Until I Make You Mine

Chapter 9

"I want to thank you Sabine and Tom for the excellent dinner and for your hospitality." Gabriel said, looking back to Nathalie who had a relaxed smile on her face. Adrien was almost bouncing in his seat all night. After months of trying, his father had finally agreed to come to dinner at the Dupain-Cheng bakery, even bringing Nathalie along with him.

"Please, it was the least we could do." Tom beamed. "Besides, we will all be family soon enough. Adrien is a lovely young man and a credit to you, we love him like he's one of our own."

Gabriel smiled with pride as he looked over towards his son. "Well, his mother should really have the credit for that."

Gabriel was still rather stiff and formal in his approach, as was Nathalie, and Adrien felt it might take a few more family dinners before his father would really loosen up. 'Family dinners', that thought definitely brought a smile to his face. He remembered back to when he was younger and when dinner time always meant family time. Back then his father didn't sit up one end of the long table, but rather they sat together. His father smiled more then too, and would make his mother laugh with his wit and dry humour. Sometimes Nathalie would join them, other times Chloe and her parents. There was always something a bit off with Audrey Bourgeois though. Adrien never could put his finger on it, but there was always a tension there just bubbling under the surface. Then she left for New York and Adrien remembered how heartbroken Chloe was. Adrien's mother would often have Chloe around for dinner after that, trying to give her a mother's love which she was now missing. He knows Chloe missed his mother as much as he did. That's when the family dinners stopped, until Marinette came.

Adrien felt a delicate hand take his. Turning to his love they shared a smile before Marinette continued in the conversation. His father listened intently, captivated by her animate descriptions of a wedding line she was now planning, inspired by her own dress. The fact that his father had made an effort to come and be a part of the family meant the world to Adrien. He was also fairly certain that his father had been holding Nathalie's hand under the table when he thought no one was looking. It made Adrien glad. He cared a lot about Nathalie and he felt his father deserved a chance to be happy too. Despite his stoic nature, Gabriel even managed to cracked a smile a few times at the jokes and banter between Adrien and Tom. It did ease Gabriel's mind that Adrien would always be around people who loved him and would be there for him.

Adrien and Marinette started clearing the table as their parents went to continue their conversation in the lounge room. It had already been just over a month since the couple had announced their engagement, leaving only 5 more months to plan the wedding. Marinette had started work on her dream dress and Nathalie had been a lifesaver making arrangements at the church and reception venue and basically taking care of everything. Adrien had noticed that his father had become more quiet as the night had gone on, with Nathlie taking over most of the discussions. He figured though his father was no doubt tired from all the excitement - well, as excited as his father can show. Gabriel always did keep his emotions close to his chest.

Adrien playfully flicked water from the sink up at Marinette, catching his lady off guard. A short water battle ensured before Adrien picked Marinette up, sitting her up on the bench and plopping a kiss on her nose. "You know Alya was asking if Chat Noir and Ladybug were also announcing an engagement. She wants an exclusive for the Ladyblog." Rubbing her chin Marinette weighed the options in her mind before answering.

"I'm not sure we should. Not yet anyway." She could see in her Kitty's pout he was disappointed. She reached over to cup his face. "It's just a precaution Chaton. Whether we like it or not, our private moments do tend to become public affairs, on both sides of the mask. Call me paranoid, but announcing Chat Noir and Ladybug getting married during the same time we are might raise questions. Besides, we now have the added responsibility of the Miracle Box to protect." Adrien nodded in agreement because he could see her logic. That's just another reason why he loves her.