Adrien bounded up the front steps to his house, humming a happy tune quietly. After punching in the code and going inside, he paused for a moment at the base of the stairs leading up to his room.

He couldn't believe how well it had gone! And not a single akuma to ruin the day! How lucky had that been?! He wished he could go on with this feeling every day!! Mariette made him feel so alive! So free! Like it didn't matter about his image or what his father would think about his behavior.

How had nobody else before him snatched her up?? Well, I guess people had tried. Evillustrator. Nino that one time. Before Ladybug helped him realize he liked Alya instead. Luka still kind of hung around her. In all honesty, Luka was a great guy, and he was surprised Marinette hadn't ever considered him. There had been others, but they had been so fleeting, were they even worth mentioning?! Ultimately, it had all worked out in his favor.

Marinette was the best thing to happen to him since becoming Chat Noir, and he would NOT let her slip by! With that resolve at the forefront of his mind, he started to head up the stairs, until he heard his father's voice. It acted like a bucket of ice water over his earlier, happier thoughts.

"Adrien? Are you just getting in?" his father asked in disbelief.

Gabriel Agreste had never been one for beating around the bush. Or showing affection. In any way. So it was no surprise that that was the first thing out of his mouth. Not whether or not his son had enjoyed his date.

"Yes Father."

Gabriel seemed to mull over his sons reply, before, "I take it the date went well then." Not a question, but a statement. Like he couldn't imagine any other outcome.

"Yes Father."

Adrien watched his father's brow furrow for a moment, before smoothing it out. If he hadn't been watching, Adrien wasn't sure he'd have caught it.

"Why do you seem so tense Adrien?" his father asked. "was everything not fine??"

Startled by his father's almost seeming to actually care, it took Adrien a few seconds to articulate his thoughts.

"Not at all father," he answered quietly. And then he decided he should be as honest as possible here. "I guess, I mean I assumed, or rather, I thought, you would be mad? At me?"

Gabriel appeared shocked by his sons admission. Good, Adrien thought petilly. This is the way you have made me.

"Why on earth would you think I would be angry with you?!" his father asked in disbelief.

Rubbing the back of his neck, the teen took a few seconds to really look at his father. Was that genuine disbelief? Did his father really NOT know how he made Adrien second guess every decision he ever made, not sure if his father would approve?

"Um... Well..." Adrien fumbled under his father's stare. "I wasn't sure if you'd be mad I was so late. Or not like that I booked the whole day off. Or think Mariette wasn't good enough for me."

The frown was back. "Marinette?" he questioned. "Dupain-Cheng??"

"Yes..." he wasnt sure where this was going. And he wasn't sure if it was a good thing or not.

"The Marinette who won the bowler hat contest a few years back?"

"Yes. And the ball gown contest you had last year."

Adrien wasn't sure what to think about his father's line of questioning. He had an almost calculating look. Hopefully he hadn't started something aweful for Marinette. Should he warn her? Just shoot her a text.

It'd be super simple: hey Marinette, my dad started questioning me when I got home. Not sure if you want to pack a preemptive bag in case the need to run crops up unexpectedly.

Ya, that'd go over well.

"Adrien?" his father calling his name pulled him out of his thoughts.

"Yes Father?"

"Well, what do you think?"

Had his father really still been talking to him?! Jeez.

"I'm sorry Father. I got lost in thought for a moment." he admitted sheepishly.

His father tsked, and shook his head. "I asked when you would be bringing Marinette by to meet me."

"oh, um, " the teen frowned. "It was just one date father. Don't you think it's a bit early for that?"

His father brow arched, and an incredulous look came onto his face. "Don't you like this girl??"

"Of course I do!" Adrien defended, offended.

"And it went well. That is to say, you both really seemed to enjoy it." he continued with his line of reasoning.

"Well yes, of course we- wait, why do you say it like that? 'seemed to'?" had his father - had him FOLLOWED?!?! He couldn't help the look of shock that came over his face.

"Well of course I followed you," his father stated calmly, as if reading his thoughts. "How could I not?! It's the first time you have ever asked to clear your schedule for a whole day for a date." he said 'date' as if there was a hidden meaning to it. But Adrien didn't know where his father was going with that.

"And??"

"And what, Adrien?" His father was clearly getting exasperated.

"If you followed us, then what have you concluded? Did you let the date continue because you deemed her worthy? Was she pretty enough to been seen with me? What exactly was the purpose of following us?!" perhaps he was getting a bit more bent out of shape than he should have. It was his father, after all. What had he really expected?!

Gabriel looked like he was ready to explode. He all but yelled, "To make sure my son was safe! To make sure some girl didn't get it into her head that she could take advantage of my son!! Or had it not occurred to you that being a man does not make you exempt from rape?!"

His father's face was flushed by the end. Adrien had never seen his father speak so passionately about something that wasn't his designs. It just went to show that deep down, perhaps deeper down than one would assume, his father really did love him. He had wondered, over the years. How could he not?! He hardly ever spoke to his son, let alone had conversations like this.

It was heartwarming to see his father worry about him. And not stoically worry about him. But show actual emotions! He hadn't been certain his father had any!

"I love you too, father." Adrien stated with a smile.

Gabriel blinked.

"Well of course I love you, your my son!"

"Be that as it may, you don't always express it well."

It took Gabriel a moment to put himself back together. But before Adrien knew it, the same old impassive, unflappable Gabriel of old was back.

"Invite Marinette round for dinner sometime this week. Whenever is convenient for her. Then let Natalie know. She will clear my schedule for that evening." That being said, he turned and walked back into his office, undoubtedly to continue working.

Plagg peeked his head out from his shirt collar and almost as if he could read Adriens mind, stated, " Well that was wierd."

Xoxoxxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

Adrien-- my father would like to invite you to dinner whenever your free this week.

Marinette-- uh oh. That doesn't sound good

Adrien- I know, I'm so sorry. I thought I was hearing things. He even said Natalie would clear his evening on the day you choose!

Marinette-- is your dad feeling alright? Did you send for a doctor?

Adrien-- I had questioned his sanity briefly. But, apparently, he loves me? And wants me to be happy? And make sure your not going to rape me?

Marinette- are you asking me or telling me?? Because it doesn't sound like your certain.

Adrien- I'm really not. It's beyond confusing

Marinette-- well, Im free Thursday, if that works?

Adrien-- Natalie says I have Chinese lessons that day.

Adrien-- father told Natalie to cancel Chinese lessons...

Adrien-- alright, who is this man and who has replaced my father?! And how do I make sure they never switch back??!

Marinette-- LOL!! Your too funny Adrien!

Marinette-- I'll see you at school Monday?

Adrien-- you can count on it.

Marinette-- Adrien?

Adrien-- yes, Marinette?

Marinette-- I hope this doesn't come off too forward. Or you aren't super old fashioned or anything but, do you want to be my boyfriend?

Adrien-- O!!

Adrien-- YES!!

Adrien-- double YES!!

Marinette- good. Because when you didn't ask me, I thought maybe you didn't want to be? Didn't like me like that? Or whatever.

Adrien-- O! No! I was going to ask you on our next date. i didnt want to ask on the first one in case you didnt have a good time.

Adrien- I wasn't sure YOU liked me like that!

Marinette-- pfft, as if! Who could say no to you?!

Adrien-- you really know how to make a guy feel good about himself

Marinette-- fuck off Adrien. Your a model. You know your good looking. And girls literally throw themselves at you.

Adrien-- but none of those girls were you

Marinette-- flatterer

Marinette- keep it coming. Men don't throw themselves at me. I don't know if I'm a good catch or not

Adrien- well then I'll just have to convince you otherwise

Xoxoxxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

"Oh my god, Alya, his dad asked me over for dinner. AND said he would have the whole evening free!"

Marinette was panicking, while her best friend sat on the chaise, taking in how her friend was flitting from one part of her room to the next, looking super busy and rushed, but not actually seeming to accomplish anything. It was wednesday, and tomorrow was the big day. And Marinette apparently had nothing to wear, for said big day.

Which is what found Alya currently sitting in her friends room. Alya hadnt even been given the chance to comment on any of the options Marinette presented, before they were discarded, for one reason or another. Honestly, she wasnt even sure why she was needed. But that was Marinette for you. Anything even remotely related to Adrien sent her into a panick. It was why it had taken her years to be able to speak to him like a human being! And Adrien, bless his heart, hadnt ever gotten frustrated with her, or made fun of her in any way. It must have been slightly endearing, since he had, out of the blue, asked out her scatterbrained friend.

Finally, after watching Marinette discard the eleventh outfit -which had looked super cute- for no apparent reason, Alya couldn't sit silent anymore.

"Marinette!!" she finally yelled! And only when her friend ceased moving and was staring at her did she continue. "Girl, you have got to calm down!!"

With a blush and a frown, Marinette argued, "I can't calm down! The dinner is tomorrow, and I have nothing to wear!"

With a roll of her eyes, Alya paried, "Really?! Nothing, Marinette?!"

Marinette's blush grew.

"Ok, maybe not nothing, but certainly nothing that would impress Gabriel Agreste and not make me look like a total loser next to Adrien!"

"Girl, Adrien would love anythjng you showed up in! And if Mr Agreste is too stuffy to see actual talent when its standjng right in front of him, then the dude can go such a lemon!" Alya heatedly shot back!

Nobody worth anything could miss the raw talent her best friend had! And Alya would gladly punch anyone who said otherwise!

"Its not that simple. I want him to like me!!"

With that, Marinette flopped down onto the floor on her back, arms spread out wide in dejection.

"This dinner is sooo important to me! And Adrien can say he would still like me even if his father didnt approve, but I don't want him to have to choose! Thats his dad!!"

With a thoughtful look on her face, taking in all Marinette had just said, she couldn't fault the girls selflessness. Who else could love someone, want to be with that person for years, and when she finally had the chance, worried how his dad would react?! Her friend tended to go overboard alot, but sometimes, the root of it all was a valid worry.

Getting onto the floor and sitting beside her friend with her legs crossed, Alya rested her chin on a hand that was perched on her knee.

"Mari?"

When her friend looked at her, she continued.

"Your a great designer. And a great friend. And even though its been like 4 days, youll make a great girlfriend. Just be yourself, and wear something that reflects you!" Marinette scrunched up her nose at that, but Alya continued anyway. "You may not want to make Adrien choose, but if his dad is being unreasonable, can you really blame him? Your great Mari, and he has finally noticed! Dont lose this chance!!"

With a heavy sigh, the distraught teen closed her eyes for a few seconds. When she opened them again, there was a light of determination there.

"Your right Alya!"

"Of course I am."

"I am going to be the best girlfriend in the world! "

And with that, Marinette got up and walked back to rifle through her closet with a renewed purpose.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoox

Adrien- are you doing ok? not freaking out too much?

Marinette- what are you talking about?! im cool as a cumcumber

Adrien- uh huh. absolutely.

Marinette- best girlfriend ever. wink

Adrien- did you just say wink??

Marinette- shut up. im barely keeping it together here. dont push it.

Adrien- wouldnt dream of it

Adrien- is it ok if I swing by around 4 to pick you up? dinner isnt til 5:30, but i want to be able to see you too. a bit before, and a bit after! and ill have you home by 9.

Adrien- be sure to reassure your parents of that

Marinette- that all sounds great!

Marinette- and im sure they werent worried, but ill still pass it on.

Adrien- : )