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“Don’t forget, everyone. Tonight’s Dinner with Parents at Le Grand Paris. Be sure to show up on time and dressed for the occasion,” the teacher announced before the students could dash out for the day.
Marinette turned to her friends as she thought about the evening ahead. The school had recently implemented the dinner as a way to show its appreciation for the students’ hard work for the past few years. The administrators and teachers wanted to give the graduating class an incentive to finish and graduate with the best possible work the students could give.
“Alya, are you coming with your dad tonight?”
“Um, no, he said something about a new animal at the zoo. I’m needed at home with my sisters again.”
“Oh.” Marinette did her best to hide her disappointment as she turned to Nino and Adrien.
She learned Nino also wouldn’t be attending since his parents had planned a date night weeks ago, so he’d be watching his siblings that night as well.
As for Adrien, his father would be out of town for one fashion event or another, so he wasn’t sure if he wanted to go at all.
When Chloe heard this, she rushed to his side and demanded he sit with her and her father since he must be there at the dinner that night.
“We’ll see, Chlo. I don’t want to impose on someone else’s family.”
“You’re not an imposition, Adrikins. Daddy adores you as much as I do.”
Adrien shrugged at that, but his eyes looked hopeful someone would find him as a desirable addition to their world.
That look broke Marinette’s heart.
She moved closer to him despite Chloe’s protests and offered her own parents for him if he’d like to come in the end.
“Maman and Papa consider you family, Adrien. It’d mean the world to them, and to me, if you joined us this evening.”
She wished she could tell him the real reason he should be at the dinner, but she couldn’t give away the surprise, not after all the hard work everyone’s put into the evening ahead.
He gave her a real smile as he considered her offer.
When Chloe flounced off after being ignored for too long, Adrien offered his arm to Marinette in a rare show of chivalry, which caused her to blush. He escorted her as far as the doors to the school, reluctantly separating as his car sat waiting for him at the curb.
“I’ll think about it, Mari. Can I text you with my answer in an hour or so?”
“Of course. If you need more incentive, I promise to smuggle in some of those pastries you really like from the bakery.”
“You don’t fight fair. How can I resist such a sweet offer?”
“You can’t. So, what do you say, Agreste? Are you coming tonight?”
He turned away to hide the lingering sadness in his gaze from her, but he hadn’t moved fast enough because she still caught it. He kept his gaze averted until his bodyguard motioned him toward the car with a little impatience in his gesture. When he turned back to Marinette, he nodded, promising to meet her at the bakery an hour before the dinner.
With that, he moved toward the waiting limo and slipped into the back. Soon, the limo disappeared from view.
With a few quick keystrokes, she sent a text to Nathalie that their plans were still going well before dashing toward her home where she still needed to finish the final touches on her dress for that night. Thankfully, it wouldn’t take more than a few minutes to complete as her parents needed her help in the bakery for a large order.
The evening came on quickly for everyone concerned.
Marinette helped her parents close up the shop quickly before she raced up the stairs to her room where she hurried into her dress and put a minimal amount of makeup on.
While her parents also changed into their evening wear for the big dinner at the hotel, Adrien arrived on time to pick them up, looking handsome in the suit his father had specially made for the evening.
“Adrien, dear, you look so handsome this evening. Doesn’t he clean up well, Tom?”
“Yes, he does, dear. No wonder the boy has managed to capture our daughter’s attention.” Tom teased, causing Adrien’s cheeks to flush.
“Papa, please don’t embarrass me. I’m sorry, Adrien. You do look nice though.” Her eyes ran over the suit with the appraisal of a budding fashion designer, noting the few changes she’d make to fit the suit to her preferences, but she couldn’t begrudge Adrien’s father for his genius in designing.
As she came into view, Adrien stopped breathing for a moment as he gaped at Marinette in her newest creation, smiling as a blush crept up her cheeks at being the center of attention.
“Wow, Mari, you look amazing.”
Her blush deepened as she thanked him.
All too soon, the small group moved downstairs and out to Adrien’s waiting limo, which Sabine and Tom gushed over as they traveled to the hotel.
Inside the hotel, Chloe did her best to pull Adrien away from Marinette’s side, but he stubbornly clung to the petite young woman and refused to leave the Dupain-Chengs after they graciously offered to share their table with him.
The biggest surprise came when Nathalie made an appearance at the beginning of the meal with her tablet ever present.
Adrien knew this never boded well for him and tried his best to brace himself for whatever she may have to say about his presence at the dinner that evening. He didn’t know how to react, however, when she smiled at him and sat in the chair next to him.
She took her tablet and propped it in front of the empty chair at the table, pressing the small button to pop up the video call she’d started mere minutes ago.
“Father?”
“Hello, Adrien. Everyone. I’m sorry I can’t be there in person, but I hope this will work instead.” As he spoke, he moved his tablet a little further back on his table, showing off the dinner in front of him.
Adrien didn’t know what to say about this. His mind simply couldn’t compute what was happening at that moment, but he felt sure he’d never forget that moment for as long as he lived.
“How?”
“Nathalie, can you tell Adrien how you and Mlle. Dupain-Cheng arranged all this?”
“Yes, sir. We’ll be sure to explain after dinner is over. For now,” she said, turning to encompass everyone at the table, “let’s enjoy the meal.”
That’s exactly what they did, too.
Adrien couldn’t remember when he’d had a better time with or without his father present. He almost didn’t want the night to end. However, his thoughts soon turned toward his special friend and the sweets she’d bribed him with earlier in the day.
She led him away from the table during the dessert course after his father had signed off, wishing them all a good evening. She led him to the top floor of the hotel where they could sit near the rooftop swimming pool and gaze over the skyline.
“Mari, how did you manage all this tonight?”
She smiled at him.
“It wasn’t hard really. Nathalie controls your father’s schedule and worked on him while I ensured you showed up tonight. I know sweets are your weakness. Well, sweets and a certain spotted superheroine.”
He blushed, not realizing she knew about his crush on Ladybug.
“Once I had your promise to come, I knew you wouldn’t break it. You’re a good and honorable guy, Adrien. The rest worked itself out in the end.”
He knew there was more to it than that, but he couldn’t be more grateful to her at that moment for doing something so sweet for him.
“I don’t know what I’ve done to deserve a friend like you, Marinette. Truly, thank you.” He leaned toward her and kissed her cheek.
A blush crept over her cheeks as she replied in a soft voice, “Anytime, Adrien.”