We can tell them we are going out on a date…

Their eyes locked as she entered the room, and he loved the way a soft smile played on her lips, loved the way that her cheeks tinted pink, but most of all he loved the thing you had to look to see, the twinkle in her eye, the twinkle that made him grin, that was his lady.

"Dude, what was that?" Nino prodded him in the side, he turned to his friend, the smile not leaving his face, though his cheeks were now a light shade of red,

"I asked her out," they'd planned the details this morning, just in case. He'd seen Marinette in the park with Nathaniel and gotten jealous, so he'd called her (with the number Alya had given him weeks ago) and asked to talk to her after she was done, he'd asked her out and, of course, she'd said yes.

"Are you joking?" Nino said, grinning, Adrien rubbed the back of his head,

"Yeah, I, uh, figured out what you were on about yesterday." Nino clapped him on the shoulder and he could see the pride in his friend's eyes,

"Took you long enough, she's had a crush on you since, like, the first day you met her," Adrien opened his mouth to reply when Alya tapped Nino on the shoulder,

"Pay up DJ" she opened her palm and wiggled it, Nino rolled his eyes but grinned as he rummaged through his bag, handing her a pile of Euros.

"Were you…betting on us?" Adrien questioned, sneaking a peak at Marinette as he turned to Alya, her face was a delectable shade of red and her eyes were wide, so cute.

"Only on you," Alya said, calling his attention back, "I figured once Mari started talking to Nathanael you would make a move," he saw the corners of Marinette's mouth turn up,

"Well, I-I" Alya just laughed,

"Oh, we all caught you looking at her, you weren't exactly being discrete." He knew his face was burning and he started to reply but was cut off by the teacher calling their attention to the front, taking one last glance at his princess, he turned to the lesson.

The whole day was torture, Nino kept pestering him with scribbled questions on scraps of paper but all he could think about was the girls sitting behind him. They whispered and giggled, he also heard small squeaks of protest and he definitely heard his name at least three times. He hated not seeing her, knowing she was right behind him, but that he couldn't speak to her, touch her or even see her smile. Lunch was worse, oh, he loved finally being able to talk to her, but not being able to be close with her? He couldn't hug her, kiss her or even hold her hand. They had spent last night in bed together for goodness sake! He blushed at the way it sounded, but after a night of cuddles, caress and her sweet lips he felt like they had taken a step in the wrong direction. When the bell went they walked out together, and it took all his strength not to pounce on her then. They stood in front of the school chatting quietly,

"I have a photoshoot, but then I'll come pick you up for our date," it felt so good to say that,

"I'll look forward to it," she grinned, then let the smile fall a little, looking pointedly at Alya and Nino, who were watching them,

"Are we on patrol tonight, my lady?" Adrien whispered and she giggled, nodding,,

"Of course chaton I-" The car horn beeped and he winced,

"I'll see you later princess." He took a step back and waved to Nino before turning and jumping in the car, staring out the windows at Marinette as they drove away, let's just say he was finally glad the windows were tinted.

Adrien entered the Dupain-Cheng bakery wringing his hands, he never thought he'd be so nervous, but the thought of introducing himself to his lady's parents was terrifying, because even if they didn't know, this was the girl he'd already kissed, already spent the night with. In their house! Mrs Dupain-Cheng's head looked up when he entered and she waved,

"Hello Adrien, Marinette said you were coming by," he smiled and lightly nodded his head,

"Hello Mrs Cheng" she laughed lightly,

"Please dear, Sabine is fine. We're just so happy that Marinette is finally with you," she looked around and lent in before raising her hand in a stage whisper, "She thinks we don't know but she's been crazy about you since you met,"

"So I've been told." Adrien blushed at the cute antics of his lady, Sabine laughed,

"You should have seen her on your birthday last year, she could wait to give you her gift," his eyes widened, Mari had gotten him a gift? Why didn't he get it? "Tom's out at the minute, he's going to be sorry he missed you." Sabine carried on, unaware of the question now filling his mind,

"Oh, ok." He murmured absent-mindedly, she patted his shoulder and called up the stairs,

"Mari, Adrien is here!" a face appeared at the top of the stairs, followed by a light patter of footsteps as Mari appeared in front of them. He didn't know why he reacted the way he did, why his breath caught in his throat or why his heart raced but when he saw her… she smiled and hugged her mum, calling his name as she opened the door. Shaking his stupor away he followed her out like a little kitten.

It was a lovely day, he could deny it. Though, as he'd already said, not as lovely as his lady. She just rolled her eyes and nudged him lightly with her shoulder, blushing. They sat in the park and Adrien slipped her hand into his before speaking,

"Mari…when I was at your house, your mum said you got me a birthday present." He felt her hand stiffen in his, she was silent for a minute before she spoke,

"I uh, I lost it after school, see, I didn't have the confidence to ask you, when we were at school, so I was going to give it to you at your party…" she smiled lightly but there was a sadness in her eyes,

"Don't lie Marinette, tell me what happened." He said, taking her other hand in his and turning her to face him, apprehension filled her eyes as she sighed,

"Y-you did get my present, just not under my name." Adrien thought back to the presents he'd gotten, Chloe…but she didn't give him a gift, but then, his eyes widened, it all made so much sense,

"The scarf…why didn't you say anything?" she looked away as she spoke,

"You seemed so happy to get something from your dad…I couldn't take that away." He felt guilt pang in his heart, did he deserve a girl as sweet as this?

"My lady, I would've been purrfectly happy to get a gift from you." He pulled her into a hug and she sighed, wrapping her arms around him. They must have sat like that for a while, hugging in the park, his fingers in her hair, her cheek on his chest.

"We should go, Kitty," she mumbled, pulling back. Adrien pouted and she giggled, her whole face lighting up, enough to make his heart jolt, "I have to do my homework before patrol," he tilted his head, considering,

"At least let me walk you home princess," Standing he offered his hand and she took it, the smile never leaving her face,

"Adrien? I really enjoyed this,"

"Anytime, Bugaboo, anytime."