Sleep was something Adrien hadn't even attempted that night. Restless mind and body, still shaken from the events of the evening, he lay in his bed, silently staring at the ceiling, seeing nothing. A few hours had passed - Emma's tears and Marinette's rejection still echoed in his head. As if it hadn't been enough, the thought that just a few hours prior he could've lost his daughter, the daughter he'd just discovered but who'd already meant the world to him, chased the slightest hints of any rest tonight away.

A split second made all the difference. A few moments late, a little slower pace and - Adrien couldn't bring himself even to think what could've happened but even the thought of it scared the living daylights out of him. And then there was Marinette. Her cold, dismissive glare chilled him to the bone. The steel in her voice could rival the best of its kind. The thick walls she immediately erected around herself and Emma would need a little more than a miracle to bring down.

Adrien could understand, though. Once a good friend, now almost a stranger, he came back half a decade later and immediately imposed himself onto Marinette, prying into the most private areas of her life and claiming to be someone she'd been searching for the last six years, in the most of the inappropriate and stressful of the moments- Adrien would've kicked himself out as well. He couldn't blame Marinette. Not in this situation.

But he couldn't stop as well, because there was much more on the table than he was willing to give up without a fight. Adrien had already walked out of Marinette's life once- maybe even twice if he counted his civilian self's failure to maintain contact with her after graduation. He didn't intend on repeating this mistake again and his retreat a few hours prior was just a little sidestep on the way. Lose a battle, win the war they say, right? His withdrawal tonight was just that – a lost battle. The war was still going on.

But everything aside, one more thought wouldn't leave him. Why in the world was Emma in that window in the first place? Or rather how? She was supposed to be asleep. What dreams had she mumbled about? How did she know he was her father? Was that just a wishful thinking on her part or maybe something more? What was going on?

His cell phone's buzzed, bringing Adrien out of his dazzled reverie and confusion. He glanced at the time. Three in the morning. The screen showed a text from Marinette.

[Marinette: I am really sorry for such a late message, but I couldn't sleep before apologizing for my outburst. I am still too shaken to think straight right now, but even as is, I understand that I acted out of line and was undeservingly harsh to you. I am sorry for that.]

Adrien sat up. She wasn't sleeping either. His fingers were hovering above the screen as he was contemplating his answer when it lit up again.

[Marinette: I also wanted to say thank you. Thank you for saving Emma. Thank you for saving my whole world. Thank you for that from the bottom of my heart.]

Adrien's breathing hitched yet he bit his lip and quickly typed.

[Adrien: Can we talk? I need to talk to you.]

Only a few minutes passed until three running dots at the bottom of the screen appeared but it felt like an eternity.

[Marinette: I'm sorry, but I don't think that's a good idea. After today I think it'll be best if you stay away from us. Especially from Emma. Nothing against you personally. I still consider you a friend, but Emma is a naïve child and I don't want her to get any unrealistic ideas and get disappointed afterward.]

Adrien typed as fast as he could.

[Adrien: Please. All I am asking for is one meeting. Just us. Leave Emma at home if you must, but I need to talk to you.]

No matter how many times he pressed the Send button that little Not Delivered under his message wouldn't disappear. Marinette must have either turn her phone off or blocked him altogether.

"She wouldn't," his heart screamed.

"After tonight she might," his mind doubted.

With a heavy sigh, Adrien gave up the battle half an hour later and curled in on himself under his blanket. The messages were still not going through, and any further attempts seemed to be useless. Instead, he should give sleep another chance. Maybe it would be more merciful on him than Marinette.

No such luck. A few hours later Adrien was still twisting and turning around between his sheets, and once the clock stroked seven, he forced himself out of the bed. Today was Nino's big day and complete exhaustion, both mental and physical, on his part didn't mean that Adrien could slack off on his responsibilities. His best friend deserved better.

Having quite a few errands to run before he had to arrive at the venue, Adrien didn't expect Nino to contact him earlier than eleven o'clock, but just a few minutes past ten his phone buzzed. The message was far from friendly.

[Nino: Get your ass over here (Rm. #7 on a second floor), or I swear, I will personally help Alya hunt you down and do whatever awful things she wants to do to you! Make sure no one knows or sees you!]

Adrien held his breath. He wasn't surprised to receive such a message at all. If Marinette slept as little as he did — which he suspected was the case — her appearance alone would give away the fact that something out of the ordinary had happened the day before. The discovery was bound to happen. Timing was the only question and it looked like Nino knew already. Adrien wondered if Alya did as well, and if that would be a Yes, he should probably prioritize his survival a little bit more today. His corpse wouldn't be able to win Marinette over.

Trying not to think about it too much, Adrien left his house and in about twenty minutes was already standing in front of the door number seven on the second floor of the wedding venue. He knocked. Nino opened instantly, looked around the hallway and sharply pulled Adrien inside.

"What the hell, man? What the hell?!" He seemed to be shaking with either rage or confusion. "What did you do?! I-"

Nino's furious whispering was suddenly lost somewhere in the background when in the opposite side of the room Adrien spotted a small, blonde girl sitting at a table drawing with her markers.

"Emma-" he whispered, and for a moment, everything ceased to exist, then something erupted inside of him, tension and tears bursting out of his exhausted body, leaving him entirely blind to anything else but her. There she was. His little princess. His precious daughter.

His Emma.

"Emma!" Adrien called a little louder. This time the girl turned around. Her face stilled for just a second.

"Daddy!" she squealed with joy and jumping out of her chair, ran directly into his open arms.

They met in the middle. Adrien, smiling through his tears fell to his knees just as his little girl was throwing her arms around his neck. He wrapped her in a tight embrace to match hers, a hug tighter than they had ever given anyone else.

"Emma," Adrien continued to whisper. "My Emma. Are you alright? You are not hurt, are you?" He pulled her gently away, twirled her around, checking carefully for injuries, and satisfied with her physical condition, pulled her back to his chest. She wasn't hurt, she was fine. That and her joyful laughter were all that mattered right now.

"Um-" a distantly familiar voice suddenly cut in. "I am sorry to interrupt you right now in a middle of such a heartwarming reunion but what the heck, Adrien?"

Snatched out of such the perfect moment, Adrien looked up at the intruder. Nino was fuming; he could almost see the steam coming out of his ears.

"I thought," he continued. "I thought I was helping you to talk to Marinette and- I don't know, maybe, ask her on a date- flirt a little- get things going- you know, normal stuff. And what do you do? How do you thank me? Marinette is a nervous wreck and looks like she hasn't slept a bit. And Emma- Emma tells everyone right and left that you are her father! What happened, Adrien? What the heck is going on?"

Ignoring his enraged friend for just one more moment, Adrien looked back at Emma and gently kissed her nose.

"I missed you so much, my little bug," he cooed to her with a smile. "But, I am afraid, Uncle Nino and I need to talk now. Why don't you go and finish what you were drawing over there while we do that? Sounds good?"

A cute little pout and a frown graced Emma's face. "Only if you promise to stay here until I finish," she replied. "It's a present for you!"

"Of course, I'll stay," Adrien smiled and lightly pressed his forehead to hers. "Promise."

The girl grinned and ran back to the table while Adrien stood up, preparing to meet whatever Nino was going to throw at him because telling his friend everything was the first step of his brand-new plan. Adrien might not have slept much last night, but he didn't waste a single minute, considering his options and debating elaborate tactics. In the end, there was only one thing he realized - he needed help, preferably from people whom both Marinette and he could trust. If Adrien wanted to win, he required comrades in this battle, and Nino was his first candidate.

Adrien leaned back onto a wall, still watching Emma as he spoke. "I was going to talk to you anyway so might as well do it now. Yesterday-" he paused for a moment, thinking of the right words to say. "Yesterday everything started relatively well, quite amazingly actually. I drove Marinette home. We had a cup of coffee. Emma was sleeping, and everything was moving in the right direction but then—" his voice sank, "—then Emma decided to walk out a window on the second floor-"

"She what?" Nino's face paled in a split second.

"I don't know how it happened," Adrien added. "Honestly. One moment we were in the kitchen talking while she was supposed to be sleeping in her bedroom, and the next thing we know, someone screams and Emma is barely holding onto the second-floor window. Don't ask me why and how. I wonder that myself."

"Damn…" Nino seemed to be having troubles articulating his words now. He nervously scratched his forehead, starting to pace back and forth and finally calmed down enough to speak again. "Well, that might explain why Marinette is so out of it today. But she is Ladybug, even though she is a retired one. She is still more than capable to deal with that kind of stuff. I bet she just swung up there-"

"She didn't," Adrien interrupted, his eyes focused on Nino, waiting for his reaction as he spoke. "I did."

"You?" Surprise and disbelief zoomed across his friend's face. "How?"

"Yes, Uncle Nino." Emma suddenly materialized by his side. "Daddy saved me. Just like in my dream."

"Emma," Adrien looked sternly at her. "I thought we agreed that you were going to draw over there?"

"But I want to tell Uncle Nino how you saved me."

"And you will—" he crouched beside her, "—but some other time. Now we had a deal and if you want me to keep my end of it-"

"Fine," the girl pouted. "But don't leave until I finish."

"I won't if you behave." The corners of his lips twitched in a smile as he bumped her nose with his finger. "Now off you go."

Satisfied, Emma ran off again. Adrien straightened up and met with a silent question in Nino's eyes explained. "I scaled the wall, picked Emma up on the way and got on a roof."

"What are you some kind of-" Nino's smirk vanished, his eyes widening instantly as something clicked in his mind. "Did you say the roof?"

Adrien didn't reply because not even waiting for it, Nino began to panic, resuming his pacing around the room, mumbling something under his breath, and looking like the world had just ended. Adrien stilled. By now, he realized that there was something important related to roofs, Emma, and her father but what exactly he didn't know. At first, it was Nino who let a few words slip when they first met at that park. Then he heard Emma murmur something about her dreams and a roof and him the day before but being too distraught he paid little attention to what exactly she was saying.

"Oh, my gosh! Oh, no!" Nino continued to wail. "Why did you have to get on the roof, Adrien? Couldn't you jump down? To the side? Back into the window? If Alya finds out-" Nino halted and paled. "That's it!" he whispered. "You are a dead man! Dead as dead can be- and me- even deader. Oh, man! Why, Adrien? Why the roof?"

"Nino." Deciding that enough was enough, Adrien walked up to him and taking hold of his shoulders stopped him in his tracks. His eyes focused on the man in front of him. "What is it with roofs and Emma, Nino? Why is that such a big deal?"

The groom who wasn't so sure he was going to survive this day anymore bit into his lower lip hard, looking to the side. His brows knitted in a frown. "You don't know yet?"

Adrien shook his head. Nino sighed and closed his eyes.

"Emma," he started in a little while. "Emma keeps having those strange dreams about how she is sitting on a roof with her daddy who just saved her from something. She said she doesn't remember what he saves her from but she knows that that man is her father."

Taking advantage of Adrien's weakened hold, Nino turned sideways. His fingers fidgeted with the hems of his sleeves as he continued. "Marinette told us that Emma started having them about two years ago. She doesn't have them often, once or twice a year at most, but it's still an issue and a safety hazard because every time Emma tries to climb up on the roof. So far, she's never succeeded in getting all the way up and we thought that it was just a stage and would pass, but it didn't. That little stubborn thing keeps having those dreams, and every time she tries to get on a roof to meet her daddy."

"That's-" Adrien felt his heart tightened, lost for words. His five-year-old daughter wanted to meet him so much, she risked her life for a miserly, almost non-existent chance? He glanced over at her, feeling every nerve in his body tingling with pain.

"That was probably why she was up there," Nino concluded. "She must have had the same dream yesterday, and since Marinette blocked all of the accessible ways to her roof, the smarty pants probably decided to go through her window." The man pinched the bridge of his nose, contemplating on something before exhaling and looking right at his friend.

"That's why she thinks you are her father, Adrien."

"Poor Marinette. I can't even imagine what she is going through right now," Nino whispered a moment later, turning away in exasperation, trying hard not to think about the consequences of this situation. "And Alya- She is so going to kill me. You and me. Both of us. I helped you to get there, and I am so dead for that. No. Really," he whined, hiding his face into his hands. "So dead. We both are goners. The only thing that could save us right now-"

Nino suddenly froze before sharply he turning around.

"Are you Emma's father by any chance?"

Instead of replying out loud, Adrien continued to watch Nino with such determination in his eyes that the man didn't need words to understand his answer. His eyes widened to proportions Adrien had never witnessed before.

"Oh my gosh, Adrien!" Nino's hands that gripped Adrien's shoulders. "You are Emma's father? You were Chat Noir? But how? Why didn't you-"

In an instant, Nino stilled.

Slowly the power of his grip decreased as Nino stared at his friend in shock. A moment later he snatched his arms back as if burned or extremely disgusted; it was hard to judge. He took a step back.

"I am not going to wonder now about why you didn't tell me or how I didn't realize it myself," Nino said when the initial shock subdued. "I just have one question for you, Adrien." His eyes filled with pain, a kind of hurt Adrien had never seen in his friend's eyes before. "Why did you leave Marinette? Wasn't she good enough for you? A baby didn't fit in your glorious future? Did you think her a burden to be ashamed of? What? What was going on in your head?" he almost spat. "And even if- even if you didn't want anything to do with Marinette or her baby- Why couldn't you-" Nino paused, struggling to continue, as his voice overflowed with sorrow and anger. He turned away. "At least- the least you could've done is to tell her who the father was. Maybe then Emma wouldn't try to kill herself every time she looks for you."

Nino's words seized. He couldn't bear to speak anymore, too overwhelmed by the inner turmoil that crushed on him. It ripped, it broke, it hurt, mercilessly destroying one of the best things in Nino's life - his friendship with Adrien. Nino liked Adrien. He really did. The man was still his best friend even though he'd lived across the ocean for years. However, right now, at that very moment, Nino wondered how the heck was he even able to stand in the same room with Adrien?

A quiet whisper "I didn't know" brought him back from his silent rage.

"What the hell do you mean you didn't know?" Nino was about to explode as fury coursed through his veins. "How could you not know such things?"

Adrien tried to keep his voice quiet if only for the sake of the little girl sitting nearby. What he was about to say wasn't something he wanted her to hear. So, he faced Nino and spoke quietly yet sternly.

"I didn't know Ladybug was Marinette. I didn't know she was pregnant, and I didn't leave because I wanted to, Nino. I knew nothing of this. No one told me anything, Nino. This whole mess could've been avoided if only someone didn't keep secrets from me. You could've told me, Nino, but you didn't. Why?" Adrien paused and looked at the other man.

"Hey! Don't make me the guilty one!" that replied. "I couldn't. The girls made me swear I wouldn't say anything to anyone, not even to you, dude."

"I'm not making you guilty," Adrien sighed, closing his eyes. "I just keep thinking about those 'what ifs", keep wishing things would've been different." He paused, pain mirroring on his face before he continued in a whisper, his sight falling to the ground. "Everything could've been different if someone, anyone would just tell me stuff. I would've come back on the next plane. I would have been here for them. I might have even been with them, but- but as it stands - the last time I saw Ladybug I still didn't know who she was and she told me that it was a mistake- That I was a mistake. She said she wished she'd never met me- that I'd ruined her dreams of being with the other man she liked. So I left. Ladybug didn't want me anywhere near her. I was the problem, an obstacle to her happiness. What else was I supposed to do? Do you—" Adrien looked in the eyes of at the man whom he considered to be his best friend, "—do you really think I would've left her if I knew? Do you think I would not keep an eye on her if I at least knew her name? Everything I did I did for her happiness, or at least I thought so."

"Yeah, okay." Nino frowned, crossing his arms over his chest. "So now you are blaming Marinette and us for everything?"

"No, I don't." Adrien shook his head. "I won't lie, I do wish you would've told me, but I cannot blame you for not doing so. Same for me - I wish I would've stayed, but I didn't," Adrien sighed, dropping his head backward, letting his eyes wander around the ceiling. "Now I realize what a self-centred coward I was. A knee jerk reaction to be rivalled with - that what it was, not a noble sacrifice as I thought. I wish someone would've kicked my ass back then, told me that six years ago, but that didn't happen and now we have the mess we have."

"You've got it there, bro," Nino frowned. "A mess indeed."

Adrien leaned on a nearby wall, his forehead landing on its cold surface. "It gets worse, though," he added.

"Oh?" Nino crossed his arms over his chest. "And how could it get any worse? Are you married or something?"

"No," Adrien shrugged. "Never touched or even looked at another woman. Once you are in love with Ladybug," he murmured with the tiniest of a smile on his lips. "You never forget her. It's like a lifelong sentence - either bliss or torture."

About minute both of them stood silently, pounding on their own thoughts. Then Nino asked, "So how does it get worse?"

"Ah," Adrien straightened up. "I might have found out recently that the other man she was in love with, the one she preferred over Chat Noir me-"

"What another man? Nino interrupted. "As far as I know, Marinette had ever only had a crush on you, Adrien- Wait a second-" Nino's jaws dropping down instantly. "Nooooo. Don't tell me she broke up with Chat-you because she was in love with Adrien-you?"

"That's about the scoop of it."

"Pfft," Nino couldn't contain his amusement. The anger, the betrayal that wasn't, it all took a step back in the light of the most ridiculous criss-cross love dilemma Nino had ever heard. "No way, man! That's so awesome—" he cleared his throat, "—bad. I mean horrible. Yes, utterly awful. Horrendous."

He tried to keep it together for a few moments but just a second later a chuckle escaped Nino's lips. "Wait till Alya hears about it," he didn't even pretend anymore. "She is going to flip!"

"Ah, so my messed up personal life is nothing but amusement to you?"

"Nah, man," Nino bro-fisted Adrien's shoulder. "I know it's bad, but even you have to admit that this isn't something you encounter every day."

Adrien only weakly smiled. "No, it's not. Somehow it doesn't make it easier."

"So, what's next, dude?"

"I'll try winning her back." Adrien looked back to Emma, a soft smile trembling at his lips. "A tall order, I know, but I want to try anyway. I still love her, Nino, and now I have Emma as well. They both are everything I want or will ever need." His eyes lingered on the girl for a few moments before he added. "But I messed so badly that I'm not sure Marinette will even want me back. That's why I've told you everything. I need your help, Nino."

"Well, for starters," Nino interrupted. "You've got to tell her the truth."

"That's exactly what I've been trying to do, Nino," Adrien groaned. "Honestly, I thought this would be a little easier than it actually is."

"How hard could it be? Just go and tell her!"

"You'd think so, right?" Adrien ran his palm on his face. "But every time, Nino- Every single time I try to tell her, something just has to happen. Either Marinette escapes in the middle of a conversation or Emma would try to jump out of a window. You choose. I swear, sometimes I even suspect that Marinette's trying to avoid me deliberately! She told me to stay away today. After yesterday's accident, I mean, Marinette straightforward told me to stay away from them. Do you think—" Adrien faced Nino suddenly, "—do you think she hates me? Why else would she say that?"

"Are you crazy, man, or blind?" Nino shook his head in exasperation. "Marinette has never hated you and she never will. If you ask me, I'd say that it's more likely that she hasn't gotten completely over you and just wants to protect herself since you'll be leaving soon again. Don't know about your Chat persona, though, but the way she behaves around you now is a typical I-have-a-crush-on-Adrien-that-I-can't-afford Marinette."

"What?"

"Trust me, dude." Nino petted Adrien's shoulder. "Once you are Marinette and you are in love with Adrien Agreste you never get over it."

A friendly chuckle broke through the final strains of tension, and once that playful spark returned to Nino's eyes, Adrien braved his request.

"You've got to help me, Nino."

"Me?" Nino's made a face and backed away a step. "Man, no. No. Don't even ask something like that. You know I love you, dude, and everything, but no. First, this is something between you two guys. Second, I already tried to help you and do I need to remind you how it ended? Third, Alya's going to kill me-"

"First," Adrien interrupted, his determined eyes focused on Nino. "I tried to do it myself, and it doesn't work. Blame my bad luck or something, but I seem to not be capable of doing it alone. Second—" he raised his arm to silence his friend who was about to protest, "—your help yesterday was priceless and quite appreciated, and actually got me the closest to telling her. Like, literally, seconds away. And finally—" he crossed his arms over his chest, "—would she, Nino? If I know one thing about Alya, it's that she wants Marinette to be happy and Emma to have a father. I can be both of those things. I want to make Marinette happy, and I am Emma's father. Why would Alya kill you for trying to fulfill one of her greatest wishes? I think, quite the opposite - she would help us-"

Nino was about to reply when a beat of one of the latest tunes sounded from his pocket. Pointing his fingers at Adrien to stay in place, he quickly pulled his cell phone out, glanced at the screen and swore under his breath.

"Okay," Nino quickly added. "We have about five minutes left before Mme. Bella arrives to pick up Emma, so let's get back to the reason I called you here in the first place - I need you to make Emma stop calling you her daddy because I don't want Alya to have a full-blown heart attack at the altar or even worse - ditch me there in order to kick your ass. We'll deal with you and this whole mess later, after I get her married to me. Capish?"

"Why did you need me for that-"

"Adrien," Nino sighed. "I love Emma with my whole heart. She is like a daughter to me by now, but to get her to do something so profound I cannot. Not for the lack of desire on my part, believe me, but how am I supposed to make her keep quiet about someone she was searching her whole life for? She is a kid. She doesn't listen to the reason and logic. But you, my dear Adrien—" he pointed his finger towards the man, "—you have a way with her. She listens to you for some reason. Geez." his smirk was full of irony. "I wonder why now?"

"Not funny," Nino frowned when Adrien laughed. "Go get Emma to cooperate - work your magic, Emma's Daddy, and save my wedding. Or marriage. Both actually."

"As you wish, oh noble King of Ninoland!" Adrien bowed down and headed to the table his daughter was still sitting at, fully engrossed in her own thing. A miracle of some sort, he thought on his way. I would've eavesdropped a long time ago. Must be inherited from her mother.

Arriving, Adrien leaned over to see what Emma was drawing, but his little girl quickly covered her drawing with her hands.

"No peeking, Daddy!" she cried out. "I'll call you when I'm done."

Adrien sat in a nearby chair and turned the opposite way. "I am not looking. See? Can I stay here?"

"Okay, you can stay," she agreed. "Just don't look."

"Emma," Adrien asked in a minute. "Can I ask you for a favour?"

"Sure," she hummed. "But first- Ta-da! You can look now. Here, Daddy, see? It's for you!"

Turning around, Adrien didn't see anything spectacular — a smiling girl, offering him a childish drawing — but his heart tightened, breath lost its rhythm, and a smile vanished as his lips parted slightly.

"Is that-"

"It's you and me, and here is Mama too!" Emma happily pointed out a stick figure dressed in a red dress with black hair. The blond stick person in a green t-shirt and black pants was supposed to be him, he reasoned, and a small blond girl in a blue dress in the middle was probably Emma. All three stood together, smiling and holding hands. A huge light pink heart behind them. "We love you, Daddy" written at the top.

"I didn't ask her yet, Daddy—" Adrien suddenly started to distinguish the speech again. "—because she was very sad yesterday and today, but I will ask her later."

"Ask whom what?" he murmured, eyes still glued to that Daddy Emma wrote in unskilled letters.

"Ask Mama if we could keep you and-"

A loud snort followed by a poorly disguised laugh interrupted Emma's speech. Adrien, who couldn't stop a chuckle himself, turned to Nino trying to fake his best judging look. Nino shrugged, sincere, innocent look on his face. "What?"

"I am sorry for him, sweetheart." Adrien turned back to Emma. "Uncle Nino is a little bit weird today. Probably because he is about to be kept himself. By Auntie Alya! So," he cleared his throat. "Do you think your Mama would want to keep me?"

Emma's face brightened. "Oh, yes, Daddy! I really, really think she will! You are a perfect daddy. You are handsome, give presents, and you smell nice, so I am sure mama would want to keep you. But if she won't—" Emma slightly frowned, "—then I'll ask her if I can keep you in my room-"

Another loud snort from Nino echoed through the room. This time Adrien ignored him completely.

"Do you think that maybe I can ask your Mama myself first if she would want to keep me?" Adrien smiled at Emma, tucking one of her loose hair strands behind her ear. "I'll get her a nice present, and maybe she'll like me even better? What do you think?"

"Yes! Yes! Yes!" Emma jumped excitedly. "Mama likes chocolate and kisses! Get her both!"

Adrien's eyebrows crawled up. "Chocolate and kisses?"

"Yes!" Emma beamed. "Mama always says that chocolate is the best cure for everything and every time I kiss her goodnight she says that it was the best thing that happened to her that day. So, if you'd get her chocolate and kisses, she'll love you forever and would want you to live with us!"

"Okay," Adrien chuckled. Emma was his child, and he was biased, but as of now, she was officially the best, most adorable kid on the Earth. "I'll try that." He nodded and quickly added. "But only if you promise me to keep a little secret."

"Oooh! A secret!" Emma squealed. "I love secrets! Okay! I'll keep your secret, and you get Mama to keep you!"

Adrien laughed. The most adorable for sure. "I need you to keep a secret that I am your Daddy until I talk to your Mama. Don't tell anyone, especially Auntie Alya. Deal?"

Emma's face instantly saddened. For a moment it seemed like she was about to cry. It broke his heart.

"You don't like me?" she whispered, looking at her feet. "Did I do something wrong?"

"No, Emma. No." Adrien hurried to shift forward, wrap his arms around the small girl and pull her closer into a hug. He sadly smiled to himself - so eager to please and always looking for the approval of her loved ones. How agonizingly familiar was Emma's behaviour.

"No, of course, not," he whispered into her ear. "How can you even think that, Emma? You are the best little girl I've ever met and don't forget that today, you are also The Coolest Princess who will protect The Wisest Princess Alya from the evil forces. It just couldn't get any better. You are the best. How could I not like you? In fact—" Adrien pulled back a little and caught Emma's sight, "—quite contrary - I like you very, very much. To the Moon- No, to the end of the Galaxy and back. Triple times."

Adrien bopped her nose with a finger and smiled the sincerest way he could. It seemed to reach her heart because the next moment Emma looked happy again, smiling widely herself.

"Promise?"

"I promise," Adrien reassured her but didn't let go completely. "You see, the reason I want you to keep it a secret-"

"Because if you tell anyone, Emma," Nino cut in from behind. "Then it'll spoil our 'Surprise! Adrien is Emma's Daddy!' party!"

In a matter of a few seconds, Emma's face went from confusion to delight. "We're are going to have a party?"

Both men nodded enthusiastically. "Sure. Yeah. A party we will have," they chanted in unison. "Just keep it a secret," Adrien added. "Because what kind of a surprise it would be if everyone already knows that I am your Daddy? No fun, right?"

"Okay," Emma nodded, a grin splitting her lips. "But I want to help."

"Of course," Adrien agreed.

"We'll go to Disneyland for that party, right?" Emma asked.

"Absolutely! No problemo," Nino confirmed. "Disneyland is the perfect place for this party! Right, Emma's Daddy?"

"Without a doubt," Adrien side-glared at his buddy. "Uncle Nino even volunteered to take care of everything himself. You know, like a party planner?"

"We'll talk about that later," Nino fake smiled. "Now we need to go, right, Emma? Mme. Bella is waiting for you downstairs."

"Okay," the girl agreed yet suddenly became a little shy, hiding her hands behind her back and lowering her eyes to the floor, instantly reminding Adrien of Marinette in her school days.

"Um, Daddy," she whispered. "Can you walk with me down the aisle, please? I don't want to mess anything up with my magic flower petals, and I need you to help me."

"Awww, I'd love to," Adrien smiled. "But, unfortunately, I can't. Your magic flowers can protect only princesses, so someone needs to protect the Great King Nino of Ninoland. You'll do just fine, Emma." He gently petted her golden hair. "You've practiced hard, and you'll do amazingly."

The sound of Nino's cell phone split the space once again.

"I'm sorry, Emma," Nino interrupted, glancing at the screen. "But we need to go now."

The girl nodded, stood on her toes, leaned over and planted a kiss on Adrien's cheek. "I love you, Daddy," she smiled, melting Adrien's heart once more.

"Love you too, Emma," he couldn't contain a smile himself.

"We'll talk after the wedding so don't disappear," Nino warned and vanished behind the door, leading his little girl away.

Adrien remained in the room for a few more minutes. Thoughts, concerns, hopes, and a relief in a way, all mixed up in his sleep-deprived mind and a few minutes to clear his head were highly needed. Yesterday had been extremely stressful, but opening up all of his secrets to Nino today was no less nerve-wracking. Adrien also suspected that their conversation after the wedding would undoubtedly feature Alya as well and even the thought alone had Adrien gulp in fear. However, another issue occupied his mind too much to care about his safety at this point - in a couple of minutes, he would encounter Marinette.

Adrien fixed his suit. An involuntary sigh escaped his lips as he opened the door to the mostly empty hallway and headed to the main gallery. Despite all of the events of the past twenty-four hours, he looked decent and even somewhat sharp.

Until he saw Marinette, that is.

Just a few meters away from the entrance to the main hall she appeared to be thoughtfully immersed in a conversation with someone he didn't know. Her lips graced a gently smile. Her outfit was simple, yet it made her look incredible - a jaw-dropping level of incredible where Adrien was concerned. Floor-length blue gown with beautifully arranged designs of Swarovski accents that accentuated her eyes and defined her curves in all the right places. A small bouquet of white roses in her hands contrasted nicely with her dark hair, crowned by an elegant Swarovski pin. Simple yet elegant and tasteful, bringing out her best features exceptionally well.

Rip, Adrien Agreste all over again.

His jaw slacked, the man froze in his place, but in just a few moments Marinette's eyes shifted and Adrien got caught. His face flushed bright red. There might have been a light blush on Marinette's cheeks as well, but it was hard to judge for she turned back to her conversation partner way sooner than Adrien could look closer. Soon, though, to his relief or horror, he didn't know yet, Marinette bid her farewell and headed Adrien's way. Only now, as she walked closer, he noticed the slight puffiness under her eyes and a spider web of red strings in them betraying her sleepless night and exhaustion.

Marinette smiled despite that. "Hi."

"Hi."

For a little while neither of them, both nervous and unsure, said anything and just when Marinette wanted to start Adrien braved his chance.

"Hey." He fidgeted with his fingers safely hidden in his pockets. "I want to apologize for yesterday-"

"No, Adrien," Marinette interrupted. "That's me-"

"Marinette," he stopped her from continuing. "Please. I messed up so badly yesterday I don't even know what to say." Adrien paused for a moment, eyes desperately searching Marinette's face for some kind of a sign he wasn't even sure which. "I'm sorry," he continued shortly. "I crossed all imaginable boundaries yesterday. I should've never pried into your personal life, and I'm very sorry that I did."

"I bet you didn't realize just how messed up I am," Marinette sadly smiled. "I am sorry for exploding on you. I should've had more composure than that."

"You aren't messed up, Marinette," Adrien protested. "You just went through something traumatic and have a rather sensitive area in your life but who doesn't?"

"I know quite a few people-"

"So not the point," Adrien chuckled. "Listen. I want to make it up to you. Can I take you, let's say, out for lunch tomorrow to compensate for the spoiled evening? Any place you want," he rushed to add when Marinette stilled. "Somewhere public of course, so there won't be chances of me misbehaving again. What do you think?"

"Adrien, I don't think that's a good idea."

"Why not?"

"Well, I am sure you are busy, and I don't want to take more of your time-"

"I have the whole day free tomorrow, so that's not a valid excuse."

"Well, then-" Marinette thought hard. "Then-"

"Then there shouldn't be any good reasons not to have lunch with me," Adrien finished for her. "Come on, Marinette. I feel awful for putting you through yesterday's experience. Let me make it right. Please?"

Marinette shifted her weight to the other leg and bit her lower lip. She wanted to refuse. He loved another. He was leaving. Her renewed feelings were doomed and useless. She couldn't do this to herself anymore. But- those green, pleading eyes wouldn't let her reject his offer on the spot. "How about I'll think about it and tell you later?" she finally managed. Later, Adrien would either forget, or she would escape as always.

"Sure," Adrien nodded. "I'll wait."

"Good," she exhaled. "Now I think we better go and make our friends happy and proud today, okay?"

"Let's do this," Adrien smiled and followed Marinette into the main room. Relieved and happy that their fragile relationship miraculously didn't take a turn into the hatred and avoidance zone, Adrien could barely hold back a grin yet he knew that any progression needed to be done extremely cautiously. He'd do his best. Hopefully, his bad luck would leave him alone for once.