this chapter was actually fun to write bc of many reasons thanks have fun reading
---
Paris' grey clouds and March air enveloped the two as they stepped off the plane, her taking in a familiar breath of air.
Thankfully it wasn't raining in Paris, just cold and cloudy, but it was a lot better than the pouring rain they had to deal with on the other end of Europe. The two of them held hands and dragged their suitcases behind them as they made their way into the airport and quickly through customs, and finally to their chauffeur. Both of them were quite sleepy still from their long nap on the plane, but knew they had to stay awake. They had a meeting to attend.
Neither of them had any idea why Gabriel called a meeting for them two, when everything was going smoothly, even more smooth than expected. They did exactly as he asked in Greece and she didn't get any info about anything going wrong in the show, and neither did he. All they knew was that he wanted a meeting and he wanted it asap.
She felt funny. Was something wrong? She felt the anxiety bubble up in her chest, her wringing her hands together as she stared out the window, biting her lip.
"Hey" her boyfriend's sleepy voice sung out, reaching to gently hold her hands. "Don't be nervous. He can't break us up now if that's what you're thinking. I want you, not anyone else, okay?" His lips gently peppered kisses on her cheek, as she nodded and gulped, leaning into him. She hoped he was right. Did she do something wrong? What if he wanted to fire her?
Her thoughts ran wild until the very last second. New scenarios and new possibilities popped up with every step into the building and every step up the stairs to the office where they were set to meet.
As Adrien pushed the cold door open, Marinette took a deep breath and gently placed her feet into the tile floor, the soft tapping of her heels being the only noise filling the room, until the soft squeaking of chairs was heard, and they sat down, he was watching them like a hawk.
"How serious are you two about this relationship?" His voice was soft and careful with his words, expected from Gabriel, he always knew what he was doing. Right to the point. Marinette looked at Adrien with a nervous expression, her hand timid as she reached out to grab his. He met her halfway, squeezing her hand reassuringly and smiling at his father.
"Very serious. We've had some..... Reestablishments in our relationship during the vacation." He smiled at the increasingly worried girl, pulling her chair up against his. "She's been panicking about this all day, but I'm sure there's nothing to worry about, right father?"
"Oh no, I was just wondering if I made a mistake or not."
"What kind of mistake? Do you mean with us two? Father, we like this relationship a lot..." He furrowed his brows and stared at him, squeezing her hand tight as he heard a soft whimper come from her. "You're not breaking us up."
"I wasn't planning to. Someone else offered me money to break you two up however..."
"And you won't be doing that." Adrien's voice got stern, as he tapped his foot on the tile furiously. "We want to try this. For real." He drew his lips tight as he shot daggers into his father with his eyes, pulling Mari as close as he physically could, praying she wouldn't cry. He wouldn't let this happen.
"I've already denied the money Adrien. Do not get stern with me."
Adrien let out a sigh of relief, his head leaning down to kiss her cheek, smiling gently. "It's okay, see? Nothing to worry about." he muttered, his voice gentle and caring as he gradually calmed her from her panic.
"Besides, I'd much rather have a bright woman like miss Marinette as a part of the family, than bad-press-bourgeois."
"Chloe?" Both their heads snapped up at once, as Adrien felt a grin on his face. Relief spread through the room, as he started to laugh, harder and harder by the second. "You got an offer to break us up by Chloe?"
"Yes, I was supposed to get a hefty check of a hundred grand to break you two up and to have you take her on two dates. I'd get double if I arranged a marriage between you two. Of course, I care much more about my company than some stupid bratty girl who wants to date my son."
"Thank god" Marinette let out a loud sigh, grinning up at Adrien. "Oh god. I seriously thought you were going to fire me and ban me from dating your son or something! Oh my god, you literally had me on the verge of tears!"
"I know, it was very hard to not burst out laughing at your distress." He tapped his fingers on the table, gesturing down to her bag with a soft smile. "Can I see the final pieces in person, please?"
"Of course! Oh, I'm so exited to show you, I really think the Greece atmosphere influenced these into being wonderful, I hope you think so too." She unzipped the bag, laying them on the table one by one for him to inspect.
"I definitely don't regret my decision. Thank you, miss Marinette."
Gabriel made his comments and notes about each and every piece, but seemed very proud of every one, a smile even growing on his face as they went down the line of fashion choices for the upcoming event. She was going to be an amazing addition to the family.
"Marinette, why don't you come over for dinner so we can further discuss your plans for the show? A few other designers are popping in for dinner tonight and I thought maybe you'd like to come and sit at the table. They've all asked me about you already."
"Oh, it would be lovely! Thank you so much. Should I be over by 7?" She smiled as he nodded, bouncing on her toes. "Adrien, I'll see you then I'm guessing? Since its at your house and I have to get ready." She leaned down and kissed him on the lips gently, leaving with a soft bounce in her step, everything was more than just good and she loved it.
"So I'm guessing things went well in Greece?"
"More than well." He stood up, practically beaming at his father. "Thank you."
"For what?" The father avoided eye contact by gently straightening out the dress on the table, examining the beautifully crafted stitching.
"For this whole thing. I know you did it for your business and stuff and I know you didn't mean for it to end up like this but... I'm really glad it did. So just, thank you." Adrien stepped forward, turning his father to face him and enveloping him into a meaningful hug.
Gabriel hesitated, but his expression of shock melted off his face as he hugged his son back, patting him on the back a few times. He had definitely made the right choice.
---
Nervous Marinette was the cutest thing, Adrien had decided. She would scrunch up her nose whenever someone would begin to compliment her, and slowly her face would bloom into a beaming grin, that complimented her oh so wonderfully. She had character, personality, all of it, and everyone at the table was overjoyed to talk to her, including Adrien.
Normally he'd be bored out of his mind at these stupid dinners with people he really didn't care to meet and way too much fashion talk, but with Marinette there, he was able to just silently pick up on every little thing he loved about her and make a little list in his head to remember on late nights when he couldn't sleep and boring photoshoots to give him life.
Was this what love was like? Certainly he had feelings for this girl, but was this love? Did she do the same thing? Oh he hoped she did, or had at least thought about doing it. What were his nervous habits, his quirks? He wanted to know all of them. Maybe he should write down hers so he could tell her. Or maybe he'd just remember them and mention them to her when she was feeling down. The latter, probably.
He didn't think he spoke a single word throughout the entire dinner, his eyes fixed on her, his plate barley picked at. His stomach had too many butterflies from noticing all the little beautiful things she did to eat, maybe he'd sneak some pie into his room later.
"I'm so sorry, I really need some shut eye for the long week ahead! This was so nice though, I'm so thankful. Adrien, would you walk me to the door?" Her voice snapped him back into reality. The door? She was already leaving? Had the dinner gone by that fast? Oh my. He had lost track of time.
"Of course, darling" he got up and helped her out of her chair, walking with her with a dazed and giddy smile.
"What's gotten into you? You've been staring all night." She interrogated with a sly smile, hooking their arms together naturally and leaning into him. "You barley talked the whole dinner. All you did was stare at me, with this stupid expression! Was there something in my teeth? Do I have like, a zit or something?" Her hands worriedly examined her face, looking up at him with horrified eyes.
"You assume too much! No no, none of that. You just.....You had me distracted. You're cute when your nervous." She rolled her eyes at his comment, feeling a relaxed smile spread on her lips, which he met with a quick kiss, causing her so squeak loudly. "what? It's true. You were being extra adorable and I couldn't stop staring. You're still being extra adorable right now."
"Oh my god, shh!" She pulled away from the touch to throw her coat on. "I think it's raining out there."
"You think? I can hear it pouring. Come on, I'll walk you to your car, my darlin" he threw his own coat on and grabbed an umbrella hurriedly, pulling her close with a grin, kissing her cheek and letting the umbrella up as they stepped out into the cold storm.
She held tight onto him as they walked to the car, her eyebrows raising as he stopped about halfway there. What had gotten into this boy? "What's wrong?"
"I've always wanted to do this." He pulled her close against him, a smile growing wide on his face as he met his down to hers, sealing her a sweet goodbye with a loving kiss, his eyebrows furrowed as he held her tight against the wind. "I'm cliche, I know."
Her legs were like putty the rest of the way home, she was lucky she didn't get into an accident.
---
so that was cute help me