Hey all! Another day, another one shot!

This is a wonderful one shot done by the brilliant CaulderPine (there's a link to his page on my profile ^.~). In all honesty, they've really helped me out with this one. I had no inspiration, and here they are, conjuring up this masterpiece in next to no time!

Thanks CP! =D

Without further ado, enjoy the fluff!

8: Peppermint.

Gabriel stood at the window with his hands clasped behind his back. His eyes scanned the courtyard of his mansion while his son's car pulled up in front. When the rear doors opened, he saw that his son wasn't alone. A dark haired young woman with pigtails stepped out, and carried a couple of bags full of boxes toward the mansion's front doors. "Nathalie," he heard the woman step forward to look out the window, "who is that with my son?"

"Marinette Dupain-Cheng, sir." Nathalie answered. "She's one of Adrien's classmates, and was the one that won your bowler hat design competition."

He scowled. "I do believe I said specifically that she was not to spend time around my son."

"Be that as it may, sir," Nathalie answered, "Adrien met her at the mall and invited her back to help him wrap gifts."

Scowling, he turned to look at Nathalie. "I do not trust that girl. She has already stolen the Grimoire once from my son, and encouraged him to disobey me on multiple occasions."

"I believe that assessment to be false, sir." Nathalie countered.

His brows met together as he glared at the woman. "What do you mean?" he asked. "She took responsibility for my son losing the book, and..."

"... and her record speaks for itself, sir." Nathalie pulled up Marinette's file on her tablet. "I have done my own research into the girl, and I have found that she is nothing like what Miss Rossi claims." She handed over the tablet to Gabriel. "From her school records she's an intelligent, kind, respectful, and helpful young woman." He read as she spoke. "She has designed for not only Jagged Stone, but also Clara Nightingale. She babysits for Nadja Chamack, assists every member of her class regardless of the problem, and is one of the few close friends your son has."

"That doesn't mean anything..." Gabriel countered.

Nathalie reached out, swiping twice. "Read this report."

His eyes roamed over the document before looking at her. "Is this assessment accurate?"

"I have spoken to her parents at length about their daughter, and the parents of her friends, which spans the entire class." Nathalie stated as a matter-of-fact. "Every one of them says the same thing. If you want help, you ask Marinette Dupain-Cheng. Even the young Tsurugi girl trusts her."

Rubbing at his chin, he handed back the tablet. "When they met at the mall, was it accidental or on purpose?"

"My suspicions tell me a little bit of both." Nathalie said with a small smile. "It's obvious that she is smitten with your son, but Adrien either doesn't realize, or she has yet to tell him."

Narrowing his eyes, he sighed. "I will meet with this young woman."

"I'm glad you could help with wrapping these gifts, Marinette. This would've taken me hours by myself." Adrien praised, noting the blush that caused her freckles to stand out on against her cheeks.

Marinette smiled. "It's nothing really, Adrien." She took a deep breath and let it out slowly as she spoke. "I just know that it's easier for two people to wrap a gift than just one."

"Hopefully, Nino will like what I got him."

Smiling, she nodded. "I know he's going to love these noise canceling headphones."

About that time he heard a knock on the door. "Come in." Adrien called out, expecting Nathalie to come in and let him know if Marinette could stay for dinner.

"Hello, young lady." The sound of Gabriel's voice caused Adrien to nearly leap to his feet while Marinette stood up, only to bow forward. "Adrien, I don't remember giving permission for you to have a young lady up in your room alone."

"We were just wrapping gifts for..." Adrien started to say, but Gabriel raised his hand, silencing his son.

"Did I give permission?" Gabriel asked.

"No, father." Adrien answered. "I asked Nathalie if it would be alright for Marinette to visit..."

"I'm sorry, Mr. Agreste, if I have broken a house rule." Marinette bowed forward. "I will leave immediately if that is what you wish."

"Please, father. I really wanted her help to wrap my gifts for my friends." Adrien countered.

Looking from one teenager to the other, he gave a huff. "I'm not comfortable with her being in your room, Adrien." He then noted the wrapping paper, tape, and scissors on the floor. "Perhaps it would be better if you finished wrapping your gifts in the dining room instead?"

"I... are you sure, father?" Adrien asked.

Gabriel closed his eyes, bowing his head. "Nathalie has given her permission, and I see nothing wrong with your activities together, but next time ask permission from me first."

Adrien smiled, nodding. "I-I will, father."

With that said, the teens picked up what they were doing and headed for the dining room.

More than an hour later, Gabriel was at his podium, working on a design when Nathalie entered with a pair of mugs of steaming liquid. Setting one of the mugs on a small table beside him, she took a sip from her own mug. "Miss Dupain-Cheng and Adrien are nearly done wrapping the gifts."

Gabriel nodded with a grunt of acknowledgment. He had just finished with a design concept when he tapped the stylus against his chin. "No. That just won't do." With a huff of frustration, he set down the stylus and picked up the mug. Blowing on the heated liquid, he took a sip, and was about to set the mug down when he stopped and looked at the contents. "What is this, Nathalie?"

"Hot cocoa." she answered.

Raising it up, he took a sniff. "There's a flavor that I..."

"Peppermint." Nathalie answered his unasked question before she took another sip. "Marinette made it for everyone and asked that I bring you a mug."

Looking at the mug, he blinked several times before taking another sip of the hot liquid. "It's..."

"Perfect?" Nathalie asked.

He didn't want to admit it, but he started nodding. "I can taste the chocolate and peppermint in perfect amounts." Looking back at Nathalie, he felt the warmth filling the space between his mouth and stomach. "I haven't tasted hot cocoa like this since..." tears started to well up in his eyes.

"Emilie?" she thought aloud.

Nodding, he took a deep breath and let it out. A smile started to spread his lips as he looked back at the coat design. "Peppermint..." he suddenly saw the colors of the coat differently in his mind. "It's perfect." Within seconds he had his stylus up, and was changing the colors until he looked at the final product. Looking at the cocoa, he shook his head. "I was wrong about this girl..."

"One last flap, and... done." Adrien said, smiling at Marinette. She suddenly broke out into a wide grin and started to giggle. "What?"

"You have tape in your hair..." she reached up and gingerly pulled the clear tape from one of his golden locks.

"Personally, I think you would look better with ribbons in your pigtails." Adrien countered.

Marinette giggled as he started to wrap a couple of red ribbons in her pigtails, and he found himself laughing as the door opened. When they didn't acknowledge the person at the door, the teens were startled by the clearing of the throat. "Young lady," the pair turned to look at Gabriel as he stood there with his mug, "how did you create this hot cocoa?"

"Oh, um... I asked Nathalie if I could use your kitchen, and just added a little cocoa powder, cream, sugar, a little vanilla extract, and a candy cane Adrien bought me." Marinette answered, feeling her anxiety spike. "I hope that was alright."

Looking from her to the mug, he walked over, setting the item on the table. "I haven't tasted hot chocolate that good in years, Miss Dupain-Cheng. Thank you."

Smiling at Gabriel, she nodded. "If you want, I can give you the recipe. My family makes it from scratch."

"I fear I could have our personal chef follow your recipe to the letter, and it still wouldn't taste nearly as good." He then looked at Adrien's mug. "Did you not like it, son?"

"No, father. We were just really busy wrapping the last of the gifts, so I decided to let it cool."

Gabriel nodded. "Understandable." He then looked at Marinette. "Will you be staying for dinner tonight?"

"I... hadn't planned on doing so, but if you wouldn't mind I would love to spend more time with Adrien." Marinette answered.

"Understood." Gabriel waved his hand. "Whatever you both decide is fine with me."

Returning to his office, he watched as Nathalie smiled at him. "Is she staying for dinner?"

Nodding at the question, Gabriel looked at the design on his podium tablet. "Whether she knew it or not, that girl has saved me hours of contemplation, trial and error, and looking through design concepts." Standing there, he turned to Nathalie. "Tell me more about Miss Dupain-Cheng."

Smiling, Nathalie pulled up the file on her tablet. 'All this for a little taste of peppermint…'

Take it easy!

Thank you for reading =^.^= and for the reviews, follows and faves.

Lady Rhi X