You're home. [Miraculous Ladybug Fanfiction] (Completed)

Chapter 5 - A special place in my heart.

Adrien sighed and let himself fall backwards into the puffy comforter and soft mattress. "I-... I feel confused." Adrien complained. Plagg rolled his eyes and sat by Adrien's head, munching on a piece of camembert that was left over from the box Adrien gave him earlier that day. "Today... when I had dinner with Marinette..." he started, "It felt different from when we were in school together." He stared up at the ceiling, tracing pictures with his eyes - in the irregular patterns that stood out to him.

Plagg's whiskers twitched in amusement. "Meaning... you thought she was hot." He smirked. Adrien's cheeks turned red. He sat up straight. "N-No! Thats n-not where I-I was going w-with this conversation!" He pursed his lips. He went back to what he was trying to say. "We have a whole lot in common, I've realized... the same music tastes, interests, career pathways... I never realized that back in the day." He admitted.

Plagg blinked and stared at the golden tufts of hair that stuck out in random directions - messy from the days events. "But Ladybug... this is the first time in years I've seen her. And I am still finding myself admiring her, Plagg." The blond businessman was almost at war with himself. The two women he felt closest to came back into his life, all on the same day.

"They both hold a special place in my heart... but what am I meant to do?" He asked, looking over at his kwami. Plagg sighed and finished his snack. "Look kid. I know nothing about this stuff." He said nonchalantly. "But you are a grown man now. You don't need my help. Not that I could help you with this anyway. The best advice I can give you is wait. Let your heart decide. Who knows what the futures awaits you." He shrugged. Adrien found himself smiling. "Even know you still know what to say." He teased, rubbing the small kwami's head, just between the ears with his index finger.

Besides, Adrien still had a lot of time to figure out what he wanted to do and how highly he placed both women that meant so dearly to him, as he just realized. He began to wonder if they felt the same way or if one of them did. The question was... who really is Ladybug? How did she feel about Chat Noir? What about Marinette? How would she react if she knew the truth? About his true feelings and the secret he's kept for nearly a decade.

~

The next morning came with a sudden wave of utter ill-feelings for Marinette. Being jet-lagged, a little woozy from last night's wine and staying up to late all took a giant toll. She spent the morning sitting by the toilet, taking small sips of ice water only to start retching again. By the time she had finally stopped vomiting and felt weak and as parched as a prune, she had plopped down on the small white couch her parents had purchased, sipping on another glass of water, careful so she didn't get sick again.

Tikki had stayed with her the entire morning, assisting her through a makeshift morning routine, and even gave her bread with butter on it to help her empty stomach. Marinette was curled up on the couch, cocooned in a soft blanket when someone knocked on her door. She sighed and stood up, letting it fall off her shoulders. She looked through the peephole to see her closest friend, Alya. She unlocked the door and let her friend in, still a little dizzy.

"Whoa girl- you look horrible." She laughed a little, putting her hands on her hips. This was the first time she had really gotten a close look at Alya's engagement ring. It was silver with small diamonds that ranged from halfway up on both sides all the way to the middle where three larger diamonds sat mounted. 'Expensive.' She immediately thought to herself. "Yea... Lets just say I had a little bit to much to drink." Marinette rubbed the back of her neck.

Alya raised an eyebrow at her, but didn't bother to ask why for now. She had business to take care of. "I brought over bridesmaids dress samples~ I wanted you to pick them out." She smiled. Marinette was flattered, really. "Your colors are silver and blue, right?" Marinette asked, to which Alya nodded. "Bridesmaids wear silver with blue bouquets and groomsmen wear black suits with blue ties and a silver flower or handkerchief in the pocket."

Marinette guided Alya to the sofa where she set down the papers full of pictures on the coffee table in front of it. She had what seemed like 50,000 different dresses all in a neat binder. Not only that, it also had bouquet styles, hair pieces, shoes, ect. They started by choosing dress length. They settled for short. Next up was the dress neckline, style, fit, skirt type, shoes, and then all the other little details that only Alya would think to obsess over.

By the time they were done, they settled on an just above the knee dress that was strapless. The top had several different types of jewels that went all the way down to the bottom of the dress. Next, every girl would wear stilettos that were a plain white, and just Marinette would get a bejeweled headpiece. Each bridesmaid got a matching bouquet of blue roses, stems wrapped with white ribbon.

Alya left the apartment happy, with shopping to do and orders to place. While Marinette lay exhausted again. Tikki giggles. "You should be excited~!" She encouraged. Marinette smiled weakly. "I am, she's just a handful." She chuckles, wrapping herself back up in the blankets.

~

Adrien's day was busy, as always. Attending work and other responsibilities as we did every day. And yet throughout the whole day he couldn't get his mind off his current predicament. He made up his mind. That night he'd visit Marinette as Chat Noir. He was excited, but at the same time nervous. Would it be the same as their teenaged years?