Adrien followed Marinette back to her house as she dropped off her car. They'd decided it would look better for them to turn up together. Adrien hadn't seen any photographers for a few days so he was quite sure he needed to do something to get back in the headlines.

He'd received a call from his father earlier that morning regarding his relationship with Marinette. His father, of course, was making this all into a bigger deal than it needed to be. He was basically calling Marinette a worthless gold digger and requested him to break up with her.

Adrien was finally getting to the place he wanted so there was no way he was going to take up his fathers orders. Instead, he was now more than willing to do whatever was needed to make sure Marinette was seen with him and in a serious relationship. His father could go to hell. He wanted nothing to do with the cold blooded man anymore, even if that meant he was removed from his fathers will.

Gabriel was always a man to get his own way, and he knew the only way he would be able to control Adrien was with the 'Gabriel' wealth. If Gabriel could remove anything from his son then by God he was going to do it. When Adrien had slammed the phone down on his father this morning it was left with an ultimatum; the 'Gabriel' fortune or Marinette? His father had given him until the end of the year to make his choice.

That meant four months. Four months to decide whether he was choosing his family money or his fake girlfriend. Luckily, Marinette and himself would be over by then so it was a winning situation for him, yet something felt wrong in his stomach.

Adrien pulled his black Range Rover Discovery up outside Marinette's house and watched her climb out of her own vehicle. A Fiat 500, what was more Marinette than that? Locking her door and putting her keys into her little side satchel, she made her way over to Adrien's big black car. She felt so small next to it, so incredibly out of her depth.

He opened the door from the inside and smiled down at her.

"You're chariot awaits, m'lady."

"Why thank you kind knight." Marinette climbed into the passengers seat and fastened her seatbelt. She could feel her heart rate accelerating at the close proximity that they were sat.

Calm down Marinette, he's just your fake boyfriend. Nothing is happening here.

She breathed out and looked down. She couldn't believe that after ten years she still found it hard to control her bodies reaction to him. For some reason this time though it felt different; not bad, just different. The silence was excruciating between then. She needed to say something ... anything!

"I hear salted caramel frappes are great for putting people in a good mood. Fancy putting me in one?" Marinette inwardly cringed. What the hell was she trying to do? Flirt?

Adrien let out a throaty chuckle, before playfully punching Marinette in the shoulder.

"Anytime Bugaboo." Her heart skipped a beat at his words. Was he flirting back? Well of course he was! That's what Adrien Agreste did best. Marinette looked out the window as they passed the remainder of the outskirts, before hitting the hustle and bustle of the city centre.

"Thank you for the flowers, by the way. I never had chance to tell you properly." Adrien kept his eyes firmly placed on the road as he gripped the steering wheel tighter.

"I didn't like seeing you so down. It was a silly idea of me really. You don't need flowers." What he meant to say was that she didn't need flowers to tell her she's beautiful, yet in normal Adrien fashion, of course, he didn't finish the sentence.

"Oh." She replied. She couldn't help the disappointment soaring through her body as she took in what he said. She'd got it all wrong ... again! Just like when he'd asked her to the end of year dance and she thought it was a date. Unfortunately she ended up crying alone in her bedroom as Adrien had gone and shacked up with Chloe - or Lila. One of the demons spawn anyways. Adrien didn't love her, or even like her in more than a friendly way. She needed to separate herself from this or she would be getting hurt.

The remainder of the journey was silent and Adrien just couldn't figure out what had happened. He replayed everything from back at Nino's to the last part of their conversation in the car. He stilled. He'd said something wrong. He had categorically messed up, again.

"Marinette?" She turned her head towards him, "about the roses-" she quickly began to brush him off which was the exact opposite to what she really wanted him to do.

"Adrien, seriously. Don't worry about it. I promise I won't go all fan girl on you because you sent me some flowers." This is not how the conversation was meant to go, but he just seemed to have lost all power to speak. What was he meant to say?

Mari, you know I said I don't want to be with you? Well I haven't been able to stop thinking about you since the day you attacked me with rotting food. Nope, nada! That was not going to work.

He wanted to keep talking. He liked it when they spoke.

"So, when do I get to wear your underwear?"

"What?" Marinette shrieked.

"Your designs, Mari." He could see her visibly relax into the seat.

"Oh those. Errrrmmm... well they're almost done so perhaps next weekend?" Adrien nodded at Marinette's reply. Now she was freaked out. Great.

Adrien pulled into the parking lot of his apartment complex. As he lived central Paris they decided to park at his apartment and walk to Master Fu's. They had the best desserts. Adrien climbed out of his car with one had on his forehead. He needed to control himself, if he wasn't insulting her he was flustering her.

Slamming his door shut he made it round to Marinette, just in time to see her misstep. As she began to fall he ran forward and caught her.

"Falling for me I see?" He winked at her as he stood her up straight.

"You wish, Agreste." She brushed herself down and patted him on the cheek.

With each pat his heart seem to expand to her touch. She could do anything to him and he'd like it. That was the new conclusion he was coming to.

Marinette placed her hand into her small satchel and pulled out her sunglasses. The summer heat was still engulfing all of Paris, with the added increase of being in the centre itself. The sun was bright and warm to the skin, bringing out the minimal outfits and short shorts of the Paris women.

Marinette felt out of her depth. She was only wearing her skirt and tee because of seeing Alya, she wasn't exactly planning on leaving the house today. Adrien's offer threw her off guard and suddenly she felt very vulnerable. Paris was full of beautiful women. Some of the most beautiful in the world. Long legs, small waists and big breasts. Marinette was a measly five foot two inches and due to her workout schedule her legs were muscular.

She unconsciously began to mess with her skirt, trying to pull it down a little, when an arm wrapped around her waist.

"Leave it Mari, you look perfect the way you are." His voice in her ear sent a shiver down her spine. She really needed to get control of her body, it was letting her down at the moment. She remained in silence, feeling the way his fingers gripped into her hip as they walked down towards Master Fu's.

As it was a week night, hope that Fu's would be quiet sounded appealing to Marinette. She hadn't got the effort or the energy to deal with Adrien's fan girls, or even people she went to school with. Marinette and Adrien may have seen like perfect pairing during their school days, but now? They couldn't be more different. Their relationship would definitely be cause for conversation.

She looked up at Adrien's face, currently obstructed by his Ray Ban's, and couldn't help marvel at the way the sun hit every ridge and well defined bone. He was beautiful to look at. She'd always thought so, but it wasn't only that. It was his personality too. Not many people knew Adrien the way she did. Yes she'd stutter and get her words mixed up around him, but their bond went deeper than that. She couldn't help but wonder if this man still had the same desires, wishes and dreams that his younger counterpart held.

Marinette wanted to know more about him. Regardless of whether he felt anything for her, she felt they'd been brought back together for a reason. To look out for each other, to help each other. She wanted to help him. She wanted him to know he was more than just his name; more than just the athlete or the model.

"You know, if anyone takes a photograph now it's most certain they'll see us as a love struck couple." Adrien pushed his sunglasses up into his hair and looked down at her. "I wish I could see those gorgeous blue eyes though."

Marinette smiled.

"I wouldn't want you to get too distracted though Monsieur Agreste."

They turned into the door off a beautiful Parisian cafe. Marinette led the way as Adrien positioned both his hands onto her hips siding up behind her. Her heart flipped at the gesture and she quickly distracted herself by looking around the area. Adrien bent down to Marinette's ear, resting his chin on her shoulder.

"You're always a distraction."

Master Fu's had been a hang out for the gang since they were in lycée, it actually opened the same day as Adrien joined their school. From then on it would be their hang out, their first meeting point and, of course, where they watched Adrien in his competitions on the wide screen television over the bar. Marinette would never forget the buzz over Adrien's Olympic final, and victory. Hugs, tears and laughter was shared in abundance.

Master Fu himself had became a grandfather figure to Marinette and Adrien. He offered support and a listening ear whenever they needed it. Adrien had a lot to thank him for. It was Master Fu who'd persuaded him to follow his dreams and, ultimately, keep working until he got where he wanted. Master Fu taught him never to settle for less.

"Marinette, Adrien? Is that you and together? I always knew you were made for each other."

Marinette couldn't help the blush at Master Fu's words as Adrien let go of her and took the small Chinese man into a large, squeezing hug.

"It's so good to see you Fu."

"You too Adrien, especially now you've got this beautiful lady on your arm." Fu looked over to Marinette and winked. He knew how she felt about Adrien, and this game they were playing felt like they were lying to Fu and for the first time since they agreed to this she didn't like it.

"Oh, I'm definitely good." He looked over at Marinette and smiled, reaching out and grabbing her hand. Fu led them to a quiet booth at the back.

"I'll personally serve on you two tonight, I'm so happy to see you together."

Marinette and Adrien said their thank yous to Master Fu before looking down at the menu. As Adrien lifted his head to speak he heard a sound which made his insides crawl.

"Ridiculous, utterly ridiculous."