Thank you for reading this far, you are my heroes and don´t worry next chapter will be coming 25th November but that you could already know if you checked my bio. Enjoy this chapter and check for clues because stating this chapter there will be clues not only for the next chapters but also for the sequel, some will be well hidden while other´s will be very easy to find.

Also, the author´s note will be shorter or disappear completely but to compensate the chapters will be longer.

Please keep in mind that in this story so far there isn´t queen bee, carapace or Rena rouge so the trilogy, Sapotis, Anansi and the season 2 finale didn´t happen.

Adrien switched between looking at his phone and looking outside the window. He was silent, but his actions screamed just how nervous and scared he was. His hands still shaking grabbed the phone again. Once more he read the text for the 100-time hoping somehow it was different.

"Adrien it came to my attention the headlines involving you and Miss Du-Pain Cheng. Despite this not being the way I would like to be informed of such news. I would still like to have dinner with both of you tonight. Signed Gabriel "

Adrien repeated once again the routine. Dropping his phone to the car floor and looking outside the car window. This was bad! His father wanted to have dinner with Marinete and him? This meant a lot and Adrien could tell since first his father had been the one sending the message from his phone and not ordered Natalie to send it by her work phone. Second, his father never had dinner with him since he was always so busy so if Gabriel was taking time for this then it meant it was important. This had to go perfect, to meet with his father´s standards but the problem was that no one not even Adrien could meet with those high standards so how could Marinete be expected to do it? Plagg looking at his master stuck into autopilot mode between his phone and sighing at the window told him:

"Stop worrying kid, everything will be alright. Everyone loves Marinete! "

Plagg had to stop himself from throwing up as he spoke. She wasn´t his favorite person but she seemed to make Adrien happy. In fact, Plagg never had seen Adrien smile so widely as he did last night or sleep so peaceful. So Plagg would even be her best friend if it was necessary just to keep Adrien happy.

Adrien turned to Plagg surprised as if he had forgotten the kwami was there, but deep down was glad by his support and his presence.

"I´m not worried my father hates her. I´m worried that she won´t understand what this is like. Her parents are warm, sweet and welcoming. Nothing like my father! What if she can´t handle my father or the craziness that comes with dating me such as dealing with my fans? Sometimes it´s even too much for me. I bet it´s only worse for her. I wish we could just run away so that we wouldn´t have to deal with any of this. Then we could just live happily together without all of this. Plagg I am scared things go back to what they use to be, and I am alone again."

Plagg was surprised that Adrien had shared so much. Maybe this was because of dating Marinete but he already seemed different. Love really had changed Adrien and Plagg could see it.

"kid don´t worry. You and Marinete will always be on the same side. even if things go bad you will always have me. "

Adrien smiled and petted Plagg before going back at looking out the window, his hands automatically already looking for his phone.

Meanwhile, Marinete was busy trying to walk the few meters(feet) until her school but it seemed impossible with so many fans around her. Amongst them, there was one girl wearing the same outfit and hair as Marinete that jumped at her.

"Marinete, do you like my outfit and hair? I made it myself! I mean the hair actually is from a ladybug outfit! But the clothes are handmade like yours. We look like sisters! Mind if I take a picture?"

Marinete faked a smile and couldn´t help but wonder if this was what it was like for Adrien every day. Because it seemed to be a complete nightmare. Marinete agreeing to the picture only made the fans crazier. Each now demanding their own photo. At this rate, Marinete would never get to school today let alone on time.

Marinete was worried her nightmare wouldn´t be over but then her luck seemed to change when she began to hear a familiar voice amongst the fans.

"Best friend coming through. Move! "

Between the crowd finally, she saw Alya telling everyone to move. Alya came closer and when she was close enough, she finally began her plan:

"People if you want autographs and photos just go to Adrien. I saw him just around that corner. Better hurry before he leaves "

All fans looked at the corner including Marinete. Suddenly all began to race over there and Marinete felt her arm being pulled in the opposite direction by Alya. After running with Alya for a while, both friends knew they were far enough.

Marinete still gasping from the sprint asked Alya

"Alya, how did you even know that would work?"

Alya smirked amused and stared at Marinete

"Please, I am used to dealing with Adrien's fans "

Marinete pouted and crossed her arms in response.

"But I was never that bad!"

Alya trying her best not to laugh told her best friend

"Sure, you weren´t "then we can get married and have a hamster and we´ll and call him" ´"

Marinete didn´t know if it was the laughter on Alya´s face or the ridiculous impression of herself but her pout changed to a smile. She was so lucky to have Alya as a friend to save her. Maybe Alya had a plan to avoid the crazy fans on the way back.

"Okay fine but how are we even supposed to go to school with all those fans there "

Alya´s smile proved Marinete that she had indeed a plan.

"Think girl! what would ladybug do in this situation?"

Marinete blinked not understanding what Alya meant. Apparently, it should be clear but Marinete had no idea what her friend meant. So, she decided just to throw a lucky guess:

"Use her lucky charm?"

Alya giggled and then placing her arm on Marinete´s shoulder told her

"If you have one, sure, but since we don´t have that! We can use the next best thing, masks. Here I have this one from the Chat Noir fans collection. Try it!"

Before Marinete could complain Alya already had loosened Marinete´s hair and shoved her a chat noir mask along with an "I love chat noir t-shirt ".

Alya already disguising herself warned Marinete :

"Don´t ruin anything it´s from my superhero collection."

Marinete went along with Alya that was wearing a Ladybug mask and a shirt saying "Don´t be bugged, be like ladybug ". She was convinced it wouldn't work but it surprisingly did. Apparently, two superhero fans walking across the street didn´t call so much attention as Marinete thought.

When they got to school everything seemed to go on as normal until Chloe recognizing Marinete called her out immediately causing the fans to ran after her and Alya. Without any solution, they spit in order to throw some fans off track. Never the less a few still managed to follow Marinete. She panicking, entered the first classroom, she saw.

She stayed there. Leaning against the door for a while with her hands covering her eyes wishing it was just a terrible dream. Until she heard a knock on the window and jumped scared. Turns out it was just Adrien transformed as Chat Noir.

She raced to the window and hugged him tightly. He asked concerned:

"Are you okay?"

She hugged tighter as if his presence and hug could erase her crazy morning,

"I am just glad you are here with me now. The walk over here was terrible!"

In his mind, he was worried his worst fears would come true and that it would be too much to handle for such a sweet girl like Marinete

"I understand mine was a long drive too. So long that I had to transform "

Marinete could feel Adrien was upset and sad. He didn´t want their relationship public but now they were the talk of the tabloids. He probably wanted privacy and based on the way the fans acted he wasn´t going to get it. Marinete only wished there was something she could do to stop those fans and media. She had to make him feel better and she knew exactly how. Pulling away from the hug she stepped away enough to make sure he could see her entire outfit

"Do you like my mask? I can't pull it off like you but … "

Adrien finally noticed it. He was so worried over Marinete and the fans outside that he hadn't even looked at her properly. The shirt with the mask and her innocent smile made him genuinely happy. He also loved that despite the mask he could absolutely tell she was blushing underneath.

"I think I prefer the shirt. "I love chat noir" hum? How long have you been keeping that shirt and are you wearing it just for me'"?

Marinete smiled back. Now, this was the kitty she was used to, this was Adrien when he was free and happy. This was the side of Adrien she wanted to know.

"The shirt isn´t mine, it´s Alya´s! I make my own stuff like the chat noir puppet from puppeteer but to be honest I might have said some things like that to said puppet"

Chat smirked coming closer

"But you haven´t said those things to me!"
Marinete was caught surprised and blushed, she took a step back until she hit a table behind her. Chat being quick, took a step forward his hands leaned on the same table Marinete was leaning against. His face almost brushing against hers and she was trapped between him and the table.

Marinete closed her eyes and in a quick confident move kissed Adrien. He was caught off guard but soon kissed back. Marinete then again felt the butterflies she had felt the night she kissed Adrien on his room or during their kiss last night. She missed them, she just had no idea how much until that kiss. Deep down she felt like she has been looking for those butterflies all her life. Could she ever let those little butterflies go?

Suddenly the ring rang, and it was time for class. Meaning someone might come in or that they would both be late so prolonging the already long kiss was out of the question.

Marinete letting go of the kiss and instead held Chat´s hand told him

"let's go!"

This move surprised Adrien that didn´t the kiss to end but also was shocked that Marinete was ready to face the fans outside. She was indeed more amazing that he ever imagined

"Hum"

He began hesitantly. Marinete tightened the grip as if it would help transfer confidence and it seemed to work as chat blurted out

"Marinete my father saw the magazines and he wanted to have you over for dinner. you don´t have to say yes. he can be a little intimidating sometimes, so I understand if you don't want to"

Marinete could tell Adrien was very nervous and in fact, she was too but she decided to hide her fears. Besides, it wasn´t like his father was an Akuma or villain so she would be okay. Sure, he was cold but if Marinete could handle Chloe then Gabriel Agreste would be super easy, right?

"Adrien I would love too!"

Marinete smile at that moment stuck with him through the fans yelling, taking pictures, it even stuck with him while Chloe jumped at him claiming it was all fake news and that there was no way he would date Marinete. He would just answer everything and deal with everything with the same goofy love-struck look. His expression was similar to the one of a cat that was just adopted and didn´t want to leave his new owner. This cat had found the home for his heart. The only time this feeling disappeared was when Alya dragged Marinete away to most likely get the details of the date. That didn´t matter either because he was happy.

His happiness decreased when the last bell rang and he and Marinete entered Adrien's ride home. The whole drive they went holding hands and looking out of their windows. They would smile and look at each but nothing more as not only the gorilla but Natalie too were watching. Adrien wondered if she wasn´t there just to check on them since most of the time he would go home alone with the gorilla. He didn´t say anything to avoid making Marinete even more nervous than she already seemed.

The ride finally was over, and Natalie entered the mansion; ordering them to wait until she gave the all clear. it only took a few seconds but felt like hours. Both just awkwardly waiting there.

Marinete nervously entered the mansion. She began adjusting her dress, her ponytails. checking her nails. Making sure she was flawless. Adrien noticing how nervous she was he grabbed her hand and whispered to her ear

"you look perfect don´t worry "

Marinete blushed and Gabriel entered the room and began walking around Marinete examining her

"Hello, miss I believe you look familiar. "

Adrien then proudly told his father

"well she won the derby contest at my school, you even said she had the hands of a hat maker.

Gabriel then rubbed his chin. he recognized her from the contest, but he also remembered she was the fan that had taken his book of the miraculous. This made a thought came to his mind which he only hoped it wasn't true for his son´s sake. Were this girl after his son only to get close to him and his book? She did seem curious last time. Did she know he was hawkmoth? Was she the one that gave the secrets of the book to Ladybug or worse was she Ladybug herself? He was filled with emotions inside and questions but didn´t let it show evidenced by the cold look and voice coming from him as he asked:

"So, miss Marinete what do you plan with this relationship with my son? Money or could it be something else?"

Adrien was right when he warned her that hawkmoth and his akumas were less scary than his father. Marinete breathed to calm herself down before answering.

"I only want to make Adrien happy sir. I love him and that's the only reason I am with him"

Gabriel then noticed the glow between his son´s and Marinete's eyes and couldn´t but be moved by it. He knew those looks so well. It was the same look he had every time he saw Emilie. now more than ever but for different reasons, he hoped his theory was wrong. For everyone's sake let that just be a normal girl in love with his son.

"Miss apparently you are a designer too, would you like to see my office and my pieces?"

The mood in the room seemed to change surprising both Adrien and Gabriel. Marinete smile brightened the room and her enthusiasm and happiness was something not seen in that house for a while.

"really? that would be amazing! I-mean-you-are-my-favorite-designer-and-I-L-O-V-E-all-your-designs! This-would-be-a-dream-come-true! I mean surrreee."

Adrien looked at his father expecting a disappointed look or a disapproval but was surprised to see a gentle smile. Maybe everything would turn out right.

They entered the room and two things were clear. Marinete enthusiasm and Adrien enthusiasm about her. Gabriel for a while looked taking deep breaths. Seeing his son act like that reminded him too much of how himself acted around Emilie when they were young. He couldn´t let his feelings stop him. He had to be sure if this girl was really ladybug or not.

"Well meet my famous earrings collection. I am sure you would look stunning in this"

Before Marinete could even say something. Gabriel had already taken her earrings and replaced them for a some very similar to hers. His cold hands on her earlobes made her shiver. She smiled but mentally she apologized to Tikki. Gabriel´s smile, however, was genuine and of victory.

"Do you like them? It´s real diamonds! Very special "

Gabriel asked while examining the earrings. Could those be what he taught they were? It wasn´t possible, was it? He looked at them examining each detail in a way only a real designer could. Those were very similar to the Ladybug´s earrings to be fake like the ones he just put on, most likely, his enemy. His son was dating his Ladybug, his enemy. Marinete looked at Adrien and then at Gabriel. She didn´t want to make it a big deal since she was just meeting Adrien´s father so she wanted to be the politest guest possible. On the other hand, it was her miraculous he had just taken and she couldn´t let it go. Despite how much it cost her and risking that Adrien got suspicious of her identity.

"Sir, these earrings are great! But I prefer mine"

Marinete spoke just in time because Gabriel already seemed to be walking away. He looked at her chillingly, tighten his grip around the earrings on his hand not wanting to let them go.

"Here be careful with them it would be a shame if they were to end up in the wrong hands now wouldn´t it? I am sorry, but I have other business to attend. It was nice to meet you, miss. I am sure we will be seeing each other around VERY SOON."

Marinete froze speechless as Gabriel left. Still holding her earrings on her hand, she felt scared and shaking.

Adrien noticing this grabbed her hand and trying to hold his own disappointment told her

"That's my dad alright. don't worry I am sure he loves you, he is just a little cold and kind of a workaholic

Marinete smiled and pushed aside the gloomy feeling inside her telling her to run and take Adrien with her. That was probably she just overreacting! Gabriel was most likely just being his normal cold self. Nothing to worry about.

Meanwhile, Luka touched Marinette's picture on a magazine announcing her relationship with Adrien. he tried to control his tears but let them flow as he played his guitar dedicating this song to Marinete. The tears flowing like the notes on his song. Each note more painful than the last

Back in the mansion, Gabriel stared at his security cameras showing Marinete and Adrien eating. They had started eating dinner normally but eventually, she began feeding him, and now he was feeding her, both laughing and smiling.

Gabriel continued looking at the screen and planning his next move. Each laughter and bite only making him angrier.

"Enjoy it now Ladybug because soon I will have your miraculous and your plan to use my son to get close to me will fail! when I get your and cat noir´s miraculous I will be the one laughing"