At this moment there are 6,470,818,671 people in the world. Some are running scared. Some are coming home. Some tell lies to make it through the day. Others are just now facing the truth. Some are evil men, at war with good. And some are good, struggling with evil. Six billion people in the world. Six billion souls. And sometimes — all you need is one."
— Peyton Sawyer

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Marinette went to her wardrobe and pulled out the suit bag. Inside were four dresses she had designed for her evening range. She flicked through them and pulled out a navy blue one to wear to this evenings engagement party. She huffed when she thought about what Kagami had said to her last time they met at a formal event.

"Wait until you feast your eyes on this one Kagami." Marinette wasn't a jealous one usually but the way Kagami had looked at her a year ago expanded her green side. Tikki flew out and looked at the dress Marinette had laid out on the bed.

"Oh Marinette! This is incredible!" She patted her little kwami on the head as she stood over the dress. Marinette had been playing around with different materials and designs knowing how 'on show' she was going to be this weekend. As she looked through the wardrobe for the matching shoes her phone signalled a new text arriving.

Kitty 😻: What time you heading for the photoshoot? This meetings making me cat-nap.

Maribug ❤️: Leaving in 20 minutes with Gorilla and your mama. Will I see you before the party?

Kitty 😻: I probably will have to meet you there.

Maribug ❤️: Prepare to be amazed.

Kitty 😻: Ooo la la m'lady!

Kitty 😻: Btw the specific item from yesterday ... I found the other.

Maribug ❤️: 💍

Kitty 😻: 👍🏻 Don't go shaking hands without me with you! Love you 😘

Maribug: Love you more 😍

Marinette placed her phone in her bag. Adrien had found the other ring, and the wearer seems to most likely be at the engagement party.

"Tikki, how close can I get without it affecting me?"

"About six feet." Her kwami replied.

"I can't believe I have kryptonite!" Tikki looked at Marinette puzzled, "you know? Like Superman, the green rock, it drains his powers?!"

"Oh ok." Tikki nodded at Marinette as she went into her purse completely clueless. Marinette sighed, how had she gotten into this mess. This wasn't meant to happen, she wasn't meant to have this kind of weakness but low and behold the universe had other ideas.

She made her way down to Gorilla and their ride back to 'Agreste' with her dress and shoes in hand. Emilie met her in the foyer and they walked to the studio together. Not only had Marinette made her own dress, she was also responsible for the fabulous black evening gown Emilie was wearing. It was full length with a diamanté shoulder strap. The diamanté's swept over the strap and across the top of the bust. It was sophisticated and stunning. Emilie adored it almost as much as she adored her sons girlfriend.

"They've finished with me, sweetheart, so you're up."

"Thank you, Emilie." Marinette followed the worldly lady into the elevator and up to the studio where she was rushed into hair and make up. One positive of this shoot is she'll be looking her best without having to put in any of the effort.

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As Adrien and Gabriel pulled up at the venue for Felix and Kagami's engagement party they were shocked by the amount of paparazzi.

"Well ... this is a bit extreme." Gabriel announced as the bellman came to open the door. The venue was a top class London hotel; The Savoy. Gabriel stepped outside and smoothed down his tuxedo jacket, design by Agreste of course, followed by Adrien who mirrored his father.

As the flashes went off Father and Son stood in their practised poses, smiling and thanking the photographers as they made their way up to the hotel. Both were wearing top of the range Agreste attire and neither could wait to see their ladies in theirs. Adrien's phone buzzed in his pocket.

Maribug ❤️: We're on our way.

"Mari and Ma are on their way," Adrien informed his father. Just then the paparazzi outside went crazy. Both men turned around to see Felix and Kagami making their way up the carpet making sure they spoke to as many reporters as possible on their way in. Felix was also dressed in Agreste's finest as was Kagami. Adrien's jaw clenched as he noticed she was wearing Marinette's design from last year. It was just a different colour.

The happy couple made their way over to Adrien and Gabriel.

"So glad you could make it, Uncle." Félix said, shaking the grey haired mans hand.

"Wouldn't have missed it." Gabriel replied, then he eyed Kagami. "I see you are wearing one of Ms Dupain-Cheng's designs."

"If I remember rightly you weren't that fond of it last year." Adrien added in. Kagami smirked and stepped forward brushing invisible dust of his shoulder.

"I think it just needed to be on the right model." She moved away from him and Adrien inwardly squirmed. Felix took Kagami's arm in his and started to walk towards the room they had hired out for the occasion. As they were greeting other family members, the reporters and paparazzi outside started to go ballistic.

Adrien could have guessed who it was. Out of the limousine stepped his mother. She was dressed in a beautiful black evening gown which he knew had been designed and made by Marinette herself. Following his mother was a dream. He stood there gobsmacked. She was wearing a navy blue dress to end all dresses. The top was full sleeve blue netting with lace trailing from the waist up and over each breast. The lace was completed with the same colour rhinestones. The short skirt was layered netting in the same blue as the top, with the trim of each layer being a silk navy blue. She finished the look with lacy high heeled shoes.

As the photographers were taking pictures of her dress she turned around showing off the back. With her hair twisted into a sophisticated up do, the back was fully visible. The lace continued around her back which was completely see through apart from the delicately placed zipper in the middle. She was made for this kind of artwork.

Adrien had had enough waiting around so made his way back outside picking up Marinette and spinning her round. She was laughing and screaming to be put down. He obliged. Placing her on her feet and kissing her softly on the lips.

"You look incredible, Princess."

"Thank you, Kitty. Not looking too rough yourself." She kissed him again as they turned and faced the cameras. Emilie had made her way inside to Gabriel.

"I've never seen him look so happy." Gabriel announced looking at Adrien and Marinette who seemed to be wooing the paparazzi. He could see reporters asking about her dress and then Adrien jumping in to say it was Marinette's talent and hard work.

"They really are made for each other." Emilie rested her head on Gabriel's shoulder and looked at her son. She's gutted she had missed so much in his life, but wouldn't give this time up for anything.

Adrien and Marinette came into the hotel arms locked laughing and smiling, that was until they were stopped by a less than happy Félix. Straight away Marinette felt uneasy at the proximity. Adrien loosened his arm and slid it around her waist, just in case she collapsed. As Felix began to speak a dark cloud covered over Marinette's thoughts.

"I can't believe you two! It's mine and Kagami's engagement party! How dare you?" Félix was fuming. He couldn't believe his own cousin would cause such a display at his party. The guy gets enough attention without taking his too.

"Felix, it's not our fault that you don't show the same admiration for Kagami as Adrien does for me. So just back off!" Adrien was shocked at the ferociousness of Marinette. He'd never seen this side of her in seven years, even when they were head to head with Hawkmoth.

"How dare you speak to me like that girl! Your just a dispensable designer, and as your working for me when we get back to Paris, you should be showing me respect!"

"You wouldn't have a job if it wasn't for me, and don't you dare threaten me. You have no idea what I'm capable of." It was at that moment he heard Plagg in his pocket.

"Adrien, get her away from the ring." Plagg whispered. Grabbing Marinette's hand and mumbling his apologises, Adrien began to lead her away from Felix. As they reached the main room Marinette's tensed state seemed to relax. She placed the hand not secured by Adrien's on her mouth.

"Oh no no no no! We've got to go Adrien!"

"We've made quite a scene already. We can't leave now. I'll just have to keep you further away from Felix than I thought. I'm so sorry, I shouldn't have put you in this position." Adrien started scratching the back of his neck. Marinette reached up and pulled his arm down, gliding her hand down and to his. She grabbed hold of it.

"I'm the one that needs to apologise." She said.

"But you didn't know, and I put you in that position. I'm meant to protect you remember." Adrien looked like the world was on his shoulders and it broke Marinette.

"Kitty ..." she let go of his hands and wrapped her arms around his neck, "we protect each other. That's our bound duty! It's never one way. We work together." She pulled him further down and into a kiss. He sighed and his shoulders dropped knowing his girl was as strong as he was and that they looked out for each other.

"Now please excuse me, Mr Agreste. I need to go powder my nose." She winked at him and then sauntered out of the ballroom.

"She is something, isn't she?" Plagg stuck his head out before being pushed back down violently by Adrien. He turned to go and find his father and mother when a pair of arms wrapped round his neck.

"Oh sorry Adrien, these shoes are causing me so much trouble tonight. I didn't mean to fall, but thank you for catching me."

"I haven't done anything, Lila. Now if you can please take your arms from around my neck." Adrien reached up to try and grasp her arms, but he found she'd managed to get them into a vice like grip.

"You know ... I can't stop thinking about that look you gave me when we passed at the photoshoot a couple of weeks back. It made me feel so vulnerable, like you could do whatever you wanted with me. I'm surprised you didn't ask me to come over and spend sometime with you again." Her one hand slid down onto his chest and began to play with the buttons on his shirt.

He could see a crowd had turned around. This was a woman, who wasn't Marinette, getting up close and personal with Adrien Agreste. The paparazzi inside the event were taking shots of the glamorous models. As Adrien was trying to pull back, Lila was moving with him. He had no idea how he was going to escape this one and not end up on the floor with her still in tow.

"Six billion people in this world, and you keep going after mine." Marinette strolls up to where Adrien is wrestling with Lila and crosses her arms across her chest. "Lilia please unwrap your arms from my boyfriend."

"Oh Marinette, I'm so sorry you had to find out this way. I told Adrien it was a bad idea me coming here but he told me he wanted to see me. I'm sure you're a lovely girl but I'm obviously better."

"Purrrr-lease" Marinette rolled her eyes and Adrien smiled wildly at his ladies cat pun, he'd never felt so proud. Lila finally got the message and let go of Adrien.

"He snuck out after you fell asleep last night. Took me to the most romantic venue on the Thames. He's so romantic." By this time Gabriel and Emilie had joined the crowd listening in. Luckily, Felix and Kagami had gone off for a photoshoot in a different part of the hotel as she thought about the chaos about to transpire. Marinette could hear the voices around them gossiping about what's going on.

"How could you Adrien?" Marinette looked at Adrien, who held his hands up.

"He even gave me these earrings." She turned around to show the crowd. There were a few gasped shocks.

"Adrien Agreste! You give me the most beautiful and heartfelt speech, along with this stunning diamond eternity ring on top of London's most romantic hill," she brings her left hand up to her chest displaying the exquisite piece of jewellery, "then you sneak out to give cubic zirconia earrings to another women." Marinette pretends to faint before delivering the final blow.

"I need to know, Adrien. Was it between round two and three last night? Or was it between three and four?" She turned to Lila and winked before placing a deep and passionate kiss on a very willing blonde participant.

"Well you know, it's a cat-astrophe when we only do it four times a night, sometimes I have to pull my exhausted ass out of bed to go find number five, you big let down." He smiled at Marinette, before kissing her again.

"Ms Rossi, I think it's time you look for work else where. Agreste isn't really the right company for you. We don't meet your standards." Gabriel stepped forward accompanied by Gorilla who promptly removed Lila from the party.

Adrien bent down to Marinette's ear.

"Where did that come from? You don't usually like even talking to me about our sex life and I'm involved."

"I don't know. I just seemed to have had a serge of confidence. Like I could defeat the world. Sorry if I've embarrassed you."

"Embarrassed me? Everyone's going to think I'm a God!" Marinette slapped him on the shoulder and rolled her eyes as he let out a howl of laughter. "Ouch! I have no idea how she got here by the way? As far as I know she doesn't know either Felix or Kagami."

They looked at each other for a fraction of a second before talking in sync.

"Nathalie."

"Woah, Adrien she really must hate you, or she thinks you're easy and will just leave me for a girl with big boobs and no personality." Adrien laughed at Marinette.

"Mari, you know more than anyone, I'm an ass man."

"I know you've spoken to the guys about my butt so I don't doubt that." She said with a smile. "Kim freaks me out when we're training by the way." Adrien let out a chuckle knowing just how much Kim stares at Marinette in her short shorts.

"Would m'lady care for a dance?" Adrien bowed in front of Marinette and held out one hand.

"Lead me to the dance floor, Minou." Marinette placed her hand gently into Adrien's and they made their way to the dance floor.

As they held each other close, Marinette decided to break their dreamy silence.

"We need to get it back."

"Get what back?" Adrien quizzed.

"The ring! If he activates it's powers we might not be able to stop him. The feeling I had Adrien ... it was so intense. It was dark!"

"Then I say we enjoy tonight and have a team meeting tomorrow with Tikki and Plagg. We'll find a way Mari, we always do."

"Me and you against the world?" She asked.

"Always." He replied.