"-imph"

Chat was cut off by the feel of Marinette's lips crashing into his.

The seasoned designer turned around to enquire at the noise, only to abruptly turn back to face a giddy looking Tikki, swooning at the two teenagers in their company. Gabriel's cheeks warmed, and he could not help but be very happy that his son had Marinette. A person who he had greatly misjudged on the word of a nasty, manipulative teenager. Gabriel kicked himself, but if events had not panned out how they had, he would not have gotten to witness just how much she thought of his son.

'Every cloud has a silver lining.' Gabriel thought reflectively to himself. 'Even if Adrien doesn't forgive me straight away, I know he has someone who genuinely cares for him.'

Initially Chat stiffened at the contact but soon relaxed into Marinette's touch, bringing one hand to hold her nape while hers held his muscular back. She broke away from him, exposing him to a radiant blush adorning her pale skin.

She bit her lip, bashful at her own action, nervously she glanced to the floor, before looking back up into his adoring gaze. "It doesn't matter who is under there… I... just wanted to let you know." She bit her lip nervously as she stepped away to give him space.

Chat smiled broadly, his chest filled with love for his lady next to him. His heart beat wildly in his throat as he prepared to unmask himself, knowing that Marinette, his Princess, loved him no matter what.

"Claws in"

No matter what the fallout would be for confirming his father's obvious conclusion, Adrien was ready. He was ready to demand answers from his father, he was ready to trust Marinette, she was doing this for him. She loved him. Whatever crazy reason his father had been doing this for could be worked out, his lady's plans, always worked out.

As the green flash which illuminated the room ebbed, Adrien watched Marinette's face move from bashful, to awestruck, and finally, surprise. Her big blue eyes connecting with his shining green orbs. The amount of adoration, appreciation and love he tried to portray in his gaze did not feel like enough to convey exactly how he felt. But the arms which he found holding tightly around his torso told him he possibly got the message across.

With Marinette's face buried in his shirt, and his father still giving them some sort of privacy, he rested his chin on the top of her head and held her just as tightly. A contented smile resting on his face.

"Cheese, now, before I lose my cool and daddy dearest over there doesn't get to tell us why he's been such an ass."

The scathing way Plagg spoke about Gabriel, made the designer visibly wince.

"Plagg!" A tiny red being excitedly collided with his unenthusiastic form. The intertwined Kwami flew toward the window and Marinette's giggle at their antics resignated in Adrien's mind like a sweet melody.

"They're cute," Marinette commented, wiping her face before her watery eyes looked up at the blonde. The smile indicated they were happy tears and Adrien knew they would be having that conversation where they could actually have some privacy.

"Talk later?" He smiled down at her adorably happy face. Marinette nodded as she composed herself for what was coming next. The two teenagers held onto each other as they turned to face Gabriel.

The seasoned designer was heading behind his desk, when a humongous crash of what sounded like boxes and rustling plastic, followed by a choice curse word, could be heard outside of Gabriel's office. The teenagers watched him as he hurriedly made his way to the door.

"What on earth?" The seasoned designer rushed with curiosity to open the door only a crack to see what was going on outside.

His eyes landed on a crumpled Nathalie, lying among a dozen pink boxes, some cookies which had fallen out and a broken plastic bag, a wheel of Camembert rolling casually away before settling several feet from her.

"Nathalie? What-"

The disgruntled assistant gestured to the broken heel on her shoe before removing her heels and Gabriel knew exactly what had happened. Hurrying to help her up off the floor, Gabriel left the door to swing open slightly, Marinette went to help, but Adrien held her closer.

Adrien's eyes narrowed while he watched his father's assistant. Not letting Marinette go, he was piecing together Nathalie, Hawkmoth and how she would do anything for his father. 'Mayura...'

"...I don't need to know why you need these, but can you just explain-Adrien?" Nathalie looked confusedly to the blonde holding onto Marinette, "Lila has just informed Gorilla that you have been with her today, after you disappeared. Your father has been sick with worry."

"Nathalie," Gabriel warned her gently, "thank you for bringing these to me, if you want to-"

"I'm sorry Sir, but there are too many dangers out there for him to-"

"Like Hawkmoth and Mayura?" The blonde raised his eyebrows expectantly.

Nathalie stared at the young man who stood tall. While using his body to shield Marinette slightly, he ignored his father's warning glare and continued:

"They are the biggest dangers out there aren't they." He said with indifference. "And they haven't been active today so it looks like Hawkmoth has met with Multimouse, doesn't it."

Nathalie narrowed her eyes with calculation, "yes~ it does." The death glare she sent Gabriel spoke volumes.

"So we needn't worry, had we?" His stoic demeanour showed just how much like his father Adrien could be, Marinette felt uneasy as the tension rose. She gripped his bicep and he leant into her, silently communicating that they were in this together.

"Would anyone care to help?" Nathalie looked at the teenagers coolly before bending down and picking up the boxes.

Gabriel bent down to her level, "Nathalie, go and get some new shoes, I can do this."

The assistant had a strained expression on her face before picking up her shoes and walking off. Gabriel continued to pick the items up while Adrien and Marientte came over to assist. No words were exchanged as they brought the items into the office. Gabriel immediately held out one of the five Camembert wheels to his son.

"Feed your Kwami, I don't fancy being blown to smithereens before we can at least talk."

Adrien cautiously took the peace offering from his father and gave his tiny Kwami a chunk.

"Leave it there kid," Plagg gestured to the rest of the wheel still in Adrien's hand, "this is the good stuff, maybe I can eat this while he explains why he was such an ass." The black Kwami was joined in the window sill by Tikki, who was happily starting on a new box of treats.

The Goddess of Creation tutted teasingly while Adrien smiled fondly at his glutinous Kwami. The blonde turned to take Marinette's hand once again while Gabriel walked behind his desk. The teenagers watched as Adrien's father stood in front of the portrait of his mother, and were both fascinated when he pressed the buttons and gestured for them to come toward him.

"It would be better if I showed you son."

Thank you to Nov1Z and her review, I originally had a different start planned for this chapter, but after thinking it through, a nice bit of fluff never goes amiss!

Thank you for the reviews, follows and faves =] I really enjoy seeing the pop up in my emails. I get a warm fuzzy feeling every time so thank you!

Take it easy, and until next time, take care of yourselves!

Lady Rhi X