Adrien's memory was returning. Whatever Nino and he discussed that day was a trigger for his mind to start confessing its 5 months of secrets to its owner. However, it didn't simply come back to him like an old friend. It slapped him over the head with a mallet-like a jilted lover. The migraines were short-lived at most times and few and far between, but they always left him panting and looking for cuddles and comfort kisses from Marinette.

The first thing he had remembered was Kagami. While Marinette was comforting him after everyone had left, he divulged what he remembered. It wasn't much; it was mostly the little they spent alone talking. Nothing too substantial.

That was 4 days ago.

Adrien was allowed to return to his usual routine 3 days ago. His bruises were healed but were still tender in some places making the cuddling he so coveted hard sometimes. He was more than glad to return to normalcy, but he couldn't be left alone. This meant that Marinette accompanied him whenever he left the manor. His fans may have been confused seeing them glued to the hip if they hadn't already known that Marinette was his good friend.

So Marinette woke up early that Wednesday with the knowledge that Adrien had a photoshoot that day. She also had work with M. Arrested in the evening as she did every evening since 2 2 days ago. She meditated while doing yoga on what she had to go through for the day. After half an hour of the more complex poses, she headed to her personal shower to prepare for the day.

She dressed quickly and was making her way out to breakfast. She took her bag to stuff cookies or anything sweet in it for her sleeping Kwami. Ever since she "moved in" Tiki was spending copious amounts of time with her counterpart.

She was out her door for only a millisecond when she realized she forgot her phone. She reentered the room, grabbed her phone on her work table and passed her aerial set up. She paused at it to finger the silk.

She started the hobby when she had just turned 15. Alya was the one who had taken an interest in it originally. She had seen someone do it in a video and wanted to try it. She found a studio and naturally she had to bring Marinette. She said she wanted a partner to flounder around with her.

They attended their first class and ended it very differently. Alya flailed about, fell on her butt several times and somehow tangled herself in the fabric. The usually clumsy Marinette took to it gracefully, like she had spent time at a circus learning the art of aerial. Alya uncharacteristically gave up after the first class and she would have dropped it too had it not been for Adrien. Classes were costly across the board and she hadn't wanted to burden her parents. She remembered explaining this to her friends when they asked if she was going to continue.

Then that night Chat appeared at her balcony to talk as they usually did and offered to take over her expenses. She refused and he insisted, said if it was something that made her happy and feel confident he wouldn't mind spending his surplus of cash on her. He said that if the money was an issue, too consider it early payment for all the pastries he ate and would continue to eat each time he visited.

In hindsight, she should have realized that it was Adrien. He wasn't too happy that she was giving up something that made her feel confident.

"Are you ready for breakfast, Princess?" His bright voice called from the doorway, snapping her out from her reminiscence.

"Good Morning Adrien," she said perkily.

She turned around and saw him quickly close the distance between them. His tall form towered over her. His big hands gripped the silk as an anchor and leaned down to kiss her on the forehead, just the way she liked it. He returned the greeting before tugging on the fabric.

"I always wanted to try this. Mind giving me a private demonstration?"

Her mind could not help but high dive into the proverbial gutter when he asked his question. It held a hint of salaciousness that had to be purposeful. It didn't help that the t-shirt he had chosen gripped and stretched taught against his muscle. He forewent the cardigan and scarf and settled for a long-sleeved black t-shirt with white and orange stripes across his muscled chest.

"Sure I'll do you- I mean you'll do me- I"

The cool feel of his lips slightly brought down the temperature of her cheeks. She could feel the small curve of his lips against her skin. He pulled back and said nothing, seeming content to just memorize whatever expression she wore on her face.

"Maybe some other time-" he winked and her breath hitched in her throat- "Let's go"

"What about breakfast?" She called following behind him.

"We'll have brunch after"

"After? Your photoshoot isn't until 10!"

He opened the limousine door for her. Gorilla already in the car waiting for them. He crossed the car and entered on the other side. He had a sheepish look on his face as the car pulled away from the manor.

"Adrien, it's only 8. Where are we going that I have to wait for brunch?"

"I brought snacks and my portable Wintendo with Ultimate Mecha Strike VI.

She knew what it was; a bribe. Wherever they were going he knew she wouldn't like it.

The ride came to a stop in front of a white building she instantly recognised. She turned her fiery glare to the blond but he had already escaped the secrecy of the vehicle to the public setting of the sidewalk to open the door for her and help her out.

"I need a haircut"

She groaned at the implication and grabbed her bribe.

"You'll pay for this Agreste" she huffed yet still accepted his help out the car.

40 minutes later she had finished most of her snacks and was lounging on a couch. The salon was empty so she was in the waiting room alone. She would have followed him further inside but he insisted that she waited there.

She heard footsteps, and knowing that it was Adrien said, "Took you long enough. I'm almost through Act I in story mode."

"Only? You're losing your touch" she finally looked over the console at him. Her mouth dropped and her fingers went lax around the game. She heard the word "Woah" tumble from her lips.

Gone were the long golden locs that became synonymous with to teen model was. His hair was shorn on all sides and left to its original length on top.

He looked sexy and mature. It really accentuated the fact that he's 19 and no longer a little boy.

He leaned over her on the couch and with his index finger pushed her jaw shut.

"You'll catch bees, "

"Isn't the phrase, 'you'll catch flies'?" She finally found her voice

"Yes, but bees are attracted are only the sweetest things and we wouldn't them to be further tempted"

She squeaked and he laughed. Hauling her to brunch. She filled up on pancakes and buttery croissants. She stayed clear of the yarrow tea and settled for orange juice. Adrien laughed at her choice and followed suit. She was allergic to it, kind of. It was more like a side effect of her powers. Yarrow made her sleepy and disoriented and brought her inhibitions severely low as well as... something else. Adrien knew this from first-hand experience when he brought some of his father's favourite tea within their first year of friendship.

Then after brunch was the photoshoot at the pool. The photographer was surprised to see his new look. He was inspired by the new mature looking Adrien and took longer than usual. That would have been fine if he were wearing more clothes. Instead, she was faced with his six-pack and tightly packed sinewy muscle and a V leading to his trunks. Several times she caught herself tracing the droplets gliding down his body after he came out of the pool.

And maybe it was her hopeful imagination, but she swore he knew. He had to. Why else would he keep his smouldering gaze on her? No matter what pose he did his intense stare was on her. There was a moment where he licked his lips slowly while his eyes seemed to appraise her. She squeaked and dove for a cold bottle of water to calm herself. She was convinced he knew what he was doing because he laughed after

"M. Agreste, I must say I am in love with this new look"

"Merci, I just thought it was time to try something new, " he replied, sliding his emerald eyes to her in a meaningful way as he towelled his hair

Was he trying to say something?

"I am so in love with it that I think we should reshoot last weeks own. Should I call your photography partner?"

He gasped loudly and his eyes blew open with pain. In slow motion, she saw him start to fall to the ground. Her quick reflexes had her by his side to hold him up. His arm around her shoulders, her arms around his waist

"We have to go, uhm he gets bad migraines randomly since the attack. Yeah! He'll call you when he's better."

She shuffled them both to the limousine as fast as possible. His breath came in pants in her ear and was punctuated with pain groans. Luckily, Gorilla already had the door open and the car started.
She managed to set him in then crawl in behind. He gripped her tightly all the way to the manor. She then helped him to bed and came up beside him to embrace him how he enjoyed it.

"It's okay Adrien. It's only memories. There in the past, you've already lived it." She cooed in her softest voice running her hand through his soft hair.

Her words seem to do just the trick. His body relaxed in her arms and he pulled her closer as if to mould her softness to the hard planes of his body. His lips found purchase on the closest bit of skin he could find.

Her neck.

He kissed her up and down the column of her neck. Each soft and fleeting like the flutter of butterfly wings upon her skin. He worshipped the skin there like the words that came through it was his saviour from memory. Every brush of his lips was a non-verbal thank you. His fingers we're creating searing abstract lines across her back that assisted in sending heat downwards.

"Ms Dupain-Cheng. M. Agreste will be ready for you in 15 minutes." Nathalie's voice came through Adrien's door.

Adrien groaned and released her. He pouted up at her. He made a half-hearted attempt to pull her back.

"Come back to bed"

She swatted at his hands and tried to ignore the double meaning behind his words.

"I'll be back soon."