The party had been in full swing for about thirty minutes and Adrien was having a nervous breakdown. He was praying his little gift hadn't scared Marinette off, perhaps it was too much too soon but the romantic in him just couldn't help it. She deserved to be spoilt, she was his Princess.

He text Alya again for at least the tenth time in the past half an hour, for her to reply to be even more curt than the last.

Go and party Agreste! We'll be there SOON!

He placed his phone back in his suit pocket and ventured to the restrooms, greeting people as he weaved his way through the gathering crowds.

Checking the coast was clear he released Plagg and Hugo from his pocket.

"Where's Maman? She going to look so beautiful." Hugo was flying around like a toddler who'd had too many sweeties before bed. Plagg looked less thrilled as he placed a piece of Camembert in his mouth.

"I've got to agree with the runt, she always looks beautiful when it comes to events."

"She looks beautiful all the time." Adrien claimed sincerely.

"Whatever." Plagg went back into his hole and Hugo flew up to Adrien's face.

"I love you, daddy."

"I love you too, little kwami. How about tomorrow night we go for a trip to the park?" The little kwami squealed and hugged Adrien's cheek. They'd spent a few nights over at the park near to Marinette's families bakery. Firstly to check on Marinette, and also so Tom and Sabine could see Hugo. Even though their first grandchild was a kwami, they still showed immense love towards him.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you." Giggling Hugo made it back into Adrien's pocket just as the door opened.

"Hey man, where's your babe? Alix wants to know what she's wearing tonight and when she can buy it?" Kim came in and slapped Adrien on the back.

"Apparently she's almost ready, and let Alix know I'm also desperate to see what she's wearing tonight also." The guys laughed together.

"How is she Adrien?" The sympathetic tone in Kim's voice was enough to stab at his heart.

"She's good. She's starting to trust me a bit more too."

"That's great news."

"So is Alix the new girlfriend?" Kim smiled at Adrien's question.

"Yup, and she's a firecracker. I must admit I was heartbroken when Ondine left but meeting Alix has really given me a second chance at love." Adrien smacked Kim on the shoulder one more time before taking his leave back into the ballroom and his celebrations.

Marinette and Alya stepped out the elevator on the first floor and headed towards the sound of the thumping music.

"You coming in?" Alya asked.

"I'll just be a minute, you carry on. I'm sure Nino can't wait to see you." After a brief hug Marinette stood alone just outside the ballroom doors. She couldn't understand why she was so nervous. This was her Adrien, the guy who brightened her days and made her feel so wanted and loved. Something just seemed strange, she couldn't even place the feeling she was having to an emotion.

She clutched hold of her necklace. Something was compelling her to take the ring off and wear it. She stretched behind her neck and unclasped it, placing the ring back in its rightful place on her finger. Looking at it with a smile, she was ready. As she began to walk towards the door someone stepped in front of her blocking her path.

"Didn't think you'd make it Marinette?" Marinette looked the person in front of her up and down. The woman was stunning, about the same age as her but taller. She had brown hair and green eyes. A name like Lauren was sticking in her head but she wasn't quite sure why?

"Lauren is it?" Marinette asked. The women cackled at her.

"You really did lose your memory didn't you. How sweet?" Marinette could already tell she didn't like this person at all. "I'm Lila, Adrien's girlfriend."

"Yeah right." Marinette went to walk past but Lila stopped her.

"You have been trying to take him from me again, but unfortunately he'll always come running back." Marinette actually laughed out loud.

"Ok, if you say so." Marinette pushed Lila out the way and made it through the doors to the ballroom.

Lila was furious. One thing she thought would come out of Marinette loosing her memories would be the air of arrogance she had around her, especially when it came to Adrien. She made her way back to her hotel room in a fury driven rage. She made herself known by slamming the door shut.

"Bad evening."

"They're pretty much back together already! It's been eight weeks. You promised me I'd get Adrien!" Lila was furious. This plan, according to Nathalie, would be foolproof.

"Hold on, sweetie, there's still things we need to do. Did you manage to spike the drinks?"

"Oh that was easy, just a little mouth persuasion and he did everything I wished." Lila sat down on the bed opposite Nathalie, with a smug look on her face. Nathalie knew she needed Lila to help her but she did not like the girl one bit.

"Well done. You're getting good at this." She pulled the brooch out of her bag and placed it on her blazer jacket as Lila found the butterfly they'd trapped in a glass jar.

"Nooroo. Dark wings, rise."

——————————————————

Adrien found Alya in the crowd and pushed through to get to her.

"Hey Alya."

"Wow, look at you handsome." Adrien looked down at himself and smiled.

"Thanks, you look gorgeous too." Alya could see the look in his eyes. He only wanted one thing. He wanted to know where Marinette was.

"She's just getting herself together and she'll be in."

"Argh, Monsieur Agreste, can I offer you and this beautiful lady a drink this evening?" A waiter was by their side with a tray full of champagne.

"No, thank you." They both said in unison. The waiter nodded and moved on. Alya had quit drinking around the time she'd moved in with Nino, she was doing well and even Adrien's party wasn't going to encourage her to relapse. She was still tempted to drink when thinks got a little hard but thanks to the support of Nino she'd never caved in. Especially whilst Marinette was in hospital.

"Not drinking tonight, Agreste? You do remember it is your birthday right?" Adrien shyly smiled at Alya before looking at her from under his eyelashes. "You're doing it for her aren't you? You're doing it to make sure she's safe?" Adrien gave a slight nod. "You are one hell of a man, Agreste." She engulfed him into a hug and noticed a clearing in the crowd.

She held his head close to her lips and whispered with the words he'd been waiting to hear. "Your Princess has arrived." Letting go of Adrien, she slowly turned him around.

A vision of beauty made her way to his side and he was quite sure the gasp and gulp he made were audible over the thumping music. Like always, she looked stunning.

Her hair had been twisted up onto her head with two curls being allowed to roam freely around her face. Her eyes were smokey and her lips a deep shade of red. He wanted to kiss them so badly, kiss them until the lipstick disappeared from sight.

His eyes moved down to her perfect body. Her dress was the same colour as her hair. The top was positioned off her shoulders moving into a tight fitting bodice, flowing into a short skirt covered in ostrich feathers.

Her pale legs were shining under the disco lights and thanks to the shortness of her skirt and the height of her heels her legs seemingly went on forever. He licked his lower lip controlling his need to grab her and wrap them both tightly around his waist. He felt his trousers grow tighter as she walked towards him. The shy smile on her lips driving his hormones crazy.

"You look ... woah." He took her left hand and kissed it. A deep shuddering breath left his body. As he lowered her hand he saw something flash. She was wearing his ring. He looked from her hand to her face as she moved in and wrapped her arms around his neck. Pulling up onto her tip toes so she could whisper in his ear.

"Don't go disappearing at midnight. We've got a date." The hot air of her breath sent a shiver down his spine. Now this was his lady talking.

"Champagne?" They were interrupted by the waiter. Marinette took a glass off the tray with a quick thank you, and took a long drink staring Adrien in the eyes.

As she lowered her glass she gave him a sweet smile and Adrien's throat went dry. There was no lipstick stain on the rim of her glass. Now he definitely wanted to try kissing her until her lipstick came off.

"Oh my ... Marinette!" Marinette spun around to see Alix.

"Alix? No way! I haven't seen you since college. How are you? What brings you here?" Adrien walked next to Marinette and placed a protective arm around her waist. She tensed briefly at the unusual feeling before relaxing into the warm of his masculine hand on her back.

"I'm here with my boyfriend."

"Kim?" Marinette questioned. The man in question had just made himself known by slinging an arm over Alix's shoulder. The height difference between the two was quite comical. 

"At your service madam." Marinette giggled as Kim bowed towards her. Adrien tightened his hold around Marinette's waist and pulled her in closer to his hip.

"Don't worry Agreste, I'm not going to try and steal her. I've got my own Princess to keep me on my toes now." Alix laughed and jumped up to give Kim a kiss on the cheek.

"So you two know each other?" Kim asked Alix, pointing to Marinette.

"Yup, we all went to school together."

"All?" Adrien asked.

"Me, Mari, Alya, Chloé, Luka." Adrien pulled Marinette a little bit more into him.

One more pull and one of them would be inside the other, the thought shocked her.  She scalded herself for thinking of the innuendo. Bad thought Marinette.

"That's great ... great ... great ... great." Marinette turned to Adrien and kissed him under his ear. Closing his eyes he let out a sigh, only to be awoken by a crashing noise filling the room.

Snapping his eyes open Adrien looked up. It was Lila, he could tell that villainous face anyway, but something was different about her. Something he hadn't seen in years.

"I am the Mistress of Lurking, and I am here  to take what's rightfully mine from Marinette Dupain-Cheng."