Chapter Twenty-Six: Boxing Day.

Adrien wants to prolong the festive celebrations the day after Christmas.

Thursday 26th December 2019. 11.30 a.m. Tom and Sabine Boulangerie-Pâtisserie.

Tom and Sabine smiled indulgently at Marinette as she clumsily helped her father knead the dough for the afternoon bread. She had volunteered to give them a hand in the bakery this morning, but they all knew it wasn't because she felt like doing some baking. Nope. Adrien had permission to come and visit once his morning lessons were over and she was eagerly waiting for his arrival while she tried her best to help her father with the dough.

After the fifth time she misshaped the loaf and had to start again, Marinette reluctantly conceded that she wasn't really helping out and accepted her father's suggestion that she tidy up the back room instead. Since it pretty much involved putting cake tins and baking trays back on the shelves it was the better option.

Luckily for her, the doorbell rang just after she had washed the dough off her hands.

"Adrien!" Marinette raced to the side door and flung it open to catch him in a hug. Or at least that was what she had intended to do. She hadn't expected him to be carrying a fairly large box in his arms. She was lucky that they were both secret superheroes otherwise she wouldn't have been able to dodge the box, and he wouldn't have been able to free up an arm to catch her. "Whoa!"

Adrien laughed. "I missed you too, Princess."

Marinette blushed. Partly because of her own exuberance and party because she could hear her parents cooing over them in the bakery. That pet name would given them teasing ammunition for a while. She was also a little embarrassed that she almost flattened whatever it was that Adrien had with him.

"Sorry. I hope there's nothing broken in there thanks to my clumsiness."

"Breakable, yes. Broken, no," he winked down and her and she stuck her tongue out at him. Silly kitty. "I figured I'd share another tradition of mine with you, if that's okay?"

Marinette remembered sharing Midnight Mass with him, and hearing how important that tradition was to him because it was one of the last links he had to him mother, and she was floored that he wanted to share more with her. It wasn't in her to deny him anything, but there was no chance she would refuse him when it was something that he cherished so much.

"Of course!" she leaned up and brushed a quick kiss across his cheek then stepped back to allow him into the bakery at last. Gorilla followed him inside, greeting her with a smile. She returned it and giggled when she saw he was wearing his Christmas tie from last year, and the Christmas scarf Adrien had bought him this year. She knocked on the door to the bakery. "Mama, baba, are you coming up yet?"

Whenever they could get away with it, especially around birthdays, Christmas, and Easter, Tom and Sabine would either open the bakery for a half day only or ask their staff to cover for them. It gave them the most time together as a family they could have while having to keep the bakery open. Today was one of those days. Hélène had arrived ten minutes ago to take over the baking from Tom and Colette would be here soon to take over the decorating and the counters from Sabine.

Marinette watch her parents look at each other and have a silent conversation before her father nodded at them. "I think we can get away now," Tom said, dusting his hands off and leaving things with Hélène. Sabine was dealing with a customer but by the time she finished sering Colette would be here. He quickly washed and dried his hands before joining them by the stairs. "Your mama will be out in a minute when she's finished at the counter. Don't worry Adrien-" he winked "-we won't interfere with the tradition you two are sharing."

Marinette blushed even as she giggled at how excited her father was, but she was surprised by Adrien's answer.

"Actually, sir, it's for you and Mme. Cheng too, if you want?" he smiled and held the box a little higher. "It's Boxing Day."

Marinette frowned. She didn't know what that was but it stirred a faint memory in her mind. She'd heard it before but just couldn't recall where from, and judging by the confusing on her father's face he didn't know what it was either.

It didn't phase Adrien though. "My maman started it years ago. The way she explained it was that, years ago, people would give out boxes of food and gifts to those people who had to work over Christmas. We used to box up some of our presents, and any leftover treats from Christmas Day, and share them with my father since he couldn't always get out of working on Christmas Day."

Marinette wasn't surprised at all to hear that Gabriel had worked on Christmas Day even before his wife's disappearance. She might admire his work but her opinion of him as a person had taken a nosedive when she met Adrien and it was still in free fall now. She did her best to keep her opinions from showing and she was pretty sure that both her father and M. Guerin were doing the same. So would her mother if she heard this.

She saw a small blush appear on his face. "There's, uh, actually half of the bûche de Noël we got from you in here too. I know it seems a little awkward giving you back half of your own cake, but maman always insisted that the cake was the first thing that goes in the box."

"It was the best way to stop young Adrien from eating the lot," Gorilla added in a loud whisper.

It was the perfect ice-breaker and Tom laughed aloud while Adrien's blush deepened and all though of Gabriel was banished. Adrien mock-glared up at his bodyguard who just smiled back.

Tom wrapped an arm around Adrien's shoulder and gave him a small squeeze. "Thank you for sharing such a precious tradition with us."

"Yes indeed," Sabine added as she joined them in the hallway. "We're very glad to have you here. Shall I put on some tea and coffee to go with the cake? Christophe? What about you?"

Adrien was perhaps never going to get used to hearing his bodyguard called by his real name. Not many people he knew cared enough about him to address him properly - even Nathalie who had known him as long as he had protected Adrien usually referred to him as 'your bodyguard' in conversation.

Christophe smiled but shook his head. "Thank you, Mme. Cheng, but no. Another time perhaps? M. Agreste wants me to escort Adrien to his friend's home and ensure he will be safe before returning to the mansion." He gave Adrien a small pat on the shoulder and nodded his goodbyes. "I'll collect you when you call for me."

Adrien knew he would. "Thanks. Merry Christmas."

Adrien watched Christophe shake hands with both Tom and Sabine as he left. Sabine secured the door behind him while Tom shooed them upstairs, taking the box from Adrien. Marinette immediately caught his hand in hers and tugged him upstairs with her. Adrien let himself be pulled into their home, smiling happily as he went. This was the best part of Christmas right here, spending time with his wonderful girlfriend.

Sabine disappeared into the kitchen to make the drinks as soon as they walked into their home and Tom took the box to the coffee table. Marinette helped him take his coat and scarf off, and helpfully shield Plagg from view as Adrien transferred him from his heavy winter coat to the special hidden inner pocket that Marinette had sewn into Chat Noir's Christmas jumper.

He had worn it specifically for that reason, but he was very glad of his decision when he saw the happiness in Marinette's eyes. Tom burst into peals of laughter when he saw Adrien's jumper, and took off his apron to reveal his own punny jumper. Get B-ready To Celeb-bake. He was surprised when Tom pulled him in and insisted Marinette take a photo, which she happily did as her mother egged them on from the kitchen shouting out silly poses. It was honestly the most fun he'd ever had at a photo shoot.

Their fun ended when Sabine joined them with a large tea tray filled with plates and forks for the cakes, mugs, a pot of tea, and a pot of coffee. She served poured a mug of tea for herself and a coffee for her husband while he started unpacking the box for them all, leaving Adrien and Marinette to help themselves.

Adrien felt a little embarrassed when the first thing Tom took out was the bûche de Noël. He hadn't even thought about it when he had packed the cake up yesterday. He was so used to doing that with his mother. IT was only on the drive over to the bakery today that he realised what he had done and worried if it would offend them. That was the last thing he wanted.

He was very glad to see Tom smile at him. "It's probably a good thing you gave us this, we were so busy yesterday we forgot to keep one back for ourselves!"

Adrien damn near melted in relief. That was the best outcome he could have hoped for. Marinette giggled at him and leaned against him, resting her head on his shoulder, and a wry chuckle escaped him too. It was her luck at work. Tom started slicing the cake and serving it while Sabine took over unpacking the box.

She pulled out a box of candles that he had picked up from the Christmas market and gasped in delight. "Oh these are lovely! I'll light these tonight!"

Marinette giggled next to him. "There's no way mama is letting anyone else have them," she murmured into his ear. "It's a good thing you added some to my Christmas present."

He remembered how delighted she had looked over facetime and smiled back at her.

There wasn't much else in the box since he didn't know Tom and Sabine well enough yet to guess their likes and dislikes but he'd done his best and they did seem to like everything. Tom lit up when the box of deluxe chocolates was revealed and cradled them to him possessively while Marinette laughed at her sweet-tooth father. They all cooed over the tea, coffee, and hot chocolate sampler pack, and Tom and Sabine were very impressed with the bottle of wine that Adrien had asked Christophe to buy to add to the box. He had even wrapped everything up in Christmas print fabric which Marinette collected gleefully and which earned him a kiss on the cheek.

Sabine queued up a Christmas film for them to watch but no sooner had they finished their tea and cake than a buzzer sounded near the door.

Tom sighed, resigned. "Enjoy the film you two, we'll be back as soon as we can."

"Don't worry, my dears," Sabine stood up with her husband, and hugged both children. "Hélène and Colette know that should only press that buzzer in an emergency. We should have this sorted out soon."

Adrien wasn't surprised when, as soon as the door shut, both Plagg and Tikki flew out of their hiding places. They twirled with each other in happiness before splitting up. Plagg went straight to Marinette and headbutted her cheek, purring and nuzzling up a storm.

"Thanks Miss Spots. It was a purr-fect present."

Tikki nuzzled up to Adrien's cheek in much the same way, and he could help but giggle at her tiny tickling kiss. "Thank you for my gift too. They were yummy!"

Plagg had received a bean-bag that was just the right size for him and shaped like a wheel of camembert. He had declared it to be the height of luxury and immensely fashionable and wouldn't shut up about it for the whole of their call yesterday. The two cats had chosen the largest box of the sweetest chocolates they could find for Tikki and she had been in raptures over facetime after opening them.

Marinette chuckled before leaning up and kissing Adrien's other cheek. "I loved my gift too, kitten."

Adrein wasn't letting her go without a real kiss and the melted against each other with a happy sigh. Tikki cooed at them and Plagg, mercifully, stayed quiet. For a few minutes at least. Then he started making gagging noises even as Tikki tackled him to shut him up.

He kissed her nose when he pulled away, deliberately ignoring the squabbling kwami. "I bet I loved mine more. I can't wait to walk around in official Jagged Stone merch than my amazing girlfriend designed. Oh, and thanks for helping make that candle wreath. Gorilla loved it!"

"Anything for you kitten."

Adrien wrapped an arm around her shoulders and settled back down to watch the film and enjoy his day. It was guaranteed to be a good one.

Author's notes. Reminder, I have still not seen all of season 2 and none of season 3. Please check my author's profile for a list of the episodes I have seen.

Only a short chapter today. One of the sproglet's gifts from the hubby and I was an exhausting but fun day out to an inflatable theme park. I can guarantee that as soon as the sproglet is asleep tonight the hubby and I will be off to bed too. Good times. Luckily I didn't hurt my wrist again. The only injury was to my pride because damn I thought I was in better shape than that. I wrote most of this on my phone on the car trip home so apologies for any typos, I'll get around to fixing them when I'm not as exhausted. Enjoy this short but sweet fluffy chapter.

I've used the name Christophe Guerin a few times so far in this story when Tom and Sabine are talking to Gorilla. It's a nod to my other fic Heroes Need Protecting Too, in which I gave Gorilla that name. It felt a bit weird to be calling him Gorilla all the time when that fic is from his POV, and the name just grew on me ever since. Sorry if it confused anyone.

Before I left academia when the sproglet came along I was a historian. Fun fact, the origins of Boxing Day being traced to a box of gifts given to servants and those who had to work on Christmas goes way back to the 1600s. Perhaps even earlier but that is the earliest recorded instance of it that I could find. I had Marinette and Tom be confused here because I've been told that it isn't a common thing in non-English speaking countries. I headcanon the Adrien's mother (and Gorilla too for that matter) loved Christmas so much that she adopted every tradition she could find.

And, final note, having seen the Collector I now know that kwamis cannot be seen or heard on cameras however I love the idea of Plagg and Tikki talking to each other and with Adrien and Marinette on the phone and so I am waving the magic fanfiction wand and saying it is possible for reasons. Done.

Replies to reviews.

Guest - thank you, this is one of the sweetest reviews ever. I'm really pleased that you like it. I wanted nothing but fluff for this Christmas story so I won't be going into any "other" stuff as you say. Hopefully the New Years chapter will go out on New Year's Eve, and that will be the last chapter. 31 in total.

Fire - that's so nice of you to say, but please don't die from the cute. Or at least try to revive yourself before the rest of the cute gets posted.

ELinkA - I love that hashtag! Everyone join it!

yellow14 - glad you liked it. Purrhaps you need a memory quilt too?