Alya had been right of course. Adrien had been more understanding than Marinette felt she deserved. After teasing her for always overthinking, Adrien assured Marinette that he was happy to wait.

"How is this so easy for you?" Marinette asked.

"None of this has been easy for me Mari." Adrien replied. "Part of me misses being Chat Noir, but I always thought that would have to end one day. Losing my partner sucked, but that's no longer a factor." He took her hand and squeezed it, giving her a small smile. "Losing Plagg was one of the worsts things that's ever happened to me. It hurts and I still miss him like crazy, but I've been through this before."

It would be weeks before Adrien expanded on that.

His mother was a Miraculous holder and his father knew because Alice had told him, Adrien explained as he and Marinette prepared dinner as her parents closed the bakery. But she didn't stop because her duty was done. She had disappeared while on a mission. He was only fourteen at the time.

Adrien was torn apart by Plagg's disappearance but having already lost someone important, it was easier for him to adapt this time.

It's a month later when Adrien Drops another bombshell on her.

They're spending the warm afternoon underneath a shady tree in the park. They were supposed to studying, but both quickly abandoned they're books in favor of the other.

"My father wants you to come to dinner so he can officially meet you."

"What?" Marinette's head jolts up from where it had been resting on Adrien's shoulder. "Why?"

Adrien can't help the small chuckle that escapes. "Well, he knows you're my girlfriend and he knows how much I love you. He wants to get to know you."

"Are you sure?"

"He told me 'Please invite Marinette over for dinner. I would like to meet her.' So yeah."

Marinette shakes her head, letting out a shaky breath. "That's not-I mean...you really want me to meet him? That...it's kind of a big deal, Adrien."

"I've had dinner with you and your parents plenty of times." Adrien reasons, "This isn't much different."

"Adrien, your father is Gabriel Agreste. Fashion Icon. He's intimidating as hell."

"He's different at home. Dad will be on his best behavior, I promise." Adrien takes her hand, interlacing their fingers. "I really want you to meet him. I know he'll love you as much as I do. Well, not as much, because that's not possible. But he will love you."

"O-Okay." Marinette says, her face heating up. "W-when should we do it?"

"You know, when you said you needed to raid my closet, I didn't think you were serious." Alya says, watching from her bed as Marinette shifts through her closet.

"Adrien asked me to meet his father Alya."

"That's great!"

"No! It's terrible." Marinette whirls around. "Nothing I have is good enough. I have nothing to wear."

"Hence why you're attacking my clothes." Alya nods. "But I have to say, I'm not sure anything of mine will do you justice. We're different sizes and body types."

"I'm desperate. I need something that looks better than what I have."

"If you're going to be so anal about it why don't you just design something?" Alya can practically see the gears turning in Marinette's mind. "Mari, no. I was joking. You don't have time to create an entirely new outfit."

"But-"

"No. I'll take you shopping and we'll find you the perfect dress."

"I can't-" Marinette tries to argue.

"No, we're doing this. Now grab your purse and lets go."

In the end, Marinette still doesn't feel like she looks good enough but Alya wouldn't hear any arguments. After finding her a cold shoulder knee-length sundress that matched her eyes perfectly, Alya did Marinette's make up and curled her hair before personally taking Marinette to the Agreste Manor.

So with a shaking hand, Marinette presses the doorbell. No turning back now. After a moment the door opens to reveal a smiling Adrien.

"You look great, Mari." Adrien says, pulling her in to kiss her temple. "Is that a new dress?"

"Y-yeah, Alya kinda forced me to go shopping."

"Was this before or after you declared that nothing in your closest was good enough?"

"I take offense at that." Marinette pouts. "You should know very well that it was after I'd gone through my closet and Alya's closet."

"You're right, I'm sorry." Adrien teases. "I'm a terrible boyfriend, how could I have ever doubted your ability to over think?"

"Adrien, I'm sure Marinette is nervous enough without you teasing her." A new voice chastises. "Your mother would have your hide for that kind of behavior. Be nice."

Marinette's breathe freezes in her chest, when did Gabriel enter the room?

"M-Mr. Agreste, it's a pleasure to meet you."

"Please call me Gabriel, Marinette." Gabriel smiles. "Come, the food will be ready soon. I look forward to speaking with you."

In another house in Paris, Marinette's best friend sits on her bed, phone pressed to her ear as she talks to her partner in crime.

"Level with me Nino, how much of a sap is Adrien?"

"A huge one. That boy is a die hard romantic. Why?"

"Well, Marinette is currently having dinner with Adrien and his dad."

"Seriously? Gabriel must really like Mari just from what Adrien's said if he's willing to meet her."

"Adrien has met her parents already, so that might be the reason. She did mention that Gabriel was the one who suggested it first." Alya says, "But I can't help but wonder…"

"Wonder, what exactly?"

"If knowing what we know about Adrien...if his insistence on Mari meeting his dad might mean he's thinking of...you know…sometime soonish?"

"Oh yeah, Adrien totally is. He's already started planning."

"Alright. Okay, so long as we're on the same page." Alya nods even though Nino can't see her.

"Wanna take bets on when it'll happen?"

"You're on."

A/N: This was going to be the last chapter, but this fic refuses to die. So there will be just one more special extra chapter and then we're done!