The morning after the night before...now that had a whole new meaning.
Adrien looked down at the woman settled in his arms and he couldn't help but feel a soft glow in his cheeks. She looked so calm and peaceful, the soft grunts leaving her mouth as she slept only adding to her undeniable cuteness. He moved slowly – carefully – trying his hardest to not wake her as he climbed out of bed and made his way downstairs towards the kitchen, taking his phone on the trip with him.
Over the years, Adrien had become quite chilled. He supposed having a father who was committing villainy on a daily basis did that to you. But he never got angry or annoyed. Well, maybe at Kim, but that had a whole other meaning to it. However, seven hours ago, Chloé Bourgeois had made herself his number one enemy and her name made him want to do unforgivable things to her...and not in the Fifty Shades of Grey way.
He had been so close to kissing Marinette, he could pretty much taste her. They were dancing. They were happy. He was head over heels in love and Marinette was right there, ready and waiting to be kissed into oblivion. Then the words that he heard shrivelled every romantic feeling in him into a prune.
She had ruined his night completely... Okay, maybe completely was overdoing it, because even if he didn't get to kiss Marinette and, in result, make her see the depths of his desire, he did manage to get tipsy and 'dirty dance' with her for most of the night. Hands touched peaches, and peppers were grabbed (that was just by Alya) but what mattered the most was his fiancée had had a great night. Even Nino had given in to peer pressure and got merry with the rest of them.
But best of all, when Adrien had offered Marinette the chance to stay the night, she'd jumped at it, asking if it would be okay to stay with him instead of a guest room. She claimed it was so people didn't ask questions, while he told their friends it was because neither of them wanted to be separated a moment more.
Nothing had happened apart from their usual cuddling and chatting, but falling asleep in Marinette's arms and then waking up with her in his...well, it was special and perfect. There was no one else in the entire world he wanted to do that with.
He knew she would be adorable when she woke up, and the fine wine and shots had sent her down Alice's rabbit hole and left her with a stinking hangover the next morning - one he was more than willing to take care of.
A group chat called: SSSHH with: LB, CN, RR, C...
Received Message from:Nino
Sanka! You dead?
Received Message from:Max
Ya, man! You?
Received Message from:Nino
Yeah!
Received Message from:Alya
Whichever one of you bastards turned on the light, can you turn it off. If you don't, I will look for you, I will find you, and I will kill you
Received Message from:Alix
It's too early to be quoting movies! I can barely register where I am
Received Message from:Nino
You're in the closet!
Received Message from:Alix
Why the fuck am I in the closet?
Received Message from:Nino
? ﾟﾏﾾ ️ you volunteered to get in there
Received Message from:Alix
Kim! BananaBandit what did you do?
Received Message from:Max
I'm 97% sure you won't get a response. He went home with Chloé
Received Message from:Alya
If I wasn't going to be sick before, I will be now!
Sent Message: Morning, campers! ️
Received Message from:Alya
How the hell does @BugBossLady put up with you in the morning?!
Yes, that's right, Agreste! I heard you singing in the kitchen! You're number two on my hit list, after I find out who's put this bright light in my room
Received Message from:Nino
That's the sun, babe! We fell asleep outside on the sun loungers
Received Message from:Alya
Not again!
Received Message from:Nino
Now that you're here, Agreste! I have a question: which Chris was it? I was trying to compare last night but they all kind of blurred into one
Sent Message: Chris?!
Received Message from:Nino
Yes, which Chris was it?
Received Message from:Alix
Does Adrien have beef with a guy called Chris? I can come help you take him down if you need it?
Sent Message: I don't have beef with anyone...except maybe Kim!
Received Message from:Marinette
My man has the ass of a god ?
Sent Message: Ah, she rises!
Received Message from:Marinette
Hurry up and come back to bed!
Received Message from:Max Replying to: Marinette
Hemsworth
Received Message from:Nino
Nah, man! There's no way that's Adrien's ahduienavhskdnbe
Received Message from:Alix
His...what? What's that noise outside which sounds like a dying pig?
Received Message from:Marinette
Nino meeting his demise!
Received Message from:Adrien
It's getting louder!
Received Message from:Alix
I'll help! Let me just come out of the closet
Received Message from:Juleka Replying to: Alix
It's about time!
Received Message from:Rose
I'm so proud of you, Alix
Received Message from:Alix
What is going on? I've literally just come out of a closet!
Received Message from:Rose
And we are so proud! Don't worry, Alix, we're all here to support you.
Received Message from:Alix
No! I don't think you get it! I was in the closest, and I've just stepped out
Received Message from:Juleka
Me and Rose have a friend we really think you'd like
Received Message from:Alix
You know what...okay! I'm Alix and I like girls and guys!
Received Message from:Alix
But Chat still has the best tush! Sorry girls!
Received Message from:Marinette
Of course!
Received Message from:Félix
Yo, @Meow-sterMind, just a little curious (not about the Hemsworth thing) but does the mansion still have CCTV? Just asking for a friend
Sent Message: @showbird yeah! Why?
Received Message from:Félix
The videos from last night? What will happen to them?
Sent Message: They will be erased for privacy. Again, why?
Received Message from:Kagami
Girls! I need your help! Anyone seen my knickers?
Received Message from:Marinette
wrong group, Kagami!
Received Message from:Kim
Knickers!
Received Message from:Nino
@BananaBandit you're lucky you didn't get kicked out of the group!
Received Message from:Kim
What did I do now?
Received Message from:Nino
You know what you did!
Received Message from:Alix Replying to: Kagami
Are they red lace French knickers?
Received Message from:Félix
No! They're white
Received Message from:Kagami
Why are the boys responding?
Received Message from:Marinette
Once again, Kagami, wrong chat!
Received Message from:Ivan Replying to: Alix
They're Myléne's
Received Message from:Mylène
IVAN!
Closing down the app, the messages continued to ping through and Adrien's heart swelled. He didn't need all the glitz and glamour of Hollywood, or his job. He just needed these people.
He looked beside him on the bed, at the woman with the wild hair and electric smile. This woman, right here, he needed more than he needed to breathe.
*****
It had only taken Adrien and Marinette three hours to feel normal enough to move again - a record, if you compared it to the others in their group - and now Adrien was walking her back to the boulangerie like the loving fiancé he was.
The sun shone brightly, adding a sheen over her black hair and giving it the effect of a raven. She was dazzling in the sunshine. So beautiful and pure. After eating breakfast that morning, she'd jumped into his shower and once again commandeered a selection of his clothing. There was something so territorial about seeing her in his t-shirt. Proof that she belonged to him and no one else. Her hair had been expertly twisted and twined by his hands into two French braids, saving her the hassle after a quick shower and her delicate head.
"You're staring like a weirdo," she said, turning her head to look up at him.
He chuckled, reaching out and taking her hand in his as they made their way down the street. Their fingers brushed past each other, twining themselves together in the most natural of ways. He felt the hard metal of her ring collide with his Miraculous, a power shooting up his arm, and a strange urge to growl 'mine'.
"I can't help it if my fiancée is gorgeous." His words caused her cheeks to colour that wonderful pink he adored so much.
"Flattery will get you everywhere, Chaton."
He smiled again, something he'd been doing a lot of over the past week, ever since he'd become engaged to his best friend. She really was the single most important thing in his life, more than his Miraculous, and he loved her in her entirety.
They continued the short walk to the boulangerie, shocked to see it closed when they arrived. Tom and Sabine had left the party after being there a couple of hours, claiming it was for 'the kids' to have fun without them cramping their style. Adrien knew his fake family well, though, and it was most likely they were tired and wanted to make sure they could open the bakery in the morning. Just like their daughter, they hated letting people down.
"They must have sold out already," Marinette said with a shrug.
She let go of his hand to open the door, his now redundant hand shooting out to hold the door open and allow her in first.
"Maman? Papa?"
Adrien stepped in behind her, removing his hat and sunglasses before looking around the counters. There wasn't a single crumb in sight, and while he knew they always kept the place pristine (you don't get the number one spot on TripAdvisor without it), these stands looked as though they hadn't been used today.
"Have your parents even opened today?" He wandered around checking if the oven was hot, only to find it stone cold.
"Maman?" she shouted again, moving into the depths of the boulangerie just as a large looming shadow appeared around the doorway.
"Ah, just the couple we wanted to see!" Tom entered the store to his full height with quite a stern look on his face. Oh, heck! Had they found out last night about the fact this was fake? Now they'd separate them and ban her from ever speaking to him again.
Weredad flashbacks ran crazily through his mind as he tried to piece an excuse together. It was fine! Everything would be fine! He'd just explain to Tom and Sabine that, yes, it was fake originally, but now it had never felt more real. He adored their daughter and would do whatever it took to make sure she felt like a princess every single day. He would give up everything just to be with her and...
Wow! Okay! That was a new thought...though not exactly false. He would give everything to be with Marinette.
"What's wrong, Papa?" Marinette came to stand beside Adrien, taking his hand in hers and giving it a little squeeze.
No need to worry. We're in this together! I could have said no!
He squeezed back.
You're always there when I need you.
"Come with me." Moving past them to lock up the boulangerie, Tom quickly turned on his heel and stalked to the back of the store, heading upstairs without a word.
With a quick glance at Adrien, Marinette began to lead him up the staircase and into the apartment, her hand trembling slightly in his. The smell met his nose before he could even see the door. Her mother was cooking his favourite dumplings. Jiaozi. The delicious scents of pork, cabbage and scallions hit his nose in a way that made him yearn to be home. Marinette could make them too, and although he wouldn't announce it to the family, they were nowhere near as good as her mother's.
The door was already ajar, Tom disappearing inside before they followed like lambs to the slaughter.
"Sit here," Tom demanded, moving to sit beside Sabine, who was already in the chair, looking just as serious as Tom had when he'd first entered the boulangerie.
"Is everything okay?" Marinette asked, Adrien dropping her hand and looping it around her waist as they sat side by side. He shuffled himself in close, terrified of what was going to come out of his in-laws' lips. His thoughts changed the second he felt a gentle weight on his thigh, Marinette's hand settling on it delicately.
Sabine was first to start up the conversation. "You know we were having some issues with your grandpa's house?"
Marinette nodded, her hand tightening on his thigh. He placed his other hand on top, once again communicating in their own special way.
I'm here!
When Marinette's grandpa passed away the previous year, she'd been devastated. Although not close in her younger years, there was no denying that once Marinette had made the effort to meet him in her teens, the relationship had blossomed – even if he had an issue with Adrien. Well, not so much an issue, but more a 'that's not how it's done' problem. Adrien was far too modern, and Roland was far too protective of his granddaughter. Adrien had been on the receiving end of a 'stern talking' more often than he liked to admit, so when he passed away it had become a dark cloud over the Dupain family – mostly Marinette.
Adrien had been working in Australia at the time. He could still remember the call from his heartbroken friend as she delivered the news...then the way she'd crumbled in his arms when he'd arrived there later that evening. They hadn't spoken. He'd just held her tightly and comforted her. She'd finally exhausted herself and snuggled into his chest, his t-shirt wet from the tears she had spilt on him. He'd told Lana to clear his schedule for the next couple of weeks, wanting to be with Marinette as she mourned the loss and planned the funeral. He'd never forgotten the way Tom had placed a hand on his shoulder in such gratitude after Adrien helped carry the coffin, a bond he never thought he'd have with anyone. Yet, he'd been accepted here, with this family.
When he'd returned to shooting, he'd borrowed Kalkki from Max, coming home whenever he had the chance. Home! But it wasn't the mansion, or even Paris. It was Marinette's arms - her smile, her care. Wherever she was, that was his home.
His attention turned away from the memories and back to the present, just in time to see what Sabine was handing over to Marinette. A manila envelope passed from one woman to the next, Marinette taking her hand from his thigh and leaving a chill in its wake.
"Read it," Tom said, his voice sounding thick and heavy. Adrien looked up at the gentle giant, watching as one hand grabbed his wife's and the other wiped something under his eye. "We had to finalise that this was okay, this morning. That's why the store was closed."
A gasp sounded next to him, followed by a soft whimper. Turning his head, he watched as Marinette kept her focus on the white paper. "Grandpa left us the house."
The words seemed so foreign. All he could do was blink and look over her shoulder. And there it was, as plain as day. On their betrothal, Marinette Dupain-Cheng (granddaughter to the deceased) and Adrien Émile Gabriel Donatien Athanase Agreste will inherit the property, finalising ownership once marriage has been verified.
When Marinette had mentioned us he never would have imagined his name would have been written there alongside hers – in full. His mind began to spiral, his eyebrows frowning as he read it over and over again. Roland Dupain – the man who used to tap him on the head with a rolling pin – had believed him and Marinette would marry. That he would be worthy of looking after his granddaughter.
"Your grandpa always said you two would end up together. We didn't expect him to count on it so much he'd write it in his will, though." Tom grabbed a tissue from off the coffee table and wiped under his eyes.
Sabine stretched towards them again, this time presenting a keychain. "He thought it would be an ideal place to raise a family together. That way he could be around you too. We tried to talk him out of it, especially with all the renovation work which needs to be done, but you know your grandpa. He said, and I quote, 'Adrien's got deep pockets. He can sort it out.'"
The sound of spluttered laughs broke out around the room, Marinette replacing her hand on his leg and giving it a squeeze before laying her head on his shoulder. "I don't know what to say." Her voice was emotional, filled with both sorrow and happiness. He'd only ever heard that tone once before – when he was leaving Paris.
"I can see this is a lot," Sabine said with a sniff, grabbing a tissue to wipe under her eyes. She stood up, Tom standing with her and giving them a small smile. "We'll leave you to discuss it."
Marinette stood up, embracing both her mother and father as Adrien remained seated. Still. Numb.
The overwhelming emotions flooded over him like a break in a dam. He was flooded with feelings he'd never felt before. Happiness. Sorrow. Gratitude. Love. They'd spent hours with Roland baking and introducing him to modern movies and technology – Alexa sure was a fun upgrade to the house.
Adrien still remembered fondly the day Roland had stumbled upon The Walking Dead. He would text Adrien nightly about where he was in the season, Adrien doing his best, when he could, to watch the same episode as the older man. He never knew all this time...all this...
The flood took over and he buried his head into his hands, the heels pushing into his eyes as he tried to contain his sniffles - but it was too much. Everything had suddenly become too much and he just didn't know how to control it anymore...so he didn't.
Tears fell in droves, the feelings becoming too strong to hold in anymore – or to figure out the cause. Thoughts of his future spun around in his head, each and every one containing the house and his lady. He didn't need anything anymore. He didn't want any more. Why? Because he had every single thing his heart desired.
"Hey, don't cry! We won't spend all your money." A soft hand ran up and down his back, ghosting his spine with love and affection, before he felt the hand stop and wrap around him, his own looping under her arms to her shoulders and pulling her in closer. He settled into her scent, allowing the soft floral undertones to calm him.
"What's wrong, Minou?" Her soft voice whispered in his ear and he wished he could just tell her the truth - break down and tell her he loved her...always had, always would!
"Why do you all care for me so much?" he asked. "My father couldn't even take the time to wish me a happy birthday, yet your grandpa left me his house, his home, in his will...trusting that I would look after it, and his most cherished treasure."
"And what treasure would that be?" Marinette said, her voice betraying her emotions and wobbling slightly with the question.
He turned his head from where it lay on her shoulder, his forehead twisting as his lips gently brushed her ear. "You."