Adrien decided that he must keep the girls a secret. There was no telling his father's reaction if he discovered them. He received a phone call from Marinette while he decided how to keep anyone else from getting involved. Great, the girl he barely spoke to would make him feel guilty about keeping his distance. He had only done so to protect her.

    He still recalled his father's reaction when he insisted on taking her to the Gala. His father was furious and even threatened to expose Marinette and her parents.

      "Adrien's Flashback..."

       "Father, I have decided Marinette Dupain-Cheng will accompany me to the Gala and not Kagami Tsurugi, not Lila, or anyone else."

         "Adrien, you are an Agreste, and I expect you to start acting like one."

    " I will see to it you will accompany Chole Bougerious to the Gala, not this Dupain-Cheng filth."

         "Father, Marinette is not filth, and  I refuse to put on airs to impress people."

         "Adrien, you will not disrespect me; if you dare to show up with Marinette  to the Gala, I will expose her and her parents for the pigstye they are."

   " I will ruin her reputation and make it so bad that you will never see her again."

" Adrien, you are to keep your distance from me, you hear me."

         "She is not a pig, and I hear you loud and clear."

           Adrien sighed.

      He had not asked Marinette to the Gala yet, but the thought of going with Chole was like a burr under his skin.

   Adrien didn't like Chole and felt it was unfair of his father to make such a demand of him.

     What could his father have against Marinette and her parents?

"The end of Flashback..."

         Adrien cringed at the memory because he attended the Gala with Chole, but he thought about Marinette. He had no idea why he kept thinking about Marinette.

           He heard his phone beep again.

        Oh, that is right, he almost forgot  Marinette called him. He should answer before Alana and Bailey woke up.

        "Hello?"

           He smiled because the girls continued to nap as he spoke to Marinette.

         "Hi, A-Adrien, you busy?"

        "No, and yes."

     Marinette laughed on the other end. 

  "A-Adrien Agreste, either you are busy with something, or you are not busy."

     "See, I wondered why you have been avoiding me?"

    " Did I do something wrong?"

 " I thought we were friends, A-Adrien."

       "Marinette, I am sorry."

           Marinette blushed on the other end.  

          "A-Adrien, I am glad, so could I come over now?"

       "N-now, as in right now?"

         "Yes, now, I promise not to disturb your father's work."

         Adrien shrugged his shoulders.   He supposed, he couldn't go on avoiding her forever.

         "Sure, why not?"

       "Great, see you in a few minutes."

       Marinette showed up, and the Gorilla let her inside. Once in the foyer, he gestured to the stairs.

     "I will find him. Thanks so much, sir."

      Marinette went to the door on the far right. She peeped her head inside and saw Mr. Agreste at work. She closed it slowly. She checked the door onto the left and saw Adrien.

     "A-Adrien, whose are they?"

     "Mine, or they will be soon. I found them in a basket on the porch. "

      "My father dropped me off and will be back shortly."

     "I see."

  Adrien hugged her. Marinette was surprised at the gesture but soon returned the hug. 

 "A-Adrien I think it is sweet."

   "Thanks, Marinette."

     Adrien and Marinette talked quietly.  Soon Alana and Bailey woke up. Marinette read them in a calm, soothing voice as Adrien watched. Adrien felt impressed at how good she was with them.

    He got an idea. Maybe, he could ask her.

   "Marinette, want to help me keep them a secret from father?"

    "Sure, it is  a deal."
 

 Marinette shook his hand. Adrien blushed. Marinette giggled. She changed Bailey's diaper and handed Bailey to Adrien while she took care of Alana's diaper.

   "They're all good as new."

   Adrien considered asking Marinette to marry him but felt he better date her first. He did not want her to think he was moving too fast even if he could use her help more than he let on.

     Soon, Marinette left and Adrien felt the room was somehow emptier despite the presence of the babies.  Adrien fed Alana, then, Bailey. He burped them and tucked them into his bed with the blankets tucked in enough so they would not get hurt. 

       He got ready for bed and climbed into the other side. "Good night, Alana, and Good night Bailey, he whispered before he turned off the light."

    the story continues in Chapter 3  Wooing Marinette

 til then,

bye-bye, little owlets!

Summer out!