Clue Four: We have our own song. It means a lot to me and when I hear it I only think of you <3
Adrien had given Marinette the day off. Everything that happened after she left yesterday was a complete whirlwind. She remembered going to the hospital, talking with Alya, holding the baby whilst Alya contacted the father, being there when the father arrived and then consoling her best friend when the father left.
Due to Alya's distressed state the hospital had decided to keep her in until she seemed stable enough to leave. It seemed she was on the brink of breaking and had been put under careful watch by the staff. Obviously the baby stayed with her and was actually developing beautifully. She'd taken to breastfeeding like a duck to water, and even when Marinette was holding her she'd still try and nurse.
Holding such a small delicate creature in her hands filled her with so much longing, but she wanted the whole family life. She didn't want to have a baby then get married, she wanted the whole charade. The dating, the engagement, the wedding, the couples holidays, the babies ... and she wanted it all with -
Marinette's phone began to ring. It was Adrien. She'd never had so many calls and messages in her life. She wasn't complaining, oh no, it was on the contrary ... she was ecstatic. She really thought she'd got him. That she'd linked her two boys together, and the more time she spent with Adrien the more of Chat she could see. He was slowly blending into one person.
"Hey Adrien. Are you ok?"
I'm fine, just checking in after the drama last night.
At nine o'clock last night, Marinette had called Adrien begging him to come to the hospital. She needed help and support. She needed someone to come and help make the arguing stop.
The baby had indeed turned out to be Nino's, and although everyone thought this outcome would make life a lot more simple; Luka could move on and Alya and Nino could attempt to mend what was left and raise a child in harmony, it actually opened a whole new bag of worms.
Nino was furious again, and Marinette was quite sure he'd had a drink. This time he was angry that she'd slept with someone else whilst pregnant with his child. Marinette held the baby girl whilst a hormonal Alya attempted to talk Nino around. Covering the little girls ears from her parents assassination of each other. He wouldn't even look at his daughter.
Finally, Adrien arrived and took Nino home. The heroes were becoming more exhausted than when they were battling to save Paris. I think both would agree an akuma attack would actually be a welcomed break right now.
Marinette sighed thinking how she was going to respond to Adrien. She decided to just go with the truth. He knew when we was lying, there was no point in trying.
"I'm scared, Adrien." She looked down and luckily Alya was fast asleep in bed. "What if they can't get through this and hate each other for the rest of their lives. They're our best friends, they have the most beautiful baby girl together."
It'll certainly make our wedding awkward. I mean ... wow! I don't know where that came from. Sorry Mari. He coughed to clear his throat and she breathed slowly to try and calm her breath.
Anyway, I spoke to Nino last night but, honestly, I think he needs you there as well to tell him what he is doing is wrong. He needs a female perspective to kick his butt. He loves her. He wants to be there for the baby, but he's struggling. I've booked him an appointment with a therapist I know, so hopefully that could help. I will try anything for him, but I've got to say I'm still pretty annoyed at Alya.
Marinette let out a huffed laugh.
"I can't believe so much has happened since I was gone. It was only ten months Adrien, how can so many lives change so drastically." She heard a sharp intake of breath on the other side of the call and crinkled her eyebrows in confusion. What the hell was that about?
Come back to mine tonight after the meeting. I swear it's nothing dodgy, just I really think we need to talk to Nino, and maybe I can explain more about what you missed. You can stay in a guest room -
Marinette cut into Adrien's rant.
"I want to stay in your bed. That mattress is to die for."
He laughed at her response and her heart expanded even more, if that's even possible.
Don't worry, all the beds at the house are as comfortable.
She whimpered down the phone and his laugh struck again. It was like a lightning bolt to her heart.
Fine, you take my bed I'll sleep somewhere else.
"You're too easy, Adrien."
When it comes to you, you just seem to have your way of making me follow your orders.
Even though she knew he couldn't see her, she still managed to turn a vibrant shade of red.
Anyway, I've got a couple things life to do here before I can leave. See you in a couple of hours?
Marinette nodded, before realising she was actually on the phone.
"Yes. See you then."
Marinette ended the call before turning to face her sleeping friend. What the hell was she going to do?
Exiting the room she made sure the nurses knew she'd come if needed. She was keeping her phone with her and on loud, if Alya needed her, she would be there. She had a lot of making up to do.
A couple of hours later she was dressed up and ready for Adrien to collect her. With the Bourgeois hotels restaurant being top class Marinette needed to make sure she dressed the part. She was hopefully going to be a successful designer, alongside a very successful model. She had to try her hardest.
She'd gone for a blue dress which matched her eye colour. It had a slight glitter effect; two full sleeved arms; tight fitting and mid calf length. The back was extremely low cut, and she had to be careful leaning down incase anyone could sneakily view into the dress from down the sides.
She'd paired them with diamanté covered navy shoes and left her now long hair, and added bangs, loose and straight.
"Marinette you look amazing!" Marinette twirled for her kwami.
"Do you think Adrien will like it?"
"He needs his eyes testing if not!"
Marinette smiled to herself, happy with the look. Smart, elegant, sophisticated and slightly sexy. She grabbed her clutch bag, the matching colour to the dress, and her navy woollen coat before making her way downstairs. Her parents had been acting strange since yesterday. They'd been looking at her in a way which questioned what was happening, also they kept saying Adrien's name in a strange way. Trying her best to avoid them, she shimmed down her stairs and out the bakery's apartment door.
Adrien told her he'd pick her up twenty minutes before they needed to meet Kagami. So here she was ... twenty-five minutes before the meeting, stood outside in the bitter weather praying the snow they were forecasting didn't happen. Since when were the weather forecasts correct?
Marinette was early, but so was Adrien. A red Range Rover pulled around the corner and Marinette knew that was Adrien. A red car and black roof. Come on! Could he be obsessing over Ladybug anymore? She was quite sure it was the Miraculous Limited Edition, the collections also included the black and green Chat Noir version. She let out a giggle as she stepped forward, catching Adrien in the driving seat.
"Your chariot always." He announced dropping the curb side window to call to her.
"No no no! I'm not sure about this. Remember last time we went on a 'drive'."
"Mari, I had just passed my test and the bird flew at the window! I swear I've improved in the past year." Adrien was the only one out the gang to bother driving. They all lived within walking distance of what they needed, but Adrien travelled to shoots a lot so managed to persuade his father to let him drive. Thankfully, Nathalie helped convince Gabriel, and low and behold Adrien Agreste was driving.
Marinette was the first person he took out in his car, and she was also the last. After the horrendous journey, where a bird flew at the windscreen, no one would drive alongside 'swerve a lot Agreste'!
"You're being dramatic Mari! Come on, in you get. Please." Adrien had pulled his full kitty eyes and Marinette melted.
"Fine!" She opened the door and climbed into his luxurious vehicle. It really was lovely, but she was still terrified from the near head on collision of the past. If she remembered rightly, Mr Pigeon was once again akumatised thanks to Adrien's driving.
They sat in silence for a couple of minutes unmoving. Marinette was staring at Adrien, his jaw was clenched tight. There was something he needed to say. She could tell from his body language.
Suddenly he turned to face her, making her flinch back in shock.
"Ok, I think ..." he breathed out a sigh and rubbed the back of his neck. "You see ... with Kagami, I haven't been quite honest with anyone."
Marinette looked at him. What was he going to tell her?
"I tried dating Kagami again after you left. Alya told me to move on and that it might make me happier. I was getting a little obsessed with talking about you, and I'm quite sure I was annoying everyone. So, better the devil you know right? We went on a few dates and she invited me to her house for dinner. After dinner I fell asleep on the sofa. With my errrmmm... extra curriculum activities, I was very tired."
"Working too hard at the gym then?" Marinette smirked at him knowing full well that was not what he meant.
"Gym yes! He was working me hard." The two started laughing remembering her comment from the previous morning. Adrien continued, his eyes remaining on her.
"Well when I was asleep I kind of had a dream about you. It was a very ... passionate? Dream."
"Oh", Marinette replied before it clicked what he actually meant. He meant it wasn't a PG rated dream "oh!"
He coughed and groaned.
"I'm sorry. I'm really sorry Mari, I'm not a pervert I swear. Anyway, I kept calling for you and you know Kagami as well as I do she didn't take it well. She kicked me out there and then. Telling me that I needed to stop being an idiot and sort my feelings out. She was right! It wasn't fair to play with her heart that way and now I understand it, I feel awful. She really loved me. She'd do anything for me and I abused that."
"So is that why you've been ignoring her calls? I've seen her appearing on your phone a lot Adrien and not once have I seen you answer."
Adrien shook his head.
"That is completely business related. She had ties with my father. Well, not so much her but her family. If she calls me between nine in the morning and six in the evening it's work related and only work related, she's very proper like that. Basically my father sold me off. He made a deal that the two families would join and combine the businesses."
Marinette's eyes widened.
"As in?"
"Yup, and I'm too much of a coward to stop it. To be honest, I don't know how to!"
"You can't just avoid it Adrien, it won't go away! Is it a contract?" Adrien nodded.
"My father is the only one who can sign me out of it, either that or a mutual agreement with Kagami."
Marinette winced and for the first time she understood how deep Adrien was in this mess. Hawk Moth was Gabriel Agreste, Hawk Moth was Chat Noir's father, and Chat Noir was currently sitting next to her telling her he was meant to be marrying someone else, and he might not be able to get out of it. There's something her kitty hadn't told her.
"Ok, well let's go. She might have an idea that could help us out, you never know Adrien, things could change but you can't be like Nino and avoid the situation. It's up to you to try and find a solution." Marinette in all her positivity, attempted to brush over the subject. He nodded in agreement before pulling from the curb and making his way to the restaurant, without hitting any undeserving pigeons.
The three friends/ex lovers sat around the table discussing plans for Kagami's family to invest in Marinette's designs. Marinette could feel eyes constantly on her. When Adrien had helped remove her coat as they entered the restaurant she heard him audibly gasp, and she couldn't help the thrill she felt from the effect. It seemed he just couldn't stop looking.
The evening was going well, it was very positive and very professional ... until Adrien left the table.
"You together now?" Kagami spoke. As blunt as always.
"No. What makes you say that?"
"He is pretty much drooling over you."
Marinette again, felt her cheeks heat up.
"I've only just returned. I'm not looking for relationships at the moment." Marinette hated herself for lying, but Kagami was not someone she wanted this conversation with. As close as they once tried to be they were never proper gal pals.
"Yeah about that. It was rather rude wouldn't you say. Adrien became a recluse, he was obsessed with finding where you were."
Marinette looked down. This week was turning into one where she felt like a naughty school girl. She didn't deserve anyone. She scalded herself for thinking she could just waltz back in and pick up where she had left off. Taking whoever she desired. She hadn't done this correct. She hadn't done anything correct. Another Marinette catastrophe.
"I know Kagami. You're right! I'm sorry Adrien had been the way he has. He's so lucky to have you continue to care so much about him. You can give him everything I can't. I understand that now."
Kagami smirked.
"Beginning of the year I would have accepted that as your defeat and not bother counter-striking. However, you being who you are, well you must have had a good reason to disappear. He loves you Marinette, he's the only idiot who can't see it, which is why I have changed my target and I am content. I am actually happy." Marinette saw Kagami smile and she couldn't help but mirror the action. The usual straight faced girl looked happy. She'd never smiled like this before.
"And that's why I'm giving you both this. I'm guessing he's told you all about the deal between our families? Well this is a contract signed by myself calling the deal off. He's free to be with who he wants, and I hope that's you. Marinette, I don't agree with what's happened over the past months, but please just know I still appreciate our friendship and if you feel you can't tell Alya then I will be here for you." Kagami stood up and placed her napkin on the table alongside the contracts.
"Please tell your soon to be boyfriend thank you for the meal and I look forward to more business meetings with the two of you in the future. Now, stop hesitating." Kagami winked at Marinette before grabbing her bag and leaving. Kagami winked. Winked! Marinette sat shocked. What was happening?
Before she knew it Adrien was back alongside her confused as to where their third wheel had gone.
"Where's Kagami?" Adrien quizzed.
"She just left." Marinette was still standing where the Japanese girl was sat. What had just happened? The girl shut one eye and smiled. It was unbelievable.
"What? Why?"
"She errrmmm... left you this. You're free."
Adrien looked over the documents with wide eyes. Marinette could tell he was just as shocked as she was.
"So Marinette, how would you feel turning this into a date?"
To be continued ...