December 24th, gift number 24 :

Tikki, excited and impatient, grabbed an envelope between her little paws and handed it to Marinette who was still half asleep in her bed. -Open it, Marinette!

-Mmmh Tikki, since when are you the one of us who is most eager to open Chat Noir's gifts?

The Little Red Kwami had a little laugh that hid a deep embarrassment. Maybe she was really too impatient when it came to the feelings of her carriers, especially when those feelings were meant for their kitten.

Marinette screwed and then grabbed with joy the envelope that Tikki was holding for her. It was an iridescent red envelope, sealed with a black heart-shaped glitter sticker. Inside, there was a letter with which she was now familiar: Thick, off-white paper and black ink writing.

"My Lady, the woman whom my heart has chosen,

Will your heart be able to choose me too?

If I made this calendar a little bit special, it's to show you the sincerity of my feelings for you as well as to remind you of the exceptional person that you are, even if you doubt it far too often. It was also to give you a final message today. I have spun the words for this letter a thousand times in my head, and I see no alternative but to go straight to the point without going through four ways: Would you accept to be my girlfriend?

If you agree, Tikki will tell you the place and time you can join me tomorrow for a real first date.

If you refuse, know that I wouldn't blame you. If you don't feel the same way, and it's impossible for you to start a relationship with me, I would accept it, because I can't force you to love me, your feelings belong to you, and therefore the answer you give me will change nothing between us. I promise you.

You are my best friend, the best partner in the world, and what matters most to me is not to lose you, even if it means not being the one who has your love.

Your kitty forever whatever you decide. "

Marinette felt her thumb speed up and the words die in her throat as she tried to say something to her Kwami. Her hands were shaking, her eyes were wet, her mouth dry. In an almost imperceptible whisper, she blew the only word that invaded her mind and wished to cross her lips.

-Yes.

The voice of her carrier was full of emotion and weak, yet Tikki had heard her answer and could not help making gigantic loopings accompanied by cries of joy in front of the face of a Marinette upset, but happy.

The cheerful and almost exaggerated reaction of her Kwami ended up taking the young woman out of her emotions and she started laughing with the little ladybug who shared her life.

-I think you've got some things that only you know, to tell me for tomorrow, right ? asked Marinette, once her emotions had recovered.

-Chat Noir will be waiting for you at the top of the Eiffel at 9:00 pm. She exclaimed, holding all the euphoria she felt so happy, that finally the two heros were on the same wavelength, that of their destiny.


-So?

-You won, Plagg.

-And so what? Blow out the little Kwami cat with a smirk.

-I don't have the right to call you "Stinky Socks" anymore, Tikki grumbled.

-Right, and? Said Plagg with satisfaction.

-You are allowed to call me "Sugarcube" at any time without me complaining, resigned Tikki, compelled to acknowledge that she had lost her bet against her long-time companion.

She had bet that Marinette would declare herself to Adrien during this school year.

He had bet that she wouldn't do it and that her kitten would make Ladybug fall in love.

It was stupid, knowing that they were meant to be together, and that the most important thing to Tikki was that they ended up happy together.

But she could not resist the urge to shut up her arrogant companion's mouth. Usually, it was the Ladybug that caught their kitten, statistically she had every chance of silencing Plagg.

But these two carriers were so different from the others, so much more narrow-minded, so much more in love,...

They were carriers apart from those she had known until now and she should have known that, true to themselves, they would do things differently. That's what made them unique, they were different from other carriers.

Closer, more sincere, stronger.

-My carrier's meal won't last long, I must go home before he notices my absence. Good night, Sugarcube, says Plagg while giving her a wink.


Indeed, Christmas Eve's meal had proved to be expedient for Adrien. His father finalizing the final preparations for the release of Gabriel's "Outwear " collection, he had only stayed at the table for 15 minutes, the time to eat a piece of stuffed turkey and then he had returned to work as any normal day.

He was alone at the table when the dessert was served, regretting having let Plagg rest in his bedroom, he did not hesitate for a second. He went into the kitchen and asked if he could exchange his dessert for a cheese tray, a tray that he brought back to his room. At least he could share it with his little feline companion.

When he arrived in his room, Plagg had already returned from the little escapade that Adrien had no idea was even taking place. He was delighted to see Adrien return with wonderful Camemberts, but he was also saddened to see that the young man's meal had been even shorter than he imagined and that he seemed affected by this loneliness that weighed more and more on his shoulders.

-Think of tomorrow, kid, and don't worry about today or yesterday, said Plagg.

Yes, he was sarcastic, yes he could be contemptuous, especially when it came to feelings and romanticism. It wasn't really his thing about human love stories, it was more Tikki who was fascinated by emotional exchanges and who appreciated romantic rituals or carrier mating. All this: not for him!

But with that kitten, it was different. Plagg had a lot of esteem and affection for Adrien. He was aware that his life was an ocean of solitude, constraint, and sadness. And all he wanted was to see him happy, because he deserved to be loved, surrounded and to know happiness.

-What if she doesn't come, Plagg?

-She will come, I am sure.

-How can you be so sure? He answered. True to form, Adrien imagined himself the worst thinking that he would condemn himself to a life of rejection and loneliness where nothing would ever happen as he wished.

-Let's say it was a sweet Camembert who blew it in my ear... replied Plagg enigmatically.

Midnight rang a few moments later and Adrien had only one wish: to be far from this cold and empty house that did not inspire this happy festive period and to find Marinette, her Lady, the one who warmed his heart.

Knowing that Chat Noir could not afford to join Marinette, Adrien did the only thing he could do to indicate that he was thinking of her.

He called his transformation and opened his stick to let a screen appear and he sent a message to his partner:

*Merry Christmas,my Lady, I'm thinking of you.

Your kitty.*


Marinette celebrated Christmas Eve with her parents and her Nona Gina who was visiting Paris. Her spirit was at the party, which was going wonderfully, in joy and good humor.

But her heart was somewhere else, her heart was with Chat Noir and their first date scheduled for the next day. Without a doubt, she was eager to see him to give him all the secrets of her heart.

When midnight rang, Marinette kissed her family and sneaked away from her bedroom for a few moments.

Just time to slowly wake up Tikki and transform to leave a message to her partner. She was surprised to see that Chat Noir had gone ahead of her and had already left her a message to which she replied quickly:

Merry Christmas to you too, my kitty,

Your Lady.*

To be continued…


Ritoru Deito: I'm glad you like my piano scene and the way it ends. I am also very happy to see that day 23 and Adrien's romanticism please you. I had a lot of fun writing their little Marichat scene and it was hard not to send Chat Noir to the Eiffel Tower that night.. But he had to stick to the plan. He has other surprises in store. I hope you'll enjoy day 24 as well.

I can also tell you that, Unfortunately, we are now at the end of this calendar. You would have understood, the road will stop tomorrow, Christmas Day, but... I concocted a longer chapter for you. Indeed, it will make double of it and you will therefore have reading!