Marinette checked her watch as she speed walked to her apartment. She had exactly four minutes and fifty-two seconds until the agreed time Adrien would be dropping by for their film night.

The four minutes and fifty-two seconds was 20 minutes less than she had planned.

They had been stuck out on the streets of Paris, once again fighting an akuma. This time a man with serious pigeon issues caused Adrien to sneeze violently for the majority of the fight. Another item to add to her list of things about Adrien.

They had now been 'dating' for just over one month. The night in the restaurant had a complete redo a week later without the interference of Gabriel with whoever that woman was. Her entire feelings about Gabriel Agreste and the brand were now in ruins, not only that but Adrien had told her that his father had pretty much threatened the both of them, giving Marinette no choice but to continue her internship to the best of her ability under the man himself. At the moment there was no option out.

Marinette had been called into his office a few days after the incident at the restaurant, alongside Adrien, making it damn clear neither of them had seen anything. Adrien had gritted his teeth so hard, she had worried about his poor molars, wondering if he'd have anything left once the meeting had ended.

Where Marinette had been sent on her own (silent) way, Adrien had been told to remain - once again leaving with a split lip.

She was fuming to say the least. Wanting nothing more to put Gabriel in his place. But she trusted Adrien, and would follow his lead with this. He knew his father and the games he liked to play. However, that didn't stop her from asking around at work and looking for ways out.

Seeing Adrien in there with his father proved he wasn't silent on matters, sometimes pushing Gabriel a little too hard in the wrong direction, however, his father hitting him (again) was unacceptable.

Scurrying towards her apartment she saw a tall, beautiful male leaning against her apartment door. Glasses and hat on, scrolling through his phone.

"Do I need to call the police?" She shouted down the hallway.

Adrien pushed off the door and pocketed his phone, his eyes sparkling behind his glasses with amusement. "No need, little lady, because at this moment you're under 'Agreste'."

"That was awful even by your standards."

She was pulled in by his arms, her own hands falling flat against his chest. Stretching up on her toes to place a chaste kiss on his lips.

"Hi," she said.

"Hi yourself. How was your day?"

"Fine, I've got some work to finish tonight though. I hope you don't mind?"

"Of course not. Is there anything I can do to help?"

"You can stay away from the pin cushion."

As they entered her apartment, both Tikki and Plagg released themselves from their hidden spaces, flying around the room and enjoying their time together. Marinette was certain they enjoyed the dates as much as she and Adrien did.

"So I sat on it one time," Adrien rolled his eyes, making them all laugh.

They each began placing their things in their usual position around the apartment. It amazed her how they'd become so domesticated and in sync after only knowing each other three months, though with their added superhero activities she wasn't exactly surprised.

"How's your sneezing after earlier?" She asked, moving to the fridge and pulling out two bottles of water.

The couch had once again been fixed, and this time she was quite sure she'd nailed it ... literally! Borrowing the tool kit from her father, plus purchasing some additional wood, she'd created a new support system which would hopefully hold the damned thing together. It had become a battle of wits now and she was determined she would not be buying a new one. She refused.

She sat on the couch as Adrien sat on the floor messing around with some red yarn, whilst fiddling in his pocket.

"What are you doing?" She asked him, pleasure dancing in her eyes. It was too good; a cat playing with yarn excitedly even if he was human size.

"I like it." A shifty statement if she'd ever heard one.

"Fine," she said, moving forward and picking up her sewing. The assignment for this week was appliqué. They needed to test and evaluate the different types. Marinette had already completed the non-sewing options, but now she had three different stitches to try on her examples.

It shouldn't take her too long, but even so having akuma's appear almost daily, she was finding it hard to keep her focus on her work. Having the added addition of an 'Adrien' also threw a spanner in the works. Neither of her extra curricular activities were going though. No chance! She liked them both too much.

Finally finding the remote control, Marinette flicked onto a random game show, handing the remote to Adrien and telling him to go ahead putting on whatever he wanted.

"You sure you're not going to get bored just sitting here whilst I work?"

He shrugged, placing the remote down on the table next to him - yarn still in hands.

"I don't mind. I just like being with you."

"A bit clingy aren't we kitty?"

He burst out laughing, searching over near Marinette for the scissors. "Only for you, M"Lady."

"I should hope so. Who else keeps you up to date on M&M flavours?"

"Exactly. That's what true love is."

They both stilled, Adrien's eyes growing wide as he processed what he'd just said. They weren't even officially boyfriend and girlfriend yet and he'd just nonchalantly put it out there. Just the same as saying 'hi, how are you today? Want to cook some bacon?'

He returned to what he was doing ignoring the words that had just left his mouth. If she didn't bring it up, he wouldn't either. A simple and effective way of dealing with the situation - ignorance.

They both sat in silence, taking a shy glimpse at each other every now and then, not wanting to pull too much attention as Adrien's words were still running in the back of her mind.

'That's what true love is.'

Was this true love? A screaming yes echoed through her head and she couldn't help but smile.

"That's a beautiful smile, Bugaboo." She looked up from where she'd been sewing her decorative lace onto a piece of sample material and caught his eyes - eyes that were full of mischief.

What was that cat up to?

"And I've told you not to call me that."

"Fine then, Buginette."

"You're impossible," she laughed, placing the last couple of stitches into the appliqué making sure it was fixed securely. Giving it one last tug, she threaded the needle through the material so she could cut the strand later, placing it down on the table.

"Maybe," he laughed standing and keeping something clutched tightly behind his back, coming to sit next to her on the sofa.

"I made you something." Marinette spoke and moved so quickly he was worried she'd done it to escape him.

"Do I smell?"

"You do actually," she shouted back from inside her closest, her back turned and missing out on Adrien giving his armpits a rather larger sniff.

"Shall I go take a shower?"

She wandered back over with a blue wrapped box in her hand, a nice pink bow sitting on top. Placing herself next to him and sniffing his neck playfully.

"Naa, you're okay for now."

"Gee, thanks." He rolled his eyes before being met with the package to his faces

"You told me yesterday you were cold for your photoshoot, and I - um - I may have stayed up later than needed to make you this."

She closed her eyes and shoved the box out in front of her, her face all scrunched up in a grimace.

He took it out her hands delicately opening the beautiful wrapped present before pulling out the confines as a gasp left his mouth he pushed the box off his lap.

"I love it, Mari! Thank you so much." He took the blue scarf and wrapped it around his neck, grabbing the end and looking at the detail and construction. It was positively perfect.

"Do you really? I know it's not much but I saw the colour and I couldn't help but think of you."

"It's wonderful, seriously. You want to know my favourite part?" She nodded at him, encouraging him to continue. "It's Marinette blue. The best colour in the world."

Her cheeks turned pink, his lips meeting her cheek with a well placed kiss.

"I'm glad you like it."

"I do, and here." He pulled out what he'd been hiding behind his back, stretching it out towards her.

"It's a lucky charm. I may have stolen some of your red yarn to make it. I chose the red string because ... you know, the red string of fate and all that." He mumbled self consciously. He'd had this planned for weeks yet it didn't stop him from panicking when he handed it over.

She took it from his hands looking it over, turning and twisting each of the charms. He'd found them a week ago when he was out at a small market on the outskirts of Paris during a photoshoot and knowing Marinette had red string (yarn) he knew he had to make one for her, one to go with his next question.

"There is also something else I wanted to ask you." He stretched up to rub the back of his neck, the nerves suddenly kicking in even though he was almost 100 percent certain what the answer would be. "We've been together about a month and known each other for three, and I need to be honest and tell you they've been the best months of my life. So, Marinette Dupain-Cheng, will you accept the bracelet along with becoming my girlfriend?"

In lieu of a response, Marinette dove forward taking Adrien's lips with her own, pushing him back against the side of the couch as she kissed him more passionately than she ever had. He was in heaven ... well until he fell back to earth with a bang.

Couch 2 - Marinette & Adrien 0