Then There Was You

Chapter 21

Adrien sat at the piano playing while Marientte cooked dinner. He had been making tweaks to that piece he had been writing for her. It still didn't have a name yet though. As he jotted more notes on his music sheets he could hear her lightly humming the tune in the kitchen. He felt his heart flutter at the sound and smiled to himself.

The last few weeks had been a flurry of activity for them. Marientte and Sasha brainstormed ideas, deciding that a spring opening would give them some time to put a modest collection together for the boutique's grand opening. Marinette had a steady clientele through her commissions online, so there was already a market ready to tap into. Having the extra hands working freed up time for Marientte to complete her wedding dress and work on the bridesmaids for Alya and Chloé. Adrien and Nino ordered their Armani suits and got Felix to organise his from London. They were expecting Felix to arrive with his mother in a few days so they could spend some time together before the wedding.

Adrien quietly padded his way over to the kitchen and leaned against the cupboard with his hands in his pockets watching Marinette as she cooked. He never made a sound, his catlike tread barely raising a whisper, but as always she knew when he was there and that he was watching her, but continued on with a small smirk. "Like what you see Kitty?" She teased, tossing the vegetables into the wok.

"Always have." He replied, walking over to wrap his arms around her waist from behind as she cooked. He breathed in the familiar smell of vanilla in her hair. "Smells so good." Marinette started to giggle.

"Me or the dinner?" She asked. He buried his nose into her hair.

"Both." He answered coyly. Marientte turned around in his arms, crossing her hands behind his neck. She looked up at him with a little concern in her face.

"You look tired Chaton?" She said, running a hand down his face. He grabbed her hand and kissed her palm.

"It's just the early mornings down at the bakery. I don't mind though. I love what I do, and I feel like I'm actually doing something worthwhile, not just giving a fake smile to a camera. It's not like modeling contributed much to anything."

"It contributed to Pigtail's walls." Plagg chimed in from the fridge behind them. Marientte flushed red in the face.

"Plagg that's not nice." Tikki scolded.

"Relax Sugarcube, it wasn't as bad as Adrien's Ladybug shrine inside his wardrobe. He even had dolls." Adrien threw his head back and groaned as Marientte giggled at him.

"Action figures Plagg. They were action figures, not dolls - and they were collectibles." Plagg just scoffed.

"I doubt those silky Ladybug boxer shorts you practically lived in were collectibles." Adrien narrowed his eyes at his Kwami before turning his head in thought with a sarcastic air.

"You know, you're looking a little fat there Plagg, maybe we should put you on some light dairy free cheese for a while, help you lose a bit of that weight." Marientte snorted while Plagg recoiled in horror.

"You wouldn't." He gasped. "You wouldn't feed me that abomination...that pathetic excuse of an imitation for cheese." Adrien smirked as he shrugged his shoulders, his arms tightening around Marientte's waist. She pressed her head against his chest, still trying not to giggle at the offended Kwami.

"Try me." He said with a casual air. Plagg was about to retort when a knock came to the door. Tikki and Plagg ducked out of the room and Adrien and Marinette looked at each other perplexed. Who would come knocking at this time?

"Felix!" Adrien exclaimed as he opened the door. "We weren't expecting you until next week. Is Aunt Amelie with you?" Felix shook his head and Adrien noticed his cousin didn't look quite himself.