Marinette kept pacing back and forth backstage under Adrien's amused smile:
"Relax, princess, everything's going to be fine. Besides, you can't do anything more from that point. The models are all lined up, dressing up as we speak, and they're going to go down that catwalk and rock the place, okay?"
The young woman stopped her pacing for a second, eyeing him warily:
"But what if they get the designs wrong? What if they mix them up?"
Chuckling, Adrien reached for her waist and pulled her to him gently:
"They won't. That's why we're doing a check up before the show starts, remember?"
"What if a model gets sick?" groaned his fiancée as she buried her face in the crook of his neck, leaning on him slightly.
"Then we'll resort to a backup model. Mari, stop worrying, everything's under control."
"I can't," she mumbled against his white shirt, toying with the electric green tie she had chosen for him a few hours prior. She locked her arms around him, and he could tell she was reveling in the familiar scent of his cologne to calm her madly rambling mind down.
"Your designs are amazing, bugaboo, our collection is more than ready to shine. I've been in the industry for almost a decade now, don't worry. I've taken care of everything that could go wrong and planned backup for almost everything. And, it doesn't hurt that you're absolutely stunning yourself tonight. They're absolutely gonna love you."
The young man felt her embrace tightening around him, and he could see the top of her ears reddening. With a low chuckle, he couldn't resist teasing her a little:
"Can't handle a little compliment, my lady? It's true you know, you're gorgeous in that dress, even more than usual. I didn't think it was humanly possible, honestly."
"Ah hush, you hopeless flirt!"

She playfully hit him on the chest, but he had achieved what he was striving to: Marinette was a little bit more relaxed in his hold, her mind focused elsewhere than on everything that could go wrong. What Adrien had just told her was no exaggeration: she was simply splendid. She had gathered her dark locks into an elegant bun enhanced with a complicated hairpin. As usual, she had kept the makeup to a minimum, but it was what looked best on her. The makeup artist taking care of her had fully agreed that in her case, her unique half-Chinese half-French features shone on their own without the need to be enhanced whatsoever. Her dress, though, fully reflected her Asiatic origins. She was wearing a magnificent light pink cheongsam that went down to mid-thighs. It was made of intricate lace, with a satin lining underneath. They had argued a little on the shoe matter, Adrien not too keen on her wearing high heels since he had read it wasn't recommended for pregnant women. Marinette had countered with an annoyed frown that she wasn't that far along for it to really matter, but they had finally settled on her faithful black kitten heels. The young woman then had played dress up with her husband-to-be, choosing his shirt and his tie and picking out a dark gray suit for him, arguing that its shade complimented his skin tone best. Adrien was used to other people choosing his clothes on his behalf, but when it was his fiancée that called the shots, it was different. Instead of dressing up without even glancing at himself in the mirror, he was proud to be Marinette's breathing model.

They had to break their embrace soon enough as they were called to review their models line up. Taking her small hand in his, he guided her to the part where their team was waiting for them. To his relief, Marinette instantly lit up, seeing her designs brought to life before her eyes. Sure, she had seen them before, but not like that. Not with the fittings done, the models groomed and ready to take on the catwalk. The models were all paired up, a male and a female design for each of the eight dates they had settled on. Adrien watched, completely fascinated, as his fiancée walked down the lineup, eyeing every model with a critical mind. She did, in the end, make a few corrections, but when she looked back at him as she ended her very first review, she was beaming, glowing with pride. The countdown to get on the catwalk began and Marinette stepped out of the way as the models took their places. Smiling at them warmly, the young designer cleared her throat:
"Alright team, here goes nothing. We have worked very hard these past weeks, and I'm very proud of every single person present tonight. This collection is Adrien and I's professional baby, and we're very happy to share that accomplishment with all of you. Whatever happens on that catwalk, we did our best, and that's all that matters. Have fun out there, okay?"
The models smiled back at her warmly, her little speech having effectively released a bit of the tension in the room. One makeup artist dared to hug her tightly while the other members of their crew discreetly wiped a tear or two. It was clear even to an onlooker that Marinette was very loved by her team, that they were faithful to her despite the short time they have been working with her.

But then again, Adrien thought with a fond smile, who in their right mind could not love her?

She had been nothing but kind and warm to her crew members from the start, always formulating her demands politely instead of demanding like the other designers tended to do. She had even gently scolded a model for losing weight, telling her that she only wanted healthy looking people on her line up. She was a breeze of novelty in the industry, and Adrien was proud of her beyond reason.

The animator began speaking, briefly introducing the concept behind the collection. While brainstorming with him a few days prior, they had agreed that the story of their eight-dates day (without naming their names or even specifying that it was a true story) would probably the most creative way of doing justice to their unique concept. Taking Marinette's hand into his once again, he closed up the distance between them and the heavy curtain, taking their designated spots to watch the show from backstage without risking being seen from the audience. And they listened, as the animator told the crowd the cute story of two teenagers in love going on their very first date together.

"One can't live in Paris without riding a boat down the Seine at least once in his life. So that's what our lovebirds settled on doing first, laughing and talking about their respective likes and dislikes."
Right on cue, the two first models gracefully hopped on stage. The female model was wearing a pleated cotton white skirt, with a light blue cotton tank top. She was also wearing a white and gray striped light woolen cardigan, with beaded flip-flops in her feet as a reminder of the seaside. The male one was sporting white bermudas to match his date, blue flip-flops, and a white polo with thin red stripes and a blue collar. They walked down and up the catwalk flawlessly, easing Marinette's tension further.

The second pair stood ready to take on the show.
"The boat ride was a little windy, so the teenagers decided to go to the movies afterward to shield themselves from the summer breeze. Sodas and popcorn in hand, they treated themselves to an action-packed superhero movie, a common interest."
Adrien knew for a fact that Marinette was really proud of that specific design. The girl was wearing scarlet red skinny pants with matching ballerinas. The tank top, however, was delicate and very feminine. It was rather simple, light gray with a slightly darker leopard pattern. But the designer had added a lining of black lace along the collar, as well as black ruffle along the hem. A silky scarf completed the look. For the boy counterpart, she had had fun to invert the female color scheme. A deep red button up with a black tie was casually worn over black pants sewn with bright red thread. His sneakers were also black with crimson stripes. The design included a black leather jacket that was for the time being neatly folded over the model's arm. Again, the pair's journey on the catwalk went smoothly, and Adrien finally felt Marinette relax fully by his side.

"Once their movie was over, our young lovers found themselves starving despite all the popcorn they had munched on, so they headed to a small café to have a nice lunch together."
This was one of Adrien's favorites, along with the female version of the picnic date. The lady here was clad in a simple black and white striped tank top. However, a wide band of black satin was wrapped around her midsection right under her breasts, as well as around her shoulders turning into short satin sleeves. Dark gray pants with black ballerinas completed the outfit. The man, on his part, had a white button up shirt under a loose fitted light gray sleeveless vest. A black tie loosely tied around his neck, he was sporting a black pair of trousers with black sports shoes.

"Once they were satiated, our lovely pair decided to grab a cup of coffee on their way to their next date. After all the activities they had packed in one single day, they definitely could use the caffeine boost after all."
Casting a wide smile to their proud designer, the next pair stepped out. The male design was a three-quarter length sleeved black checkered button up. A sleeveless sparkling white vest, gray trousers, and black sneakers completed the male look. His partner was wearing a slightly above the knee-length dark gray woolen tunic, cinched at the waist with a leather belt, over a long sleeved cotton black shirt. Black kitten heels in her feet, the look was accessorized by knee-high black and white striped gaiters and a silver pendant resting between her breasts. Those designs didn't scream coffee date, but they were a cute mix between casual and a little more formal. If the reactions of the audience they heard from their secluded spot were anything to go by, their opinion on that matter was widely agreed upon.

"Our lovebirds decided to begin their afternoon by a stroll at the zoo, and ended up chatting quietly about their families, munching on some cotton candy as they walked between the various animals."
The next set was definitely one of the cutest, and probably the most wearable on a daily basis. The man version consisted of a washed-up pair of jeans, navy hi-tops sneakers and a light cotton knitted black sweater. A golden pendant on a leather lace echoed the leather band wrapped on the model's wrist. The female design paired with that one was rather pretty while remaining comfortable enough for a walk through the zoo. The short skirt had a tiger print in shades of gray and black, a clever reminder of the theme of the date. An elbow-length cotton white button up was enhanced by a wide black satin sash and a black and white striped tie. The model was strutting the catwalk back up in pitch black ballerinas hand in hand with her "boyfriend", a wide grin spread on her face. She winked at Marinette as they passed them, and Adrien saw his wife-to-be glow even brighter with pride.

"Even if her date was obviously thoroughly enjoying himself at the zoo, our young lady had other plans for the remaining of their afternoon. She challenged him to a video games deathmatch at the local arcade. After all, all's fair in love and war."
The following pair of designs was by far the most colorful and the most youthful they had made. The girl model was wearing a white tank top over a black t-shirt, with a black and pink cat printed at the front. Black and white striped fingerless gloves and a white purse hanging at her waist, she was sporting washed up jeans and, the color touch of the outfit, a red hi-tops sneaker in a foot and a blue one in the other. Overall, the look was playful and cute. The male model was definitely sporting more colors than his counterpart, wearing a bright green polo over a long sleeved white undershirt. His jeans hanging low on his hips, his own hi-tops shoes were radiant red with yellow laces. Adrien felt Marinette tense up by his side when Melody, the female model, managed to trip on nothing on her way back, but her partner reacted lightning fast, grabbing her by the waist and dipping her low like it had been intended from the very start. The crowd, none the wisest, cheered loudly at how cute the "couple" was looking, and the disaster was successfully averted. As the mannequins stepped back behind the curtain, the blackette designer mouthed a silent thank you toward her savior, who only shortly bowed before her, a playful smile dancing on his lips.

"After all those activities and emotions, our young lovebirds were famished. Thankfully, the young woman had prepared a picnic basket before heading out, so after retrieving it they headed to the nearby park where they enjoyed a nice and quiet meal together while talking about their previous relationships."
There it was, the dress Adrien was so fond of. He really had half a mind to ask the production team to make one for his lovely fiancée. It was a halter top dress, with navy chiffon fabric covering the model's breasts, turning into a light blue string at the top circling the girl's neck. Below the chest, the skirt was flowing, breezy light, into a pool of flower patterned chiffon. Navy, light blue and turquoise flowers were all over the dress' skirt, falling down mid-thighs. Matching blue high heels made the look light and vapory. The man's design was truly no match, consisting of a blue and white striped t-shirt with a star printed on the front, jeans capris, and blue sneakers. It was cute, but when it came to that specific pairing, the stunning sundress stole the spotlight without any real struggle.

"After a well-deserved meal, our young couple bundled up in warm clothes and headed to the local indoor skating rink despite the boy's protests. It had been a long time since he had had the occasion to skate, but the girl refused to oblige. She fully intended on having fun with him on the ice, even if it meant teaching him from scratch."
When Marinette had first shown him that specific design, she had gushed to no end about the way it just felt autumn and fallen leaves. Seeing the young couple of models stroll down the catwalk with professional steps, Adrien could definitely see it. The female design consisted of a dark woolen tunic with light flower designs and black and white striped sleeves, worn over a black leggings and ankle boots. The boy model was wearing an olive jacket over a denim shirt and black pants. Blue hi-tops shoes and a checkered scarf in matching colors completed the outfit.

As the final pair of the evening completed their strut on the catwalk, the animator's voice rose again:
"At the end of the final date of the day, our gentleman walked his lovely lady home. Unspoken promises and a kiss on the cheek later, both of our teenage heartthrobs were left on their own dreaming of their next date."
The crowd clapped excitedly as all the models walked back on stage, taking their designated spots in a half-circle pattern, leaving a clear path free for Marinette and himself at the very center.
"This, unfortunately, brings us to the end of this beautiful journey. Which leaves me to present you the minds, bodies and souls behind the amazing fashion collection you have been privy to tonight. Ladies and gentlemen, introducing for the first time ever as project manager and most promising upcoming designer of Agreste designs, please welcome Adrien Agreste and Marinette Dupain-Cheng!"
Faintly squeezing Marinette's small hand into his in a reassuring fashion, both of them stepped into the spotlight, walking down the catwalk with model smiles plastered on their face. Well, on his part. Marinette was utterly glowing with pride, and her smile couldn't have been more genuine if she had tried. They struck a pose or two for the photographers before taking place between their models. Eagerly taking the microphone that was offered to her, the young woman quickly silenced the loud crowd as she spoke:
"I'd like to thank Mr. Gabriel Agreste for offering us the chance to shine by ourselves like we did tonight. I'd like to thank our crew for believing in us no matter what and take stupid risks just because we said it'll be okay. And most of all, I'd like to thank my amazing partner, Adrien, for making all of this possible, for believing in me when I was feeling down and sticking with me through thick and thin."
With a fond smile, he was barely able to conceal, Adrien retrieved the microphone from his bride-to-be's hands and smile as the crowd cheered loudly:
"What can I add to a perfect statement like the one my partner just made? Only that Marinette Dupain-Cheng is incredibly talented, as you have all been lucky enough to witness tonight, and I can guarantee you haven't seen the last of her!"

Under the audience applauses and their crew praises, Marinette and Adrien bowed low, hand in hand, a wide smile spread on their lips. They posed for more pictures, before heading to the car for the after party, only to be intercepted by very hungry media:
"Mr. Agreste, Mr. Agreste! What do you have to say about rumors that Miss Dupain-Cheng lawsuit and your upcoming wedding are only publicity stunts to boost the sales of your collection?"
Adrien shrugged, he knew those stupid rumors were likely to come, but they bothered him to no end.
"Rumors are rumors. I think what you saw tonight fully support my opinion that miss Dupain-Cheng's designs have absolutely no need to resort to vile publicity stunts to help selling her designs. Her collection is publicity enough in itself."
"So you didn't purposely time both events to coincide with the fashion show?"
Groaning, Adrien stopped dead in his tracks, his protectiveness taking the best of him:
"Agreste designs' official position about my fiancée lawsuit's have previously been addressed by my father. As for our upcoming wedding, the only thing I can tell you is that by Sunday night, Miss Dupain-Cheng will officially be Mme Agreste."
Another reporter unceremoniously shoved his microphone in front of Marinette's face:
"Miss Dupain-Cheng, why rush the wedding if it's not for publicity purposes?"
As always, Adrien came to her rescue, helping her into the car and facing the very impolite journalist:
"I'm not going to give her time to change her mind, now am I? It won't be long before someone else realizes just how much my fiancée is amazing and talented, so I'm going to put a ring on it before anyone tries to take her away from me. No more comments."
He slid into the car beside her, taking her hands into his, kissing her knuckles gently:
"You made it, princess. In their eyes, you're a real designer now."
Her faint smile was barely reassuring.
"Do you still want to go to the afterparty? They're all going to wait for us, but I'm sure I can excuse you if you aren't feeling okay."
She smiled warmly at him.
"Don't worry kitty. I'll be fine. I'm a little worried about the drink issue, though. They're going to figure out I'm pregnant right away with the statement you just made…"

Adrien chuckled loudly.
"Don't worry love, just use my patented technique. I'll take a gulp from your glass, and they'll leave you alone for the whole night. As long as you have a glass that isn't untouched but not empty either in your hand in your hand, and you're going to be just fine."
Marinette quirked a skeptical eyebrow:
"Is that so?"
"Trust me princess, that's a technique I have mastered over the course of the last few years. Can't let alcohol alter your judgment if you wish your private life to remain really private, now can you?"

A few hours later, an equally satisfied Adrien and Marinette left hand in hand an awesome after party where they both had been praised to no end and headed straight to the young man's apartment. Both were truly elated with the way the show had gone. The critics so far were amazing, the fashion experts present had been baffled by the cuteness of the concept of the show, the quality of the designs for a newcomer and the obvious chemistry between the team. Of course, some of the outfits had been judged a little weaker than the others, and some flaws had been pointed out, but overall, the day had been a huge success, and possibly Marinette's big break out among Agreste designs. As he fondly watched the young woman burying herself under his sheets, Adrien couldn't help but wonder how in the world he had managed to live without her before. And bemuse on how Marinette, the amazing girl with enough kindness and generosity in her to turn his whole life upside down along with, hopefully, the Parisian fashion industry, was oblivious enough to fail to see just how she deserved to be loved and worshiped.

Ok folks, there's only one chapter remaining, and the epilogue.

Since you've been incredibly reactive ever since the beginning of this story, I'm going to ask your opinion: is there anything, apart from Sabrina, the baby and the wedding, you feel I've left hanging? Is there any answers you're dying to get?

Thanks again!