Nothing welcomed a new day in Paris like the bright spring sunshine blinding you because you forgot to shut your blinds, or the birds tweeting their songs merrily like a Black+Decker drill hammering against your skull. But most of all, nothing said good morning in Paris like the stinking hangover from one too many wines the night before.

Marinette groaned, rolling over in her bed, using the pillow to cover her head. Whoever had nominated her the centre of attention last night was going to pay for it, because right now she wasn't ever moving again for the rest of her life.

She attempted to consider her options for the day, her preference being to find a new bunch of heroes because all of her friends were stinking liars!

Just one more, Marinette!

We're celebrating, Marinette!

We'll go home soon, Marinette!

Liars! The whole lot of them were dirty liars, and they were goddamn lucky she hadn't blacked out! Worst of all, they'd taken her phone off her. As soon as the clock had struck midnight, Alya had swiped her phone from her bag and refused to give it back.

So, she was hungover, pissed off and lacking her phone. What would happen next?

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Pulling the pillow tighter over her head, she ignored the sounds of someone wanting to enter her room. She couldn't be bothered with this right now. If it was her parents, they could wait, and if it was Adrien he'd just find another way to enter — like blowing up the side of her room.

She could help but wonder where he'd gotten to the previous night. She'd wanted nothing more than anything to spend the night with him...all curled up and cosy in his arms, his soft snores, his soft hair...his big, macho man hands on her body.

Now, she was awake...and agitated.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

"Come in!" she shouted painfully down the staircase. She swore if it was one of her friends, her pinboard was about to fly down and give Flat Stanley a new friend.

The creek of the door was the same as someone grabbing her brain and squeezing it like a sponge. Oh, man! She needed to stop folding at peer pressure.

"Morning, sweetheart." The soft tones of her mother's voice soothed over the obnoxious pain in her head.

"Thank god you didn't put a 'good' in front of 'morning'."

She heard her mother's laugh as she climbed up the ladder and looked over the top. "Oh dear!"

Marinette rolled her eyes and reached to the side of her bed, grabbing her robe. "Thanks, Maman, you really know how to make me feel special."

"I have pancakes and chocolate milk waiting for you, if you want."

Scrambling onto her knees, Marinette leaned over to kiss her maman on the cheek, only for the woman to lean back with scrunched up features.

"That's after you've brushed your teeth and had a shower."

"Again, thank you for making me feel good about myself. My self-confidence is at an all-time high."

Marinette struggled, moving around on her bed before lowering herself down the ladder with only a couple of wobbles. Her feet touched down - one, then the other - before a glass of water and painkillers were thrust into her face.

"Take these."

She didn't even query it. Instead, she thrust the two tablets into her mouth and swallowed them down with a rather hefty swig of water. "Thanks."

"You're welcome. Now hurry up and shower, then come and join us for breakfast."

Her maman seemed surprisingly chipper considering Marinette had come in last night like she was training for Ninja Warrior...and not being very successful. She was quite sure she'd taken down a side table, a plant pot, a pile of books, and maybe even an ornament.

Twenty minutes later, she was sitting with her mother at the breakfast bar, a pile of pancakes in front of her and her head finally feeling like part of her body again.

"Good night?" her maman asked, a sly smirk on her face.

"Yeah, it was good!" She sighed, picking up a fork and pushing a blueberry around on her plate.

"What's wrong?"

Marinette didn't know where to start without sounding like a toddler...but Adrien was her boyfriend, damn it, and everyone had taken him away from her. She shrugged, pushing down her adolescent feelings before explaining in a more mature way. "The guys left us and took Adrien with them."

Well done, Marinette! Okay, so maybe she could have explained it a little better and been less whiny... Actually, no, she couldn't. She missed him and had so many questions she needed answering.

Sabine laughed, standing up and heading towards the dishwasher. "Miss your fiancé?"

"Yes!" she groaned. "And Alya took my phone off me, so I can't even contact him."

"Where is he today?"

That was a good question. "Probably at the house. I know there was a lot of work being done while he was away, so he'll most likely be checking in on it."

Her mother closed the dishwasher and headed to the coat rack, grabbing Marinette's jacket and throwing it over, before putting on her own. "What are we waiting for, then? Let's go and find him."

Bewildered, Marinette put her jacket on and followed her mother out of the apartment, unsure what the rush was and why her mother wanted to come with her...

And why wasn't the bakery open?

Fifteen minutes later, Marinette pushed open the door to her new home, her voice trailing off into the quiet as she called for her husband-to-be. "Adrien?"

She stepped inside, her maman following behind her before she called out again, her heart skipping a beat. The lack of response left her feeling a mix of excitement and apprehension.

Where could he be in this unfamiliar place?

Marinette stood in the hallway, taking in the transformed space. Gone were the dark, ominous wooden walls she had hated. Instead, the walls were a clean, bright white, adorned with striking black and white photographs that caught her eye. Each picture seemed to tell a story – their story – adding a touch of artistry to their new home.

As she approached one particular photograph, her gaze was drawn to a yellow post-it note stuck to the frame. Curiosity piqued, she reached out and carefully peeled it off, unfolding the note to reveal a message scrawled in familiar handwriting: "Marinette," it read, "I love your kindness and how you always make me smile - Adrien"

A warm rush of emotion washed over her. The simple yet heartfelt words filled her with joy and reassurance. She cherished this unexpected expression of love from Adrien, and a soft smile lit up her face as she held the note close to her heart. With renewed excitement, she made her way towards the next room.

Freezing in the doorway, she felt her mother's hand come to support her lower back. "Oh, Marinette."

The ambiance of the room was fresh and stylish, yet amidst the contemporary décor, she noticed a nostalgic touch—a lingering trace of her grandpa's influence, especially around the beautifully adorned fireplace. Her favourite feature in the room.

She felt a rush of affection and gratitude. Adrien's action was like a warm embrace, reminding her of their deep connection amidst the changes in their lives. They'd spent hours in front of this fireplace, reading, cuddling...mourning.

She approached it tentatively, fingertips stroking over the newly smoothed edge of the wood when suddenly her eyes caught sight of another post-it note nestled among the decorative elements. Her heart fluttered with curiosity as she reached for the note, unfolding it gently. She discovered Adrien's handwriting once again.

"Marinette. Your creativity and resilience inspire me every day. I love you more than words can express - Adrien"

She felt a mix of emotions wash over her, unsure which one to commit to first.

"Do you think there are any more?" her mother asked. Marinette's own words stuck in her throat as she tried to answer.

She continued to move into the house, reaching her favourite room. The new, expanded kitchen was fit for a family...a large family living out all their shared dreams and wants.

Moving deeper into the kitchen, she noticed vases of red roses, sporadically placed on work surfaces and leading out of the room. Her heart fluttered with intrigue as she discovered another note next to a lavish spray of red roses.

"Marinette," the note began, "follow the roses to the endgame - Adrien"

A rush of anticipation surged through her. With a newfound sense of adventure, she clutched the note and eagerly followed the trail of roses, her mind buzzing with anticipation and wonder about the surprise that awaited her.

"Adrien?" she called out again, a hint of amusement in her voice. What had this man been doing?

The roses stopped outside of the doorway he had commandeered as his secret project, a clear sign that she was to go in...and maybe he would be in there too. Her hand lifted towards the doorknob only to hesitate, uncertain about what she was about to find. She could imagine it now...Adrien's secret red room, which she was about to walk into with her maman while Adrien had chained himself to a bed whilst covered in chocolate body rub.

"Are you going to go in?" Sabine asked, something in her voice Marinette couldn't place.

"I - um - yeah! Yeah!" Marinette's hand trembled slightly as she grasped the door handle, her heart racing with anticipation. With a deep breath, she pushed the door open, and her eyes widened in amazement.

Before her lay Adrien's secret project—a beautifully designed room that took her breath away. It wasn't as grand as his father's fashion atelier, but it was perfect in its own right—cosy, inviting, and tailored just for her. The walls were painted in her favourite shade of pink, enveloping the space in warmth and comfort.

She stepped inside, her gaze sweeping over the meticulously organised shelves filled with neatly labelled materials—fabrics, threads, buttons, and more—all ready for her creative touch. In one corner, a top-of-the-line overlocker and sewing machine gleamed, waiting to bring her designs to life.

Overwhelmed with emotion, she felt tears welling up in her eyes. Adrien had thought of everything she could have ever wanted in a creative space. The gesture was not only a testament to his love but also a reflection of how well he understood her passion for design and crafting. This was something straight from her Pinterest account.

With a grateful smile, she ran her fingers over the soft pink walls, feeling a surge of inspiration and joy. This room was more than just a gift—it was a sanctuary where she could fully express herself and pursue her dreams.

Standing in awe, her heart pounded with a mixture of excitement and disbelief as she stared at the mannequin covered in a white sheet. Her mother's encouraging voice broke through her reverie.

"Go on, Marinette," her mother urged gently. "Take a look."

Marinette approached the corner where the mannequin stood. She took a deep breath, her hands trembling slightly as she reached for the sheet and in one swift motion, she pulled it away.

Her breath caught in her throat and tears welled up in her eyes at the sight of the exquisite dress before her. It was a vision of beauty, something she could only ever dream about. A design which she never thought she'd be able to make, yet here it was, sculpted to perfection.

Her mother approached, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Oh, Marinette..."

She turned to her mother, unable to hold back her tears of joy. "Maman..."

Her mother smiled, her eyes shimmering with happiness. "He loves you so much, dear."

Marinette nodded, her voice choked with emotion. "Yes. He really does."

As she composed herself, her gaze fell upon a small envelope delicately placed on the dress. With quivering hands, she opened it and read the invitation in her hands. One from the man she loved with all her heart.

You are cordially invited to the wedding of

Mademoiselle Marinette Dupain-Cheng

To

Adrien Agreste

Today at 3pm

Marinette, my love, if you'll have me, I'll be waiting at the altar.

She gasped, her heart soaring with love and excitement. She turned to her mother once more, her eyes sparkling. Her mother stepped forward and embraced her tightly, sharing in Marinette's overwhelming joy.

Then her mother stepped back, placing her hands on Marinette's cheeks, using her thumbs to wipe away the newly shed tears.

"So, sweetheart, what will it be?"