"Where do you think you're going?" Chloe interrogates as Adrien comes out of his office and picks up his keys, "Driving yourself? What is up with you lately?"

The couple had taken up residence in Adrien's old home, Agreste Manor, which had sat unoccupied for years as Adrien took up residence around Europe for business. Chloe had called to have it prepared for their arrival as soon as she gave in to Adrien's request for a Parisian wedding.

He walks over to her lounging on the couch. "I've finished my work for this morning; I'm going out to meet up with some friends for lunch." He answers honestly.

Chloe raises an eyebrow, "'Friends'? Who?"

"No one you need to worry about," he starts rubbing her shoulders, "Nino, Alya, -did you know they have a kid now?" He adds, automatically diverting the conversation slightly, knowing the reaction Chloe may give if he mentions Marinette. He didn't want to risk triggering Chloe's memory and putting Marinette's business in peril.

"Must you really meet with them?" She looks up at him, "I've built up your image to where it is now; don't let an afternoon lunch ruin what I've done for you."

"They're friends, Chloe." He says, trying to keep an even tone. "It's not about image."

"And when was the last time you talked to these 'friends' of yours? You haven't mentioned anyone from your past life since we've been together, and who knows how long before that? You, and I, have become who we are now by blocking those kinds of people from our pasts." She reaches up and runs her hand down his arm, caressing him.

"I'm still going to go." He says plainly.

Chloe stands suddenly, "Don't you care?! Why aren't you listening to me? I'm trying to protect you. What would your father think?!"

"I'll keep an eye out for reporters." He states before heading out the door, holding back any replies he also has stored up in his mind.

"Adrikins!" He hears her yell through the door.

As he walks out to his car, he feels that familiar feeling he felt when he was with Marinette in her office. It's only dampened by the guilt Chloe laid on his shoulders. With a slight pang in his chest, he drives into the city.

Adrien parks his car down the block from the cafe they planned to meet at. He walks with his head down, trying not to make eye contact with people until the chime of the cafe door sounds. He looks around and spies Alya and Nino at a back table. A smile spreads across his face as he heads back towards them.

Nino is the first to notice him. His eyes light up and he stands to greet him, "Adrien, bro, you look so good! How've you been?" He pulls Adrien in for a bro-hug.

He chuckles a bit, "Thanks, thanks, so do you. I'm good."

"And you're engaged? That's crazy!" Nino exclaims.

"To Chloe." Alya adds with a slight intonement, standing, "That is pretty crazy." She says with a hint of sarcasm. Adrien and her hug.

Adrien sits down after the hug, "I heard that you guys have a kid? That's truly amazing, congratulations!"

"Yeah, his name's Manny." Nino instantly takes out his phone and starts flipping through his photos of their child.

Adrien grins at the small toddler, "So cute," he coos. A bit of guilt bites at the back of his mind, nagging him about how much he left behind in this city.

Nino elbows him jokingly, "You think you're gonna have a few rugrats of your own someday?"

Adrien smirks, fidgeting a bit in his seat, "Yeah, I would love to," he shrugs, "but I've brought it up to Chloe before and she didn't seem so keen on the idea," he shakes it off, "but whatever makes her happy, you know."

Alya opens her mouth to comment when her phone buzzes. She looks down and checks a text message. "It's from Marinette." She reads further, "'Caught up at work, can't make it. I'm really sorry. Go on without me though, I promise we'll hang out again sometime!' Aw, that's too bad" she comments at the end.

Adrien's shoulders drop a bit. "Yeah, too bad" he says, losing a bit of that energy he had when he left his house.

There's a pause before Nino breaks the silence, "Hey, what do you guys want to eat? I'm starving."

The mood is revived as they start to discuss their orders. In the back of Adrien's mind, he makes plans for afterward.

~

Marinette has a myriad of papers strewn about her office; some with possible menu options, dress designs and fabrics, venue decorations, seating arrangements, and so on.

Her hands have a slight tremor as she tries to flesh out another dress design, her eye has a slight twitch from straining her focus. She figured that if she locked herself up in her office to get a head start on Chloe's wedding, she could justify going out to lunch with everyone. But as the piles of papers grew higher, she lost track of time and of herself. Just creating the timeline of the schedule makes her realize how little time she really has.

There's a knock at the door. Her head stays bent over her desk, focused, "Margie?" she replies, her voice cracking a bit from not being used all day.

"Wrong again." Adrien steps into her office, closing the door behind him.

Her head snaps up at the sound of his voice. "Adrien? What are you doing here? You're supposed to be with Alya and Nino."

He walks further in, closing the door behind him, "I was. We had a really nice chat. But now, it's nearly seven o'clock." He holds up a takeout bag, "And it seems like you need a break."

Her eyes struggle to focus on him, after having stared at papers and screens 10 inches from her face all day. She rubs her eye with the back of her hand, "Seven? Already? I-I can't stop now though, there's so much to do for Chloe's wedding, for your wedding."

Adrien sighs sadly. He sees the pencil in her hand trembling. He sets the bag of food on the floor next to her desk and kneels besides her. "You need a break." His hands enclose around her right hand, easing the pencil from her grasp and holding her hand steady. Her hands are cold and stiff compared to his warm and soft caress. "Have you eaten today?"

A small buzz runs up her spine in reaction to his touch. She shakes her head slightly, "I... I think I had a granola bar around six... right after I woke up..." she answers still slightly out of it, slowly becoming more present in the moment.

His heart sinks a little, "That's not good, Mari." He reaches into the bag and pulls out a cup of soup, a sandwich, and a muffin. He clears a small area on her desk and places the food down.

She shakes her head, "You didn't have to do this, you shouldn't have. Are you still hungry? Have some of this sandwich or something," she insists.

"No no, this is all for you." He moves her pencils to her drafting table and then sits across from her, looking at her expectantly.

Marinette sighs, "Fine." She takes a bite of the sandwich and seemingly all the tension in her body releases. "Thanks." She says with half a mouthful of food.

"Any time." He replies, relaxing into the chair. He looks around at all the papers, "If you're doing all this, what are all those people in the rest of this place doing?" He asks cheekily.

She swallows another bite, "Everything has to come through me, for approval and everything. The initial planning, the dress itself, it's all me." She takes another bite.

His eyebrows raise, "Wow, that's a lot."

"Yeah, but I love it, most of the time," she looks up at him consciously, realizing how she's been coming off, "not that your and Chloe's wedding is a burden or anything, or not fun, or a pain. I'm honored, we're all honored, to be doing this for the two of you-"

Adrien holds up his hand, "No, don't worry, don't even think of it like that, don't treat me," he sighs, "just, treat me as a friend, please. Not Mr. Agreste, just like," he pauses, "like the past 10 years never happened."

Marinette stops eating, studying him slightly. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be. It's not your fault." He hunches forward in his seat. "I'm just tired. Being away from Paris, away from people who knew me before I took over the company... it was a lot, it still is. Of course, I basically grew up under the eye of the press, and my father, but that was nothing compared to now."

He stares off into a corner of the room, unfocused, "I needed to come back, though. Something was calling me back." He unconsciously twists his ring and looks up at Marinette. "I shouldn't be dumping all of this on you; it's very inconsiderate of me."

A gentle smile pulls at her lips, "It seems like you deserve a little time to act 'inconsiderate'."

"What?" He straightens up in his seat.

She looks him in the eye, "No one is going to judge you here. No scrutiny. No press. You need some time where, maybe, you don't have to think before you speak, just say what you want in the moment."

He feels his heart skip a beat. "You're right," he breathes, seemingly in awe of the concept. He twists his ring.

She takes another bite of her sandwich, "You're right, too. There are people here in Paris that genuinely care about you, as a person- Alya, Nino, me..." she feels the blush threatening to fill her cheeks, "and pretty much everyone from school" she finishes.

He nods, smiling at her, "I can feel it. Just being in this city is a relief to me, being with friends," His smile falters, "But it also reminds me how much I've changed, how much I've missed." He shakes his head, "Nino and Alya were showing me pictures from their wedding, and of Manny, and I felt so bad for missing those moments."

"I know that they understand, that it's not your fault." Marinette leans in, "You can't stop the passage of time."

"But I could have made different choices," his eyes linger on her for a moment, "not cut myself off from everyone after my father was arrested." He states.

"We didn't exactly reach out either," she admits, "I, or, no one knew how to help you. We let you cut us off when we should have been with you all along." Her voice shakes slightly at the memory.

Adrien takes a deep breath, "We all have regrets, I guess." He looks away and smiles. "I should really get going," He stands slowly, "I'll keep everything you said in mind while I'm in town. Maybe I'll have to visit more."

"You really should." Marinette blurts out, pressing her lips together in regret.

He nods, "I will." He starts walking towards the door, "Take care of yourself. Please," he adds genuinely.

She stands suddenly, "Adrien!", she calls out.

He turns around in the doorway, "Yeah?"

Her hands clench together, "Just, uh, thanks again, for this." She motions towards the food.

He smirks, almost sensing the unsaid words, "Text me if you need anything. Food, company, anything." He says before closing the door behind him and waving goodbye.

"Bye," Marinette whispers as the door closes.