Adrien
Are you free to talk?

Marinette
I can come over if you want me to?

Adrien
I'm not home.
Sorry, I didn't get chance to tell you.

Marinette
Is everything okay?

Adrien
I don't want to do this over text.
Can I call you? Or you call me? Either way works.

Marinette panicked, and not a slight panic ... a full blown 'oh my God my life is about to end and Adrien has found someone better' panic. So what if they'd been together two wonderful (in her eyes) months now, and spent pretty much every day together. That didn't mean anything because Adrien wanted 'to talk'.

Oh my God! Adrien wanted 'to talk'.

"Marinette, stop worrying. Adrien won't leave you." Tikki, ever the voice of reason, flew beside Marinette trying to calm her down.

"He doesn't want to text me, Tikki, whatever he wants to say can't be done through text. Oh my God, he's breaking up with me."

"Marinette, stop it!"

"He's not even at home, he's probably not even in Paris."

"Call Alya."

"I'm not calling Alya. I don't want her to know I've been dumped by the guy I told her last night I was in love with."

... And hadn't she just.

Alya had come round for her usual 'Ladyblog' information 'show and tell' evening with Marinette, where the superhero herself had just hummed and awww'd at the right times. She nodded along when needed and either agreed or diverted when the information was getting a little close to home.

Alya had expressed her love where Nino was concerned and how amazing things were now they were living together, and Marinette gladly gave information back. She had expressed to Alya how Adrien was the perfect boyfriend, friend and partner, confusing the girl with the latter comment. But it was true! He'd regularly meet her after class (much to Avery's delight) and walk her home, bring her coffee (even though she worked in a coffee shop), sent her flowers and love letters, and teddies ... the list was endless. He made her feel like a Princess, even if most of their dates included a night in watching reruns of 'Friends', everything was just right. It felt like they were meant to be together, and according to the ancient tales of the yin and yang they were.

So why was he calling out of the area to "talk"?

Had she really gotten this whole thing wrong?

She twisted her lucky charm bracelet around her wrist, using it to try and channel Adrien's thoughts and what he wanted to "talk" about.

"Call Avery then?"

That wasn't a bad idea. Where Marinette loved Alya, Avery was a little less intense with things. She was exactly what Marinette needed at the moment, a straight talking biatch! Picking up her phone and ignoring Adrien for now, she found Avery's number and pressed call.

It rang and rang and rang ... it didn't seem her friend was going to answer.

"Damn." Marinette said, looking out the window. She still held her phone in her hand as she considered her options.

"Just call him, Marinette. Please. It's Adrien, it's Chat Noir, he wouldn't just abandon you over a phone call."

Taking a deep breath, Marinette unlocked her phone only for a vibration to signal another message.

Adrien
My hamster has just informed me I may not have said the right thing there, so let me try again. Something has happened and I need to talk to you. I'm not splitting up with you, which is how it may have sounded. Not a chance! ♥

Sighing with relief, Marinette pressed the call button and waited for him to answer.

"Hi," her voice was small and tentative as the phone signalled connection.

"Hey, sorry about the first message, I should have been more clear."

"No, no, it's fine. I did panic a little though."

"M'Lady, you are the single most important person in my life."

She smiled at his words. "You're mine too."

His sigh travelled through the phone line and she knew he would be running his hand over the back of his neck in frustration.

"So, my mother may have found out about my father and his personal assistant."

"Is that the woman from the restaurant?"

"Yeah, it seems she was that much of a personal assistant nobody really knew about her. She works in a office off my fathers suite, and apparently my mother walked in them ... you know ..."

"I'm so sorry. So where are you now?"

"We've travelled over to England to stay with Amelié and Félix for a while. Just say the word though and I'll be on the first flight back home."

"No, you need to be with your mother for now, I completely understand. It can't be easy for any of you."

"It's not. But it gets worse. It seems Aunt Amelié had purposely continued the relationship with Gabriel as he was paying for private treatment care for Félix. He was pretty much just using her Marinette! He used my Aunt for sex, my mother for her connections and now he's going for a younger model. He's screwing with everyone and everything, M'Lady, and I'm worried ..."

His voice trailed off, and she could hear the shuffling on the other side. Whatever was happening with Adrien was affecting him. She heard the faint noise of chatter before a clear transformation phrase, and wind interfering with the phone. She moved the phone away from her ear, keeping it out just far enough so it wouldn't deafen her.

"Sorry, I needed to get out of the house. I'm on the roof behind a chimney stack."

"It's fine. So tell me, what's really worrying you Adrien?"

"The way my father talks about you. I'm worried that he doesn't have boundaries and that he'll come after you.

"Kitty, I'm not going to fall for your fathers crap. I know what he's been like with you in the past, and I know what a horrible person he is, so please don't worry about me. I'm safe, nothing's going to happen."

"I know, I shouldn't be worried, you're Ladybug for Christ sake, but that doesn't stop me from caring."

"And I'm glad that you do."

They sat in silence for a while. Only the sound of breathing and wild flowing through the speakers.

"I miss you. I know it sounds stupid because I only saw you yesterday, but I do."

"Is it because of my amazing kisses."

She burst out laughing and she knew he would be smiling back on the other end.

"There's a big make out session waiting for you when you get home and we'll talk about everything. But please, don't worry about me. I've always got my lucky charm with me." She looked down at her wrist again, suddenly getting an idea and heading to her bedside table in search of what she was after.

"I will always worry about you." Because I love you.

It hadn't been said, and she could have been putting the words into his mouth prematurely, but the silence that followed was the perfect length to say such things.

"Me too." I love you too.

She heard a sniff on the other side of the phone, followed by a cough and then another sniff.

"I better go before someone realises I'm missing. It's ... intense here at the moment."

"I can bet."

"I'll text you before you go to bed. Normal time?"

"Yes, but don't forget you're an hour behind."

"Sorry what was that? I have a nice behind."

"You know that's not what I said, but you're also not wrong. Sweet dreams, Minou. If I'm not asleep I'll message you back."

"Don't worry about it. Just know that I haven't stopped thinking about you all day, but I need to be with my mother right now."

"It's okay, honestly, I'm just relieved you're not breaking up with me."

"Why would I break up with you? I have the most wonderful woman in Paris. Luck was on my side.

She could help giggling into her phone. "Good night Kitty."

"Good night, Princess."

Ending the call, Marinette finally found the red string she was looking for. Her old lucky charm to pass onto Adrien, that way they'd always be with each other. Well, until they got married, had matching wedding bands, three children and a real hamster. Firm;y in her fantasy dream world, Marinette began her preparations for bed, climbing in thirty minutes later to the sound of her phone.

Adrien
Goodnight M'Lady ♥

Marinette
Goodnight my Prince ♥