Adrien smiled as he watched his future wife sleeping peacefully in his arms. He didn't know how his life had turned so drastically in only days, but he was sure glad it did. Marinette had been the only thing on his mind for so long that he couldn't believe he was in her bed right now. Was this a dream? If it is, don't wake him up. He was not ready to let go yet.

With that thought, the blonde wrapped his arms around the bluenette tighter. It was almost as if he was afraid to lose the designer.

He was afraid.

Afraid she will wake up.

Afraid that this dream would never come true.

But he wasn't dreaming.

And he realized it the second the young designer shifted in his arms and spoke.

"Adrien, your squishing me," she complained.

The model's eyes opened widely. It was real! The love of his life was in his arms right now. But he was holding her? Was she angry? Would he lose her? Oh no!

"I'm-I'm sorry," he tried to apologize, his arms quickly loosening as he attempted to remove them from around her petite body. To his surprise, a half-asleep Marinette held onto his arms before he could remove them.

"Don't," she whispered. "Hold me," she continued. "But not too tightly, dork. I got to breathe, too," she chuckled sleepily.

At that moment, Adrien remembered last night's events. They had played video games, did the dare, watched the Christmas carols, played Christmas charades, to which his princess and he dominated, and lay in Marinette's bed reading the comments to their picture.

The model could vividly remember Sabine walking into the room and turning off the lights on them. It was both funny and awkward. Marinette had been sitting between his legs, her back pressed to his chest, his chin resting on her shoulder as they both looked at the messages on her phone.

Sabine had walked in so quickly that Adrien panicked, pushed Marinette off him, and yelled, "I'm going to my room soon, I swear!"

The blonde smiled, remembering how Sabine laughed so hard he swore she was crying. "Breathe, Adrien. We know you are here. We told you it was okay to stay with Marinette, remember? We trust you, son."

Adrien blushed and chuckled. His breath tickled Marinette's neck, making her shiver and scoot closer to him. Alya was right. Marinette really was braver when she was half asleep, but he will not complain. For all he knew, she could want him nowhere near her when she fully woke up, so he would make the most of this situation.

"If you allow me, I will never let you go again," He whispered, burying his face in her neck.

Marinette's eyes immediately opened as she heard the words. While she was half asleep, she could still feel a hear the blonde beside her. The bluenette couldn't help but mentally freak out.

Adrien was holding her.

He was cuddling her!

He said he would never let her go again!

What did that mean?

While they had become surprisingly at ease with each other over the past few hours, Marinette never expected to hear those words.

And it confused her.

It was becoming harder to see the line between friendship and more. Adrien was making it difficult for her to stay in her lane. Marinette knew she was most likely overthinking. It was common for her to do so, but this time it was different. Adrien would say and do things that made it difficult for her to remember they could only be friends.

His words last night!

Marinette could only think of the caption he had written for their picture. Correct her if she is wrong, but he had almost said he loved her, right? No! She was wrong. Once again, she was hoping for more than it really was. She was confused. Maybe it was time she placed boundaries between them. It was her job to protect her heart, after all.

She had already suffered far too long for loving him to hurt again.

"You are overthinking, girl. Did you read that caption? He loves you, Mari! Adrien loves you! Stop being afraid and go with it. It's Christmas." She could still remember Alya's text last night. Marinette had texted her, freaking out throughout the movie, but her friend reassured her and calmed her down.

Maybe she was overreacting and overthinking.

Maybe she should go with it.

It was Christmas Eve.

They had a family Christmas party to worry about. Besides, she still had a week to figure out where her relationship with Adrien would lead to.

But that didn't mean she would torture herself by staying in his arms. If she allowed herself to stay in this fairytale, she might wake up a week later and realize that there was no fairy Godmother or Christmas miracle and she was still just his friend.

But then why was she scooting closer to him?

That was not what she needed to be doing!

Marinette was sure she was losing her mind.

But it felt so right. It was as if Alya was right. Adrien's arms were the only place for her. Maybe she would allow herself to savor it for a second or two.

Adrien inhaled the bluenette's scent and relaxed. He thanked God for this moment. A week ago, he was sure he had to move on, but then his father agreed to allow him to stay, and Marinette saved him from Chloe, and now here he was, with his crush in his arms. Could life get any better?

Yes, it could because now he was sure he would do it. He was going to confess to his princess soon. He was making his move tonight!

What better time than the Christmas ever party?

Both Adrien and Marinette felt at peace. Their nerves calm down with each other's scent. It was as if time stopped.

The world stood still for a second and only a second as Adrien's phone rang them back to reality.

Startled, the teens jumped.

"Sorry," Adrien apologized as he picked up his phone. He knew that ringtone. The blonde had expected this call all night long. Adrien hoped it wouldn't be as bad as he thought it could be.

"It's okay," Marinette responded shily. "I'm going to see if my parents are up. Excuse me," She whispered, quickly walking out of the room.

Adrien furrowed his brows as he watched his crush almost run out of the room. It was as if she couldn't wait to get away from him. I guess this meant they were back to reality.

Marinette couldn't wait to get away from Adrien. She didn't know what she was feeling at the moment. Seconds ago, she could have died happy, but now she was as miserable as ever. The panic in Adrien's eyes was evident. Who was calling him? Was it Kagami? Did she see their post? Was Adrien still with her? Why did it scare him so much?

Marinette sighed. Maybe she had been feeding herself with crazy fantasies again. Uhg, she needed to learn how to give up.

____________________________________

"Fath-" Adrien was interrupted by the angry voice again.

"I understand, but-"

The blonde winced as he was interrupted by Gabriel's yelling voice. He knew his father would be upset with his post, but he didn't regret doing it. He loved her. It didn't matter if his father believed her not to be the girl for him, or if he thought Marinette was not in their social status, or whatever it was that Gabriel was mad about. He loved Marinette.

"But if he disapproves, it will be up to you to decide if Marinette is worth being the reason you stand up to your father."

Tom's words that night played back in Adrien's head, and the reality was that he didn't need to think of an answer. Adrien had known the answer to that question immediately after being asked.

Was Marinette worth being the reason he stood up to his father?

Absolutely and without a doubt, she was.

Marinette was worth everything.

She was his everything.

"FATHER STOP!" Adrien interrupted.

"How dare you-"

"No! How dare you!" Adrien spoke again. "You called me after not even bothering to check up on me for a few days, and instead of being happy that I am super happy because I am father, you want to yell at me for my choices."

"ADR-"

"No, Father!" The blonde no longer wanted to hear it.

"I am not a child anymore. I can make my own decisions. I love and respect you, but my dating life is no longer your concern. I have done everything to please you and have never been bothered by the strict rules. I know you care in your way, but this has to stop," Adrien spoke from his heart.

"Father, I know you are simply worried that I am making the wrong choice and you want the best for me, but believe me when I say she is just that. Marinette is and has always been the best for me."

"Adrien, I-"

"I know, Father," the model interrupted again. "But please let me finish."

"I- I love her," Adrien confessed. "Father, I am in love with Marinette. I always have been. She makes me feel things that I have never felt before. I feel complete with her. I understand that you feel you must worry about me, but you don't have to be. Marinette is a good person, Father. She is kind, sweet, honest, and cares for everyone, for me, and she would never hurt me."

''What about Kagami?" Gabriel questioned in curiosity.

"I never loved Kagami, Father. I dated her to please you. I wanted you to be proud of me. It's always been Marinette, Father. I love her with all my heart," Adrien confessed.

"What do you know about love, Adrien?" Gabriel's cold voice questioned.

"I know a lot, Father. I had the best example. I saw you and Mom."

Gabriel was silent.

"I am not trying to make you angry, Father but-"

"I am so proud of you, son," Gabriel interrupted. The designer was not stupid. He had always known the young Dupain Cheng had a hold of his son's heart. It was the only reason he agreed to allow him to stay back. What had bothered the man was that his son had not bothered to inform him of his choices, and he had to learn it from a viral post.

"What?" Adrien was confused.

"You heard me, Adrien. Now, go. Be happy," with that, Gabriel ended the call.

Adrien inhaled deeply, feeling relieved. Everything was turning out like he had dreamed of. Tom and Sabine had given him their blessing, Nino had no problem and was happy with the news, and his father was no longer opposed.

It was time.

His time!

He was one step closer to his happiness.

His happiness with Marinette.

"Adrien," Marinette called out as she knocked on her room door.

"My parents said breakfast is ready," she continued.

Opening the door, Adrien flashed her a genuine smile. "Morning, princess," he greeted, and she blushed. "Uhh, y-yeah. Morning," she stammered. Adrien chuckled. God, she was cute. "Let's go, princess. We have a busy day."

_________________________________________________________-

Adrien gasped as he watched his princess descend from the stairwell.

She was breathtaking.

Marinette looked better than a princess. She was a queen.

His queen.

Marinette had picked up her dark hair in a low bun, bangs surrounding his face. Her face was with light yet elegant makeup, and she had worn a beautiful sparkly, almost glassy gown. A butterfly adorned her left side.

Was that a Gabriel gown?

Who cared? Marinette looked like a goddess.

Holding out his hand for her to take, Adrien whispered a "Wow," still amazed at her beauty.

Marinette smiled, a blush adorning her cheeks. "Do you like it? It took me months to make?" She asked, feeling hopeful.

"You made it?" Adrien asked, feeling starstruck. "Wow, that's amazing, princess. I do. I love it so much."

"Thank you."

"May I have this dance, M'lady?"

Marinette let out a giggle. "You may."

___________________________________________

Adrien's heart pounded as Marinette's hands wrapped around his neck. He couldn't believe this was really happening. He was going to do it. He was going to ask her now.

"Marinette, I need to ask you something."