*Author's Note*

I... I don't know why I bother trying to give you guys a heads up on when the next update will be, because clearly I can't post on time anymore. Sorry about that, but here, have a massive 3700+ word chapter to make up for it!

~LycoRogue~


Chapter 7


"This vacation is so lame."

"Plagg! Shhh!" Adrien softly hissed at his kwami. They were alone in the hotel suite's bathroom, but Adrien wasn't positive his father wouldn't be able to hear their voices. To try to drown them out, Adrien turned the sink faucet on even though he wasn't done brushing his teeth yet.

"I've been stuck in your shirt the whole time," Plagg whined. "You barely got enough alone time from that girl to feed me. I'm starving and I'm bored."

Adrien spat into the sink. "Will you be quiet? My father might hear you." Adrien quickly rinsed his mouth out, and packed up his toothbrush. Glaring at Plagg to let the kwami know not to push his buttons, Adrien turned the sink off.

Plagg glared back before drifting over to Adrien's ear so he could whisper. "I'm just saying that I'm not having much fun, and you need to find a way to get me some cheese."

"I know. Sorry," Adrien whispered back, "I haven't exactly had a moment to myself since yesterday morning, between Kagami and my father. I'll try harder to find a way to feed you though, okay?"

"It's a start, but I'm still going to be bored."

"All you do is sleep anyway." Adrien shooed his kwami and began gathering up his other toiletries throughout the bathroom. "Besides, it's not like you're the only one not enjoying yourself this weekend."

"I thought you were having fun hanging out with Kagami. Are you upset that you aren't here with Lay-de-bug?" He drew out her name in a playful sing-song.

"No! I mean, yes, I'm having a good time with Kagami, and yes, I would have loved to be here, and go to the wedding, with Ladybug instead. But, no. I was talking about poor Marinette. She must be having a terrible weekend." Adrien reached into his front jeans pocket and pulled out its contents. The folded up prescription rested in his palm, and the good luck charm Marinette had given him draped across the paper. He picked up the charm and rubbed a few of the beads with his thumb.

"You're here with a pretty girl that you claim you aren't going to date because you love Ladybug. Yet you're spending the weekend thinking about Marinette?"

"I'm thinking about a friend who needs my help, and I don't know how to get it for her. I hope she's not too uncomfortable or in pain. I'm sure her parents are doing what they can to help her, and she has Alya too, right? Plus, Marinette ran both to and from the train, so her situation couldn't be too distressing, could it?" Adrien took a slow breath as he pocketed the good luck charm, and read over the prescription one more time. "Kagami promised she'd help me find a pharmacy before we leave tonight. It will all be fine, won't it? Marinette's probably fine, right?"

Plagg simply sighed and shook his head.

"Adrien?" Gabriel knocked on the bathroom door. "Miss Kagami is here to meet you for breakfast. Are you about ready?"

"Yes, Father. I'll be right out." Adrien tucked the prescription away, held open his shirt for Plagg to hide in, and exited the bathroom with his toiletries cradled in his arm. After packing them away in his overnight bag, he opened the hotel suite door.

"Good morning, Adrien. I trust you slept well?"

He hadn't. As much as Plagg teased that Adrien was only thinking about Marinette that weekend, he was actually haunted by nightmares of Ladybug needing him, only to be forced to protect Paris alone. There was an odd parallel there that Adrien tried to ignore: two important women in his life, both needing his help, and he was failing both of them.

Three women, if he counted Kagami. It really wasn't fair to her that Adrien kept letting himself get distracted. He was supposed to be her date that weekend, and he was afraid she wasn't having much of a decent time because of him. He had to find a way to make it up to her as they looked for a pharmacy. He decided he'd start with a white lie.

"Yeah. That party must have really drained me. I barely remember even lying in bed before I passed out. You?"

Kagami sharply inhaled through her nose, but a second later smiled. "I'm rested for the day. Shall we go get some breakfast? I hear there is an excellent selection for an English 'full' breakfast at the hotel restaurant, or we could have the continental breakfast they have set up in their conservatory."

"Full breakfast?" Adrien ignored the hidden poke in the ribs he got from Plagg.

"I think it's heavier foods, and typically served hot. Waffles and pancakes, bacon, porridge, sausage, omelettes, I believe there's also tomatoes and toast, that sort of thing."

"Well, 'when in Rome,' right? Shall we try this 'full' breakfast?" Adrien bowed his arm and gestured for Kagami to accept it.

"It sounds lovely." Kagami softly smiled before lacing her arm around Adrien's, and allowed him to escort her to the restaurant on the first floor.

Adrien wasn't sure if he should regret his choice or not. While the buttermilk pancakes and Belgian waffles looked delectable, Kagami suggested that was more of an 'American' breakfast than a 'full English' one. So Adrien agreed to the bacon, sausage links, scrambled eggs, baked beans, half a tomato, wheat toast, and even opted for a small side bowl of oatmeal with raisins. Everything was absolutely delicious, but it was also far heavier than he was used to, and he felt a bit sluggish as he cleaned off his plate. He couldn't imagine how full he would have felt if he had gone for the more carb-laden 'American' breakfast. At least, while he was discussing the day's itinerary with Kagami, he was able to lean far enough forward that Plagg could swipe a small sausage link.

"You can't even enjoy your breakfast without worrying about her, can you?" Kagami studied Adrien's face, her own hardened slightly.

"I just want to figure out the pills as soon as possible. That way I know I can fully enjoy the rest of my trip. That's all." Adrien felt uneasy with Kagami staring him down with those narrowed eyes. He had to do this, though. For Marinette. To help a friend. Besides, while Kagami was fixated on Adrien's face, Plagg could discretely swipe more sausage. It wasn't Camembert, but it was better than starving.

Kagami poked her fork in the remaining third of her ham and swiss omelette. It had been the only thing she had ordered, and she wasn't even finishing it. Adrien envied her self-control.

"Fine. It's a simple enough solution anyway." Kagami pushed her plate forward, leaving enough table space for her to rest her forearms. "We could probably just hand the prescription to the concierge and have them order the pills for you. It will be added to the hotel bill. Then, after check-out, when we move our things into the hotel storage lockers our parents rented, the concierge could even place the pills with your things. You wouldn't have to worry about them at all, and just enjoy a day of sight-seeing with me and my mother."

"No. No concierge! We can't add these pills to my father's bill, and I can't chance the concierge asking my father about them either."

"I really don't think they'd cost all that-"

"I don't want him to worry about me."

"Oh." Kagami sat back for a beat before leaning towards Adrien. "You could just let him know the pills were for your friend. You could even show him the prescription first so he knows what you're planning."

Adrien shook his head. "It's bad enough that I told you. This is something Marinette confided in me about. I can't just tell everyone that she needs-" He leaned in to whisper to Kagami, "constipation medicine."

"I really don't think it's as big of a deal as you're making it."

"No. You and I are the only ones who can know these are for Marinette. Promise me."

"Adrien, seriously-"

"Promise me, Kagami. Please." Adrien grabbed Kagami's hand and squeezed it as he pleaded with her. His face was kind but firm. Her eyes scanned for any leniency, and when she didn't find any, she nodded.

"Alright. No one else will know. I promise. But what do you propose we do instead?"

"London is fairly populated. I'm sure we could just ask a local."

"London has just as many tourists as Paris. It may be harder than you think to find a resident. We'll probably have to focus on asking those working in the area. We can try to discretely do so while my mother walks us around the city."

Adrien agreed that would be their best option, and they instructed their waiter to add their breakfast bill to his father's tab. They then met up with Kagami's mother for their self-guided tour of London. Gabriel had Nathalie set up meetings for him all day, as a means to best utilize his time abroad. It also meant he neglected to schedule time to actually enjoy the city, much to Adrien's dismay. Thankfully, Kagami's mother insisted on chaperoning the teens. An offer Adrien's father begrudgingly accepted.

Adrien enjoyed himself as Mrs. Tsurugi ushered them throughout the historical parts of London. The outing proved to be entertaining, as well as educational, and both Adrien and Kagami appreciated a whole day where they were little more than typical teen tourists. The only disappointment was that Kagami's plan backfired almost instantly. In her youth, Kagami's mother had studied in London for a year, which meant she was surprisingly knowledgeable of the city. She easily lead the tour, instructing the teens on the significance of each great site, without the need to interact with any of the professional guides. Mrs. Tsurugi also focused on the monuments, which meant the only other workers the teens came across were the poor souvenir shop clerks, who were far too busy with the weekend rush to be bothered to give directions to some kids.

Adrien's quest to ask someone during lunch failed just as miserably. The café they stopped at was quite crowded, and so he couldn't manage to catch the waitress' attention away from the table. He also couldn't ask the waitress when she came to check on them at their table, because he couldn't chance Mrs. Tsurugi wondering why he needed a prescription filled and talking to his father about it. Defeated, he tried to instead focus on enjoying his fish and chips – he was fascinated with the fact that it was served on a page of newspaper – and joining the discussion Kagami and her mother were engaged in.

Kagami had put in a genuine effort to help Adrien out as they took in the sights. She frequently asked her mother a string of follow-up questions so Adrien could attempt to sneak away to find a resident, or to look for a pharmacist. She also kept her eyes peeled for any signs of a drug store. After everything Kagami had tried to do to help him out with his task, Adrien attempted to focus more on her during their trip. It was only fair, and she deserved his attention. He knew all too well the pain of someone being distant because they were focused elsewhere. He hated that he was doing the same thing to her.

With lunch polished off, the trio was back to touring London, stopping again a few hours later to enjoy an afternoon tea in St. James's Park. Adrien didn't have much to eat that time, managing to fake his enjoyment of the scones and cucumber sandwiches as he smuggled them to Plagg. While Mrs. Tsurugi wished to sit and enjoy a solid hour's worth of the British afternoon tradition, she allowed Adrien and Kagami to slip off for a few minutes once their tea was done.

"We're running out of time." Adrien crouched down to offer the last of a thieved scone to a duck. The local fowl were so used to human foot-traffic around their home, Adrien was tempted to see if he could pet the bird as it pecked at the crumbs.

Kagami glanced out at the rippling lake not even a meter in front of them. More ducks and a few geese swam by, and she watched them as if they had the answer the two of them couldn't figure out on their own.

"I know. I'm sorry, Adrien. I'm sure Marinette will appreciate the attempt, though." Kagami knelt beside him and rested a hand on his shoulder.

"But she told me it was the thing she wanted most in the world. How could I disappoint her like this?"

"Don't you find it a bit odd that she'd refer to a prescription for intestinal tract medication in such a way?"

"Well, yeah, a little. But Marinette has always been a bit-" He tried to find a word that carried the right weight, in the end, he could only decide on, "-different, but in a good way. If this medicine is that important to her, then I can't go home empty handed."

Kagami sighed before standing back up and brushing off her knees. "We still have about three hours. We'll find a way to get those pills for her. I promise."

Adrien shot up and pulled her into a quick hug. "Thank you, Kagami. It means so much to me that you'd help me do this."

"Kagami! Adrien-kun! We need to get going!" Mrs. Tsurugi stood on the hill next to the park bistro, and called out to her charges.

"I'll think of something, but we need to get back to my mother now." Kagami held out her hand. Adrien accepted it, and let her walk him back to her mother.

Their last couple of hours in London sprinted by, and Adrien didn't fully register how late it had become when Kagami's mother lead them to a restaurant about three blocks from the hotel they had stayed at.

"We're stopping for dinner? Already?" He looked over his shoulder at the city. They hadn't found a pharmacy. He had failed. Somberly, he followed the ladies into the building and to their table. Just before sitting down, he pulled the prescription out of his pocket and nervously twirled it between his hands.

"Are you quite alright, Adrien-kun?"

Adrien nearly fumbled the letter as Mrs. Tsurugi called out his uneasiness. Kagami rested a hand on his forearm and offered a hint of a nod.

"I think it's this food, Mother. It's a lot more rich and heavy than he's probably used to."

"Ah, yes. A feast that the crocodile may find fitting will most likely upset the sensitivities of the rabbit. Shall we try to find a French restaurant instead? It may not be authentic, but it might be closer to what you are used to, Adrien-kun."

"If I may," Kagami pressed a finger against her lips as she glanced over at Adrien, "I think what Adrien needs might be some-" she shrugged a silent apology at her companion, "medical assistance to his problem."

"Kagami-" Adrien's throat locked up. She had promised.

She turned slightly towards Adrien, barely enough to be registered, but she made sure he could read her lips as she mouthed, "trust me."

"I don't think he'd need anything too serious, Mother," Kagami continued. "Just some simple pills. Nothing we would need to worry Mr. Agreste over."

Mrs. Tsurugi inclined her head slightly before humming acknowledgment. "Yes. Gabriel-san already has enough with which he concerns himself. It is a simple enough matter to take care of ourselves."

"Really? Thank you!" Adrien remembered he was supposed to be ill, so he calmed his voice and added a soft groan. "I mean, that is great news. I wasn't able to spot any sort of pharmacies as we walked, though. We don't have to go to a hospital, do we?"

"Heavens, no. It amazes me how the youth have become so dependent of their technology they have forgotten how to use it."

"Oh, Mother, of course." Kagami opened up the GPS on her phone and did a quick search for a pharmacy. There was a small one only a few blocks from them. She showed the location to Adrien, who leapt from his seat.

"Thank you! Thank you so much, Mrs. Tsurugi- I mean Tsurugi-san." Adrien bowed before bolting to the end of the dining room.

Mrs. Tsurugi said nothing, but simply raised her eyebrows. As if Adrien could hear the muscles shift on the woman's face, he skidded to a halt and bashfully retreated to their table.

"Sorry." Adrien slinked into his chair before scooting it back under the table. "I should wait until we're done eating."

Kagami's mother didn't scold. A hint of a smile formed on her lips before it vanished again. She ordered simple salads for the three of them, and a fourth to take back to Gabriel. They ate fairly quickly so they would have enough time before they needed to meet up for the train, and then headed west, towards the pharmacy Kagami found.

They were a few blocks from the main road. Adrien was that close to a pharmacy the whole time, and he didn't even know it. He wondered if he was, at any given time, secretly only a block or two from a pharmacy the entire trip. Maybe there was even one on the upper floors of the mansion the wedding reception was held at. Or there could have been a pharmacist waiting in the gazebo at the center of that hedge maze. The hotel they were staying at was fairly upper crust, so there was probably a pharmacy in there too. He just didn't know where to look.

And how did he not think to check his phone? He was so distracted wondering why Marinette gave him the prescription, and whether or not she was alright, that he didn't think clearly. He said a silent prayer that Ladybug would never find out about his blundering. The last thing he needed was his lady realizing he could be thrown off his game so easily. Thankfully, Hawk Moth had yet to come up with an akuma who gave out confusing prescriptions.

It didn't even take them ten minutes to find the proper medicine and pay for it. He had done it. He could bring Marinette what she requested. He hadn't failed after all.

"Thank you, Kagami." He hugged the white paper bag to his chest. "This means a lot."

Her eyes drifted to the bag before meeting his.

"I know it does. I'm glad you're happy, but I wish it wasn't so reliant on the happiness of others."

"Come along, children." Kagami's mother headed towards the hotel. "We must collect our things and meet up with Gabriel-san. Our train should be leaving within the hour."

Adrien and Kagami quietly walked behind Mrs. Tsurugi. He wasn't sure what else to say to her. Kagami wasn't entirely wrong, his happiness that weekend was partially dependent on his ability to make Marinette happy, but what was wrong with that? Shouldn't people take joy in bringing happiness to others? Wasn't friendship about investing in the well-being of another?

Adrien felt like a hypocrite. Wasn't Kagami also his friend? Shouldn't he have put as much investment in her happiness that weekend?

"Father, may I be excused for a couple of minutes? I'll meet you at the train, but I need to do something real quick before we leave."

Gabriel studied his son, and then the thinning crowd around them. Kagami seemed just as concerned by Adrien's wish to be alone for a few moments, but her mother simply nodded at Gabriel, reassuring him with the same hint of a smile she had at dinner.

"Be quick, and be safe."

"Thank you, Father!" Adrien gave Gabriel a hug before jogging to one of the specialty shops that lined the terminal.

"You sure you don't want company?" Kagami took a few steps forward, but Adrien raised his hand to halt her.

"No. I'll be real quick. I just need a moment."

Kagami looked away before nodding and rejoining her mother.

"Are you getting me something decent to eat?" Plagg whispered from Adrien's shirt.

"Sure, buddy. You deserve it." Adrien zipped into a store front three shops past the one he originally aimed for, quickly scanned their cheese selection, purchased a wheel of Camembert, and held it close enough to his chest for Plagg to phase into the case without being seen.

He then jogged back to the first store. Inside the walls were lined with shot glasses, miniatures of English monuments, collectible spoons, key chains, Union Jack t-shirts, postcards, and other such obvious last-minute souvenirs. He ignored all of them. Adrien saw what he was looking for through the shop window. At the end of a shelf, along with a series of 'Best Friend' necklaces, bracelets, and key chains, was a jewelry box opened to showcase the necklace inside.

It was a simple, thin gold chain with a single golden star charm hanging off it. As Adrien approached the box, he knew this was exactly what he needed to buy. Written on the inside of the box, just under the necklace, was the inscription: Good friends are like stars. You don't always see them, but you know they're always there.

Adrien paid for the necklace, a gift bag, a pen that said London on it, and a post card with a collage of the historical monuments he learned about that day. After thanking the cashier, he sprinted to a bench, and flipped the post card to the back.

A few minutes later, he stuffed the necklace and post card in the bag and jogged to the train.


Until next time...


*Author's End Notes*

I'm starting to fall back into my normal trend of 3000+ word-counts... whoops.

Clearly this story expanded from the 7 chapters originally planned, but it should be the homestretch now. Adrien has the pills finally. Now to just get them to Marinette.

As for the delay on this update? Well, in part it was because my internet went down. In part it was because my sleep rhythm was disrupted this week. And in part it was because I spent about four hours researching London to try to be as accurate as possible. Just for you, Pixie! ;) (I probably still got things wrong, but I tried...)