Adrien

Brunch was amazing!

On the way to the small café just off the main shopping streets of Paris, Adrien had called the venue to see if there would be an issue with making his reservation from a table of two, to a table of three, and of course with a little name flex and some undeniable smoothness, his booking had been extended and placed in prime position.

As they had gathered around the table, he wasn't certain, but the sugar plum fairy sweetness with Emily had him tethering off the line of cautiousness. There was definitely something going on with her, almost as though she was plotting something big. She'd been calling Marinette 'Princess Nettie' from the moment they'd sat down, informing her she needed to fall asleep on the table so he could wake her back up—with a true love kiss.

Where he would have been one hundred percent on board, the look in Marinette's eyes differed in opinion. Her gorgeous, blue eyes grew to the size of small UFOs as she studied his face, eventually being saved by their waitress.

Adrien and Emily were regulars here. He always made sure he had at least one Saturday off a month to take her out on a 'date day'. Even with the set-up of his and Emily's trust funds, there was no chance he was dipping into those and not working himself. That didn't set a good precedent. But unfortunately, with everything that had happened, there was only one thing he could do—return to modelling. Félix was delighted. After all, Adrien sold everything from top of the range watches, to the skimpiest of Speedo's, which of course meant a great balance for his cousin.

Having Félix takeover the company was one of his greatest moves. Working for Félix was his second. The company was in good hands, and he got paid a hell of a lot more than he should for standing around looking pretty in clothing, plus he got to demand his hours and days, not that Félix would have denied him anyway. His cousin was wrapped around Emily's little finger more than he was.

Once brunch was over, they'd left to head to the Christmas Market just over the river. They'd been walking in silence for a while, soaking themselves up in the Christmas ambiance, and trying to avoid disgruntled shoppers like the plague. Thank goodness for Amazon. Stopping at the cross-walk, Emily broke the silence as they waited for the countdown to begin.

'Princess Nettie, what do you think of Prince Adrien?' Emily asked, her tiny voice ringing with innocent curiosity. Adrien could feel his cheeks flame at his little sister's question, and he caught Marinette's own face flushing under the crisp winter air.

Without missing a beat, she knelt down, her eyes twinkling as she met Emily's gaze. 'Your brother's not a Prince, Emily.'

Emily's small brows furrowed, flicking between him and Marinette with a look of pure bewilderment. 'He's not? But... the Prince always marries the Princess.'

Marinette paused, a faint shadow flickering across her face, and her voice softened. 'Not this one.' The words cut into him like icy glass, sharper than he'd expected. Of course. How foolish to think—him, Adrien Agreste, ending up with someone as amazing as Marinette Dupain-Cheng? But then, as if pulling the very breath from his lungs, she went on...

'No, he's not a Prince. He's a brave knight, one who the Princess looks up to more than anyone. He's the one who protects her, saves her. And he's the most handsome man in all of Paris. No prince could ever rival Sir Adrien.'

He could only stare, his mouth hanging open as he held Emily's tiny hand, his heart pounding wildly. Had she really just said that?

The sudden bleeping of the crossing startled him, making him jump. With Emily nestled between them, they stepped onto the road and headed toward the glow of the Tuileries Christmas Market. Adrien couldn't help but steal glances over the top of Emily's head at the girl walking beside them. His heart raced as he caught her doing the exact same thing, her eyes meeting his with a spark that sent a thrill rushing through him.

He felt warm. Hot. Comfortable. He felt like he did when they were dating, when everything was fresh and new and just so wonderful. God, he missed her so much, and every second spent with her was growing harder and harder to not tell her the full extent of his never ending feelings.

He looked over at her again, catching her in a smile that lit up her entire face. She tried to look away, but it seemed impossible; her gaze kept drifting back to him, a magnetic pull she couldn't resist. Channelling all the charm of his alter ego, he dropped her a playful wink, watching with satisfaction as her cheeks flushed an even deeper shade of pink. Everything about this moment felt so right.

'I going to see Santa,' Emily suddenly announced, filling the void in conversation.

'I'm going to see Santa,' Adrien corrected, only for the little girl to look at him with disdain.

'That's what my said.'

Marinette giggled, causing Adrien's smile to widen even more.

'Where are you going to see him, sweetheart?' she asked, full of curiosity. Glancing down at Emily, she gave his sister the attention she desired and Adrien a different view of her rosy cheeks.

'Uncle Luka's boat. Santa likes to go on the boat. The boat goes "whoosh" down the river and the reindeers like the wind in their hair.' Emily let go of both of their hands, brushing her hands over her head and knocking her hat off in the process.

Adrien glanced at Marinette, his nose wrinkling at his sister's sudden, random outburst. 'What Emily meant to say is that every year, Santa sets up a grotto on the Liberty for Christmas Eve. He even takes kids for a quick ride down the Seine before heading off to, you know, do Santa things.'

'Why would he take goats on a boat trip?' she asked.

Adrien rolled his eyes in response. 'And you say my jokes are bad.'

She giggled. 'That's so nice of Luka and Anarka.'

He hated to steal the spotlight, but the look on Marinette's face was one he wanted to keep for himself. 'Actually, it's something Rose and I came up with a couple of years ago, and Luka and Juleka helped bring it all together.'

Her face shone a little brighter. 'Oh?'

He nodded. 'Yeah. It's a special charity event for children in despair. It caters for those who are ill, those from broken homes, and children in need.'

'That's amazing, Adrien.'

He shrugged. 'I have the means to help, and I want to.'

They stopped just outside the entrance to the skating rink. Even though they were still holding onto Emily, the moment was taken by the electricity flowing between them. He could feel her pulling him in, his eyes securely locked on her, with the wish to stay in this moment forever. He'd missed this so much.

'My brother's the best,' Emily said, but Marinette's gaze remained fixed on Adrien.

'Yeah,' she sighed, her eyes not leaving his for a second. Why did the air between them suddenly feel charged? Adrien couldn't shake the sensation, as if the surrounding space had suddenly become electric. Every tiny movement, every flicker of emotion, seemed amplified—like their connection was creating some invisible force, drawing them together. He could feel the weight of her attention on him, each second stretching longer, thicker, until it was all he could focus on. It wasn't just her gaze; it was the warmth, the unspoken words hanging in the air, the way her presence seemed to fill the space between them with something unnameable.

This isn't just a glance, Adrien thought, it had to mean something more. His heart raced, and for a moment, the world around them disappeared—leaving only the quiet, static atmosphere where Marinette's eyes held him, pulling him closer without a word.

'Skate time!' Emily squealed, her excitement snapping the moment between them like a brittle thread. She yanked them forward to the front of the queue, her small hands pulling them both with effortless energy. Adrien's heart gave an unexpected lurch as the bubble of quiet tension shattered, only to be followed by the persistent ringing of his phone. He reached in his pocket, his fingers trembling slightly as he fumbled to grab it, the reality of the moment suddenly crashing into him.

But as the phone came into his hand, his eyes immediately landed on the flood of missed calls and messages. His stomach twisted. It was his day with Emily. His friends knew this, and they respected it. It was the one day that was just for her—no distractions, no interruptions. No one had ever interfered... until now.

The weight of the messages pulled him out of the magnetic space that had been forming between him and Marinette. The magnetic atmosphere—the heat in the air, the soft tension that made everything feel so alive—dissipated, like a storm breaking. He could feel the pull to look at his phone, to answer, but something inside him resisted. The moment had been so rare, so pure, but now it felt fragile, as if his attention split in two would tear it all apart.

Eyebrows frowning, Adrien scrolled through message after message from his cousin, only for them to be punctuated by the build-up of fifteen missed calls. Impressive, even by Félix's standards.

Adrien looked from his phone to the girls, Marinette now helping Emily into her skates as his sister chatted excitedly to her. His heart skipped a beat. This was so domesticated, so homely, he couldn't help the swell in his chest. God, he wanted this so much, him and Marinette looking after Emily until they were ready for their own tiny terrors. They would be beautiful too, just like their Maman.

But that wasn't his reality.

Sighing, he tapped the call button and placed his phone to his ear. It took Félix precisely three and a half rings to pick up, no pleasantries given, as he went straight into professional mode.

'There's been an issue with the photos you took in Switzerland,' he said. Adrien frowned as he thought back to the shoot. The photos seemed to be coming out nicely, and it was an easy shoot. Man. Woman. Smile. Embrace. Pose. Click.

'What's wrong?'

'The photos aren't as...alluring as we wanted them to be. We need to reshoot.' Why, oh why did this have to be now? He had a week and a half to show Marinette he was worth staying in Paris for. He didn't have time to go away again.

The sigh came out without hesitation. 'I can't go back to Switzerland. There's too much going on.'

A beat of silence hung on the other end before Félix's voice cut through, laced with unmistakable smugness. 'Would that "too much" happen to involve your elusive superhero partner, who seems to have appeared out of thin air?'

Adrien looked in the direction of where Marinette and Emily were now attempting to walk towards the ice rink, Emily pulling Marinette in the direction of the little support skate penguins. 'I don't know what you mean.'

'Said the man with the dreamy voice. How long is she back for?'

'A couple of weeks.' His heart tugged at the thought of her abandoning him again. She had this whole other life that didn't include him, and he needed to stop the clinginess re-emerging from their childhood. He managed without her for this long, he could continue—only he knew he couldn't and, more so, didn't want to.

'A couple of weeks is good. That means you can woo her with your Adrien-ness.'

'Adrien-ness?' he snorted.

His cousin chuckled down the line. 'Well, it worked all those years ago.'

But did it? If it had worked that well, why had they split up? Okay, so he knew the answer to that question now, and it really was the most stupid thing ever. They should have just trusted each other and opened up. Instead of breaking up over the one thing that made them closer than anything.

'Anyway, enough about that. What about the shoot?' Adrien knew the shoot was behind schedule to begin with. The director had gone in for "surgery" (a nose job, if Adrien wasn't mistaken) and Ivy's availability—or lack thereof, made it additionally impossible. So any problems would not be good for the merger hot on the table.

'We need to reshoot this afternoon. I've already gathered the equipment, and the set is being constructed in one of the conference rooms. I know you have plans with Emily, but please Adrien, we need to get this shoot ready to go out.'

He thought for a moment. He couldn't let Félix down, not after everything he continuously did for him and Emily. 'Has Ivy agreed? Aren't there any other male models available?'

'Ivy's on her way to the office now, and you know, thanks to your extracurricular activities, no other model fits your measurements. Giselle spent weeks tailoring the outfits to fit you.'

He couldn't argue against that, unless he wanted to make himself look like an ungrateful shit.

The girls turned toward him, both beaming—Emily shouting his name with excitement as Marinette waved enthusiastically. Adrien's heart softened at the sight, but he wasn't ready to let go of the day without a fight. He knew he didn't have much leverage with the shoot, but he also knew he wasn't about to give in that easily.

'Give me a couple of hours, and I'll be there. But I'll need to bring Emily along—Sophia's off for the weekend.'

'I bet she is,' Félix snickered.

Everyone knew there was something going on with Luka and the nanny. It was like the worst kept secret in the history of secrets. He wished he knew what so he could help. 'I'll see you and the little Princess this afternoon then. And don't forget, we have the winter gala next week...you're always welcome to bring a plus one.'

There was a hidden agenda there, something Adrien would be having words with his cousin about. Firstly, the fact he knew Marinette was Ladybug and secondly, encouraging him into something that would just break his heart all over again. But as he looked over at Marinette, he couldn't deny seeing her in formal wear would be a sight for sore eyes. All dressed up, and a jewel on his arm. Drinking together, chatting together, dancing together...

'I'll think about it. Bye Félix.'

'See you, cuz.'

Eyes locked on his most favourite women, Adrien began to walk towards them, pocketing his phone as he went. Maybe asking Marinette to the gala would give them additional time together, time when he could prove himself as the best option for her, a time to show he was better than whoever it was who'd caught her heart—and was slowly destroying it.

'Is everything okay?' Marinette asked softly, holding Emily's hand with a gentle warmth that caught his attention. He glanced between them, his heart tightening. Despite her usual confidence, Emily wasn't one to trust easily, especially with something as simple as holding someone's hand. But here she was, clinging to Marinette with a quiet, unspoken trust. There was a connection between them, a bond that was already taking root—and seeing it only deepened the ache in his own heart. How is it, he wondered, that Marinette can already mean so much to the both of them?

'Yeah.' He smiled, lowering down onto one knee in front of Emily. 'Unfortunately, I'm going to have to go into work for a short time after skating, if that's okay, sweetheart? There's something gone wrong and Uncle Félix needs my help to fix it.'

The little girl's lip started to quiver. 'But I want to go ice caking.'

Adrien wiped a hand over his mouth to stop the need to smile. Ice caking. Goodness, she was cute. 'It'll just be for a couple of hours, and you can come with me.' He tried to entice her in, making it sound like the greatest thing ever, yet her pouty lower lip was a clear indication she didn't believe him.

Hello, horrendous feelings of guilt.

'But I want to stay with Nettie. We were going to have lots of fun. She's my best friend.'

He looked up to where Marinette was standing, an overwhelming feeling of gratitude as she lowered down onto one knee beside him.

'It's okay, sweetheart.' Her voice was soft, like an angel, as she reached out to tuck the stray strands of Emily's hair back under her hat. 'We can see each other another day. I'm not going back to New York yet.'

Hello, ice bucket of water.

Emily fell down into Marinette's lap, wrapping her arms around her neck and squeezing tight. 'I want to stay with you. Adrien's work is boring.'

Marinette's eyes widened, her arms hesitantly coming around to wrap the little girl in a hug, positioning her on one of her knees. Emily buried herself into Marinette's neck, glaring over with such a sad face his torn up heart had suddenly been shredded smaller–into insignificant pieces of confetti.

'I don't think your brother would want someone you don't know looking after you. You're too precious to him.'

'But he's your best friend,' Emily whispered, and Adrien closed his eyes. Even if she was, she couldn't just ask her to look after a child she didn't know, even if she was an amazing babysitter.

Emily placed her hands together under her chin and turned her attention fully to Marinette. 'Pleaseeeeee!' and out came the big guns–again.

As with everyone, Emily had a knack for breaking down her prey, watching Marinette's face shift between expressions as she struggled to find the right words. 'I mean—if Adrien doesn't mind me looking after you, I suppose that would be okay,' she finally managed.

He shook his head, a teasing smile playing on his lips. Reaching up, he gave her bobble hat a playful tug. 'You're incorrigible,' he said with a laugh, and Emily returned the smile between them.

'So, can I stay with Nettie?'

He met Marinette's gaze, his tone gentle. 'If that's okay with you?'

'Of course.'

With skates in hand, Adrien made his way to the bench and sat down, slipping his boots on. As he tied the laces, he stole a glance at the two girls. They were laughing, joking, their smiles easy and bright. Everything felt... too perfect, especially considering he was the one holding the key to bad luck.

*****

Marinette

It was fair to say Marinette hadn't thought about Johnny at all throughout the day. From the overwhelming loss she felt outside Master Fu's Parlour, to the fun and laughter she'd had with Emily and Adrien, she hadn't had time to think about what she did, or check her phone. Which unfortunately meant when she did finally grab a hold of her device her pleasant mood was suddenly soured.

'Are you okay?'

Marinette had taken Emily to her parents for dinner as Adrien went off to the office to recreate his photoshoot, with Ivy Valence. She shouldn't be jealous. She had no reason to. It was clear Adrien was single, and it was clear he had no intention of getting with anyone anytime soon. She'd pretty much asked him during one of the many times he'd caught her on the ice.

'Yeah.' She lied so effortlessly to her mother. It was quite terrifying. Her eyes remained on her phone as she read the messages over and over again. Each time was a new knife in her gut.

It seemed Johnny didn't like the idea of being dumped, especially over text. Marinette knew it wasn't her finest hour, but she wasn't sure how else to handle it. The messages had started off apologetic, with Johnny urging her to take some time to think things over. But as the texts continued, they grew more insistent—demanding she call him, mentioning how upset his mother was about the breakup.

A joyful squeal sounded from the lounge, and she glanced over just in time to see her father on his hands and knees, crawling around the floor as Emily rode on his back singing her own rendition of Old Town Road.

Not even bothering to respond to Johnny, Marinette placed her phone down on the counter and moved towards the noise. She stood to one side, watching, her heart yearning for this life. For the opportunity to have a family to share with her mother and father. And for the first time in years, Adrien's face was all she could see. Being away from Paris had given her the opportunity to develop on her own, just as her mother had explained about Adrien. They had to grow apart to grow back together, and though she had literally just broken up with someone, she couldn't deny the warm fuzzy feeling in her stomach when Adrien was near.

Marinette stood in silence, her heart pounding like a distant drum beat that she couldn't escape. It was as if every part of her was split in two—one side fiercely holding on, while the other wanted to let go, to find freedom. But freedom from what? From Adrien? She'd tried that, only to epically fail.

She had never known a feeling like this. The love she had for Adrien wasn't just a fleeting feeling, a crush to grow out of, or a temporary spark. It was a fire that both warmed her and consumed her, an unrelenting tide that she couldn't fight, no matter how many times she tried to swim away from it.

He was her kryptonite. She could feel it deep in her bones, like a gravitational pull that made it impossible to move in any direction that didn't lead back to him. No one else could see her the way he did. No one else had ever seen her—the messy, imperfect, anxious girl behind the perfect facade she wore for the world. Adrien knew the weight of her secrets, the jagged edges of her heart. He knew her in a way no one else ever could, had ever bothered to. And in that knowing, he had become something she couldn't exist without.

It wasn't just that he loved her—it was how he loved her. In his eyes, she was more than just a girl to be adored from afar. He saw her. Really saw her. Not the polished, confident version she forced herself to be, but the real Marinette. The broken parts, the flaws, the messy dreams and scattered doubts. He saw the girl who was still learning to believe in herself, who stumbled over her words, who feared every step she took toward the unknown.

And yet, somehow, he had once told her he loved her even more for it. And that made it all the harder to breathe without him.

She had always prided herself on her independence, on standing strong and taking care of herself. She had been the girl who built walls around her heart, who wore the armour of her confidence like a shield. But with Adrien, all of that crumbled. She was raw. She was vulnerable. With him, there was no pretending, no hiding. And though that terrified her in ways she couldn't fully explain, there was also something deeply comforting about it.

Adrien was the one person who could make her feel whole, not because he completed her, but because with him, she felt like she could finally breathe in a world that often felt too heavy. With him, she didn't need to be perfect. She didn't need to be anything other than herself. And that was both the greatest gift and the greatest curse.

But it was terrifying, too, because he was everything she wasn't sure she could ever be without. The thought of losing him—of being without that kind of connection, that kind of understanding—felt like losing a part of her soul.

She didn't know how to exist in a world where Adrien wasn't there to catch her when she fell, to make her laugh when the weight of the world pressed too heavily on her chest. She understood now why moving away was so empty, so incomplete. He wasn't just the boy who made her heart race or the one who brought joy into her life. He was home. He was the person who could see her in all her rawness, and still choose her, still loved her.

But that also made it harder. Because every time she thought about him—about how deeply he had become woven into her heart, into the fabric of her life—she realised how much she needed him. And needing him was a danger she didn't know how to navigate.

She didn't know how to un-love him. To disentangle herself from him, from his warmth, from the way he made her feel like she was seen, like she mattered. And maybe, just maybe, that was the scariest thing of all—how much he had become a part of her, how much she needed him to feel whole.

But even with that fear, that heartache, Marinette couldn't imagine ever choosing a life without Adrien in it. Because he wasn't just the person she loved—he was the person who made her believe she could love herself, too. And for all the turmoil that love brought, for all the uncertainty and the ache of it, she knew one thing: she would never be the same again. Not without him.

She could fight it all she wanted, but some connections were too deep, too essential. And in the end, that was what made Adrien not just her kryptonite—but her lifeline.

'They're adorable, aren't they?' Sabine said, moving beside Marinette and looping her arm around her daughter's waist.

Marinette rested her head on top of her mother's and smiled. She knew now, more than ever, what she needed to do. Taking a deep breath, she took one last glance at Emily to gain strength.

'Maman? How would you feel about having me back home?'