"That's hilarious!"

"It is not!" Marinette hissed. "I smacked his butt!"

That only got Alya to laugh harder.

"This is serious!"

"Why?"

"Because I'm beginning to treat him like my husband!"

"Is that a bad thing?"

Marinette choked. "Yes."

Alya quirked a brow.

And Marinette's brow furrowed. "Wait a minute. You said-"

"I'm not pushing you into anything!" Alya immediately defended, tossing her hands in the air. "All I'm saying is that you love his daughter, you enjoy spending family time together with them, you enjoy his company, and don't you dare tell me you two don't have date nights."

Marinette avoided her friend's gaze as she begged her cheeks to not flare up.

Alya sighed. "Okay, in all seriousness, harassment and teasing aside, I'm going to ask you to think about it. Not because I'm pushing you into anything, but because I see how important they are in your life as well as how important you are in theirs. Again, I don't want to push you into anything- if you're not ready, then you're not ready-but can I at least ask that you seriously consider allowing yourself to take a chance?"

Marinette willed her mouth to move, but no words came out. Instead, she pursed her lips and replayed Alya's words in her head. She reached up for her necklace, only to grab the ladybug pendant. She smiled at the memory. Emma had been so pleased with herself, and she hadn't missed the way Adrien had been looking at her when she had put it on.

"Cute necklace."

Marinette let the ladybug drape over her fingers so Alya could see. "Emma got it for me."

Alya simply raised a brow, but when paired with her smile, it was dangerous. "That explains a lot."

Before Marinette could ask what Alya had meant by that, Alya pointed toward the exit of the building they stood in. "The boys are here."

Marinette looked up to see Nino and Adrien coming through the door, the boys exchanging playful shoulder bumps while Emma held Adrien's other hand. One she promptly let go of when she saw the girls. "Marinette! Marinette!"

Alya shot a knowing glance at Marinette as Emma rushed toward her. Marinette ignored it in favor of kneeling to Emma's level to give the girl running to her a hug.

"What happened to Mrs. Marinette?" Alya smugly inquired.

Marinette ignored her. "Hi Emma. What are you doing here?"

"I couldn't find a babysitter," Adrien said. That's when she noticed the backpack strung over his shoulder, likely full of things to keep Emma entertained while the rest of them fully looked over the wedding venue and discussed how to best set everything up.

It wouldn't be until later that she discovered it held a box of tissues as well.

"Dude," Nino observed, watching Adrien blow his nose for the umpteenth time in the half hour they were there.

Adrien just shrugged.

"Coming down with something?" Alya said. "Have you been taking care of yourself?"

"Yes."

"No."

Everyone looked to Marinette, who was staring Adrien down. "You've been running yourself into the ground lately. Especially when you were on that trip."

"I'm fine," he argued. "It's nothing I'm not used to."

"It doesn't matter if you're used to it or not. If you insist on staying up late and powering through mountains of paperwork, this is going to happen."

"But Emma-"

"I've got Emma. And the house. And meals. You worry about work and not making yourself sick in the process."

"But that's not fair to put on you."

"That's why you hired me, is it not?"

"But-"

"No buts. I've got Emma for the rest of the day. You are going to go home, sleep, and take a handful of vitamin C. Clear?"

Adrien just stared at her. Marinette set her hands on her hips and stared back.

"You're not going to let it go."

"No."

"Fine. I'm not up for arguing with you."

"Only because I care. And if I find out you're doing paperwork, you're going to be in trouble."

Adrien sniffed, then wiped his nose again. "What are you, my mother?"

"Apparently, your nanny."

Marinette ignored the snort coming from Alya behind her.

Adrien rolled his eyes.

"And don't roll your eyes at me. You know I'm right."

"No comment."

With an affectionate pat to his shoulder, Marinette turned her attention back down to the possible wedding venue arrangements.

Once that was finished, Marinette was driving Alya back to work.

"So," Alya started, a dangerous smirk on her face. "What was that back there?"

Marinette felt her cheeks bloom with heat. "What was what?"

"Your insistence on taking Emma."

"I don't know what you're talking about."

Alya quirked a brow. "Emma," she said, turning to see the giddy girl sitting in the back seat. "Are you excited to spend the day with Marinette?"

"Yeah!" Emma squealed.

"I'm talking about that," Alya pointed out to Marinette.

She rolled her eyes.

"Is it because you care about him?"

"Yes, I do."

"Like family?"

"Like family."

That's when Marinette caught Alya's smirk widen. And realized just what she'd admitted.

Alya reached over to pat Marinette's leg. "There's nothing wrong with that, hunny," she assured. "And there's nothing wrong with trying out a relationship now that you're starting to heal."

Marinette's heart pounded at the thought. "I...I'll think about it."

"That's all I ask."

Adrien was beginning to remember just why he hated traveling so much.

"A-choo!"

He dropped the tissue in the trash bin beside of the bed before collapsing back onto his pillow.

"Daddy?"

Adrien looked down at Emma, who was standing by the door with a worried pout on her face.

"I'm okay, Emma," he said. He didn't realize just how much he would appreciate not having Emma around yesterday when Marinette insisted upon taking her for the day. However, neither the nap nor the vitamin C had helped his cold now.

The doorbell rang, and Adrien trudged downstairs to answer it.

He was happy to see Marinette there, but he didn't expect the large tub of... something.

"Homemade chicken noodle soup," she explained.

"'Ank you," he said, blowing his nose.

She nodded then entered the house. "You, bed. Call me if you need anything."

He frowned. "I wad kinda hobing you'd tae Emma oud for a day." Great. He was completely stuffed up again and the tissue in his hand was... well...spent.

She glared at him. "I'm not leaving you alone in case you need something."

"I'm fine."

"And I'm staying," Marinette insisted. "Bed. Shoo."

He was not up to starting an argument with her, so he listened and trudged back up the stairs.

"Do you have any paperwork in your room?" Marinette asked, her voice filled with warning.

"No," he assured.

"Any semblance of work in your room?"

"No."

"Good." Her voice had returned to its normal sweet tone. "I'll check up on you in a little while."

When he got to bed, he collapsed on the mattress, feeling well and truly terrible. After using yet another tissue and washing the snot off his hands, he turned on his rarely used tv, only to remember how terrible television was.

Seriously, why did he even have cable?

He eventually found something to watch, zoning out while blowing his nose every few minutes.

He didn't know how much time had passed by the time a knock sounded on his door.

"Hey," Marinette said, pushing the door open but not coming inside. "Are you hungry? I just made Emma lunch."

Considering he hadn't eaten anything today thus far, he was kinda growing hungry. Yet, nothing sounded remotely good, and that trumped the tiny rumble in his stomach. "I'm good, 'anks."

She gave him a grin before spying the tissue box and trash can he had moved over to his bedside. "Do you need more tissues?"

"I'll get some," he said, taking the last of the box and blowing his nose. "'Anks."

She gave him a grin before stepping back out.

He looked longingly at his empty tissue box, then, after dropping it in the trash can, slowly made his way out the door. When he reached it, swinging it open, Marinette was there holding a fresh box of tissues.

He sheepishly took it. "I coulda gotten 'um myself."

"But I like taking care of you."

He really hoped the redness caused by the cold hid his blush.

"Are you sure you don't want anything else?" she asked. "Chicken noodle soup maybe?"

He paused for a moment, thinking it over while the grumble of his stomach reminded him he hadn't eaten anything today. "I can get it."

"I got it. Just let yourself rest."

"But-"

"Do you want some or not?"

He ducked his head, looking at her through his eyelashes. "Yes, pwease."

She grinned. "I'll back up with some food, then."

He retreated back to bed, placing his new tissue box on the side table and collapsing back on the mattress. That's when he noticed his green and black cat pajama bottoms.

Gah, here he was; sick, pathetic, and not even fully dressed. Adrien just closed his eyes and let his head fall back on his pillow.

A few moments later, Marinette returned, a tray in her hands with a bowl of hot soup and a glass of water. He shifted to sit up and accepted the tray from her with a stuffy 'thanks'.

"Vitamin C," she said, pointing to a little pill he nearly missed.

He took the vitamin with some water before starting in on his soup.

"Need anything else?" she asked, running a hand through his messy hair and smoothing it down.

For you to keep doing that. "No."

She ran her hands through his hair one last time before pressing a hand to his forehead. He inadvertently leaned into her touch.

"You're really hot," she observed.

He smirked. "'Anks."

She froze, her eyes wide and touch stiff. She quickly pulled her hands away and quickly removed herself from his side. "I'll be back up to check on you, okay."

He simply nodded and took another bite of soup.

Sometime later-if he had to guess, half an hour considering the next episode of some terrible show was starting-he'd finished half the bowl and had set it aside in fear his stomach would protest any more. That's when Marinette returned, a new bowl in hand. She looked at the half-eaten bowl of soup then frowned down at him in concern. "Did that sit well with you?"

"Mostly."

Her tense expression eased as she came over to his side and sat down on the edge of the bed. She set the new bowl on his nightstand, then took out a wet towel and wrung it out before draping it over his forehead.

It was cold and felt really, really nice. He sighed happily.

"That feel good?"

He nodded, pulling it down over his burning nose and heated cheeks.

She chuckled, then went back to running her fingers through his hair. He gave a happy little whimper. He was in heaven.

She removed the cloth after a while, and he whined at the loss, but she just dipped the cloth in the water before returning it to his face, cold once again.

He relaxed back into the pillow with a smile.

"Get some sleep," she coaxed.

That sounded really good, to be honest. Her magic touch was slowly pulling him that direction, and the longer she kept it up, the easier it was to invite sleep in.

Her fingers ran through his hair one last time, and Adrien was sad when she stopped. But then her hands found his jaw, tenderly cupping it before something soft pressed against his brow. "Sleep well, Adrien," she whispered, her lips brushing that spot above the bridge of his nose before she completely disappeared from his side.

Not that Adrien would remember that. Not between the sickness and the thick haze of sleep that quickly overtook him.

A week later, Adrien was proud to say he was fully recovered.

Marinette on the other hand...

She blew her nose as she waited for him to write the paycheck. It was an awkward time for both of them because he always felt like he wasn't paying her enough and she always thought she was being paid too much and neither of them could come to an agreement because she was always happy to help them but he always wanted to make sure she was properly compensated for her time.

It was just a mess.

"That better be fair," she said, wiping her nose with the crumpled tissue.

"Trust me, it is."

"And it better not be high because you feel guilty that I'm sick."

"It's not," he swore, handing over the check.

She sat in the chair across from his desk before taking it, a trick she used to make sure Adrien had a hard time pushing her out of the office and therefore forcing her to accept the check if she deemed it too high.

And considering she shoved it back at him, she did.

"Too much."

"I'm accounting for the fact you took for a day Emma last week before I was sick-"

"That was a favor. Not on the clock."

"And the fact you practically babied me through the first few days of my cold."

"Again, part of my job."

"No, it's not."

"Yes, it is. Now, rewrite this because I'm not walking out the door with it."

He stared her down, but she wouldn't relent. "Fine."

He stood from his seat, rounded the desk, and heaved her up into his arms before she could protest.

She squeaked and sputtered in shock. "Adrien Agreste, you put me down this instant!"

He grabbed her purse from his desk then proceeded to carry her out of his office. "You said you wouldn't walk out the door with this check. Well, you are not."

"I'm not taking this."

"I'm not taking it back."

"Adrien."

"Marinette."

She groaned, before crossing her arms and pouting. "You're ridiculous."

"Nice to know. Now go home and get some sleep."

He carried her out the front door and set her down on the porch, which she looked none too pleased about. With a smug grin, he handed her her purse, which she took with a stubborn frown. "You're so irritating."

"You're welcome."

With a sigh and severe eye-roll, she spun on her heel and stomped out to her car.

"Who's being ridiculous now?" he called out, unable to resist teasing her.

She whipped around to level him with a look before getting in her car, slamming the door shut, and driving off, leaving Adrien snickering on the porch, remembering the feel of her small body pressed against his.

He shook his head to clear his thoughts. Maybe the cold hadn't completely worn off yet. He was delusional enough to think she'd kissed him.

With the memory burning in his mind, he rubbed his hand on the spot above his brow. Fever dream or not, it made it all the more difficult to keep his distance.