We're halfway through this fic now. Also we finally get to see what that dress looks like. If you notice any mistakes, please tell me. I'm posting this at one in the morning, so I've probably missed a few typos. Just a reminder that I do have a tumblr and hopefully the remaining chapters will be put on there later on this month. It's ivyneverfallsonadrien.

10

Marinette pulled her coat tighter around her as she stared up at the looming hotel. She sighed, why was she waiting out in the cold again? She moved along to the entrance so that she could the warmth radiating from the building. When the doors kept opening, she could hear the music and wondered what fun people were having as she waited for Adrien.

She had been a little disappointed when it had just been Nino who had shown up at the door. He had taken Alya by the hand, quickly explained about Adrien running late. She was used to him not showing up but she still felt hurt. The only upside about the whole ordeal was that Nino's parents had been willing to give the three of them a lift to the hotel.

When they had arrived , Alya had tried to convince Marinette to go inside with them but of course the girl had refused. She had said that she would wait for Adrien. However now that she was shaking from the cold, she was wondering if staying outside had actually been the right decision.

"Marinette!" A voice called. It was a girl's and Marinette's shoulders slumped as she saw Rose heading her way.

The blonde girl was linking arms with Jukela. As the two of them got closer, she was able to make out the outfits that they had come in. Rose had gone for something simple, a pink skater dress that was decorated in small petals. She was wearing fishnet tights that matched Jukela's. For one, Marinette knew that Jukela was never the 'girly' type but she had still made an effort tonight. Although her whole outfit did seem to scream 'giant bat', with a black dress that had a long arms billowing from it.

"Hey Rose, Jukela." Marinette greeted them with a kiss on the cheek.

"Why are you standing in the cold?" Rose asked pulling Jukela closer.

"Well the truth is I'm waiting for Adrien." Marinette replied with a grimace.

"In the cold?" Jukela mumbled.

"Yes." Marinette admitted. It also meant that she would have to sort out the Ladybug problem if she went inside and she was happy putting that off as long as possible.

"Marinette….it sounds so romantic!" Rose said in her day-dreamy voice. She gushed a deep pink.

"Not romantic if you get hyperthermia." Jukela pointed out.

Marinette nodded. "I'll be okay! You two should go in! I'm sure he will be along shortly anyway."

"Marinette…" Rose said.

"He'll be here! He said to Nino that-,"

Both of her friends stared at her with a long blink.

"Who am I kidding? His father's probably kept him away as usual." Marinette finally admitted the truth.

"Well, why don't you come inside with us?" Rose suggested.

Marinette nodded and started to follow them but not before taking one last look just in case he did show up. She sighed as she headed inside the hotel. It was a relief to get out of the cold but her stomach began to fill with dread. She wished Adrien was here to support her, even though he knew her secret, he might have been able to help with the problem that she now had to solve alone.

"A party invitation?" Gabriel Agreste said looking down at the piece of paper in disgust.

"Yes Father, it's Chloe's birthday tonight. Her party has already started." Adrien whispered as he sat rigid in his chair.

The two of them were sat alone in the dining room, his father on the other end of his table, finishing the remnants of his meal. Natalie stood tall and solemn in the corner of the room. She was watching his father with an intense gaze.

"Speak up Adrien. You shouldn't whisper in front of me."

Adrien repeated himself but made sure this time that his words were louder.

His Father shook his head and blinked slowly.

"Why am I only hearing about this now?" His voice was stern. The boy felt himself go rigid.

"Because you wouldn't have let me go Father. You never let me go anywhere!" Adrien protested.

"For all the right reasons! The world is dangerous. I am only doing it to protect you. My answer is no. You shall retire to your room and work on your piano tonight." His Father growled. "And for your disobedience, you shall not go to school on Monday."

"Father, please." Adrien begged. His lip was quivering and his heart racing. Why had he tried this again? His Father would never listen to him.

"Natalie, will you please escort him to his room?"

"Yes, sir." Natalie nodded.

She walked over to Adrien and put her hand on his shoulder. Adrien let her lead him to his room and he stared at the floor on the way back. He tried to calm his racing heart and the tears that were spilling. He couldn't lose control now. He was used to disappointment so why did this feel so different?

His mind flashed back to Marinette. Her smile and her clumsiness. A small smile played on his lips and his heart started to calm. Marinette, Ladybug; she was able to help him. Just knowing who she was now, it gave him so much hope.

Once back in his room, Adrien set his phone up and it started to play Chopin's Nocturne in B-flat minor Op. 9 No. 1. It was a difficult piece that his father had been making him work on for weeks. He would have loved to sit back and admire it but he had a party to go to.

"Plagg!" He called.

His kwami didn't reply at first and Adrien started to root through his cupboards to see if he could find his lazy companion. He made it through three drawers before he looked on his bed and found the cat fast asleep on his pillow. The kwami was snoring his head off.

Adrien shook him quickly with his finger. "Plagg, come on! We don't have a lot of time."

The kwami gave a yawn before opening one green eye.

"What's the rush? Is something important happening?" He asked stretching his tiny limbs.

"Yes, actually." Adrien replied. He opened his window with his remote and started to get ready to change into Chat Noir.

"Is it that blonde girl's birthday party?" Plagg asked with an eyeroll.

"Yes Plagg, I'd better go."

"Well if you're going to her birthday party, I'm sure she's going to love you showing up in your normal clothes."

Adrien looked down at himself and realised he was wearing his normal t-shirt and jeans. He sighed. "I'd better get changed."

He quickly ran to his closet and started to ransack it. It wasn't until he was at the back that he found a suit that he hadn't worn since he had gotten out for a meal with his mother. He clutched the sleeve as he recalled the night. They had gone out near the Eiffel tower. He shook his head. It wouldn't do him any good, bringing up any memories of the past. However his mother would go missing the week after.

Adrien shook his head again and got changed quickly. The suit fitted him but it felt a little tight. He looked down and noticed the pants just came short of his ankle. He had grown a little since he had last worn it. He pulled on some black shoes and looked at the time.

"Shoot, I really have to go. Plagg claws out!" He called.

A couple minutes later, Chat Noir scrambled away from the Agreste Mansion.

Inside the hotel, Marinette was watching everyone dance in the middle of the hotel. Chloe had hired out a local dj as Nino was currently dancing with Alya. Her other friends surrounded them also talking and here she was, standing near the balcony.

She had followed Rose and Jukela in and had just gone to wait in another place where it was warm.

"Marinette, why don't you go and join the others?" Tikki said as she floated near Marinette's face.

Marinette quickly scanned the area to make sure no-one could see the kwami.

"I don't know Tikki." Marinette mumbled. She sat down and leaned against the railing.

Tikki landed on her knee.

"Adrien, again?"

"Yes. I feel sorry for him. It's a shame that he couldn't come to the party but don't you think he would have told Nino if he couldn't come? I think it's a little weird that he hasn't said anything to him."

"I guess." TIkki agreed.

Both of them heard footsteps and Tikki hid.

"Marinette…" Alya sighed. Marinette looked up to see her best friend shaking her head at her.

Marinette didn't say anything. She just shrugged her shoulders and grimaced. Alya came up the last of the steps and sat down next to her best friend.

"How long have you been waiting for him?" She asked putting her arm around him.

"All night." Marinette whispered.

"Oh Marinette...why don't you come and dance with Nino and I? It might take your mind off him."

Marinette shoulders dropped and she sighed. "Will it though? Alya...I,"

She never got to finish as she heard Chloe shout "Adrinkins!"

Adrien should have expected to be bombarded by Chloe as he entered the hotel. It was like she had an antenna on the top of her head that told him where he was.

"Hey Chlo," He greeted with familiarity.

He tried to pull away from her as much as possible. She was his old childhood friend but that didn't mean he wanted to be that close to her.

Chloe pulled away but clutched his hand tightly. He tried to let go but she refused to budge. He noticed that she had done her hair for the party. It was in a fancy updo that she would have never been able to do herself. Her dress was yellow and striped. Similar to the top that she normally wore.

"I'm so glad you could come! We should go and dance!" Chloe said and started to pull him towards the dance floor.

"Chloe, before we do that. Is Marinette here?" He asked, scanning the crowd but seeing no sign of the pigtailed girl anywhere.

"Dupain-Cheng? She's around here somewhere," Chloe scoffed. "Now come on, we should go dance."

She tried to pull him away again but Adrien scanned the room once more and then caught sight of Marinette standing on the stairs.

He blinked as he fully took her in. Oh goodness. She was like a goddess shining in front of him. As he started to walk through the dancers, he could see her in all her beauty.

The dress she was wearing. Where on earth had she gotten it from? He liked to know the brands he wore, it was the whole thing with modeling. You had to know everything about the clothes, where they made, who had made them and what materials they were made of. Or maybe that was just him.

The dress was purple at the bottom and it flowed out like a petal with a few rose prints sown on the hem. Then his eyes moved up her body to the front. The whiteness draped across her skin and he could see her slender shoulders.

Adrien began to reach the stairs and noticed her hair. It was down again like it had been in the photoshoot. He loved her hair down, he realised. The way it shone in the light. He wished she would wear it down more often.

"Marinette." He said as the two of them on the stairs. She was slightly higher than him.

"Adrien, you came." Marinette said with a waver. Her eyes looked a little red.

"Are you crying?" He asked with a head turn.

Marinette laughed. "No! No! Just happ-," She stopped speaking as she composed herself. "I'm just glad that you're here."

Adrien smiled. "I'm sorry that I couldn't bring you to the party. You know what my father is like."

"It's okay." Marinette said.

"It's not, I'm sorry." Adrien whispered just low enough for her to hear.

Below them the music began to change. The song started to slow and people began to find partners to dance with.

"Do you want to dance with me?" Adrien offered his head.

Marinette nodded. She took his head as he lead her down to the dance floor below.