A/N - I am so sorry for being gone so long. I have been swamped with school and work. The initial break was due to COVID complications in the family. And then I ended up having to play catch up on all my other responsibilities. I am not abandoning this story and I am very sorry for being away so long.


~Adrien~

Adrien hurries into his outfit, taking care to not mess up the designer jeans and shirt. He wants to get dressed as soon as he can so that he can keep an eye on Marinette. After what Ladybug said about his father, he's not confident about leaving him alone with his princess. Although, it's not like his father could or would akumatize people while he's at the photoshoot, but he could always say something that could push Marinette away. He doesn't want that. So he hurries with his clothes and leaves his dressing room before he's even done putting his overshirt back on.

He sighs a breath of relief when he sees his father talking to the photographer. At least he can keep an eye on him. He moves to take a seat in his chair as he waits for Marinette to leave her dressing room. He fidgets in his seat and doesn't notice when a make-up artist makes her way to him.

"Mr. Agreste? Are you ready for your make-up?" The artist asks. She's blonde with brown eyes and looks to be about in her 30's.

Adrien smiles at her, "Oh! Beatrice, call me Adrien, please. Mr. Agreste is my father." He chuckles, "I was just waiting for my…" he pauses, "girlfriend." He smiles, "She should be out soon. I guess you can get my make-up done while I wait." He closes his eyes.

"She's a very pretty girl, Adrien." She says as she begins her work.

Adrien smiles, "She really is."

"Have your fans been giving you too much trouble?" She asks.

Adrien tries to hide his wince, "I don't think they're too happy about our relationship, but we've been managing it pretty well, I think. There was an akuma after us this morning, but we managed to stay hidden while Ladybug and Cat Noir did their thing."

Beatrice sighs and places her make-up brush in her apron, "I'm finished, Adrien." He opens his eyes as she continues to speak, "Can I give you some advice?"

Adrien nods his head, "Of course. You've been my make-up artist for years, Beatrice. You don't have to ask to give me advice."

Beatrice smiles at him, "Don't let your fans ruin your new relationship. I've never seen you this happy at a photoshoot before, Adrien. Not since you were toddling around and I was a mere intern for your father. I saw how you looked at each other at the last photoshoot. That kind of natural chemistry can't be faked. She's good for you. I can see it."

Adrien blushes profusely but manages to stutter out, "T-thank you."

Beatrice smiles warmly at him and turns to see the new model walking towards them. Adrien follows her gaze and his breath catches when he sees Marinette.

The dress is simple, a salmon pink skater dress, and the shoes are nearly identical to his, but Marinette makes the outfit. It fits her perfectly and shows off her surprisingly toned legs. Her hair is styled down with soft waves that accentuate her finer features. Her eyes catch his and she pauses in her stride.

The two stay locked in each other's gazes until Beatrice clears her throat with a smile, Ms. Dupain-Cheng? I'm Beatrice. I'll be your make-up artist today. Please have a seat next to Adrien and we'll begin."

Marinette blushes but does as she's told. Adrien watches in fascination as Beatrice applies subtle make-up to Marinette's already beautiful face.

"I'm only going to add a little bit of natural make-up to bring out some of your features. I'll do my best not to cover up these freckles and change too much of your natural look. You're already very beautiful Ms. Dupain-Cheng. You'll make my job easy for me today." Beatrice says as she gets to work.

Marinette blushes as she responds, "T-thank you. Um. Please call me Marinette."

Beatrice smiles, "Of course, Marinette. I'm just about done. Open your eyes for me and I'll add some light mascara to bring out your eyes."

Marinette does as she's told and Beatrice finishes with her work before saying goodbye to the teens and heading to her station to clean her brushes.

The two sit in an awkward silence before Adrien finally speaks, "You look great, Marinette."

Martinette looks at him with wide eyes and blushes a deep shade of red, "great you too! I mean! You look too great! Ugh! You look great too!" She sighs and offers a small smile, "Thank you, Adrien."

Adrien smiles back, "Thank you, Marinette. Are you ready for this photoshoot?"

Marinette plays with the hem of her skirt as she responds, "I'm a bit nervous." She admits.

Adrien places his hand on top of hers, "You'll do great, Marinette. You were a natural at the last photoshoot, and I'll be right here with you."

Marinette smiles at him and moves her hand to link her fingers with his, a light blush remains on her cheeks, but she responds calmly, "Thank you, Adrien."

Adrien smiles at her and wonders, not for the first time, if this relationship could turn into something real. Could he move on from Ladybug and be with Marinette? With his hand in hers, his thumb rubbing light circles on the back of her hand, he's more sure than ever that he could fall in love with Marinette. If he hasn't fallen already.

His thoughts are interrupted when Vincent calls them to the set to begin. His father stands by the camera as Vincent instructs them in what the theme of the shoot is and how he wants them to pose.

Adrien can't hide the blush on his cheeks as Vincent explains, "This photoshoot is all about new love. It's perfetto for Paris' newest couple." He winks, "I want to see raw passion between you two, but also nervous glances and small smiles. We'll start there to warm up and move into the more passionate poses once Ms. Marinette is comfortable." He looks at her and smiles, "I'm sure you will be perfetta. We will go with the flow on the poses, so please, do what feels natural to you. For this outfit, we'll do sweet and comfortable poses, and for the other outfit, I want to see fire and passion! Perfetto! Let's begin!"

The poses start out simple enough, with Adrien wrapping his arms around Marinette from behind and holding her close. Close enough that he can smell the strawberry shampoo she uses in her hair and the familiar scent of the bakery on her. He smiles softly as they remain in the pose for a few photos. Then they change to have Marinette facing him, with her back to the camera but angled just right so Adrien can be seen smiling down at her with the sweetest smile.

Vincent moves around them to get different angles of the pose while Adrien slowly changes it. He moves a hand to cradle her cheek as she moves her arms up and around his neck. He places his forehead on hers, similar to what he did at the first photoshoot, and closes his eyes. Enjoying the feeling of Marinette being so close. He continues to move his hand up until it's caught in her hair, carefully combing through it and then holding her head close to his own. He can feel her warm breath hitch as he holds her close. He moves his body closer to hers and slowly moves his head closer and closer.

His lips are just a sliver away from hers when he hears a throat clear. Vincent gives him a knowing look as Adrien carefully moves away from Marinette, he doesn't notice Marinette's breathless state as he focuses on calming his own heart.

"Let's keep up with the sweet photos for now, yes?" Vincent says with a smile, "Marinette, I want you to go ahead and remove your cover, I'll take it for now, and Adrien, I want you to slowly place yours over her shoulders and then hold her close." They do as he says. "Yes, yes, perfect! Now, I'll take that shirt too." He places it over his shoulder with Marinette's cover and then directs them into a new pose. "Adrien, I know you do fencing, do you think you can lift Ms. Marinette?" Adrien nods, "Perfect! Marinette, I want you to carefully jump into his arms, like you haven't seen him in weeks and are just so excited to finally hold him again. Adrien, I want you to catch her and hold her off the ground. Imagine the same as Marinette, that you haven't seen each other in weeks and just have to hold one another. I want you to look into each other's eyes and smile as wide as you can while making it believable. Feel free to move the pose around some as you get comfortable."

Adrien and Marinette follow his instructions. They move about the pose naturally. With Adrien slowly letting her down, placing his head on her shoulder as she holds him tightly. They continue with a few new poses before Vincent tells them to take a short break and prepare for the next round of photos in their other outfit. Adrien smiles softly as he watches Marinette make her way to her dressing room. She's been doing great.

He begins to make his way to his own dressing room but pauses as he sees his father waiting for him. He continues towards his dressing room and looks up at his father. The man that might be Hawkmoth. Is biggest enemy.

"Father?" He asks.

"Adrien. I wanted to talk to you about your relationship with Ms. Dupain-Cheng." Gabriel says as he opens the door to Adrien's dressing room and gestures for them both to enter, "It's probably best to do so inside so no one an overhear our conversation."

Adrien swallows the lump in his throat and fights to not touch his miraculous. He follows his father inside and sits in his chair as his father stands imposingly by the door.

"I see that you two have become rather close. Have you changed your mind on keeping your relationship a farce?" Gabriel says.

Adrien blushes, "N-no. We're still friends, father. Marinette is just really easy to work with."

Gabriel hums, "Are you sure about that, son? You two seemed to be pretty cozy out there. You almost kissed her without any prompting from Vincent to do so."

Adrien looks away, "I just. I got caught up in the moment."

"Do you not care for her?" Gabriel asks.

Adrien whips his head back, "Of course I care for her!"

Gabriel remains unfazed, "Then what's the issue, Adrien? It would be better for all of us if this relationship became real. The backlash of a fake relationship could be harmful towards both your reputations if it came out. I expect you both to be careful to not allow the truth to be revealed, but it would be easier if the two of you simply dated for real."

Adrien blushes and rubs the back of his neck, "I don't think she likes me that way."

Gabriel scoffs, Adrien gives him a shocked stare, before Gabriel schools his features once again, "Do you like her that way, Adrien?"

Adrien's face is red like Ladybug's as he opens his mouth to speak, but no words come out. He can't say he doesn't, because really, he does. He cares for marinette so much it hurts. He still loves Ladybug, oh how he loves Ladybug, but Marinette has found a way to bury herself in his heart as well. But he can't give up on Ladybug. He just can't. He knows they're meant to be. They are a perfect match. Ladybug and Cat Noir. Creation and Destruction. But he doesn't even know who she is. He has no idea. And what if his father is Hawkmoth and she learns he's his son? Will Ladybug hate him? She's put her life on the line fighting Hawkmoth over and over again. And he's been living in the same house as him. But she's Ladybug. She wouldn't hate him over the things his father did. And neither would Marinette. IF anyone would remain true to him, it's those two girls.

He sighs, "It's complicated."

Gabriel eyes his son closely and then straightens up, "I suggest you uncomplicate things." He says before leaving Adrien alone.

Adrien slumps back in his chair and takes a moment before he finally gets up to change. How will he ever choose between the two girls that mean the most to him? How could he give up on Ladybug to be with Marinette? And what will he do if he chooses Marinette and she turns him down like Ladybug has before? How can he survive that?