The night before New York, Adrien had packed an overnight bag and was on his way to his Lady's house. The reason why? To make sure she actually woke up on time. Yes she'd improved greatly over the years, but there was no way Adrien was risking her missing the flight.

So with a bag full of clothes and spare toiletries he made his way to the Dupain-Cheng's for a dinner and game night. Gorilla was set to pick himself and Marinette up at six the following morning. When he'd branched this to Marinette, he was so glad he was in full crime fighting suit. He'd made it from the Arc de Triomphe to the Eiffel Tower that evening, Ladybug's personal best throw to date.

After Kim's university party the two had only grown closer. Adrien would say they were actually dating; apart from they didn't kiss, he didn't get to buy her things and she never knew that their little outings were dates. Plagg found it hilarious just how idiotic he was playing this. It was obvious to everyone that something's going on between them, but for the complete fear of being rejected by his true love, he just couldn't ask her out straight.

"Son! How are you, my boy?"

The first person Adrien came face to face with was Marinette's big Weredad himself. Tom Dupain greeted Adrien with the usual pat on the shoulder, before sending him upstairs to find Marinette.

"Hey kitty."

Adrien reached the main living area of the apartment to see Marinette at the stove with an apron wrapped around her waist. Adrien was overcome with a feeling of domestic bliss. She'd be the perfect wife, not that he was sexist that way, it's just she could do everything he couldn't. She was his perfect compliment.

"Hey boo." He responded, walking over to place a kiss on her cheek.

"Boo? Eh? That's a new one." She winked at him causing him to laugh. Yes, this was what he wanted in his life. He wanted a Marinette. No, wait, he wanted THE Marinette.

"Is it on the yes or no list?" He questioned, walking towards the trap door leading to her room.

"Unsure at the moment. It's not one of my favourites though." Her nose was screwed up and he couldn't help but think she looked like a little bunny. She was so cute.

"I'll drop this in your room and be back."

Within two minutes he was back and helping his lady set the table. It sounded as though Sabine was cleaning the kitchen as Tom shut up shop. Them allowing Adrien here so often also meant he'd turned into a perfect house guest. He'd help them as much as he could in repayment for their incredible hospitality. He also wanted to stay in favour with his, one day, in-laws. This included anything from washing up to fixing a broken sink. Tom decided after that to keep Adrien away from the home improvements until he'd taught the guy some new skills.

By the time they'd settled down for dinner Marinette was getting fidgety.

"What's wrong honey?" Sabine questioned her only child.

"I don't think I can go. Papa, feel my head. Do I have a temperature? I can't go if I have a temperature." Marinette rambled as Adrien looked her over.

Faking it. Completely faking it.

"Now Marinette Dupain-Cheng," Tom turned to face his daughter, "this has been your dream for years, stop freaking out! Honestly, you've managed to capture the eye of Gabriel Agreste. You need to enjoy this."

Adrien couldn't have agreed more. "You're fathers right, Mari, you wouldn't be invited if they hadn't seen something in you. You're amazing, I wish you'd believe in yourself as much as we all go."

Marinette looked around the table at the three people closest to her. Her family.

"You're right," she exclaimed, "I just don't want to mess anything up."

She looked into Adrien's piercing green eyes before speaking again.

"Especially for you, Adrien. I know how much you've helped get me to here and I'm so grateful."

Sabine reached out to hold onto her daughters hand, and gave it a quick squeeze.

The remainder of the evening was filled with laughter, as Adrien and Tom had a pun off and the women looked at their men with exasperated grins on their faces. This was everything either teen could have wished for. Everything felt so right. Everything felt like a family should.

Before the evening became too late, Marinette and Adrien wished both Tom and Sabine goodnight, and made their way up to Marinette's room.

"Kitty, share my bed tonight, please."

Adrien looked to where Marinette was sat waiting for him to come and join her. The pure vulnerability radiating from her allowed him to look into her heart. She was stressing, but isn't that what she always did.

He climbed up to meet his Lady and climbed under the covers. She'd already snuggled down herself, facing the pin board holding many memories of her teenage years. Overtime he'd seen her change and convert to the different fabs she'd exposed herself to. Adrien silently laughed to himself as he saw the picture of Marinette wearing thick black glasses. She swore it would help channel her inner artist, but all they did was annoy her as they constantly slipped off her face whilst stitching.

"If you're looking at the glasses pick and laughing I will outdo myself and throw you across the English Channel."

Her voice broke him out of his memory, yet the smirk didn't leave his face. She had created smile upon smile for him over the years, no one could match that.

"You're the one who keeps the picture up."

"Only to remind me to NEVER do it again."

"Of course, M'Lady."

She rolled over to look at him, only to find him resting his hand on his cheek and peering down at her. She smiled back to him and giggled. There was something so surreal about this moment. Something so them.

"Can I ask you something?" Adrien's face became serious, more serious than she was ever used to.

"Sure, Chaton."

He sat back against the headboard allowing her the space to mirror his actions. Her face lingered on his, something seemed different but she couldn't place it.

"Do you think there's a perfect time for everything?"

Her eyebrows creased together, as he carried on talking.

"Like, do you think sometimes you should say something but you're terrified of the vulnerability it'll leave you with? Like, leaving yourself clearly exposed?"

He could see the cogs turning in her head, in the usual Ladybug way.

"I suppose it depends what it is. You only need to remember our reveal to know that things don't always happen as planned." She said.

"Do you think things could ever be too late?" He took her hand in his, and wrapped his fingers together with hers.

"Never! Sometimes it's hard to find the words. You know, they can get lost. But nothings ever too late, especially if it's important."

Adrien picked her hand up and placed it to his lips, a small smile gracing the corner of his lips.

"I couldn't live without you, you know. Any other girl I'd be fine with, I mean look at Kagami, she just upped and left me. Though I think it made me understand just how special our relationship actually is."

Marinette sighed.

"Let's be honest, we owe Kagami and Luka some sort of medal for putting up with us for as long as they did. They're amazing people."

"I agree, Buginette."

Marinette let out a yawn causing her blonde haired companion to smile.

"Let's get you to sleep. We're going to have a busy week."

Adrien turned and shut out the light as the two of them snuggled down under Marinette's duvet. Within seconds Adrien had passed out leaving Marinette with her own thoughts.

He was facing her with his lips slightly open, a slight snore leaving him.

What about now? Marinette thought, as she bent down to place her lips against Adrien's slightly opened ones. "I love you, Minou."

She rolled over and cuddled onto her giant cat, as Adrien's eyes fluttered open. He prayed he hadn't imagined what she just said.

What about today? "I love you too, more than you'd ever know."