Hi everyone!

This story is a sequel to another fic I wrote called Unlucky Escapes, which was my first Ladybug fic, and I was amazed by the response it got (200+ favourites? How did that happen?) and it was always a story I wanted to continue so here this is. I would recommend that you read the first one to help you make sense of what is going on here so here is the link: s/11850918/1/Unlucky-Escapes.

I decided to make this a new story as this has a higher rating and I wanted to do more drama though there will still be funny stuff like in the last one. Also this is more focused on Adrien and Marinette after they have revealed themselves so it will be very different.

Anyway enough with my ramblings. Please enjoy the story!

Something was up, Alya thought, the investigator part of her itching to get to the bottom of whatever was going on here. She was standing outside the classroom door as she flicked through the newsfeed on her phone, trying to find any news about yesterday's akuma attack that she could post on the Ladyblog, but her mind was on other matters. It was whirring over the strange little things she had spotted going on between her best friend and her crush Adrien, little things that they had never done before. She looked up and saw them across the playground and her eyes narrowed like the lens of a camera as she focused in on them. They both started to laugh and her eyebrows rose in suspicion as she smiled. There was only one thing that could potentially drag her away from her Ladyblog and that was her real-life OTP. Her smile only got wider when she saw the contented smiles n both of their faces and she had to contain a little squeal. Oh yes, something was most definitely up and she was going to find out what.

It had started that morning when she had arrived at school to find Marinette was early and already in her seat, an event that was so rare she had done a double take when she walked in, staring at her like she was a ghost. Then, just when she was about to demand to know what she was doing there on time, she had been rendered speechless by the sight of Adrien, the boy her best friend had been almost catatonic for since the start of the school year, sitting in front of her, joking and teasing with her in a way she had never seen before. When they had noticed her they had both instantly stopped and fallen silent but they had caught each other's eyes before Adrien turned to face the front and she could have sworn that he had winked at her. She wasn't sure how she had gotten to her seat after that but when she had, she had been quick to leap on it.

"Marinette, what was that?!" She had asked eagerly, the shipping senses inside her feeling like they were about to explode and splatter the classroom with her fangirling. "Were you just talking to Adrien? In complete sentences? What happened yesterday?"

"Nothing happened yesterday." Marinette had firmly brushed her off, waving her hand like she hadn't been completely freaking out over being partnered with Adrien the day before. "We were just talking, that's all Alya. How did your project go with Nino?"

Alya had tried to get more details from her but Marinette somehow managed to keep steering the conversation away from Adrien until their teacher got there. Her suspicions had only grown when it came to presenting their English projects. Adrien and Marinette had been the first pair called up to present and, to Alya's surprise, they had each delivered their parts with an almost breezy confidence; it was like two different people had been up in front of the class. Although she would never have admitted it, she had been expecting the presentation to be super awkward as Adrien was usually so shy and Marinette normally turned into a wreck around him but they had each been faultless and even the teacher had sounded impressed as she gave them top marks. At the end of the presentation, there had been a brief moment where they had looked at each other and shared a smile, their cheeks each going a delicate shade of cherry blossom pink and Alya's jaw had almost hit the desk.

"Who are you and what have you done with Marinette?" She had hissed to her in astonishment when Marinette had sat down but the only response she got was a short laugh. As she continued to stare at the two of them and how easy they were now in each other's company, her brain was going into overdrive. She was certain something had gone on between them last night, the only question was what. Had her ship finally sailed? She had to know. She determinedly exited the news tab she constantly had open on her phone before she stabbed open the video camera with a grin. There was a story here and there was nothing she loved more than a story that needed to be unearthed.

She looked back at the two of them and saw Nino had joined their conversation. Adrien and Marinette had their backs facing her so they didn't see her as she approached. It was lunchtime and they were sitting around a picnic bench as they ate and chatted, Marinette sharing out a box of pastries she had brought in that Adrien was quickly demolishing. Alya had been kept behind for a quiet word with the teacher after her presentation (it turned out her idea to project an image of Frankenstein's monster on the wall with her phone whilst they talked about the book, accompanied by a score from Nino, hadn't been the best idea, especially when no one had been expecting it. Nobody had ever heard Rose scream so loud and even Juleka had looked a little freaked by the sheer surprise of it.) and so she had only just gotten out. She kept against the wall as she moved in, feeling like this was good practise for her later career; she was going to have to be sneaky at some point. She paused to hold up her phone and get it at the right angle so it wouldn't be easily seen. She seriously hoped she had enough room; she really didn't want to lose this.

As she approached, Nino looked up and spotted her. He raised his arm to wave at her but she sharply drew her hand across her throat and he stopped, freezing for a second with a confused look on his face before he awkwardly covered it up by adjusting his hat. He looked over at her as she pointed towards the other two and he gave a small nod and a subtle thumbs-up. Adrien nearly looked around but Nino quickly distracted him by shoving another pastry into his hands, giving Alya a confused look but saying nothing. He had no idea what Alya was up to but he owed her one after she took most of the heat for the whole Frankenstein thing. He carried on talking but his sentences were stilted as he kept one eye on Alya sneaking forwards and the other on his two friends in front of him. He too had sensed something was different between them and had earlier tried to find out what from Adrien but that boy had been harder to read than that damn Frankenstein book for English and even now both their lips were still sealed tightly. He only hoped Alya could be more successful in finding out what had happened. Knowing her, she wouldn't give up until she did.

Alya positioned herself behind a bush with her phone held aloft, not daring to get any closer in case they saw her and blew the entire thing. For a few moments she crouched there, her leg muscles burning and her arms begging to be put down, but she stayed as still as a statue, gritting her teeth so she didn't make any noise. The minutes went by and nothing happened; they carried on talking and the volume of pastries on the bench were slowly diminishing. She was just thinking that this was all pointless and she should just give up and get some food before Adrien ate it all when suddenly Adrien's arm reached out and snaked around Marinette's waist. Alya's eyes went wide and she squealed with glee as Marinette leaned into his touch and his hand rested on her hip. This was the perfect proof she had been looking for and she had caught it all on camera.

"I KNEW IT!" She yelled triumphantly, springing from her hiding place as she determinedly pointed at the two of them, her phone held up like a trophy in her other hand. "I knew something had happened between you two!"

"ARGH!" Marinette squealed loudly in surprise when her friend jumped out, her arms flailing in panic like she was trying to fight off a horde of insects. She sprang upwards but her legs caught in the bench and she was sent falling backwards. Alya ran forwards as if she had a chance of catching her but before she had even ran a few steps, Adrien had already swooped down and grabbed her before she hit the ground. His face was right above hers and he smiled down at her with a Chat-like grin as he pulled her up, tugging her body close and gently positioning her so she was sitting on his lap. Marinette squeaked when she realised where she was. Her two friends were staring at them and she tried to wriggle free but he was holding her firmly around her middle and he wasn't letting go.

"Adrien, people are looking…" She whispered out of the corner of her mouth. Most of their class had now turned around to see what all the commotion was about and now most of them were gawking at the sight of the dark-haired girl being cradled by the model.

"And? Let them." She heard him say as he cuddled her closer and nuzzled his head into her side uncaring. She heard a purr coming from his throat that made her smile.

"You are so needy Chaton." She mumbled so only he could hear as she dug her fingers into his hair and ruffled it affectionately. She then heard a noise behind her and sharply turned her head to see Alya was still standing there, her face almost split with a giant beaming grin and her phone still recording. She was also joined by Nino, who was scratching his head whilst looking completely dumbstruck and muttering "Where did you get those reflexes from bro?" She instantly went pink and started gabbling.

"I can explain…"

"Adrikins?" Both her and Adrien's heads shot round as they heard Chloe approaching. The blonde was stomping her way over to their table with a furious look on her face, her ponytail whipping back and forth in time with her angry steps and Sabrina on her heels like a devoted lapdog. "Adrikins, are you alright?" She cooed as she fussed over him, trying to pull him away by one arm whilst she stared daggers at Marinette. "This is such a horrible situation, I can't believe that she forced you into her awful clutches, you must be simply stunned…"

"Actually Chloe, I'm perfectly fine." Adrien spoke up over her and she let go of him and stared in bewilderment as his arm returned to Marinette's waist. "In fact, I would actually say I'm better than fine."

"How?" Chloe stormed, stamping her foot as her face contorted with even more rage. "How can you be fine like… like this?! How can you stand it?!"

Adrien looked up at Marinette like he was asking for permission, a small smile etched on his pleading face. Marinette seemed to ponder it for a moment before she took one look at the fuming blonde and nodded, crossing her arms as she leaned back, ready to enjoy the fireworks. "Well," Adrien then answered, looking almost apologetic for how happy he sounded. "It would be pretty sad if I wasn't able to stand cuddling my girlfriend would it?"

That was when all hell broke loose. When the teachers ran onto the playground at the sound of screaming, they came across one of the strangest sights they had ever seen. Chloe was standing there screaming at the top of her lungs whilst Sabrina stood next to her open-mouthed, having no clue what to do to calm her down. Meanwhile, Adrien was casually sitting on the bench in front of her with Marinette perched on his lap looking intensely satisfied at the scene in front of her. Alya was still recording, looking ready to burst with how excited she was and wondering whether she could get away with posting this on the Ladyblog as the rest of the class stared at the spectacle in stunned silence. Only Nino was capable of speech as he nudged Alya and leaned over to whisper in her ear.

"Did that really just happen?"

"Oh yes Nino." Alya triumphantly jabbed the button on her phone as Chloe stopped screaming, looked back at Marinette still sitting comfortably on Adrien and then started back up again even louder. "And I got every single second of it."