"A little to the left, Kitty," Marinette said. "Princess, this tree is heavy," Cat said. Mari giggled. From the angle she was standing at, it looked like the tree was talking. Only Cat's black tail stuck out.

"There!" she said. Cat stepped back, wiping the sweat from his brow. "Now, we just we to decorate it," she told him.

Mari and Cat were setting up the Christmas tree in the living room. "Decorate?" he said. "Don't worry, we can have a snack first."

Cat followed her into the kitchen. It was one of his favorite spots in the house. Not only did it hold yummy snacks, but they had shared so many laughs here.

"Wow! Its really starting to snow," Mari said, as she got out the milk. She took out a couple of plates and glasses. She handed Cat his plate with cookies and glass of milk. "I don't like the look of that snow, Princess. It has a eerie look to it."

Snack forgotten for the moment, Cat strode over to the window. It was one of the things she loved about him. He protected her and had a air of confidence around him. Not arrogant , like some boys were.

Cat touched a hand to the cold glass. Mari watched him, sitting on her stool. What was he thinking about?

"I think we should get things ready, in case the lights go out," he said. He tapped a message to Ladybug.

Cat: Big snowstorm on the way. Will text you if I need help.

Quickly, the two finished their snack. "Do have a picnic or regular big basket, Princess?" Cat asked. "I think there's one in the front closet," she said.

She rummaged around and pulled it out. "Great. Now, flashlights?" "Attached to the fridge."

Suddenly, Mari had a idea. "I'll make a pillow fort upstairs. We can go to bed early, and read stories," she told him. "Okay. I'll finish down here and meet you up there in a few minutes."

Mari gently shut herself in the bathroom. Tikki, her Kwami, floated above her. "Aren't you going to start the pillow fort, Marinette?" Tikki asked. "Yes, but I have to respond to Cat's message he sent in the kitchen. I don't want him to worry. Spots on!"

Ladybug felt a little better in her suit. She took a few deep breaths, calming herself then sent a message to Cat.

Ladybug: Sorry, I'm late to message!

Cat: Your never late in my heart, M'lady.

Ladybug: Aww, Kitty! Blushes

Cat: I might need you later on.

Ladybug: I'm always here if you need me.

They said there goodbyes, and Marinette detransformed. Humming to herself, she walked in with blankets and extra pillows.

She started grabbing chairs and pulling them into the middle of the room. She was just pulling the chaise over when Cat walked in. He jumped in to help.

"Listen to the wind!" Cat said. Mari listened. It was its own melody, but it wasn't one she liked. She slipped her hand into Cat's. "It's kind of scary, Kitty."

Cat put his arm around her, pulling her close. "Its alright, sweetheart." Cat rubbed her back until he heard her breathing become more normal.

Then they began to build the pillow fort.

"Looks good to me!" Cat said, a little while later. "It does look cozy," Mari said. "Hey, just in case we lose power, I'm going to quick shower," she said.

"Okay, I'll get some soup on."

"Oh, it smells wonderful!" Marinette said, as she walked back into her bedroom. "Hot tomato soup and grilled cheese," Cat told her.

"I didn't realize how hungry I was," Marinette said. They ate their food quickly, then crawled into the fort. Then the lights blinked out.

"Looks like,.." he looked at Marinette, trembling beside him. "Okay, get under the blanket," he said, gently. Mari did as she was told, and then Cat carefully crawled on top of her. "I promise, everything is all right,"

Those words were a ripple from another day. When he become Cat Blanc. He was the sweetest person, she knew. Had that really happened?

She rolled over, pressing her lips to his. They stayed locked like that for a long time.

"Even if the storm is scary, we don't have to worry," he said, stroking her long hair. Mari began to calm down. "Want me to tell you a story?" she nodded, and Cat began.

Mari concentrated on his soft, soothing voice. This was her voice of reason, when her mind went blank.

"I like the sound of your voice, Kitty," she said. She reached over and starting playing with his soft blond hair. Cat looked up at her. "And you have the voice of a angel," he told her.

"There must have been something in that soup," she teased. Her hand froze. "Wait! The angel! We didn't get to decorate the tree!"

"That's all right. Its in its stand, and I rather decorate when your Mom and Dad can be there too," Cat said. "I mean, they work so hard," he told her.

Mari nodded. Right now, her parents were at a chocolate convention. She missed them, but she was glad to have some time alone with Cat. The more time she spent with him, the deeper she fell for him.

She knew they were still the Bug and Cat team, but she could see Cat had feelings for as Marinette. After all, I keep rejecting him as Ladybug, she thought.

The right time would come for a reveal, so why was here a nagging feeling in her stomach? She shoved the thought into a mental drawer.

Curled up in Cat's arms, was the perfect place to be. He was really into tea and cookies, so Marinette had decided to get him a selection of teas, plus his very own tea pot.

There was one at one of the stores downtown, that looked just like a cat, down to a curled tail. She would bake some cookies too.

Her stomach grumbled, thinking of the sweet treats. Maybe when I'm a designer, I'll have a holiday line based around sweets, she thought.

Outside, the snow howled and scowled. But inside the Dupain-Cheng's, Cat and Mari cuddled up in their pillow fort.