Day 26: It's really hard to come up with chapter titles every day. Protection.

Adrien felt great. He felt like he could move mountains, jump over the highest trees and fight easily the strongest Akuma. Adrien felt unbeatable. The world was great, his life was great. He was in love.

Quickening his step, he hurried back home, entering through the front door, hoping, no one had noticed his absence that night. The first few nights, he had informed Nathalie, but quickly found this to be an unnecessary waste of time. Nathalie always asked when he would be back and what he wanted to do with Marinette. But most of the time, he simply wanted to see Marinette and sometimes, he just wanted to lie next to her, watching her sleep. He did not want an exact date and time.

So he simply went, not caring to tell her. She would guess where he was anyway. And she has his cellphone number, so why should he bother to inform her?

Skipping up the steps, he yawned and just wanted to head into his room to change into some new clothes, but then, someone stopped him.

The voice of his father echoed around the great hall. "Adrien."

It was no question, no greeting. A statement.

Grinning bashfully, Adrien turned around on the step he was standing on, facing his father. "Good morning, father, how are you?"

"I'm fine and I see you are as well. That are great news. When I found you were missing, and Nathalie had no clue where you had been, I were worried." His words said concerned parent, his voice and posture were stating mock and sarcasm. His father's way of telling him he had done something Gabriel was not approving of.

"Eh, I'm sorry, I assumed-" Adrien began, but his father cut him off.

"Don't assume, Adrien. How many times have I told you that assumption is something that can go wrong. Do something Adrien. Don't assume."

"Yes, father," Adrien murmured, letting his gaze fall to the ground, already knowing the lecture.

"Where were you?"

"At Marinette's. We worked on some costumes, she's sewing for friends and finished with a movie night. I fell asleep on her couch," he explained truthfully. Except of that couch part. It had been her bed, but even Adrien realized how bad that would sound.

"How serious are you with Mademoiselle Marinette?" his father suddenly asked and Adrien's gaze slipped back up, meeting the eyes of his father.

To this question existed only one answer. "I never felt more serious, father."

Silence stretched between them, where Adrien simply held his father's stern gaze. Adrien needed to tell him that he indeed was serious. Marinette was his Lady, the love of his life. His soulmate, he dared to say.

Gabriel eventually sighed and nodded, turning around to head down the stairs. "Please, remember to tell Nathalie when you are elsewhere."

"Yes, father," Adrien murmured, stunned. His overprotective father, who needed years to let him attend a public school just allowed him to... sleep at his girlfriend's house? Aliens must have kidnapped the man he called father and replaced him with one of their kind. That was the only possible explanation.

"And Adrien?" Gabriel said, turning back at the base of the steps, looking up at him. "Use protection, I don't want grandchildren yet."

Flushing red, he stammered something when his father turned around and walked to the office, leaving Adrien standing in the hall, as red as a tomato.

:

"What happened with you?" Marinette asked with a giggle when he slumped next to her on her bed. She was sketching their own costumes for the party with Nino and Alya's done.

"My father," he groaned and snaked his arms around her waist, burying his face into her soft skin.

"What did he do?" she laughed and put her sketchbook aside.

Frowning, Adrien thought whether he should tell her. "He allowed me to sleep here whenever I want," he began. Even if he could not understand whether this was the good or the bad part.

"That's great," Marinette giggled. "Highly unlikely, but great."

"Then he told me to use 'protection'," Adrien simply stated, expecting the incoming silence. But what he had not seen coming, was Marinette's response.

"I'm on birth-control anyways."

Adrien did not know what to say, his throat felt dry.