Twenty-five year old Adrien Agreste groaned in frustration as he waited for his latte at the coffee shop. The entire cafe was decorated with christmas lights and other things like that and the employees were serving hot chocolate and christmas cookies. The radio in the cafe was playing christmas songs on the holiday station. It made Adrien sick.
"Hey! Can I get my coffee already?!" Adrien snapped impatiently.
"I'm sorry! I'll be right there! By honey, swe you tonight." A woman on the phone said hanging up. She grabbed Adrien's latte and brought it over to him. "Sorry to keep you waiting sir, my kids called. They wanted to ask me when I was coming home, you know how kids are on Christmas eve."
"I really don't care! Just give me my damn coffe!"
"I...I'm very sorry, here. Have a Merry Christmas."
"Yeah whatever!"
It had been five years since Adrien's father Gabriel Agreste died of a sudden heart attack and Adrien took over his father's business as the head of the fashion industry. Unfortunately even though Gabriel was dead he had twisted the poor boy into a bitter young man who was work obsessed and cold hearted. He hadn't seen any of his friends since he was eighteen having cut off all contact with them to focus on his career and he gave up being Cat Noir. Luckily Hawkmoth was no more so it wasn't that bad. But he hated being around people, he hated loud parties and events, but most of all he hated Christmas. To him it was just a cruel joke, false hope, He wished the holiday would be abolished.
"Nathalie give me today's messages." Adrien asked as he entered his manor.
"Yes sir, Jean has requested the new spring designs be done by April, Claudia sent the latest models for the winter collection, and you received an invitation to a Christmas party."
"Nathalie what have I told you about Christmas letters and invitations? Just throw them out."
"I know sir but I thought you might be interested in this one because it's from your old friend Nino Lahiffe."
Adrien rolled his eyes, he hadn't heard from his high school friend in years.
"Is it now?"
"Yes he's invited everyone from your old school."
"Oh yeah? What does he want?"
"Pardon?"
"Come on Nathalie people only invite me to parties because they want something from me. So what does he want?"
"It doesn't say sir, he just wants you there to have a good time. Maybe you should go."
"Why do you care?"
"Well it's just that, for seven years you've spent christmas alone and I thought it would be good for you if this year you went out and celebrated. A lot of your old friends will be there Chloe, Alya, even that nice girl Marinette."
Adrien nearly choked on his coffee at the mention of the girl he had once loved and left seven years ago. His heart fluttered and for a brief moment he blushed. His father had warned him that Marinette would only ruin his life which is why he broke up with her but somewhere inside his cold heart he still held longing to see her, even if it was just for one moment.
"I suppose I could pay them a visit." He said. "Nathalie get my coat."
"Yes sir."
Meanwhile at the Laffie residence, Nino and his wife Alya were getting ready for their party tonight. They had decorations, snacks, and gifts laid out. Their apartment wasn't much but it was they could afford. You see when they were eighteen, Alya got pregnant so they got married early and had to drop out of college to get jobs. Nino worked as a custodian while Alya worked as an accountant. They didn't make much but as long as they had each other it was enough.
Ding-dong!
"I'll get it." Alya answered the door to see her best friend in the whole world Marinette Dupain-Cheng. She was now working as an intern for another fashion industry. She was busy buy she always had time to visit her friends.
"Merry Christmas." She said.
"Merry Christmas girl. You're early."
"I know but I wanted to help out and I brought Christmas cookies fresh from the bakery."
"Marinette you're the best."
"Auntie Marinette!" A little girl no older than seven came running toward her excited.
"Hi Piper." Marinette scooped up Alya and Nino's daughter Piper and hugged her. "How's my favorite girl? You're getting big."
"You smell like Christmas cookies. Did you make some for me?"
"Don't I always? And I got you a little Christmas present." She handed the wrapped gift with bright ribbon to the girl. "Merry Christmas."
"Can I open it Mommy? Please?" Piper asked Alya.
"Well normally you're not allowed to open your gifts til Christmas but it's Christmas eve so I'll let you open just one."
With that said, Piper began tearing through the ribbon and wrapping paper then opened the box to see a doll inside. It was hand sewn, with soft black-brown yarn hair, rich golden brown fabric skin, shiny black marbles for eyes stitched on with hazel thread along with a pink thread smile. She wore a satin hand stitched turquoise dress , little doll slippers, and a purple silk ribbon was tied in her yarn hair.
"I know you wanted one of those expensive glass dolls but I couldn't afford one so I tried to make one." Marinette said. "I hope you like her."
"She's perfect." Piper said hugging her. "And she looks like me and her dress is my favorite color. I love her! I'm going to call her Sonali."
"Now Piper what do we say?" Alya asked.
"Thank you Marinette."
"You're welcome."
"Now Piper why don't you and Sonali go help Daddy decorate the tree while I talk to Marinette?"
"Okay Mommy."
She hurried over to help Nino decorate the tree.
"She's so cute." Marinette said to Alya.
"Yes she is."
"How is she?"
"The doctor said she has lung cancer."
"Lung cancer? Oh no."
"Thankfully we caught it early but she needs an operation."
"An operation?"
"Yes and it's expensive. I'm worried that we're not gonna be able to afford it. Nino and I have been working day in and day out but it's still not enough."
"Maybe I can help."
"Marinette you've been supportive of us ever since Piper was born, you've done enough besides I think I'm getting a raise this year."
"Well I'm sure that'll help. So who's coming to the party?"
"Let's see Ivan, Mylene, Rose, Juleka, Nathaniel, Max, Kim, Sabrina, Chloe. Can you believe how much she's changed since she and Kim hooked up?"
"I know. I heard she donates to charity every year."
"Unbelievable."
"So...Did Nino invite Adrien?"
"Yeah but I doubt he'll come. Why did you suggest we invite him? You know how much he hates christmas. And how can you still be nice to him after what he did to you seven years ago?"
"Alya that's in the past. And I know he's bit of a grouch but he's always by himself at this time of the year and no one should be alone at Christmas."
"I swear Marinette you have a heart of Gold."
"Come on, I'll help you in the kitchen."