"So how is your collection coming along?" She looked more distracted than usual, her eyes glancing over the Seine as a small frown tugged at the corners of her lips. More serious. He closely studied her face as he waited for her response.

"It's coming along okay. I actually already have the required five pieces mostly completed. They still need lots of final touches, but they exist and that's what matters. But I'm needing to…pivot." Her eyebrows had pulled together, two small vertical wrinkles forming as she spoke.

"Is something not coming together like you hoped? Is there anything you need?" She finally glanced in his direction at the concern in his voice and he was happy to see a small smile pull the corner of her lip upward.

"It's not that anything is wrong per se. I realized that a few of my concepts may have been a bit…pessimistic." She turned her head back to the water and he could just hear her mutter "God I hope I was being too pessimistic."

"And now you're more optimistic?" His elbow lightly bumped against hers, prodding her to look him in the eyes.

"I'm trying to be." The blue of her eyes seemed to be searching for something in his face, and a strange flutter rumbled his stomach.

"I get the feeling you're not just talking about work. Should I switch hats and be friend Adrien instead of boss Adrien?"

"Honestly, yeah. I'm on track for everything with the showcase, let's just have a nice lunch."

"An optimistic lunch?"

"An optimistic lunch."

"Well that sounds lovely. That's actually something I wanted to talk to you about. I guess I've been feeling a bit more…positive recently."

"O-oh yeah?" he heard her stutter out as he approached the host and requested seating for two.

As the two were seated and the waiter handed them two menus, Adrien continued "Yeah…So with the whole marriage thing my father has set up, I've had a chance to interact with some people with the intention of pursuing a relationship." Glancing up from where he had been smiling down at his menu, he saw that Marinette's menu was being held completely vertical in front of her face. Why does she keep hiding behind menus when I take her out to lunch?

An "uh-huh" emanated from behind her makeshift shield.

Resting his chin on his hand and placing his menu flat on the tabletop, his eyes wandered outside the window to where a couple was strolling hand in hand along the Seine. That could be me. That could be us. "And I think I might be building a real connection."

"O-oh? That's great, Adrien." The couple walked out of his line of sight, and he dragged his eyes back to the person in front of him.

"I hope so. But I—well I was wondering if I could ask you something."

He swore the menu crept even higher as she squeaked out "Sure! Uh…fire away!"

Suddenly embarrassed, the bit of tablecloth being pinched together by his thumb and pointer finger seemed to be the most enthralling sight in the room. "Have you…have you ever been in love?"

There was no response except for an "eep!"

A sense of déjà vu washed over him as he reached out and gently pushed on the top of her menu, revealing a set of eyes above deeply blushing cheeks. "I guess it's kind of a personal question, but I really need some advice."

Her eyes darted away and his quickly followed. Damnit, I knew this would be awkward to talk about, but I need an objective opinion on this. "So…. have you? Been in love I mean."

"Uh yeah. Yeah, I have. Or am. Yeah…"

"Am? I didn't know you were seeing someone."

"Oh uh…I'm not seeing someone…exactly…it's complicated." He barely heard her mutter "Really complicated."

"Oh. Oh!" he said. Shit, this must be something unrequited. Shit, this was supposed to be a happy lunch. "I'm sorry if I'm dredging up something. We don't have to talk about this right now if you don't want to. I mean I would still love to talk about this if you're up for it because I really need some advice about this and I…well I'm not sure who else I could ask about this. I mean Nino might be good! Yeah, yeah, Nino could offer a guy's opinion on this. Although, I mean, he's not always the most nuanced with things and I worry he just wouldn't get the position I'm in and—" A hand landed on his, stilling his fidgeting. His eyes shot up and connected with hers, blush now gone and a small smile tugging at her lips once more.

"I never thought I'd see the day when you're the rambling mess" she said wryly, squeezing his hand and then holding it there. "I would love to offer any advice I can. What do you want to know?"

"Oh…um. Just a sec." He signaled with his hand to call the waiter over. "A bottle of the house red, please." As the man left to fetch the appropriate stemware and wine selection, Adrien turned back to her and sheepishly said "I think I need something to calm my nerves. I hope you don't mind."

"Not at all, I get the feeling this conversation is going to require some liquid courage."

The waiter speedily returned, setting one wine glass in front of each of them, presenting the label for Adrien to approve, and pouring for each before setting the bottle on the table for further refilling. He then asked for their orders and left for the kitchen.

Taking a sip of his wine, Adrien broached the subject again. "So uh…I guess I want to know how you know you're in love."

Marinette took a similar fortifying sip and replied without looking him in the eye "Well I guess there's no way to be certain. But for me, I knew that it was love and not infatuation because I saw the ugly side of him, and I still wanted him. I guess it's easy to think you love someone when they're pretty and nice and perfect. But if you see them frustrated or sad or making a bad decision and you still want to stand by them…I think that's a sign that it's real." Blue met green and she hastily added "Not that you should just love someone despite them making bad decisions of course! I don't mean like they cheat, and you still want to be with them! I mean like they make normal human mistakes. And, of course, hopefully they appropriately apologize and rectify the situation to the best of their ability cause that's really a sign of maturity and all of that. Because love isn't the only thing you need to make a relationship work of course."

They sat in silence for a moment, and their waiter had the good fortune of bringing their food at the lull in conversation. Grabbing his utensils to begin eating, Adrien ventured "Last night I think I showed the unpretty side of myself to someone. I was really unpacking some stuff about the future, and she stayed and comforted me. And she says she loves me. Do you think that's real?"

"I think that could definitely be love."

"So how do I know that I love her in return?"

"Do you want to love her?"

"I think I do. She…she makes me feel a little excited about the future. It's been a long time since I've been excited about my future."

"I would say…that it sounds like you're falling in love but aren't there yet. And part of what has held you back is that you're not sure what love looks like."

"Right on the nose."

"And she has shown that she can be there for you when you need her."

"Uh huh."

"Well I said before that she loves you because she has seen the imperfect side of you. Have you seen the imperfect side of her?"

"I haven't. Which is part of this whole other thing. And I don't really want to get into this part too much because I know that you, Alya, and Nino will worry but I don't actually know who she is. So it's hard for me to see all of her and decide if I like everything I find. And she's not too keen on me finding out who she is because she's worried that that's exactly what will happen—I won't like something important."

"You're getting married within the next year, right?"

"Correct."

"And she knows this?"

"Yeah."

"I would say… I would say that there is no way that this woman has not realized that she will need to tell you who she is eventually. She says that she loves you and she knows that you need to get married. She must know that she needs to tell you. And it sounds like you need that too in order to get all the way there with her."

The waiter brought over the check at Adrien's hand signal. They were both silent as their plates were cleared and they continued to sip, each on their second glass.

"What if she's right? What if I see the imperfect side of her and I can't do it?"

"Well, I'm sure there will be more chances. Your father has gathered the information of every eligible woman in the city after all."

"I'm a regular 'ole prince charming."

"Yes, you are." Her hand met his again and he looked into her eyes. She looked so much calmer now, and her eyes sparkled with some emotion. "Love takes risks. It's a leap of faith, and you won't know that you're in love until you know. You're risking your heart, but it sounds like she's also risking hers. So maybe you should take a risk and ask her to reveal herself. And maybe she'll take the risk of agreeing. You won't know until you try."

Rising from their seats, Adrien maintained a hold of her hand and guided her out from behind the table. He lifted her knuckles to his lips, planted a delicate kiss, and told her "You are an amazing person Marinette. You've been such a good friend to me, and you deserve all of the happiness in the world. Whatever complicated thing is going on, I hope it all works out. Maybe we both can take some risks, cause we both deserve love."

"Maybe you're right." Releasing her hand, the two walked back across the Seine. As they parted ways, Adrien felt braver than he had in a long time.