Sweet Surrender…

Marinette was totally exhausted. End of year exam study had been keeping her up late at night, not to mention those folio garment pieces she needed to have finished, and she was eternally grateful for her patient and considerate soulmate who was keeping her well caffeinated and ensuring she was fed as she battled through the haze.

True to his threat Gabriel cut Adrien off, severing his contract and telling him he wasn't welcome back unless he "dropped the excess baggage." If he thought that would have Adrien crawling back to him though he was to be sorely disappointed. Nathalie for her part had ensured Adrien received all the funds he was entitled to from his years of modeling making him effectively independent of his father and he applied to a business course at university, ready to start in the next semester. Now that Adrien was out on his own, she was seriously considering tendering her own resignation and retiring to the country.

In the meantime, when Marinette's parents heard what Gabriel did, they immediately gave Adrien a part time job with them, and Adrien couldn't be happier. He was his own man with an amazing woman and family by his side and he couldn't ask for more than that. Even Hawk Moth and his occasional annoying akumas couldn't dampen his spirits.

Stumbling into the apartment after a long day on campus, Marinette could barely contain her yawn as Adrien came out of the kitchen to greet her. She could smell rice in the rice cooker and what looked to be a peanut satay on the stove.

"Hey there Princess." Adrien beamed, kissing her on the cheek. Marinette was still getting used to that. Ever since that night at Gabriel's, Adrien had been a lot more affectionate and Marinette couldn't deny she enjoyed it. They hadn't openly said there had been a change in their relationship, but it certainly felt a lot more like they were dating, even if they were living together. He had yet to kiss her in the lips though, and she wondered why he was holding back. Why was she holding back?

She had done a lot of soul searching over the last few months, and while a part of her would still love Chat Noir, she wanted to give Adrien her whole heart. Yet she still held back, waiting for him to make the first move.

"Did you cook dinner?" Marinette asked, trying not to sound too amazed. Adrien gave her a wide grin.

"I could lie and say I made it all from scratch, but your mum actually made the satay, I just warmed it up and cooked the rice."

"Well it still smells delicious." Marinette said, patting his arm. "You're too good to me, you know that?"

Adrien shook his head. "I'm just looking after you, the way a good boyfriend should." He really liked saying that, and Marientte could see it in his face. "Now go have a shower and freshen up. This will be ready soon."

Marinette rose up on her toes to kiss him on the nose, making him chuckle. She washed away the hard work of the day, slipping on her comfy pajamas and putting out some cookies for Tikki in the bedroom before padding out to the dining table where Adrien had set the table with candles and seasonal flowers.

"Am I missing a special occasion?" She asked. Adrien shook his head.

"It's Friday night, which means no classes or exams for you tomorrow. I think that's something worth celebrating."

After dinner the two sat down next to each other on the couch and put on a movie. The film was barely 20 minutes in when Adrien soon felt Marinette's head fall onto his shoulder. At first he wondered if he should wake her up and send her to bed, but the truth was he didn't want to move at all. Shifting back a little to the corner of the couch, Adrien reclined back, allowing Marinette's head to rest more comfortably on his chest.

Adrien was hardly watching the movie, too preoccupied with watching the way Marinette slept against him. He held his arm around her, supporting her against his body. He loved her, with all his being he knew he was in love with her. He was in love with her sweet giggle and her soft smile. He was in love with her bluebell eyes and they way that she blushed. He was in love with every freckle in her face and as he ran his hand along her arm, he was in love with the softness of her skin.

As he watched her breathing her pink lips fell slightly open. He wanted to kiss her, to see if those lips were as soft as they looked. He had wanted to kiss her for some time. It first started at the pool party, even though he knew she was drunk, but it hit even harder when she stood up to his father. He had been hesitating though. Yes, he was calling her his girlfriend and she didn't seem to mind that, but he didn't know if she was over the other guy she had loved before. After all, he was still sleeping on the couch. On second thought, maybe that was a good thing. He wasn't sure his heart could cope with sharing a bed with her if he couldn't touch her.

The credits on the movie had begun to roll when Marinette slowly began to stir. Adrien stroked her hair gently and she opened her eyes, looking up at him with a sleepy smile on her face.

"Did I miss the movie?" She asked, trying not to yawn out loud.

Adrien moved his hand from her hair and slowly ran his fingers along her arm. "You didn't miss much."

"That boring huh?" She asked, twisting around to look at him, but still resting her body against his chest.

"I wouldn't know." Adrien replied. "I wasn't really watching it. I had something better to look at."

He tucked her hair behind her ear before letting his finger trace the line of her jaw to her chin. "God you're beautiful." His voice was hoarse and the desire behind it was barely concealed. "I want to kiss you so badly right now."

A soft blush stained her cheeks. "Then why don't you?" Marinette asked, her hand spayed across his chest. She could feel the steady beat of his heart seed up under her palm and her own breathing became more ragged as the air shifted around them.

"I wasn't sure I should." He admitted. "Just because we are soulmates, I wouldn't want to be presumptuous and I certainly didn't want to step where I didn't belong."

Marinette smiled at him softly. "You are where I belong, Adrien." She looked away from him, her blush intensifying. "When you said you wanted to call me your girlfriend, I didn't agree for it to mean to be in name only." She pulled her bottom lip between her teeth. "I um… I've been thinking lately about our sleeping arrangements."

"Oh." He breathed out. "Have you?"

She gave him a side eye and nodded, fisting up his shirt in her hand. "I think maybe it's about time we shared… our sleeping space. I mean, it is in the rules after all and we really shouldn't be breaking the rules, should we?"

Adrien let out a shaky breath. "I'm not sure I can." He said, stealing his nerve. Marinette looked back at him and the silty was in her eyes he was sure was going to be the death of him.

"Why not?" She asked, her grip tightening on his shirt.

"For the same reason I haven't kissed you." He replied, his hand finding a home on the small of her back. Marinette shivered at the way his eyes darkened. "Because once we start, I'm not sure I can stop."

Marinette let go of his shirt and moved her body along his chest, bringing her face closer to his. "And what if I wanted you to?" She said, looking intently into his eyes.

"Then I guess that changes things." He said, his hand traveling further along her back until finding purchase in her hair, bringing her lips towards his.

He kissed her softly at first, languidly exploring this new part of each other. He wanted to savor it, to taste her in his mouth, to feel her body flush against his, to show her how much he wanted her. He wanted to give into that sweet surrender that he had denied himself all these months waiting for her. As his other hand continued to explore, Marinette gasped and Adrien deepened the kiss, both of them drowning into each other.

Finally needing to breathe they parted just enough to look into each other's eyes. "I should take you to bed." Adrien said, his chest rising and falling in quick succession with hers.

"I don't want to sleep." Marinette replied, her hands slipping into his hair. "I want to be with you."

"Good". Adrien said, suddenly standing up. He pulled her up to him before picking her up. Marinette wrapped her arms and legs around him as he walked her towards the bedroom. "Because I'm not planning on sleeping. Not tonight."

~~~~~

Ever After…

Sundays were Adrien's favourite day of the week. It was the one morning where he had no where he had to be which meant laying in bed holding the love of his life in his arms. After sleeping next to Marinette for months now, he couldn't imagine ever sleeping without her by his side again. As the morning light drifted in between the curtains he watched her sleeping face, just like he had after the night when he first made love to her and he knew that he wanted to make sure he kept her by his side for the ever after.

As the light touched her face, Marinette slowly opened her eyes and smiled at him. "Good morning."

"Good morning Princess." He replied, opening his arms to her and Marinette curled up into his side, a sleepy grin on her face. He leaned down and kissed her on the forehead.

"You looked like you were thinking hard about something." She said a little teasingly.

Adrien shrugged. "I was just thinking about the fact that our 12 months are almost up here. We'll have to move out soon."

Marinette sighed, resting her head on his chest. "I know. Ever since Nino and Alya moved out it's been on my mind too."

They laid in a comfortable silence, knowing there was no need to rush, but also acutely aware that things will change soon and both of them wondering how that change will affect them.

"Did you want to get an apartment or something a bit bigger?" Adrien lazily asked. Marinette rolled onto her stomach so she could look at him.

"Are you asking me to move in with you?" She asked and Adrien had to stop himself laughing at the surprise in her tone.

"Sweetheart, you already are. Why would that change?"

Marinette let out a relieved giggle. "I don't know, I guess deep down somewhere I was worried you might use your get out of jail free card and bail on me."

"Ah-huh." He hummed. "And I'm just sure my father would have loved that."

Marinette sat up, pulling her knees to her chest. "He rang you yesterday, didn't he?" She asked, looking at him from the side. "Wasn't that why you went outside to talk on the phone. You didn't want me to hear what you were talking about because he wanted you to come back."

Adrien sat up and turned Marinette towards him. "I didn't want you to have to hear the colourful language I was using to turn down his miserable offer." He said, holding her chin in his hand. "I'm not going back, Marinette. I'm done with all that. It's just you and me now."

Marientte's shoulders relaxed. "You're right Adrien. I guess I'm just being silly and insecure as usual." She leaned over and kissed him tenderly on the cheek. "I'll go make us some breakfast."

Adrien watched her as she got out of bed and headed out of the bedroom towards the kitchen, closing the door behind her. It worried him that she seemed so unsure of herself and still was feeling insecure of their relationship. Like he was ever going to go back to his controlling father! He had freedom, he had his own life and he had her. There was nothing more in life that he could want… or anyone else for that matter. Maybe saying that wasn't enough though. After all, they do say that actions speak louder than words.

Reaching over to his phone, he dialed Nino.

"Dude, you do know it's Sunday morning don't you?" Nino said groggily. "I worked a gig at a club last night until 2am."

"Sorry Nino." Adrien apologised. "I forgot, but it's important. Are you available to go on a shopping expedition in the next few days at all?"

"Shopping?" His best friend queried, his voice a mixture of stunned and confused. "I don't really do shopping, bro. What are you shopping for?"

"An engagement ring for Marinette."

Adrien became alarmed at the choking sounds down the end of the phone. "Nino, are you okay?"

"Adrian, dude. You can't just drop that on a man this early in a Sunday while I'm drinking water."

"Well to be fair, I can't tell you're drinking." Adrien said with a chuckle. "Seriously though, I could use some advice."

"Adrien, I don't know a thing…" He then lowered his voice. "I don't know a thing about engagement rings. You don't think Alya was expecting one do you?"

"If she knows you as well as I do, then no."

"Harsh." Nino scoffed. "But why the rush? You only turned 19 a few months back, and Marinette Is your soulmate. It's not like she's going anywhere."

Adrien threw off the covers from the bed and stood up with a stretch. "I know that, but why wait? We were talking this morning about moving soon and Marinette was unsure I was wanting to stay with her. I figured I'd give her some assurance. It's not like we have to get married right now, I just want her to have that commitment from me that I mean this to be forever."

"Then get her a promise ring if you're so worried about it."

"Is that what an engagement ring is? A promise of forever."

There was a moment of silence before Nino let out a sigh. "You're too much of a romantic dude, and you're making the rest of us look bad, but I can't help you. Not this week anyway. Besides…" he whispered. "Do you really want Alya to find out what your planning?"

Adrien hadn't thought of that. As well meaning as Alya was, this could be one secret that might just be too much for her. After hanging up with Nino, Adrien sat back down on the bed thinking who else to ask for help. He wasn't really that close to too many people, and he absolutely was not going to ask Chloé her opinion. He considered ringing Nathalie, but decided against it. He rubbed his chin with his hand. He really needed to have a shave.

Heading into the ensuite bathroom he picked up his razor and had an idea. The only other person he could think to ask was Ladybug. She always had good advice, and he didn't have to feel weird about asking her since the last time they spoke she said she was very happy and in love with her soulmate. Plus, she had very similar tastes in things to Marinette. Poking his head out of the bathroom, he whisper-shouted out to Plagg.

The little cat Kwami lazily made his way over, his morning camembert between his paws. "Plagg, I need you to take a message to Ladybug for me."

Plagg made an elaborate groan. "You want me to fly all the way over to Ladybug on a Sunday morning! I haven't even finished my breakfast."

Adrien rolled his eyes. "Quit your bellyaching. Just ask Ladybug if she could meet up with me tomorrow afternoon at the usual place. I need to ask her opinion on something important." Plagg gave him a weird look and Adrien got more desperate. "It's for Marinette alright. I'll let you open that Roquefort you've been maturing."

Plagg contemplated the offer for a moment and swallowed down the cheese he had been holding. "Fine." He huffed. "But only because I like Pigtails."

Adrien went back to shaving and Plagg made his long journey - all the way to the kitchen.

The next day, Chat made his way across the rooftops to their favourite meeting place that overlooked the Eiffel Tower. The spring sunset illuminated the Parisian skyline. Sitting on the rooftop watching over the city, Chat Noir contemplated whether sunset would make a good time for a proposal or if he should take Marientte out to dinner instead. Maybe under a full moon. He took out his baton and started looking up the moon cycle for the next month.

Behind him his sensitive ears picked up the light footsteps of Ladybug as she approached him and he put his baton away. "A fine evening m'lady." He said, patting the space beside him. "You didn't have trouble getting away."

"No." She replied. "My boyfriend rang to say he was caught up at work and will be a little late."

Chat found it amusing that was the same excuse he had given Marinette, but then again people being late at work was fairly common. He did grin though at the little blush that was poking out from under her mask. It made him happy to know she was happy. Sure there was a part of him that still loved her, but it was a different love, its own special kind of love.

"I'm glad you came because I have something very important I need help with. I want to ask my girlfriend to marry me and I need a second opinion on a ring."

Ladybug's mouth dropped open a little. "You want to propose? Now?"

"Well yeah." Chat said, looking a little conflicted at her reaction. "We love each other, we plan on spending our lives together. I mean we don't have to have the wedding now, but I want her to know I'm serious about us. I'm not just staying with her because she's my soulmate, I want to be with her because I love her."

Ladybug gave him a soft smile. "You're so sweet, Chaton. I think it's very romantic. Do you have a particular ring in mind?"

Chat's face lit up and he took out his phone baton back out. "I have a few I've narrowed down. What do you think of these?"

Ladybug took her time going over the rings. Some were huge and very expensive, but Chat assured her he could afford them. In the end though, Ladybug chose a more modest sized pink diamond solitaire on a rose gold band. By the way Chat had described his girlfriend, she sounded a lot like her and this is the ring she would like if she had the choice.

"So have you decided how you're going to propose, Kitty? Some grand gesture I assume."

Chat smiled mischievously. "Oh I could go all out if I really wanted to. Eiffel Tower, private dinner, fireworks even. I would spare no expense for her."

Ladybug nodded her head thoughtfully. "I'm sure you would Chat, but is that what she would want?"

Chat looked out over to where the Eiffel Tower stood, throngs of tourists swarming around its base to watch the lights turn on. "I guess you're right. She wouldn't hate it, but she's not the kind of girl who would want that kind of attention. She'd want something simpler and personal. Something that's just for us."

Ladybug placed her hand on his shoulder. "Then I think you're all set, Chaton. She's a very lucky girl to have someone like you." She said with a warm smile.

"And your guy is lucky to have you too." Chat added. "I hope he's planning to put a ring on it too."

Ladybug became a bit bashful. "Well, a girl can dream right?" She laughed. "Maybe one day he will in some grandiose romantic gesture." She then paused for a moment. "What about your identity? Are you going to tell her?"

"I want to". He said, looking down at the Miraculous on his finger. "I can't just keep disappearing all the time and leaving her in the dark. I'm amazed she hasn't caught on now. And what about in the future if we have children? I can't keep a secret like that from the people I love. Chat Noir is part of who I am. You're the leader though Bug, so I'll take your lead of course."

"I'm not your boss Chat." She said, shaking her head. "You're my partner and my friend. I wouldn't presume to tell you what you should do, but you're right, it's not a secret we should keep from the ones we love."

~~~~~

A few weeks later, Marinette received a cryptic message from Adrien to come to the Medici Fountain in the Luxembourg Gardens late in the afternoon. Marinette had been to the Gardens before, but she didn't remember seeing the fountain there. Thankfully Adrien had also sent a map along for her to find her way.

It was quite a walk through the gardens to find the fountain. The flowers were coming out in bloom, but the park wasn't overcrowded since it wasn't quite peak time yet. The closer Marinette got towards the fountain, the less people there were. Following the arrows he had made on the map, it was no wonder she hadn't seen it before because it was tucked away off to one side in a secluded nook of the park. If you weren't looking for it, it would be so easy just to walk by and not even know it was there behind all the tall trees.

As Marinette approached the fountain she found Adrien leaning up against one of the many stone planters bursting with yellow and orange blooms which matched the colours streaking across the sky. He was in a long black coat, no longer having to wear his father's label, and his hair was swept back still very much looking every inch the model he used to be. A breeze had blown up, and Marinette rubbed her arms as she got closer, her hair swirling in the wind. She only had on her pink summer dress, forgetting her cardigan when she ran out late for class.

She called out to him, but Adrien held his finger to his lips before reaching out his hand to her and pulling her closer to him. Marinette grabbed onto the lapels of his coat and he bent down as she surged up onto her toes to meet their lips half way. It was only going to be a quick hello kiss, but Adrien pulled her closer, cupping his hand around the back of her head and deepened making her weak at the knees. Soon they were completely oblivious to the odd passerby.

"You're being rather mysterious." She mused breathlessly when he finally broke away to let her come up for air. "You haven't even said anything yet."

Adrien brushed her hair back with his hand and admired her face. She could feel herself blushing under his intense eyes.

"I don't need words when I'm with you." He said, holding her chin in between his fingers. "I just want to feel."

Marinette could feel tears bringing in her eyes. "Then why does this feel like a goodbye?"

"I guess it is in a way." He said, his hand sliding across her cheek. "Goodbye to our apartment, goodbye to my old life… but not to you. I could never say goodbye to you."

Marinette slid her arms under his coat, letting out a relieved sigh as she rested her head against his chest. Adrien ran his fingers through her hair, the twilight sun peaking through the trees across the stone monument and shimmering on the water.

"I love you Marinette." He said his head rating on hers as he leaned back holding her. "Not because you're my soulmate, or because it's expected that I should. I love you for everything that you are and I want to be with you, always, if that's what you want to."

Marinette looked up at him, his emerald eyes shining with so much love for her. "I want to be with you, Adrien."

"I'm glad." Adrien grinned. "Because I intend to keep you."

He was still being cryptic and Marinette looked at him bemused. "What's all this about, Adrien? Why are you telling me all this here now?"

"Haven't you guessed?" He replied, ghosting his lips across her forehead. "I'm trying to tell you I want to marry you."

Marinette barely had a moment to react when Adrien suddenly dropped to one knee, fishing a ring box out of his coat pocket. When he opened the box and held it up to her, a gasp escaped Marinette's lips and her hands flew up to her mouth. Adrien wasn't sure how to take her reaction. He expected surprise, but this looked more like she was in shock.

Marinette's eyes were fixed to the ring in the box. A ring that not so long ago she had seen on Chat Noir's cat phone and chose out for him to give to his soulmate… the soulmate who's name had been written on his arm on his 18th birthday, just like hers had.

Slowly her eyes shifted from the ring to find his eyes, a little confused but holding out hope. How could she not have recognised her soulmate in the partner that she had cared so long for.

"Minou." She whispered and she could see the exact moment Adrien realised who she was.

"M'lady?" He asked, but he knew. His heart told him that he knew.

"Of course it was you." She gushed. "The name… the names of our soulmates… it was our real names, not our superhero ones, because the masks aren't who we are."

She collapsed to her knees, throwing her arms around his neck and burying her face into the crook of his neck. For a long while Adrien just held her to him. His soulmate was his Lady all along and he loved her, both sides of her as she loved him.

"So… is that a yes then?" He asked tentatively and was rewarded by the sound of her laughter.

"Of course it's a yes, you silly cat." She grabbed his face in both her hands and kissed him with every piece of love she had in her, marking the first day of the rest of their lives.