"Marinette, you have got to see this. I've got proof that elves are disappearing. I thought about what you said yesterday and you were right. I can't just jump in on speculation. I'm a reporter and I needed to investigate properly, get all the facts and not make assumptions, right?" Alya was talking a mile a minute and barely paused for breath before continuing. All Marinette could do was nod along. "So I went to Juleka's quarters, you know she's room-mates with Rose? Well I went, and Rose hasn't seen her since that day when I saw her on CCTV."

With a manic gleam in her eye, Alya clutched Marinette's arm. Marinette bit her lip thoughtfully.

"I don't know, Alya. It's still not really proof, is it. It's definitely suspicious but it's not enough."

Alya nodded vigorously and pointed her finger in Marinette's face.

"I thought you'd say that so I did some more digging. Juleka doesn't like to socialise much. I can't find any photos of her on Elfbook and her family are travelling so she doesn't have anyone. There's nowhere for her to go, so where is she?"

Marinette tugged on the ends of her pigtails in agitation.

"Argh, I don't know. It does sound bad but what can we even do?" she wondered. "I'm going to see Maman later today so I'll talk to her about it and see if she has any ideas but I've got Adrien to deal with right now. If you find anything else, let me know but for now..." she shrugged then pulled Alya into a swift hug. "I'll speak to you later."

Ten minutes after leaving Marinette came back into the wrapping room. On opening the door, she couldn't contain her gasp, her hand covering her mouth and her eyes wide as saucers and she took in the scene before her. A pile of haphazardly wrapped presents were stacked against one wall, the sight a garish patchwork of reds, greens, blues, purples and golds. Rolls of the paper were strewn across the floor and in the middle sat Adrien, tangles of ribbons tying his hands together and wrapped around his body. She turned her head to take in the rest of the room and noted with relief that everything else was as it should be. Most of the elves were minding their own business, too conscious of the counting down clock – quite literally, there was a large digital countdown as a constant reminder on the wall – that they hadn't even noticed the disaster taking place in front of them.

That was, except for one blonde elf who was flapping around Adrien, her perfectly manicured nails plucking uselessly at the strings binding him.

"Oh Adrinkins! What are we going to do? We don't want to get you in trouble. I'll untie you somehow."

Fists clenched by her sides, Marinette marched over to where the two were, her anger painted clearly on her face.

"Well if it isn't Marinette Dupain-Cheng," Chloe drawled, her eyes flicking disdainfully over her.

"Chloe," she growled, her brow furrowing further. "What are you doing here? I thought you were assigned to painting?"

Chloe flipped her freshly highlighted and styled ponytail over her shoulder, giving Adrien a simpering smile as she did so.

"I'm just here helping out my darling Adrikins, since he'd been left all alone on his very first day. Me and Adrien go way back. We are absolute bff's."

Marinette stared in disbelief then shook her head.

"And you call this helping?" she gestured lamely at Adrien's bound form. "What happened here?"

Deftly, she pulled a pair of tailors shears from a loop on her belt and make quick work of the bindings. He smiled sheepishly at her.

"I don't know how it happened. I did like you said and observed some of the other elves. Chloe helped me get started and I... wrapped..." he trailed off and cast a glance at the pile he had been working on. The smile dropped from his face. "Ah..." She sighed deeply, pinching the bridge of her nose.

"Okay, we can fix this. Chloe," she snapped, her voice authoritative and Chloe flinched, her face betraying her annoyance. "Go back to the painting room. I dare say your... expertise is sorely missed right now. We haven't got long," she looked pointedly at the countdown clock. "So you need to get back to work."

Muttering under her breath, Chloe begrudgingly went on her way, smiling and waving flirtatiously at Adrien before she slipped out the door.

"Adrien," he flinched as well, his mouth already shaping an apology before a slice of her hand cut him off.

"This is my fault. I shouldn't have left you alone. You weren't ready for it. But we need to fix this and fast so do exactly as I say."

And with that, Adrien was a star pupil, following her instructions to the letter – handing Marinette tape and paper as requested, placing a finger where needed so she could tie the perfect bow. In shockingly short time, his haphazard heap became a perfect stack of beautifully wrapped gifts.

"Wow, Marinette. You're amazing!" Adrien exclaimed. Marinette went pink at the praise.

"Oh, no, I-I really don't... There are loads of elves better at this than me. I'm nothing special."

Adrien shook his head.

"I think you are."

She looked away before the blush could get much worse. She could feel the heat coming off her face.

"It's time to show you the next department anyway. Let's go."

"Okay!" Adrien followed cheerfully behind. The rest of the morning went much more smoothly. Marinette showed Adrien the ropes and by the time the lunch bell rang he had the basic skills of wrapping, painting, cogs and clockwork (something Adrien particularly enjoyed - "it's just physics!") and the assembly line.

"After lunch I'll take you to design, textiles and then to the armoury," she told him as she moved towards the mess hall.

"Armoury?" Adrien asked, his brow puckered. "Like weapons? At the north pole? Is that... necessary?"

Marinette grabbed a sandwich and a drink and headed to a table. Adrien picked up a salad and followed behind.

"You'd be surprised. The whole naughty/nice list doesn't sit well with some people."

"That's a real thing?"

Marinette chuckled and wiped some breadcrumbs off her face with a napkin.

"No, of course not. No kid is just naughty. And no kid is completely nice. I think it's just one of those stories that keep kids in line before the big day. Like the Krampus."

Adrien swallowed.

Nobody wanted to get a visit from the Krampus.

Just as they were leaving the hall a booming voice called out.

"Marinette!"

It was her dad and he did not sound happy.