"Bug, I know you struggle to go a day without me... but usually you don't Astrobug to another continent just for a hug."

"Can't a girl just fly a thousand and some miles in a couple of minutes to let the man she loves know she's thinking of him?" Ladybug responded, cuddling deeper into her fiancé's arms.

"No, she can't," Chat Noir chuckled. Ladybug turned her head to snuggle into her partner's chest. "Was today really that bad?"

"Kitty, if it was just bad, do you really think I would have made a transatlantic flight to see you?"

He laughed, hugging her tighter.

"How many times has your father hinted to you not to marry me today?" she asked, her face remaining stuck to his chest.

"Surprisingly, only three, but one of those was a straight up... reconsider your options Adrien," Chat Noir said, his voice full of humour and a rather rubbish impression of Gabriel Agreste. Whatever happened must have been quite the day. It wasn't very often Marinette would use the magic macarons for personal gain, or his father full on demand the wedding be called off. They'd gotten past a lot of that over the recent years.

"That's probably because he's on his private jet flying over to force you into an arranged marriage with an American model, that way you won't be able to marry me and then he'll ship you off to an abandoned island where you'll have three kids, a dog and a hamster called...." she was stopped by a finger being placed firmly against her lips.

Chat Noir couldn't control the level of his laugh. The sound booming across the New York skyline and encompassing the two of them as Ladybug's face blended in with her mask.

"Did I ever tell you that you can be a little dramatic?"

"You don't know what happened," she stated, her lips still squished by his gloved finger.

"Fine. Tell me..."

She moved from him and took a deep breath, looking him over before starting to speak once more.

"It all started when he demanded a cake tasting to check the flavour we'd chosen..."

•••••

"Ms. Dupain-Cheng? It's Nathalie Sancoeur here, Gabriel Agreste's assistant. Monsieur Agreste has demanded a tasting for the wedding cake.'

"Oh, hi, Nathalie. Just call me Marinette, we're going to be like family soon after all."

Silence took over the phone and Marinette could just imagine the eyebrow lift courtesy of one Nathalie Sancoeur.

After so many years she really thought Gabriel and Nathalie would have loosened up a little towards her. But, although Nathalie was more relaxed when it was just her, as soon as Gabriel was in the vicinity it was as though she didn't know anything about Marinette.

Sometimes she wished her soon to be father in law wasn't such a pretentious ass. She was just glad Adrien had grown some balls of steel over the years and no longer responded to his father's every beck and call.

'Monsieur Agreste,' the way Nathalie had said it made Marinette's skin crawl. He really was a bonafide Jackass! 'Has an hour free Tonyorrow from noon and will expect a replica of your cake made and ready for his tasting.'

The three beeps sounded signalling the call was well and truly over, Marinette looking at the phone in shock. Had that really just happened?

"Maman, papa!" she shouted, moving from the workspace in her old loft to her parents' main apartment. "You'll never guess what he's requested this time."

•••••

"So, what happened next? Your papa didn't actually bake the whole cake did he?" Chat Noir asked, leaning back on his hands as he spoke to his fiancée; her cheeks began to glow a rather adorable Marinette pink and he just wanted to take her back to his hotel room and smother her with kisses.

Moaning and covering her eyes, she began to speak again, unable to maintain eye contact with her betrothed as the story unfolded in front of him.

•••••

Gabriel looked in his wardrobe and considered which of the suits would be the most convenient to visit the bakery. Obviously, he needed to look his best, he was entering a public domain where anyone could see him.

"Nathalie, what colour?"

He placed a finger over his lips and pursed them. This was almost impossible. Did he go for the charcoal? The steel grey? Or the silver grey?

"What did you say Gabriel?" His assistant walked into the room in the most beautiful navy summer dress, complete with a white knitted cardigan; cashmere if he wasn't mistaken. He saw her cross her arms over her waist, the sudden action hiding something on the lower area.

Studying her from top to botTony, his eyes creased and a lift pulled one of his eyebrows into his hairline.

"Nice cardigan," he stated, Nathalie turning her head to look out the window as her jaw hardened.

"It is."

"Looks warm," he said, Nathalie still averting her eyes away from him.

"The interlocking loops are spread perfectly so it keeps me warm but doesn't cause overheating." She moved towards the wardrobe and twisted her body so Gabriel couldn't see what she was hiding. What was going on?

"What brand is it?"

"Oh, just some little independant boutique. I found it when I was out shopping for Adrien and Marinette's engagement gift." Nathalie continued to shift through the wardrobe and his numerous amount of grey two piece suits.

Needing to inspect the cardigan more, Gabriel moved close behind her back and placed his hands on her shoulders. A soft sigh left her lips as she continued to rifle through the many hanging garments. His hands moved up and down, feeling each of the exquisitely formed loops as he trailed the material, stroking with his thumbs. Not only were the knitting skills above any of the works in his team, but the wool was top quality.

He continued looking down at the sleeves, his face on Nathalie's arm as he nuzzled the wool with his cheek. Oh yes, definitely top notch. This must have cost a fortune.

His one cheek progressed further down her arm, before he turned his head and ran the opposite cheek back up, a soft moan escaping unconsciously.

Gabriel stood straight, placing his hands on Nathalie's shoulders and spinning her around; pulling her close into his body, once again burying his face into the soft wool, nuzzling down the front of the cardigan and pressing into Nathalie's waist. His hands cupped her hips as he searched for any indication on who created this masterpiece.

Moving back up the cardigan, he examined the three buttons situated at Nathalie's chest, noting the tiny cats embellished on the metal circles. Needing to know more, Gabriel pushed his hands under the cardigan and over her shoulders.

"Gabriel..." Nathalie huffed out, her chest rising and falling deeply. He looked at her face and her eyes had closed as she moved forward. Using the opportunity, he slid the cardigan from her over her arms. He'd got it!

"Aha!" He flapped the cardigan in front of himself, looking all over it. Where's the label? Where is the label?

La Blanche.

No... no! It couldn't be... Nathalie wouldn't do that to him. Would she?

He looked to Nathalie, the woman in front of him cowering into herself. So it was true?

"How could you do this?" His voice was strained as he held the cardigan open, label clearly on show.

"It meant nothing Gabe, I promise. It was just a moment of weakness."

He moved backwards and seated himself on the edge of the bed, one hand still holding onto one of Marinette's pure white designs, as his other hand removed his glasses, hanging them both low between his legs.

"I promise," Nathalie said, coming to kneel before him. "I - I didn't mean for you to get hurt." Her voice was full of emotion but he didn't believe her.

"Why did you do it? How is this cardigan better than the one I made you? I have given my all to making sure you were comfortable." His eyes glazed as he looked into Nathalie's.

"You've always made me comfortable, Gabriel, I swear. It's just... I was out shopping and it suddenly turned cold. It was just there. Gleaming at me from the store window. It looked so warm and soft, it pulled me in; and when I tried it on..."

Gabriel sniffed, turning his head to face out the window and away from the deceitful woman in front; his nose flared and prickled.

"Don't finish that sentence," he said, voice thick and heavy. "I get it. She's better than me." He placed his glasses back into his face and stood, moving back to his wardrobe. The cardigan was left abandoned on the bed.

"Please forgive me, I didn't mean to hurt you."

"You're not bound to wear my clothes. You can wear whatever you want. Just one more question. Did she give you a d-d-d—" He took a deep breath, preparing himself to say the most gut wrenching word he knew. "Did she give you a... d-d-discount?"

Eyes closing tightly, Gabriel prepared for what he was about to hear. He knew the answer before he'd even asked it.

"Friends and family," she whispered and his heart dropped into his gut.

"How much, Nathalie? How... much?"

"75%"

Gabriel turned to face her collapsing back into the wardrobe. 75%... that's insane! But then a kick came square to the cahoonas as she continued.

"Adrien was working the cash register that day."

With a hand on his heart, Gabriel slid down onto the floor, his breathing coming out in laboured pants. How the hell was he going to make it through this betrayal?

"Please, Gabriel, it was just a one time thing." Her hands were together as she begged for his forgiveness, but he was too angry. The betrayal — too fresh.

"I need time," he said, turning away from Nathalie and focusing back on his wardrobe. Reaching to the far left, he wrapped a hand around the wardrobe door, searching for the one thing to soften this blow.

As his hands pulled out the covered suit, he took a deep breath. Marinette Dupain-Cheng, soon to be Agreste, would regret the day she sold Nathalie a three quarters off cashmere wool cardigan with cute little cat buttons.

It was time to put the Princess in her place.

•••••

Arriving 15 minutes early, Gabriel waited for Gorilla to open his door and escort him out to the boulangerie. He was still giving Nathalie the silent treatment, ignoring her as she whimpered out of the car and round towards the front of the store. That'll make her sorry for cheating on him like that.

Gorilla opened the door and Gabriel straightened his jacket ready to make his way into the boulangerie; he was going to be early and take them off guard. They won't know what hit them.

Marching to the doorway, Nathalie and Gorilla on his tail, Gabriel froze before opening it. No! No way!

There was a table set up to high standards in the middle of the shop, complete with a 5 tier wedding cake.

Fuck!

Placing a fisted hand to his mouth, he coughed and pushed open the door. Soft music was playing, almost like a string quartet. It was settling and calming, and all he wanted to do was rip the speakers out of the wall.

The table was decked out with placemats, name cards, candles and forks and looked like something you'd find in The Ritz. Praise when due, and they definitely deserved it. It looked very upper class.

"This looks okay," Gabriel said, catching the eye of a very nervous Marinette standing beside the counter. She was also in one of her La Blanche designs; all white and wedding looking; he looked her up and down, once more, sending a silent curse that she'd spill something down herself and ruin the dress.

"Thank you," she responded, moving forwards and curtseying to him. Now, that he could get on board with.

"Wine?" Sabrina came over next a bottle in hand as she presented it not too dissimilar to what George (the butler if you can't remember) would have at their usual evening meal.

"Sure," Nathalie said, almost leaping across the table in need of a glass.

"This is quite the cake considering you're not getting married in Paris." Gabriel eyed them over, every now and then chancing a glance at Nathalie who was unceremoniously draining her glass and asking for more.

"Well, Adrien spoke to the hotel and they're allowing Maman and papa to bake the cake there. We could have imagined getting married without a Tony and Sabrina special," she said nervously.

Gabriel positioned his hands behind his back and raised an eyebrow. "Oh course he did." Another opportunity for Adrien to flash his name for his girlfriend to get whatever she wanted.

"Well then, let's begin."

•••••

After about 40 minutes of eating and attempting conversation, Gabriel had pretty much denied every flavour Marinette wanted. The poor girl had to interrupt Adrien up whilst he was on his business trip in New York to consider new flavours.

10 minutes after that, Gabriel had received a message from Adrien telling him to back off... in less than pleasant terms.

So now, there was just one more thing to try...

"Then for the cake smash..." Tony came back to the table carrying a very intricate white cake with pink peonies on it. He placed it between them and as much as Gabriel didn't want to admit it, this had been his favourite. Small. Simple. Sophisticated.

"A cake smash?" Gabriel looked curiously between the Dupain-Cheng's and Nathalie. He'd never heard of a cake smash before. All he could think was maybe the cake smash was the best bit, such as a smash hit, or a smashingly great cake. Maybe, it was linked to the British phrase 'smashing'. He could just imagine Felix. 'Uncle this cake is smashing.'

Happy with his opinion of what a cake smash was, he grabbed a fork and looked at Marinette.

"Give it to me," he demanded, Marinette looking at her father for some kind of reassurance.

He was quite sure she didn't want to share this 'smashing cake' obviously wanting to keep its exquisite taste to herself.

"I'm not sure —"

"Marinette," Gabriel said, holding one hand up to stop his 'daughter-in-law' from talking. "I think I know what I'm doing, and I feel as the most distinguished person here, I should be the one to try it. It needs to be good enough."

"But Monsieur Agreste —"

"Marinette, sweetheart, if he wants to experience the cake smash then I think you should allow him — as the most distinguished person in the room, of course." Tony dropped Marinette a wink, Gabriel glad the big man was on his side with this.

"Listen to your father, Marinette." Gabriel grinned smugly, his eyebrows raising in challenge.

"Okay then," Marinette sighed, her eyes wondering to Nathalie. The woman was squinting, she probably knew this had something to do with her disloyalty; that he, Gabriel Agreste, was in charge here. Lifting her wine glass to her lips, Nathalie drained her fifth glass of the day, holding it out to Sabrina to be filled once more.

His attention was pulled back to Marinette as she lifted the cake in her hands. She bit down on her botTony lip, her eyes again moving from person to person.

"Are you —"

"Just, give it to me, Marinette." Gabriel noticed both Tony and Nathalie had fished their phones out of their pockets, obviously ready to capture the moment Gabriel Agreste gives his true analysis of this 'so called' smashing cake.

Licking his lips, the hint of something sweet hit his senses a millisecond before the cake hit his face. The force almost knocked him off the chair, his mind both scathing and impressed by her strength.

His glasses were dark, the cake frosting covering them thickly as his nostrils fought to blow the congealed cake free so he could breathe once again.

The cake in his ears doing nothing to hide the over enthusiastic laugh of Tony Dupain.

Poking his tongue out, he licked his lips clean, before taking off his glasses and swiping a huge chunk of frosting from his chin, placing it in his mouth.

Picking up the napkin, he wiped the cake from the lenses and placed them back on.

"I'd personally go with the vanilla."

•••••

Ladybug kept her eyes covered, Chat's laugh doing nothing to help her mental well being. He was starting to hyperventilate; he was cackling way too much.

With a quick shove, she pushed him from the rooftop only for his playful, yet annoying, 'weee' to follow and her partner appearing once more beside her.

"Please, for the love of God, tell me you have the video with you. Damn this business trip! This moment was more epic than when he walked in on us on the piano."

Chat Noir laughed again, this time pulling her towards him and kissing her hard on the cheek.

"Do you realise how much I adore you? Everyone believes you're this bad ass chick who can fight crime or stand up to bullies. But I know different! You're an absolute chaotic mess!" He laughed once more, this time Ladybug joined in with him; her arms found solace around him as once again he just accepted her and all her Marinette-ness just as she was.

"I love you too."

Turning her head, she twisted and pressed a quick kiss to under his jaw, his height making it impossible to kiss any higher.

"Do you need to be back in Paris Tomorrow?" Chat asked, gazing deeply into his Lady's eyes.

"I took a couple of days off. Wedding stress, you know."

"And what do you plan on doing with those couple of days?" He leaned down and kissed her briskly on the lips.

"I thought I'd spend the night with my fiancé and maybe do a little sightseeing before flying home."

Scooping her into his arms, Chat Noir carried her back to his hotel room. First the video and then time with his fiancée... nothing was sweeter! (Except maybe a smash cake!)