I hope your photo shoot is going well, darling. I know it’s going to be a long day, but I hope I can make it better. I have a surprise for you when you get home. I love you.
A smile tugged at Adrien’s lips as the message ended. One hand gripped his cane as he spoke a command into the phone. “Repeat message.” The voicemail began to play in his ear again. He focused on her tone, the inflections on each word. He could hear the smile in her voice and it tugged at his heart. He hated working all day at these photo shoots. It was only a hunch, but he was sure his father scheduled them on purpose.
Gabriel approved of Marinette more than the other girls he had dated, well messed around with is more of the right term. It was a rebellious stage and now Gabriel was punishing him for it even though it had passed, mainly thanks to Marinette. She had called him back, reminded him who he really was. She had also added a hard slap. That had helped too.
“Adrien.” Nathalie’s voice called him back to reality. The blonde let out a sigh, turning off the phone before shoving it back into his pocket. The soft tap of his cane preceded each step as Adrien moved back toward the photographers.
Halfway there, the hair and makeup artists attacked him. He tried to fight them off, but there were too many. Soon he was drowning in hands poking and pulling until they deemed him perfect.
After four more hours of flashes and smiles, Adrien was finally escorted back to his shared apartment. The boy trudged through the front door, leaning back against it once it slammed shut. “Mari, I’m home.” He called, ruffling up his hair so it looked more Chat-like. Plagg zipped out of his shirt. The whooshing of pressure change as the fridge opened indicated that the kwami was going to gorge himself on cheese.
“Marinette?” Why wasn’t she answering? Didn’t she have something to show him? “Marinette?” Worry began to leak into his voice. He pushed himself off the door, only moving forward two steps before his foot kicked a box. His frown began to deepen and he bent down, gripping the box with shaking hands. What was inside? Had someone found out who they were? Had they hurt Marinette?
As his fingers searched for the tape, breathing starting to quicken. His senses were on high alert as he slowly pulled open the lid. Inside was something small, something made of cloth. His fingers curled around it and slowly brought it to his face. The boy gave it a small sniff. It smelled faintly like Marinette.
Quiet footsteps coming from the hall made him jump to his feet. His cane swung out at the intruder but it was stopped. He could feel someone’s hand on the other end. Sound wasn’t going to help him anymore because the adrenaline and anger pumping through his veins was making his heart pound in her ears.
A faint giggle echoed around him. “Mari?”
“I hope this isn’t a reaction to my present.” She was smiling again. He could just tell.
He burst forward, wrapping his arms around her as the relief flowed out of him. “I was so scared when you didn’t respond. I thought Hawkmoth had…” He couldn’t even finish his sentence.
“I’m sorry.” Her gentle hands ran across his back. Each place she touched him, made the dark feelings melt away. His grip on her tightened and he buried his face in her neck.
“You know I don’t like surprises.”
“I’m sorry. Then I guess you won’t like your present.” She pulled herself away and grabbed the cloth in his hand, slowly unwrapping it.
“No no I like presents just not surprises.” It was then that he realized there was something solid inside the cloth. “What is this?” His fingers ran over it gently over the plastic. “This feels like a thermometer. You know like one of those cheaper plastic ones you put under your tongue.”
“Well it’s definitely the same shape, but it’s for a different purpose.” Marinette reached forward and took his hand before moving it to rest on his stomach. “It’s a different sort of test.”
“Wait…” Slowly his eyes widened. “Mari are you…”
“Yes! You’re going to be a father!”
Adrien froze. His entire body was in shock. “A father… I’m going to be a dad!” He began to laughed and embraced Marinette again. “We’re going to be parents!” And then her lips collided with his. He purred as he returned the affection. He was going to be a dad.