Chapter Text
The warmth of a mid-spring sunray glided up his cheek, travelled along the curve of his nose and zeroed in on an eye. Grumbling, Adrien buried his face deeper into the crook of his wife’s neck and sighed with satisfaction.
“Getting tired?” Marinette asked, reaching up to gently caress his cheek. “Should we head back?”
“Not yet,” Adrien leaned into the touch, whimpering as soon as Marinette withdrew her hand.
“Okay, but we should head back soon. It’s almost dinnertime.”
He hummed and pulled Marinette closer, if that was even possible, seeing as Adrien was already tightly wrapped around her from behind on a random garden bench. Seven months into their marriage but he still couldn"t believe how lucky he was to have Marinette as his wife. She’d made him the happiest man alive in every sense of that word, and Adrien wasted no time in proving his affections back to her. It had become, in a sense, an essential part of his life, and judging from Marinette’s smile, she enjoyed his attention.
In a moment, she turned her sight back to the book in her hands and continued to read. “So long as men can breathe or eyes can see, so long lives this, and this gives life to thee.”*
Adrien whispered the last two lines along with her, pressing the kiss to her neck at the end. “I love you. Have I told you that yet today?”
“Only a million times.” Marinette laughed, putting the book down and patting her lap. “Come here.”
Adrien barely kept his balance as he disentangled himself from behind Marinette and laid down on a bench, nestling his head onto her lap. He weaved his arms around her waist, a content sigh slipping his smiling lips.
“Are you sure you don’t have any feline ancestors?” Marinette giggled, burying her fingers in his hair, letting them run through the blond strands, lightly massaging his scalp and scratching behind the ears, just the way he liked it.
“Nope. I’m just a simple man with simple needs, and your attention is one of them. Don’t know if I’ll survive without this now. You’ve got me addicted.”
“Dork,” she chuckled, continuing her ministrations.
Adrien closed his eyes, purring in satisfaction. If there was a paradise somewhere in this universe, for him this was it: a lazy late afternoon in the garden, sun warming his body, a cool breeze blowing by; cuddles with his wife, her fingers doing their magic, every touch sending pleasurable tingles down his skin; and his face pressed against her growing belly.
“How are the things with that proposal to change the law we’ve talked about? The one that’ll allow Alya to become the Royal Messenger?”
“All done,” Adrien hummed. “I’ll present it to Father once he’s back and has had a chance to rest.”
“I really hope he approves it,” Marinette said, running her hands down his back, kneading lightly at spots she knew Adrien loved. “You worked so hard on it, and if it goes through, this would change Alya’s life.”
Adrien turned his head to look at Marinette and grinned. “You know what else will soon change Alya’s life?”
Marinette stared at him for a moment in silence, her eyebrows slowly knitting into a frown, before her eyes blew wide. “No!”
Adrien grinned wider.
“Oh, my gosh! He’s finally going to do this?”
“He didn’t want to ask her before he had a home for them, but as of last week, Nino’s a proud owner of a lovely cottage on the town’s outskirts. Great place for them to start with. But don’t tell her yet. It’s supposed to be a secret.”
“And how do you suppose I keep something like this a secret from her?”
Adrien chuckled, turning back to press his nose to their unborn baby in Marinette’s belly. “You’ve fooled a king and his whole court once into thinking you were someone you weren’t for a month. You absolutely can keep this a secret for a few days—” He froze, his breath hitching, eyes wide, his hand shooting to his nose. “Did you feel it?”
“I did.” Marinette brushed his hair away from his forehead. “Have been feeling that for the last few weeks. I told you, didn’t I?”
“Yes, but that’s a first for me,” Adrien said, barely breathing, his fingers dancing around Marinette’s belly as he nuzzled it harder. “Come on, kitten. One more time. For Daddy. Just one more kick or I’ll think it was just a dream.”
She couldn"t hold back the giggles. “The kicks are getting stronger and more frequent with every day, so I’m sure you’ll feel plenty of them from now on.”
The sounds of approaching steps startled them both. Adrien groaned, tightening his grip on Marinette. “I don’t want to go yet.”
Marinette chuckled, bumping his nose with her finger. “You know you’re such a child sometimes.”
“All the time, if you ask me,” Nino said, coming closer. “An overgrown child, obsessed with his wife.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” Adrien pressed himself closer to Marinette, snuggling up to her with a goofy smile on his lips. “No one"s here obsessed with anyone.”
“Says the man who’s still laying on his wife’s lap when he has somewhere else to be,” Nino retorted.
“He’s got you there, Your Highness,” Marinette teased, giving Adrien’s back a gentle pat.
“Dinnertime isn’t here yet,” Adrien whined, tightening his hold on Marinette. “Go away.”
“But your father is, and he asked both of you to join him for dinner.”
Adrien looked at Nino. “Father’s back? He wasn"t supposed to return until tomorrow evening. Did something happen?”
“You’ll have to ask him that yourself.” Nino shrugged. “I was just given an order to invite you two to dine with him.”
Adrien looked at Marinette. She shrugged her shoulders, his worry mirroring in her eyes. “I guess we’d better head back then.”
Reluctantly, Adrien let Marinette go and stood up. He fixed his clothes back in place and held out his hand for Marinette. “Shall we, my Lady?”
She took his hand and walked with him back to the castle, only to be mercilessly stolen away by Alya at the very end.
“I apologize, Your Highness,” Alya said, not the slightest hint of regret in her voice, as she took Marinette away. “But you’ll have to let her go. She needs to change into a more appropriate gown for the dinner with the King. This one is all scrunched up in front. What did you do, Marinette?”
“He used her lap as a pillow,” Nino added the fuel to the fire that was his girlfriend.
Alya’s smirk widened. “I know you two can’t keep your hands off each other, but could you not create more work for me while you’re at it?”
Adrien coughed to cover the fact his cheeks were turning red, Marinette’s face beside him flaming crimson. Nino hissed something in retort, but Adrien didn’t catch what he’d said.
“We should go prepare for dinner,” Adrien spoke. “Wouldn"t be polite to make Father wait after a long journey.”
“Absolutely,” Marinette added, her voice trembling. “And I am kind of hungry already, so dinner it is. Let’s go prepare.”
Alya chuckled. “You’re always hungry these days, Marinette. It’s like you’re eating for four people, not two. It’s a miracle you’re still just as tiny as before, even with your baby bump.”
He should’ve left. They were a little late already. However, an opportunity to praise his wife was the only thing that Adrien couldn’t walk away from. So, he reached for Marinette’s hand and placed a kiss atop her knuckles. “She did become four times as beautiful, though. Wouldn’t you say so?”
“Absolutely.” Alya nodded. “Pregnancy looks good on our future Queen.”
“Why ‘future’?” Adrien gave his wife that goofy, love-sick smile that seemed to have permanently settled on his face around Marinette. “She’s my queen already.”
Her cheeks the prettiest of pink, Marinette shushed them. “Didn"t we have dinner to go to?”
“Yes. Right. Dinner.” Adrien nodded and with a few final words, departed to prepare, leaving Marinette and Alya alone to do the same.
It didn"t take them long. Half an hour later, Adrien picked up Marinette from her room and they headed to the dining hall together. Gabriel was already at the table, looking over some letters when they came in. Adrien greeted him with a head bow, Marinette with a curtsy.
“You’re back early?” Adrien asked once the food was served. “Did something happen?”
“No.” Gabriel shook his head. “I just finished everything I had to do earlier.”
“Does it mean the project is going well?”
Gabriel nodded. “Marinette’s parents are doing better than expected at overseeing it.”
Marinette perked at the mention. “How are they managing?”
“They sent you a letter. I’ll have it delivered to your room after dinner, but everything is going great. The orphanages are open and running.”
“Any results yet?” Adrien asked. “Concerning the street crime?”
“Yes,” Gabriel replied a bit hesitantly. “But we’ll need at least a year to see if getting orphans off the streets will be worth it in the long run. As much as I agree with Marinette on this, other nobles wouldn’t want to invest in anything without a confirmed return.”
“I agree,” Marinette added. “As much as I’m excited for this to get implemented across the kingdom, we need concrete results to convince the nobles first. Without their support, this will never work. Thank you for trying it out, though. I’m honoured you even considered this.”
A hint of a smile zoomed across Gabriel’s lips as he acknowledged Marinette’s words with a nod. “No need to thank me. You proposed an excellent solution for the issue we’ve been struggling to resolve for some time. It’d be foolish to pass on that.”
Adrien couldn"t hold back a smile. A born leader who grew up as a commoner, Marinette saw a side of issues that Gabriel, Adrien, and all of their noble advisors failed to account for, and for someone who wanted to make their kingdom the best it could be, that was priceless. Marinette was proving herself to be a great asset to their kingdom, and slowly his father was starting to understand that, listening more and more to her ideas and opinions. Now, he was even implementing some of them. Soon, Adrien was afraid Marinette would have his father wrapped all around her finger just like his mother had.
He didn’t mind that in the slightest.
“We’re lucky to have her.” Adrien grinned at his wife. “She brought a new vision to the team, one both of us lack.”
“Can’t argue with that.” Gabriel nodded. “But enough about politics. I’m too tired for that now.” Shifting his sight to Marinette, he asked, “How is my grandchild doing?”
“Strong and healthy.” Marinette smiled. “Or at least that"s what the physician tells me. All I know is that the baby started to kick up a storm in there.”
“I even felt it today,” Adrien added with pride. “A strong kick to my nose.”
Gabriel quirked an eyebrow, but seemingly decided against asking.
They spent the rest of the dinner in an easy-flowing conversation, after which Gabriel retreated to his quarters. Marinette tagged along with Alya for an evening stroll while Adrien and Nino headed to the sparring court to get some exercise before bedtime.
The evening flew by. Adrien bid goodnight to his companion and headed to his quarters, eager to finally spend some time with Marinette interruption-free. He wasn’t needy or clingy, and he certainly knew how to share, but stealing some privacy for themselves was becoming more and more challenging during the day. The only time they were truly alone with each other being the evenings and nights. That was something he couldn’t nor was willing to give up. Mostly because he wasn’t sure he’d be able to fall asleep anymore without Marinette by his side. He’d miss her warmth, her scent, her arms around him, the softness of her skin, her frequent turning and shifting as she’d try to find a comfortable position with her belly growing—
Adrien grunted, quickening his steps. Now that he’d felt their baby move for the first time, he’d spend the whole night with his hands on Marinette, trying to catch it again. Unless… she wanted him to use his hands for different activities which he’d gladly oblige to because this was Marinette, the most amazing, beautiful woman in the world, and he got those butterflies stirring in the pit of his stomach just from thinking about her.
When he’d gotten there, she wasn’t in the room yet, which was a bit unusual because Marinette’s bedroom had never really turned into anything more than her wardrobe and “getting ready” space, both of them preferring his bedroom to spend their free time in. When Adrien came back from his bath, Marinette was still absent. This time, however, sounds of laughter seeped into the room from behind the door that led to Marinette’s bedroom. He didn’t even notice how he’d gotten to the door and knocked.
The voices inside ceased, Alya opening the door a moment later. “Can’t wait to get your hands on her?”
He nervously chuckled.
“Just a few more minutes. Don’t worry, no one will steal her away from you,” Alya said, keeping the door mostly closed.
“I just wanted—”
“The wait would be worth it, Adrien,” Alya ignored his attempts to speak up. “Believe me, you’ll love it. She designed it herself, and the tailor has finally finished it.”
Adrien frowned in confusion. “Designed what?”
“You’ll see.” Alya’s smirk turned mischievous. She glanced behind herself and grinned. “And she’s done. Enjoy!”
Stepping away, Alya opened the door fully, revealing Marinette in a light-pink, flowy nightgown he’d never seen before in the centre of the room. Adrien forgot how to breathe. The gown was beyond gorgeous and made Marinette look incredible. The fabric cascaded down to the very floor, soft folds framing her baby bump. It showed just enough of the cleavage—that, mind him, got bigger with the pregnancy and he loved it—to intrigue and tease but not to expose too much. The shoulder stripes were made of the same ribbon that served as a belt just under her bosom. Her hair down, a light blush on her cheeks, Marinette looked more beautiful than an Aphrodite herself. Stunning, he’d say. It did things to him he’d rather not have witnesses to.
As if reading his mind, Alya scurried away. She said something before disappearing, but it was lost on Adrien as he stood frozen in his place, gawking at his wife.
“Cat got your tongue?” Marinette teased.
“No. Yes. I… I came— You weren’t in the room, so I thought I’d come here.”
Marinette gave him an apologetic smile. “Sorry. It took a bit longer than I thought to read the letter from Papa and Maman.”
“Oh? What’s the news?”
“Pretty much the same things your father told us over dinner.” Marinette shrugged and looked at him with a mischievous smirk on her lips. “But do you really want to discuss the economy and internal affairs now?”
The sultriness of her voice, the look in her eyes, that mastery of her body language… Adrien swallowed, his stomach tightening with desire. “No. Not really.”
“Good,” Marinette said, slowly walking around the room putting out candles that lightened the space. “Because I was trying hard to make myself look irresistible tonight.”
“Is that so?” He could hardly stand in his place. Why was he still standing in his place when he could go sweep his wife into his arms?
With the light of the last candle out, moonlight engulfed the room, making Marinette look almost ethereal as she slowly walked toward Adrien, her lips curved into a mischievous smirk. “Did I succeed?”
He took her in his arms as soon as he could reach her. Leaning close, Adrien whispered with a breathy voice, “Absolutely. I"m stunned speechless.”
“A new nightgown is all it takes to render you speechless, my Prince?” she teased, a light blush on her cheeks betraying her still-even-after-all-this-time-there shyness. Because no matter how much of a tease she’d become—which Adrien absolutely loved—underneath it all, this breathtaking woman was still his precious, sweet Marinette who blushed at the simplest of touches. Tilting her head to the side, she let a smile tug at the corners of her lips. “What will become of you when I pull out my other, more sensual nightgown?”
Adrien swallowed. “There are more—gowns? Like—like this one?”
“A couple. I ordered a few to get me through the pregnancy.”
“And are they all as gorgeous?”
“This one is the simplest of them.”
Adrien tried to stay as calm as possible because the fire in his stomach was raging by now. He ran his fingers over the satin straps and grazed them over the fabric edge atop her breasts. “You designed it yourself?”
“I did.”
“You should do it more often.”
“You think so?”
He cupped her face, bringing her in for a lingering kiss. “What do you think? By wearing just one outfit you made me fall in love with you all over again.”
“Is that even possible?” Marinette giggled.
“I know. I’m shocked myself,” Adrien chuckled. “But I’m willing to prove the sincerity of my words to you if you wish.”
“How can I refuse?”
With a swift movement, Adrien gathered her up in his arms bridal style. Just like that first night after their wedding. Just like every night after that. Marinette smiled and wrapped her arms around his neck, laying her head on his shoulder. Holding her tightly in his arms, Adrien walked back to his bedroom and gently laid his wife on their bed. Propped on his elbows, he hovered over her.
She smiled back at him, reaching out to tug him closer. “I love you, my Prince,” she spoke, words slipping lovingly from her lips.
“And I love you, my Princess,” he whispered, leaning into her touch before closing the distance between them.