The trip from central Paris to Domaine De La Forêt ended up being estimated at five hours instead of the four Adrien had initially promised. Today, of all days, they had closed the toll route, which made it impossible to arrive any sooner. And, as usual with most road trips, this one didn't go smoothly, and now they were well over the six-hour mark.

For some reason, Marinette found herself needing to use the bathroom more than usual, which led to four additional stops along the way. In addition to this inconvenience, they encountered traffic delays twice and had one heart-stopping moment when a lorry abruptly changed lanes without signalling. Adrien's scream during that moment haunted her and would likely continue to echo in her dreams, or rather, her nightmares.

As the afternoon faded into night, the roads grew darker around them. Despite the challenging journey, Adrien had been remarkably fun company, his lighthearted banter a welcome distraction. She couldn't help but smile, trying to ignore the persistent whining of Chat Noir, who had settled in the backseat.

When the car was travelling at speed, it was amazing... Why? Because it drowned out the awful drones of her partner. She was quite sure the donkey in Shrek had asked 'are we there yet?' fewer times than Chat Noir had. It was like taking a toddler on a day trip.

She had offered for him to stay at her apartment, but it turned out they couldn't be apart for more than an hour before he needed to be within five metres of her. This realisation hit when she was in the shower. Suddenly, Chat Noir appeared in the cubicle with her, causing her to scream, which led Luka to break down her door...again. Fortunately, Luka offered to fix it, a favour she was definitely cashing in on. She seriously needed to consider moving out, ASAP.

Adrien had turned out to be a surprisingly decent driver. Despite her parents' playful threats when they swung by to drop off driving snacks, she could tell that driving was yet another thing he excelled at effortlessly. His calm demeanour behind the wheel and the way he navigated through traffic with ease made her feel at ease, despite the chaotic journey they were on.

But it wasn't just Adrien's driving. The car itself was wonderful. From the heated seats to the amazing sound system, she was quite sure she'd never be able to ride shotgun with anyone ever again – unless they were James Bond.

His company was a delight, as well. Not only did he graciously accommodate her frequent bathroom breaks due to her anxious bladder, but he also enthusiastically sang along with every cringe-worthy pop hit that came on the sound system. She almost regretted not adding One Direction to the playlist just for him. Thankfully, his spirited rendition of "Everybody" by the Backstreet Boys more than compensated for it.

"Right then, let's get down to it!" Adrien suddenly stated.

Marinette's heart picked up speed as Chat Noir, unhelpfully, announced he was right; Adrien Agreste was, indeed, a psychopathic murderer.

"Down to...what?" she asked, ignoring her partner's little commentary about how Adrien was going to dispose of her body along this unknown road.

"Your hidden playlist, of course. The songs that are you. Your shower songs, your guilty pleasures. There must be at least one."

Marinette leaned forward, pretending to be engrossed in grabbing a candy from the bag. She wasn't about to confess to Adrien Agreste, the epitome of cool, that her guilty pleasure was "MMMBop" by Hanson. It was not only ancient but also a song she'd spent her childhood struggling to memorise the lyrics to, all in an attempt to seem cool. Alas, it wasn't a talent she could flaunt often. Now, she needed to come up with a quick, cool fake answer to his question.

"Just say Story of My Life," Chat Noir shouted from the back seat. "You already know he's a 1D fan."

Marinette was curious to know how he knew the name of that song, considering the horcrux conversation from a couple of days ago. However, now was neither the time nor the place to be conversing with the spirit who was currently following her around. She had enough on her plate just trying to think about a song that didn't make her seem like a weirdo.

"You first," she said, cheekily praying Adrien wouldn't be able to tell she was stalling.

"Chicken," he said with a small chuckle.

He pressed a button on his steering wheel allowing the digital assistant within his car to override her phone plugged into the stereo system. She almost passed out as Adrien asked his sound system to play none other than 'MMMBop'.

"No way!" Marinette hollered, causing Adrien to swerve slightly from the shriek of her voice. Chat Noir stuck between the two front seats, his eyes widening in a way which she was certain meant he now believed Adrien was actually trying to kill her. What else was hiding in that pretty head of his?

Marinette attempted to sing along confidently, mumbling some unintelligible lyrics. Adrien knew the words about as well as she did.

"You have so many elephants in this life," Adrien crooned, Marinette snorting with delight before she picked up the tune.

"And in the end you're in your underwear!"

He chuckled. "Having trouble with the words there?"

She shot him a playful glare. "Oh please, Mr. Perfect, like you know all the lyrics."

Adrien grinned mischievously. "Of course I do! It's 'MMMBop, ba duba dop, ba du bop, ba duba dop, ba du bop, ba duba dop, ba du, yeah!'"

She burst into laughter. "What? That's not even close!"

"Hey, it sounds right to me," he replied with a smirk. "Your turn. Give it a shot."

Marinette took a deep breath, then sang dramatically, "MMMBop, ba duba flop, ba du flop, ba duba flop, ba du flop, ba duba flop, ba du, yeah!"

His laughter came out like a bark. "Flop? Really?"

She blushed, laughing along. "Okay, okay, you got me! Maybe we should stick to songs we actually know."

Adrien nodded, still grinning. "Fair enough. But hey, we make a pretty great duo, even if we butcher the lyrics."

She smiled back. "Yeah, we do. And who cares about the lyrics when you've got the best company, right?"

His smile softened. "Exactly. Now, let's find a song we can both sing without making up new words."

He turned the sound system down and a bright, vibrant, carefree smile crossed his face and started a stirring in her stomach, one which was happening in his presence far too often at the moment.

"Tell me another guilty pleasure," she almost demanded. She needed to know more.

"Promise you won't laugh?" he replied, giving her a quick glance before turning back to the road.

"It depends what it is, Hot Stuff."

Adrien chuckled before flicking something on his wheel. The car suddenly filled with a song she knew all too well.

Ce mur qui nous sépare.

No way! She started to giggle.

Adrien smiled once again. "Oh, come on! We did say guilty pleasure, and if you must know, I had - well, have - the biggest crush on Ladybug."

"It's not that," Marinette responded, though obviously thrilled at Adrien's announcement of a crush on her alter ego. "It's just that this is my other guilty pleasure song, too. I – um – I'm a rather huge Chat Noir fan."

Her partner dropped her a wink before disappearing back onto his seat. She was quite sure she could hear the celebratory 'weeee' leaving his mouth.

"I was too embarrassed to tell you," she explained, though the glee was obvious in her voice. "I thought you'd pull over and throw me out the car," she continued, a small giggle escaping as Adrien turned up the volume and began to sing.

The duet was perfectly in time, but not so perfectly in tune, Marinette unable to keep the excited laughter at bay as Adrien attempted to hit the climax of the song. He most certainly was no Lenni Kim.

He tapped around on his steering wheel again, turning the volume down on the stereo as he put on one of his random playlists. Marinette subconsciously hummed along to the tunes as they continued into this world unknown. She rested her elbow on the edge of the window, unable to see anything but the car lights of oncoming traffic.

"It's a shame it's so dark," Adrien said. "The roads around here are beautiful."

"Do you come here often?" Marinette asked, turning her attention to look at him.

"At least once a year. Gammy bought it as a holiday home when my mother moved to Paris. It's a gorgeous house in such a lovely little town. I think you'll really like it."

Marinette smiled before asking the one question which had been bugging her since Adrien had first asked her along. "Why do you call her Gammy?"

Adrien chuckled, turning off the well-lit main road onto a darker, narrower one. "When we were little, I had an issue with my speech. Nothing too major, before you start taking the piss, and it disappeared, quite quickly, when my teeth began to fall out. However, I couldn't say Granny, so it came out 'Gammy'. Of course, Félix found it hilarious and it's stuck ever since. She loves it, though, and even if she won't say it outright, I am her favourite grandson."

Adrien smirked and she found herself smiling too. It wasn't hard to imagine, especially after hearing some of the stories about Félix.

"I'm looking forward to meeting her," Marinette said.

"Oh, and just one more thing...Chloé will be here too. Originally, she wasn't able to get the time off, but it seems being here for Gammy was more important." He winced as he said it. Not surprising after what she'd told him prior to their last encounter.

"I didn't think you were related," Marinette said. Her eyebrows creased at the idea of the two blondes being more than just friends.

"We're not, but our families are really close. Her mother and father are busy with work, meaning Chloé is the sole representative of the Bourgeois household free to come. You have nothing to worry about, though. I'm here with you. I'll protect you."

"Thank you, Clark Kent," Marinette said with a laugh, Adrien wiggling his glasses up and down in response. "It's scary out there," she continued, looking out the window.

"It is, but don't worry, I know this road like the back of my hand. I wish you could see what's hiding."

She could already picture it. The anticipation of arriving, hitting the sack, and waking up in the heart of it all was exhilarating. Although the thought of spending a weekend with Gabriel Agreste was giving her a touch of stomach trouble, she was determined to make the most of it.

"So, what's your Gammy's real name?" she asked, needing to give herself a distraction.

"Real name? Are you telling me she's not just called Gammy?"

Marinette swatted his arm gently. After all, ploughing headfirst into a tree would most certainly not be ideal.

"Fiona," he replied. "She's turning 87 this time."

"Woah, that's a great age. My gran is turning 76 later this year, but she acts like a 50-year-old. She bought me an electric scooter for my 14th birthday."

Adrien laughed. "She sounds cool."

"Yeah, she really is. She lives in Italy but spends most of her time touring the world. How she and my grandfather ever got together is beyond me!"

"I take it they're different?"

"Polar opposites," Marinette confirmed, before sighing. "I would do well to grow up to be like her, though." She paused. "Saying that, by my age she'd already had my father."

"How old are you?" Adrien asked.

"23," Marinette answered.

"And do you want kids?"

"Yeah, but not tonight."

Adrien burst out laughing, slowing the car a little to pull off the small winding roads onto a better lit one. She could see the line of trees now and it seriously was gorgeous out here. She'd never really ventured to the South of Paris, and what a mistake that had been! The sky was clearer and she marvelled at how bright the stars and moon shone out here.

"How about you? Do you have any kids knocking around out there?"

"You should see my maintenance fees. They wipe out my wages." He turned his head as they reached a stop light and gave Marinette a cheeky smile, her eyes rolling in response.

The red light changed to green, Adrien turning away from her and concentrating back on the road ahead. She checked the satnav and noticed the red dot was growing closer and closer. Her nerves started to increase with each mile.

As they entered the small town under the cover of night, a hush fell over the streets, amplifying the charm and mystery of their surroundings. Soft lamplight spilled from the windows of the quaint shops and cottages they passed, casting dancing shadows on the cobblestone pathways.

Crossing the bridge over the swift, dark river, she noticed a striking sight on the opposite shore—a grand building illuminated against the night sky, its windows aglow like stars in the darkness. The architecture, reminiscent of a cathedral, stood out majestically against the tranquil backdrop.

In the quiet of the night, with the town enveloped in a magical ambiance, she couldn't help but feel transported into her own fairytale. The twinkling lights, the serene river, and the mysterious building across the way all contributed to a sense of otherworldly enchantment.

Without warning, Adrien turned again, taking the car up another small, winding road. "But about children, I really – oh, wow! Look!" He lifted one hand off the wheel.

She swiftly turned her head to follow Adrien's pointed gesture. There, directly illuminated by the headlights, was a deer sprinting down the middle of the road. Adrien eased off the accelerator, trailing the deer's path as it gracefully bounded alongside the dense forest.

For a few mesmerising minutes, they both gazed in awe at the sight. However, the enchantment was abruptly shattered when her dear partner decided to take matters into his own hands—literally—by leaping through the window and onto the deer, riding it like a daring, leather-coated cowboy.

She could only watch as the deer abruptly veered left and disappeared into the woods, leaving Chat Noir to gracefully leap back into the car. Adrien maintained a cautious pace, keeping an eye out in case their newfound animal companion decided to reappear on the road.

"Did you see that!" Chat Noir suddenly shouted. "That was incredible! I rode that beast like a matador!"

Marinette smiled. She didn't have the heart to tell him, he looked like an idiot — but she did find it funny.

"That was something else," she said in response to her partner, knowing full well it could be aimed at the guy driving the car too.

Adrien chuckled in perfect synchronisation with Chat Noir, the joyful sound echoing in stereo and causing her heart to beat a little faster. "It really was," Adrien said, "and on that note...we're here."

Right on cue, a grand house emerged into view ahead of them. The surrounding trees seemed to part, unveiling the most magnificent mansion Marinette had ever laid eyes on. It loomed before her, bathed in a soft glow from countless illuminated windows that showcased the sprawling expanse of rooms within.

As Adrien navigated closer, Marinette couldn't help but feel a surge of awe and curiosity. The mansion appeared both enchanting and imposing, stirring up a mixture of excitement and wonder within her. She wondered about the secrets hidden behind those grand walls—what stories and mysteries were contained behind each illuminated window? The sight ignited her imagination, filling her with a desire to explore the opulent world that lay beyond those walls.

The car glided through the ornate wrought iron gates, and they circled around a majestic fountain before coming to a stop in the centre of a gravel courtyard. It was a scene straight out of a fairytale—a grand entrance to a place she'd never imagined visiting.

However, her reverie was interrupted by a subtle wince on Adrien's face. Marinette's heart skipped a beat, and concern crept into her thoughts. What could be troubling him? Was he nervous about something related to this magnificent estate, or was there something else on his mind? She stole a glance at him, her curiosity tinged with a touch of worry, hoping to discern the cause behind his fleeting expression.

"Are you okay?" she asked.

"I just hope this doesn't wake everyone up. The Agrestes and Graham De Vanilys are known for needing their uninterrupted sleep. My father especially."

Finally coming to a stop, the crunching of gravel under the tires gradually faded into silence as the car settled. Adrien expertly manoeuvred into a parking spot beside a row of impressive vehicles—a gleaming Rolls Royce and a robust Range Rover. The juxtaposition was stark, yet it left no room for guessing which vehicle belonged to whom.

She couldn't help but marvel at the opulence surrounding them. The Rolls Royce exuded an air of timeless elegance with its polished exterior and distinctive grille, while the rugged Range Rover stood as a symbol of adventure and capability. It was a vivid display of contrasting styles that mirrored the personalities of their respective owners.

As they stepped out of the car, Marinette couldn't shake the feeling of stepping into a different world—one where luxury and sophistication mingled effortlessly with the allure of mystery and intrigue.

"Welcome to the madhouse." Adrien smiled and walked around the back, popping the trunk and opening it up to take out their suitcases.

"Darcy has money," Chat Noir suddenly said, landing himself beside her and letting out a low, deep whistle.

"Behave yourself. No messing this up for me," she hissed.

"What? Scared your boyfriend might think you're a little weird for talking to yourself?"

"He's not my boyfriend," she responded, wishing more than ever she could throw him off a rooftop. "Well, he won't be if you keep talking to me. I'm going to look like an idiot!"

"Who's an idiot?" Adrien asked, moving his way around the car and to her side.

"Oh, just me! I just tripped myself up." Marinette batted it off.

Chat Noir laughed in response. "And you think talking to yourself would be the main issue here?"

Adrien headed towards a door, Marinette following behind, leaving Chat Noir with the car.

"Tell Ken he forgot to lock his doors."

As though Adrien had heard him, he swivelled around and held the fob out to the car, pressing a button and watching the lights flash.

"Forgot to lock the doors," Adrien announced, his face slightly confused.

He continued forward, stretching up to knock the door, when it swung open instead.

As the occupant was revealed, Marinette almost fell backwards. Did Adrien have a twin he hadn't mentioned?

"Cousin! About bloody time?"

Cousin? This must be the famed Félix.

The resemblance was uncanny, and from what Adrien had told her, Félix's fiancé had been his first girlfriend. It seemed the girl had a type. The only noticeable differences so far were Félix's very British accent and the fact he was more clean lined than Adrien. She was surprised he didn't drive a Jag.

"Sorry, but you know what it can be like if there are hold-ups, and then there was this deer..."

As Adrien continued to talk, Chat Noir decided now would be the ideal time to put his own spin on things. "Seriously! This guy is like a 6-year-old. He's going to start explaining about fluffy bunnies or something in a minute."

Marinette reached out to tap him, just as she had with Adrien in the car, forgetting that Chat Noir wasn't actually there and falling headfirst into the door arch.

"And you must be Marinette." Félix shifted towards her, which wasn't surprising, considering she had just collided with the doorframe. Nothing quite says "look at me" like getting a concussion within the first 5 seconds of meeting someone.

"Hi, sorry about that," she said. "I'm a little tired and tend to get wobbly. I promise I'll make a better impression in the morning." She let out a small laugh, Félix's deadpan face not even breaking.

"Everyone's tired, so they've gone to bed. I suggest you two do the same, just in case Marinette ends up in the pool." Félix seemed a little grumpy, but she guessed he was just tired. They'd driven down from England that morning, and if she thought her and Adrien's drive was long, it had nothing on the others.

"Sure," Adrien replied. "We'll see you in the morning."

Félix nodded. "You're in your normal room off the lounge."

They both said goodbye as Félix turned and made his way to what she guessed was his own room. Well, that could have gone better.

Adrien turned to her. "I know everyone's asleep and you're tired, but would you like a little tour of the main house? We'll stay away from upstairs and the other quarters for now."

"Definitely," she responded, a little too enthusiastically.

Adrien's smile was infectious as he whisked her through a quick tour of the lavish lounge area, the inviting games room adorned with a gleaming pool table, and the immaculate kitchen that seemed straight out of a home decor magazine. Finally, they arrived at a set of breathtaking floor-to-ceiling doors that opened onto a luxurious pool area. Marinette was in awe—it was truly stunning.

She couldn't contain her excitement. This place was unlike anywhere she had ever been before, and judging from Adrien's enthusiastic commentary, he shared her sentiment. It felt surreal, as though she had stepped into the realm of a 5-star luxury hotel, surrounded by elegance and comfort beyond her wildest dreams.

As they stood by the poolside doors, her heart swelled with gratitude. Despite the initial mishaps and uncertainties, she couldn't help but feel fortunate to experience such opulence, especially in the company of someone she admired so deeply. This was more than just a visit—it was a glimpse into a world she had only imagined, and she was determined to savour every moment of this extraordinary adventure.

"It'll be better in the morning," Adrien said, Marinette unable to believe it could actually get much better than this. "We're quite high up in the hills, so the view goes on for miles. You'll love it!"

"Sounds amazing," Marinette replied, her eyes unable to leave the terrace. She was living in a fairytale right now, one with twinkling outdoor fairy lights and pool lights, and with what seemed to be the elite of British society.

Finally, Adrien guided her down a corridor off the main lounge area, stopping at the end where there were two doors, one on each side.

He indicated to the one on the right. "Through that door, is the bathroom. There's a toilet, sink and shower. The bath is upstairs in one of the bigger bathrooms. And here is the pièce de résistance." Adrien opened the door in a dramatic swing, presenting the room to her. "Our room."

In the centre of the room stood a magnificent four-poster bed, its frame crafted from light, twisted wood and elevated so high that it boasted its own little steps on either side for easy access. The bed was impressively wide, easily able to accommodate at least three adults, and adorned with delicate fairy lights that enhanced the enchanting ambiance of the room.

Across from the bed, two French doors opened gracefully towards the pool and patio, inviting in the soft glow of moonlight and the gentle rustle of night air. Marinette couldn't help but feel like she had entered a realm of upper-class luxury—the kind of setting one might find in a grand estate or a high-end resort.

"Nice, isn't it?" Adrien said, walking into the room and placing their bags down on the floor. He began to unzip his and pull out his toiletries, a pair of shorts and a tee.

He dug around a little more and pulled out a case, slipping off his glasses and popping them inside before placing them on the bedside table. "Don't worry. though. I'm not going to make you share a bed with me. I'll sleep out on the sofa. That's where I usually end up, anyway."

"You're going to sleep on the sofa?"

Adrien stopped and looked up at her. "Well, yeah. I wouldn't want to make you uncomfortable."

She couldn't help the slight flutter in her chest from the consideration of what he'd just said. How had she found this one?

"I'll sleep with you, M'Lady. I'm all warm and cosy, and I've heard my purr can be quite —"

"No, don't do that!" She stepped towards the bed and presented it like a game show host. "I'm quite sure you could fit a basketball team in here, so we could share. We're both adults and not in a romance movie. We're friends. It's not like we're going to fall in love because we're sleeping together. Not that we're actually sleeping together. Just two people lying side by side, touching — I mean — not touching."

"Smooth!" Chat Noir announced, springing forward and laying himself in the middle of the bed. "And I'll be sleeping right here to stop any hanky panky."

"Or, maybe we could use pillows as a divider, whatever you're most comfortable with." Marinette looked up at Adrien and smiled, doing her best to ignore the giant cat lazing in the middle of the bed with his hands behind his head. "Whatever the go to positions are these days?" Her face flushed as she realised what she'd just said, Adrien's own cheeks darkening to match in colour.

"If you're sure," Adrien said.

Marinette could only nod in response. Heaven forbid she said anything else to embarrass herself.

"Cool. Thanks. I'll just —" Adrien turned and walked out of the room. She heard the door open and close in the hallway and could finally breathe again. She needed to do something. There was too much pent-up energy bouncing around inside her to just stand around and wait for Adrien to return.

The snickering from her partner became the exact motivation she needed. "What?" she barked.

Chat Noir remained lying on the bed. "Nothing," he sang. "Just thinking about how much I'm going to like being stuck in this awkward sandwich. It's going to be the best sleep I've had in months – as long as Darcy doesn't snore."

"Can't you do something...I don't know...less invasive?"

"I'm not doing anything," he said, moving to sit himself on the bed. "I'm just going to be sleeping—like you."

"Like me?" Marinette moved to her bag and took out her night clothes and toiletry bag. "You really think I'm going to be able to sleep knowing you're there whispering sweet nothings in his ear?"

"Sweet nothings!" Chat Noir exclaimed, taken aback. "Excuse me, Bugaboo, but Adrien Agreste is certainly not my type. There are a couple of specific items he's missing, such as—"

"Do not finish that sentence!"

A soft click echoed from the door, and Marinette couldn't help but feel like she had stumbled into a scene from a romance movie as Adrien entered in what seemed like slow motion—definitely not her imagination—and shirtless. Hadn't he taken his shirt with him?

His face flushed slightly as he hurried over to his bag. "I grabbed the wrong one," he explained with a cough.

"Yeah, right!" Chat Noir snorted, before humming the opening bars to 'Hot Stuff'. Thinking of Adrien as a stripper was not going to help her sudden need to drool.

He stood back up and pulled his new tee out of his bag, placing it over his head and causing the muscles in his back to ripple in response. And oh boy, did they ripple! She hadn't seen anything like this in real life, and she was now extremely disappointed that he had to hide it all behind a stumpy suit so often.

She turned sharply. If she stayed in here any longer she was sure she'd do something stupid...like shooting forward and licking him. She gripped her clothes tighter to her chest, and almost collided with the doorframe in her sudden need to escape. "Silly me," she said, walking out and straight into the bathroom.

When she made her way back a little later, Adrien was sitting up in the bed, reading something on his phone, his glasses back on and firmly placed on his nose. "I hope you don't mind me taking the right."

"I prefer the left, so that's fine. What are you reading?" She slid into the bed, keeping a wide gap between them. Not that she had much choice when Chat Noir was fast asleep in the middle. Boy, that cat could snore.

"Pride and Prejudice." Adrien turned his head to Marinette, frowning before turning back to his book.

Pride and Prejudice? As articulate as Adrien was, she never expected him to be reading that. Unless...

She looked down at her partner, a small smirk appearing on his sleeping lips.

"W-what made you read that?"

Adrien shrugged. "I just had a sudden desire. It was as though I was compelled to Darcy and needed to read about him. Though, it isn't exactly as I was expecting."

"Really? Why?"

Marinette loved Pride and Prejudice. It was her all-time favourite book, but the look on Adrien's face at that moment told her the exact opposite.

"Jane Austen makes me feel stupid," he stated, shutting down his phone and placing it on the table beside him, along with his glasses. He snuggled himself down under the covers, Marinette mirroring him. Unfortunately, she couldn't see him through Chat Noir, but she was sure Adrien could see her.

She attempted to keep some sort of eye contact, until words left Adrien's lips which were like music to her ears.

"Is it okay for me to turn off the lights?"

"Sure," she responded. Adrien made short work of the action and sent them falling into pitch black.

"Goodnight, Sweet Thang."

"Goodnight, Hot Stuff."

She rotated herself around to face away from him, smiling. Whatever this friendship was, it was good and comfortable, and being here with Adrien didn't actually seem as strange as it should.

Just as she was drifting off to sleep, she heard Adrien sigh. "The Bingley Sisters are bitches."

She couldn't control the snort.