***Sorry this chapter's really short. I haven't had a lot of time to write today. Tomorrow might be late and/or short too. Sorry!

Chapter 12

-Adrien-

He needed just a little advice on how to talk to Marinette. He needed to talk to his father. Checking his watch it was 9pm at night already, and he hoped his father would be able to take a few minutes for his son. Gathering his courage, he stepped out of his room and started off down the hall towards his father's room. Natalie was standing guard outside it, but Adrien still had hope to get inside. As he stood in front of Natalie, he asked his question, "Does my father have time to see me? I have something really important to talk to him about." Natalie barely adjusted her expression. "Your father is a very busy man, but I will let him know you wish to see him." She stepped inside for a moment and Adrien faintly heard her informing his father that he wanted to see him. But when she emerged, she had a slight sadness in her expression as she informed Adrien, "He can't see you right now, Adrien. You'll have to try again later." Adrien bit his lip and shifted a little in his stance as he pulled his last card. "Tell him it's about a girl." Natalie stepped back inside and after Adrien heard her transfer his request there was a pause. Natalie came out another minute later and Adrien could almost swear he saw a smile tugging at her straight lips. "Your father will see you now."

Adrien walked into his father's office, wondering if this would actually work. His father was sitting at his desk, and for once he wasn't looking down at his work. His dad was actually looking at him, seeing him. "So it is a girl, am I correct Adrien?" He asked, getting straight to the point. Adrien smiled nervously before he answered, "Yes, Father." His father seemed to smile for a moment, waiting for Adrien to continue. "I need a way to tell a girl that I love her. I was wondering if. . .you had any advice." His father actually seemed to be listening, a sad smile crossing his face. "What is she like Adrien?" He asked. Adrien felt his cheeks flush a little. "Well, Father. She's amazing. She's strong and smart and beautiful. She's braver than anyone I know." Saying those words only made his heart swell with affection for her. His father watched him and Adrien could tell that somewhere inside his father his father felt something. "You should just tell her that." Adrien nodded, getting what his father was saying. "Thanks Father. I'll try it." With a pause building, he started his exit, stepping towards the door, but his father called him back. "Adrien." He turned back to look at his Father's somewhat happy face. "She sounds a lot like your mother."

-Marinette-

Walking into school was a day to day experience, but today Marinette felt extra fidgety. She wasn't sure she was ready to face Adrien after her crazy yesterday. Would she ever be able to make a choice, or would she always be stuck in this confusing limbo? She stepped into Miss Bustier's class just as the bell rang and took her seat in the back next to the model. But as she sat down he winked at her, as though he knew something she didn't. She said hi and faced her teacher as roll call began. Once it was acknowledged that everyone was there, Miss Bustier said they would have the class period to work on their literature projects. Marinette turned slowly to Adrien, pulling out the papers of notes they'd gathered already on Pride and Prejudice.

"So we already talked about major themes of the book, but I don't think we've fully analyzed the characters," Adrien began. "Okay," Marinette said, "Let's talk about Darcy first. Cause like he starts out all dark and brooding like a total villain, but as the book goes on, we learn a whole lot more about him!" Adrien laughed, "Yeah Darcy seems like a total snob, but then later, we really find out all the good he's done." Marinette felt her thoughts drifting towards her inner turmoil as she added, "All for Elizabeth." Adrien nodded eagerly, "That's exactly it!" Marinette scribbled down notes on what they'd just said about Mr Darcy and turned the page for notes on Elizabeth.

"Okay, now what about Elizabeth?" She asked. Adrien already seemed to have the ideas in his mouth, "Elizabeth is a very human character because she makes mistakes but learns from them. She misjudged Darcy, but never really realized the truth." Marinette kept writing as she added, "But when he confessed to her, she has a total paradigm shift, especially when she begins to see what he's done for her!" Marinette couldn't help but feel wowed. She hadn't expected a teenage boy to be so into a romance novel, least of all a Jane Austen novel. He was totally killing it on digging into the depths of the book. She'd have to add that to her list.

-Adrien

The conversation was steering just the way he'd been planning. He kept going, "And after she's been separated from Darcy and things are kind of awkward, she doesn't see that she's in love with him now too, especially after he's so helpful with finding Lydia." Marinette laughed and Adrien cherished the sound, "I mean it's right in front of her face!" She exclaimed. Adrien smiled a real and true smile as he kept talking, "I know I'm guilty of being a lot like Elizabeth. I mean I couldn't see that I really liked someone when they were right before my eyes." He said, and Marinette fell silent, her bluebell eyes trained on him, waiting for him to finish. "I guess what I'm trying to say Marinette, is that you're brave and beautiful and kind and I love you for it." He finished, watched her cheeks redden with each word.

She had gone perfectly silent with shock and surprise and Adrien focused his eyes on hers, just looking at her face and wondering how he had been so blind to not see that his lady was in front of him all this time. After a minute of her silence she finally answered, "I didn't think you felt that way Adrien." She said softly. "I guess I felt it, but I just wasn't sure." He said in reply, "But I am now."