Chapter 12: Christmas

The next days were tiresome. Marinette slept much during daytime and was awake at night. Luckily it got better with every passing day so when Christmas rolled around, she felt quite normal again. It was just a bit unusual to be able to text Alya or her parents only in the evening or early in the morning. But it was not this bad, her days were rammed with many activities.

They got lessons in windsurfing, a popular sport during winter, because of perfect wave height, they got many sightseeing tours in Paia, a town known for its restaurants, boutiques and museums, and they went hiking very often.

Unfortunately it was pretty chilly the most of the time and they had no real opportunity to hit the beach yet, but their holiday had many time left to do so.

Gabriel stayed in the mansion more than often and when he accompanied them, he was a mere shadow in the background. Marinette found this very concerning.

But what she liked the best about their vacation were the mornings. They would sleep in and cuddle until they were hungry. The mornings were a bliss.

Adrien would often wake up before her and when she opened her eyes, she found him watching her, smiling at her. Or she found herself buried into his chest and he played with her hair. Then she would always sigh and smile, closing her eyes again for a few minutes.

Sometimes they would talk, making fun of their kwamis or discussing anything Hawkmoth concerning. It was unusual, There were no sightings of Akumas in Paris during the last week. And an attack got more likely each passing day and there were concerned how Bee and Renarde will do. Bee. Urgh, it was still weird knowing who was behind the mask.

But nonetheless, sometimes they were just laying there, bathing in each others presence. And Marinette had definitely no clue how she managed to live before they revealed. Had definitely no clue how she slept without him.

Tikki told her it was the soulmate-thing and Plagg sometimes just snickered as if that would be more to it. But everything Marinette just cared about right now was Adrien. He was the centre of her world, her everything. And sometimes she just wanted to grab him and just kiss him. But... there was still some fear.

Like their reveal, a kiss could change everything. And probably not for the better.

That's why she always hesitated, always drew back before something could happen. That's why she got a rant from Alya.

"Girl! Get a grip! You're worse than Nino and I!" she scolded her through the phone one evening.

Marinette groaned. "I'm scared Alya. You know when we had that big fight? What if that happens again?!"

She heard her best friend huff at the other end. "Mari, you're making this unnecessary complicated."

"I know... "Marinette murmured and watched the ocean in the distance. She stood on their balcony and Adrien was currently in the bathroom, scrubbing the salt from the beach out of his precious hair.

"I tell you, Mari, some kisses will change nothing between you two. You are already holding hands, cuddling, hell, you even sleep in the same bed! You're behaving like a sickenly sweet, normal, totally in-love couple. A kiss won't change anything."

Marinette flushed red at her comment and she knew Alya was right. But that did not change that she was scared.

"Will you promise me one thing, Marinette?" Alya asked and Marinette hummed. "The next time you have the feeling to kiss him, just do it. He won't be mad, I promise you that."

Sighing, Marinette hummed again and buried her face in her free hand. "You sure?"

"100 percent, Marinette."

Adrien used this moment to step out on the balcony and circled her from behind, burying his face in her neck. His cold, wet strands tickled her neck and face and she smiled. He was warm, she felt secure.

"Mari? You're still there?"

"Oh! Yes, sorry, Adrien came back. I'll text you later, okay? I want to get ready too before the dinner," she told her and looked back up.

"Yeah, sure, Merry Christmas, Marinette. And to Adrien too," Alya wished her and Marinette nodded.

"Thanks, Merry Christmas to you too."

They bid good-bye and Marinette hung up. "Have you already called your parents?! Adrien asked, his face still in her neck.

"Yeah," Marinette answered and put her arms above his on her waist, leaning back to snuggle against him. "They were quite busy with the bakery though, it's the 24th. I'll call tomorrow again."

"Sounds great," he stated and they stood there for a few minutes in silence. "What did Alya say?"

Marinette hummed, trying to recall their talk. "She kissed Nino under a mistletoe," she snickered and felt Adriens laugh against her back. "She was quite happy about it. Was about time, don't you think so? They are dating for two months now."

"They are painfully slow," Adrien smiled against her neck and she giggled too.

But then she remembered the upcoming dinner and she pried herself from his arms. "I have to get ready though, Gabriel's probably waiting."

Adrien sighed and nodded. Letting her go. She wished he did not.

Marinette hurried quickly into the bathroom, applied some make up and put her hair into a high bun. Then she quickly fished out her flashy dress and put flats on.

And when she stepped out of the luxurious bath, she got greeted by Adrien in a suit. Well, not yet a suit, but the sleek black trousers, shiny leather shoes and a fancy white button-down. He was busy knotting his tie.

First, her mouth got dry, and she eyed him and the light frown on his face. Then she smiled despite her blush and stepped closer.

:

He fiddled with the damn strick around his neck. How did they do this?! Around, over and... in? Urgh, why was this so damn complicated?!

But suddenly, two tender hands placed themselves over his, making him stop. Looking up, he got greeted with two gorgeous, blue eyes. Marinette. Had she applied make up? She looked more beautiful than ever before and it was not only her face. Her entire … being shone. Hair out of her usual pigtails into a bun on top of her head, loose strands curling around her ears and in her neck, hiding her Miraculous, but exposing her shoulders just right. Her bare shoulders. Even if they were on Maui for a week now, he had never seen her bare shoulders. They were either in the tight suit from the windsurfing or under some light jacket or dress.

Speaking of the dress... A sweat-heart neckline, A shiny, pastel pink, flowing gently around her form. Only a small ribbon in the middle of her décolleté, framed with lace. It was hard not to stare. Very hard. Especially with him being a teenager, madly in love with the woman in front of him. Very hard.

A light tug on his fingers brought him back to reality and his eyes snapped back up into her eyes. She had a similar blush on her cheeks like his own and he wished the ground would open and swallow him whole. Had she caught him stare into her cleavage?

"L... let me do this, will you?" she asked and he realized that her fingers still circled his at his neck.

"S... sure. Thanks," he murmured and slipped his fingers from under hers, staring anywhere but down, where it waited and practically laughed at him.

With quick motions she tied the knot around his neck and quickly drew it up to sit tight. And it made it definitely hard to breath and he resisted the urge to make it more loose. He will not destroy Marinettes work only because he had his hormones not under control.

"Thanks," he said again and stepped back, allowing himself a bit more space. "Y... you look great, Marinette."

"Thanks," she squeaked and the blush on her cheeks deepened.

This will be a very long night.

:

After they got ready, they went downstairs, being greeted by his father in the hall. He too was dressed in a grey suit and together the three left the house to visit a shiny restaurant in Paia. It was incredible how money could buy you everything on short notice.

The meal was not so... bountiful like it normally was. But because of local traditions the many meals and desserts got cut short. A five-course menu.

But nonetheless, he was full to the brim afterwards, the only time in year, Adrien was allowed to each as much as he was able to. And he used that to shovel everything inside his mouth he could get a grip on. With grace, naturally, but fierce.

After that, they got to a walk on the beach, shoes in hands. They would walk a while and then call the Gorilla to get them home. Gabriel first insisted on staying with them, but Marinette talked him out of it, telling him to take a rest.

Surprisingly, Gabriel nodded and left them alone.

So they began their walk, holding hands, enjoying the nightly breeze around their legs. Adrien had given her his jacket, because she seemed to be freezing. And neither could dismiss the utterly romantic scenery.

Many campfires were in the distance were Hawaiians celebrated Christmas with dances and food into the late night - but they avoided them.

"You know..." Marinette broke through their silence. "I always imagined being on something like this with you."

"Something like this?" he asked, guessing the answer. On a beach, at night, in fancy clothing? That might be the date-dream of every teenager.

"Yes," she whispered and came to a stop. He stepped around to face her. And his breath got caught in his lungs. The moon drew silvery patterns on her skin, few strands danced around her eyes, making them look like they were moving. The sound of the waves and the soft sand between his toes made him drowsy.

Was this a dream?

It might be one. But even if... he never wanted to wake up again.

"And I'm scared," she whispered, barely audible against the tide.

"Scared?" he frowned. Was he just able to repeat things? What was with his tongue?

"I'm scared it does not mean anything," she explained, her teeth worrying on her bottom lip. Her lips. They were quite interesting again, but he forced his gaze upwards.

Seemed to be a bad decision too, because there were her eyes and he felt like drowning in their blueish dark mess.

Forcing his brain to work, he analysed her words and frowned. "What does it mean to you?"

She blushed an adorable pink and her gaze flickered down to his chest. "More than you may like," she answered and he found it again impossible to breath.

Was this their conversation? Would he finally be able to tell her how much he loved her? Not only Ladybug, but also the great girl beneath. The kind girl, the girl who was so much more to him than Ladybug had ever been. The girl he was madly in love with. The girl he wanted to marry one day.

But then it dawned to him he had not said anything yet, so he gently slipped his fingers from hers and let his shoes carelessly fall into the sand. He put his palms up and circled her beautiful face carefully with them, tugging it back upwards.

"My Lady," he whispered and searched for the right words, but her eyes seemed to have erased them from his mind. There was only a blanc page, but he did not mind.

:

"My Lady," he whispered and she saw the love in his eyes. Not for the first time, but now, it was incredibly intense. It echoed in her heart, her very core, her soul.

Her breath hitched and remembered Alyas words from before. Just grab and kiss, right?

Not daring to breath, she carefully sneaked her hands up his chest, her shoes laying discarded somewhere else, she did not care about.

She reached the knot around his neck and hesitated.

And... maybe it really will not change anything. At least for the better.

Hesitantly, she stepped closer, her chest touching his and his hands fell to her hip. Breaking their locked gaze, hers flickered down to his lips. Soon she will finally know how they tasted. Maybe sweet from the ice cream with raspberry sauce from the dinner.

Back to his eyes, she again felt the love, but also nervousness. Her kitty was nervous. Maybe just as nervous as she was.

Grabbing the knot a bit tighter, she went up on her tiptoes and got closer. He still had a chance to draw back, but instead he seemed to be moving towards her too.

"I love you," he whispered and she closed the gap.

Instant tingles went down her lips into her spine, rocking up and down together with the Ladybugs in her stomach when his lips moved against hers, when he circled her waist to pull her closer. She barely registered wrapping her arms around his neck, burying her hands into his hair.

All that mattered was his lips against hers, raving, exploring, moving.

All the tension that had build up between them crashed down on them and Marinette felt like she needed more. Her knees were pudding, but she forced herself more up, more closer to him, to the man that held her heart.

And that was just not enough. Soon, they were clearly making out, exploring everything on the other. Their mouths, their bodies with wandering hands. His stomach. Oh she loved his stomach. Light bulbs were the muscles were hidden underneath his button-down.

When they broke apart because one of the few breaks of getting some air in their collapsing lungs, she barely had time to register everything got a bit intense and she was swept away again when he dove back to her, capturing her lips once more.

She groaned and cursed her self restraint. His lips were like opium, she wanted more. Everything ached, either in the pleasant or unpleasant way, but she did not care.

Unfortunately he did and broke away, only to lay his face, gasping for air, into her neck.

Every centimetre of her skin still tingled and she grabbed his shirt to steady herself.

"I love you," he whispered and placed a light kiss onto her exposed skin. "I love you so much Marinette." Another kiss.

"I love you too, Chaton, ever have, always will," she hummed and buried her face into his soft, messy hair.

She did not want to let go of him, he was her lifeline, her anchor. Tears of joy threatened to fall and she let them. She finally had said what she always wanted to say. And she knew, he felt the same relieve.

He glanced back up and circled her face once more, pressing a light kiss onto her lips. And another. "Should I call the Gorilla?" he asked before he stole one more kiss.

Marinette hummed in approval and dove in for another one. Why had she been scared again?

Settling on the skin on his neck while he talked, she was elated to find a light purr against her lips, a light vibration that got stronger every time he talked and decreased when he paused. She slightly wondered when the tie got undone, but did not care because that provided her with more skin.

And just when she sat in the car, next to a tousled Adrien, she realized what they just had done. What she just had thought.

She blushed and buried her face in her free hand, ignoring the soothing circles, Adrien rubbed into the back of her other hand. They might look like a mess right now. She knew Adrien did and guessed she was not any better.

Sighing, they finally trotted to their room, in close proximity, but in silence.

When they entered, Marinette quickly dashed to the bathroom, directly averting his gaze.

So she quickly washed herself and put on her most comfy pyjamas. She needed that now. "Tikki?" she asked for her kwami the first time after her kiss.

The little red kwami poked her head out from of her purse, nibbling on a cookie. "Let me guess, you're uncertain because of your kiss?"

"Am I this predictable?" Marinette asked and eyed her reflection in the mirror. "I'm just... I really want this to work, Tikki."

Out of the corner of her eyes, she saw Tikki flash her a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, just listen to them," she told her and zipped to the door, staying in mid-air in front of the wood.

Uncertain, Marinette stepped closer and pressed curious, with only mild doubt, her ear against the door.

"Why are you so worried?" she heard Plaggs dimmed snicker. "It's not like you didn't want this to happen."

"But..." it was Adriens voice, feeble, barely audible. Marinette had to hold her breath to understand the rest of his sentence. "... and she's so beautiful. Urgh, Plagg, I can't live without her and now she might be really mad."

It was easy to picture them, Adrien sitting on the bed, face buried in his hands and Plagg lounging on some clothing on the floor.

Her heart ached.

"Why should she be mad?" Plagg asked and she heard him huff. "She told you she loved you right? And she did not push you away, hell, she even initiated it. Don't worry too much, you'll get grey hair."

"But I don't want to change anything. We're so close right now and I had no intention in ruining it!" he groaned.

"I wonder how my Chat Noir will look with grey hair."

"Plagg!" Adrien scolded him and Marinette had to suppress a giggle. "You're really not helping!"

With a sigh, she realized that he had the same fears she had. But being together, kissing and doing things as a couple did not mean that everything has to change, right? Sure, some things will change, but it does not have to be something bad, right?

She used this moment to open the door and leaned against the open frame. "I'm sure you will look stunning," she snickered, referring to Plaggs tease.

Adrien, really having sat on the bed jostled and shot up, standing stiffly in front of her. "M- Marinette!"

"Don't worry, kitty, I..." she trailed off, unsure of what to say. Best to go with the flow, so she began to babble. "I love you, I really do. And I'm sorry that I have listened into your conversation- I know it might have been private, but I couldn't help myself. I was in there, freaking out because of what will happen right now, then I listened and you said the same I was fearing and I wondered that, maybe nothing mayor has to change, right? We can still cuddle, still doing things together. Okay, maybe I want a few things to change, because kissing you really is not too bad, and-"

She stopped because Adrien had stepped closer, back into her personal space. Man, she wished he could stay where he were.

Everything tingled in anticipation when he looked down to her a hopeful smile on his lips, pink tinted his cheeks. "I love you too," he breathed and put her hand in his, pulling it up to place a delicate kiss against her knuckle.

"Nothing has to change," Marinette repeated breathlessly. Her hand was practically burning, but she did not mind. As long as he never let her go.

"Nothing has to change," he chorused and leaned closer.

Damn, she closed the gap and pressed her lips onto his. Everything will change. They moved their lips, kissing, stealing the others breath. Barely registering what they did they were soon pressed against the other, arms circling their partner.

Kissing was a rush, a drug, something neither wanted to get sober from. So they continued exploring, continued where they had stopped on the beach and Marinette found herself addicted to him like before. He was her world, her everything. His damn hands were everywhere and she wanted more.

Eventually they landed on the bed and both knew it was time to stop, to sleep, because it was three in the morning and they had breakfast at seven, but neither found the willpower to stop. Unfortunately they settled on a silent consent in slowing down, merely lying next to the other and moving their lips sloppily against the others.

:

The next morning everything ached. Adriens eyes were sore and he felt his tummy uncomfortably screaming in protest. It was the same every Christmas morning. He had eaten too much and was now left with a churning stomach and tired mind.

But then he blinked his eyes open and was greeted with his lovely Ladys face and he remembered yesterdays evening. Quite giddily he pressed a button on his lit up screen which screaming at him to wake up, he scooted a bit closer to Marinette and hovered over her.

Placing a small kiss onto her soft, slightly parted lips, he retracted again, curious. His lips tingled, and he pulled them into a happy smile that faltered when she did not even stir.

Diving back he moved his against hers and nibbled a bit on her lower lip until he felt her move. He pulled back again only for her to sigh and fall back to sleep.

Openly frowning now, he wondered if he got punched if he licked her face? Shrugging and because he felt utterly mischievous with his new girlfriend, he stretched his tongue out and licked with one big stride once over her left cheek.

Now she was definitely awake. Squeaking and complaining she pushed him away and he rolled again to the side, laughing. Marinette sat up and, complaining some more, moved to get his slobber from her face. And he just lay there, laughing, feeling free.

"You damn cat!" she shouted and hit him with a pillow. Grabbing the weapon he smiled over its edge.

"You called, MyLady?"

"Why did you do this?!" she screeched and tried to pry the pillow from his grip, but he only giggled and rolled to his side, having the pillow in a firm grip. That caused her to fall over him, because neither wanted to let go of the fabric. But she lost her balance and toppled over the edge of the bed.

"Urgh!" she groaned and he watched her from above, trying to scramble out of the blanket that wound its way around her torso and legs.

He still had the pillow and rolled ontop of it, with his stomach down.

Marinette finally got free and sat on the floor, an exasperated expression on her face, watching him, waiting for an explanation. "Well?"

"Merry Christmas, my Love," he smiled and instantly her bad mood vanished. Flushing red, she averted her gaze. "W... well, merry Christmas to you too, Chaton," she murmured and got to her feet.

"What are you doing?" he asked and followed her with his gaze, not willing to move quite yet.

"Getting your present, what else?" she answered and he was shocked. She had thought of giving him a present?

Well, he had one too, a silver hair-piece, a fine comb with a lily and a Ladybug made out of ruby and he knew she will like it, but he will get a present too? He had found the comb in a small jeweller across from town, because he did not want her to know it by chance. It had not been cheap, but he wanted it to be special. It was their first Christmas, his first present to his Lady and... hell, she was his Lady, she deserved the world!

Somehow, she instantly came back, having it just stored in the night stand. He should have looked into the night stand.

"No, you don't want to look in there," she murmured and eyed the drawer suspiciously. He had not intended in saying that out loud, but now he was curious.

"What else is in there?" he asked and scooted over, reaching for the knob, but got effectively blocked by Marinettes leg.

"Are you certain?" she asked, fiddling with the paper from his present. "Your father has a weird sense of humor. But he's a parent, so it might be... Are you sure?"

He was shortly distracted by the present, but when she mentioned his father, he got curious again. "My father? What is in the drawer?"

Reluctantly she stepped back and he quickly pulled the knob to reveal... a box full of condoms. Quickly drawing it shut, he noticed he flushed red. And it did definitely not help that they were somehow together now and sex was an option in the future.

"Uuh," he murmured and looked everywhere but her. Where had they been before? He needed a distraction. Right! Presents. "Um, well, I'll get your present too," he murmured and quickly stood up to hurry into the second room, roaming through his suitcases in search for the velvet box. When he got back, both had calmed down some bit and exchanged awkwardly their presents.

Due to she had only to pull off a bow and open the box, he heard her gasp when he was still busy in ripping off the wrapping. He felt her joy, she felt touched and a bit incredulous. Just when he got of a glimpse of a white box, he felt her eyes on him and he looked up.

Shocked he watched her graze the edges of the comb lightly, a fond smile playing on her lips. "Thanks, Adrien," she smiled and looked up, tears in her eyes.

"W... What's wrong, Marinette? Don't... don't cry. What's wrong?" he asked. Dismissing his present on the bed, he stepped closer and put his hands on her upper arms to steady her, to show her he was there. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing is wrong," she smiled up at him with watery eyes and pressed the box to her chest. "Thank you so much, Minou, I can't thank you enough."

Okay, he was confused.

"Huh? Wha...?" he made, not quite knowing what to ask her.

"This... this comb. I know it. It belonged to my mother once," she explained and leaned her forehead against his collarbone. "There are many photos, she valued it so much because it was a family heirloom. But she had to sell it when I was small, because the bakery had financial problems. When I was a child, I always dreamed of wearing it to my wedding and giving it to my daughter one day. I was crushed when she told me she sold it," she sniffed. "And you bought it back."

She was openly crying right now, but he knew it was because she was relieved, happy. And he wondered if it was destiny he found the comb she valued so much as a child. Smiling, he put his arms around her shoulders and held her tight.

"I love you so much," she sniffed and buried herself further into his neck.

"I love you too, MyLady," he smiled.

:

She had made him a typically american Christmas-jumper, thought he might enjoy it. The best was the pun on top: Have a punderful Purristmas. He absolutely adored his jumper and wore it the whole day.

What... surprised Adrien afterwards was his father. He had prepared presents for both of them too. Naturally, Marinette had one for him too, and he felt slightly dumb, receiving one from him, but not having one for him too. Even when the present consisted of the yearly pen with his name engraved on top.

But Marinettes present was... stunning. First, he was suspicious, it was a normal, boring letter. But then, she opened it and he noticed again her pure shock.

"What is it?" he asked and stepped behind the girl with the eyes wide like saucers to read the ominous letter.

"Dear Mademoiselle Marinette Dupain-Cheng, blah blah good work, blah blah, Are we offering you with this letter an official internship at Agreste-Design..."

"Woah," he marvelled, wondering how long his father had planned this. An internship in one of the worlds biggest fashion companies? A gigantic chance for her. And a personal invitation from Gabriel Agreste? Hell, this can open many doors.

"Thank... thank you so much, Gabriel," Marinette hushed and pressed the letter to her chest, looking up at his father, "I'm really looking forward to it."

Gabriel nodded and smiled. "I hope you can get some valuable experience out of this chance. You'll get to know the company and how everyone works," he explained. Then he explained some more about how Marinette will get paired with several of his head designers and so on, but Adrien tuned him out.

It was obvious, Gabriel had some ulterior motives, but Adrien, having still the box from this morning in mind, dismissed it to him thinking she will take over the business one day. And Andrien had no intention in doing anything against that.

Gabriel always tried to make him interested in designing or running a company. Sure, he had the digits in the bag, but designing and stuff... it was not his world. He even had no intention in taking over the business, so when Marinette wanted to... he will not object.

:

Gabriel felt better this morning. He had properly eaten the last two days, had slept until midday and felt just... better. So he went through his morning routine and went downstairs, being greeted by Marinette on the stairs.

"Good morning, Gabriel, we missed you during breakfast," she smiled up at him and he saw she meant to say that she was glad he did not took care of his sleeping schedule.

"I am sorry, I might have overslept a little," he smiled back and nodded towards the kitchen. "I think I will take care of some breakfast at least. I hope the chief can prepare something fast."

"I'm sure he will," Marinette laughed and they headed downstairs.

"Where are you going?" Gabriel asked, eyeing the satchel Marinette wore over her shoulder.

"Oh, Windsurfing. They postponed the lesson due to an accident Jack had," she explained. "And after, Adrien and I want to have some fun on the beach. It's finally a nice, sunny day. You can join us if you like."

Thinking it over, Gabriel thought it might be a great idea, it would definitely be a better option than hanging in his dark room, mulling over conditions he had no control over. "I'll think of it. Have fun during your lesson."

Marinette smiled up at him and skipped out of the door.

Take a rest, Gabriel.

Yes, breakfast and sleeping sounded nice.

So Gabriel ate his breakfast in silence, alone at the dining table and headed back upstairs again into the darkness and confined space of his room.

Flicking on the lamp on his desk, he pulled out some papers and began to draw. Drawing always eased his mind and helped him focus. After an hour something, he decided that it might be time to join Marinette and Adrien on the beach.

Sighing, he roamed through his bags to find something comfortable enough and settled on a short-sleeved shirt and grey trousers.

Then he went down to the mansions secluded part of the beach. The sun shone warmly onto his skin and he sighed in a bliss. This vacation surely had been a great idea.

Soon he got sight of his son, jumping giddily with his feet in some waves, dashing forward and back with every wave. Marinette stood to the sides, already halfway in the water, laughing at Adriens antics. There was a blanket a few metres away from them, holding snacks and two bags.

Smiling, Gabriel went to the blanket and sat down, watching his son play in the water with his girlfriend. They had yet to notice him, but he did not care. He was quite curious anyway, how his son would react with him sitting on this blanket like nothing was out of the ordinary.

So he sat there and... observed. Marinette had came closer to his son, only her calves were surrounded by water by now, idly smiling at Adrien. And then Adrien did something that surprised the silent observer and the girl of his affections, by dismissing his play and stepping over to her, placing his hands on her cheek and kissing her.

Interesting. He had never seen them doing something this affectionate.

:

After a few minutes they noticed him and Marinette came back to koin him on the blanket, not in the mood for the water right now. Adrien, having no one to play with joined them soon after and rested on his back with his arms behind his head next to Marinette, lightly drifting off into a nap.

Gabriel wanted to scold him, it was nothing you did when you were with someone and you would not be able to sleep in the night later. But Marinette stopped him, effectively distracting him by talking to him, gushing over her internship in the summer.

Then he noticed them.

Black studs.

He knew those studs. They were idly shimmering in a red glow, mocking him, laughing at him. You can't get us, we're out of your reach.

And Marinette wore them.

They were shimmering in her earlobes. Had she always worn them?

"Hey, Marinette," he asked suddenly, never letting the studs out of his eyes. His hand drew subconsciously to her very ear. "Where did you get your earrings from?"

Marinette tensed, drawing her hand protectively to her ear, leaning away from him.

"They were... a present," she answered hesitantly. Interesting. Marinette never was hesitant.

"From who?"

"A friend," Marinette answered, barely a whisper. Then she set back to their previous topic, Adrien still lightly snoring next to them, but all Gabriel heard were his own thoughts. And they were in a loop, consisting out of 'Ladybug'.

He had been so dumb. They were always, always within his reach. He just had to TAKE them and Amelie would be back. The earrings on a girl next to him, he loved like a daughter and the ring, idly shining on the finger of his real son.

It was as if destiny was mocking him.

First his son and now Marinette? Why had he not seen it? Ladybugs Miraculous on sweet and innocent Marinette.

Who dared to rip his family apart like this?

Adrien.

No.

Yes. He has the ring. He brought Marinette to danger. He is just. Like. Her. Emotional. Unstable. He has the ring. Who else could be at fault?

Not him.

Who else could be at fault? You did everything you were able to to protect him and Amelie. You could not protect her, but it was his own CHOICE to take the ring. And now he endangered the innocent Marinette.

You know, we are right, Gabriel.

Gabriel did not really notice how he went back to the mansion or how he went back to his room.

It was only when dinner rolled around that he left the still dimly lit room of his and descended the stairs to the dining hall.

He met his son in the hall and ignored his useless babbling. It was just that Adrien seemed to be laughing at him or his useless antics the last two years. I was right in front of you and you never guessed. Hah. Useless sycophant.

He snapped.

Uuuuh, it's getting angsty :D You have no clue how long I'm waiting for this scene to happen! And no, I mean not the kiss ;) Even though, I hope you liked how I put this... I noticed it's getting harder to wove it into a story the longer I am delaying... I did not really think this through...

I read French eat extremely many things on Christmas, especially desserts. Hope I put that right.

And now a short message to FOREVERaFANGIRLofFICTION (Because you disabled the messaging feature ;): Thank you so much! Your infos really helped, I had to rely mostly on internet sources and everyone knows they are somehow... over-exaggerating on touristic spots xD

However, hope you had a great week and a merry weekend so far :D