Admittedly I've been having a rough time lately. I'm struggling with at home and family situations and tonight I was so stressed and depressed my mind couldn't even think of sleep.
So I gave up around 2am and went to read my emails.
When I saw the six beautiful reviews in my inbox I felt so overwhelmed by all of your love and kindness that it brought me to tears.
Your support means everything to me. You have no idea how happy all of my readers make me.
Birdie: ok, I'll stop
mayuralover: thank you!
Ab: you know you love my writing.
chatnoirispawsom: MWUAHAHAHAUA
Guest: how could you tell I'm short in real life? IM NOT SHORT IM FUN SIZE!
Without further ado, I bring to you! THE DATE PART ONE!
Adrien's POV
I wait patiently for Marinette to come out of her room so we get to the bakery on time.
When I finally hear her door open I spin around to face her.
I swear if it hadn't been so well attached, my jaw would have hit the floor. Her dark blue hair cascades off her shoulder in an elegant french braid. She wears an emerald green sundress that's cinched into an empire waist line, and a short black cardigan.
Her lips look slightly glossy and when her eyes meet mine I watch her cheeks turn pink.
I take a step forward and kiss her forehead.
"How do I look?" She asks.
I lean down just a bit so that we're eye to eye.
"Stunning." Instead of thanking me she looks away.
"I could never be as beautiful as the models you used to work with." She mumbles.
"They need makeup to be beautiful." I tell her as my thumb wipes away her lip gloss. "You're beautiful the moment you wake up with bed head and wrinkled clothes, to the moment you fall asleep with bags under your tired eyes, and your hair escaping the elastic band's hold. They need fancy clothes, hair extensions, and pounds of makeup to be pretty, you're always beautiful Mari."
She looks up and me in shock before pulling me into a tight hug.
"Thank you, kitty."
"Anything for you, princess." I pull away and hold out my hand with a smile. "Shall we go then?"
She smiles brightly and time seems to stop once more as she takes my hand.
"We shall."
Marinette's POV
Adrien and I step into the bakery. I'm a little confused because the lights are off but the door is unlocked.
We'd had a little trouble finding a parking space. Cars seemed to be lining the streets near the bakery.
"Maman? Papa?" I call out.
Adrien's arm wraps around me and suddenly the lights flip on and several dozen voices scream out at me from all directions.
"WELCOME HOME MARINETTE!"
I shriek and I lose my balance falling backwards. Adrien's arms catch me as he laughs.
Suddenly I'm swarmed by my friends from school.
Everyone is there. Luka, Marc, Nath, Maylene, Ivan, Kim, Alix, Juleka, Rose, Sabrina, Manon, and Max all gather around me as Alya, Nino, Adrien, and my parents take step back and laugh at my shocked expression.
Everyone asks me questions, hugs me, and welcomes me back home.
By the time I finish taking to everyone I'm in tears. Luka, who had been the last in line to see me wipes away my tears.
"Why are you crying Marinette?" He asks in his soft and soothing voice.
Everyone in the bakery looks over at me in concern.
"I missed you all so much!" I sob. Luka pulls me into a hug.
"Group hug!" Alya shouts and before I know it I'm being squished like a bug.
Things do eventually settle down and everyone sits down to eat brunch.
I tell them stories about the Americans I met. Everyone burst out laughing when I explained the issue of road rage in New York.
I tell them about my university, my apartment, and stories about working with the american models. Adrien certainly was amused by my stories of difficult and bratty models. He even cut in several times to share a few experiences of his own about being relentlessly clobbered and hit on by clawed women.
The stories were light hearted and funny and kept up the cheery demeanor of the group.
After a few hours everyone had broken off into groups to chat.
At some point, much to my confusion Alya stands up and calls everyone's attention. Nino stands by her side and takes her hand.
"Alright everyone." She looks to nino and they exchange smiles.
"Alya and I have an announcement to make." Nino informs us with pride. "We wanted to wait Mari was back in Paris to tell everyone."
"We're engaged!" Alya exclaims.
It takes only a second for her words to register before a shriek escapes my lips.
"WHAT?!" I stand quickly from my chair and rush over to my best friend's side. I pull her into a bone crunching hug.
"I'M SO HAPPY FOR YOU ALYA!" I scream. The two of us burst into fits of excited giggles.
When I pull away I look Nino dead in the eye.
"You hurt her, I break you, Nino." I threaten. Nino smiles nervously before I smile, pulling him into a hug.
"Y-Yes, Ma'am."
I pull Alya into one more hug.
"Will you be my Maid of Honor, Mari?" Alya asks.
I pull away and I put my hands on her shoulders.
"Did you even have to ask? Of course I will!" I pull her into another tight hug and I swear my smile will never fade.
I look over to my right and see Nino and Adrien smiling and clapping each other on the back. I don't even have to ask. I already know that Nino asked Adrien to be his Best Man.
One by one people begin to leave and soon enough Nino and Alya head out as well, leaving my Parents, Adrien, Luka and I.
I walk Luka to the door as he tells me about his gigs around Paris and how the same recording company that backs Jagged Stone has been negotiating with him. We say our goodbyes and I'm about to walk back over to Adrien when Luka stops me.
"Marinette?" He asks cooly. I look up at him with a smile.
"Yeah?"
"I was wondering if you wanted to go out sometime. I know you'll be leaving for New York again soon, but I couldn't wait any longer to ask you out. I think you're so beautiful and kind, it's clearly a miracle no one snatched you up in the states." He admits with a dazzling smile.
I glance over to Adrien and he meets my gaze with with this look, maybe it's a shocked look? Surprised but there's something else. Something about it seems off but when he gives me a weird smile and a thumbs up, I turn back to the black and blue haired man before me.
I smile and nod, not entirely sure of myself. I'm curious to see where this goes but something just doesn't seem right.
"I'd love to Luka." We quickly trade numbers.
"Well I'll see you in a few days Marinette." He smiles and his eyes brighten.
I get up on my tip toes and kiss his cheek.
"Bye Luka." And with that he steps outside into the snow and heads off down the street towards the Seine.
I sigh before heading back towards Adrien, who's busying himself with munching on a chocolate croissant. He doesn't look at me when I approach. Despite something seeming off about him, I lay my head on his shoulder and hum to myself quietly when Adrien wraps his arm around my shoulders.
It's almost as if he's silently reminding me he'll be here, by my side forever, no matter what.
Adrien's POV
I ball up my hands into tight fists as I watch.
"I was wondering if you wanted to go out sometime. I know you'll be leaving for New York again soon, but I couldn't wait any longer to ask you out. I think you're so beautiful and kind, it's clearly a miracle no one snatched you up in the states."
Every inch of my body screams for me to stop the whole conversation.
But when she looks at me with a nervous and hopeful look my heart shatters.
She wants him not me.
Worst case scenarios run through my head. What if she loves him? What if they get married and have kids? What if he is the father to Emma, Louis, and Hugo. What if he buys her a pet hamster named Tiki? What is he gives her everything she always wanted and I'm left in the dust?
STOP
Who am I to get in the way of her happiness?
I smile and give her a thumbs up.
When she walks back over to me I shove a chocolate croissant in my mouth. I refuse to get in the way of her happiness and say something stupid.
She leans her head on my shoulder and I wrap my arm around her.
I'll always love her and will always be here for her, no matter what.
On the car ride home I desperately try to think of something to say.
"So… Luka, huh?"
"Yup." She pops her lips on the P. "I know, I know, I said I'd wait until after Uni and I'm headed back to New York in a month but… I don't know… I just don't want things to get all weird, you know?"
I hum in response, not sure what to say.
"I don't want to date him if things are going to be weird between us…"
"W-Why would it be weird?" I ask as I park the car.
"I… I guess its a silly thought…" She mumbles as she steps outside.
"Yeah…"