A: You up yet Marionberry?

Marinette, despite not being a morning person, smiled sleepily at Adrien's text.

The nicknames he kept coming up with were sometimes ridiculous, sometimes sweet, but always flustered her to no end.

At least he didn't tend to use them in public. Though secretly she may have wanted him to.

M: Error 404 not gound.

A: That's "found," but clearly you're too sleepy to text coherently.

M: Don't correct my typos. And don't say big words like "coherently" this early on a Saturday morning Lemonbar

Although her texts sounded grumpy, she was smiling the whole time.

A: Really? Lemonbar? I see you're choosing violence today…

She giggled at that, picturing the pout on his face.

She had once expressed her dislike for lemonbars, and it pleased her that he remembered.

Anyone else would have thought she was calling him something endearing, but she liked that their close friendship had things like inside jokes that they only shared with one another.

Even at the expense of her beauty sleep.

M: Ladies do not start fights but they can finish them. Besides, I'm not the one texting at an unreasonable hour on the weekend.

A: I would never start a fight with you Moonbeam.

Marinette was fully awake after reading that. She kicked her legs and squealed into her pillow.

That pet name was too cute. Too romantic. It wasn't fair. He was not allowed to call her sweet things like that and make her feel this way.

A: It's also literally 10 in the morning.

A: The croissants are probably getting cold downstairs.

Marinette took deep steady breaths before formulating her reply.

M: Are croissants really all you ever think about Sunshine?

Adrien died.

His heart skipped several beats and he wasn't breathing for several seconds before a slow grin spread across his face and he buried his face into the pillow on his couch squealing.

She called me Sunshine. I called her Moonbeam and she called me Sunshine.

It was too cute. It was too romantic. She was his other half.

He typed out You're all I ever think about…

And promptly deleted it.

She probably hadn't even realized how perfect her nickname for him had matched the one he'd used for her. He didn't want to scare her with his intensity.

A: Some of us don't take croissants for granted. Or Saturday mornings!

Adrien sighed, still flushed from their adorable pet names, but wishing he could flirt openly with her.

He still wasn't sure if she would welcome that kind of attention.

M: Some of us don't take precious sleeping-in days for granted…

A: But we're going to the zoo today…

The very thought of going somewhere alone with Adrien had her practically giddy, and any hope for falling asleep was dead.

It was a small price to pay.

M: Alright, you win. I'm getting up.

A: I knew you had it in you, Button.

She bit her lip, smiling at the nickname.

M: See you in a bit Agreste.

He was a complete goofball. But I love him for it.

She frowned, setting her phone down and looking at her bed-headed reflection in the mirror.

Today was going to be a good day with her best friend, not a lovesick fiasco.

With a determined set of her jaw, she got to work picking out an outfit. Of course, the extra care she took in her appearance was only because of their destination, and not because of who she was going with…

Adrien's heart got caught in his throat when he saw her.

Crap, I'm gonna have to go all day trying to keep from staring at her when she looks like THAT!?

Instead of her signature pink, Marinette wore a baby blue sun dress that complimented her eyes and complexion.

Instead of pigtails, her hair was pulled back in a ponytail, with wisps of hair framing her face that were just begging for him to reach up and push behind her ears.

She looked stunning, she was adorable, and he hoped that she would agree to take a picture with him.

Play it cool.

He was a model. He was trained to exude confidence and charm.

I got this.

"Hi Adrien." She said, reaching up to tuck a wisp behind her ear, smiling up at him with those bluebell eyes that made him want to challenge her to a staring contest just so he could keep looking at them longer.

He swallowed thickly.

"Good afternoon, Marionette."

!? IT'S ONLY TEN IN THE MORNING AND YOU SAID HER NAME WRONG!

She just looked confused.

"I meant good morning, sorry. What are you wearing?"

I LIKE WHAT YOU'RE WEARING. YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO SAY "I LIKE WHAT YOU'RE WEARING!"

"Um, a dress? I thought today would be a little warm? I guess maybe it's not too warm…" She looked embarrassed and started fiddling with the fabric of the skirt.

Say something, Agreste, you're failing miserably.

"You're great! It's great! Come on, let's get going! The baby tigers aren't getting any younger!"

He turned to walk away, and she thankfully followed without another word.

He mentally facepalmed. Do better!

When they got to the car, he opened the door for her, and tried to give her his best smile.

She still looked a little uncomfortable, but at least she had smiled back at him.

He could do this. She was his best friend.

Even if he increasingly wanted her to be more.

Adrien had been looking out the window the entire ride to the zoo.

He's probably just worried about the press conference he's most likely going to have to do for his father next week. She told herself.

Marinette reached over and gently tapped on his shoulder to get him to look at her for the first time since they got in the car.

He jumped as if she'd shocked him.

"Are you ok? Is something on your mind?"

"I'm fine!" He said, all too quickly.

She gave him a pointed look.

"I'm just thinking about that press conference next week, I guess." He said, rubbing the back of his head.

Her heart softened.

"Your father will be out of town after all?" She turned in the seat to face him better. He sighed and leaned forward to rest his head in his hands.

"Yep. Two weeks. Bet your bottom dollar I'll be Adrien the orphan living the hard-knock life."

She chuckled and reached over again, this time placing her hand on his back reassuringly and she felt him relax.

She had a theory that his love language was touch.

"Of course not, we'll adopt you while he's away." He chuckled.

"You're so kind as to offer me your room. I'm sure you'll be very comfortable staying on the rooftop or in the basement."

"Oh, so you're Annie the orphan and I'm supposed to be Cinderella?"

"I mean, if the shoe fits." She removed her hand and gave him a playful swat on the head.

"I take it back, enjoy orphandom."

Adrien pouted exaggeratedly, so Marinette gave him an even more exaggerated pout to mock him.

Soon they were laughing so much that the tension was a distant memory.

"I would really appreciate it if you could be at that press conference with me. You know, for emotional support." The way he was looking at her with hope in his eyes was enough for her to offer him the world.

Of course, anything for you." Too much! That's too much! She internally chastised herself.

She broke eye contact, embarrassed by her words that sounded far too heavy and romantic.

"So you'll let me come over to the bakery for pastries then?" He grinned. She was grateful that he didn't seem to have caught her swooning.

"Of course not, Agreste, you're going to eat us out of house and home!" His answering pout was exasperating and endearing and she couldn't help but think that there was no one else in the world she would rather be with.

And how tragic it was that they would never really be together.

Marinette didn't care that the rain outside was practically pounding against the windows of the classroom and she'd likely get home sopping wet, she couldn't wait for Adrien's fencing practice to be over.

Something was wrong.

"Adrien!" She called out the second she saw him walk out of the locker rooms.

He looked at her, perfect smile in place.

"Hey Macaron!"

He would make a killing as an actor. Marinette mused.

Marinette had spent a great deal of time studying Adrien, , especially now that she was able to look at his real face rather than just magazine clippings. She could tell he was making an effort to hide what he was feeling.

She took his arm, a friend privilege she took advantage of frequently. Her favorite excuse being her suspicion that Adrien's primary love language was physical touch.

She and Alya linked arms all the time, after all. And Adrien welcomed the gesture readily. Sometimes he would even take her arm himself (which sent a more potent thrill through her than when she initiated the innocent contact herself).

She steered him in the direction of her house and once they were out of earshot of anyone, she got straight to the point.

"You don't have to pretend to be ok around me." She said quietly, not even looking in his direction.

The shock on Adrien's face was real enough.

"I don't… I mean I'm not… I mean…" For once, Adrien was the one who was stammering.

"It's ok. You don't have to explain or anything. But if you want to talk, I'm here." She smiled, and patted his arm comfortingly.

He sighed.

"Thank you Marinette. What would I do without you?" She felt her heart squeeze, but she managed to keep the smile on her face. His words of affection were always equal parts pain and pleasure.

"What are friends for? Now come on, Maman was going to bake fresh croissants for lunch today."

"My mom used to make macadamia nut cookies, and she'd pack one in my bag for me every day for lunch." He said once they were tucked upstairs beneath a blanket, mugs of hot chocolate in hand and a plate of croissants beside them.

"I bet they were delicious." He smiled.

"They were. She kept them in this cat-shaped cookie jar in the pantry."

"I bet you loved to sneak a cookie or two when she wasn't looking, didn't you Sunshine?" She received a weak chuckle, but a chuckle nonetheless.

"I did. Father would actually do it with me. Sometimes he'd come into my room with this sneaky look on his face and I always knew he meant for us to go down and swipe a cookie. I'm pretty sure mom knew about it every single time, but she never said anything."

His voice was practically a whisper.

"You must miss her." She replied, just as softly.

"I do."

And that's when Adrien couldn't hold back his tears anymore.

He tried to stop before Marinette noticed. He thought maybe while she took her next sip of hot chocolate he could discreetly wipe his face and she wouldn't see… but she turned to face him.

The expression she held reflected his own sadness, but there was also concern and openness and warmth there, and he couldn't handle it. Whatever strength he had been using to hold himself together was ripped apart in the gentlest and most caring embrace as she wrapped her arms around him tightly.

More silent tears. He did his best to take deep breaths, to stop, to put himself back together before she pulled away.

But she wasn't pulling away. She held tight. She patted his back and said,

"You don't have to hold it in, Adrien."

The sob that escaped him was loud and raw, the first of many, but she still didn't let him go.

She rubbed his back and patted his head, wishing she could do more to make him feel better, knowing this was the best she could do.

At some point his own arms had wrapped around her and he felt no shame in clinging to his friend.

After what seemed like an eternity in her warm embrace, Marinette's mom knocked on the door.

His manners caused him to rapidly let her go and Marinette only smiled and patted his head before standing up to grab some more tissues.

"Can I get you two anything?" She asked warmly.

"Actually, some more hot chocolate and a mental health afternoon would be great, Maman."

She looked over at Adrien and took the cups that Marinette offered.

"I'll phone Mr. Agreste and I'm downstairs if you need anything else."

Adrien couldn't bring himself to worry if his father would be angry.

Once the mugs of hot chocolate had been refilled and the tissue box only an arm's breadth away, Marinette was happy to see that some of the tension had left Adrien's body.

That's when he told her that it was the anniversary of the day his mom had disappeared.

They sat and sipped hot chocolate and he told her story after story of her life and how much he missed her.

They laughed and they cried and they sat in silence. Marinette listened. Adrien healed, even if just a little bit.

"I need a shower. Are you calling first dibs or can I go first?" She said as she stood up to clear their plates.

He already missed her sitting beside him.

"Are you trying to tell me that my face is swollen and I-" He set his mug beside himself and dramatically sniffed his own armpit, "-offend?"

She rolled her eyes and crossed her arms.

"I just know how much you worry about keeping your face pretty."

"Please, you still think I look pretty."

"Whatever you say Sunshine, but we both ran 3 kilometers today and you had fencing practice so the shower is calling both our names."

"But I haven't finished my hot chocolate." He pouted, blowing his nose loudly. His face was still red and she wondered if he really was feeling better.

She hated to leave him, but knew that maybe giving him a bit of space was good.

"I'll go first while you finish your hot chocolate, then I'll set up the game system and get us something to eat while you're in the shower."

He snuggled deeper into his blanket.

"Okay."

Before he knew it, Marinette had stepped into the room and it was his turn to shower. He tried not to stare at her with her wet hair and pajamas.

Marinette busied herself with brushing her hair, but instead of putting it up, she decided to leave it down.

Despite her better judgment, she hoped he would notice.

She felt, jittery? Nervous? Worried? She shook her head and tried to focus on her friend. Now was not the time for her to get all romantic. Adrien needed comfort not kisses.

Not that I would be getting any kisses anyway. She thought with a self-deprecating chuckle.

Adrien worried about all the trouble he had caused Marinette throughout the course of the day.

He chastised himself for taking advantage of her kindness, but it had just felt so nice to be held… especially by the girl who he had fallen in love with.

Trying to tamp down his own embarrassment and avoid the vision that was Marinette, he returned vigorously rubbing his hair with a towel.

"Agreste, we both know that that's just going to make your hair frizzy and cause split ends. Come here." Marinette picked up a hair dryer and motioned for him to sit down on the floor in front of her.

It was too tempting.

There Marinette was, her bluebell eyes bright, her smile kind, her hair looked so beautiful down, and she was offering to touch him. He couldn't refuse.

He sat before her.

For a while they said nothing. Adrien tried to take deep breaths and focus on the present moment. He was safe and cared for, and Marinette's hands running through his hair felt amazing.

All too soon, his hair was dry and Marinette set the dryer aside, but before he could mourn the absence of her touch, she put her hands back in his hair.

He dared not move lest she stop.

She carded her fingers through his hair, gently scratching, and rubbing her thumbs at the back of his neck with just the right amount of pressure. He tried his hardest not to purr.

"Are you okay Adrien?"