Marinette donned once again the cream and lace dress. She really needed to finish some of those other vintage style dresses she had been working on so she wasn't always in the same dress, but she didn't have anything else on hand they wouldn't look conspicuous. Heading down into the tall trees before opening the pocket watch, Marinette thought it better not to suddenly appear in the house. It was just as well that she had because in the garden she saw a young man with long red hair tied back sitting in front of an easel. He was focusing on the beautiful rose bed that was in full bloom and judging by the amount of work on the canvas, had been there for some time. Sitting at a nearby table and chairs was Nino and Alya with a few drinks.

Stopping to stretch his arm, the artist caught in the corner of his eye the beautiful dark haired woman walking up the pathway. "Hello." He called out, wiping down his hands on a cloth. "I would offer my hand to shake, but I would hate to get paint on your dress."

"It's alright." Marinette smiled, waving to Alya and Nino as well who greeted her in return. She stopped by the easel to admire the artwork. "It's beautiful."

"So are you, if you don't mind me saying." He replied a little shyly. Marinette was sure she was blushing from her ears to her toes. "Don't worry, I don't mean it as a pick up line." He chuckled. "I usually paint portraits so I know a beautiful face when I see one, but I haven't done a gardenscape for a while so I'm a little rusty. I'm Nathaniel by the way. If you don't already know I'm the hermit that lives in Adrien's attic." Nathaniel then regarded her for a moment ignoring Alya and Nino making jokes about his living quarters. "I don't mean to be presumptuous, but would you permit me to sketch you?"

Marinette nodded and he reached down into a suitcase beside him and took out a large sketch book and a pencil. Marinette felt a little self conscious as the artist studied her features and began to move his hand across the page.

Alya stood up and came over beside Marinette as Nathaniel continued with his sketch. "So Marinette, Adrien says you recently moved into the area?"

Marinette was caught a little off guard by the question. "Oh, um… yes." She replied, but Alya was undeterred by Marinette's apparent nervousness.

"It must not be far. I mean at least within walking distance I didn't see you bring a horse or buggy."

"N… no, it's not far." Marinette stuttered. "Just around the lake." She started to become worried where this was going when mercifully Nino stepped in.

"Honey, Marinette isn't your latest news story. You'll have to forgive her, sometimes she forgets to turn reporter mode off."

Alya rolled her eyes at her husband before turning back to Marinette. "Don't mind me. I can't help but be inquisitive. This brain works overtime."

"You know." Nino said standing up, "Alya here was the first female reporter in town." It was clear as he put an arm around his wife how proud of her he was.

"Yep." Alya nodded proudly. "But I don't intend to be stuck as just the housewives handy help column. Nope, I'm determined to make the newsstands in Paris. One day women will be on the front page with real hard hitting news stories, you mark my word!"

Alya held her finger up with a confident nod of the head.

"I'm sure they will." Marinette smiled. If only Alya knew what the future held.

"Hold that there." Nathaniel called out. "Smile just like that." Excitedly, he continued to sketch and Nino and Alya poured some more drinks.

A little while later, a voice came from the porch. "I think you're missing something."

Marinette looked up to see Adrien standing there holding the wide brimmed hat that she had lost that day he saw her at the lake. That now familiar flutter began in her chest again. Whatever Adrien had been doing must have been hard work, but despite his disheveled appearance, he was still as dashing as ever. Marinette hadn't realised before that his hair was longer than she originally thought, but it was more evident now that it was falling out of the ribbon meant to hold it back.

Before she knew it, he was in front of her, that sunshine smile on his face. "I'm glad you came back. I'm sorry if I said something the other day that offended you…"

"No, it was entirely my own fault." Marinette rushed to reassure him, feeling stupid all over again for running off. "I… um… it's just that…"

"It's alright, you don't need to justify yourself to me." Adrien said kindly. "I'm sure you had your reasons, but you're here now and I'm happy to see you."

Adrien reached up and placed the hat on her head, adjusting it slightly so you could see her face and eyes. His hand brushed against her cheek, pushing aside her hair to show all her face. Marinette felt like she was becoming caught up in his gaze again, those emerald eyes like magnets pulling her in.

"Looks like Kaalki was giving you trouble again." Nathaniel chuckled, pointing to Adrien's messed up hair. The blond laughed, taking his hair ribbon out so he could retire it up. Marinette didn't need a hat, she really needed a fan!

"He's fast, I'll give him that, but he's impatient and doesn't take direction too well." Adrien said with his ribbon between his teeth as he pulled his hair back. "Nino thinks we should put Félix off taking him just yet until he settles down a bit more, but I'm not sure he's going to want to wait when he sees him at full stride."

Nino held up a glass from where he was sitting at the table. "I doubt your cousin would want his jockey's being thrown. Unless you suddenly want a new profession and somehow knock a foot off your height, Kaalki won't let anyone else ride him."

"Well, we will just have to work more on him then." Adrien took the glass and clinked it with Nino's. Nathaniel was still sketching Marientte when a grand looking carriage made its way up the dirt road.

"Yoohoo!" A blond woman called out, stepping from the carriage as it came to a stop. "Help my friend out Jean Claude, she hurt herself getting out of the carriage last time. Oh Nathaniel you naughty boy, why didn't you tell me you were back in town…"

Not taking a breath, she promptly kissed each person on the cheek before stopping at Marinette. "I don't believe we have met. Chloé Bourgeois. I'm sure you will be pleased to make my acquaintance."

Chloé held out her hand expectantly and Marinette quickly shook it as Chloé continued to prattle about the weather and how it was too hot.

A moment later a brunette came to join them. "Hello everyone. It's been a long time."

In an instant Marinette saw Adrien's face completely change from one of amusement at Chloé to almost total contempt. "What are you doing here Lila?" He practically hissed at her.

The brunette simply smirked at him. "Why Adrien, that's no way to treat an old friend." She said, trying to get close enough to kiss him. Adrien turned his head so it landed on his cheek. It was all he could do to resist the urge to rub it off. Lila was unperturbed wrapping her arms around Nathaniel who had stood up.

"You're happy to see me back, aren't you Nate? I am your favourite model after all."

"Sure Lila." He half smiled. "How was America?"

"Amazing." Lila waved dramatically. "Of course I was the guest of honor at the president's ball when we went to the White House, and I was simply inundated with dashing American military men is their handsome uniforms wanting to fill my dance card, but I missed Paris and I missed being here with you all but I did get to meet some interesting people…"

Marinette zoned out of what Lila was saying when she heard Adrian and Chloé in low voices behind her. "What did you bring her here for?" Adrien said harshly. "You know what she's up to."

"What was I supposed to say?" Chloé retorted. "She knew Nate was back and she's practically the only girl around here willing to take her clothes off and model for him."

"You know that's not why she came here. You could have at least warned me."

"So you could go and hide? Not a chance Adrikins. I hardly see you anymore. Kagami might have died, but you didn't. You can't stay cooped up in that damn stable. I know you've been sleeping down there at night, Nate told me. It's about time you started to live your life again and find someone else."

"I think that's my business, not yours." Adrien growled. "And I can assure you, it won't be with Miss Rossi."

Alya suddenly grabbed Marinette by the arm. "We seem to have quite the party here, want to help me get some sandwiches?"

Marinette nodded and followed Alya into the house and around to the kitchen. She stopped on the way to look at the picture on top of the piano, the one she had seen the other night.

"That's Adrien's parents." Alya volunteered at Marinette's curiosity. "Adrien never was that close to his father. He was a hard man where Adrien was more like his mother. When Emilie passed away they say Gabriel never recovered. The business started to decline until he signed a deal with Tomoe Tsurugi which saved it. He died too a few years later, broken heart apparently. Nino and Nathaniel were so worried the same would happen to Adrien when Kagami was killed. He's had too many losses in his life."

Alya turned to the kitchen and Marinette followed her. Taking out bread they began to make some sandwiches. Marinette took out a bread knife and grabbed some plates.

"You certainly know your way around the kitchen." Alya quipped. Marinette tried to ignore her rising panic. This could be a bad idea being stuck alone with a reporter.

"I guess all kitchens are kind of the same." She said, thinking of ways to deflect. "So… Adrien and Kagami were together for a long time?"

"Depends on your definition of being together. They were pretty much promised to each other as kids."

Marinette was trying not to let her mouth fall open. She had to remind herself that this was 1899 and not 1975. "Oh I see."

"Yeah, rich families right? The Tsurugis were champion horse breeders in Japan and went into partnership with the Agrestes who were horse trainers and sellers. Match made in heaven most thought, or at least on the turf track. When Gabriel signed the company over to Tsurugi Adrien was promised his share upon his marriage. Adrien and Kagami were best friends, but if you asked me, there was no passion there. They didn't look at each other the way you should when you're about to get married." Alya then stopped slicing the tomatoes on her cutting board. "I never saw him look at her the way was looking at you just now."

Marinette could feel her cheeks heating up. "I'm sure I don't know what you mean." She said, trying to busy herself with the lettuce and cheese.

Alya laughed and shook her head. "I think you do, girl. A man can't be looking at a woman like that and she doesn't notice."

Marinette could feel her face starting to flush again and Alya chuckled to herself as she continued to assemble the sandwiches. Of course Marinette had noticed, how could she not. Everytime Adrien looked at her her heart was betraying her, but he mind kept reminding her that she belonged to someone else in another time. She was here for a reason and she couldn't be getting distracted by the handsome owner of the house. His life is at stake. Judging from her knowledge of the Agrestes, Alya seemed like the kind of person who would know a lot about everyone, so maybe she was the best place to start.

"So tell me about Chloé? She seems a little full on, but her and Adrien seem close."

"If you're worried about her as competition you've got nothing to worry about with Chloé, she's got her eyes on Adrien's cousin Félix. You haven't met him yet have you?" Marinette shook her head. "He's English and the image of Adrien, although his cold mannerisms leave a lot to be desired. Honestly, I don't know what she sees in him. I have to say though, I'm a little surprised at her bringing Lila here like that."

"Why?"

"Lila's been after Adrien for years, but he's never been interested. Why do you think she's willing to pose nude for Nate?"

At first Marinette wasn't sure what she meant, then it dawned on her. "Oh." Marinette said with wide eyes. So Lila was doing nudes in the hopes of Adrien seeing her naked in the house. That really was desperate.

"Exactly. Now she thinks with Kagami gone she stands more of a chance with him. Poor Nate, she's really going to be pestering him now."

When Alya and Marinette returned outside with the plates Chloé had spread out a picnic blanket with some bottles of wine and a variety of pastries. Adrien had made a point of sitting next to Marinette on the blanket, something she knew Alya had noticed with a smirk on her face.

"Care for some macarons?" Adrien asked, offering Marinette the plate. She took one, looking at it for a moment, memories flooding her mind. She inadvertently let out a little sign. "Is something wrong?" Adrien asked.

Marinette looked up into his soft, concerned eyes. "I was just remembering my father. Macarons were one of his specialties at the bakery and it was one of the first things he taught me to make. Chocolate, strawberry, vanilla… but his signature macaron was passionfruit. People came for miles for his passionfruit macarons."

"Really? I love passionfruit. So did my mother actually. My father not so much. He wasn't exactly into sweet stuff."

There was something in the way Adrien spoke that made Marinette think that he meant more than just his father's taste in food, especially after what Alya had said earlier. That sadness she has seen that day she watched him down at the lake glittering across his face. "I can make you some, if you like." She offered him. Adrien's face lit up and he placed his hand on top of hers on the blanket.

"I'd love to try one of your macarons. I'm sure they are delicious."

Marinette felt like her whole hand was tingling. She had to turn her head away from his eyes, biting into the marcaron. Just her luck the damn thing crumbled and crumbs went all over her. "Ugh, I'm such a clutz."

She whined, grabbing a serviette and wiping herself down. Adrien started to softly chuckle at her and she gave him a playful stink eye.

"You sush, or I won't bring you any macarons."

"But you're so cute when you blush like that." He said, completely disarming her when he brushed a few crumbs from her cheek. "It really brings out your freckles."

Before Marinette had a chance to think too much about it, Plagg decided to match his way across the picnic blanket and right over the top of Marinette's plate of food, knocking off her sandwich. "Plagg you sod, get off." Adrien scolded, but the black cat simply meowed at him before turning around with his tail in the air and rubbing his face against Marinette's hand.

"Oh I see how it is." Adrien smirked. "You give me the butt and lavish your affections on Marinette. Little traitor."

"He's adorable." Marinette said, picking Plagg up and putting him on her lap. Plagg purred as she scratched him behind the ear.

"You know, he isn't usually that friendly with people. I guess he made an exception for you."

A moment later Plagg scattered when Chloé practically threw herself into Adrien's lap, wrapping her arms around his neck. "Don't you think that's a marvelous idea, Adrikins?"

Adrien looked at her blankly. "And what marvelous idea is that exactly?"

"Weren't you listening? I'm organising a riding expedition around the lake next week. Isn't that fun? We can go to the lookout."

Adrien raised an eyebrow at Chloé who was playing innocent. "Félix is coming next week isn't he? You don't even like riding. Last time you said, and let me paraphrase, riding is lame, utterly lame."

Chloé scrunched up her face at Adrien's impersonation of her. "I don't sound anything like that, and I've been having lessons, thank you very much. If I'm going to be the future wife to the owner of the finest stables in London, then I at least need to look the part."

Adrien shook his head as he pushed Chloé off him and stood up. "You know Félix already likes you don't you? I don't know why you two keep up this game of hard to get."

Chloé flicked her hair and tapped him on the nose with her fan. "So he should, but that doesn't mean I can't play hard to get right? Where would be the fun in that?" She said with a wink. "I do hope you will join us, Marinette."

Chloé bounded over to Nathaniel who was trying to show Nino how to paint one of the trees. 'Trying' being the optimum word. Marinette then looked at Adrien with panic. "Maybe I better not come. I don't know how to ride. I might fall off and embarrass myself."

"It wouldn't be the same if you didn't come. Don't worry, I can teach you between now and then. Chloé isn't a very confident rider so it won't be anything too adventurous." He said, holding out his hand to her to help her up. Marinette hadn't realised her foot had fallen asleep while sitting and she stumbled forward. Adrien instinctively put his hand on her hip to stabilise her, his other hand pulling her closer to his chest.

"Careful." He said in a low voice. "Wouldn't want you to fall yet."

"Ahhhh!!!! Adrikins get your stupid cat!" Chloé screeched. Adrien turned to find that Plagg had tried to perch up on the top of Nathaniel's easel, knocking off bottles of paint in the process.

"Plagg stop that." Nathaniel said, picking up the cat and holding him with arm outstretched.

"Look he has paint on his paws." Nino pointed out.

Plagg squirmed and screeched causing Nathaniel to drop him. Plagg then walked his painted paws across the rose garden painting Nathaniel had been working on.

"See, even the cat thought that one was terrible." Nathaniel lamented, Nino patting his shoulder in commiseration.

"Plagg!" Adrien called out. "Bad Kitty. Now you'll have to have a bath."

"He's destructive isn't he?" Marinette mused at the commotion the black cat had caused.

"I think destruction is his middle name." Adrien replied. "I've had him forever though, and I couldn't bear to part with him, even if he drives me crazy at times."

As he spoke, Adrien became aware of the fact that he was still holding Marinette to him. Her face was hidden under her hat, and he wanted nothing more than to lift her head up and look into those bluebell eyes. Something in him had stirred since the day he first talked to her, a feeling he had never felt before and he was reluctant to let her go.

Marinette didn't look up at him, even though she knew he was looking at her. This was too close and her heart was beating too fast. She was getting too close to him and that could be dangerous. She didn't understand much about time, but she'd inserted herself into this timeline and the repercussions of that she wasn't sure of. Marinette then became aware of a pair of olive eyes watching her, making her feel decidedly uncomfortable. Looking past Adrien she saw Lila glaring. There was something in those olive eyes that sent a shiver down Marinette's spine. Marinette flicked her eyes aware from Lila's intensive stare.

"I think maybe it's time I headed home." She said, reluctantly pulling her hand from his and taking a step back.

"You'll come back though so I can teach you to ride?" He asked and Marinette nodded with a smile.

Marinette said goodbye to the others, Lila making quite a show to hug Marinette and announce how delighted she was to meet her and how she hoped they would become lifelong friends. Even Alya was giving Lila an odd look at the display.

As Marinette reached the gate, Adrien called out to her, running down the pathway. "Can I at least walk you home? I don't mind."

"Oh I'm fine, really. It's not that far." Marinette reassured him. "Besides, you better go and sort Plagg out before he runs painted prints all through your house."

"Wait here then, just for a second." He said, jogging over to one of the rose bushes before coming back to her with a beautiful deep red rose.

"Thank you for today." He said, handing her the rose. "It's been one of the nicest days I've had in a long time and you're the reason for that."

Marinette lifted the rose to her nose and breathed in its rich scent. "I'll be back soon. I promise."

Adrien took her hand and brought it to his lips, pressing a soft kiss to her knuckles. "Tikki, Mayura and I will be waiting for you." He smiled, waving her off as she walked down the path.

Once she was behind the tall trees, Marinette opened the watch and transported back to 1975. She looked up and the sun was still in the same late afternoon position it was in when she left Adrien. In her hand, was the roses he had given her. She wasn't sure if it would travel back with her or not. Softly she held the rose to her cheek and she could still feel the kiss he had left on her hand. Adrien really was like no man she had ever met before.

As Marinette made her way back to the house she was so caught up in her thoughts of Adrien that she got a shock when she walked into the house and saw fiancee sitting in the lounge room. She hadn't even noticed his car parked out the front.

"Luka." She gasped in surprise. "I wasn't expecting you until tomorrow."

"I can see that." He said, strumming a few melancholy cords on his guitar. "A fuse blew in the sound board so we wrapped up early. I drove up here straight away, but you weren't here. I thought maybe you had walked to town, so went looking for you, but you weren't there either."

Marinette took off her hat and hung it on the hat stand. "I went for a walk around the lake."

Luka just nodded his head as he continued to strum. "And the rose?"

She looked at the flower in her hand. "I picked it on my way back. Is that a crime?" She huffed, walking into the kitchen.

Marinette took down a vase and filled it with water, placing the roses in it and putting it on the kitchen bench. She then took out a pot to begin making dinner. A few moments later, Luka came into the kitchen, folding his arms and resting against the kitchen counter top.

"You know, roses aren't in bloom at this time of year." He said quietly, looking down at his feet. Marinette faulted, crashing the pot into the faucet. "Really?" She said, keeping her back to him.

"Yes." He continued, his voice still quiet. "So either you stole it from a hot house, which doesn't sound like you, or the guy that gave it to you must be very rich to have them imported."

Marinette turned around, her nostrils flaring at the accusation. "What are you saying exactly?" She said in annoyance, folding her arms.

"What else am I supposed to think?" Luka replied. "I try to call you, you don't answer, I come home, you're not here. The last time I was home you spent the whole time in the attic or out walking. When was the last time you even wanted to make love to me, Marinette. I'm the one that feels like I'm living with a ghost."

Marinette couldn't really argue with what he had said. There had been a growing distance between them, but he was wrong to just blame her for it and as for the other thing. Marinette had done nothing wrong. Her and Adrien were friends, that was all. "For your information, that rose came from a bush that used to grow right outside that door. There, are you happy now?"

Marinette stormed past Luka into the living room, the musician quickly following. "Don't give me that time travel nonsense again Marientte. I went to town hall and talked to Ms Bustier today and I know all about this place."

Marinette wasn't expecting him to say that. "Then you saw the painting of the dress?" Luka nodded. "Then surely you could see the resemblance in the picture?"

"I don't know." Frustrated, Luka ran his fingers through his hair. "If you put any pretty girl in that dress with dark hair and a hat…"

"How can you be so closed minded about this? You were always willing to indulge Rose in her crystals and seances and tarot cards. You were always open to new things and experiences, you based a lot of your songs on it."

"I write about what I can see and what I can feel, and all I see right now is that I'm losing your Marinette." He crossed the floor and took her face up in both of his hands. "I love you, I want to believe you, but damn it I can't compete against a ghost."

"He's not a ghost, Luka. He's real and his life is in danger and he doesn't even know it yet."

Luka let go of her face. "Adrien Agreste died from a gunshot wound in 1899. He's dead Marinette. Miss Bustier told me all about it. It's in the past."

"But what if I can change that?" Luka turned from her in frustration, but Marinette continued. "What if I can save him? Luka something isn't right about all this. Adrien is the most gentle, kind person who was loved by everyone that knew him. Something doesn't add up."

"You're right." Luka sighed, turning back to look at her. "Nothing adds up any more. Ever since you moved here I feel like my whole world turned on its head."

"And you think mine didn't when you made that solo album?"

Luka frowned at her and Marinette sighed and sat down on the couch. "Look, I know you said you never wanted fame, but you have it and that okay, but how do you think it makes me feel when you are never here knowing that fangirls are fawning all over you, throwing themselves at you, desperately wanting you?"

Luka sat down on the couch beside her, his hands hanging between his knees. "What do you want me to do?"

"Don't go to London next week." Marinette pleaded. "Stay here with me instead."

"That's not fair Mari, you know I can't do that. Bob Roth would have my balls if I pulled out of the promotion."

"Roth is using you Luka! You don't need this promotion. You are literally about to start the European leg of your tour. You don't need to do this. Get another promoter."

Luka shook his head. "Roth was the one that gave us a start when we were just Kitty Section. He's the best music producer in Paris."

"And your father is Jagged Stone. He's the biggest thing out of Britain since the Beatles. You could get any producer you wanted. I'm sure your father would set you up with one. You don't have to stay with Roth out of some kind of loyalty to a man who doesn't have your best interest."

Luka's face softened and he tucked a bit of her heart back behind her ear. "I don't want to fight with you about things that can't be changed. Adrien died in 1899 and I made a commitment to my producer to promote my album. There are some things that can't be changed." Luka stood up and picked up his guitar. "I'm going to go out on the porch for a while. Let me know when dinner is ready."

He kissed Marinette on top of the head before walking out. Marinette sat there for a moment. Luka was choosing to please Bob Roth over her out of some misplaced loyalty to the man that had discovered them, but wasn't that exactly what she was doing. Wasn't she staying with Luka out of loyalty, because she had made him a promise that she was still wearing on her finger?

Heading back into the kitchen her eyes landed back on the beautiful red rose blooming in the vase. Holding her hand to her lips, she closed her eyes, a tear rolling down her cheek as she remembered Adrien's soft lips on her hand.