So I think the last chapter was received quite well? This one is setting somewhere in the time frame of "The Vast Divide" and is a little shorter than usual. Hopefully you enjoy it.

Take it easy!

11: Secret Santa Shopping

After the year she'd had, Marinette wondered what Christmas was going to be like. The fact that she was not bending over backwards to make everyone else presents however, certainly freed up her time and allowance so she could spoil herself. The shopping trip with Chloé was going really well, and they had already made the majority of purchases they needed.

Hot chocolates and mint candy canes included.

Now all that was left was for Chloé to get the gift for her secret santa present. A present she was surprisingly looking forward to buying.

She had dragged them into every shop on this level and the one below, but Marinette found that Chloé had not really been looking. Most of the time she had been asking Marinette what she thought of the different items on sale, becoming more and more frustrated every time Marinette replied with a shrug:

"Oh~ I don't know Chlo, you're the one buying the present, I don't even know who it's for."

The eye roll and deadpan head tilt became more and more emphasised each time it was used as a response. Chloé was more frustrated than anything, with the twenty euro spending limit: it was not enough for what she wanted to spend on her recipient. Therefore, Marinette's unwillingness to cooperate in picking out her own present was just adding to her annoyance.

Throwing her head back and pinching the bridge of her nose, the blonde let out a frustrated "gah!" Causing Marinette to look at her with concealed amusement behind raised eyebrows. "Are you really as oblivious as Model Citizen, or are you just trying to wind me up!?" Chloé finished by relaxing the tension out of her shoulders and turning herself, to face away from Marinette in a strop.

Marinette would not mention the pun, as she knew Chloé was not a fan of them and probably had not meant it. The amusement was no longer concealed however, as Marinette hid her small chuckle behind her recently painted nails while the corners of her eyes crinkled.

Now Marinette understood.

Aiming her pointed blue at Chloé's contrary stance, Marinette had a slight tone of feigned disapproval in her voice. "The recipient isn't supposed to pick their own present Chlo-"

"And the twenty euros isn't enough for me to show you how much I love you! So be quick so I can get you a Boxing Day surprise to mat-"

Chloé was cut off from her indignant demands of the bluenette by the bluenette's arms wrapping around her unexpecting form. With the tops of her arms being squished against her sides, and the danger of her clothes becoming creased, she tried to shimmie out of Marinette's tight hold.

Marinette was not letting her go.

"Nette~!" She groaned childishly, as she struggled against the embrace, "let go of me, you're going-"

"Love you too Chlo." Marinette said quietly as she gave Chloé one last squeeze before letting her go.

Chloé pulled her clothes back into place while hiding her smile behind a glare. "I never said that-"

"Yes you did."

"Did not!"

"Whatever you say~" Marinette sang teasingly, while examining a silk flower in between her thumb and forefinger.

Chloé pursed her lips and crossed her arms, "fine. You are my best friend Nette, and I love you." Chloé poked her tongue out childishly, "happy?"

"Yes," the bluenette picked up another silk flower and intertwined the stems, "I want these please?"

Chloé looked befuddled at Marinette's choice. "What on earth do you want those for?" Examining the yellow and pink roses, she put her hands on her hips, "they aren't even real."

"Which means they won't die."

Chloé raised a sceptical brow, so Marinette continued:

"Like our friendship," Marinette smiled, "we have been enemies and now we are the best of friends, a pink rose is for sweet, and yellow is for friendship."

Chloé nodded in understanding and smiled kindly at the sentimental aspect of the simple items, "so they represent us."

"That they do."

Marinette bopped Chloé on the nose with the combined flowers and placed them in her hand, "I want nothing more from you than friendship Chlo."

"I know Nette," Chloé smiled at the symbol in her hand, "and that's all I want from you." Chloé wrapped Marinette in a hug before pulling away and giving her a smirk, "I'm still getting you a surprise for Boxing Day when I come round for dinner."

Marinette smiled smugly as they made their way to the till, "yours is already wrapped."