It was the first Christmas Marinette had with a family and it was the first where she actually got gifts. Her favorite one was Pretty Marie who Bridgette gave her. Marinette couldn't have been happier on that day neither could Bridgette and Felix. It was love at first sight for them, thy couldn't have pictured a more perfect little girl. Of course like most children she would misbehave from time to time and when needed they would discipline her but most of the time she was a very good child. She did well in school, respected her elders, did as she was told most of the time, she was a polite, honest, sweet, and loving child who her parents only grew to love more with each day and they couldn't help but wonder how no one could've possibly not wanted to adopt such a precious little girl. Their darling, sweet little lady.

As for Marinette she couldn't have imagined a better couple to be her parents. She remembered growing up in the orphanage and playing a little game called pretend family. In it she would imagine that she had a family, she always imagined her mother as a beautiful young lady who liked to sing songs and would sew pretty dresses and her father as a handsome man who was book smart and could play piano. Bridgette and Felix were exactly like her pretend parents. Bridgette had wonderful singing voice and she sang lullabies to Marinette every night before she went to bed and she would also sew pretty little dresses for her to where to church and parties and Felix was very educated in the literary arts and made sure to read her a bedtime story every night he also was talented in playing piano, she loved to hear him play so much that she couldn't help but dance. Being with them made her realize that miracles were real and that prayers were always answered.

Speaking of prayers she always reminded herself that before going to sleep she was to thank God for letting her be adopted by such a loving family and not ending up like those poor unlucky kids who end up riding the orphan trains. If a child couldn't get adopted soon enough they would be placed on the orphan trains and go to live out their days as a servant for a wealthy house hold, most of the time it was the older children who were in there early teens but they had talked about sending her early. She was so grateful to God that she had been adopted just in time.

Eleven years had gone by since that wonderful night where they had been brought together. Marinette had grown into a beautiful and proper young lady with mid-length dark hair and the most beautiful pair of blue eyes anyone had ever seen. She spent her days helping her parents around the house with chores. Her mother had taught her how to sew and knit and her father had taught her how to read and write. When she wasn't helping with chores she was doing needle work or reading. She also had made some friends with some of the local neighborhood kids such as Nathaniel and Ivan. They were such good friends and she would often spend Sundays walking with them through the neighborhood.

"Happy birthday Marinette. I know it's a little early for presents but I couldn't wait any longer to give you this." Bridgette said handing her a box. "Sixteen years old, you're a woman now meaning you need a proper gift for a proper young woman."

She opened the box, inside of it was a necklace. A very expensive necklace. It had a large London-blue stone cut into a trillion/cleftless heart surrounded by white round cut cubic zirconias set in white gold. The chain was composed of a mix of round, pear, and marquise cut white cubic zirconias. The bail on the necklace was a heart cut white cubic zirconia attached to a white round cut stone which was attached to the cage on the main stone.

"Oh Mother it's beautiful." Marinette gasped.

"It was my grandmother's and she gave it to me when I turned fifteen and now it's all yours. I just hope it fits."

She hooked it around her neck, it was a perfect fit.

"Oh Marinette you look so grown up in it."

"Really?"

"Yes and it brings out your eyes perfectly."

"I want to show Nathaniel and Ivan. Do you think they'll like it?"

"Of course. Go show them while I get started on your cake."

Marinette rushed outside to look for her friends but her excitement halted when the paper boy came by and threw a newspaper that read. BREAK IN THIEF STILL AT LARGE. BE SURE TO KEEP ALL WINDOWS AND DOORS LOCKED AT NIGHT. Marinette scoffed at it, that thief better not come any where near her home or they would be sorry, she may be a lady but she wasn't going to let anyone break into her home and hurt her family. The matter was then forgotten and she continued on til she saw a red haired young man carrying a load. It was her dear friend and next door neighbor Nathaniel. He was a very artistic young man who had won plenty of award for his paintings.

"Nathaniel." She called. "Oh Nathaniel. Hello Nathaniel."

"Oh hello Marinette, Happy Birthday."

"Thank you. Notice anything different?"

"Um new hair cut?"

"No guess again."

"Okay let me think...New dress?"

"No."

"Well then I don't...Oh you got a new necklace."

"Yep! Mother gave it to me. Isn't it lovely?"

"Yes it is. Must've cost a fortune though."

"Money doesn't matter what I really love about it is that it was a gift of love."

"We better show Ivan you know how he gets about these things."

"Oh yes where is he?"

"Where do you think? Writing his poetry again."

Ivan was a poet and composer, he loved to write poetry and music and he was very talented at it too.

"Good morning Ivan." Marinette said.

"Good morning Miss Marinette and happy birthday."

"Thank you, look what Mother gave me."

"Wow now that is was one beautiful rock." He joked. "So how old are you?"

"Sixteen."

"My how time flies."

"Yes seems like only yesterday she was just a sweet little girl and now she's a young lady." Nathaniel said.

"Where did the time go?"

"Don't worry boys I'm still the same me just taller."

"And more lovely." Ivan added.

"Aye soon she'll have lots of young men coming to call." Nathaniel said.

"Oh don't be silly. I have no intention of getting involved in romance right now. Right now I'm perfectly happy with my family and my friends. Nothing could make me happier."

When Felix came home, Marinette and her parents spent the evening having dinner and cake then Felix played his piano while Bridgette and Marinette sang songs. It was a wonderful birthday for her and she was convinced that her days would continue to be like these.