"He did what?!" Alya roared, and stood up quickly out of her chair, effectively sending the small side table Marinette usually kept her water glass on, towards the floor. Marinette was glad she had the forethought not to put water on it today. She reached out and caught it before it tipped too far, setting it right again without missing a beat. She looked to Alya with a cautionary glance. Alya didn't notice she'd even disrupted the table, and continued to rant, "What a total ass-hole! I knew I never liked him. That twig! Who does he think he is? Bursting into your life like that, after what he did to you?" She growled, "I'm gonna ruin his career, kill his cat, and destroy his company." Alya seethed, "He doesn't know who he's messing with. I'm going full on Lady Wifi hacker bitch on his skinny ass."

Marinette smiled softly, rolling her eyes. Alya was rough around the edges but a loyal friend at the heart of it all. There was very little likelihood that she would actually do anything to Andrew or his company. But the fact that she was so concerned over Marinette and her well-being was sweet if not misguided. Marinette attempted to smooth her ruffled feathers.

"He came into the bakery, and asked me to come back to Square. But he left and I didn't, so it's all okay. I'm okay." Marinette smiled as her phone buzzed. She glanced at it quickly, and immediately set it face down on the small table.

"Why didn't you tell me sooner?" Alya sat back down on the futon, and leaned into Marinette, draping her arms around her, "I would have been there in a minute. Less than a minute."

Marinette laughed, wrapping her arms around Alya, "Yeah, and you would have punched him in the nose, no doubt. I don't need that kind of attention on the bakery, Al. It was frustrating but it's fine. Besides, it all turned out okay. He probably won't come back, since I told him off. You'd be so proud of me, it was so scary." Marinette sighed, "Not to mention Adrien was there." Marinette shrugged, and her phone buzzed on the table. Again. She tried not to look at it.

Alya leaned back, holding Marinette's shoulders, "Adrien? As in, 'I was a super attractive model and now I'm gonna be a cop so I can escort Andrew out, but like in a cool way' Adrien?"

"I've told you this before, he comes into the bakery every day, so yes he was there. Quite luckily for me too, since I cried my eyes out after Andrew left." Marinette said sarcastically, "I'm sure he thought that was cute. And I almost made him late, fighting with Andrew and bawling in the cafe like that." She sighed.

"Well, I just need you to know that as your best friend, I feel slighted that I didn't know about either of these things sooner." Alya sighed.

"I'm sorry." Marinette smiled at her, "I promise to fill you in on all the drama of my life from now on." She stuck her tongue out.

Alya softened, seeming to let it go so long as Marinette was okay. Alya blinked, and looked at Marinette with a raised eyebrow as her phone buzzed for the third time in two minutes, "Girl, who is that?"

Marinette felt her cheeks flare, "Uh, it's probably, uhm..." She looked away, looking for excuses on her desk or inside the shade of her lamp. She didn't find any. Busted.

"Who?" Alya beamed with a mischievous smile, "Who is it?" She reached across her blue-eyed friend to the small table, and swiped the phone before Marinette could stop her. On the lock screen was a list of messages from a contact Marinette had assigned two emoji muffins. Alya frowned, that wouldn't tell her who it was. She squinted at Marinette, "Who is sending you messages that say 'Had a great time the other day, let's do it again.'? And 'Didn't fall in the frosting mixer, did you?'?" Alya hummed, "They're certainly impatient. They've texted you like every twenty seconds."

Marinette smiled guiltily, "It's, uh… it's Adrien?"

Alya screeched, and then threw Marinette's phone on the futon, forgetting about the phone and focusing on what their texting meant, "Really?" she was grinning from ear to ear, "This is such good news! I always knew that you two would hit it off! I wanna hear all about him. Gush it to me girl, I need to be a part of your life. What did you do the other day that was so fun?"

"We just went to the park together after he finished his work and I finished mine. The store was dead, so he encouraged me to close the store and dragged me to the park. It was a good break from working." Marinette offered, and then held out her hand, "To be clear, we are not dating we are just friends."

"He was in the bakery with you? All day?" Alya was practically glowing.

"We were working." Marinette said shortly, "I invited him to keep me company while my parents were gone for the day. He doesn't have training on Saturdays." Marinette tried to play it cool.

Alya stopped for a moment, and slid her eyes over to Marinette, squinting suspiciously at her, "You don't still have a calendar of his life rolled up and hanging from your ceiling do you?" Alya glared, and leaned away from Marinette.

"What?" Marinette raised an eyebrow, and then realized what Alya was talking about. She sputtered, "NO. I can't even believe I had that." Marinette covered her face with her hands, "I had forgotten about that until this moment. How embarrassing."

Alya laughed, but seemed to let it go just as quickly as she had brought it up.

"This is so exciting." Alya hummed, obviously missing Marinette's clarification that they were not dating. Alya sighed, and laid back on Marinette's futon once again, "The only thing that would be more exciting is if I could get an interview with Chat Noir and Ladybug. Seriously there have been so many akuma that I'm having to categorize them on my blog. Yet, I still can't seem to find time to talk to Paris's heroes."

Marinette popped her head up and smiled devilishly, she could arrange something. It would make Alya's day. She slyly tucked her buzzing phone back into her pocket and threw Alya the bait before she could stop herself, "You know what?"

88888888

Marinette's phone buzzed in her pocket, and she quickly pulled it out, looking at the screen. It was a picture of Adrien sitting with Bellamy and Rondel at lunch. He was smiling at the camera, and Bellamy and Rondel weren't even paying attention. Marinette smiled. Adrien had been telling her all about his charming police force friends for days. He couldn't shut up about them, or about how proud he was that he could make his own food. A text followed the picture.

- I have the best lunch. Turkey Sandwich. Lam and Ronny are just jealous. ;) -

Marinette rolled her eyes, but quickly typed back.

- You only get twenty minutes to eat. How about you stop taking food selfies, and eat your lunch? -

- I am. I am. Lol. -

Another picture came through of Adrien with the sandwich shoved into his mouth, and Bellamy trying to steal his coffee mug. Marinette smiled.

- Good. The last thing I need to worry about is you not eating.-

- You worry about me eating? -

Marinette felt her cheeks get hot. She didn't mean to worry about Adrien eating and not eating. But her parents were bakers, and she had grown up being fussed over and offered food. Even now, her father still offered to fatten her up on cookies, cakes, and sweets whenever he got the chance. It was by some odd stroke of fate that she had found Tikki, who did most of the eating of said sweets for her. It was only natural then, for that kind of worry to spill over into her newfound friendship with Adrien. She worried about if Alya was eating, and if Nino was eating. She worried about Adrien the most, though. The more time she spent with him, the more she realized that he didn't really know how to do most things. He was a fast learner, and was quickly turning into a model citizen as far as cleanliness and organization went. But he was always in a hurry, and he needed food. She typed back furiously.

- I can worry about whatever I want to. All I ever see you eat is muffins. That's no way to live, even if they are delicious. -

- I do make my own meals, you know. -

Marinette laughed, and replied before she could stop herself. He was alive, but calling what he ate every day a meal was pushing it.

- Microwave dinners and takeout don't count as making meals. -

- I am very handy with a microwave, I'll have you know. And I can boil water, which means that pasta is always on the menu at my house. -

- So that's what you eat then? Pasta and microwave dinners? -

- Also muffins, and turkey sandwiches. ;) -

Marinette sighed, that sounded terrible. Obviously Adrien didn't seem to think so. She'd never seen him so bright or so eager. And she would bet money that she was going to receive a text from Adrien every day at lunch now, showing her his turkey sandwich. She shot a quick text to her mother, and as soon as the reply appeared on her screen, she texted Adrien.

- Want something more than just pasta? -

She stared at the screen for a long moment. Finally she clarified.

- Adrien Agreste you are invited to family dinner at the Dupain-Cheng house. Would you like to come? -

- Wouldn't miss it. -

88888888

Adrien sat down at the table across from Bellamy and Rondel, and fished the sandwich and carrots from his bag. His phone buzzed and he beamed. He looked down at the screen. Marinette was telling him to have a good /

He raised his arm up and snapped a picture of himself he sent it to Marinette with a small blurb about his food.

"Did you really just take a selfie?" Rondel huffed.

"Yes I did." Adrien laughed and read Marinette's message before he quickly snapped another.

"Who are you even texting anyway? I've never seen you so into texting." Bellamy paused, "Is it a girl?" he teased, "She's certainly talkative. You haven't put your phone down in days."

"She's a friend." Adrien hummed, trying to contribute to the conversation and talk with Marinette at the same time. To ignore Bellamy and Rondel was rude, but he didn't really care about cars or the most recent video game craze right now. Marinette texted him back quickly.

Bellamy sighed, "So it is a girl. I thought you told me that you were taking a break from dating. What's this now?"

"Friendship." Adrien rolled his eyes and refocused on bickering with Marinette. She was a tough nut to crack. She had something witty and sarcastic to say about every comment he made. He found that he loved that she was funny, and that she made him smile without meaning to. His heart fluttered as his phone buzzed again. Bellamy and Rondel didn't need to know that he had fallen for Marinette.

"Hey, Pretty Boy. Is this about you?" Rondel held up his phone. On it was a social media callout to Adrien from Robyn. Adrien snatched the phone. It didn't mention his name, but it was clearly about him, since Robyn was announcing her official welcoming into his father's business. He read her message twice.

"Guess you don't need to get married to get where you need to be. Here's to a glorious future. #AgresteDesigns"

Adrien sighed, so Robyn had been expecting him to ask her after all. He huffed, and handed Rondel his phone, "Yes. It's about me. Robyn is all bent out of shape about me leaving fashion. I told you my father found a replacement. I made the right choice."

Eliza appeared out of nowhere, and sat down next to Adrien in a hurry, "Okay obviously your secret is super safe with me, and I would never do anything to put your secret out, but I have to know. I mean you and Robyn were like the it couple of fashion. I just saw her tweet. Were you really going to get married or was that just something the magazines made up? As a fan of fashion I would love to know the real story here."

Adrien blinked. He hadn't thought about his pending marriage to Robyn in a long time. And Marinette had just invited him to dinner. His mind was going in two completely different directions. He tried to think about Robyn and if he had ever really intended to marry her, but was distracted about having dinner with Marinette and her family. He refocused and looked at Eliza, surprised to find her eagerly waiting for his answer. And to his right, Bellamy and Rondel were suddenly very interested in his response.

Adrien sighed, "If things had been different, and she hadn't been so rude to me, then yes. I would have asked Robyn to marry me. We were going to go away to California after Fashion Week, and I was going to ask her then." He casually left out that he had lost his heart to another girl, Ladybug, that night. And had later fallen for Marinette a bit later, taking Robyn out of the picture for good.

"Really?" Eliza gasped, "What happened?"

Adrien sighed, "To be honest? Robyn cared more about fashion and climbing the ladder than she cared about me. Sometimes it felt like she wanted to be with me, and other times it felt like I was the ace in her sleeve. The handsome son of the man she desperately wanted to work for." Adrien sighed.

"The way she went on about you and your family made me think that maybe you had already asked. But that makes sense. No one should be in a relationship that serious without having real feelings for the other person. I have some serious respect for you," she hit his arm, "Pretty Boy."

"You know what?" Adrien laughed, "I really hate that nickname."

88888888

"Now, Mon Chou, remind me who we're waiting for?" Tom looked at his fidgeting daughter across the couch.

Marinette sighed, "Papa, he's a friend from middle school. His name is Adrien."

Sabine raised an eyebrow, "Adrien Adrien?"

Marinette frowned, but decided that lying at this moment was not the right choice, "Yes."

"Is this some way of telling me that you're dating this boy?" Tom wiggled his eyebrows.

Marinette put her hand over her eyes, feeling the embarrassment creeping up her neck and onto her cheeks, "No papa, I'm not dating him. But everyone thinks we are. Between you, Alya, and the boys at the precinct, I am starting to think we're dating."

Sabine smiled, "The precinct? Is Adrien Adrien the handsome policeman in training that comes into the bakery every day?"

Tom perked up, "The one that buys the blueberry muffins?"

Marinette felt her worries melt away at her parent's sincere reaction to this new information. She sighed, "Yes and yes." Marinette laughed at little at her parents. They were simple, but cared for her, and cared for their home and the bakery. She wanted to be frustrated with them for trying to pry open her life. But, she could only see through their eyes that it was good for her to have a friend. Hopefully they would stop caring about if she was dating the handsome Adrien, and focus on that they were becoming friends. She bit her lip. He was pretty handsome, though.

Her luck saved her, and there was a knock on the door. She jumped out of her seat and raced to the door. She swung it open to see Adrien in a pair of nice jeans and a simple t-shirt. Her heart skipped.

"Bonjour Adrien." She laughed.

Adrien smiled back, "Bonjour Marinette."

She smiled at him for an awkward moment before she stepped aside, and held her hand out towards the inside of her small home, "Please, come in."

Adrien danced past her and into the living room, "Thank you."

Tom and Sabine stood from the couch and walked over to Adrien and Marinette. Marinette shut the door quickly, and turned to see her parents approaching. She just hoped Adrien was prepared. They were going to smother him.

"Good Evening, my boy!" Tom laughed, and held out his hand, "Welcome to my humble home. Marinette was right to invite you over. You are thin as a rail. You can have extra dessert."

Adrien took his hand, "Thank you, Sir. I'm a fan of your baking, so I'm sure extra dessert will be a treat."

Tom pulled Adrien into a side hug, "Good. I like a young man with an appetite."

Sabine laughed, and held Adrien's face in her small hands, she turned it from side to side, examining him, "Don't mind my husband. He is convinced that a good cake can solve any problem. I think that you could use a real meal before sweets." She let him go and smiled at him, "Do you like salmon?"

Adrien felt his catlike instincts kick in and his stomach rumbled. He hadn't had any kind of fish in months. He didn't know how to cook it, and didn't want to pay for the kind he craved. So he had gone without, and when Marinette had opened the door, and the smell of dinner hit his nose, he had hoped that it was fish that awaited him. He smiled, "Salmon is one of my favorites."

"Perfect!" Marinette laughed nervously, and pushed Adrien to the table and right past her parents. She gestured to the table, "You can sit wherever you like." She smiled.

Adrien's heart fluttered. Marinette's hair was down, falling in soft curls down past her shoulders, and she was wearing a sweatshirt over a pair of old, well-loved jeans. She was in her comfort zone here, and she was adorable.

Adrien pulled back a chair, and sat down, "I think here is a good spot."

"A good choice!" Tom laughed, and sat down next to Adrien, "From here you can reach all the food, which you clearly need."

Adrien laughed a little. It was odd to be encouraged to eat food rather than being restricted to certain kinds or amounts. The more he thought about it, the more he started to really like Marinette's father. Something in his heart stirred.

Sabine sat down at the table, "Marinette, can you grab the salmon from the oven, and the vegetables from the pot? Once we get the food down on the table, we can eat."

"Of course, mama." Marinette turned to the kitchen and shuffled around.

Adrien raised an eyebrow, "Do you need help, Marinette?"

Marinette waved him off, "I'm fine. But thanks."

Sabine looked to Adrien, "While we wait, why don't you tell us a little about yourself, Adrien?"

Adrien paled, but slid easily into the mode of answering questions about himself, "Well, until a few months ago, I was working for my father, Gabriel Agreste, as a model. I had never been anything but a model. My mother was a model, and my father a designer, so it was natural for me to find a place in that world early in my life. I liked it, for a little while, but it got boring, and I was always on display. So finally, I decided that modelling just wasn't for me and found an opening in the officer training program. So far, it's been a lot more fun than wearing fancy clothes for a living."

"When you say you worked for your father, does that mean your father also owns a modeling company?" Tom asked.

Adrien hummed, "Yes and no. I was a part of my father's inner circle. So I was being trained to take over the company. Kind of. But at the same time I was more of an elite employee than his family. I worked for an agency that contracted me to my father only. Like a private deal. It's strange to think of it like that now."

"Well, I'm glad that you're someplace you enjoy." Sabine waved her hand, "It's no fun to work in a place that you don't at least enjoy the work a little."

Adrien laughed, "That's true! And you guys know that best of all. You must really love baking, to open and run a bakery successfully is nothing to sneeze at. Truly I've never had a better muffin in my life."

Tom puffed out his large chest, "I love a job well done. And baking is very satisfying. My mother made the best bread I'd ever had. And I wanted to share my love for homemade bread with everyone I could. So I opened a bakery. It's worked out well for me."

"It suits you, Papa." Marinette returned to the table with a few large bowls and a few serving spoons. Adrien jumped up and immediately held out his hands.

"How can I help?" He looked at her.

She smiled, "Take this big bowl of veggies?"

He scooped the bowl out of her arms, and turned to set it on the table. He turned back to Marinette and grabbed all of the serving utensils from her hands, feeling their fingers brush against one another for a moment.

"That everything?" He asked shyly.

"I just have to grab drink from the fridge." She let out a breath, and looked at Adrien with kind eyes, "Strawberry or Peach?"

"Peach." Adrien smirked.

Marinette felt her eyes get stuck to his for a moment, "Peach." She nodded and turned back to the kitchen to grab the drink, and Adrien sat back down, watching Marinette walk to the fridge. Sabine looked to Tom. Tom turned to Adrien, "Do you play videogames?"

Adrien turned to Tom, "What?"

88888888

Adrien's alarm rang in his ears. He sat up slowly, and hit the alarm clock's many buttons until the beeping turned off. He rubbed his eyes, and leaned over his knees. It had been a late night out on the town with Ladybug last night. He had probably been out until three in the morning, if he had to guess. La Papillon was getting smarter and so were his akuma. It was going to be a rough week with that kind of heroism behind him. His phone dinged. He brightened a little, hope brimming in his chest that it was Marinette.

He picked up the phone and pressed the main button. His face split into a smile. Marinette had texted him.

- Good Morning, Officer! ;) -

- Good Morning, Mademoiselle. -

- The bakery has been awake for a few hours, but I figured it was just about time to wake up in the world of pasta and microwave dinners. I hope you slept well. -

- I did.-

- Well, I have bread to bake and muffins to pack up for my favorite customer. I just wanted to say hey. See you soon. :) -

Adrien smiled sleepily. Maybe he could make it through the day after all. Blueberry muffins and coffee were always something to look forward to. He started, her favorite customer?

88888888

"My Lady, if you would please step off of my tail, I would appreciate it." Chat Noir hummed, a little annoyed.

Ladybug groaned, and lifted her left foot and then her right, "Sorry, Chatton." She sighed, then put her hand on her hips, "It's not really a tail, you know."

Chat Noir huffed, but smirked anyway, "You know they say love is blind."

Ladybug furrowed her eyebrows, "Did you win your girlfriend over with your witty remarks, Chat Noir? Or was it your poorly timed sense of humor? Surely she knows what a gem you are."

"Let's be clear, I was not the one that came around the corner, guns blazing, and ran right into the akuma's trap. It's your own fault that you're blind until further notice. It is my pleasure however, to watch you try to navigate your way around without your eyes." He laughed lightly. He conveniently left out the part that the girl he was enamored with was not yet is girlfriend.

"Ugh," Ladybug groaned, "Where is he? Let's get this over with."

Chat Noir laughed, "He's in the museum, blinding people that get in the way of him reading the braille on the statues. Would you like me to escort you there?"

Ladybug sighed, "Like I'll be of much use. How about I come with you and you get me his walking stick. Then I'll free him from the akuma and get my eyes back."

"Maybe you'll get them back, and find you only have eyes for me." He grinned.

Ladybug could see his eyebrows move up and down without working eyesight. She groaned, "Can we just go, please?"

Chat Noir laughed, and took Ladybug by the hand, "Ready?"

"As I'll ever be."

88888888

"Mama, what are you doing?" Marinette came down from her room after changing into her work clothes for the day. Her mother was putting together a few sandwiches.

"I'm packing lunches. For you, your father, and your sweet police friend. Adrien. I hope he likes turkey." Sabine smiled.

Marinette sighed, "Mama, you don't have to do that. Adrien packs his own lunch, he doesn't need two."

"He's so skinny. He needs two lunches every day for the rest of the month." Sabine threw a cookie and a drink pouch in each bag and folded down the tops.

Marinette rolled her eyes, but pecked her mother on the cheek, "He will be grateful. Thank you mama."

Sabine shoved the lunches into Marinette's arms, "Get going or you'll be late. Your father needs you today. We have two wedding cakes to get out."

Marinette laughed, "Yes, ma'am."

She made her way down to the bakery, and put her lunch and her father's lunch in the fridge. She grabbed Adrien's order from the back counter and felt that it was heavier than normal. She popped it open to find extra sweets packed on top. There was also a note telling her she was not to charge him for his order. She sighed, her parents wouldn't be convinced Adrien didn't need food. Marinette hoped he had a metabolism that could keep up with her parents. She set the bag of treats and his lunch down in the counter as she tied the bow of her apron behind her.

The doorbell rang, she looked up.

"Welcome to the," she smiled, "Bonjour Adrien."

"Bonjour Marinette. I wanted to thank you for inviting me to dinner the other night. It was wonderful." He smiled.

Marinette laughed, "Well it's a gift that keeps on giving. Today your breakfast and lunch have been provided by the Dupain-Chengs. On the house." She pushed the two bags at him.

"What? I can't accept this." He stammered.

"My mother is a strict Chinese woman and my deeply French father made these just for you. Either you can accept them, or they will come out here and make you take them." Marinette smirked, "You wouldn't want to disappoint them, would you?"

Adrien glanced at the bags. He hadn't done anything that warranted them giving him food. He took them both uneasily, and Marinette snatched his mug from him.

"Well, tell your parents thank you again." Adrien smiled, feeling an odd sensation in his chest. It wasn't like when he thought about Marinette. That was adoration, he knew that well enough. She was light and bright and lovely, and made him coffee and muffins. This feeling was different. And it wasn't like when Nathalie packed his backpack as a kid. But it was somewhere in that realm. He felt warm, and lighter somehow. He wasn't quite sure what to do with a feeling like that. So, he let it be, and tried to just enjoy it.

Marinette smiled, coming around the counter to put the coffee mug in his hand. She laughed, "They say you're welcome. Now you should get going. Wouldn't want you to be late. Gotta make Lam and Ronny jealous." She winked.

Adrien felt the heat race across his face and ears. He shoved the bags of food into his shoulder bag, and smiled awkwardly, "Good idea." He turned to leave.

Marinette waved, "Have a good day, Adrien."

Adrien nodded, "You too."

88888888

Ladybug looked up at the airplane. Anger bubbled beneath her skin. This was precisely why La Papillon deserved everything that was coming to him. It was akuma like this that made her want to search high and low until she found La Papillon, wring his neck and rip the wings off his precious butterflies. To tear his miraculous from him and make sure he never got to the hearts of children again. Akumatizing children was never acceptable. It was unforgivable. Her mind flashed back briefly to her teenage years when Manon had been akumatized. She clenched her teeth. What a monster La Papillon was turning out to be.

"My Lady, I don't mean to be a pest, but there is an airplane headed straight for the heart of Paris. Those poor passengers probably don't even know what's happening." Chat Noir waved his hands at the plane.

"I can see that, Chatton." She sighed, and pinched her nose, trying to ease the anger from her features. It wasn't working well.

Chat Noir huffed, "I never thought I would be so grateful for that. Blind Ladybug is not my favorite version of Ladybug."

"If only you were even half as cute as you think you are." Ladybug rolled her eyes, and braced herself by bending her knees. Without a second thought, she sprouted wings and felt her feet lift off the ground. She hovered for a moment, shooting him a teasing look, "Are you coming chatton?"

Chat Noir spun his staff in his hands, "Ready and willing My Lady."

Ladybug turned and shot towards the Eiffel Tower, where she was sure the little boy that had been akumatized was controlling the large paper airplanes flying around the city and the one very real airplane flying straight towards the city. She spotted him, and landed lightly at the base of the tower. Chat Noir landed next to her.

"What are you thinking?" He asked.

Ladybug frowned, "I'm thinking that I can't stop a moving airplane, even if I am stronger than most, I'm not that strong. So our time is short. If I can get to him, and the akuma before the plane crashes it should resume its course. Can you move people away from the city, encourage them to get away from the danger?"

"I shall run with cat-like speed and reflexes." He bowed and then ran towards the city.

Ladybug took a deep breath. She was going to have to get this right on the first try, or there was going to be more trouble than she was quite ready for.

88888888

- How is your day? -

Marinette looked at her phone, displaying the simple message on her screen. Behind the message on her lock screen, was a picture of her and Alya, covered in icing and cake batter. The message seemed to be smiling at her. She slid the lock on her phone, and the message opened. She typed quickly back.

- It's been alright. Up to my ears in croissants, but it's alright. -

- That doesn't sound like a bad thing. -

- They are pretty delicious. -

She paused, and smiled to herself.

- You are invited to dinner again, by the way. -

Adrien looked down at the message. His heart fluttered. Dinner with Marinette again? How could he possibly say no? At the same time, his manners told him that he should politely decline, since it would be rude to take advantage of the hospitality of the Dupain-Chengs more that he already did. He hadn't paid for his muffins and coffee in weeks, and on top of free muffins and coffee, he'd also had a lunch packed for him every day. He still wasn't quite sure how he was supposed to react to that. He felt spoiled, and eternally grateful.

- I've eaten enough of your family's food. I don't need you to make me dinner too. -

- Oh, don't be mistaken. My dad is just sore that you beat him at that battle royale video game last time you were over. This isn't about dinner, this is about a rematch.-

Adrien grinned, feeling that familiarly strange feeling stir inside his chest again.

- In that case, I will be there. I can't turn down a challenge from a worthy opponent. -

Marinette laughed.

- I'll let him know. -

88888888

Ladybug sighed, and let herself relax. Her earrings bleeped, and she ignored it. They had won the day. Paris was safe, for now, and she was feeling better about her life than she normally did. She looked to Chat Noir. Her heart swelled and she couldn't keep her feelings trapped behind her tongue.

"You know," she hummed, "I'm really glad that you're my partner, Chatton."

He bowed, and wiggled his pointed ears, "I'm flattered, My Lady."

A funny feeling struck her heart, and the truth slipped past her pink lips, "And I'm glad that you have found love with someone that can offer you what you need. And I'm glad that we're still friends. And I'm just so glad that I didn't lose you."

Chat Noir felt his heart skip, "Lose me, Dear Ladybug?"

"I was so worried that when I told you that I didn't have romantic feelings for you, that you might fall away from me. Like, we would be partners, but not friends. Paris would be safe, but I would be lonely." Her earrings bleeped again. Again she ignored them.

"My Lady, there is a part of my heart that will always be yours, and the fact that I am romantically interested in someone else doesn't mean I don't still care for you." He raised an eyebrow, "Are girls so stupid to think that a man's affection is so easily lost?"

Ladybug shrugged with a laugh, "I'm not sure about other girls. Maybe it's just me. Maybe I've had too many bad experiences, too many missed chances. Besides that, I just wanted to let you know that you are my best friend, Chat Noir. I don't know who you are under your mask, and I don't know your real name, but I trust you and care for you more than I care for anyone else."

Chat Noir felt his stomach flip, she was awfully forthcoming about her feelings today. It made him feel like a balloon, floating higher until he felt he might be able to touch the sun. At the same time, it made him feel a bit uneasy, like he was maybe flying too high. He almost wished for his sassy, outspoken Ladybug back. Almost. Still, praise was praise, and it would be a lie to say that he didn't feel the same way.

"There is no one I would rather save Paris with." Chat Noir shot her a grin.

She laughed, "Not even your girlfriend?"

His eyes slanted, and slid over to meet hers in a sideways glance as the left side of his mouth quirked up to show his feline teeth, "Well…"

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Marinette walked out into the bakery cafe, and almost dropped her pan of freshly frosted cupcakes. She steadied herself, and the teetering cupcakes, and blinked to make sure she was seeing correctly. She still wasn't sure what she was seeing. She set the cupcakes down on the back counter, and started to move them from the tray to the glass display case, gazing out into the cafe through the clear glass, still skeptical.

Sitting in the seat at the furthest table, closest to the main window where the sun was starting to come through, was Adrien. The sun shot through the window and hit the ends of his hair, and made the already blonde mess seem to shine a little like gold. He didn't seem to notice her staring at him. Which was probably good. He had his headphones in his ears, she could see the green cord leading to his pocket, and the hood of his jacket up over his head, with his head down. He was scribbling in his notebook and flipping through his notebooks and study guides. He seemed to be content, and deep in thought. Marinette's heart skipped.

What was he doing here at such a weird time? It was Saturday, so he didn't have academy today, but he didn't usually come around on his off days. Marinette felt herself purse her lips in deep thought. She continued to line the cupcakes up on the shelf. Maybe he had come in to sit in the sun? She thought about leaving him alone for two more seconds before she turned, abandoning the cupcakes, and went back into the bakery. She shuffled around in the cupboards for a mug, and grabbed a fresh apple streusel muffin from the oven cooling rack. She buzzed back out into the cafe, and filled the mug with fresh coffee, and added a squeeze of whipped cream to the top. She picked them both up, and took a deep breath.

She walked to the table and set them down on the table. Adrien jumped a little, and looked at the treats and then to her, and then a large smile spread from one side of his face to the other. He pulled one headphone out of his ear, and Marinette heard the familiar buzz of Jagged Stone. She pushed down her desire to sing along.

"Bonjour Marinette," he laughed, "You spooked me."

Marinette smirked, hands on her hips, "You were in pretty deep. I noticed you didn't have a snack, or anything to drink. So I took it upon myself to fix that problem."

He laughed again, "Well thank you." He grabbed the coffee mug, and set it to his lips, sipping the coffee from under the whipped cream, "I hope you don't mind me studying in your cafe. My neighbors above me have decided to have a roller derby in their apartment. At least, that's what it sounds like."

Marinette laughed, "That seems like more effort than it would be worth."

Adrien held up his hands, "Who am I to judge the hobbies of other people? But it is rather loud and distracting, whatever it is they're doing."

"That would make studying hard." Marinette offered.

"Yes," He sighed, "So I decided to study somewhere else. And I walked out of my apartment, and there is was. The bakery, with it's gold letters and quiet cafe, and I couldn't stay away." He smiled a heart stopping smile at her.

She put her hands in her apron pockets, "Well, you're welcome here anytime you'd like."

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Marinette hadn't realized that when she told Adrien he could come around anytime, that he would come to the bakery basically every spare moment he got. He started to come in the morning to get his snacks and coffee, and a sack lunch that her mother packed for him every day. Then after his day at the academy, he would bring all of his books and sit at the far table, closest to the window, until they closed. He would then help Marinette tidy up the store, or at least distract her while she tidied, and say his goodbyes until the next day.

Then there were times when he spent more time trying to get into the confection case than he did studying his manuals and guides. He claimed that he wanted to be able to offer an honest review for all of the treats they sold at the bakery. He also spent a fair amount of time helping to move cupcakes and cookies from the tall cooling racks to the display cases. Marinette always threatened to count them. So far, only two had gone missing. A Dupain-Cheng family recipe chocolate chip cookie, and a cheese danish. But they were house favorites, so Marinette couldn't fault him for those.

Other times he sat at his table and studied undistracted until he fell asleep. He would end up with his head on one of his books, and his headphones falling out of his ears. The store would close, and Marinette would have to shake him awake at the end of the day. He would sleepily sit up and gather his things, and after a good night's rest, be back the next day, bright and early.

He was in the cafe so often that the small table nearest to the window where the sun spilled in had become his table. It was always open, and he always sat there. Even when the sun wasn't shining. Though Marinette mused that it must have to do with the sun, since he moved his chair, almost unknowingly, around the table to follow the sun when it was out. Marinette had drawn the connection to this behavior and cats, which made her think of a certain obnoxious cat, and she set the thought from her mind. Adrien was not a cat.

Even more to her surprise, after about two weeks of Adrien hanging around in the bakery all week long, her parents invited him to spend the day with them on the weekends. Adrien refused at first, claiming that he already spent too much time causing trouble for them, but finally agreed to come after Sabine begged him.

He was weak to her chinese charms, as most all french men were.

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"Really," Adrien bowed at the door, backing towards the stairs, "I can't stay any longer, I have to get some sleep before my test tomorrow or I will lose my spot at the top of the class."

Sabine frowned a bit, "Well, you're welcome anytime my dear."

"Yes, anytime." Tom smiled.

Marinette rolled her eyes.

"Thank you. Your hospitality has no equal." He smiled.

Sabine brightened, "Well, since you have to go so early tonight, why don't you come back tomorrow and go with Marinette and Tom to buy supplies for the store. They could use the extra set of arms."

Marinette paled, she'd forgotten that she agreed to go with her dad to do that. She looked to Adrien, "Yeah, it'd be great to have you."

Adrien beamed, "Then I'll be there."

Marinette sighed with relief. She wouldn't be alone with her father all day long. She might make it out of the store alive, and before her whole day had been eaten up by the adventure. She smiled at Adrien, "Merci."

"Tomorrow then," his eyes flickered to Tom, then back to Marinette where they lingered for a moment longer than he meant for them to.

"We're leaving at seven." Tom smiled.

Adrien smiled at Marinette, "Seven."

They said their goodbyes, and Adrien stood at the bottom of the stairs, and horror shot through his heart as he realized that he hadn't even thought about it. He'd just agreed to come. Not because Sabine asked, or because Tom wanted him to, but because Marinette had implied that it would be nice to have him there. He realized with a sense of terror and elation that if she asked him, he would probably do just about anything.

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Adrien jumped up on the couch with a victorious howl, and mockingly pointed two fingers at Marinette, "The champion has been dethroned! I new king has been crowned! You lose!"

Marinette grinned, "Oh yeah, big shot? How about you press 'A', and we'll see who the loser is." She raised an eyebrow at him.

"You can't beat me." He boasted, "I am blessed by the great spirit of video games, Tom Dupain-Cheng."

Marinette scoffed, "His blood runs through my veins! Victory is my birthright."

Adrien sat back down, and pressed the button on his controller.

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If Marinette had told herself a month ago that she would be used to seeing Adrien Agreste at the table next to the window every day, she would have told herself there was no way. If she had told herself that she would also get used to seeing Adrien on her sofa in her living room, she probably would have had a heart attack. However, despite how strange it might have seemed three weeks ago, it was now a completely normal occurrence for her to see Adrien wherever she was. He was always around it seemed.

And she kept expecting her heart to jump out of her chest, or for her bones to leap from her skin whenever she saw him, but instead of her girlish reactions, she usually just felt a warmth in her chest. Like he was just a part of her life now. It was normal to have him around. The normalcy of him being around didn't change that her heart flipped over every time she saw him, though. That was also becoming quite normal.

After finding out that he was basically an orphan, her parents had almost immediately welcomed him into their family with open arms and two kitchens full of food. Luckily, Adrien seemed to have a hollow leg, and a tapeworm, and a small black hole inside of his stomach, since no matter how much food they gave him, he seemed to always have somewhere to put it. Which was impressive to say the least, since her parents seemed to have an endless supply of food. And treats. And snacks.

Marinette walked to the cupboard of snacks in her cupboard, and pulled two packs of fruit snacks from the container. She walked towards the couch, and tossed one at Adrien. She was too distracted by opening her own pack of snacks to see Adrien catch it without looking.

She plopped down on the couch, and put her feet up on the ottoman. Adrien looked up from his studying. Marinette tossed one of the gummy snacks in the air, and caught it in her mouth.

"That's impressive." Adrien hummed.

Marinette swallowed, "No. What's impressive is the amount of studying you do. You're so vigilant." She smiled.

He groaned, and leaned back on the couch, "My brain is fried. I need a break." He pretended to be surprised, "Oh look, fruit snacks."

The door handle jiggled, and Tom and Sabine walked through the door.

"I just think that it would be a good idea to consider." Sabine offered.

Tom rolled his eyes, "I will think about it."

Sabine smiled, "Bonjour, Adrien dear."

"Bonjour Adrien." Tom echoed.

Sabine turned back to Tom, and walked towards their bedroom, "But are you going to think about it in time to make it work?"

Tom laughed, and followed her, "I'm thinking, I'm thinking."

"Excuse me?" Marinette whined, "Bonjour to you too!" She huffed.

Sabine stopped, "Hmm?" then scoffed, "Oh yes, Bonjour love."

Tom waved.

Marinette pouted a little.

They disappeared into the depths of the house, and Marinette sighed. Her parents were now used to having him around. She even felt like maybe they liked him more than they liked her. He was a strange addition to the family that no one had really been expecting, but it was strange to think of the space of her house and the table of the cafe without Adrien in them.

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"Don't stay up too late, Mon Chou." Tom kissed Marinette's hair, "We have a big day tomorrow." he turned to Adrien, "And if you get too tired, you just sleep on the couch. Marinette will bring you a spare pillow and blanket."

Adrien waved a hand, "Thank you, Tom. But I would feel bad if I kept Marinette up late. I won't stay much longer. Just long enough to help with the dishes." He winked at Sabine.

She snickered, and grabbed Tom by the hand, "We have to go. You kids have fun. See you tomorrow afternoon."

"Be safe." Marinette waved as her parents disappeared down the stairs.

Adrien turned to Marinette, "I really don't want to keep you up. You've had a long week." He offered, "I won't stay too long."

Marinette felt herself get a little sad at the thought of him being gone. And she glanced outside. A bright smile burst across her face, "I have a better idea."

Adrien blinked, "Wait. What?"

Marinette dashed past him and into the kitchen. She grabbed a box of cookies from the cupboard, "Forget the dishes, I'll do them tomorrow. Normally I would challenge you to a game, but I just looked outside, and I can see the stars. I want to show you the best view in France."

"Well I won't turn that down." He smiled.

"Come on," Marinette nodded towards the stairs.

Adrien stopped, "I can't. I wouldn't want to invade your family's space."

Marinette huffed, "I give you permission. We can't get there from here. It's my private escape and I'm trying to share it with you. Come on."

Adrien teetered on his heels for a moment, looking into Marinette's pleading eyes, and lost all ability to fight with her. He sighed, "Fine, but let me carry the cookies."

"No." Marinette clutched them to her chest, "You can't be trusted." She started to walk up the stairs.

Adrien huffed, and followed her, "I can too."

She laughed, and made her way up another short flight of stairs. She turned to him, "You've been here before you know. It was different then, but you've been in my room before. I was better than you at video games then, too."

Adrien thought back, and remembered the video game tournament from all those years ago. Some of his uneasiness about being in the depths of her home dissipated. He smiled, "Yeah I guess I have." He followed her into her room.

She didn't stop, though, and climbed up another set of small stairs and towards a small skylight window. She smiled down at him, "Welcome to my secret haven. The best view in all of France."

Adrien raised and eyebrow and walked nervously through the space that looked and felt and smelled a little too much like Marinette. When he poked his head out of the small skylight window, he was surprised to see a fairly sized balcony.

"Wow!" he commented, "this is pretty cool."

"When we bought the bakery and this house, my parents could have easily taken this for themselves. But I begged my papa to let me have the room and the balcony. He agreed that since he got the bakery, it was only fair that I have the balcony." Marinette smiled.

Adrien hoisted himself through the window, and dusted off his hands. He looked around, seeing the park below, the dim street lights, and the Eiffel Tower in the distance. He put his hands in his pockets, "You weren't kidding. This is the best view in all of France."

"Right?" Marinette sat down next to the rails, and fished her legs through the bars, letting her feet swing in the chill night air. She looked back to Adrien, "Come sit by me."

He laughed and joined her, following her example by letting his legs swing over the edge of her roof. He glanced at her. She offered him a cookie from the box.

The world slowed, and Adrien felt that familiar warm feeling in his chest. He looked past Marinette to the Eiffel Tower, and then up to the stars. He had been feeling the feeling of belonging for so long now, it overcame him. And in that moment, after weeks of being welcomed into the Dupain-Cheng home, and being showered with love and food, it hit him. This feeling is what he had always wanted. This sense of a place where people knew him, and wanted him to do well. He was shocked to realize that his heart considered the Dupain-Chengs to be his family. That was the warm feeling. He had a place and friends, and a family.

"Can I be honest with you?" He smiled, taking a handful of the small cookies.

Marinette took some out of the box and set it between them, "Of course."

"I have been thinking about this for some time now, and I just want you to know. Your friendship, and the kindness and the hospitality that your family have shown me, I've never had anything like that before. It's amazing." He grinned.

Marinette looked at him for a second, "You didn't have anything like this? What about your mom and dad? At all?"

Adrien shook his head, "Not at all. At least, not like this. When I was a kid, my life was full of glamour. My mother was a model, and my father was a fashion designer. It was like a fairytale for them. People still talk about how magical their relationship was. But to me, they were always just a little too far away. My mother loved me, I have no question about that. She would read me stories, and she taught me to play the piano. But she was always too busy to pack me lunches. Not that she needed to, I was privately tutored, so all of my meals and teachers came to me."

"That sounds lonely." Marinette hummed.

"It was." He looked at her with a sad smile.

"After my mother," He sighed, "Without my mom, my father became even more distrusting, cold and distant. To say that he was unloving is a stretch, but there was a lot less emotion there than I would have wanted. And, as I grew up, I became more and more of a business bargaining chip than his son. The son of famous model and designer couple, with the looks and talent of my mother and the backing of my father, I was destined for greatness. Or at least that's what people told me. After a while, I stopped expecting any kind of parental feelings from my father."

"Adrien," Marinette touched his shoulder.

Adrien laughed, "It's okay. I made it through. But Marinette," He turned to look at her, "Would it be too forward of me to say that I feel like I've found what I've been missing? Would it be strange to say that I feel like your parents, and you, are my family? This house, this bakery, this past month that I've spent with you, it's been the time of my life. I have never felt more at home. Besides Nino, you are the best friend I have. I don't really know how to describe it."

Marinette felt something stir inside her heart. Looking at Adrien right now, with the truth on his lips and the starlight in his hair, she felt her pulse quicken and her heart stutter. His family? Best friend? Her heart sank a little, is that all she was? She blinked at her own thoughts, feeling a little surprised. Did she want to be more than his friend?

"But lots of people cared about you, at least in school it felt like we all embraced you." Marinette offered, her heart still fluttering a bit.

"They only cared because of my status and money. Some people were more impressed by that than others. You didn't seem to care. Neither did Nino. But I've never felt like this before. Like, I'm supported, and if I wanted to be a garbage man or a janitor or a secretary or a school teacher your parents would be happy for me." he turned and caught her gaze, "You would be happy for me."

She laughed, "Yes I would."

Adrien hummed, and took another handful of cookies, "I never thought that this feeling could really exist. I feel so, like, at peace." He looked at her, "That sounds so corny!"

She laughed harder, "That's what a family is supposed to feel like. And I'm glad that my family can be your family. Everyone should belong somewhere. I don't know what I'd do without my parents. So I'll share them with you."

Adrien smiled at her, and she felt her heart skip, "Thank you."

She scoffed, "That's what friends, and family, are for."