Marinette loved Christmas preparations - but apparently not everyone did. There were plenty of Akuma attacks these days, and almost always with a holiday theme.

She was sitting on a rooftop with Chat Noir. They had just defeated a particularly pathetic akuma of a guy who was burning Christmas decorations out of resentment for not having friends to celebrate with. It hadn't taken much of a fight, so there was some time left until they would transform back.
She wanted to use the chance to check if Chat Noir was doing better.
"It is sad to see so many people unhappy", she began.
"Well, this season is like a constant reminder of what one is missing", Chat Noir said.
"To people who are lonely", he added, a fraction too late.
She watched as he looked thoughtfully out across the Parisian rooftops.
"What about your Christmas?", she asked. "Are you ok? Do you have plans?"
He shrugged. "I will be home with my family. There might be.. dinner."
"I wish I could invite you to my place", Marinette blurted out. Then she immediately regretted what she said. There was no way Chat Noir could spend Christmas with Ladybug!
"I'm sorry", she added, "I shouldn't have said that."
"I wouldn't mind spending Christmas out here with you, Ladybug. But I have a feeling that you are looking forward to the holidays with your family and I would never want to keep you away from your loved ones."
"No..", she said quietly. "You wouldn't."
They sat in silence for a moment.
"It is just a couple of December nights. I'll be ok. And anyway, I might.." He paused, then jumped up.
"The secret identity makes things so complicated", he said, with uncharacteristic annoyance in his voice. "Do you ever struggle with that?"
Where did that come from?
"Sometimes", she answered honestly. "I don't like when I have to lie to cover my tracks."
"Exactly! The lies are worst. Usually I can handle keeping this from people. I know it is important. But there is this girl.. I... I was just thinking that I might drop by her place on Christmas Eve. I have gotten to know her a bit as Chat Noir - it is so nice to hang out with her. So uncomplicated. I think we are becoming good friends."
Oops, was he talking about her?
It gave Marinette a warm and happy feeling that he enjoyed her company so much.
"But see, I also know her outside the mask. So.. it feels like I am kind of cheating, or like I need to choose which side of me can be her friend..."
What? Had he just accidentally revealed to her that he knew Marinette outside the mask?
Or was there another girl that he visited and that she did not know about?
Marinette felt an unexpected pang of jealousy.
"Please be careful with what you're telling me about your civilian self", she reminded him, also getting up. "Even though I am happy to hear that you found a new friend, you should not tell me more about her."
Chat Noir looked caught, but then apparently decided that his need to talk was bigger than his worries about hiding their identities.
"It is easier for me to be with her when I am Chat Noir, you know. For logistical reasons", he said, "But what if we grow closer. I would not want to keep from her that I am in her life twice. And even if I tried - how am I supposed to act around her, do I pretend like I don't know things my other self knows…"
His ring beeped.
"Mhh", Marinette said, "And it could be very dangerous if word gets out to Hawkmoth that she is a close friend of Chat Noir. Maybe you should not expose someone to that risk. It would be safer to befriend her outside the mask."
Her earrings beeped.
"Time to take off soon", he said, cocking his head to the side. "Ladybug.. Would you be ok if there was.. someone else for me?"
Wait, what? Did Chat Noir like Marinette now? Was he considering dating her?
Oooh, no no no no no! Where did that come from?
Or was he talking about someone else?
Marinette reached out to take his hand.
"Chat", she tried to keep her voice calm, "Of course I would be ok with that. But please, please be careful with your heart! I don't want you to get hurt… again."
He visibly pulled himself together before giving her hand a little squeeze. "I know, and I did not ask because of this specific girl, I know she likes someone else."
Oh, good! He was right about that. She did like someone else! Well, assuming he was talking about her.
Shoot! He had said something else and she had missed it.
Chat gave her an adorably crooked smile. "But she made me realize that I am comparing everyone to you. I think I need to let go of that. Let go of you, in a way."
"That.. does.. sound reasonable", she managed to say. "And since we're having this conversation, Chat, I think you are already making the first step."
He sighed and bent forward to kiss her on the cheek.
"Maybe I am. Thank you, Ladybug", he whispered.
She watched him swing away, but remained on the roof a little longer.
Poor kitty. So lonely at home that he was thinking about visiting her on Christmas Eve.
She would put in some extra time to make his present even more special than she had planned. Hopefully it would cheer him up.

Then she remembered tonight's other piece of information.
Chat Noir may have told her that he knew Marinette well outside the mask.
That was dangerous information that she should not be thinking about. She should ignore it, forget about it quickly. Surely there were other girls that he was visiting at night and he had not been talking about her.
Though, what if he had?
Maybe he was a student at her school after all?
She remembered the kwamibuster incident with one of her teachers. Chat Noir had asked her if Francois Dupont was an elementary school, so she had concluded that he couldn't be one of her classmates…
Except.. if that had been a trick.
No no no no no no no nononono, enough, she had to stop thinking about this possibility!

o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o
No worries, Chat and Adrien will find a solution to the Marinette question. Next up: Tomorrow, the gift exchange is up :)