Adrien flew high in the sky, keeping and eye below on the traveling roads leading into the capital city. Summer was around the corner, and everyone had been kept busy since Princess Marinette's return.

Theo had been sent back to Normain after some negotiations, settling the peace treaty between the two countries as Theo was quickly disinherited by his father, King Matheo naming some nephew as his heir.

The wedding was called off and any talk of weddings was banned by the Queen, who had insisted on spending more time with Marinette since her return. From what Adrien heard, Marinette even got the family into baking as she had learned on her adventure.

The biggest change Adrien was slightly glad of as he patted his steed's neck in affection. Rather than take up his original duty as Marinette's bodyguard, he and Tikki had both been promoted to honorary Dragon Knights, a title used by those in the royal family or close to.

Tikki looked back up at her rider and smiled, the dragon happy with her new life. Sure she had to leave her pride, but Adrien made sure they visited them often since the local village near the dragons' roost was part of the country of Madrin. They had actually been able to find moonstones so Tikki could fly during the day, King Tom teaching Adrien the salve Marinette had once made to create a sort of barrier between her scales and the powerful son.

They flew over the city, people waving at their dragon and its rider as they passed over, Adrien waving back.

Everything was good, but there was still something not yet resolved.

Tikki flew above the castle, softly landing in the courtyard.

"Do you want me to go in with you Adrien," she asked as he dismounted.

"Not this time. I'll meet you in the garden."

Tikki nodded flying off to the palace garden that had become her home.

Adrien straightened his attire before walking into the castle, finding the king and Queen attending their duties in the throne room.

"Ah, Sir Adrien!" greeted the king, "all is well I hope."

"Yes your majesty, the road were safe as the people flock to the city for Princess Marinette's birthday."
"Very well." The king nodded with a wave of dismissal, but Adrien remained.

The king and queen looked up from the document they were examining.

"Is something the matter Sir Adrien," asked Sabine, a coy smile teasing at the corner of her lips. Marinette had told her about her feelings for Adrien, and after comparing notes with Lady Emilie, she knew the man felt the same way about her daughter.

"I was wondering if Princess Marinette is able to receiving visitors today?"

"I believe so, she said she was going to the garden to read," answered King Tom, slightly confused by the young man.

"Thank you sire." Adrien bowed, then left, heading towards the garden.

King Tom looked at the young man, feeling a hand on his arm. He turned to his wife who was only smiling like she had some secret she wanted to tell him.

Adrien opened the doors to the garden, Tikki meeting him at the door.

"Knew you would come here," the dragon teased as she nuzzled his hair, Adrien scratching her chin as she did.

"Of course you would." Adrien walked further into the garden, followed by Tikki.

They stopped when they found Marinette sitting on a bench reading, surrounded by her bodyguard.

"Plagg, may I speak to the princess," asked Adrien, the sleepy dragon opening one eye before loosening its tail around Marinette's feet.

Marinette looked up from her book, feigning surprise at Adrien's visit.

"Why Sir Adrien, what brings you out to the royal garden?"

"Well, I hear the royal garden is where the king houses the royal dragons. Would be a shame coming to the capital and not seeing them."

Marinette giggled, closing her book and scooting over so he could sit beside her.

"So you are only here for the dragons?"
"Well, I heard the princess is out here too, if her dragon will allow any male other than her father near her."

Plagg snorted, turning his head only to move it into Tikki's, how had decided to take a nap beside him. The dragon only moved his head so it was alongside Tikki's.

Marinette cooed at the sleeping dragons.

"They are so cute together," she quietly squealed, secretly awaiting the day she could help Tikki take care of little dragon babies.

"Mhm," Adrien agreed, shifting in his seat so he was closer to Marinette. He turned to look at her, only to find her face incredibly close to his.

They quickly looked away, both their faces red. Marinette looked at the dragons to see both of them watching with one eye, the corner of their mouth twitching up.

Silly dragons.

"Actually Marinette, before the battle with Theo, Plagg mentioned something to me."

"Yes?" Marinette turned to give Adrien her undivided attention.

"He said that after everything with Theo, you would take some time before… trying to find another suitor."

Marinette could feel her cheeks warm, looking away.

"I suppose I did tell him that."
"How long were you thinking, before you started looking, for a suitor?"

Marinette glanced up to see a very nervous Adrien.

"I don't know," Marinette stood up, brushing the dirt off the back of her dress. "A suitor would have to talk to my mother and father about that. After the last match I don't know if they are quite ready yet."

She began walking away, Adrien quickly following after her.

Plagg raised his head to watch them as they wandered about the garden.

"He's trying really hard, isn't he," asked Tikki.

"Annoyingly so," grumbled Plagg as he moved his tail to wrap around Tikki, who lifted her head to rest on the tail.

"But what if some random suitor, recently honored by the kind I might add, came and asked them for their daughter's hand?"

Marinette was admiring a flower, smirking as she came up, "I guess it all depends."

"On what?"

"If my knight is worthy." Marinette leaned into Adrien's space teasingly, Adrien leaning back. To be in such a position with the Princess. Plagg would roast him.

"Y-y-your knight," he mumbled.

Marinette leaned back, straightening the lapel of Adrien's uniform, his entire face red.

"Particularly my dragon knight," she teased.

At the mention of those two words, Adrien managed calm down his blush, taking a deep breath and smiling.

"I guess we'll just have to see if your Dragon Knight is worthy then Princess." Marinette's devious smirked turned back into the smile he fell in love with the day he first met her.

"I think he is."

Without hesitant this time, Adrien leaned down and captures her lips in a kiss.

"Aren't you going to do anything," Tikki asked while looking at the happy couple. Kissing when they weren't even courting yet was frowned upon in society. Right? She wasn't sure.

Plagg was looking over at the windows where the Queen and Lady Emilie were watching, overjoyed at the couple, while the King and Gabriel the tailor watched in shock, their jaws nearly hitting the floor.

"I think they'll be fine."

And this dear readers, is the end of Dragon's Protection. Thanks for being patient since this once started out with quick updates.

Thank you for those who have read from the beginning and those who only started as I was finishing.
Thank you to those who have favorited and followed this.
Thank you to those who have commented with questions, encouragement, and were just as excited as I was with the MariPlagg and AdriTikki interactions. Those were my favorite parts about this.
And thank you to those, even long after this is completed, have somehow stumbled upon this story and read it all the way through.
If you want to follow my original work, I'm on Deviant Art at Suicunespurr.
Thank you again!