Adrien had been waiting the whole morning to say the words, so when he felt the curtain that separated his mind from her dreams slowly going away, he smiled satisfied.

" Joyeux anniversaire , darling," Adrien thought in her direction at the moment he felt her wake up and be back on her senses.

"Aw, thank you" Her thoughts were a little blurry, it always happened when she was still half sleep.

Dreams mixed with coherent thoughts and it was confusing, exactly the reason why they had trained their brains to close the "dream door". It took them years but they had finally mastered the art of ignoring each other. They were both grateful for that, a few years ago when they hit puberty things had turned messy and awkward between them. With all the access they had to each other's brain and all the hormones that were playing games with them they were in need of boundaries.

They both imagined doors made of glass to separate one mind from another because that's how it felt inside their minds.

When the door was closed they couldn't hear each other well enough to understand and see every thought, it was like hearing a constant whisper of voices. Thought they had learned how to do that around eight years ago, they kept refining the technique and trying to create new methods. It wasn't as hard as it had been at the beginning, it came natural now but it was still something that they worried about and put energy into.

Adrien sat straighter on the bench and cracked his knuckles.

He waited for her to be completely awake before start playing the piano. When he felt she was about to talk to him, he placed the fingers on top of the first key.

His fingers started moving with elegance, touching the white and occasionally black keys. The start of the song was slow and calculated, he watched how his fingers traveled across the surface of the keyboard but after a few chords and rhythms his movements grew with excitement following the excitement he was feeling from hisgirl .

He closed his eyes, he opened a few doors and erased walls, his energy was about to be wasted on something more meaningful. His fingers kept dancing on the dashboard, muscle memory moving them because his mind was busy creating images that followed the music piece.

He was picturing an old ballet he had been lucky to see years ago at Palais Garnier , with his mother. At the time he wasn't interested on those sort of things, but girlhad been obsessed with ballet so he paid extreme attention to the play.

He imagined a boy and a girl dressed in costumes that seemed made of blue stars, the lights were reflecting on the fabric and rhinestones making them shine. The protagonists danced across the floor, their moves were slow and graceful. The girl put all her weight on the point of her left pointé, the guy took her hands and started spinning her around. Their eyes met in a passionated look the connection they shared was undeniable, the audience could have noticed from miles away.

He kept the image of the dancers and began to put more thought on the background.

The lights of the theater were soft purplish colors that followed and focused on the couple, it made the atmosphere not only romantic but magical.

Adrien painted with music and emotion the scene he remembered so well, and once it was well constructed he started playing around with colors and textures. He changed little details that he knew would make her happy, easter eggs that could make her heart flutter.

When he played the last note of the piece, he imagined big red curtains closing and ribbons made of gold swirling around until they created letters. Letters that wished her a happy birthday.

"You are the best," He heard her melodic voice full of awe "That was beautiful, you haven't showed me something as beautiful as that, in a very long time"

"A special day deserves special memories," He answered back "It takes a lot of concentration to get the details right so I try to prepare before doing it, so it's perfect when I get to show you,"

"I know it's hard. It makes it more special… ugh, it's too early in the morning to put into words how much it means to me," She said in a tender voice"Sometimes I wish it wasn't we could easily share image. I mean, we practically text with our minds, why can't we send pictures and videos"

"If there's one thing I have learned along the years is that our mind communication has a mind of its own… I wish we could, I would be able to see your beautiful face smiling,"

"Are you flirting with me? This early in the morning?"

"Is never too early to flirt with you, darling"

"It's my birthday, give me a break"

"You are safe for today, only today" He laughed "Big 18, are you celebrating? You have not told me nothing about it,"

"I am." She yawned. Adrien laugh, she wasn't a morning person at all. "My best friend and her boyfriend are taking me out for a few drinks tonight, but it won't be anything big"

"You never do big celebrations" Adrien pointed out.

"Neither do you"

"I would like to but I'm not allowed to,"

"That sucks, one of my friends isn't allowed to celebrate his birthday either. He really wants to."

"I feel the poor guy," Adrien sighed. Maybe him and this mysterious friend could join forces and do their birthdays together, he knew how it sucked to be forbidden to celebrate your birthday. "Back to you, why don't you like big celebrations?"

"Is not that I don't like it, I just prefer doing something little, sometimes you have more fun like that, you're with the friends that really matter, you can chit chat, no one is pouring beer on your hair..." Adrien laughed. He knew a thing or two about people throwing their drinks on top of your hair. Marinette and him had had a very eventful night at Alix birthday party, courtesy of Kim.

"I see your point, but parties are cool. Once we meet each other, I'll be in charge to plan your birthday party,"

"You'll have to find me first" That was such a normal phrase for Marinette to say, one way or another it always ended up popping out and although the context were different, the feeling behind it was always the same. " And what if I'm an old lady when we meet?"

"Then it's gonna be the best party an old lady could have" He chuckled "But I certainly believe we will meet before"

"You think?"

"I like to believe we have already crossed paths, darling"

"Well if it was for believing and hoping we will be talking face to face right now,"

"True, but I got my reasons to have that belief, they're not pipe dreams. We live in the same city and I know our minds censure relevant personal information, god knows why, but there are certain details that I have paid close attention to. Details that tell me that we have met each other already"

"I envy your optimism,"

"You are pretty optimistic too, why not being optimistic about this?"

"I don't know, I don't want to get my hopes up I suppose…" The sadness on her thoughts cooled down the corners of his mind.

"Hey! It's your birthday, only happy thoughts today" He said "And you better go and let your parents sing happy birthday to you or you will be late to school"

"Nothing new there" She replied. He rolled his eyes "I'll try to talk to you later"

"Do your best, and when you're back I'll describe you your present"

"I can't believe you keep buying me things…"

"You do the same, it's just fair"

"I guess" She laughed "Bye, baby boy, have a nice day"

"Have a nice day as well, birthday girl!"

"Wait, wait! Before I forget, what was the name of the song you played?"

"We Meet In Dreams, Gothic Storm, composed by Chris Haigh"

"I see what you did there" She laughed and he did too "That it's a new addition to my playlist" She thought. A lovely feeling wrapped him and he felt warm all of a sudden.

"Do I get to add a song to mine?" He rose a brow.

"I'll see if can think of one, I have not discovered anything new,"

"I'll be waiting. Have fun today,"

"You too, have a nice day… again" She laughed, her voice started to decrease in volume and the unrecognizable whispers on his mind began to echo once again.

xx

Adrien was sitting on top of Alya's desk, Nino was by his side.

He was watching Alya run from one side to the classroom to the other, Alix and Rose following her, listening to her orders and nodding when Alya required an answer. It was strange to see Alix interested in something else that her own world of constant arguments with Kim, as strange as seeing Rose without Juleka; but when it came to Marinette, strange things could happen.

The whole class, minus Chloé and Sabrina, were decorating the classroom to celebrate Marinette's birthday. She made clear that she didn't' want to celebrate or throw a party. Alya's plans went down the drain, she had been planning a surprise party for her and had to rearrange everything at last minute, because nothing could stop the future journalist to do everything on her power to give her best friend an amazing celebration, even if that meant she had to do a little party at school.

She had recruited the whole class to help her with it and since Marinette was always late to school, it was easier to surprise her here than anywhere else.

The room was full of white and pink balloons, ribbons and a big hand-painted poster that Nathanaël made which went along with the theme of the party, a big pink canvas with gorgeously painted peonies and the words " Joyeux anniversaire" written in cursive and shining with glitter.

In the middle of the room there was a table with a cake. The cake that was supposed to be baked by Alya, Nino and Adrien but that at the end, half of the work had been done by Marinette's father. Alya didn't share her mother's talent, she was a disaster at the kitchen, and Nino was not bad but he was too slow. The only one who had shown talent had been Adrien, whose decorating skills were magisterial, surprising everyone in the room, especially himself when he managed to master the frosting technique.

Tom had been so impressed with his job, and Adrien had been so happy to be actually good at something he liked, that they ended up decorating cupcakes till late hours.

Adrien cherished that memory, he had had an amazing day with Marinette's father and one of the funniest he could recall. He ended up hiding behind flour bags so Marinette wouldn't see him. Him and Tom had shared secret looks and silent laughs as he tried to kick her daughter out of the kitchen.

It had been a fun day, and it had been worth it. Looking at his masterpiece, a three-floor white cake with pink peonies on top and cheer shades of green around the edges simulating the shafts and the leaves. It was beautiful, just like Marinette was.

"Do you think she is coming? It's very late, even for her" Nino asked him, looking at the watch on his wrist.

"Of course she will" Adrien turned to his friend "She probably stayed more time with her family, you know opening gifts and eating a nice birthday breakfast, I'm sure Tom and Sabine make amazing birthday breakfasts"

"Yeah, you're right. I hope she doesn't eat much or she won't be able to try your cake" Nino said pointing out the table in front of them "I'm still impressed, Adrien"

"Me too" Adrien smiled "I hope she likes it as much as all of you like it"

"Pff, she is going to adore it, she will love it so much that she won't be able to cut it"

"That's not the point!" Adrien chuckled "But I get it, I think I'm going to cry at the moment she stabs my cake"

"Stab! Oh god, let's scream when she does, like in a horror movie, please" Nino started laughing, resting his head on Adrien's shoulder

"Let's not scare, sweet little Mari, you know how jumpy she can be"

" Sweet little Mari " Nino raised a brow at the blond model "Aren't we more fond of her as the days pass?"

Adrien didn't answer; he shook his head and smiled.

Marinette was wonderful, and that did not do her justice. Marinette was sweet, independent, brave and she cared about others and those were only a few of the million wonderful things Marinette was. Of course she had her faults, but so did everyone else, so did Ladybug and he loved her anyways… so was his girl and he adored her too. But maybe that was because girl was Marinette.

Adrien shook his head trying to erase the thought out of his mind, noticing how weird that must have looked he gazed at Nino, but he was having a no verbal conversation with Alya.

He needed to take those thoughts of his head, they would bring him nothing but trouble.

The slam of the door against the wall took him out of his thoughts. Kim was there, one hand against the door, the other on his chest, his head to the ground as he panted.

"She's here! Get ready!" He said and that caused everyone to start moving to their respective spots

"You are so weak, can't run upstairs without getting out of breathe" Adrien laughed at Alix's comment.

"So do it yourself! I bet you can't do a better time than me" He answered, ducking down to Alix's level

"And I bet you I can" She frowned at him "I always beat you, what is the difference now?"

"Oh, so you wan—

"NOT NOW!" Alya shouted at them, a death stare behind her glasses

"Later," The couple said and walked to their spot.

"They always make my day" Adrien said to Nino, between his teeth, too scared to talk louder in case Alya heard.

"Yeah, when they are not dragging me to—

"NINO!" Alya said, slamming her hand against her boyfriend's shoulder, making him jump.

"Sweet lord, have a little mercy," He said, shaking her hand off "I'm supposed to get special treatment, it's part of our agreement, right beside…" Nino stopped when he saw Alya glaring at him.

"I think your privileges don't apply when it comes to Mari" Adrien smiled, winning a glare himself.

"He is right. Now both of you: mouths shut" Then she left them, walking to the front door.

Adrien and Nino looked at each other smiling, holding back the big burst of laughter that threatened to come out of their mouths.

When the door creaked, moving slowly, the whole classroom kept silence and at the appearance of Marinette, everyone screamed.

"Surprise!"

Marinette jumped back at the sudden screams but it was only a second of fear that turned into pure joy. Her lips curved into a little smile, her cheeks stained in pink and her big bluebell eyes opened in wonder. Adrien could spend hours looking at her, she was stunning.

As an alcoholic got a rush every time the strong liquor ran into his bloodstream, Adrien got a rush on Marinette's sweet smiles and big bright eyes. And just like a drug addict, the need to consume intensified every time he saw her.

It hadn't been always like this, the first year of knowing Marinette he knew only a few things about her, things that he could count with his fingers. Three years of knowing her gave him a lot of more information, especially when she stopped acting so nervous around him and exactly then was when the problem started, she was too similar to his girl.

Oh no, not again. Not again with the stupid fantasies, he had to stop.

But there were so many similarities, and on a day like this, on Marinette's and his girl's birthday he couldn't help but wonder.

Adrien sought on the pocket of his jeans for the little pin he had put there in the morning. He didn't took it out, he only touched it with his fingertips, he didn't need to look at it, he remembered exactly how it was. He had been staring at that pin for almost nine years now. He bought it in Prague, as a birthday gift for his girl… he bought a gift every single year and described it to her so she could imagine it, so she could create her own picture of the gift so when, one day, when he finally could give it to her she could be surprised and at the same time be familiar with the object.

Of all the gifts he had bought for her, for an inexplicable reason, this pin was his favorite.

Another inexplicable thing was why he had brought it today to school. He wasn't going to give it as a gift to Marinette, but he was tempted, lately, he couldn't shake off his thoughts that she could be the girl inside of his mind.

"Adrien" Nino elbowed him, making him come back to reality, and pointing at the petite girl in front of them who was being hugged, or better said asphyxiated by Alya. "You are going to kill little Mari, babe"

Alya frowned but stopped hugging Marinette who was smiling and with glossy eyes.

"I can't believe you guys did that," Marinette said looking at the whole class "You are amazing, all of you… but shouldn't we be in class already?"

"We took care of that, we have forty-five minutes left to celebrate you, Mari," Nathanaël said, looking at her with love

"You guys are awesome!"

"Indeed we are, now move, babe" Nino said and softly pushed Alya to the side with a bump of his hip. "HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MARIBEAR!" Nino caught his friend in a hug, making her laugh.

"Thank you, bubbles" Marinette hugged him back, as she did her gaze stopped in Adrien, who was giving her a sided smile.

When she backed away from Nino, Adrien made his way to her.

No one tried to hug Marinette first, it was like the three of them had special privileges, particularly Adrien.

" Joyeux anniversaire " Princesse "I hope all your wishes come true" He hugged her, pressing his chin against her head. Her arms wrapped his waist and he caressed her hair.

"Thank you, Adrien" Looking up to him, she gave a toothy smile.

"Okay, okay, share her!" Alix said pushing him to the side and jumping to give a big hug to Marinette.

Apparently, his privileges were over.

Once everyone hugged her and showered with lovely words, she opened a few gifts: a set of silver earrings from Juleka, a little bottle of perfume from Rose, a new video game courtesy of Alix, Max, and Kim, a new sketchbook from Nathanaël and fabric paint from Ivan and Myléne. After that Alya called everyone so they could cut the cake.

"You can do the honors" Alya put a knife on Marinette's hands. And then she walked her to the cake and took the paper box they had put on top of it.

"Oh mon dieu," Marinette said looking at the cake, her eyes shined as they were a Christmas tree. "It's so, so pretty"

Alya gave a proud look in Adrien's direction

"Did you ask my parents for this?" Marinette turned to her friends.

"Kinda. We can tell you later why we aren't allowed in the bakery anymore" Alya said laughing

"My boy is still allowed. In fact, I feel like your dad is going to ask for him to come back," Nino said, taking Adrien by his shoulders "He helped your father after we were kicked out, he did all the frosting"

"You did this?" Marinette's mouth hung open.

"Yeah, I tried my best" Adrien scratched the back of his head.

"You succeeded" Marinette smile grew bigger "This is beautiful, Adrien, you are extremely talented, I can't believe, I, really, I… thank you"

"He also decorated the cupcakes" Alya said, bringing a box she had left in her desk "There's one for everyone" The tiny cupcakes matched the cake, but with only one pink flat peony on top of them

"They are so beautiful that it makes me sad to give them a bite" Marinette said faking a cry. "Since I can't do it, you'll have to do the honors" Marinette passed the knife to Adrien.

"But it's your cake," Adrien said surprised.

"Just make me happy and do the honors, alright?" How could Adrien say no when she looked at him with those beautiful eyes?

"Let's do it" He winked at her and proceed to give the first cut to the cake.

The cake had been as delicious as it was beautiful. The class ate, talked and laughed for a long time until Ms. Bustier followed by Chloé and Sabrina entered the classroom, ending the party.

"This was perfect guys, you are amazing," Marinette said. She hugged everyone and came back to her sit, as the others started to clean up the classroom. "Nath, can I take the poster home?"

"O-of course" Nathanaël smiled at her "You really like it?"

"As I have told you at least fifteen times by now, I love it" Marinette laughed "I'll have to arrange my room to make space for it" That statement made Nathanaël smile

"I'm happy you liked the surprise, girl," Alya said, shaking Marinette's hair, that, rarely, wasn't up today, it flowed in a dark cascade only centimeters under her shoulders.

"Thank you for doing this, you guys are wonderful" Marinette and Alya hugged each other.

"We will give you our gifts at lunch, I thought it would be better," Alya said.

"No, she wanted privacy, she doesn't admit it because then it can backfire on her, because we know she is not good when it comes to other's privacy" Nino grinned.

"You are on my list" Alya frowned at him. Adrien and Marinette laughed.

xx

For Adrien, who was really excited to go to lunch with his friends, it was like the clock had stopped. Without the usual entertainment that it was to talk to his girl, the hours seemed to pass slowlier. But it was just a sensation, so lunch time actually did came, and Adrien jumped out of his sit at the moment the bell rang.

He followed his friends outside and walked with them to Marinette's house, where her parents had cooked for the six of them.

With the sound of chimes their arrival was announced and Tom welcomed them at the door.

"There you are, Sabine has everything set!" He said kissing Marinette's cheek as she walked by him "Did you like the surprise?"

"Oh, papa, I loved it!" She said in a dreamy voice "The cake was spectacular too,"

"I hope you thanked Adrien for that, he decorated the whole cake"

"I did" Marinette assured him.

"We should hire him, what you think?" Marinette laughed and turned to Adrien, one eyebrow rose as she checked him out.

"I don't know, he is too skinny" Marinette said "I don't think he would be able to carry flour bags,"

"Well, me and the flour bags are friends already, so I don't think it would be a problem" Tom laughed at his words, as Marinette looked confused "It's a long story"

"Can we go upstairs? I'm dying to eat some delicious food, and after all we are banned from the bakery" Nino said, with a hand rubbing his tummy.

"What did you guys do?" Marinette asked giggling

"What didn't they do?" Tom said and guided the teenagers upstairs.

Already upstairs Sabine greeted them with a hug and showed them their respective seats.

"Wait! Before we eat Marinette has to open our gifts" Alya said, taking her back to the front of her body.

"Oh, absolutely!" Sabine nodded.

Alya, Nino and Adrien opened their bags in synchrony and took out of them their respective package. Alya's was a rectangular box with polka dotted paper on pink and white, Nino's was exactly the same paper but badly wrapped out with a green ribbon. Adrien's was rectangular as well, wrapped in metallic silver paper with a big dark bow.

"Mine first!" Alya said and put her gift on Marinette's hands.

"Thank you, 'Lya," Marinette said and started to unwrap the gift. "Oh!"

It was a big portrait that held a collage of pictures of them with pictures from the year they first met to pictures taken only a few weeks ago, also there were little messages on Alya's messy handwriting; and it wasn't the only thing, there was a blue box, that as soon as Marinette saw it she squealed.

"You didn't!" Marinette opened the box and found a little silver pendant in the shape of scissors.

"I did!" Aya laughed and hugged her friend.

"I love you! Help me with the clasp," Marinette twisted her hair on a bun and let Alya clip the necklace around her neck "It's so pretty,"

"It looks great on you, Mari" Adrien said, making Marinette blush.

"Now, mine!" Nino said pushing Adrien to the side. Repeating the same process, Marinette opened Nino's gift: a small black leather clutch "You are always complaining that you don't have a black tiny bag, I don't understand why you don't make one but…"

"Thank you!" Marinette said sincerely "It's because I always forget, so this is perfect, I adore it Nino. It's amazing, and such great quality!"

"Thank god, it took me hours to find the perfect one" He sighed relieved, which made his friends laugh.

"And last but not least" Adrien showed his package "With all my love to you"

Marinette didn't answer, she only blushed.

Adrien lent her the package and Marinette took it with care, she touched the metallic paper and the black elegant bow, it was perfect and she hadn't opened it yet.

With carefulness she slowly tore apart the wrapping paper, revealing a brown leather sketchbook. It looked old and it had stains on one of the borders. Alya and Nino looked at it confused.

Marinette was confused as well, but as she examined the sketchbook she noticed something. At one of the edges there were too engraved letters in gold, a G and an A. Marinette's eyes opened like plates; she untangled the sketchbook of the leather strips and opened it on a random page.

Sketches. Raw sketches, colored sketches, notes on the borders, dates, questions, measures, fabric names, colors; it was all there.

"Is this a dream?" She asked, she didn't stutter but her voice sounded as she was about to "Is this what I think it is?"

"I heard you a few months ago" Adrien whispered "And after weeks of begging my father said he won't miss it,"

"So, it's real" Marinette skimmed through the pages once again "These are your father's designs!"

"It is his sketchbook from the Agreste's Spring and Summer Collection of 1994" Adrien smirked, "That's your favorite year, right?"

"Yes! Oh, Adrien!" She stood up from her sit and ran to Adrien's arms. He caught her in a tight hug "Thank you, you have no idea how much this means to me"

Adrien smiled and kissed the top of her head.

"I'm glad you like it,"

"Like it? She loves it! It's not fair she loves it more than my gift," Alya crossed her arms against her chest. Sabine petted her head as she laughed.

"It's a wonderful gift, Adrien, you are very kind," Sabine told him.

"I told you! We should keep him" Tom said, making everyone laugh, except Marinette who felt awkward at the comment, especially while being on Adrien's arms.

"Thank you, you are the best," Marinette said, untangling herself from her friend.

"It was nothing,"Darling. Princess. No, Marinette "My father will also be happy to hear you like it"

"I can't believe he gave you the sketchbook, he barely looks in my direction when I'm in the house, he must like Marinette very much" Nino commented.

"Is not that he likes Mari, he just doesn't like you, no one likes you," Alya said.

"Joke's on you, babe, you are dating me" Nino kissed her cheek as Alya rolled her eyes, trying to hide the smile on her lips.

"Okay, kids, it's lunch time" Tom announced, "I think our lunch can compete with Adrien's gift"

Marinette nodded and walked with her friends to the kitchen.

Before sitting on his spot, Adrien took the pin on his hands one more time. Should he risk it? Should he give it to Marinette? He wanted to, but he wasn't sure. If she, in fact, was his girl, it would be marvelous, but if she wasn't then he had given away one of his most adored positions to someone who wouldn't share the same amount of love for it as he did.

He sighed, and put the pin down back into his pocket.

It was better to be sure.