Something's got to give. Even a worm will turn if you push and push and push. Really, Gabriel should have expected Adrien to jump out of the window. He'd done it at Christmas and that time he was just clearing his head. Now, he was actively rebelling.

"He'll kill you when he catches you," Plagg warned.

"If he catches me," Adrien smirked.

Plagg sank lower into Adrien's hair, "If… if is good."

Adrien tugged his jacket closer over his shoulders. He was still running a little early. Just. He would arrive at her bakery in no time, and they could find a way to speed up their travelling together. First, he'd have to find a way to make Marinette agree to keep quiet about all of this, so his father didn't find out. Well, until it was too late anyway. the little bell rang as he opened the bakery door, and Sabine appeared from behind a curtain, with an apron around her waist, and a smile warmer than the cookies she was carrying.

"Good evening Mrs Dupain-Cheng."

"Hello Adrien, Mari is just getting ready."

"Oh good, mind if I wait inside?"

"of course not, go on through."

Adrien wandered up into the sitting room. It was considerably warmer than the brisk breeze outside. Autumn was definitely slipping away from them now. Adrien reached into his hand and lifted Plagg gently into his palm, out of his hair before anyone could see. He glanced around, even though it was empty, before tucking Plagg into his inside pocket.

"I hope you put on deodorant. Concerts are smelly, and I do not want to be smelling that all the way home!" Plagg warned.

"I smell like cheese," Adrien countered.

"Not always," Plagg stated, "sometimes, you smell worse."

Adrien decided that standing in the living room of his friend's house, arguing with himself before taking her out for the night, was not the best plan for not drawing suspicion to himself, so he quit this argument. That's when he heard another argument. Only this was less of an argument, more of a disagreement. He could hear a hint of laughter underneath their voices.

"It's not a date! Alya and Nino are coming too!"

"So it's a double date, it's still a date!"

"Dad!"

"I'm sorry honey but if this is a date you should be able to tell me! I'm your father, you should be able to dish about boys with me, just pretend I'm one of the girls."

"Oh my God, stop or I'll calling Mum!"

Adrien smiled. She was calling back up from her mother to use against her father, because he wanted to know too many details about her life. to him, that was weird. Not just that her father cared enough to want those details, that she didn't want to tell him any of them. Adrien had plenty of privacy from his father. He didn't want to know details about him. Marinette was lucky. Even if she didn't know it.

"Just promise me he's good enough for you. I may look like a teddy bear, but I'll fight him if I have to!" Tom warned.

Marinette laughed. Adrien bit his lip, but a laugh slipped out. Hers was just so infectious. Her voice turned calming, as if trying to soothe her father.

"Good enough? He's Adrien, papa. He's perfect."

"No one's perfect honey. If he hurts you, his bodyguard and I will get in a fight," Tom warned, seriously.

Adrien frowned. He wouldn't hurt her. she was one of his best friends. Besides, this wasn't a date! He didn't love her, he loved Ladybug, so he couldn't hurt her. unless she loved him… then he could break her heart… Adrien cleared his throat. He didn't want to think about that. maybe it was best to pretend he had nothing to do with any of this, and hadn't heard anything.

"Marinette?" he called.

"Up here!" came the reply.

"With her father!" Tom added.

"Wait there, I'm almost ready," Marinette promised.

"Alright," Adrien said.

He wandered deeper into the room. He heard their voices drop into bickering whispers. Then her whispers grew into hisses, and then, Tom appeared. He straightened his back and hoisted his belt up, like he was trying to look tougher.

"Hello Adrien," he said, gruffly.

Adrien bit back that laugh again. "Good evening Mr Dupain-Cheng."

"Mmm," Tom hummed, "you're early."

Adrien nodded, "I like to be early if I can. Then you can never be late."

His father had drilled that into him. he had to be on time everywhere, every day. being late was unacceptable. It was better to be early than late, but not too early, because then you were in the way. Again, Tom hummed. Adrien felt a little awkward. He shifted uncomfortably. Tom grinned. That was the exact effect he was going for.

"Poor boy," Tikki giggled.

"I have to rescue him," Marinette said.

"But Alya said to make him wait!" Tikki reminded her.

"Alya didn't know papa was going to be insane!" Marinette countered.

Tikki nodded, "ok, do it. which pocket do I hide in?"

Marinette patted the pocket on the inside of her jacket. She and Alya had sculpted this outfit perfectly. She had Jagged Stone's limited-edition Ladybug themed shirt on, and her best jeans, that were comfortable and what Alya called "shapely" which made Tikki giggle. The thick jacket with the inside pocket was Marinette's idea. It was light weight, so she could be warm on the way there and tie it around her waist when the jumping, crowded, sweaty place got too hot. Plus the inside pocket could hide Tikki, but keep her close, without having to risk someone yanking her bag. Tikki dove in there now.

"Adrien can you come here a minute?!" Marinette called. To

Tom scowled. He knew Marinette was practically ready. She was just doing this to keep him away from her parents! Spoil sport.
Adrien appeared in her bedroom, head first, and she was instantly relieved Alya had helped her tear down all of her posters earlier. Honestly she had no idea how she survived so long without Alya to help her.

"Hey," she smiled.

"Hey," he smiled back.

He was careful not to bump Plagg as his jacket swung back into his place.

"What'd you need me to do?" Adrien asked.

"Yeah, um, nothing, but I thought Papa might be annoying you," She said.

Adrien blinked in surprise, and then burst into laughter. Marinette frowned at him in confusion.

"What?" She asked.

"Nothing really, it's just funny that you think he would annoy me. Your dads the best," Adrien said.

Just below the ladder, Tom grinned. He slunk away back into the sitting room. Adrien was fine. If he could see how awesome Tom was, he could be trusted. Marinette's phone buzzed. She cleared her voice, ready to start acting.

"Oh no!"

"What is it?"

"Alya! Nino got sick and she has to look after him."

"Oh no!"

"Yeah... it's just going to be you and me... unless... unless you wanna call it a night instead," Marinette held her breath in fear.

When she and Alya practiced this earlier, Alya had run through as many possible answers as possible, and still Marinette was terrified. She wasn't sure she could handle some of the ones Alya had thought up. Running them with her had almost been lethal so if he actually said them...

Fortunately, he scoffed, "why would we do that? We've still got the tickets, let's go together."

He didn't exactly want to turn around and go home now. If his father hadn't found out this would have been pointless, and if he had found out, he'd get another lecture, which was the last thing he needed. No, a night out, even just with Marinette, he needed that instead.

"Then I should be ready to go in five minutes," she said.

He glanced at his phone for the time and his stomach twisted. They didn't have time to waste like this! "Ah, c'mon Princess!"

That sounded hauntingly familiar. "What'd you call me?"

He realised his mistake and his eyes widened. "Err, Marinette?"

"I thought… never mind," she muttered.

Adrien shifted awkwardly, glancing down at his phone again. The time was ticking on. Now they didn't have a ride they had to hurry up because their time was doubled. Really they had to be out the door... pretty much now. Marinette frowned at his frown.

"what's the matter Adrien, are you ok?" she asked.

He glanced down at the door. Tom's shadow stretched faintly over the carpet. Adrien put on a smile to ease her worry.

"Absolutely fine."

She recognised the fake smile immediately. "Adrien?"

Her tone was soft and concerned and genuine. It wiped away whatever fragile wall he had tried to build up, to pretend everything was ok. He dipped his head.

"I'll explain on the way."

She pushed her phone into her pocket, and nodded. "Lead the way."

Sabine glanced up as Adrien wandered back into the bakery, followed by Marinette, and then Tom bringing up the rear. Sabine gave her husband an amused warning look, silently warning him not to push this too far.

"your car isn't outside Adrien, is everything ok?" Sabine asked.

Adrien's heart missed a beat. The lie, however, came easily and casually, as if he weren't terrified inside. "Yeah, we parked around the corner. Dad's a little uptight at the moment, over protective because it's coming up to the anniversary of – so he didn't want to risk me being seen."

"I understand, be safe. both of you," Sabine smiled.

"we will," Marinette promised.

"and have fun."

"we will!"

"I love you Mari!"

"Papa!" Marinette whined, embarrassed.

"Embarrassing or not we still love you!" Tom laughed and laid a hand on his daughter's shoulders.

Adrien beamed at him, feeling a little awkward to be intruding on this show of affection, but pleased to know that Marinette at least had real parents. Good parents. Not like his. Tom turned to him, and gave him his best warning, macho, don't-mess-with-me-or-my-daughter look. Adrien stood upright, to give the same respect to him, but he couldn't help biting his lip to bite back a laugh. Tom, even while trying to be threatening, was a teddy bear.

"now young man, you look after my daughter, you understand? Be safe. both of you. Don't do anything stupid!" he warned.

Adrien nodded, firmly. "Yes sir. I won't let anything happen to her sir."

Marinette was turning pinker, pleased to know he was so protective, but she scoffed under her breath. Adrien stepped back and held the door open for her.

"Shall we?" he grinned.

Marinette chuckled. She leaned forward to kiss her dad on the cheek. "Don't worry," she said softly, "I'll make sure nothing happens to him."

"Or to yourself," Tom warned.

Marinette nodded, and waved goodbye before joining Adrien out on the street. Sabine gave a deeply contented sigh, and laid her head on her husband's arm.

"do you remember our first date?" she smiled.

He grinned back at her, "like it was yesterday. Third best day of my life."

Sabine lifted her head, and gave him a challenging look. "third?"

"first was the day Marinette was born, second was the day you agreed to marry me, and third, was our first date," Tom explained.

Sabine chuckled warmly, and leaned up to kiss his cheek. She had to pull down his arm, so he bent to let her reach. He didn't mind a bad back, as long as it left lipstick marks.

"Good list," she said, gently.

Marinette glanced around as Adrien led her around the corner that he said they had parked on. There was no sign of any car, and no sign of any body guard, both of which confused her.

"Um, Adrien-"

"I'm sorry I had to lie to your parents, but me and my father… There's no car, and I didn't think they'd like to know we were walking there," he explained.

"no… I don't think they would either," she agreed slowly.

"So you understand why I couldn't tell them? I hope you don't mind. It's dark, but it's not exactly dangerous, and-"

She eased his panicked tone by smiling at him, reassuringly, and cutting him off. "and even if it was I'm sure Chat Noir would swoop down to protect us. I'm not scared. Let's go."

Marinette set off walking first, leaving Adrien to stare after her, momentarily shocked into a statue. Then he ran to catch up with her.

"Chat Noir? Most people would assume Ladybug would protect them," he pointed out.

I doubt she would tonight, she's kind of busy

"Alya says Fridays are Chat Noir's patrol nights, so he'd be the one watching us," Marinette lied.

Dammit I knew there was something I forgot to do! I forgot to tell Ladybug I couldn't do patrol tonight! Another bubble of anxiety filled his stomach. Now not only was his father going to kill him, his lady would too. The only thing that eased his anxiety was Marinette.

"Besides, that cat is quick on his paws. I have a lot of faith in him," she smiled.

The smile was involuntary. It came any and every time she thought about her partner. He wasn't perfect - or purr-fect as he would put it - but he was her partner and she loved him for every flaw. That came through in Marinette too. Most people who talked to her about it thought she was Chat's number one fan, and even though she'd never allow him to find out about that if she could help it, she was fine with everyone else thinking it.

"I heard you met him. fought with him even, against the Evillustrator. Is he p-awsome?" He grinned.

Marinette chuckled at his silly pun, hiding her shameful smile behind her fingers. "He's a cool cat. Ladybug would be nothing without him."

Adrien felt his ego grow. "How so?"

"Everything Ladybug does she does because she knows he's there to help if something goes wrong. If she didn't have him, we wouldn't have her. Which is why it's a shame more people don't see him as a protector. he's awesome," Marinette explained.

Adrien grinned. His chest was glowing like a star, and all the anger and rebellious feelings his father built up in him were bleached by the light.

"he is, isn't he?" Adrien agreed.

Marinette's ears turned pink, and she bowed her head. "but enough about him. let's talk about you. You and your father, I mean."

Adrien's face fell. "oh…"

They kept walking in silence for a moment as Adrien tried to sort out a clearer, smoother understanding of what actually happened.

"Me and my father have come to the end of the road. We've been caving in for months... He never used to be so intense, or maybe he did but mother stopped him, and now she's gone, and I miss her. I miss the way he was when she was around. I was sitting in my bedroom, grounded, and forbidden from going out to the concert tonight, and all I could think was, how did we get here?"

"How did you get here? If you're not allowed out I mean?"

"I... I snuck out. I've been trying to figure out where things started going wrong, and I just kept thinking of everything I do for him, compared to everything he does for me, and I just - I just -"

There was a hot black twist in his stomach that had been there once before. At Christmas. Whatever in him created the cataclysm was building up, ready to destroy something. He hadn't noticed his fists balled so tightly his nails formed little moons in his palms. Not until he felt her hand brush hesitantly against his.

"We're at Nino's house," she said, gently.

Adrien looked up, his mouth falling open wordlessly. Nino's house was in the complete wrong direction! They didn't have the time to spare from this mistake!

"We're going to be late!" He whined.

The black knot tightened and raised into his chest. He couldn't let them be late! Being late was worse than torture! He felt his breathing quicken as his mind felt fuzzy. The only thing he could think of was being late and how terrible and awful it was. Marinette frowned. She recognised that reaction.
Anxiety.

"Hey," her soft tone sliced through the silence before a ball could form in his throat, which he knew was coming. "Hey, it's ok. We're at Nino's house. That means his bike is here."

"So?"

"So riding a bike is faster than walking!"

Adrien was so relieved by the fact she had a plan that could cut their time and get them there faster, that he forgot that Nino was supposedly sick in bed with Alya caring for him. He was not supposed to be standing on his doorstep with a sandwich in his hand.

"I haven't used it for over a year, of course you can have it," Nino shrugged.

"We just want to borrow it," She pointed out.

"It's cool too. You can just leave it here when you're done with it," he gestured to the wall by his doorstep.

"I promise," she nodded.

Nino just laughed, and wheeled it out from his hallway for them. She hugged him gratefully, and wheeled it over to Adrien.

"Do you know how to ride?" She asked.

Adrien grinned. He was feeling more like himself now. "Any model cashing in on the Tour De France knows how to ride a bike."

She grinned back, glad that he seemed to be easing back into his usual self. "Hop on then."