Work had been hectic! Like unbelievably so. The meeting with the German company yesterday had given 'Agreste' a massive fund boost however they wanted blood from Adrien in return for it.

Adrien had pitched the women's clothing line and shown majority of Marinette's designs. Very similar to what Adrien thought, they just wanted a few changes to make them decent to go in stores, not that they weren't already great. They just weren't 'Agreste'.

"Hey Kid, we need to leave in ten minutes. Don't you think you should go to your Lady." Adrien looked at his watch and jumped out of his chair. They were going to be late. He'd been told to arrive at six prompt and at the moment he'd be pushing it to get close to the allocated time slot.

Grabbing his phone, he shoved it into his back pocket reminiscing about the messages the two had sent last night and then again this morning. After his 'let's make it a date
message', she had responded vaguely. He knew she'd got carried away with the flirting and he hadn't helped the situation one ounce. Plagg made sure he had a good scalding for playing around with her, eventually telling him to just ask her on the date. He felt bad, he knew she'd think she was cheating, but he still did it! She was going to kick his ass when she found out he was Chat.

"Adrien, before you go. Please cool it down a little bit with her. Tikki told me she is getting frustrated with the feelings for the two of you."

"Does that mean she loves both sides of me and I can reveal?" Adrien looked like a kid of Christmas morning.

"Slow down, just enjoy your time with her. You two have never had chance to date take your time, you know ... kiss, cuddled, make out, I really don't care. Just don't freak her out or you'll lose her." Adrien nodded and placed the necklace he'd gotten her back into his draw. Perhaps it wasn't quite the time to be showering her with gifts.

Adrien opened his jacket for Plagg to fly in before wrapping his 'Marinette' blue scarf round his neck. As he walked past a mirror he'd notice something. The colour. His favourite blue. He knew the blue well, very well.

"It's the colour of her eyes."

"Well done Sherlock! Six years and you've finally figure it all out."

"But it's my favourite colour, it's my favourite blue."

"Ok, Mr Lover Lover, we need to move or we're going to be late. Yes she has pretty eyes! You've written enough poetry about it."

Plagg hid back into his pocket as Adrien walked out and locked up his office. The blue. All this time the blue was her eyes. If she'd given it to him he knew he would have kissed her there and then. Geez they've wasted so much time, made so many mistakes and missed so many opportunities.

"Hey Adrien, are you ready to go?" Marinette was waiting at her door for him. She looked beautiful. Hair half up and half down, minimal make up because let's face it ... she didn't need it and wearing a beautiful mauve coat over her dress, finished with black knee high boots and a pink woolly scarf. She was wrapped like the worlds most perfect Christmas present.

"As ready as I'll ever be. Thank you for agreeing to come with me. The support is truly appreciated."

Marinette smiled her comforting and most warm smile, and he melted. How had he ever considered a life without her prominent in it.

"You're very welcome. I would do anything to help a friend."

"Well I'm only your friend for the first part of the evening from then on I am your date."

"In that case Adrien," she walked up to him and began to straighten his scarf, stroking the ties down his chest. This was Ladybug, pure Ladybug. "I hope you've brought your wallet with you. I'm a very expensive date."

"I have no doubt." They began to walk to the elevator the mood between them still tense with swirling ideas of what could be.

The elevator ride was silent, just with stolen looks and shy smiles. Nothing was uncomfortable, and everything seemed so natural.

She'd messaged Chat Noir first thing this morning after reading Adrien's heart attack inducing message. She didn't want Chat to think she was playing around with his feelings and waited for his ok before she responded back to Adrien.

She'd spent most the morning praying he would say it was fine, and lucky he did. His exact words were to try and gain some clarity. It's seems like he knew Adrien was the other guy. She didn't know if that was a good thing or a bad one.

"Our carriage awaits, little lady."

Adrien guided her to the car and opened the door for her, allowing Marinette to slip over before he climbed in afterwards.

"What have you got to do this evening?" Marinette asked quizzing Adrien.

"Just countdown with the crowd, press a button then eat and get merry with you. By the way I've spoken to your boss and he has agreed to allow you to work from home tomorrow. I said that maybe you'll be worse for wear, he was a bit of a hard ass though. Took some persuading."

"He's so mean and careless, I'm surprised he didn't say bah humbug and slam the door in your face." They smiled at each other as they made their way through the city to the Christmas market. He loved Marinette in Ladybug mode.

"It took some persuading but I think I got there in the end." He dropped her a wink which made her giggle.

Before they could start up their next conversation the car had reached their destination. Adrien climbed out before offering a hand to Marinette. Gratefully she accepted and slid out to meet Adrien.

Paparazzi were out in full force and Marinette could only feel relieved that she'd messaged Chat, and that he knew. The news coverage was going to be insane. Adrien held his arm out, gesturing for Marinette to take it. She slipped her arm through his and nodded that she was ready to go into the firing line.

"Adrien Agreste, are you finally dating Miss Dupain-Cheng?"

"Adrien, is this your new girlfriend?"

"Marinette, I love your coat."

"Isn't that the girl who he went on a date with and she wore her pyjamas?"

"She's the one that designs Jagged Stones artwork!"

"Marinette ..."

"Adrien ..."

The journalists were shouting and Adrien couldn't help feel like he'd pushed Marinette too far. He was kicking himself, he knew this was going to happen, the press were always obsessed with Adrien and Marinette's friendship. No information about the couple for almost eleven months meant they were going to go insane over this.

Adrien turned his head to check on his female companion only to breathe a sigh of relief that she looked fine if not a little tense. Though he could tell something was plaguing her, he thought he knew what that was. Removing his arm from hers he gave her an apologetic smile as he pulled out his personal phone, bringing up his last messages.

Hey Lovebug, just seen you on the news with Adrien Agreste. You look stunning! Please don't worry about me and enjoy your evening, you deserve it 😽

He saw Marinette stir and pull out her phone to read the message. Her smile grew and her shoulders dropped, that was more like it. He turned to her and tried to nose over her messages.

"Who's Kitty?"

She quickly closed her phone down and placed it in her side bag.

"Just this guy ..."

"A guy? Really? So you're not just dating me then."

"I - I - I ... well ... he-he ... you know." Adrien started to laugh. She was so adorable when she stuttered. He held his hands up in defence.

"I'm only teasing you." He dropped her a wink before heading towards the backstage area. "I'll be back shortly, Princess."

Princess? His eyes grew wide as did Marinette's. Unknowing what to do he turned swiftly and made his way onto the stage. That was idiotic. As he walked up the steps he could feel Plagg laughing in his pocket, having no other way to shut the kwami up, he hit his chest in the exact place Plagg was seated only for the little black cat to hiss.

"Adrikins! Nothing like cutting it close." Chloé made her way over to Adrien and began to fuss him.

"I'm here aren't I? Work just ran a little later than scheduled."

"So? Is she?" Chloé looked at Adrien with her eyes wide open begging for an answer.

"Take a look." He pointed over his shoulder and down the stairs where Marinette was stood. However she wasn't alone.

"I'm going to kill him." As Chloé began to march away Adrien couldn't help but see what she was angry about. Turning around he was met with Felix trying to get close to Marinette. Knowing how she felt about his cousin he didn't worry about it at all, especially knowing Ladybug has already given him a hard hitting right hook.

"Monsieur Agreste, they're ready for you." Turning his head away from the stunning bluenette now catching up with his oldest friend, he made his way to the stage. Usually he'd have declined such an offer, but now Marinette was home he couldn't help the increase of his Christmas spirit. Her fun and lively personality could pull the coldest heart from the depths of despair.

Ok, maybe not all. His father never seemed to fall for the bluenettes charms, his father never fell for anything except maybe his assistant. Adrien shivered at the thought of what his father had been doing all these years.

"Ladies and Gentleman, boys and girls ... please welcome to the stage Paris' sweetheart Adrien Agreste."

The crowd began to cheer as Adrien walked onto the stage waving. He looked down to see Marinette at the front and locked eyes with her. His perfect Christmas wish. His eyes remained firmly placed on hers as he counted down with the crowd ending. He pressed the big red button in front of him starting up with festival with a stunning array of lights and, to his and Marinette's surprise, a whole lot of fake snow.

Adrien placed his hands out to catch the snow and looked at Marinette with his eyebrows raised. She began to laugh catching the snow on her palms before spinning around in it. He couldn't help but laugh with her. He loved this girl. She had him hooked. He raced down the steps to join her, both laughing like a couple of children.

"Come on sunshine! Let's go and have some fun."

Marinette grabbed Adrien's hand and began to lead him around the stalls, starting with the bratwurst stall.

"Someone's desperate for a sausage, aren't they?" Adrien again felt the snickering in his pocket as his face was almost worthy of a nuclear reactor sign. Marinette stared at him wide eyed before her face cracked into a smile. She started laughing, covering her mouth with one hand.

"You remind me so much of my friend sometimes?"

"Oh really? Is that the kitty dude?" Adrien asked.

"Yes. You're both dorks but in the best way." Adrien couldn't help laughing along with her, he was becoming addicted.

As they reached the stand they were searching for Adrien pulled out his wallet, a hand placed itself on top of his.

"I said I'd get these. I always stick to my word."

"I'm a pretty crappy date if I don't pay for anything."

"You go and get the mulled wine and find us a cabin to stand in. I'll get the bratwurst and meet you there."

"You're going to meat me there, eh?" He wiggled his eyebrows at his pun causing the bluenette to roll her eyes.

"You're too much like him!" She responded as the dork remained smiling at her. He saluted before turning away towards the alcohol stand.

"Hinting a bit tonight, aren't you kid?" Adrien sighed and looked at his kwami.

"I'm starting to feel like I made a rubbish plan that first night we met."

"At least we both agree with that."

Adrien made his way to the stand and grabbed a mulled wine for Marinette and a stein of their finest German beer for himself. Christmas time and German markets were his one and only favourite part of Christmas. He went to an amazing one in England a couple of years ago with Felix, in Birmingham he believed. There was something always so festive about the set up and the little cabins to stand around in.

Thanking the bartender, and after paying a ridiculous amount for two drinks, he began to make his way to the standing areas.

"Adrien Agreste! Where you been man?" Adrien's head turned quickly to the cabin he was about to walk past only to notice not one, but two of his old lycée classmates.

"Kim, Max! How are you man?" Adrien made his way towards them and placed the drinks on the shelving before patting them on the back.

Both men signalled their good health before asking Adrien what he'd been up to. Unlike his other classmates he had to give up his dream of university to step into the family business, and unfortunately with it, he had to give up a lot of his friendships too. Adrien noticed, just like himself, there were additional drinks situated around the shelving.

"So, who you here with? Don't tell me you two have finally managed to tie some ladies down?" The guys began to laugh.

"I'll let you know Agreste, after you, I was voted most attractive in the school." Kim puffed his chest out to match up to Adrien's muscles. Adrien couldn't help but notice a change in Kim's physic, obviously he was making the most of party nights at university.

The guys were continuing their catch up as a sound of heavenly laughter caught Adrien's ears. She had found him, complete with sausages in rolls.

"Look who we found guys?" Marinette was standing alongside Alix and another girl he'd never seen before.

"Marinette Dupain-Cheng, back in Paris." Both men worked their way over to hug her as she handed a bratwurst over to Adrien.

"Wow, wow, wow! Mari and Sunshine boy, out together. Am I dreaming?" Alix handed her additional bratwurst to Kim as the other girl handed hers to Max.

"Nope. We're on a date." Adrien wrapped an arm around Marinette's waist in a move of possessiveness. He couldn't help the grin on his face as he could actually claim her as his. Everyone at school had a crush on Marinette, there was no secret to a line of suitors waiting for the girl with the golden heart.

"As are we." Alix said as she sided up to Kim.

"Oh wow! Alix! You never said!" She dropped Marinette a wink before Kim stole her for a kiss. The height difference was comical and he had to lift her up so she could comfortably press their lips together.

"This is amazing guys." Adrien claimed as his heart almost exploded. Marinette had placed her head on his shoulder, and was slightly snuggling up to him. Who knew such a tiny gesture would make him want to run away into the night with her flung over his shoulder.

"This is Marie, my girlfriend." Max introduced the girl with him. He reminded the heroes of Aeon yet it couldn't be? Could it?

The gang began to catch up on the past years events and, of course, they wanted to know how Adrien and Marinette had reconnected. Laugh was shared and drink after drink was consumed.

"Remember the last time we had hot dogs together?" Kim reminisced.

"Hot Dog Dan." They all announced laughing.

"Who's that?" Marie asked.

"We went on a school trip to New York and had magical hot dogs. These two "just friends" had a romantic dance in the moonlight. Honestly, I've never seen anything more romantic." Alix looked over at the blushing heroes.

Adrien lent down to his ladies ear and sent shivers down her spine.

"Best night of my life." Marinette looked at him shocked and felt the heat on her cheeks move to an uncomfortable level. Adrien on the other hand felt a pinch on his nipple from the God of Destruction currently fuming in his pocket. Did this kid not understand tone it down a bit?

After a while the group spilt into two. The guys were all grouped together when the subject changed dramatically.

"Have you heard from Nino?" Max queried.

"He's living with me at the moment. He's not in a stable way." Adrien responded. He wasn't surprised no one knew, Nino had lost it. He wouldn't speak to anyone except Adrien and his own mother.

"I still can't believe it. Seriously, I thought they were sorted. University, marriage, kids ... done!" Kim shook his head, disbelieving everything.

"How's Marinette taken it? I'm guessing that's the end for her and Luka." Max suggested.

Adrien flinched at the statement. She was his, not Luka's.

"She's forgiven him but she's mad at both. It's understandable really." He looked over to the girl in question seeing that she was in deep conversation with the girls. The look on her face was serious, she was obviously on about the same subject. They caught each other's eyes, both filled with hurt for their friends. He made his way too her and placed an arm around her waist again.

"Do you want another drink? You look like you could use it." With a quick nod, he left her and walked through the crowds and back to the bar. As he was waiting, he received a message to his personal phone.

If you guessed who I am, can I try and guess who you are, Chaton? I've got a feeling you're a lot closer than I always thought xx

He turned around and froze on the spot, the heroine was staring directly at him.