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It was just another day for Adrien, granted it was getting colder and there was snow on the streets of Paris but yes, just another day.

Well it was until he got to school and saw it entirely decked out in Christmas decor. His jaw dropped. It hadn't been like that Friday, man they moved fast. Lights trailed along arch ways with sparkly garlands of all different Christmas colors wrapped around railings and columns. Paper snowflakes hung from the ceilings with large shining Christmas ornaments.

Nino noticed Adrien and walked over, giving him a confused look. He gently used a finger to close Adrien's jaw.

"Oh yeah it's your first Christmas at a public school," Nino realized. Adrien looked down frowning.

"Yeah," he said stiffly, he clenched his hand into a fist before taking a deep breath and letting it out, relaxing the muscles in his hand again.

This was his first Christmas without his mother. And it was killing him. He thought the ache would have lessened by now but he still missed her so much, not that his father was making it any easier. Gabriel still refused to celebrate Christmas despite the events of last Christmas.

What a stubborn man. Nino's voice snapped Adrien out of his thoughts.

"Oh man you get see Marinette's Christmas spirit for the first time, I'm sure it's even better than watching her grow into it," Nino remarked.

Adrien tilted his head in curiosity. What did Nino mean.

Just then Alya walked through the doors and rushed over to her boyfriend affectionately smiling at him.

"Nino you really weren't kidding about Marinette, this is crazy! She's so. I don't even know how to describe it!" Alya exclaimed, proceeding to further confuse Adrien.

Nino chuckled and Alya's smile was huge. Adrien felt like they were sharing an inside joke.

"Energetic? Peppy? Happy? Contagiously sweet?" Nino provided for his girlfriend as he raised a brow. Alya tilted her head back and laughed.

"All of the above!" She agreed. Her smile then suddenly disappeared for a moment as she got serious. Her eyes widened as if she was sharing a CIA secret.

"And her Christmas Caroling, I can't believe it!" Alya said in a hushed voice, "Has she always been like this?"

Adrien was curious, Marinette sang Christmas carols? And apparently she did it in a way that shocked Alya.

Nino nodded solemnly.

"We dub her Christmas Marinette," Nino laughed. Alya joining in. Just then the girl of interest walked in. Adrien turned to her and his jaw dropped.

Marinette was Christmasfied but... she made it look good. Her shirt was white with metallic green and red stripes that mimicked a candycane, a candy apple red coat replaced her normal lighter jacket and she was wearing dark green jeans.

Adrien took in a sharp breath. Her hair was down, the long silky tresses held out of her face by a glittering green headband. As she walked towards them she flicked her hair not aware of the affect it was having on Adrien who found his cheeks burning.

It's just hair Adrien. It's just clothes Adrien. He thought. It's just Marinette...

She beamed at all of them and seemed to be glowing. She placed her hand on her hips and bid them all a good morning, even Adrien without so much as a stutter!

"In 23 days it'll be Christmas Day." She stated contentedly.

"Will you be singing with your family and the other carolers in the park?" Nino asked, seemingly excited.

Marinette laughed happily

"But of course!" She said with a wave of her hand.

Marinette had started chatting with Alya whole Adrien could only stare, face reddening again. Nino sharply elbowed him causing Adrien to look at his friend... who waggled his eyes in a teasing manner. Adrien scowled and shook his head.

She's just a friend. He mouthed. Nino rolled his eyes and his friend was about to retort aloud when the first bell rang for class. Everyone scurried out of the halls and towards their classroom.

As Adrien took his seat he couldn't help but notice the way Marinette practically glowed. Adrien found himself smiling. Nino was right, her joy and Christmas enthusiasm was contagious, Adrien hadn't once thought about how miserable the season was going to be this year.

The teacher choose that moment to ask the blonde a question to which he didn't know the answer to because he'd been distracted. The class giggled since he gave a cheeky but wrong answer. Adrien touched the back of his neck and smiled at the instructor apologetically.

His head snapped around when he heard Marinette's giggle. It sounded like the tinkling of bells. Magical and lovely. His smile widened as their eyes met while Marinette simply returned her own sweet grin.

The teacher cleared her throat at Adrien who was still turned in his seat and not facing the board. Adrien winced and quickly turned around. He sighed as the teacher turned her back to write something on the board. He heard Marinette giggle again with Alya and felt the corner of his lips turn upward. It was going to be a long day, he was probably going to have to get Nino's notes after this.

The day ended and Adrien found himself disappointed that Marinette had to hurry home. Her reasoning made sense though, the bakery was quite busy during this time of the year. Adrien frowned as Nino and Alya were going to hang out today.

He didn't really want to be home in his cheerless house, the season seeming to put Gabriel in an even worse mood than normal anyway.

Ducking into an alleyway, Adrien pressed his back against the wall and looked around.

"Kid, what are you doing?" Plagg asked curiously, poking his head out of Adrien's jacket.

"I don't know, just not going home," Adrien replied, which was half true. But he did know where he was going.

Plagg's eyes narrowed. His chosen was a terrible liar, and that first part had been a weak lie. Plagg sighed in defeat, he knew what Adrien's home was like so he understood the boy wanted to put off going home for as long as possible, Gabriel in such a state he hardly seemed to even try to keep tabs on Adrien. It was the exact opposite of his normal controlling nature.

Plagg has also noticed a certain bluenette had distracted him all day and that Adrien was curious about her caroling.

"C'mon Plagg," Adrien whined. The Kwami grinned, Adrien was hoping to catch Marinette before she got home.

"You owe me three wheels of Camembert," Plagg said simply, giving his blessing. Adrien pumped a fist in the air before quickly transforming and racing after his Princess.

He spotted her not too far from the school surprised that she hadn't made it further. He realized she was taking her time, enjoying the scenery. She looked beautiful with snow falling around her. The streets were relatively empty, Paris apparently inside enjoying the sight of snow warmly.

Suddenly a large sigh from Marinette forced Chat to examine her, was she upset? Marinette took a deep breath, eyes closed making Chat even more curious.

Suddenly she opened her mouth and started singing.

Well I heard there was a secret chord

That David played and it pleased the Lord

But you don't really care for music, do you?

Chat mouth made an O in shock and awe. She sounded like an angel. Everything soon clicked into place. Nino and Alya were referring to Marinette's talent.

Adrien dropped his butt onto the roof making himself comfortable. He crossed his legs and rested his chin in his hand, watching Marinette dreamily.

Well it goes like this: the fourth, the fifth

The minor fall and the major lift

The baffled king composing Hallelujah

Her voice was clear and loud, confident and strong. It didn't waiver or tremble like when she talked to him. Chat briefly closed his eyes.

Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

When she got to the chorus her voice did amazing things as it belted out those four words. Four words seeped in her soul as she sang them, drawn out in just the right places. So beautiful it made him shiver.

Your faith was strong but you needed proof

You saw her bathing on the roof

Her beauty and the moonlight overthrew you

When he opened his eyes a new sight greeted him, Marinette's singing had become so passionate that she'd started moving her arms and hands in graceful gestures like a conductor of an orchestra. She looked stunning as she sang to the empty square.

She tied you to her kitchen chair

She broke your throne and she cut your hair

And from your lips she drew the Hallelujah

Marinette broke into an unusual stride, hips sashaying ever so slightly.

Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

She spun around making Adrien realize what she was doing. She was dancing. And if it wasn't for the fact that she thought she was performing in an empty square, Chat would've sworn that it was a practiced well planned piece of choreography.

Baby I've been here before

I've seen this room and I've walked this floor

I used to live alone before I knew you

Marinette graceful kicked up some snow from the street making it look like glitter in the air. She raised a hand toward the sky as if serenading it.

And I've seen your flag on the marble arch

And love is not a victory march

It's a cold and it's a broken Hallelujah

As she sang the chorus, she opened her arms wide as if releasing the beast of her voice. It was such a powerful gesture that made his own soul bow. She was indeed a Princess...

Well, maybe there's a God above

But all I've ever learned from love

Was how to shoot somebody who outdrew ya

Marinette followed a sequence of complicated steps that only her mind knew, tracing the outside of the square before beginning a path that spiraled toward the center. Her eyes half closed as she moved with the grace of a goddess. Chat was entranced.

And it's not a cry that you hear at night

It's not somebody who's seen the light

It's a cold and it's a broken Hallelujah

Marinette did a final spin into the center of the square raising a hand next to her face and clenching it into a fist. As she sang the final chorus of hallelujahs, her voice raised, and her arms guided it, lifting heavenward.

When she finished she slammed her arms down to her sides, panting a little and smiling broadly. As she continued towards home, Adrien let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding since the start of her finale.

He followed her... just to make sure she got home safely he told himself.

He watched through the bakery's window as Tom and Sabine embraced their girl, probably asking how her day was. He smiled softly before leaving.

When Adrien returned home he hardly noticed the lack of Christmas cheer in his home, or the fact that his father had missed dinner again. Even Nathalie had been surprised by Adrien's mood, expecting him to be more upset than he was. Not that she would blame him, between his mother and his father...

Adrien lied in bed staring up at the ceiling. All he could thing about was the haunting melody of Marinette's Christmas Carol. He wondered briefly if she was a siren, because when he'd heard her sing it took his breath away, and he could care less about coming back up for air as he drowned in her soulful voice

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A/N: so as you know these upcoming chapters were inspired by mostly Petatonix songs. I definitely recommend listening to their songs. They're so powerful and beautiful. Hallelujah is particularly one of my favourites