AN: I'm finally freed from school obligations for now, so I have more time for updates! Again, thank you all for the lovely reviews. I get a kick outta them every single time. I'm really trying to aim for at least fifteen chapters here.

Anyways, my inner love for 80's music came out a bit in this chap with mentioning Morrissey/The Smiths. Particularly the song, There Is A Light That Never Goes Out by The Smiths. (Ended up referencing a tad bit of a song lyric)

This chapter has been brought to you by fermented grapes. Adrien and Marinette are real wine buddies in this. LOL.

Enough of my ramblings, happy reading~

L'Étincelle

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

"Relax, Marinette, relax and open your mouth for me" Adrien's voice dropped deeper as it rumbled in want.

"Loosen up" he chanted softly as Marinette felt something cold and wet touch the tip of her tongue. She couldn't see with the blindfold on as she trusted him and let the foreign object into her mouth.

She could taste a mix of sweetness with something mild and dark. She was pretty sure it was a chocolate covered strawberry as she heard Adrien say, "Bite down for me"

Marinette nibbled on the fruit as the juices and lukewarm chocolate drizzled down her throat causing her to let out her own deep and throaty moan in need.

"Spread your legs for me, Princess"

Marinette felt her heart rate quicken as she felt his two strong hands gently pull her quivering legs apart inserting one leg in-between. She could feel the heat radiating from his lower half as he pressed his body closer, his left index finger lifting her chin up.

If Adrien was being perfectly honest with himself, there was just something alluring about having the girl he's grown fond of furiously blushing and wearing a red blindfold with her lips slightly agape as her entire body shook with anticipation.

Five years had been a long time going through a dry spell.

The next move had Marinette letting out a tiny squeak as she felt Adrien lift her so effortlessly from the chair as if she were light as a feather. He grabbed her arms and legs, wrapping them around him.

Her vision was incapacitated with her other senses heighten but she definitely knew when a kiss was a kiss. Adrien trailed up her neck and lower jaw as he walked them to the nearest wall.

Marinette's back roughly slammed against the white walls as she moaned feeling her way through Adrien's neck and tugged on his blonde locks at the base.

Adrien captured her lips in a heated battle. Tongues clashed and fought for dominance as he pulled on her swollen lips and exchanged desperate needy kisses with her.

He groaned when they had to pull away to catch their breathes.

Panting, he knew that she couldn't see him which helped give him a confidence boost.

As he supported her on the wall, he leaned in and pecked her cheek as he whispered, "I think I might love you"'

Marinette's breath hitched.

How the hell did they end up in this situation?

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

The first month.

Marinette didn't stick around long after Adrien had left the party with his daughter. She quickly apologized to Alya over the loud blaring music, kissing her best friend on the cheek and made her way home. Walking up the stairs, her shoulders slumped as she sluggishly willed her shaking body into the living room.

Once she was in, she closed the door behind her and slid down as she finally broke down and cried.

Marinette was stuck in the past, moving in slow-motion while everyone around her was living their lives, living on fast-forward.

Five years didn't feel like such a long time to her but when she came back to Paris it was like a giant reality check came and slapped her hard in the face.

Rubbing the tears on her cheeks with the palms of her hands, she sniffled and crawled her way into the kitchen. That night she cradled a wine bottle in her arms.

Feeling pathetic and lonely, she drank her sorrows away.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

The second month.

Due to Adrien's hectic schedule, Marinette didn't get to see him until two months after the wedding but kept in touch with him through texting every single day.

She had mentally prepared for this moment for weeks knowing that if she expected to be a true friend to him again then she'd need to relive some very painful memories.

"Hey, sorry I'm late! Corporate zombies wouldn't let me leave for my lunch break on time" Adrien waved and greeted as he sat down on a blue elegantly designed metal patio chair of the outside seating area of the small café.

Marinette giggled and shook her head, "It's fine, at least you have a set lunch time. I usually have to place reminders on my phone to force me to take breaks from the bakery load"

"That busy, huh?" Adrien raised a brow.

"You have nooo idea" Marinette rolled her eyes, "sometimes I wonder if I'll ever get the flour out of my hair"

Adrien leaned over the table and extended his hand to dust away at some white powder stuck on her hair.

"See!" Marinette groaned, biting her bottom lip.

Adrien laughed, "I'll take edibles over glitter any day"

"Hmm… I bet. I was going to order you a steak but wasn't sure if your father would file a lawsuit over me trying to feed you a piece of cow"

Adrien rubbed his stomach in a dramatic motion as he pulled on his black tie while simultaneously titling his head back letting out a small gagging noise as if choking. This little show got Marinette to laugh as she shook her head at his silly antics.

"Yeah without a doubt, my dad would probably publicly execute you and then me for evening taking a bite" Adrien deeply sighed, wishfully, "I miss carbs and fatty foods. I'm being limited to red meats once a month and I can kiss desserts goodbye if I want to keep my job"

Marinette placed her chin in her hand as her elbow propped firmly on the white clothed table, "It must suck to be this pretty"

Adrien stole a forkful of greens from the salad that was just placed on her side, "It really does"

Marinette genuinely smiled at their banter, it was as if time stilled between them for a brief moment. "Good thing I ordered you the soup" she teased.

"Thanks for feeding me liquids" Adrien deadpanned.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

The third month.

Adrien and Marinette sat in Marinette's home on the couch with a bottle of wine. Adrien had the day off and cherished every moment he could spend with rekindling his friendship with Marinette. That night he had asked his babysitter to stay longer while he was out.

Their conversation started off light and pleasant at first until it steered in the direction that they were both dreading but knew they had to pass this hurdle if they wanted a relationship built on trust and honesty.

"Marinette… what happened to your baby?" Adrien quietly asked. He felt the wine coursing through him which aided him in asking the heavy questions he normally would've avoided like the plague.

Marinette hesitated as her finger circled the rim of her half-filled wine glass. "I… had to give her away"

"Her? You had a baby girl?"

"…Yes"

Adrien stared at his own wine glass as he contemplated on how to ask the why. Her reason for giving her daughter away.

Before he could, Marinette beat him to it. "I was diagnosed with postpartum depression. I loved my baby, don't get me wrong. I wasn't one of those abusive or distant cases that didn't want their kid… I just… wasn't mentally in the right place to give her my full love. I… uhh…" Marinette's eyes brimmed with tears, "I gave her to her dad. I knew in my heart that he would take care of her and provide for her in the ways that I couldn't"

Adrien felt like he had been punched in the gut, remembering how he had fallen into his own predicament.

"We don't have to discuss this if you don't want to"

"No, I do want to. You were there when I needed someone the most. I cherish the friendship you gave me and only wish that we could've been friends before me being pregnant was the only reason why. You protected me, Adrien. It's only right that I tell you how pathetic I am. My reasoning for leaving Paris? I was scared and lost. I had retracted so deep inside of myself that I needed these stupid little blue pills to make me feel happy again" Marinette finished, downing the rest of her red wine.

"Marinette…" Adrien's eyes widened, he didn't know. How could he when he wasn't there for her. When she left for years, needing someone but not letting anyone in.

Placing his wine glass on the coffee table, he leaned in and wiped away her tears and held her hands in his, lightly squeezing them. "Marinette, you're not pathetic. I… I would've been there for you…" he painfully said.

Closing his eyes, he told her his own secret. "My girlfriend left me. She gave me no reason and just left me with the aftershock of discovering that I was a dad. Me? Adrien Agreste, perfect son, perfect top model… a father? No one in our school could even imagine me in that role and that's without being a playboy. Despite what the paparazzi say…" he darkly chuckled at that.

Opening his eyes, he watched Marinette watch him.

"The paparazzi must've had a field day with you"

"And they still do. It's gotten to that point where, if I'm ever seen talking to someone of the opposite sex, they automatically assume I'm on the dating scene, prowling around looking for someone to replace my child's mother. It's absurd, really"

Marinette had to smirk at that, "I always knew the pretty ones were dangerous"

Adrien in his drunken stupor laughed at that, "just as much as the beautiful ones know the most pain" he turned serious with piercing green eyes staring deep into her broken soul causing Marinette to blush.

"I hate knowing the fact that you're on antidepressants" he told her honestly.

"And I hate the fact that I even need them to feel remotely normal" she sighed, leaning over the couch to reach for a refill on her wine.

"I'm sorry we both have shitty luck with life and love" Adrien apologized on both their behalf.

Marinette snorted as she nearly choked on the gulp of wine she took, "don't be, otherwise we'd be here all night letting out our inner demons through drunken confessions"

Adrien titled his head, giving her the most cliché picture perfect pose of a model who was told to look thoughtfully, "if it's with you Mari, then the pleasure, the privilege would be mine"

"Okay, Morrissey, I'm cutting you off the wine"

Adrien shrugged, "You can't blame me for knowing the 80's like the back of my hand. My mother raised me on good 'ol 80's music while you can blame my father personally for that god awful retro back to the 80's spring-summer collection from five years ago that brought back the horrid invention of shoulder pads back into trend "

"You know, even though I was heavily pregnant and riding that emotional moody rollercoaster back then - I still cringe when I look back at that specific Agreste collection"

"I know you just cut me off the wine but don't you think we should toast to that?" Adrien asked, lip curling into a perfect pout.

Marinette gritted her teeth, it wasn't fair for one man to be that gorgeous.

"Fine" she told him as she raised her glass, "to great music from an era we weren't yet even thought of and to the nightmare that plagued the fashion world"

"To shoulder pads!" they toasted in unison while comfortably falling back into a light and playful mood.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

The fourth month.

"Okay, little lady, it's time for your bath" Marinette announced as she readied the water, waiting for the white porcelain tub to fill.

Over the past four months, Marinette had spent her days split between working at the bakery to spending time alone with Adrien on his free days or with him and his daughter Emma.

Admittedly it had taken her a while to adjust to the name Emma seeing as how it was what she had named her own daughter she gave up. She simply excused it as ironic given that it was a fairly common girl's name. No one else other than her parents even knew what she had named her daughter.

"Aww okay… but I really wanted to spend more time with you" Emma pouted exactly the same way that Adrien did.

Damn those strong genes of his.

"I'm not going anywhere, sweetie" Marinette caressed her cheek and then dipped one finger into the tub to check the water temperature. Once settling that it was just right, she poured a measured amount of soap into the water to make Emma a bubble bath.

"Bubble baths are my favorite! Do you know why?" Emma excitedly asked as Marinette undressed her and slowly lifted her into the water.

Marinette giggled, loving the curiosity and wonderment of the five-year-old. "Let me guess, because of all the bubbles?"

Emma shook her head, "No, it's because Daddy tells me all about his day. Sometimes he gets really grumpy when he mentions Grandpa's name… but most of the time his stories are funny. Sometimes Daddy starts falling asleep when he puts shampoo in my hair" Emma frowned.

"I bet your Daddy is really tired" Marinette replied as she lathered and gently scrubbed the shampoo into Emma's beautiful blonde hair.

"All the time" Emma showed Marinette how much by stretching her arms as far as she could. Soap studs and droplets of water spilling over the tub.

Marinette gave her a small smile. She didn't know how Adrien could work as much as he did and still have time to manage some personal time for himself while dedicating the majority to his daughter. He was amazing despite his hardships.

Marinette admired that about him and knew how truly exhausted he was.

She's seen it first hand when Adrien had started to come to her for help in watching Emma at night when he was working late at the office and seeing how he'd drag himself through the front door while Marinette greeted him happily as he profusely thanked her for being there for him when he had no one else.

It made her feel like she had no reason to complain about her own life while she saw how strong her friend is each and every single day.

"You know your Daddy loves you very much, Emma" Marinette told the little girl as she nodded, "I know, I just wish that he could sleep more"

In that moment, Marinette came up with a brilliant idea, "how about we surprise your dad in the morning by making him breakfast in bed?"

Emma's shoulders danced as she agreed with the idea, the little movement reminded Marinette of whenever she'd get overly excited about something and would dance in place exactly like that as well.

"I love you Marinette, you're the best!" Emma brightly smiled as both her tiny hands held Marinette's cheeks.

Marinette was touched and quickly kissed her wet cheek, "And I love you, Emma"

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

The fifth month.

"Oh my god Marinette, I don't think we can be friends any longer" Adrien cringed as the cheesy kung-fu noises that were blasting from his surround sound.

"What, what's wrong with my choice of Chinese martial arts movies? I bought these while I was living in China, thank you very much" Marinette defended herself as they continued watching the movie that was in Mandarin Chinese.

They were having a movie night at Adrien's that started with kid friendly movies that Emma picked from her personal collection and once she started to doze off on Adrien's chest, Marinette got up and switched to a box set of movies she had bought not even a year ago before she left China.

"What isn't wrong with this movie? The dialogue sounds like they got the script off a cereal box. The costumes are from the wrong era when they claim it's from another. They're both two hundred years apart. The special effects look like they're photoshopped in and I'm pretty sure that decapitated head is just melted cheese with eyes. This is so bad that it's hilarious" Adrien critiqued while laughing causing Emma to start slipping off him.

Marinette crossed her arms, "Who died and made you the expert of China?"

"The twenty-three years of private Chinese tutors plus mixed martial arts instructors" Adrien said while coughing.

"Oh, screw you Agreste" Marinette stuck out her tongue at him.

"Next up is my choice but before then I'm going to go put Emma in her bed"

"Okay, time out then" Marinette said and got up to help Adrien.

Once Emma was soundly asleep in her own bedroom, they went back to their movie marathon with Adrien being in the mood for classic Hollywood style horror.

It was Marinette's turn to start laughing as he picked the cheesiest French attempt at Hollywood style classic horror with the movie he chose called The Horrificator.

"Really, Adrien? And you were making fun of my choice?"

"Hey at least when something gets decapitated in this, it doesn't look like melted cheese on a stick… with eyes"

Marinette remembered his critique of her movie choice. Rolling her eyes, she gave in as she took a small blanket and nestled herself into a comfortable cocoon next to his side.

Thirty minutes into the movie and Marinette started to doze off.

"You're missing the best part! This is when the monster drains the girl from her energy to grow bigger" Adrien whispered as he nudged her shoulder.

"Just like this movie is doing to me" Marinette sleepily said, her head falling to the crook of his neck.

Adrien chuckled as he lowered the volume on the movie and finished watching it alone as he allowed Marinette to get comfortable and rested her head on his lap.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

The sixth month.

Inside Marinette's home, she and Alya sat at the kitchen counter on two metal stools.

"Looks like you and Adrien have been getting pretty cozy with each other, eh?" Alya teased as she took a sip of her aperitif, "I just hope that you don't forget that I exist as you're tangled in his bedsheets in the throes of endless passion" she finished causing Marinette to nearly spit out her own drink. Despite everything that had happened, Alya still firmly believed that Marinette still had a crush on Adrien and that they were meant to be.

"That's never even crossed my mind!" Marinette's heart jumped started as she frantically waved her arms in an x-formation in front of her body.

Alya only raised a brow in question.

"I'm not about to jeopardize what little bit of pure and wholesome happiness I have in my life. I make sure to religiously take my birth control every day so that I don't royally screw things up a third time"

"Marinette, who said you were at fault for the first? You weren't and you can't continue living with that guilt. As for the second, you always have that choice to go find your ex and your baby girl and you know I'll help you with the cost of hiring a private investigator" Alya winked and gave her a thumb's up.

"I know but that's one Pandora's box that I'm not ready to open up just yet. Five years is already a stretch as it is but… I'm just… not ready"

"Are you still taking your happy pills?"

Marinette snapped her fingers at the mention as she jumped off the stool and went to go fetch her purse. Inside she dug around and found what she was looking for. Taking it out, she rattled her small pill bottle and stood in front of Alya to show her.

Alya could hear a still decently filled bottle.

"I haven't really been needing them as much lately. I know I'm supposed to take them daily but I don't when there's no need to. Lately… I've been genuinely happier"

"Thanks to Adrien?" Alya finished, filling in the last of Marinette's sentence.

Marinette nodded, blushing, "he feels like home. I always feel comfortable around him and I know I can trust and rely on him to always be there for me. Just as much as you! Don't get me wrong. But… lately… it's weird"

"What's weird?" Alya asked as Marinette paused.

Marinette inhaled and exhaled as she tried to put her feelings into words, "I feel like I've known Adrien for longer than that small gap in high school when he was there for me during my pregnancy. It's weird, I know, but when I said that he feels like home it's because he feels familiar to me… but that's also how I felt about my Kitty and I'm starting to feel guilty and conflicted for liking someone else. You know fourteen-year-old me would've been through the roof if she knew that someday I could have an actual chance with Adrien but now… I… I… I don't know" Marinette looked down at the pill bottle in her hands, suddenly it become the most interesting thing in the room as she avoided eye contact with her best friend.

"Marinette, honey, you can't expect your first love to magically vanish from your heart and for all your feeling for him to go away overnight. They're called first loves for a reason. You'll always feel those emotions and while the memories are nice, you need to start thinking about your future and moving forward - moving on from the past with Adrien as your clean slate" Alya pepped talked while encouraging her to pursue whatever blossoming feelings she had towards Adrien whom over the past five years had become a near and dear brother figure to Alya.

That's all Alya ever wanted - to see both of her friends that she loved dearly to be happy together.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

The seventh month.

They both knew were this was going.

It was only a matter of time and with seven months of getting to know each other it felt like more than enough time as Adrien finally mustered up the courage to ask Marinette out on a proper date.

He didn't know why he felt incredibly nervous, it's not like he was being set up on a blind date with a stranger.

While on a morning jog, he decided to surprise Marinette at the bakery by dropping by to get a quick snack before heading back to his place to shower and go to work.

Once reaching their small bakery in the corner of the street, he entered with a small ding of a bell alerting the place of a new customer coming in.

Inside there were only a few patrons as it was still the early hours of the morning with not even the sun up yet.

"One coffee with a double shot of espresso and one pain au chocolat, to go please" Adrien ordered while Marinette's back faced him.

"Yes, sir!" she called as she went to the back to get a freshly made pastry and a cup for his coffee. Turning around she finally noticed who ordered as she input the information on the computer and leaned over the counter to narrow her eyes at him, "I thought you aren't allowed to eat any sweets"

Adrien started to jog in place as he briefly lifted his shirt up to reveal a toned lean stomach, "I promise not to tell if you don't" he begged as he continued, "help the starving model. I need bread carbs occasionally, or else I might implode on myself"

Marinette giggled at his melodramatics as she handed him his food, "it's on the house, only because I care about the well-being of this starving model that has a daughter that loves him very much"

Adrien bowed as he took the bag with the pastry in it, "Thank you, My Lady"

Marinette jolted at his words almost spilling his hot drink all over the counter. Luckily he didn't notice her small malfunction as he reached for his coffee and took a sip.

"Now that's a good morning right there" he complimented the brew and headed towards the door. During the time of their small banter, all other customers had left leaving them alone in the bakery.

Adrien thought it was now or never as he did a quick turn around and walked towards the counter again.

"Hey, Marinette" he got her attention.

"Yes?"

"I know this might sound a little bit out of nowhere but… um… do you fancy dinner?" he almost wanted to kick himself to the moon with how badly he worded it.

"Well I do partake in that specific activity every single night" she shot back with a smirk.

Adrien groaned, "I'm trying to ask you out but if I continue talking, not even the coffee will be able to save me"

Marinette was a little surprised but knew that eventually their relationship would take this next natural level in development. She didn't keep him hanging for very long as she nodded, "I'd love to. Just text me the when and where but I suggest you do that later unless you feel like having the wrath of your father today" she teased and winked at him.

Adrien looked at his watch on his right wrist and agreed, "yeah no thanks on that but I'll definitely text you. Now this is my cue to leave for real this time" he told her waving as he jogged out.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

The eighth month.

It felt awkward for both of them but they had decided to try dating.

No matter how long it had been, part of her would always love Chat Noir but she also felt things for Adrien which made her feel guilty until Alya put things into perspective. Marinette was willing to let someone new into her heart.

No matter how long it had been, part of him would always love Ladybug but he also felt things for Marinette which made him feel as if he were betraying the perfect love filled vision he had of his Lady until he had a long and hard talk with Nino over drinks one day. He helped him to put things into perspective, to put all his hurt, sadness, and loneliness all into the past and to accept someone new into his and Emma's lives.

They didn't mean to move at the speed hurdling towards the sun. It just did.

Things had first started off innocently with Marinette arriving at Adrien's for a date at his place. Adrien informed Marinette that Alya was taking care of Emma for the night claiming that she wanted some personal hands-on experience with kids so that she'll be ready for when her day as a parent comes.

Marinette shook her head smiling knowing that that wasn't the full reason as to why she decided to babysit.

As the night continued, they joked while drinking wine. Marinette sat on the kitchen counter and helped Adrien by handing him the kitchenware he needed for cooking. While she knew everything there is to baking, she felt like she lacked the skills for actual cooking and was thoroughly impressed that Adrien did.

"I hope you don't think I have some weird secret kink but do you mind if I blindfold you?" Adrien asked as he wiped his hands on a kitchen towel and showed her the red silk blindfold.

"Wow, didn't think we were gonna have that kind of night" Marinette teased as she gestured for him to hand her the blindfold.

Getting off the kitchen counter, she sat at a chair in his dining room and waited for him to help her put it on. "So why are we going all fifty shades now, if I may ask?"

"Haha, very funny. I'm not that kinky" Adrien partially lied, momentarily recalling some of the more adventurous things he's done with Ladybug years ago.

"I can't tell if I'm disappointed or not by that statement" Marinette gave him a pouty look that he'd normally find incredibly cute if he already wasn't extremely turned on in that very moment.

"Give me some credit here, I'm trying to be romantic and wanted to surprise you with the fancy presentation of the meal I made" he told her as her vision was finally covered by the silk cloth.

Things didn't go according to plan as the heat intensified between the two. Adrien started by giving her a taste of the strawberry he had just dipped in chocolate.

Intoxicated by her moaning need for him, he watched as the sweet juices and chocolate drizzled down her smooth creamy neck.

He kissed her so fervently that he felt like if he didn't hold onto her tight enough that she might slip from his embrace.

As he supported her on the wall, he leaned in and pecked her cheek as he whispered, "I think I might love you"'

Marinette's breath hitched.

She was caught off guard by his sudden confession as she moaned at the feeling of his teeth lightly grazing over her skin.

"I-I th-think I m-might l-l-love you too!" she stumbled over her words.

Feeling a light pressure on her head, she knew Adrien undid the knot of the blindfold and let it fall to the ground. She deeply moaned when he adjusted their positions by lifting her off the wall. "Let's take this to the room" he managed to groan out as she enthusiastically nodded her head already too far gone to rationalize both their decisions.

She could feel his arousal with each and every stride taken to his upstairs bedroom.

That night Chat Noir and Ladybug were the last things on their minds.

That night was just between Adrien and Marinette.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Done! To be continued.

Dun. Dun. DUUUUUNNNNN.

Adrien and Marinette get closer and secrets will be revealed next chap!

What does the future have in store for months nine-twelve?

You'll see! ;D

Ps. This was yet again another long chapter. Originally it was going to be only six months but then I added an extra two to make the build up to Adrien and Marinette getting together a bit slower.

Please do review! Follows and Alerts tell me that you guys are at least interested in the story but reviews really let me hear out what your feedback and personal opinions on my stories are!

If anyone is afraid to leave reviews due to language difference - please don't be! I can fluently read Spanish and partial French! :) And hey, that's why Google translate was invented after all! LOL.

So ya know the drill! Tell me what ya think! ;D