"Yes." You responded in a calm and collected tone.

"What's his name?" He asked with a gentle smile.

"Dakota."

"What made you choose that name?" He questioned and you could tell he wasn't being judgmental, just genuinely curious.

"My favorite state." You whispered.

"Is he the fourth person's kid?" He asked though he already knew the answer.

"Yes." You answered again though you felt incredibly nervous to finally tell him.

"Can I see a picture?" He was still smiling, but the longer you looked into his eyes, they betrayed him. A deep sadness was swirling in his blue hues.

You nodded and turned on your phone and flipped it towards him so he could see your lock screen, an image of your smiling little boy.

"You and Adrien have a really beautiful son."

Your breath hitched in your throat. "Thank you."

"He looks just like him. And when you began to say the final person you started with 'A.' I'm not stalking you, I promise." He chuckled with his hand out in front of him.

You rolled your eyes. "I knew that."

"So it's serious then?" He asked with a small frown.

You took in a sharp breath as you stared into your dark coffee. Meeting his eyes felt harder now that he knew the truth, well at least part of it. "We're um...separated right now."

The flight was completely packed.

It was on its way to Hawaii, a flight that was always packed. You hurried down the first rows of people, offering them their complimentary first class drinks and sandwiches.

"Y/n?" The all too familiar voice asked.

Your head shot down and you saw Adrien sitting there waving with a shy smile on his face.

"Adrien?" You gasped slightly at the sight of your old friend.

"How have you been? It's been a while." He spoke a bit quickly, knowing he was holding you up from doing your job.

"I've been really great! Doing everything I could have ever imagined." You beamed as you motioned towards the rest of the plane, indicating that you were finally working your dream job.

"I'm really happy for you! I know you're busy but if you get any time between flights, come see me on the island." He smiled.

"Where will you be?" You asked and he shrugged.

"You'll know where to find me."

**

"Does Marinette know you're here?" You asked as the two of you strolled along the soft sand of the beach. It was really late in the night and you were both completely exhausted. Even so, neither of you could resist the temptation to talk to each other.

"She does, she is lending the miraculous to someone while I'm gone." He sighed and you hummed, knowing who he was talking about.

"Well at least that's covered. I'm bummed though, I'd love to say hello to my little buddy." You frowned and he laughed as he nodded.

"Plagg would've loved to see you."

"I mean—I was always his favorite." You sighed and smiled teasingly.

Adrien rolled his eyes and shoved you ever so slightly with his shoulder. "Yeah right."

"Were you okay...with the fact that you and Marinette never got together? I mean—I know you loved her as Ladybug long before you ever felt anything for me." You sighed as your eyes traveled up and gazed at the stars above.

Adrien sighed as he kicked bits of sand with each step. "Of course I'm okay with it."

"That's a little harsh don't you think?" You asked as you choked out a laugh.

"I don't mean it like that. Marinette is a great girl. Though the way she was treating me as Chat Noir and you when she was just herself really made me think some things over about her. I know she's made a great amount of improvement with herself, but I just don't think I could love her like that again. I was young and naive." He grinned the last part.

You nodded as you felt your eyes darken. "Does that mean you were naive as well...when you loved me?" You asked as you knew you were stepping into a dangerous territory between the two of you.

Adrien stopped immediately and you peered down as you watched the sand hit your legs from his abrupt stop. "No."

Your eyebrows furrowed and your eyes met his. "What? Is it like an age thing? I know you didn't suddenly grow more mature from fifteen to sixteen." You laughed and he shook his head.

"No, because the love I have always felt for you is the most genuine feeling I've ever experienced." His voice was soft as his hand gripped your elbow and pulled you in closer. "Y/n, I've always loved you. I told you I would wait for you, as long as it took." His eyes still shined bright and they were full of promise. The longer you stared into them the more clearly you could see the stars reflecting off of his green hues.

"Adrien I-"

"Please tell me it's not too late." He whispered as his finger slipped under your chin. His hand remained on your elbow, though he made no other moves to touch you.

You closed your eyes tightly as your head tilted downwards. "I don't know." You responded softly.

"What do you mean?" He calmly begged for clarification.

You sighed and pulled him towards the water and sat along the edge, ignoring how the water began to slowly soak your denim shorts. "I've been seeing somebody for a couple of months now." You began as you clenched your legs tightly against your chest. "Though, she doesn't seem to want more with me than this casual thing we have going on. The more I think about it, we're really just friends with benefits." You laughed as you traced lines in the sand.

He stared at you, amazed at the part of you that you unveiled to him without hesitation. You had grown to be more open in the years the two of you had been apart. "Did you ask her for more?"

"Every time I mention it she seems to shut it down pretty quickly. I'm a lot to handle so I understand not wanting to lock it down." You joked as you made dramatic hand gestures. "I have been hoping for a greater commitment. I was hoping it was from her, but if she doesn't feel the same I'm not going to hold her back any longer."

"Why don't you give her a call?" He asked and you couldn't help but notice how he avoided commenting on how you believed you were a lot to handle.

You bit your lip as you felt your body quiver. "Because its Zoe and I'm terrified I will lose her if I end things now."

You noticed Adrien stiffen and you nodded knowingly. "That's a lot of baggage for just friends with benefits."

"That's what I said!" You exclaimed. "She warned me that she wasn't looking to get too involved. She was in love with me while I was a teenager infatuated with boys, so she pretty much saw how much drama I could bring first hand. I still wanted to be with her though, I was completely drawn to her. Now though, it doesn't seem to be enough."

"Well she is beautiful with an incredible personality." He agreed.

"I know, which is why the thought of being apart is so hard. She really is my best friend."

"You two really entered some dangerous territory." He laughed as he began mimicking you by drawing his own figures in the sand.

"I know. I've enjoyed every minute of it though. I think running into you on this trip really was the sign that our time is coming to an end." You looked up and your eyes met his and a small smile tugged on your lips.

Adrien's eyes grew dark and he pulled you in closer, his hand hooked behind your elbow once more. He leaned in close and whispered in your ear. "Why don't you go back up to your hotel room and call her, and come meet me in mine if things end up ending."

You shivered from the combination of his touch and his dark, soft voice.

You nodded. "And...what will we be doing?" You asked shakily as you gulped, and he shook his head with a sigh.

"You dirty girl." He grinned. "I just want to make you some dinner." His grin shifted into a smirk.

"I'll go call her."

"You better."

**

"I had a feeling this was coming." Zoe was laughing softly on the other end of the line.

"Are you mad?" You asked gently.

"No, not at all. I was beginning to feel guilty actually. All I wanted was fun and you wanted to fall in love. We just aren't meant to be." She spoke and you knew she shrugged. She was very nonchalant, as always.

"Yes we are—we're meant to be best friends." You reminded her, hoping she understood that this wasn't you trying to push her out of your life.

"Forever." She agreed.

"Zoe Lee I hope you find everything you are looking for, and more fun." You grinned and she laughed.

"I'm just making up for lost time. Wait—you don't feel used or anything? Oh god I'm just as bad as all of those idiot boys aren't I?" She began to stammer and you laughed.

"No Zoe, of course not. You made the conditions of us very clear from the start. You couldn't have been more perfect." You beamed as you remembered the first time the two of you were truly together.

"Thank you." She whispered.

"You too, for everything."

You soon ended the call, feeling a weight lift from your chest. Even though the time the two of you spent being together was short, you were so glad you did it. Being with Zoe taught you so much about yourself and you now felt ready to truly be committed with someone.

After all of your years of working on yourself, it was finally time for you to become emotionally involved.

As terrified as you were, you still walked into the building across from yours.

As dreadful as the walk was, you felt it all release as you stood in front of his door.

As fast as your heart was beating, you still rose your fist and knocked three times against his door.

You couldn't have been happier when he opened the door and pulled you in by your elbow, with the biggest smile across his face.

"Separated?" Luka asked, inquiring if that meant you were married or just not seeing each other at the moment.

"Breaking News! The authorities finally granted us permission to release that the trial of Gabriel Agreste is to begin in two months."

Luka's eyes widened as the news played on the television behind your head. "Gabriel Agreste—"

"Was finally arrested."