tentatively looked at Marinette, a slight unsure, nervous laugh leaving his mouth as his right hand placed on top of Marinette's left. Nino stood behind and held his arms out.

"Great, now everyone can we please give the groom a round of applause because this is the one and only time he will have the upper hand in this relationship. Quickly come and take a picture, it's a once in a lifetime opportunity."

The room started cheering and laughing, the 'Musicians and More' table breaking out in applause before heckling Adrien for the truth Nino just spilled.

The DJ picked up his drink and quickly wet his mouth before continuing on with his speech. He noticed Adrien shifting a little uncomfortably in his seat, the exact effect he had wanted.

"Where to start with Marinette and Adrien? As Luka so nicely described in the wedding service it has been a long, long, long, long, long, and winding road. Firstly, Marinette loved Adrien, but Adrien loved Ladybug, who then fell in love with Chat Noir as Adrien fell in love with Marinette. And, of course they could have done the simple thing of talking it out and revealing their identities; which would have led to love declarations, dates, snogging and other moments," he turned to Adrien and Marinette and dropped them a wink, "but Adrien, oh wonderful Adrien, had a better idea. He decided to travel halfway across the world and ignore the fact that the girl he was crazy about would spend all her money on travelling to see him; not once, not twice but five times a year. Not only that, but Mr Model actually allowed all of his university friends to think they were dating, which he didn't deny because he didn't want them hitting on her...what a blast!"

The room started laughing once more, a couple of 'here, here's' sounded out from their friends as Adrien covered his face, his opposite arm swinging over the back of his new/old wife's chair, his head turning to bury into her neck. Marinette placed a hand on his thigh and squeezed, Adrien uncovering his eyes and smirking at his wife.

"Now, I was affected by this Miraculous love square, as was my gorgeous girlfriend, but no one was deeper in the shitter than our good friend Luka. Everyone just take a quick look at him. Isn't he gorgeous?"

A witwoo sounded out from The Art Attack table and Nino was quite sure it had come from Alix, or maybe even Kagami.

"See those grey hairs scattered in his hair? Yep? Well they were caused by the happy couple. Poor Luka here had to hide the famous love square from the couple for eight years and even though I'm here for the groom, I would like us all to raise a glass to Luka Couffaine for not becoming certifiably insane dealing with Marinette and Adrien over these past years. To Luka." Nino held his glass aloft as everyone in the room, including Emma, reciprocated the action.

"My next thank you needs to go to the bridesmaids and the world's most beautiful flower girl, my goddaughter, Emma. Which, if the first date is anything to go by, it's a miracle she's actually here." Lifting his glass in the air he made his next toast. "To the bridesmaids, Emma, and a special thank you to Marinette for not destroying little Adrien and allowing Emma to be here."

"To little Adrien," Kim called out, only to be hit in the face by a wedding favour they thought came from Nathaniel. Everyone else called out to the young toddler only confusing the girl and making her think everyone wanted her. Clambering out of her great nona's arms she proceeded to make her way to everyone she knew and give them a high five.

"Alya and Kagami, you both did the impossible and managed to get Marinette somewhere on time. In the 17 years I've known her, this is the first time I've seen that happen. So for that," he reached down and grabbed something from under the table. Two boxes he proceeded to hand out to both girls. "Gold medals for achieving something even Adrien can't."

"But honestly Adrien knows his wife so well. When I asked him what her favourite flower was, he replied "self-raising"." The room giggled a little as Nino looked around, "oh come on! That was a great one!"

"Adrien used it at the bachelor party!" Nathaniel called out, his hands cupping his mouth to make sure he was heard.

"Dude, remember, what happened at the bachelor party stays there...unlike what happens in Vegas when your trousers and boxers are left swinging from the light fitting. Now Adrien, how did that happen?"

The man in question covered his face and made a low growling noise, shaking his head before burying it into his wife's shoulder once more, Nino laughing at the display in front of him.

"Adrien's love for Marinette is extraordinary and he has experienced times with her that the rest of us could only dream of. I think it's fair to say over half of us in this room have wanted the love of Marinette at some point in their life, but only one has been lucky enough to have had that feeling returned. Though it took him a good couple of years to understand the way he looked at her was not how you look at just a friend. Sorry man, but it needed to be said." He clamped a hand down on Adrien's shoulder, patting it a couple of times in fake comfort.

The crowd cheered as Nino placed his speech down and took a pile of cards from the table. "On your tables you'll find a selection of blank cards, and we're going to play a little game known as 'Cards Against Adrien'. There are blank cards available for your answers, my lovely assistant Alya will be keeping track of scores, and the winning table their drinks paid for the rest of the night."

"It's a free bar, so technically we all win." Max typed away on his phone and Nino wasn't sure if he was checking out his odds at winning or he was coming up with the equation of how we all came into existence.

"That's not how it's done." For the first time that day all attention was turned to Roland as he was trying to explain to Emma how to blow a bubble using the wand; the toddler was more interested in licking it.

"Grandpere," Marinette hissed, placing a finger on her lips telling him to 'shush'. He rolled his eyes and crossed his arms in discontent.

"Right, pen and paper at the ready."

Each table gathered closer and Nino prepared to start the competition. There were only four tables in the venue (top table included).

'The Art Attacks': Nathaniel, Marc, Alix, Zoé and Kagami (much to Luka's annoyance)

'Musicians and more': Luka, Ivan, Myléne, Rose, Juleka, Kim and Max

'We are family': Gina, Roland, Emma, Gorilla and Nathalie

And then in a group of their own... Tom and Sabine.

"I'll ask the question, you'll come up with an answer and our wonderful Bride and Groom will choose the winners. Good luck you have one minute to figure out your answer; here's question one. What piece of advice would you give Adrien to stay on his in-laws' good side?"

A loud laugh left The Art Attacks table and Nino was physically bouncing with excitement; the same couldn't be said for Adrien. He knew Nino would have a good dig, but Nino didn't think Adrien understood to what extent.

"Time is up. If one person from each table can come and stick their 'Post It' notes to the board by Alya, please."

Adrien and Marinette turned their heads sharply to the side, they hadn't even noticed it. It was huge with the table names and spaces for the answers.

The room began to chatter, tables calling out to each other that they hadn't got a chance when Alya burst out laughing, clutching her stomach and dropping to the floor.

Amongst the answers: 'Don't ask the question 'Does anyone in your family have a latex allergy?', stay out of the f***ing kitchen, create a baker's dozen of 'buns'. Marinette and Adrien stood and made their way to the board, Marinette looking at the one Alya was pointing out and doubling over in laughter too; taking it from the board she handed it over to Nino.

"Oh this is good!" he laughed, looking between his friends. "First point goes to The Art Attacks for the answer: Don't tell them their daughter is just a friend."

Laughter circled the room as Adrien facepalmed himself once more, Marinette trying to pull his hand from his face as she pressed smiley kisses into his arm.

"Leave me alone," he cried, Marinette cracking up with laughter once more.

They continued to play, each time the drunken rowdiness increasing the idiocy of their answers. Kim placed a rather large bet with Alix causing the tiniest hint of guilt to flick through Nino, though the guilt disappeared as soon as the next round of answers came to the board.

What is Adrien's favourite date night activity?

The Art Attacks: Getting beaten by his wife; causing both pleasure and pain.

Musicians and More: Shining up his black leather and playing with his pole.

We are family: Scenting his territory.

Parents: Seeing who can throw the other the furthest.

WINNER: MUSICIANS AND MORE

________ doesn't count as cheating.

The Art Attacks: Doing your 'just a friend'

Musicians and More: Midnight visits

We are family: Eating croissants

Parents: Fantasising

WINNER: THE ART ATTACKS

What's the couple's favourite shared hobby?

The Art Attacks: Pole vaulting – Chat's baton

Musicians and More: Role play – doing things in costume

We are family: Bondage – yo-yo

Parents: We'd rather not know.

WINNER: MUSICIANS AND MORE

What persuaded Marinette to marry Adrien?

The Art Attack: His charming wit and bright smile

Musicians and More: No one else would

We are family: His ass in his suit

Parents: The free chicken wings and tea towel

WINNER: WE ARE FAMILY

Nino congratulated 'The Art Attacks' on their win, handing them a box of chocolates to share as their prize; not that they needed that after the immense three course meal the newlyweds had supplied. He made his way back to his seat taking his speech once more.

"Thank you Adrien for not only being the best friend, but for also setting a bar impossibly high for the rest of us when it's our time to propose. I love you, and hate you man. But being serious now, you and Marinette are the perfect example of being insanely in love, you're both insane and both in love; and when it comes to relationships yours is one the rest of us can only dream about. It's clear you both adore each other and I can't imagine either of you being with anyone else. You are made for each other in every way possible, you're our heroes, our friends and you're the most perfect parents to Emma."

"But of course the night wouldn't be complete if we didn't get a performance from their first wedding, and I don't mean a repeat of Adrien's trousers hanging from the ballroom's light; nobody wants to see his chicken legs out in the open. Instead, Ladybug's performance of 'Despecito' has gone viral and I feel it's only fair we have a live rendition. Marinette, what do you say?"

A cheer erupted around the room and Marinette stood taking a microphone from Nino and pulling her husband up beside her too.

"He knows the words too," she announced, grabbing a second microphone and hitting him in the chest with it. The feedback echoed around the room as Adrien picked up his remaining drink and downed it. Obviously liquid courage was the answer to all their problems.

"Now before Adrien starts singing," Nino announced, "I want to warn you all that his singing voice is as decent as his domestic skills; anyone who has seen Marinette's vast array of pink clothing will understand what I mean."

Adrien smacked Nino on the back a little harder than probably necessary, but he didn't care. This was going all to plan.

"Oh and Marinette, don't worry, we're all joining in." Nino took his envelope the same as the ones positioned on the tables and pulled out the lyrics he'd typed up. A rustling noise could be heard as the tables around them repeated the action.

"Luka and Kitty Section, take it away."

"Eye... fonzie!

Oh... Oh no... oh no... oh...hey yeah.

Sea, sub, esky, jar-jar, moon, rat, old, meat, and, old, hair.

Tango, cave, eye, lark, teak ahoy.

Veet, can, 2, mi, rudder, your stubble, your Mum, gnome, mare.

Mess, Jamaican, minnow, canyon, void.

2, toilet, sanding, money, toy, soy, and, metal.

May, wire, second, foyer, man, door, plan.

Solo, comb, pen, silo, chair, ceiling, and, pool, sew.

Oh yeah... yard, yarn, mister, goose, sun, donuts, tear, law, normal.

Toto, Nissan, tea, doh, puppy, yen, toe, mask.

Ashtray, key, cold milo, singing, goo, map, euro.

I eat Doritos...

Halo, for speed - R2, foil, boy, dress, bar, seat, tow. Cracker, cat, LaLiga, toaster, celery, throw. Butter, kit-Kat, werther's, Seymour, stars, comic con.

I drink mojitos. Kellogs there's no Arthur bear sauce I wear speedos

Femur love pie red-heads dare two lava in toe

Yesterday two purple tutu manur ski tow."

Everyone stood from their tables and began to move, each looking at the lyrics in front of them to sing along and dance with the couple.

"Kettle fair bike R2 pillow

Kettle said to read moo

Kellogs singing sunny mocha

Slow carrot favoritos

(Favorito, favorito, baby)

If I miss I'll grip a shark two sonar stair pear league row

Pasta provoke art hose doritos?

you can be the strawberry dough"

As the song came to the end, wild cheers and applause broke out and Marinette curtsied, Adrien bowed and of course they ended up in a tight embrace and kiss.

"And with that there's only one thing left to say. Let's raise a toast to the sickeningly happy couple, our best friends, leaders and #couple goals; to Adrien and Marinette, pound it!"