"What the hell were you thinking?" To say Adrien was angry would be an understatement, he was fuming.

"What? I thought you'd have more fun with pigtails." Plagg sat back on Adrien's bed, throwing a cheese slice in the air contemplating when to eat it.

"As true as that is, you have no right to do that to Vanessa, Plagg. What if you'd been caught?"

"Oh, don't be such a sourpuss. You had a great day, don't deny it."

Plagg was right, Adrien couldn't deny it. He'd had the most fun ever on a photoshoot and he knew it's because of the time spent with Marinette. The girl punned, she punned, and she did it well too. Once they'd finished the photoshoot on the ski lift, they moved indoors to in front of a fireplace. They drank hot cocoa, chatted and played board games as Vincent moved around them taking the photographs, everything just seemed so natural, not once did Adrien feel like he was posing.

And he'd almost kissed her, they were so close and he was sure she wanted it as much as he did. He was taken by her, to the point he was beginning to think about her from morning to night. Whether this was a good or bad feeling Adrien was yet to consider. She was an attractive girl, was that why he felt this way?

"That's besides the point, Plagg! What if Marinette had seen you? She might have thought you were a rat and smacked you with a rolled up newspaper."

"Oh yeah, I'm sure." Plagg let out a cackle which made Adrien's skin crawl. Sometimes he wished he could have Tikki, just for one day. He was sure Ladybug would have a great time with Plagg. They'd get on like a house on fire, either that or cause a house to set on fire.

Adrien sighed and made his way to the wardrobe in his room. Once the shoot was over Marinette had got whisked away by hair and make up to get ready for this evening's event, however he'd come straight back for a shower and to get changed. One pro of being a male instead of a female. He felt for Marinette at the moment having her hair pulled left, right and centre just so it looked suitable to all the rich folk at the ball, and to support his fathers 'vision'.

He found the wine coloured suit hanging up in the Gabriel suit safe he had brought it in. The dark red suit jacket was pieced together with a black tie, and black slacks, finished with his black shiny dress shoes. His father always pulled out the stops for the Winter Solstice ball and he couldn't wait to see what Marinette would be dressed in. A slight hope in him was that she was matching, that his father would put her in an outfit to compliment his own, and maybe it would make them look as though they were there together.

His mind needed to reel itself in. He was not with Marinette, he would not be with Marinette. She didn't want a relationship, and he was getting engaged ... in a week and a bit. He loved Chloe and Kagami, he really did and he was happy he could help them, but recently his selfish needs began to creep up on him. He blamed it on not seeing his lady for a few weeks. Akuma's were few and far between these days, and he wondered if his heart was just procrastinating onto the nearest woman. There were so many wonderful similarities between Marinette and Ladybug, and it warmed his heart to think that there were two warm, kind hearted women out there that wanted to spend time with him. Two women who he cared for.

There was no denying it now, he liked Marinette. He liked her a lot, but she was just another girl nothing was going to happen with, just another girl he couldn't be with.

She didn't want a relationship.

She didn't want him.

His mood had severely damped as he began to place on his suit, doing up the buttons on his crisp white dress shirt and tucking it into his slacks followed by slotting his belt into the loops of his pants. He had no doubt she was going to look incredible tonight, and he was already preparing for his heart to hurt. As he continued to place item after item on, and finishing with his tie and dinner jacket, there was a knock at the door to his room.

"Come in," he looked over to Plagg, who rolled his eyes and disappeared.

"Adrien," the young blonde turned his head to the doorway to find his father standing in his full candy cane glory. Adrien couldn't help but wonder if he ever wore a neckerchief which wasn't stripy.

"Father? I didn't think you were coming?"

As far as Adrien was aware, Gabriel Agreste was still in Paris, at least he was this morning. Gabriel hadn't shown his face at one of these events in years, so why the change now?

"I heard what happened with Vanessa and I just wanted to make sure nothing else was out of hand."

Adrien watched as his father looked about the room. Peering from the windows, to his bed, from the chest of drawers and the dressing table to the door of his ensuite and a cold chill hit Adrien's bones. Was his father looking for something? Gabriel's eyes finally settled on Adrien's hands as they finished the Windsor knot of his tie.

"Quite the conundrum wasn't it? I mean clothes and phone turned to ash, it's as though some kind of, I don't know, magic hit them." Gabriel shifted his gaze and peered into Adrien's eyes. The younger Agreste had to pull in every single one of his acting skills to not falter under his fathers gaze.

"I don't know," Adrien kept his eyes firmly locked with his fathers, "it sounds like an electrical malfunction to myself? Maybe it was a bad phone charger?"

"Or maybe it was a curse of ... bad luck?"

The two Agreste stood staring eye to eye as Adrien tried to discover what his father knew. There was no way he knew Adrien's alter ego, was there? He'd kept it safely hidden away for five years, plus he hadn't lived at home for three, there just couldn't be a way he would know.

"Adrien?" A soft voice sounded, and he wanted to bow down to the greatness of Marinette Dupain-Cheng as she shouted his name again. Her head appeared around the door and she physically jolted at the sight of Gabriel Agreste standing in his son's room.

"Monsieur Agreste, I didn't know you were here, would you like a drink or a snack, or a snowball fight?"

Adrien suppressed a snicker as Marinette went to cover her face with her hands, remembering last minute she'd just had her makeup done so uncomfortably and very stiffly, she moved herself to lean against the doorframe, arms falling at her sides.

"As fun as that sounds, Mlle. Dupain-Cheng, I will have to pass."

"O-kay!" She dragged out, pushing herself off the frame and looking between father and son, her face grimacing as she backed away. "I'll just go and ... ten minutes ... I'll do you then. I mean - see you then. I'll see you then." She turned around and made her way towards her own room, leaving the tense atmosphere forming between the two Agreste's.

Adrien watched the doorway until he heard the tell tale click of her door, his father continuing to study him, before he pulled his attention back to Gabriel.

"I have spoken to Tomoe and I'm glad you made a sensible choice for a life partner."

Adrien blinked and looked towards the taller man. Though Adrien had grown over the years, Gabriel was still slightly taller, giving him an edge over his son.

"Um - yeah," he reached up to scratch the back of his neck. He did not want to talk about this with his father, especially when less than twenty minutes ago he was thinking about his 'holiday roommate' in a not so platonic way.

"I have arranged for you to propose at the same place I did your mother, and we have a press conference set up for you both the following day. I'm sure that evening you will want to celebrate your impending nuptials."

Celebrate indeed. Celebrate another loss in his life.

He watched his father turn to leave and couldn't help but feel like part of his soul left too. What seemed like the right thing to do was slowly feeling wrong, oh so wrong. With one last look in the mirror and his mind many miles away, he walked out of his room, straightening his jacket and made his way into the lounge area of the cabin. The fire was still glowing with it's last remaining embers, and the Christmas tree held the only form of light in the room. The tiny bulbs slowly fading and brightening in a steady rhythm which he couldn't help but be taken with.

"Ready?" He turned around to come face to face with Marinette and felt like he'd been cataclysmed in the stomach. She was breathtaking in every sense of the word. Stunning, gorgeous, bewitching, enchanting, captivating and alluring, and he was a goner.

Date 6 - The Winter Solstice Ball

"Oh, no. Does it look bad? I told your father red is an awkward colour on me but he kept pushing for it, or is it the design? I mean, I know I'm not that tall but I thought the cut would make my legs look longer?"

All he could do was stare as she rambled on about colours and cuts and shapes, instead his eyes etched every single tiny detail into his mind. He never wanted to forget her looking this way. If this was the closest he got to Marinette and himself going on a date, he was going to make sure he remembered every minuscule detail.

She stood before him in a dress the identical colour to his dinner jacket, and that in itself created a powerful possessive urge for the girl, no sorry, woman standing in front of him. She was dressed up to the nines, the dress flattering of her shape and size, elegant yet undeniably sexy too. The spaghetti straps of the top held the deep 'v' neckline in place, the thin straps looping over her shoulders and falling low down on her back. The back was open, her shoulder blades framed by the thin straps as they joined the tight high waistline of the skirt. The skirt in itself was exquisite, and far beyond anything Adrien was used to seeing from his father. It was as though Marinette was in mind when he made it.

The full princess skirt was light and dazzling. The tulle overlay was complete with red glitter entwined within the fabric. As she walked the lights reflected off the speckles and glistened.

"Hey," her voice was quiet as she came face to face with Adrien. Unconsciously he reached out and placed her hands within his. He wasn't blinking. He was worried that if he did he would miss something. Miss a glorious second with Marinette Dupain-Cheng. For the first time ever he wouldn't go to an event feeling alone. She made him feel like he owned the world, like he didn't even need his ring to be a hero.

"Hey," he responded, stepping in closer towards her, holding onto her like a lifeline.

"Do I look alright?"

"You look magnificent." He watched her eyes flicker down to the floor as though she was thinking about how to respond and it was at that moment he decided he needed to say something. He needed her to know how he felt, even if she didn't reciprocate how he was starting to feel, he needed her to know. She deserved to know.

"Listen, Marinette, I -" the doorbell to the cabin rang, and the atmosphere they had created under the twinkling Christmas lights was broken as they both let go and stepped away. It had gotten so real, but alas, something once again came in the way.

"We need to go," she coughed and stepped towards where her shawl was laying on the back of the sofa. He gulped down the thickness in his throat and dashed forwards.

"Please, let me." He took the shawl out of her hands and placed it over her shoulders. He offered his arm to her and she happily took it, but something was different. There was something there. Something that was unspoken between the two of them. Perhaps she knew how he was feeling? Perhaps she wanted to find a gentle way to let him down? But whatever it was, it was strained, and things were only made worse when Marinette and Adrien stepped outside and saw the transport Gabriel had ordered for them.

A horse and cart.

"Oh my," Marinette's gasp was joined with her free hand coming to her mouth.

Oh my was definitely one way of describing it. What was his father playing at? A cabin for the two of them away from the hotel, the matching outfits, and now this horse and cart? His mind was reeling with what his fathers hidden meanings might be, and why he was putting so much effort in.

Adrien helped Marinette into the sleigh, before climbing in himself and covering them in the faux fur grey blanket and signalling to the driver to continue.

"This is beautiful," Marinette whispered, hooking an arm through Adrien's and snuggling in closer. He knew she was doing it for warmth but that didn't make it any less special to him.

"I've never been in a horse and carriage before," he announced, placing a hand over Marinette's in an attempt to keep it warm.

"Me neither," she responded, "but I always wanted to do one around New York."

"Central Park?" he queried.

"Yeah," she sighed out. "It just seems so romantic."

"Does this feel romantic?" He knew he was pushing close to the edge. He knew he shouldn't put his own heart on the line like this, but she made him want to. She made him want to be so much more than he was, she made him feel more human than he ever had in his life. He wasn't a dummy to dress up to her, he wasn't a small child to boss around, he was someone she could enjoy time with, who she seemed to like being with.

"This feels like the most romantic thing I've ever done in my life," her voice, so soft, almost got lost in the wind.

He turned his head to look at her as she mirrored his actions. The soft thumping of the horse hooves on the pathways echoed through the night, beating in time with the rhythm of his heart. He was sure she would be able to hear it. To hear what she was doing to him.

"Thank you for everything, Adrien. I've had the most wonderful time. I don't want it to ever end."

"What if it didn't?" he asked back.

"Adrien," she breathed out, the heat of the words hitting him in the face. He knew she was thinking of how to let him down, but he couldn't help the small inch of hope in his heart that she would say yes. That she would let him in, that she would give him a chance.

The carriage came to a stop and the spell was broken, as was a tiny piece of his heart. He needed to stop pushing her. He'd done this with Ladybug and nothing good came of it, he should realise that this wouldn't work. He turned away from her and made his way out the carriage before offering his hand and helping Marinette down. He could see a flicker of something in her eyes but he didn't want to push it more, it wasn't the time or the place.

Marinette took his hand and walked down the steps and onto the cobbled stone walkway into the hotel, he could feel the pressure of her hand as she attempted to stay up right in her heels, and he suddenly had an urge to sweep her up and carry her in like the Princess she was.

They made it into the foyer and followed the signs towards where the ball was being held. People passed on their pleasantries and greetings as Adrien walked past and he could tell they were eyeing up Marinette. Everyone at this event had been coming for years, it was very rare a new face appeared, and when they did it must mean something. Marinette would draw a lot of attention tonight and he would make sure he stuck beside her, making sure each and every person understood how important she was.

"Adrikins!" As they stepped into the ballroom, an unexpected voice called out to Adrien and he searched around for Chloè. In a matter of seconds, he was yanked from Marinette's hold and engulfed in a hug from his blonde haired friend. Chloè was dressed impeccably as always. A gold sequin dress fitted to her body with a scoop neck and slit up the one leg. He was quite sure she could pass for a model herself, she was a stunning woman. Her hair sat on her shoulders with a slight flick and her lips were a dazzling pink.

"Chloè? You never said you were coming?" He pulled out of her grasp and looked at Marinette, the raven haired beauty was standing uncomfortably at his side, and to be fair he understood why.

"Your father brought me with him this afternoon, it seems he wanted me here for some reason." Chloè looked to Adrien's side, finally noticing someone was with him. "Who's this?" squinting her eyes, she looked Marinette up and down. "Dupain-Cheng? You've got to be kidding me!"

Adrien didn't know if it was disbelief he was hearing or pure hatred, but the way Chloè had said Marinette's name made him shiver.

"Hi Chloè, lovely to see you again." Adrien noticed Marinette was clenching her teeth, a tense look if he'd ever seen one. These two really did not get on very well.

"I wish I could say the same," Chloè turned her attention back to Adrien and opened her mouth to speak, only for Adrien to speak first.

"Oh wow! This is my favourite song, Marinette? Want to dance?" Before Marinette could respond Adrien had grabbed a hold of her hand and dragged her off onto the dancefloor, away from Chloè and whatever was about to come out of his outspoken friend's mouth.

He always wondered how Chloè and Kagami worked. Both were straight talking and quite harsh with their words, but the love between them was evident. So much so, they made him incredibly jealous.

Spinning Marinette under his arm, he pulled her into ballroom hold and began to sway.

"It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas? Really?" Marinette smiled up at Adrien, knowing full well the reason why they were currently swaying along to the big band version of 'It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas', with the Michael Bublé wannabe singing down the microphone.

"Well, you know, I like Christmas."

Marinette laughed and moved with him perfectly in time.

"You and Chloè really don't get on, do you?" He asked, a slight wince in his voice.

"She's not my favourite person, but I'm always open to trying to make bygones be bygones. I haven't seen her since we were eighteen, a lot can change in that time."

"Do you think less of me for being her friend?"

Marinette looked up at him and he noticed her expression wasn't questioning or belittling, it was genuinely in shock.

"Of course not. You have such a kind and caring heart it makes me wonder if there is something I'm missing about her. After all, I'm sure you wouldn't be friends with someone who I used to think was the devil."

Adrien laughed. "I've met the she-devil. Her name wasn't Chloè, it was Lila."

"Lila Rossi?"

"Yeah, you know her?"

The snort that came out of Marinette's mouth was enough to inform him that yes she did know Lila and that her own views on the girl may mirror his.

"So what happens at these events?" Marinette asked, changing the subject.

"You smooze fellow designers and models, get drunk and then once all the older folk have gone to bed the real party kicks off."

"Really?"

"Oh yes, I hope you've been practising your baby shark."

"Every night before bed," she giggled.

Adrien spun her out and back in, noticing they were drawing a lot of attention to themselves. This part of the evening was the 'serious' part. Two giggling adults in the middle of the dance floor didn't quite match what they were going for.

"May I cut in?" Adrien stopped and looked to the side, to notice his father was beside him.

"You want to dance with Marinette?"

His father never danced.

"There are some designers I would like to introduce to her." Gabriel held out his arm to Marinette, "shall we?" Marinette looked to Adrien for confirmation of what she should do, and his nod told her to go.

"I'll see you soon," she said to Adrien.

"Of course," he leaned down and kissed her cheek, knowing that as his father led her away from the dancefloor he looked like a love sick fool.

"You've got it bad," Chloè appeared in front of Adrien and slotted herself into his hold. Adrien curled one eyebrow up and looked at her, questioning what she meant. "Don't look at me like that, the only woman you get that flustered over is Ladybug. Admit it, you've fallen for her."

"It doesn't matter, I spoke to her about it last night and she's adamant she doesn't want a relationship. Something about complications."

Adrien and Chloè continued moving in time with the music and his oldest friend was scrutinising him.

"You know, I really think Kagami needs to stand up to her mother."

Looking at Chloè, Adrien wanted to know more. "Why?"

"I just think it would be better for everyone. I want to be by her side, not be in the background of you two. Just a thought I had you know. That way you could drool after Dupain-Cheng, or Ladybug, as much as you'd like."

"I promised to help you and Gami, and that's where my loyalty stands. I can't lose anyone else I love."

"You won't be losing anyone Adrien, but you might gain. Just think about it, and maybe speak to K for me. She listens to you. We all do." She stretched up on her toes and dropped a chaste kiss on Adrien's cheek before leaving him stranded on the dancefloor.

He looked over to where his father had led Marinette away and caught her eye. She was smiling brightly as his father introduced her to a couple of Italian designers. His heart fluttered as she continued to look and smile. Allowing his mind to wander, he imagined they were here together and that she'd catch his eye and they would share a private secret, one only the two of them knew. Personal for their ears only. She would walk over to him, straighten his tie and kiss him, whispering declarations of love and lust in his ear and promises of more when they returned to their room. He sighed and rubbed his eyes, turning away and towards the bar. How did he keep getting himself in these situations?

By eleven o'clock that evening the band had finished, packed up and the DJ was taking to the stage. This is when the real party got started. He hadn't seen Marinette since his father had interrupted their dance at the beginning of the night. He knew it would be good for her, but Adrien couldn't help but feel a little jealous of those who have her attention.

Coming out of my cage and I've been doing just fine. Gotta, gotta be down, because I want it all. It started out with a kiss, how did it end up like this? It was only a kiss, it was only a kiss.

Adrien began to bounce his head to the music as he sat at the bar, when suddenly someone appeared and began bouncing beside him. It was clear Marinette had had quite a bit to drink as she danced next to Adrien, playing with his tie and spinning herself underneath it. Laughing, she grabbed his hand and pulled him onto the dancefloor, full of other models and younger designers, all singing and dancing crazily on the dance floor.

But it's just the price I pay, destiny is calling me. Open up my eager eyes, 'cause I'm Mr. Brightside

As Adrien and Marinette sang at the top of their lungs, dancing around each other, spinning and twirling, Chloè came to join them on the dancefloor. And just like that, bygones were officially bygones as Chloè grabbed Marinette's hand and started swinging it as she bounced next to herself and Adrien. He couldn't help the smile taking over his face as he watched two of his friends (ex-enemies) enjoy themselves.

Chloé and Marinette joined hands as they jumped around each other, colliding and apologising to the many others on the dancefloor as their coordination was interfered with thanks to their alcohol consumption.

Adrien walked over to the nearest chair and took his dinner jacket off, slinging it over a chair back and rolling his dress shirt sleeves up, leaving his forearms bare. He turned back as the next song started and watched as Chloè raised Marinette's arm up in the air.

All the single ladies (All the single ladies). All the single ladies. Now put your hands up.

Adrien observed as this caused the men around them to notice and move closer. Were they taking it literally? Marinette was laughing, oblivious to what was happening but he could help but feel defensive.None of these sleeve balls were getting their hands on her.

Making his way back to the dance floor he grabbed Marinette's arm and spun her into his body. Marinette placed her hands on his chest and continued dancing, Chloè dropping a wink at Adrien before wandering off somewhere else. Where to? He honestly didn't know or care at the moment, he was too invested in the feel of Marinette's palms against his chest.

Marinette reached up to Adrien's shirt collar and loosened his tie down the centre of his chest allowing him a chance to reach up and pop open the top button of the collar, and then they danced. They danced until Marinette couldn't feel her feet from the pain of her shoes, and they drank until neither of them could feel the cold as they rode in their carriage back to the cabin.

Buzzing would not describe the alcohol swirling through their veins at that very moment and two things were certain; one they would need painkillers in the morning, and two they would not remember much of the night's events, which was a shame really, because both Plagg and Tikki knew that their well positioned Mistletoe had quite the makeout underneath it once the heroes had returned to the cabin.

"We shouldn't be doing this," Marinette had whispered in between lip locks with Adrien.

"I know," he breathed out as he placed his forehead against hers, nose to nose and heart to heart, "but people do crazy things when they are in love."