Many thanks to RatherOddRanger for the idea and brainstorming session for this story. I know we had a good chuckle, hope you do too!

Chapter One

Having grown up as a very sheltered only child rarely let out of the house, Adrien Agreste had many strange ideas on what was considered normal. For instance, he'd never previously contemplated why Nathalie was always at his father's beck and call. Nor had he wondered why the woman never left. Perhaps it stemmed from the time that his mother died and Nathalie had been shoved into the role of nanny/surrogate mother as well as personal assistant.

It probably didn't help that his bodyguard was also around during his every waking hour. Although the man did go home to sleep. Otherwise Adrien would have had an awful time sneaking out as Chat Noir.

Yet it was Nino that pointed out this anomaly regarding Nathalie, and Adrien wanted to get to the bottom of it. But Gabriel Agreste was a creature who thrived on schedules and appointments. Meaning Adrien had no hope of ever spontaneously asking his father for advice. So, the boy resorted to his usual channel of communication: text message.

AA: Father, I was wondering why Nathalie is always at the house?

GA: Because she's my employee.

AA: But she's there 24/7.

GA: She's very dedicated.

AA: Are you sure she's just an employee?

GA: What are you implying? Choose your words carefully, son.

AA: Is Nathalie… your friend?

GA: Yes

AA: So it's normal for friends to stay overnight?

GA: Yes

AA: In your room?

GA: If they're very, very good friends.

AA: Is that why she has a toothbrush in your bathroom?

GA: When were you in my bathroom?

AA: Never mind. I have fencing practice now…

Adrien flicked his phone to silent and shoved it in his bag. Plagg gave him a curious look from the interior of said bag while he pawed his whiskers. "What was that all about?"

"I was trying to understand my father's relationship with Nathalie."

The kwami snorted. "Any luck there?"

"Kind of. He said she's more than an employee."

"I bet she is."

The model pursed his lips, his gaze was distant as he pondered his text conversation with his father. Meaning he missed the fact that Plagg was being sarcastic. "Nathalie stays in his room sometimes."

"Uh, yeah." Plagg said, waiting for his young holder to join the dots.

"But he doesn't do the same with my bodyguard. Guess it must only be something a guy does with female friends."

Plagg was on the verge of slapping his own forehead. Yet refrained as he knew how sensitive his chosen was. When it came to clueless, Adrien took the cake.

The model picked up his foil and eyed his phone. "I've got five minutes before we start. I need to run this by Nino."

"You do that, kid."

AA: Nino, I spoke to my father like you suggested. Well, I texted him. He said that Nathalie is more than an employee. She's his friend and that's why she sleeps over.

NL: Bro, employees don't normally sleep over.

AA: But she's his friend too.

NL: Just a friend?

AA: Yeah, like Marinette is to me, I guess.

NL: Does this mean you want Marinette to sleep over? ;)

Adrien frowned at his phone and glanced at Plagg. "What's with the winking face?"

Feline eyes skimmed the message thread. "Just say yes." He was fully aware of Marinette's alter ego. He figured he was doing the boy a favour.

AA: Yes

NL: You should ask her over then.

AA: I'm at fencing.

NL: And you're texting me?

AA: Oh crap, gotta go.

An hour and a half later, Adrien completed a rather intensive fencing session and shook hands with Kagami. Did he consider her a good friend? Should he ask her over too? Nah, Marinette was closer. She was his very, very good friend.

He packed up his things and headed to the waiting car. Once he was in the back seat, he quickly messaged his father.

AA: I've been thinking about what you said.

GA: Care to enlighten me?

AA: Nathalie is just a friend, right?

GA: Refer to our earlier conversation thread. I don't have time for this.

AA: Sorry. I just wanted to confirm. So, it's normal that she sleeps in your bed?

GA: YES! What is your point? I'm very busy, Adrien.

AA: Can Marinette come over?

GA: If it means I can get some work done, then yes.

Adrien grinned and switched contacts. Unaware that Plagg was reading over his shoulder, biting the end of his paw to contain his amusement.

AA: Hey Marinette. Sorry to message out of the blue. I hope I haven't caught you at a bad time?

MDC: No, not at all.

AA: That's great. I was just speaking to my father and you're not going to believe this…

MDC: What is it?

AA: He said it's okay for you to come for a sleepover.

MDC: oigoiandsoifnotuha mioaifheoiarh eqwemofivzoigufdsg

AA: Is your phone broken?

MDC: Um, no. I might have dropped it.

AA: So sleep over, want to come?

MDC: Oh yeah.

AA: You can sleep in my bed too.

AA: Marinette?

AA: Are you still there?

AA: Did you drop your phone again?

MDC: Sorry, I think I fainted.

AA: You must be very tired.

MDC: Totally. Can we go to bed as soon as I get there?

AA: Sure.

"Poor Marinette, she must not be getting enough sleep." Adrien commented as the car pulled up at the mansion.

Plagg uttered quietly. "Clueless, completely clueless."

Once they were within the confines of Adrien's room, he dropped his fencing bag into his wardrobe and turned to his kwami. "There was one sure way I always got to sleep when I was a kid."

"What was that?" Plagg asked as he watching Adrien's fingers fly across the screen of his phone.

AA: Do you want to cuddle?

AA: Or is that too much?

AA: Marinette?

MDC: Can I come over right now?

AA: I better check with my father.

While Adrien was usually a compliant and obedient boy, he'd learnt a new saying from school: It's better to ask for forgiveness than permission. Now he was angling for that.

AA: Marinette is going to spend the night.

GA: Excuse me?

AA: You know, the girl who won the bowler hat competition.

GA: Yes, I know who Marinette is.

AA: You said this is what friends do.

GA: I did.

AA: So, it's okay if she stays in my room?

GA: I… suppose.

AA: Awesome, cuddles!

GA: …wait, what?

AA: You said good friends stay overnight and share beds. Refer to our earlier conversation.

GA: Adrien

AA: Yes?

GA: Don't push me.

AA: Sorry Father. But she's fine to sleep with me, right?

GA: Just sleep.

AA: Well, yeah. What else?

GA: I need to work.

In a separate part of the mansion, Gabriel Agreste rubbed his temples after laying down his phone. He glanced at his assistant. "Nathalie, do you think it's time we told Adrien?"

"Told him what, sir?"

"About our sleeping arrangements?"

Nathalie raised one artistically plucked eyebrow. "What's to tell? Surely, he's worked out what is going on."

"He's sheltered and naïve. Here, take my phone and read the latest thread."

The stern assistant did just that, lifting her lowered eyebrow to join its partner. "Should I begin arrangements for their impending marriage?"

"I hope you're kidding, Nathalie."

She continued to stare and he honestly had no idea if she was or not. Particularly when she picked up her own phone and began texting.

NS: Adrien, is there a particular church that you and Marinette favour?

AA: Um, none that I can think of. Should I ask Marinette?

NS: Please.

AA: Marinette, Nathalie is asking if you have a favourite church.

MDC: Why?

AA: She wants to know why, Nathalie.

NS: To prepare for your future together.

AA: I'm forwarding you Nathalie's last response. Any idea what she means, Marinette?

MDC: ?

AA: I have no idea either.

AA: Marinette? Are you still with me?

Alas, Marinette was having difficulty breathing. "Tikki. Oh, please tell me I'm reading this right!"

The red kwami narrowed her eyes as she attempted to read the text on Marinette's phone but it was difficult since the girl holding it was trembling with raw excitement. "Can you hold it still please." Tikki sucked in a sharp breath. "I think Nathalie is having a lend of you both."

Marinette apparently blocked out that last sentence. "Does this mean she's going to organise our wedding?! Oh, Tikki this is so exciting."

"Woah, hold the love train. You're eighteen, he's not going to marry you."

"Maybe not right away. Some of the best places in Paris require bookings years ahead of the event."

"Speaking of heads, starting thinking with yours instead of with your hormones."

But Marinette didn't hear as she needed to text Alya.

MDC: Alya, Adrien has asked me to sleep over – in his bed!

AC: You're pulling my leg, right?

MDC: No way. Should I send you a screen shot of his texts?

AC: Please do, I need to keep these for your future wedding reception.

MDC: *Squeal* I have to send you the last few texts.

MDC: Here they come…

AC: WTF! Are you sure he's not pranking you?

MDC: This is Adrien, he's nothing if not sincere.

MDC: Wait a minute. OMG, maybe he's been akumatised!

AC: Calm down, girl. Adrien is known to say odd things at times. His idea of normal and ours aren't necessarily the same.

MDC: But the church and mention of a future together…

AC: Are you at his place yet?

MDC: No. I'm packing a bag.

AC: So stop texting me and get your butt over there! PS – make sure you pack your scantiest PJ's. Oh, and I expect a full debrief tomorrow.

MDC: Okay, wish me luck.

AC: May you have the uncanny luck of Ladybug. And a possible proposal from your crush.

MDC: You're the best.

Marinette was grinning at nothing in particular when her phone pinged again. Reminding her that she hadn't responded back to Adrien.

AA: Marinette?

MDC: Sorry, was texting Alya.

AA: Oh, okay. What should I say to Nathalie?

MDC: That we trust her judgement.

AA: Righto.

Adrien still had no idea what Nathalie's angle was, but he'd learnt it was best to answer the woman. Even if he was clueless to her objective.

AA: Nathalie, Marinette says she trusts your judgement.

NS: Fantastic. I'll make the arrangements.

AA: Arrangements?

The model almost leapt out of his chair when Gabriel cut into the conversation.

GA: Ignore Nathalie. She's being crass.

AA: I didn't know she was capable of that, Father.

GA: Neither did I.

AA: Marinette is on her way over.

Gabriel's back molars were aching. His assistant had conveniently left the room.

GA: Nathalie, Adrien's bathroom is fully stocked with… the appropriate accessories for entertaining a girl?

NS: Of course, sir.

GA: Good. I mean, not good. I mean. Oh hell.

NS: Time for the safe sex talk, sir?

GA: I already sent him the PowerPoint presentation.

NS: Efficient as always, sir. Besides I wouldn't worry. He only wants to cuddle.

GA: Do you want your bonus this year?

NS: Yes sir, I'm getting back to work.

This is my first attempt at a "texting" story. I hope you're enjoying it so far and I'm not confusing you.

Let me know what you think in the review box below. :)