T'was the night after Christmas

when in the North Pole

The elves were all sleeping;

work had taken it's toll.

All the stockings were empty

The gifts all unwrapped

The dinners were eaten

The grandpas had napped.

The reindeer were nestled

all snug in their beds

while visions of carrots

danced in their heads.

But up on the rooftop

Under one shining star

was a raven haired hero

and her partner, Chat Noir.

Since returning to the compound with the missing elves in the small hours of Christmas eve there had been no time for rest. After all the toys had been finished, wrapped and the deliveries had finally been made, and after Adrien and Marinette had slept away most of Christmas day, the Dupain-Cheng's sat down to Christmas dinner, and that, of course, included Adrien.

"After everything you've done for us – for Christmas!- I consider you a part of the family, son. I insist you join us."

So with tears pricking behind his eyes, Adrien joined them for the family meal.

Which brings us to now, up on the roof, snow glowing softly under the light of the moon being the only illumination Marinette and Adrien needed to see by.

As if by a silent agreement they found each other here in the most unlikely of places. But then, it was Christmas, a time for magic, mystery, miracles and overlooking plot holes.

Marinette was there already when Adrien arrived. She turned her head to smile at him as he approached wearing the ugliest Christmas jumper she had ever seen. A cat in a Santa hat covered most of the front and as he sat she saw an actual tail swing behind him.

"Miaow-ry Christmas?" she giggled, cheeks flushed from the cold. Adrien tried to act offended but couldn't.

"I think you'll find that cats are very much the in thing this year," he quipped, smiling along with her. The last few days had been stressful and exhausting and it was nice to be this way – to laugh and to joke – after everything.

Marinette pulled out a thermos and poured him a hot chocolate. He took it gratefully.

They sat side by side in quiet companionship for a while, just sipping hot chocolate, clouds puffing out with every breath. Marinette bit her lip, stealing a glance at him from the side of her eye.

"So... that was your Dad, huh?"

Adrien closed his eyes, leaning back on one hand. Bathed in the moonlight he glowed softly.

"When mother disappeared it was hard. We grieved together at first. But then he started shutting himself away. I would go days at a time without seeing him. But then he started keeping me shut away as well. He said that the world was too dangerous and he couldn't lose me as well.

I started getting home schooled but I was already in my last year of high school so that didn't last long so he found other reasons to keep me in the house. When I started modelling for him I would sometimes get obsessive fan mail. It was safer for me to stay at home. I couldn't understand it, I still don't understand it. If he was so worried about losing me, why did I never see him? What was the point of keeping me locked up?"

Marinette didn't say anything, she just listened as he poured his heart out to her.

His face set.

"I don't know what's going to happen in the future but if I'm going to be Krampus then I'm going to need your help, Marinette. I don't want to be... I'm not, I'm not him, you know? I want to be able to do everything I can to help the goodness in children, not punish the bad."

There was never any doubt in her heart that Adrien would want to do what was best for the children. At his core, Adrien was goodness and that came out in everything he did.

"Of course, Adrien. We're Ladybug and Chat Noir, Santa and the Krampus. We can work this out together. We're a team, aren't we?"

He grinned at her and it creased around his eyes in a way that tugged at her heart.

"Partners," he agreed. "Coming here was the best thing that's ever happened to me. Nino, Alya, you," he looked over to her, his eyes softening. "I'm so glad that I got to meet you, Marinette. You have become such an important person to me. You really are a wonderful friend."

"Friend..." she repeated. That's what they were. Partners and friends.

"Hmm?" He looked at her, smiling softly.

She pressed her lips together. The corner of her mouth pulled up into a smile. "I'm glad we're friends, too."

He was watching her now, his eyes not leaving hers. It was hard to look at him. His hand came up and cupped her face, his thumb brushing over her cheek.

"You're cold," he murmured and shuffled closer to her so that their sides were pressed together. Her face immediately flamed, chasing the cold away.

"You're beautiful," he whispered into her hair and Marinette almost thought she imagined his words. She leaned away from him, and looked at him wide-eyed. He chuckled and took one of her gloved hands into his, bringing it up and pressing his lips to her knuckles. "This may seem..." He bit his lip and glanced away. He inhaled deeply then looked into her eyes. "I like you, Marinette."

She stared at him dumbly, her eyes slowly widening.

"I-I-I thought you only thought of me as-as a friend..?" she stammered, her cheeks flaming even hotter.

His own cheeks were dusted an attractive pink.

"Well, we are friends... but I was hoping that maybe we could be something more? I understand if it's something you don-"

"I do!" she exclaimed. "I... I would like that."

He beamed.

"I really, really like you, Marinette."

Something inside of her slid in to place. There were many things that made Marinette who she was. Her creativity, her tenacity, her friends, her family, being Santa, being Ladybug. Adrien was another part of her that made the whole better, brighter. Maybe they were destined, two halves that completed each other. Maybe they weren't. But it didn't matter. The Marinette that was sat on that snowy rooftop knew that she would choose this Adrien who had come to mean so much to her.

"I like you, too, Adrien."

And from that confession

on their roof-tiled seat

The pair shared a kiss

that was tender and sweet

And so ends our tale

It's the end, au revoir.

A merry Christmas to you

from Ladybug and Chat Noir

A/N It is still (just) Christmas here and I hope that wherever you are and whatever your circumstances, you have managed to find a little joy today. For all of you who have read and enjoyed my story, thank you, and if any of you wanted to give me a present this year, a review would absolutely make my 2020.

Here's to a better 2021