Leaving Chat Noir had never felt so sad to Marinette, really it hadn't. But the almost tender look in his eyes had her weak in the knees and it had her wondering if what they'd gone and done tonight had meant more to him than it had to her. He had tenderly and almost regrettably dropped her off at home and he'd held her hand until she pulled away, a somber look in his eye.

"Did I keep you good company Princess?" He said quietly as his eyes drifted across an almost completely dark Paris. He gripped his baton and stood on her hand railing.

She smiled at him and motioned for him to come closer and grinned wider as he gave her a questionable look.

"Always silly kitty." She giggled as she hugged him close, causing his baton to make a large clatter on the roof, he didn't move and she was happy that her parent weren't home-who knows what they'd think about seeing this. He hesitated before he gripped her back, pulling her up closer to him as he dropped from the railing. She reveled in his warmth through the leather of his suit, and let out a breath she didn't know she was holding in.

He smelled like a normal typical teenage boy.

Because that's what he was.

She closed her eyes tighter as she squeezed him again.

And people tended to forget that.

"Hey, Marinette? Are you alright?"

She snapped out of it and turned to her left, where Alya sat, a confused look on her face. She hadn't talked to Alya about the phone call the other day, because she was afraid that if she did, it would ruin her and Alya's friendship, and Alya completely acted as if it didn't happen, so that made it easier for Marinette to act like it didn't happen.

It still made her a tad bit curious, because Alya hadn't brought out her phone once, not even for her and Nino to listen to music, so it made her wonder where her best-friends phone went.

Maybe she should ask her about it? Well, maybe when they actually got back to Paris.

Yep, that's right, they were headed out on another field trip, which made Marinette groan at first, because the last time she went on a field trip, all this drama had started. Well...actually it had all started with Lila, and her lies, which still made Marinette almost lose her cool again. Lila just frustrated her to no end! The girl was sitting two rows ahead of her next to Sabrina just like when they'd gone to visit Big Ben the first time-which was where they were going again, only hopefully this time there would be no Akuma attack.

Because it would just look like Ladybug was in this class because she couldn't use the transportation excuse again when Chat Noir showed up.

"Oh, yeah I'm fine Alya, just thinking about stuff. Hey uh, where's your phone, what time is it?" She tried to save her question for later, but she couldn't do it! She had to know!

Alya looked at her in curiosity for a moment before she sighed in a depressed mood suddenly. "I lost it like two weeks ago girl! I'm just lucky that there hasn't been an Akuma attack recently before I get my new one, I might die if I miss anything!" Alya laughed kinda disappointedly as Marinette's jaw dropped. Alya had lost her phone?! That meant tha...the person that had been talking to be could in no way be her best friend, and that meant that the person who had called her, was not Alya...

"Alya! That means that you didn't call me like two Saturdays ago?" Marinette looked at her friend in desperation, hoping to everything that it hadn't been her best friend to say those cruel words to her.

Alya looked stunned and she sat up straight in her seat, causing Nino and Adrien, who sat to their left, to look over at them.

"No! I didn't even have my phone! I didn't call you!" Alya said as she looked back and forth between Marinette and Nino, who looked concerned and Adrien who looked like he was trying to find a way to input on this conversation somehow.

"Oh Alya!" Marinette threw her arms around her best friend, feeling a hundred times better about this whole situation, her bestie hadn't said those words to her!

Alya didn't seem as relieved as she did, and the second Marinette let go she quickly questioned Marinette all about it. And Marinette told her about how she'd asked her to go to Lila's party with her, and how she'd been so cruel, and how it had brought upon Marinette's recent actions about being a bit indifferent to Alya.

"No Mari, I would never do that!" Alya hugged her best friend again and Nino held her shoulder as she wiped at her eyes.

"You were my best friend when no one was there, I would never do that..." Nino hugged Alya tightly as she turned to him. Adrien crossed the aisle as they sat down together, he glanced at her and he reached for her hand. Marinette froze as his fingers grazed across the top of her hand. She looked at him as he gripped her hand tightly, she could feel her heart increase speed, and her head pounded with her heart as chills went up her spine.

"Is that why you were so overwhelmed when I found you?" He asked quietly, his voice laced with worry and concern. His eyes were shining with emotions that she haad no idea of the depth. His voice quivered just the slightest as he squeezed her hand tighter. "Marinette..." She watched his eyes again, and just as it had last time, the world seemed to disappear around her as she looked into those stunning green voids. She watched-almost in slow motion it seemed- as his hands touched her sides, slowly and tentatively as one hand glided through her hair, and pulled her flush against him.

"I had no idea..." He said, his mouth right above her ear as he pressed into her, the closeness was like a drug and it hit them both hard, they only wanted more of this feeling, it was unsatiable.

Their hearts slowed as they sat there, and they breathed in the scent of the other, wanting to stay there like that. Marinette put her arms around his waist and held him loosely, content with just letting him be her anchor for the moment. And she closed her eyes as she listened to the steady beating of his heart, smiling ever so slightly as she felt him smile against her temple.

They were unaware of the eyes that watched them, and the sounds from the outside world were deaf to them as they stayed there. Neither wanted to let go, and neither of them did, and Adrien sat back in Alya's seat, pulling Marinette with him, and she had no complaints as she sat half in his lap and half in her own seat, comfortably laying against his chest.

Adrien didn't know how to feel as he held Marinette in his arms, he felt something well within him that had his heart beating faster and the smile wouldn't leave his face, and he decided to ask Plagg about it later, instead of worrying about it now. He would hold her and he would decide how he felt later, when he wasn't so consumed by her presence. He gently ran his hands up and down her back as she sighed against him, he could feel the rush of air from her as she snuggled closer. He had no idea that part of the reason she'd acted the way she had that day had been due to some person that had been tormenting her.

He felt angry at that person, so angry that he had felt nothing but hot white when he heard the words that had been said to such a sweet and caring girl, who only wanted what was best for everyone. He had seen her expression change as she repeated the words that had been said to her, and he felt multiple pangs through the heart as her eyes became watery, and all he could do was this, be here for her.

He would always be there for her, no matter what, and he hoped that she would do the same for him.

Even as Chat Noir, he swore, he would protect this girl.

Always.

It hadn't been awkward this time when they pulled away, just two shy smiles and a quiet thank you from Marinette, and Alya's jaw on the floor as she switched seats with Adrien.

"Girl!" Alya whisper-yelled. "What was that!?" Alya looked so insanely happy, and Marinette blushed full force, for she really just had done that. She really should have stopped thinking about her actions a long time ago if she'd known it would keep leading to events like this. She smiled happily at Alya and leaned down as she glanced over at Adrien, but she found him to be looking at her too and she quickly looked away, just like Adrien did embarrassed about being caught.

WHAT WAS THAT!? They both thought at the same time.

"Hey dude, you alright?" Nino nudged Adrien with his elbow as he noticed his friend's face turn red like no other. Adrien only nodded and smiled, not trusting his mouth right then.

"Girl, what were you gonna say?" Alya whispered, and Marinette refocused on her friend as she smiled.

"I actually have a lot more to tell you Alya, like A LOT..." Marinette said quietly and she giggled at her friend's anticipated face. Suddenly Alya smiled deviously and pulled a phone out of her pocket.

"But you said-" Alya shook her head and placed it in Marinette's hand.

"It's not mine girl." Alya laughed at Marinette's expression. "Enjoy!" Alya laughed harder as Marinette quickly opened her phone and went to camera roll.

And sure enough, many, many pictures of her and Adrien were in there, and she couldn't help but sigh in contentment as she scrolled through them. She turned and hugged her best friend as they came to a stop in the station, and she smiled happily as she caught Adrien's eye again.

The only question that she had, was how her best friend had managed to get ahold of her phone.

Looking at their hotel Marinette had deduced that their school might've loved their students just a tad too much, because this place was freaking huge!

It looked beautiful! Marinette openly gaped at the large building until Alya pulled her in by her jacket.

They gathered in the lobby and everyone was talking happily amidst themselves as Mrs. Bustier clapped to gather their attention. Marinette gazed at Adrien's back that was a little ways in front of her until Mrs. Bustier came to talking about room arrangements.

"Now class, due to our school's limited budget, we had to fudge the rules just a little," she smiled apologetically as the students gazed at her confusedly. "That means, that a couple students will have to be in co-ed rooms, because not everyone had an even number, so we paired up some boys and some girls."

"I'm room 223 we have Rose and Juleka," the two girls high-fived and stepped up to retrieve their room key. Marinette couldn't help but be happy for them, she low-key shipped them together.

"In room 456 we have Sabrina and Lila." Marinette snickered behind her hand as Lila's face contorted into agitation.

"Mylene and Ivan you will be in room 578," she handed them their room key and told them to behave. But to be fair they looked far too innocent.

It's always the quiet ones though...Marinette thought uneasily.

"Kim and Max, room 579," the friends gave a secret handshake and got their key.

"Nino and Alya," Mrs. Bustier smiled mischievously at Nino as he stepped forward to grab the key. "Room 708," Nino flushed at her look and turned away quickly to go to his girlfriend's side.

"Nathanial and Chloe you will be staying in room 842," Chloe openly froze and she looked like she might die. But that was before her face turned bright red and she pointed incriminatingly at Nathanial.

"Mrs. Bustier! I can't stay in the same room as some who is so unfab!" Chloe flipped her hair and Nathanial crosses his arms and looked away from Chloe.

"I agree Mrs. Bustier, staying in the same room as Chloe might damage my brain," Nathanial said and Chloe gasped at his rude comment before she silently began to fume.

"Well too bad, the rooms were decided by the principal himself, there is no changing." Mrs. Bustier said in a final tone.

Wait, Marinette thought as she mentally calculated all the people who came on this trip.

That means-! Her eyes widened as Mrs. Bustier began to speak.

"And last but not least, Marinette and Adrien, you will be on the tenth floor, per request of Mr. Agreste's assistant." Mrs. Bustier said as she nodded her head and Adrien and Marinette 's eyes shot to the others', surprise written all over their faces.

"Um Mrs. Bustier?" Adrien raised his hand as he walked closer. "Are you sure that's correct? I mean-" Mrs. Bustier silenced him with her hand.

"Yes Adrien, she was very insistent that you both be put up there, in a penthouse," Mrs. Bustier got closer to his face so no one else could see. "She sounded confident in what she was doing Adrien." She winked at the poor boy as his face contorted in many different shades of red.

"Now, here's your key card," she placed it into his limp palm and clapped again. "Everyone I expect you not to leave this hotel unless you have talked with me first, we will be having dinner at 6:30 so be on time please."

"Wait Mrs. Bustier!" Marinette called, halting their teacher. "What about Alix?" She knew that her friend's name had not been called yet.

"She has her own room her father requested it," Mrs. Bustier smiled and patted Marinette's head. "Thank you for watching out for your friends Marinette!" And that was that, everyone went to the many elevators and began to go to their rooms, their luggage in tow.

A hand touched her shoulder and Marinette followed it until she found Adrien. He smiled at her before he spoke. "Shall we get going? Princess?" He smirked and she flushed pushing him away half-heartedly as she ran for the elevator.

"Last one there gets Akumatized!" She laughed as he ran after her and she made it there just before him, playfully she tried to close the elevator on him, but he stuck his hand in just in time.

"No! The Akuma is after me!" She playfully screamed and backed into the corner with her suitcase in front of her.

"Here! Take my clothes and sketch pads! I don't need them anymore!" He laughed as she feigned fear and laid a hand over her eyes, just like last time.

"I don't want your clothes and sketch pads!" He gave an evil laugh and Marinette was so happy she could now act like this around Adrien, because even to her it was clear they were getting closer.

"I want your hair!" Marinette was dumbfounded for a second before her hair came loose from her ribbons. She laughed and playfully swatted his hands away.

"Nooooooo! Not my hair!" They both laughed as they reached the top floor, and suddenly they were looking at each other, with these smiles on their faces and a look that couldn't be placed in their eyes.

Acting more mature as they got to the and they walked down the the door on the very left in the hallway where their room was. Marinette tried to calm her flushed cheeks as she remembered how soft his eyes looked just a moment ago.

He was looking at me like that! She thought excitedly. She sighed dreamily internally and waited as Adrien unlocked the one of the double doors with a card rather than a key.

He shifted uncertainty as he pushed the heavy door open. Marinette gasped as she saw the interior, and then blushed furiously. This could NOT be the right room!!! There was no way!

Both her and Adrien stood in the doorway, dumbfounded as they took in the large entryway, it was so beautiful to put it simply. It was a bit much even for Adrien, and that's as saying something.

The view was simply breathtaking and the entire room was basically white. The walls were covered in expensive paintings and the carpet looked so soft. There way a 64-inch widescreen tv in the middle of the room and in front of it against the wall was a large couch.

They'd stepped inside so they could get a better look, but they both took their shoes off because they were afraid of getting the carpet dirty. Marinette dropped her bag at the door and walked into the living room with her bare feet, and the carpet felt like heaven under her feet.

She sighed as she wiggled her toes, and then giggled as she ran around the huge apartment, looking at everything. She was so excited she couldn't stop her heart from beating quickly or smile from spreading.

She got to spend quality time with Adrien! Alone with him! She got to show him that she loved him, and really...

Marinette placed a hand over her heart as she stared out the large glass window/wall.

All she wanted was to show him that she loved him, and he could break her heart, he could reject her, he could break her world into a thousand pieces.

She would still love him, no matter when she faltered, she would always love him.

She only had a tiny hope that he would actually come to love her back, but that was enough for her.

Or at least...for now...

They both missed the beautiful card that sat on the counter with the words~ Please Enjoy the Honeymoon Suit! On it.

Later that evening she and Adrien had been out with Alya and Nino, at the indoor basketball court. The two girls sat on the side not playing, Marinette because she was afraid she'd get hit in the head(mostly by herself) and Alya because she wanted to talk to Marinette about all the things she'd missed.

"I stayed at his house Alya!" Marinette squealed a bit too loudly and that drew the attention of the boys who were on the court. Marinette waved and apologized quietly, both the boys smiled, and went back to shooting free throws.

"I think we should go somewhere where none of the others are to talk about this!" Alya said excitedly and dragged Marinette to the door.

"Mari!" They turned just as they got to the door at the voice. "Where are you going?" Adrien and Nino jogged over to meet them by the door.

Marinette blushed at the unfamiliar pet name and she knew Alya was gonna have to do the talking this time around. Fortunately, her best friend understood that.

"We're going to the pool, we need to talk, don't worry," she said as she walked up to Nino and kissed his cheek, he grabbed her hands to keep her from backing away, she smiled mischievously at him. "We'll be back for dinner." They made googly eyes at each other and Marinette resisted the urge to do the same to the oblivious boy in front of her.

"Oh," Adrien said quietly, he looked over at Marinette and gave a soft smile as he rubbed the back of his head. "Well, I guess you need the card." He pulled it out of his pocket and held it out to her.

Marinette truly hadn't meant to do it, but she brushed hands with him, the tips of her fingers igniting a fire over his own. They both flinched at the contact and Marinette quickly grabbed the card before it could become awkward.

"T-thanks A-Adrien..." she muttered and she wished like hell that Alya would hurry her booty up! Why did she have to look at Nino for so long anyway!?

"Hey, Marinette?" She looked up tentatively and met his vibrant viridian eyes with her own shy bluebell.

"I-um...uh..." the boy looked brain dead and for a moment she wondered if something was wrong with him. They didn't notice Alya or Nino's eyes on them as they tried to have a conversation.

Emphasis on 'tried'.

"Can I have..." Adrien blushed and he looked down at his feet as he muttered a small sentence that none of them heard.

She stepped closer, fearing for his well-being now, because Adrien never acted like this, like he was embarrassed or sick.

"What?" She said quietly and stepped closer to him, getting a good look at his face, just to make sure that he wasn't sick, she wanted him to go back to the room if he was.

He looked at her for a split second before he bent down to her ear and breathing in he hastily said the words he could barely say out loud.

"...Can I hug you goodbye?" She could practically feel the radiated heat coming from his face and she felt her own increase a thousand degrees. She was struck for a moment as he pulled back and she didn't say anything for about ten seconds before he began to back away.

"It-it was stupid I'm sorry, it was an inappropriate thing to-!" Adrien gasped as he was suddenly jolted backward. He didn't have to look down to know that Marinette was there, obliging to his wish even though she didn't have to.

He hoped that she couldn't hear his heart-he was embarrassed about asking her and that was why his heart was beating so fast-he told himself.

"You don't have to ask something like that Adrien," he looked down at her, and it had never really occurred to him just how much bigger he was than Marinette. "You never have to ask that question with me." Idly he wondered what she would answer if he asked her the question on his mind.

"Why's that?" He said as he snaked his arms around her, holding her from around the waist and above her shoulders, barely touching her hair with his fingertips, he wouldn't touch it because he knew that it was probably becoming weird-his love for her hair.

He felt an exhale against his collarbone as he rested his head on top of her own.

"Because the answer will always be yes..." he could feel the warmth spread throughout his body and didn't even bother questioning his increasing heart rate.

Her words touched his heart and he'd be lying if he said that he didn't like it when she said things like that, he couldn't argue anyway-his contented heart wouldn't let him.

Being around Marinette made him feel happy, he had acknowledged this, and he hadn't felt quite this whole since he'd last been with his mother. He had never been so grateful to someone in his life. He had never been so thankful for a friend in his life.

He squeezed her once more and before he knew it Marinette and Alya were gone, and it seemed just a bit too soon.

"Dude? You okay? Or are you thinking about Marinette still, loverboy?" Nino said suggestively and Adrien threw a nearby towel at his face, he laughed as Nino gagged.

He just hoped that Marinette would always be his friend, he didn't think he could stand to lose her.

Alya and Marinette were squealing and chatting as they made their way to the elevator and just as they went to go around a corner they'd bumped into an all-too-familiar chest.

Marinette looked up and met dark green eyes, she gasped as she took in silky brown hair and everything that was Jack. He looked at her like she'd grown a second head, and she couldn't blame him.

"Jack?"

"Marinette?"

~*~*~*~

Oooooo here enters future rival and my messily made OC lmao

So yeah I made them stay in the same hotel room, a girl can dream

I like to think I'll take Adrien's obviously dense brain and mush it around until he understands that the phrase 'just a friend doesn't' work with regards to Marinette

Can you wait to see what happens next? Good cause I know I can, it's gonna be painful writing this next part

Love you guys~thanks for reading this long-ass authors note!