22. Chapter 22

The rain showers stopped when Adrien and Marinette stepped outside the chateau and the dark clouds that blanketed the starry sky already dispersed and left without a trace.

The wet and deserted reception was redecorated and replaced with beautiful centerpieces and illuminations. The caterers began to organize the dishes and sugarcoated the wedding cake's choux. The live jazz band was tuning their instruments. The guests swamped the now-dry tables and settled on their designated posts.

"There they are!" a familiar voice caught the teenagers' attention. "Let me introduce to you this young lady who fixed my little Gwen's clothes."

It was a group of elderly women, and based on the pieces of jewelry draped on their body, Marinette reckoned that they were prominent and rich people.

"She's pretty!" one of them commented. "And so young!"

"Your name is Marinette, right?" another elderly asked. "As what I've heard, you're aiming to be a designer?"

"Erm, yes Madame."

"Then I must ask for your number, and a reserved appointment in the future once you get famous."

"That's kinda...far-fetched, but I'll be more than happy to work with you."

Adrien grinned how her face matched the redness of her superhero's suit, and the modesty she expressed towards the praises, but before he could say something about her 'far-fetched' assumption, he was dragged by Sean out of the circle.

"Lemme borrow you for a sec!" the man piped.

Adrien gave Marinette a tight hand squeeze before she let him go.

She might be an earshot away, but damn he was starting to miss her presence. Sean had to interrupt his attention for several times, then chuckled reminding him that his girlfriend 'won't simply go away'.

Girlfriend, he mused with a fluttery feeling in his chest. Will Marinette mind it once she learned that he was a lovesick mushy cat to his meow?

Finding an opportunity to excuse himself, he headed straight back to his Lady.

"Hi." she greeted.

"Hi," he responded, linking his fingers with hers.

She raised her brow. "Bored?"

He shook his head. "Not if I'm with you."

Her flustered cheeks proved that he wasn't alone on this new feeling.

"Ah, young love." the old lady sighed. "Why don't you two go and grab your seats while I fetch my beloved Henry?"

Marinette's eye twitched.

She didn't want to know about her Henry anymore or learn about his spouse number. She was more than happy that Adrien led her away from a possible limelight and settled on a vacant table near the front stage.

When the emcee announced the arrival of the newly-wedded couple, she immediately looked at the bridal gown with glee.

The white chiffon clung the Bride's figure well, and the tulle pinned on her veil swayed together with her movement. It has a sleeveless silk top that curled inward and then smoothed once the trail reached her torso. The stitches she made near the bodice highlighted the almost-faded embroidery, and with the gold silky thread she applied, it glittered nicely against the illuminated lights.

She halted her thoughts, then internally scolded herself for appreciating the clothes before the bearer.

In all honesty, the bride was beautiful.

Her bronze make-up highlighted her cheekbones which gave her a more mature look, and her long, brown hair was dangled with big curls.

The groom was wearing a long black tux with a gold bowtie. His dark hair was swept backward which made him more intimidating like his wife.

In designer's aspect, the image was screaming 'Power Couple'.

"They were like a match made by Heaven." the model commented as he applauded with the crowd. His companion nodded.

"The white and gold motifs are perfect for night occasions, and very regal especially with this kind of reception. There's a Eurasian touch with these oriental lanterns and the chateau as the backdrop, so maybe one of them has an Asian background? Probably the groom. And have you notice the trinkets on the..."

Marinette trailed off, then paused when she noticed his gleaming green eyes leaning towards her bluebell ones. She squeaked.

"I - I'm sorry if I blabbered some nonsense here and I know they're kinda boring and - "

"Nah, it's okay. I love listening to your explanations." Adrien chuckled on her profused blush. "And they're not boring or nonsense. In fact, I find it cute."

She frowned. "You're a sap."

"But I'm your sap."

She only rolled her eyes before she could indulge her boyfriend more to speak some cheesy lines.

Boyfriend, she mused. Would she be able to get used to it?

And speaking of cheesy, she caught him glaring at the wheel of white cheese on every centerpiece tables with animosity.

"Of course there will be Camemberts here. Camemberts, Camemberts everywhere..." he muttered. "There are dragees, wines...and then Camembert."

"That's Orne for you." she chuckled when he rolled his eyes. "I don't see why you hate it."

"You don't own a kwami named Plagg. You don't have a kwami who whines and bawls for cheese."

"Tikki also whines and bawls for cookies."

"But at least they're not stinky." he retorted with a pout. "And they're delicious. And smells good. Plus, you have a bakery so no one's gonna doubt your cookie stash."

"But I earned a sweet tooth moniker because of that."

"Which is undeniable. You're too sweet." he teased which earned him a jab.

"And you're too cheesy."

Their flirty banter stopped when Sean approached their table.

"C'mere guys and let me introduce you two to Gwen and Rodney."

On the other hand, Tikki and Plagg remained on their charger's places and stealthily feasted some sweets and cheese. It seemed that the teenagers trusted them enough to act like plush toys from Japan, or a hybrid cat from the Kowar Kingdom once caught red-handed.

"Sean!" the bride squealed then hugged her brother.

He returned the gesture "Congratulations Mrs. Nguyen. Same to you, my new brother-in-law."

"Thanks, Sean." Rodney beamed.

"Oh yeah, let me introduce these two youngsters," Sean said as he nudged Adrien and Marinette.

"Oh! You're the 'Marinette'!" Gwen gushed as she hugged the pigtailed girl. "You have no idea how much I owe you for letting me wear this wonderful dress on my special day!"

"Ah - I - uh, I didn't do anything, Ma'am." she stammered. "I - I only fixed some seams."

"But they're not just seams. You fixed something that led me to my happiness."

Marinette's face went scarlet red, especially when she felt a certain blond's presence behind.

"Oh, and who's this cutie pie?" the bride eyed Adrien. "Is he your boyfriend?"

Both bore matching red faces, but the nod from Marinette confirming the status of their relationship made his color thirty degrees deeper.

"So you must be the one who fixed Uncle Jack's mistake. Adrien, right?" the groom said with a shoulder tap. "Don't worry about meeting him. Instead of lecturing you, he might even hire you."

"That's...good to know."

"Are you a mechanic? Or perhaps, and Engineering student?"

He waved his hand. "No, sir. I happened to have some knacks on those things."

"Then you better focus on those things, particularly on ones you love most."

"I - I will, sir." the boy replied with a smile.

After a brief interaction with the newlyweds, the teenagers were introduced by Sean again to other guests, probably to all townsfolk since Argentan was a small commune, and in that short period, they were known as 'Marinette the Tailor' and 'Adrien the Mechanic'

"I like this." the model finally said as they returned to their untouched seats. "The normalcy of the situation."

"Well." his companion tapped her chin. "If you're not hogged by your fans, then you're babied by Chloe. It's a bit miraculous you're not agoraphobic. Aww, poor Adrikins."

He grimaced. "You know I hate that nickname."

She only laughed.

"You know." he continued. "This is more like a family gathering than a wedding reception."

"You've never been to a wedding before?"

"Once. It was much more formal, and doesn't have a casualness like here." he shrugged. "Maybe because it's an arranged marriage?"

Her reply was a hum, but before she could add something, a loud burp sounded below their table. Adrien pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Mind your manners, Plagg."

Marinette lifted the mantle and saw their kwamis lying on the ground surrounded by cookie crumbs and cheese rinds.

She smirked as she poked Tikki's bloated belly. "They're dead to the world."

"And mine's on food coma."

The two decided to get their own food, but before they could leave their table again, a toddler passed them and fell face flat to the ground.

Instinctively, Marinette picked the child up and checked her blotched face before she could scrunch and cry.

"Shh, it's alright." she cooed while plucking the grass on her muddy dress.

The designer was thankful that the fall didn't earn her any wounds or scratches.

"But - but my dress." the child sobbed. "It's dirty."

It was a lacy white dress with a golden sash belt, and since the ground was wet, the mud smudged everywhere. She knew that wiping it would ruin it more.

Marinette learned from experience as a clumsy girl, and as a babysitter, that telling her 'it's not' would only lead to tantrums.

She could pacify her with an assurance from her parents, but the fact that the child needed to change her clothes would be a challenge.

Unless...

Her Ladybug-side made her eyes roamed around for clues while her Designer-side sparked some ideas.

"Hey," she asked Adrien who was hovering behind her. "Can you please hand me that flower vase and a table napkin?"

He complied without further questions, then looked at her with fascination.

Marinette unfolded the napkin to spread it in front of the child's skirt, then tucked a portion of its end on the sash belt like an apron. She used the water on the vase to remove the dirt from the child's legs and hands, and the wildflowers were pinned on the upper laces to hide the mud. Lastly, she dabbed a little of water on her finger to draw some intricate swirls on the visible splatters.

The toddler stopped crying.

"It's beautiful." was all she could say.

"And so are you." Marinette giggled. "Be careful next time, and don't run."

The child's hair locks bobbed as she nodded with glee. "You're like my fairy godmother!"

"I am your fairy godmother." the raven-haired declared. "So be a good little princess, Cinderella, or I won't fix your dress next time."

The child squealed, and after a brief goodbye, she went to the other table where her parents were sitting. The mother glanced towards her, then mouthed a 'thank you' while waving a hand.

"Need a hand, Princess?" Adrien said, offering his hand when Marinette tried to get up. She accepted it.

"Thanks."

Using a spare table napkin he fished from the other table, he wiped the dirt that got stuck in between her fingers.

"You're good with children."

"Ah, no. Not really." she shook her head. "She's nothing like Manon - she has the world's worst temper tantrums that's why I luckily managed the situation."

"Manon? You mean the kid who joined one of my outdoor photo shoots before?

"That, and the one who got mad because of some ragdolls."

He winced. "Ah, Puppeteer."

"Yeah." she sighed. "But she's alright, don't worry."

"You eventually gave those ragdolls to her, right?" he muttered with a smile. "Now I know where Ladybug's selflessness came from."

She raised her brow. "Having doubts about my identity, Chaton?"

"Of course not." he snorted while rolling his eyes. "It's just that...if only you're not awkward enough to show 'Adrien' this kind of attitude, then he might've connected the dots."

"I thought we're all gonna blame it for the Miraculous?"

"Oh gosh, I forgot." he clicked his tongue when she laughed.

"But that's gonna be catastrophic if he did."

He chuckled on her pun, then after cleaning her hand, he kissed it. He admired the blush that formed on her cheeks as he brushed her knuckles with his thumb.

"Purr-haps not, My Lady."

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.

.

.

While they were filling their plates with food, Adrien popped a question.

"What made you to pursue fashion designing?"

It was an out-of-a-blue one, but she was able to respond. "I...I love seeing people wearing my clothes."

"And?"

"I..." she breathed. "I admire seeing the happiness on people's faces whenever they wear my clothes."

"I see." he hummed, and when they were about to reach their tables, he asked again. "Then what motivates you to become Ladybug?"

She was taken aback by his question, but somehow the answer immediately flowed on her tongue. As if she had it all along.

"It's..." she blinked at his inquisitive green eyes. "Happiness. I love seeing the happiness on people's faces."

He flashed a toothy grin. "That's what I call selflessness."

He pulled her a chair, and once he was settled on his own, she asked him.

"What's with these interrogations, Kitty?"

"Nothing, really," he replied, then looked at her with endearment. "I'm just a cat who's curious to know more about his Meow."

She froze.

"Call me that nickname." she narrowed her gaze. "And you'll wonder what I can do with a silver knife. It's just an inch away from my hand."

She saw a conflict flickered in his eyes, weighing the odds of saying it and not saying it. Of course, he'd say it. There's no way he would not going to say it.

"Meow."

"You - "

"Ehem." Sean interrupted an almost-murder scene. "Mind if we join?"

"O - of course!"

The teenagers moved and gave enough space for the man and his wife who was cradling their firstborn infant.

"You know, I'm a type who only serves one Master." the man stated, then winked at his mother and his stepfather on the adjacent table. "And so is Gwen."

Nobody commented afterward.

Several funny and emotional testimonials were told. The croquembouche was sliced. The wine bottle was slashed. Goblets were clanked and kisses were shared. And finally, the most-anticipated part of the program was announced.

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"Why am I included here?" Marinette whined when she was forcibly dragged towards the center.

"'Coz you're at a marriageable age!" Sean's mother yelled shamelessly, and much to her embarrassment, Adrien was clutching his stomach as he gasped for air to breathe.

The stupid mangy tomcat has the audacity to roll on his chair laughing with teary eyes.

Before she was a crowd of big and determined women of various ages glaring at the item that was held by a smiling bride like hungry wolves on its prey.

Who would've thought that throwing a bouquet means bloody war?

This is just a freaking tradition, she moaned silently with resignation.

With or without spots, Marinette wouldn't mind waving a white flag on this kind of battle. Too young for domestic responsibilities yet, with dreams that need to be fulfilled.

Someday, she pondered, she'll have her own moments wearing a white gown and a bouquet as she marched towards the altar.

Of course, it'll definitely happen in the future, right?

Right?

Right.

"Don't tell me you're videoing this for Alya." she glowered when she saw Adrien holding his phone.

"Okay. I'm not gonna tell you that I'm videoing this for Alya," he smirked.

"Adrien!"

"C'mon, this is your first flower catching, Princess! There's no way we'll miss this for the world - hey, get ready! Focus! Focus!"

He laughed more when she stomped her feet. "Don't make me grab that phone and throw it out!"

"Ooh...is that a threat, Buginette?"

"I'm warning you - OOMPH!"

She stilled when something fell - or slammed, depending on the eyewitnesses - on her face, then slipped down to her grasp.

Only to find out it was a flower bouquet.

She caught a wedding bouquet!

She caught a fucking wedding bouquet without her knowing it!

And to make the situation more comical, Adrien was able to record everything, including the crowd's loud cheers and Sean's not-so-subtle words.

"You know what's gonna happen, right?"

He gulped.

"You're next."

So when all the bachelors were called for the garter, there was no doubt that Adrien would catch it.

A tradition has an expectation that needs to be met, right?