Luckily, no one was late to the luncheon, but Adrien had walked into the restaurant a little too early that day. He thought it was a little overboard to reserve a table in which they could talk in private. It's probably his safety more than his father's, but he just wanted a simple talk with both families.

Marinette: Did you make it to your lunch with your father on time?

Adrien: A little early, but yeah. I hope this is worth the time away from homework.

Marinette: lol I'm sure you two will have a great time. Text or call me later tonight, okay? <3

Adrien: alright Buginette. Ily

Adrien locked his phone after texting Marinette and set it in his bag, which he was reminded where Plagg was. He heard the kwami yelp and look in his bag. "Will you quiet down in there, please?" he asked.

"Well, quit dropping your cell phone on my poor ears!" Plagg grumbled.

"Just be quiet in there when my father gets here." Adrien closed his bag and sat up straight. He hoped his kwami would stay still and quiet while going over plans.

What he heard next were gasps and whispers about the great Gabriel Agreste walking through the restaurant with Sabine and Tom. He really doesn't get out much, Adrien thought about his father.

"You're here a tad bit early, son." Gabriel spoke up when he pulled chairs out for Sabine and Tom at the table.

"Better be early than late." Adrien watched his father's politeness while sipping on his water. Not like it was weird to him, but he had never seen his father in public places with him as much anymore.

Adrien sat back and watched his father talk about work and asking how Marinette was doing at college, in which Tom and Sabine replied saying she was okay and showed pictures of Marinette's latest creations from her classes. He remembered half of them as work in progress since they Skype while she's working on her designs. Seeing the designs completely finished amazed him.

"Does she have a company to work for after college?" Gabriel asked.

"Well, she's gotten offers, but she doesn't know which to choose." Sabine answered.

"She'll want to work in Paris, I'm sure." Gabriel smiled a bit. "I'm sorry it's a bit late of me, but she can work my company if she wishes. I know Adrien doesn't mind one bit."

"Uhm...don't you think that's a bit much, Father?" Adrien asked.

"Hmm?" Gabriel turned to Adrien. "I was thinking you would be happy modeling for Marinette?" he questioned.

Adrien had to stop and think about that one. It probably didn't help that he blushed at the thought of modeling in photoshoots with Marinette's designs. He hoped that wasn't the plan at all, because it was clear that Marinette would have to work to impress his father again.

With that thought on his mind, he blocked out the conversation between the three adults while picking at his food. As much as he wanted to check in on Marinette or text Nino for an escape, he needed to impress the three adults at the table if he wishes to marry soon.

During the meal, they talked very casually among themselves. It wasn't until dessert time when the conversation got interesting.

"I want to purpose a plan for my son and Marinette." Gabriel said as soon as the waiter walked away after delivering their desserts to the table. "It's a plan that's been the works, but I believe it's best to put it in action before Adrien purposes."

"What exactly do you have planned, father?" Adrien questioned with a confused look.

Gabriel smiled a bit. "I would like Adrien and Marinette to live together for a little while before their marriage. Adrien will hold off on the proposal for about a year until both of them are content of living with each other. That way they can work out any little kinks about each other before they tie the knot and have a family of their own."

"So...am I moving out of the house or what?" Adrien asked with a confused but worried look.

"I'll pay for an apartment for you two, leaving most responsibilities for you and Marinette. Just because you two will work in the company, doesn't mean I'll pay one more than the other. You have a career, Adrien, I can give Marinette a designer's position on the spot." Gabriel looked at Tom and Sabine. "I hope we stay in contact as we watch Adrien and Marinette grow in their relationship."

"I'm sure we will." Tom smiled a bit before looking at Adrien. "You are a man now. Purposing is not easy for men to do, so take this as a test of rather or not you can live with our daughter for the rest of your life. We know you treasure her, so keep her safe, alright?"

"There's an old saying that explains the man's action during the moment." Sabine spoke up. "The reason why a man kneel to their lady is simply because he is putting his adventurous lifestyle down for the rest of his life because he's in love. You may say it's taking cupid's arrow to the knee."

Even though he wasn't quiet getting it, Adrien started to understand what they were trying to say. Maybe he was rushing into it. If he truly love Marinette, he wanted to take her time getting well-adjusted into a brand new lifestyle after college, even if it means more waiting time. It wouldn't be as easy as Adrien thought it would be.

After lunch and dessert, they went on their ways home. Adrien sat beside his father in the car, in which they sat in awkward silence in the back seats. He didn't know what else could be on his father's mind, but he took the time to think about the plan.

Maybe waiting another two years to purpose was a good idea. Adrien wasn't completely sure how to live with a young woman like Marinette when he never had many females in the Agreste household growing up. He knows how to take care of himself and even took up cooking and baking in his spare time over the recent years.

He wanted the same partnership in a relationship like Marinette's parents, when both the husband and the wife worked together towards a goal and accomplishment. He didn't like the other way around—when the husband works and the wife raises the children. Adrien's goal was to be less like his father who ignores his only child most of the time. He wanted to be involved in both Marinette's and their children's lives.

Why am I thinking so far ahead, Adrien thought while staring at the buildings from his seat; Are men usually scared of the future that cupid's arrow does it for them? He sighed a bit and leaned on the glass.

"Are you tired, Adrien?" Gabriel asked from the other side of the back seat. He saw his son thoughtful look and looked down at the floor of the car. "Will you tell me what you are thinking right now?" he asked cautiously.

"Um...It's nothing, father." Adrien replied, closing his eyes to relax his nerves.

"Oh really? You don't look like nothing is on your mind, son." Gabriel said as he turned to Adrien again. "I hope I didn't upset you about the plan...but please understand that I'm only looking out for you and Marinette."

"Didn't think you would..." Adrien mumbled under his breath. He wasn't angry at his father, in fact the plan sounded nice and put together well after thinking about it, but maybe he was growing impatient? Would this be what their friends would want them to do as well?

"I can't wait to see you marry Marinette." Gabriel spoke up after a moment of silence—in fact their car has been stuck in traffic within the last couple minutes.

"Really?"

"Of course. That means that my only son has grown up into a handsome young man." Gabriel felt like he had to back track on his words after the last several years. "I...I know it's been a while since we spent time together, like father and son, and I know I don't tell you this enough but I am really proud of you Adrien."

Adrien looked at him for a second, but then back down. "You don't understand how much I wanted to stop work and just focus on school back then." He let the truth slip up, but that was only the beginning of his issues. "Back then, I was tired of everything, and it started when Mom didn't come home and you told me what happened to her. I couldn't take the extra activities and going to photoshoots three times a week then. But I knew it was better than staying at home like a spoiled kid."

"That's how you've been feeling?" Gabriel asked in a concern way.

With a sigh, Adrien nodded. "Yeah. Sure the lessons were great, but sneaking out of the house to go to public school was an experience for me. Marinette and I didn't start off as great as friends, but look at us now, dad. I want to marry her and live the rest of my life with her." A smile grew on his face as he thought about the future more. He used to be scared of what Marinette would be doing while she's alone at college, but keeping in touch and talking about each other's day made him feel like he haven't been forgotten.

The promise ring he gave her as a gift is truly a symbol of love, but they would have to learn how to grow and raise each other up starting from square one. If Adrien didn't have the guidance from his father, maybe he would've gone too fast and made her uncomfortable.

The thought of his father helping his only son with the marriage idea has showed Adrien how far their relationship has improved. There was a gap in their father and son relationship for a while, but the time now is making it up in its own sense.