A/N: UGH! I still haven't finished writing what was originally just going to be one chapter long! Now it will be five, maybe more it I add something else to the story in between!

I really need sleep... But I needed to finish this chapter because I was on a roll... Updating now before I pass out!

Chapter 36

~Tom's POV~

I smiled as I stood next to Sabine with my hand resting on her shoulder opposite from me. The teenagers were leaving for the night, seeming to be happy about the current turn out of their movie, and the obvious development between their two missing friends. Sabine and I were also quite happy, because we had noticed that Adrien seemed to be growing closer to Marinette.

She was the first to notice that Adrien had his arm around her while they watched the film. We both couldn't stop smiling for a while, feeling amused by how awkward the moment was for each of them. The boy was unsure of himself, seemingly wary of the girl's reaction. The girl just seemed in a daze, but also conflicted.

"She wants to be closer to him…" Sabine had whispered to me quietly. "Probably wants to lay her head on his shoulder…"

About a minute after we noticed Adrien's actions, I had noticed that he was looking at Marinette with a much fonder look than I've ever seen him give her before.

"Alya's plan seems to be working." Sabine said to me quietly and I nodded in agreement. The director of the movie had told Sabine and I about the overall purpose of her film the first time they came to our home to record. It made my wife and I very excited since we knew how badly Marinette wanted to be more than just a friend to Adrien.

"I think I'm going to have a little chat with him later." I told Sabine and she looked up at me with a knowing smile. At the same moment that she settled her attention back on the screen, I decided that I would have a little fun with the situation at hand.

I chose a good time to narrow my eyes in a false disapproving look because as soon as I decided I had a convincing expression, Adrien's eyes flicked up and met mine. It was with great difficulty that I kept my composure instead of laughing as I could see a mixture of regret, panic and discomfort cross his features.

I felt bad later, seeing how much that look I gave him affected him to the point that it had Marinette worried. Though the regret instantly went away when I noticed she finally tried to talk to him about it. He seemed to avoid telling her that it was me that made her uncomfortable which made me to further believe that Adrien had developed stronger feelings for my daughter.

It took almost everyone by surprise when she stood suddenly and left the room quickly, pulling the poor boy behind her by the wrist. The girls and Nino instantly started to talk about it quickly between themselves, making it obvious that the other two knew about Alya's plan and that they were very excited at the possibility of it happening.

Everyone had now left except for Alya. She turned to look at Sabine and I with a hopeful expression. "Actually, can I stay to show Marinette something about the movie?"

"Sure thing, Dear." Sabine answered for the both of us with a smile. "I'll send her up after she's finished with Adrien."

Alya's eyes instantly glowed with a matching grin. "Thank you!" She called as she had already turned and started running up to Marinette's room excitedly.

"Are you going to go have that chat with Adrien now?" Sabine asked me with a small, amused smile.

I nodded in response. "He's been alone with Marinette long enough. I think I'd like to see what the two of them are up to."

"Don't be too hard on him." Sabine added with a playful gleam in her eyes. "You know what it's like being a young teenage boy in love."

"I sure do." I responded with a smile and gave Sabine a quick kiss on her cheek. "You wait in the living room and make sure Marinette makes it upstairs to Alya. I'll tell you everything that goes on with Adrien after I finish talking with him."

Sabine smiled and nodded in response then turned and left the front door to take a seat on the couch. I grinned to myself as I turned and made my way to the kitchen, knowing that was where Marinette and Adrien were.

I stopped in the doorway and had to cover up my grin with a scowl to keep up my protective-dad act, crossing my arms to add to the effect. The two teenagers were currently hugging and each obviously didn't want to let go. A second later, however, Marinette was the first to pull away, but she surprised Adrien and myself by giving him a kiss on the cheek. I didn't know what they had talked about, but I was sure I was about to find out.

The next emotions that crossed Adrien's face were of utmost amusement to me. There was the satisfaction and embarrassment that lingered from the hug, the shock that replaced the satisfaction when she kissed him, and finally the discomfort that was added when he noticed that I was standing there, watching them, though I kept my eyes fixed on Adrien.

Then Marinette turned, looking at me with panic, embarrassment and slight confusion. "We were just talking."

"I see." I said, inwardly enjoying the way Adrien looked uncomfortable from my intense gaze. "I would like to have a turn talking with Adrien now though, if you wouldn't mind, Marinette. All of your other friends have left."

Adrien looked down, shuffling his feet nervously, and Marinette glanced at Adrien, still looking worried about the boy. When she turned back to me, I met her eyes for a second before fixing them on the boy again.

Marinette's steps were slow, obviously reluctant to leave Adrien's side. That was something I knew he had to have noticed, because I saw his eyes trailing her as she left him as if he were silently pleading that she didn't leave him alone with me.

"Dad, please…" Marinette said to me quietly as she stopped next to me in the doorway. I could see that she was begging me not to embarrass him or her, or scare him off. But I could also see that she desperately wanted to understand why I was doing this since she knew that I knew she loved this boy standing awkwardly in the kitchen.

I looked at her for only a second before I cracked a half smile and gave her a wink. I knew that it surprised her, seeing that her mouth was agape as she turned then continued to walk away silently. I knew that she got the message, or at least was starting to. I was just playing around. I wasn't really upset with Adrien, I just wanted to talk.

"So." I said as I turned back to Adrien. I saw his head snap up; his eyes wide with alarm. I walked forward slowly, turning to walk to the dining table. I gestured an arm towards it, still looking at him. "I think we should talk, Son."

~Adrien's POV~

Son?! What is that supposed to mean?! Does he hate my guts or not?!

I had to force my legs to move towards the table. My steps were slow, and I couldn't feel my feet. It was like I was in some alternate reality, in some sort of crazy dream. I desperately wished Marinette would come back. Hugging her felt really nice, and so did her calming actions, and that kiss.

Oh, that kiss!

I knew it probably didn't mean anything, but I never received genuine affection like that from anyone, especially not Marinette. It was just a simple kiss on the cheek, but it made my heart race a thousand kilometers per hour and completely stop all at once.

I found myself taking a seat at the table across from Marinette's father, and I felt so incredibly small next to him. I had a feeling, or rather a hope that he wouldn't harm me, but I knew it wouldn't be difficult for him.

Should I say something? Should I wait for him to speak?

I swallowed, my throat feeling tight, and I was barely aware of the fact that I was trembling slightly from my anxiety. I knew I wouldn't be able to say something if I tried.

"You were hugging her." He spoke, but his tone surprisingly didn't sound hostile. He was just stating an observation. "She kissed your cheek. Earlier, you had an arm around her."

When he paused for a moment longer, I managed to get out a small response. "Y-Yes, Sir."

"Why?" He asked me, but his tone made it obvious he wasn't really asking a question. I knew that he knew the answer, and just wanted to hear me say it.

"I'm sorry."

Marinette's father raised an eyebrow at my curiously. "Why are you apologizing? Do you regret what happened between you two?"

"No!" I answered quickly, but my face went crimson as I sputtered to cover up my outburst. "N-No, I don't regret anything. I just—I'm sorry I went behind your back."

He shifted in his chair, crossing his arms over his chest as he peered at me curiously. "You went behind my back?"

"W-Well, I-I only mean that I didn't talk to you first about my intentions." I clarified, and I saw him nod very slowly, and I hoped that he understood. I knew I was being vague, but it was hard not to be when I was still very nervous about how he would react when I finally said all that was on my mind.

"And what are your intentions, Adrien?" There was no hint of coldness in his voice, and I realized there never had been. It had always just been the way he looked at me that made him seem cold and threatening to me.

I looked down at my hands in my lap and fiddled with my fingers nervously, biting at my bottom lip. I wasn't sure how to put it into words.

Maybe I should be straightforward? Or maybe that would make me sound too eager?

"I…" I started, still searching for the words to say. It helped though, knowing that Marinette's father was so patient with me, letting me gather my thoughts.

Perhaps he went through something similar with Marinette's mother? I'm sure her parents could have been very strict, knowing Chinese traditions.

I finally took a deep breath, gathering up all what little courage I had, and looked at Marinette's father. "I want to talk to you about my chances with Marinette. I want to be allowed to spend more time with her."

"Adrien, you've always been welcomed to our home." He responded, but there was something about the way he looked at me that told me that he knew there was more on my mind.

"I'm happy to know that." I said, though I couldn't show a smile because of how nervous I felt. "But I mean I'd like to spend more time with her outside of just our homes and at school."

"Are you trying to tell me that you'd like permission to take my daughter on dates?" He asked me, his eyebrows lifting as he looked at me. There was nothing at all threatening about his gaze; he was just curious.

I swallowed again, unable to calm my nerves. Very slowly my head lowered then raised in very long, slow nods. "Y-Yes, I would like to take Marinette on dates."

"As friends?" He questioned. "With Alya and Nino, and maybe some of your other friends?"

At the time I couldn't tell that he had taken to tease me since I was so nervous, and almost scared by the thought that Marinette's father didn't want me to be anything more that friends with Marinette.

"No—Well, Yes, sometimes, but no, not as friends." I looked down again, embarrassed with myself further as I could feel my cheeks growing hot and I knew I was blushing in front of the girl I love's father. He didn't say anything for a few seconds, inviting me to continue, so I did.

"I really like your daughter, Sir." I said and forced myself to look at him again. "I really, really like her, and I was hoping that you wouldn't mind if I tried to pursue a relationship with her that is more than just a friendship."

Slowly a smile stretched across his face, turning into a grin. This reaction took me by surprise, and he chuckled, probably noticing my shock. "Out of all the boys that Marinette has mentioned to Sabine and me, her friends, you are the one that we wouldn't mind being more than a friend to her."

"Wait, really?" I asked instantly. My heart was picking up speed again as I stared at him with a dumbfounded look. "You would be okay if she and I were more than friends?"

When he nodded, my heart burst with excitement and happiness. "So much so that you didn't even need to ask me for permission first." He replied as he stood from the table.

My eyebrows knitted slightly with confusion because of how hostile he came off earlier as I too rose from my seat at the table. "But—"

"It was only an act, my dear boy." Marinette's father said with a chuckle. "Just for fun. You'll understand one day when there is a boy asking you to date your daughter."

My eyes widened slightly as I instantly thought about all that would imply. If I had a daughter, I would most likely be married, and currently the only girl I love is—

Marinette.

My cheeks blazed as I thought about the possibility of Marinette being my future wife, and it being our daughter who was being whisked away by some other boy. A little girl that looked just like her; very pretty, and someone guys would be interested in.

"One step at a time, Adrien." I heard Marinette's father's voice cut through my thoughts as he placed a large hand on my shoulder. "One step at a time."

I looked up at him and smiled sheepishly, though I felt a lot better now that I could feel Mr. Dupain's encouragement. It was definitely much better than believing I was going to feel a father's wrath over his little girl.

I left the Dupain-Cheng residence not long after, unable to stop smiling to myself happily. I was so ready to start a relationship with Marinette, if that was what she wanted as well, but at the same time I knew I would still have to wait to ask her.

I couldn't risk confessing to her before the movie was finished in case she didn't feel the same way about me, and filming our scenes together was super awkward. There was the chance that she did feel the same and that nothing would hurt the production of the movie, but I couldn't take that chance. Not yet.

But, I did know this: One day Marinette Dupain-Cheng, the girl I love, would be my girlfriend, and I can't wait for that day to come.