As the rhythmic sound of water echoed through the mansion, Adrien wandered through his room, his thoughts drifting aimlessly. The patter of rain against the windows added to the soothing ambiance, filling the space with a sense of tranquillity.

Alone in his bedroom, Adrien couldn't shake the feeling of anticipation that bubbled within him. Marinette was in his shower—Marinette, the girl who captured his attention in ways he couldn't quite explain. His heart raced as he imagined her just a room away, the thought of her presence filling him with both excitement and nervousness.

He glanced toward the closed bathroom door, wondering what Marinette was doing behind it. Was she humming a tune? Lost in her thoughts like he was? The curiosity gnawed at him, tempting him to knock and join her, but he resisted, knowing he should respect her privacy.

Instead, he busied himself with his warm cup of tea, placing hers down on the table and watching the steam rising in gentle curls as he took a sip. The rain continued to fall outside, its soft melody a backdrop to the quiet anticipation that lingered in the air.

He'd completely overstepped his boundaries, but she had responded to him and he just couldn't stop. Her eyes had darkened and her body had quivered under his touch, the whole exchange feeling electric.

Water snaked down the window, his reflection being obscured by the movement in a way which was all too familiar. It had started similarly seven years ago. They'd revealed — celebrated — hugged... It had been picture perfect...until the weather turned. As they'd decided to run for cover, they'd completely misheard what the other had said. Very much a Rachel and Monica 'got the keys' situation, as when Adrien landed home after running through thousands of flirty lines in his head, he turned around to deliver the greatest chat up line of his life, only to find himself alone. She hadn't followed him back to his home, and, as she'd told him later, she'd thought he was following her.

The moment had been broken, and as much as he wanted to get it back, to relive the undeniable tension between them, it had never resurfaced. They'd slipped into this close friendship, Marinette taking his number one spot as his best friend – much to Nino's chagrin. And he loved her. He really did. But the day he was offered his first movie role in London, she was there supporting him, telling it would be good for him. She'd always been his biggest supporter, getting him to move forward with his life, when really he just wanted to stay put and be with her.

Then the day the world found out about his father, she was over with him in a heartbeat, dropping everything in Paris to be by his side and support him through the questioning and the world turning against him, and here she was now, helping to turn it back.

The wind outside blew the rain harshly into the window, Adrien heading over to where his phone was on the table and grabbing it. He'd promised Lana he'd check in with her this evening, and, to be honest, with Marinette there, he wanted to remain focused on her, not on the off chance his agent would remember to call him.

Before selecting her number, he quickly tapped on their supergroup, checking what was happening in his friend's world.

A group chat called:The Core 4 with: M, A, A, N

Received Message from:Alya
BugBossLady Meow-sterMind are you two trying to cause panic around Paris? You reappear and then we get this terrible storm! I'm getting hundreds of emails about whether there's a new villain out there!

Received Message from:Nino
By hundreds, she means 3!

Received Message from:Alya
And were you both fighting or making out on the rooftop, because with the pictures I've seen it could be either!

Sent Message: There was more than kissing...if you know what I mean ?

Received Message from:Nino
C'mon man! You're going to give her a heart attack! She has two ships which are sailing...she can barely contain herself as it is!

Sent Message: Don't blame me for having a hot, sexy fiancée! I just can't keep my hands off of her.

Received Message from:Alya
And what was with the change of suits?

Sent Message: XD

Received Message from:Nino
Just be glad it's raining and Alya's hair gets frizzy because right now she wants to hunt you and Mari down!

Sent Message: Nettie's here if you need her, though she's a little indisposed at the moment

Received Message from:Alya
We best not keep you then!

Laughing, Adrien said his farewells in the group and switched to his contact list. Placing his phone to his ear, he waited for the formal tones of his agent to answer, his eyes gravitating to the doorway of the bathroom as his phone rang through. It didn't take long for her to pick up the call.

"Adrien, darling, how are you?"

"Good, and you?" He winced at the fake formalities.

"Busy dealing with my number one star." He could tell from the joy in her voice that she was most certainly happy with him at the moment, and most likely what he was doing for publicity. "Adrinette was the number one search right up until an hour ago. You've slipped to number two, but it's not really anything to worry about at the moment."

"Who's number one now?" he queried. A little hope blossomed in his chest for Elise and whoever the guy was she was seeing. He hadn't spoken to her since the Marinette story had broken, part of him feeling guilty for taking away some of her attention before the release of her album. Though, if she wanted to play the jilted lover, he was fine with that too.

"I don't know if you would have heard, but Ladybug and Chat Noir were seen canoodling on a rooftop."

Of course! He should have guessed it really, though calling it canoodling was a little exaggerated – and weird. "Oh, yeah! I thought I'd seen something pop up on 'X'."

"They're stealing the news, but don't worry, I have a plan. I've booked you and Marinette in to look at some wedding venues, and the guest list has expanded by 200 people for the engagement party. I believe even Tom Cruise is considering coming."

"Oh, that's...great?"

"Don't sound so unsure. If Tom comes, you know other people will too. Just think about it, okay? We overpower Ladynoir and then the part will most certainly be yours. People will have forgotten about your villainous father once you're showing how in love you are with a normal girl."

Normal? He had to hold in a laugh. If there was one thing about Marinette, it was that she was the opposite to normal, in the best possible ways.

"If you think so," he replied.

"Oh, I don't think, darling – I know. Now make sure you and your beautiful fiancée get out and about, being seen. The more photos you can get on social media, the better. And don't forget to take some of your own. Better yet, see if you can double date with Ladybug and Chat Noir, your fans would go wild."

Adrien couldn't help the laugh which escaped. "I think that might be quite impossible."

"With your name, darling, everything is possible. Now, I must be going. Ciao, Adrien."

As much as he would have liked to retain the joyful feeling of him and Marinette double dating themselves, the thought of everything hit him lik across the head. Two of the world's favourite 'relationships' involved him...and both were fake. Double the love, yet double the heartbreak.

Relaxing forward, he dropped his head onto the window, the cool glass bringing him out of his made up fantasy and back to reality. This wasn't going to last forever, as much as he wanted it to. She'd pulled away from him tonight. They were so close, everything seemed to be happening...then it didn't.

"I've told my parents I'm staying here for the night. I hope that's okay?"

The sweet sounds of his fiancée entered his room and wrapped around his heart. She could stay here forever if she wanted.

"Yeah, that's –" Adrien turned around, losing his ability to speak from the moment he saw her.

He'd had many fantasies over the years. After all, he was a 22-year-old hot-blooded male. But this one was more than he could have ever imagined. Marinette had her hair down, towelling it from the effects of the shower.

And that wasn't all. She'd headed straight to his closet when she'd arrived, grabbing some kind of clothing to wear in replacement of her wet ones. He hadn't expected her to come out wearing his old lacrosse t-shirt, and from the looks of it...not a lot else.

His eyes began their journey, memorising every inch of pale skin, teasing him with thoughts of how it would feel under his bare hands as he caressed and cherished her. His fingers started to twitch involuntarily, yearning to reach out and grab hold of her, the devil on his shoulder telling him to slide them slowly under the t-shirt and check if she'd borrowed anything else.

"Is this okay?" she stuttered, looking down at herself and his jersey.

"Y-yeah, it's – it's great. I'm just – I just...wondered where you found it. I haven't seen it in years."

She smiled brightly at him and walked over. "I found it when I was here last time, and planned on stealing it."

He laughed, ignoring the blush painting his cheeks as he watched the rim of the t-shirt ride up with each and every step she took, her bare feet barely making a noise on the wooden floor. "You're a little thief, do you know that?"

She smirked. "What else have I stolen to make me a thief?"

My heart, he wanted to say, but instead restricted himself to what she knew and not something which would make this uncomfortable. Her confidence was back and the last thing he wanted was for her to lose it again.

"My phone." He smiled at her, only to be met by the towel she was drying her hair with smacking him square in the face. "Is that really how you treat your husband-to-be?" he asked, fluttering his eyelashes at her.

"Shower's yours!" she said, turning away from him.

"Oh, come on, Bugaboo, it was just a joke."

She huffed, keeping her back to him, which only made the joke even more humorous. She was so easy to rile up. Knowing she was only fake grumping to get attention, Adrien moved forward and grabbed her around the waist, lifting her up and carrying her over to his bed.

"Adrien," she laughed, a small scream leaving her lips as he dumped her onto the mattress. He dived on top of her and began to tickle her, causing her to twist and squirm under his touch in the most fabulous ways. Her legs kicked out as she begged for mercy, a plea he could get used to hearing.

With a smile, he removed his weight from her body and stood up, all set to make his way to the bathroom, but not without one more attack of his Lady. Grabbing the bottom of his shirt, he pulled it up and over his head, revealing his torso to her with a satisfied smirk.

Her cheeks glowed and eyes darkened from the azure he was used to seeing to a deep ocean blue.

"I won't keep you waiting too long." With a wink, Adrien turned and walked into his bathroom, the muffled sound of Marinette's groan from behind his pillow following him all the way into the shower.