The next day, Adrien wondered as Alana ate and he warmed Bailey's bottle how he would get Marinette to continue to keep the secret. 

   He was ready for him, Alana, and Bailey to move to their place.  While the girls slept he had napped and then packed some of his things along with the girl's few belongings for the big day. 

     Maybe it would be easier for him to stand up to his father. He was about to turn twenty-one in two weeks, and Marinette was almost twenty.  It was harder to avoid her when he saw her in his thoughts, dreams, and the hall outside his college classes.

      He needed to do something fast to get Marinette on his good side. Yes, it was high time he took charge of his life. It was time he wooed her. He shook his head. 

       He was no expert on such things.  How could he expect her to understand how he felt when today was the first time in years he had spoken to her? 

        "Marinette..." 

    "Yes, Adrien..." she texted back

   "I  move to my place soon and I will send you the address as soon as I can.  My father does not know about it."

    "Glad to see you branching out Adrien."

     "I knew I could count on you, Marinette."

    Adrien blushed at the heart emotions she sent after his name in the texts. He knew it was probably an immature response, but he did not care. He was happy to see she responded despite the earliest of the hour. It was only six o'clock in the morning.

      He waited til the babies awakened, fed them, burped, and changed their stinky diapers. He checked to make sure the few new items Marinette had sneaked over were added to the pile of belongings he had no intention of letting his father get a hold of at the time. He only pondered, why had she brought the books, and the little pairs of socks? It was not like she knew about the girls before she had visited. Perhaps, he read too much into her hospitality or something.

       Adrien took his stuff out to his motorcycle and loaded them into the basket. He tucked the babies in tight into the extra seats he had added to it at some point earlier that day. He put on his helmet, climbed aboard, and fastened the diaper bag to his waist with a special strap. Now, he was on his way to freedom.

       Ah, yes, freedom he liked the sound of that word.

     A few hours later, Adrien and the girls arrived at their house. He parked the motorcycle, got off, removed the items, and his girls, and entered with the key.  He smiled as he placed the basket, the diaper bag, and other things inside the living room. He set the girls on the blanket Marinette had brought over. He always thought it strange that she included it with the goodies she had brought him.

      He sat in his house basking in the freshness of the surroundings, and the sheer sound of freedom.

     He called Marinette and let her know he was safe in his new home. He was relieved when she swore to keep this a secret.

         Fifteen minutes later, Marinette pulled up in her red Honda Accord.

          She smiled as she rang the doorbell. She gasped when she saw how disheveled Adrien's face looked. It was obvious he had not shaved yet.

            She frowned when she saw he did not have any furniture. 

           "Adrien, I brought a few things for you. Sit tight."

         Before he could ask what she meant, Marinette went to her car.

    He stood there stunned when he saw the sack, the duffel bag, and the chairs.

         "Marinette where did all this come from?"

          "Oh, the chairs, I do hope you like them. I made them."

            "Here, the sack has food inside for you. The other bag contains some baby clothes for Alana and Bailey, and a few crib sheets."

             "The chairs, were made by you? Wow, you are great."

            Adrien hugged her. He thanked her and insisted she stay for dinner. The babies slept while she and Adrien sat in the new chairs. They used the paper plates she had brought along with the disposable ware, napkins, and plastic cups.

           She opened some of the cases of water bottles she had brought and handed one to Adrien.

            After the meal, Marinette changed Bailey's diaper, then Alana's.

           Adrien took a photo of the two of them together. He could not resist how cute they looked together. He used his camera so that no one would accidentally find out about his little family. He hoped one day Marinette would be a part of it too.

     He snapped photos of Marinette with Alana next. 

     He fed Alana and was relieved when Marinette fed Bailey.

   "Marinette this was swell."

   "Yes, it sure was A-Adrien."

 "Marinette want to go with me to the work party coming up? I have already arranged a sitter for Bailey and Alana."

    Marinette was amazed. She did not know much about his job, but she hoped the sitter was sworn to secrecy too.

   The work party took place two days later.  Adrien and Marinette enjoyed their time alone together. They both hoped the babies were alright.

 The sitter did not tell a single soul. She kept everything neat and made sure each baby girl got the proper attention needed while their father and his girlfriend were away. She knew he insisted the two were only friends, but she knew better.  She could see the man loved the woman he took to his work party by the way he looked at her and that the woman loved him too.

      Ah, young people, these days are so oblivious.

        the story continues in Chapter 4  Almost Found Out

 Til then,

bye-bye, little owlets!

Summer out!