Adrien found Alya and they both looked at each other before grabbing into a tight hug. They were so glad to be back in their correct time zone.

"Alya! Adrien!" Marinette and Nino ran over to them each embracing their other half.

"What the hell happened?" Nino shouted.

"Why did you jump in front of Ladybug you idiot?" Marinette exclaimed.

"She was needed to purify the akuma. Just say it was natural intuition." Marinette looked him over, something was odd but she couldn't quite place it.

"We're back so quit worrying Mari. But wow! That was strange." Alya said.

"It was like some alternative universe and we were all about fourteen." Adrien screwed his eyebrows together remembering what Alya and himself just went through.

"All of us?" Queried Nino.

"Yes, all of us." Adrien answered back. Alya started to laugh.

"Mari, every time you spoke to Adrien you'd stutter and mix up your words. At one point you mentioned coleslaw." Adrien started to laugh too.

"You were adorable, but to be honest I prefer my Mari more." Her face blushed a tinge of pink as she looked at Adrien. She remembered the portrait in his house of him and how cute he looked as a young teen too.

"Well let's get this party started again. We've only got one hour left." Nino began to make his way back to his DJ decks but Marinette grabbed his arm. Pulling him to her height she whispered in his ear.

"You haven't got away that lightly!" He gulped and nodded before continuing to walk. He was so getting his ass kicked later. Note to self: never mess with the Guardian.

"I'll come with you Nino." Alya wrapped Marinette in a hug and whispered to her, "go for it."

The music began to play again and Marinette was left staring at Adrien. She took her eyes from the tip of his hair down his beautiful contoured cheek bones before hitting his smooth rounded jaw.

"How can a human to be so beautiful?" Scrunching her eyebrows together and gazing back into his enchanting green eyes.

"I could ask you the same thing."  He stepped closer to her, "would you like to ..."

"Adrikinsssssss!" The couple turned their heads to where the voice had carried from. There in her beautiful yellow mini dress was Chloé Bourgeois. She clambered onto Adrien and kissed his cheek leaving a bright pink lip stain. Marinette couldn't help but laugh at how uncomfortable Adrien looked.

"Come and dance with me Adrikins, I'm sure Marinette won't mind giving you up for one dance with your oldest friend?" She fluttered her eyelashes at him.

"Well, I actually I was about to ..." Adrien was cut off.

"Of course he will." If looks could kill Marinette would now be six feet under ground.

"Oh Mari, you're amazing. I'm so glad he's with you. Not a jealous or spiteful bone in your body." She lunged forward pulling Marinette into the hug too. Adrien wrapped one of his arms around the newcomer and allowed his hand to slide south stroking softly over Marinette's curves. Marinette quickly pulled away before she changed her mind and took Adrien back for herself.

"Make sure he's mine by midnight Chloé, we have a date." With a wink Marinette walked off leaving a frustrated Adrien to dance with a very drunk Chloé.

As she seated herself at the bar she felt her phone buzz in her clutch bag.

You owe me big time Ms Dupain-Cheng.

Marinette laughed as she replied to Adrien's message.

Your wish will be granted birthday boy.

She looked out over the dance floor and saw Adrien with Chloé practically swinging off his neck. He looked over at Marinette and smiled. God, she loved his smile. Perfect teeth on a perfect face.

"Dreaming about someone are you?" A voice penetrated through Marinette's thoughts. She turned her head to see Luka climbing next to her on a stool.

"Hey Luka, looking good tonight."

"Thanks Mare, you look gorgeous yourself." She smiled at him and gave him a hug.

"How you feeling? Keeping sober?" Luka looked down and nodded.

"I am. I think I'm finally getting there." Luka looked up and onto the dance floor. "You know I miss her so much." Marinette looked to where Chloé and Adrien were dancing before taking her eyes back to Luka.

"I used to think it was you that I needed. Honestly Mare, I loved you so much." Marinette felt awkward and started to twist in her seat. "But my love for you was only a fraction of what Adrien feels. I can tell that now, and I've made peace with that."

"Oh, Luka."

"Seriously Mare it's all good. I'm fine with it. I was sitting the other night thinking about where my life went wrong and what was the catalyst to my problems were. It was the night I lost Chloé. When I got drunk and slept with a stupid fan girl because I was too intoxicated to think properly."

"Chloé hasn't been doing to well with it all either." Marinette admitted. Chloé has turned distant. They hadn't seen her around in a while.

"I just don't know how to apologise. It was my fault. My problem. I don't deserve her, but I just miss her so much. She challenged me a way no one else ever has." Marinette placed a hand on his arm.

"You know what to do then. Go get her Tiger." Luka smiled at Marinette.

"Buy me an orange juice first for courage?" With a laugh Marinette called over the bartender ordering an orange juice and a wine. "How many's that?"

"Only my second."

"One more only then Mare. I don't think Adrien will be wanting to hold your hair back this evening." Marinette laughed and dropped her eyes down to the bar. "What's up?"

Marinette sighed, wondering what she should and shouldn't say to Luka.

"I'm nervous around him all the time. I just can't believe it's what people are saying, it can't be real. Everyone talks like our love was something magical but I know that can't exist."

"Do you not like him?" Luka's eyebrows knitted together in the middle of his forehead.

"Like him? I want to eat him! He's just so perfect I'm worried I have fake ideals about him. There's something missing between us and I can't place it." Luka started to laugh, a full hearty laugh that brought tears streaming down his face.

"Well you haven't lost your humour. What do you want him to do? Rip your clothes off and slam you against the wall." Marinette blushed at Luka's words. "You do, don't you? Marinette Dupain-Cheng, you kinky girl. I might have to take back what I said about not loving you anymore."

Marinette hit Luka on the arm as the two laughed together. This felt good, Marinette thought. She needed to say it to someone and now it was out there she felt so much better. She was desperate for Adrien to make her his, he was being too gentle and too sweet with her, she needed someone a bit fierce, someone a bit dangerous, someone like Chat Noir. She finished off her wine and ordered another.

"Marinette, do you really think that's a good idea?" Luka looked at her worried. Everyone knew Marinette's tolerance was low. At this rate she'll be falling asleep on the counter.

"It's Adriensssss birthday. Got celebrate." Her words were becoming slurry already after two. As soon as the bartender put the drink in front of her she downed it.

"Ok, come with me." Luka grabbed Marinette's arm and started guiding her around the room with an array of sorry's being thrown to the right and left as she bashed into those standing around. They stopped on the dance floor.

"Hey Adrien, can I swap drunks with you please?" Adrien laughed as Chloé was swapped with Marinette. The girls giggled as they were passed around. Giving them a wave Marinette and Adrien moved into a quieter area.

"It your birthday ssssoooonnnn." Marinette sang in Adrien's ear, and poked him in the chest with the index fingers in both hands.

"Mari? Have you drank to much?"

"Pfft ... no!" Adrien rolled his eyes. He'd been with Marinette long enough to know her drunk signs. If she's not controlled soon she'll be high kicking and splitting around the ballroom.

"Come here." He pulled her body flush against his and wrapped her in a tight hug, kissing the top of her head.

"Hummmm... I like this. Even little Adrien is playing nicely." She looked up at him and smirked, creating a beautiful red all over his face.

"What am I going to do with you?" He sighed into her hair. Moving back a little she walked her fingers up his shirt buttons.

"Oh I can think of many, many things." Before he could respond Nino came over the sound system.

"Hey everyone, we have one last song this evening for our birthday boy who is now officially twenty-one. Happy birthday buddy." The room cheered and Adrien was getting hugged left, right and centre until something, or should he say someone, pulled him down a couple of inches and placed their lips firmly on his.

"Happy Birthday Sunshine."