Thank you for reading =) and for the reviews, follows and faves. I hope you enjoy the second instalment of fluff! Marichat is here (^.^)

2: Secret Santa.

Marinette stood leaning against the railing on her balcony watching for movements on the adjacent rooftops.

The temperature was dropping, but she was hoping that a certain black cat would be making the rounds soon on the cold Autumn night. On her lounge chair, waiting for his arrival, sat a neatly wrapped gift. There was no way she was going to risk dropping a gift off as Ladybug again. Not after last time.

After hearing about the impersonal presents her blonde classmate had received each year since his mother had left, the raven haired young beauty had immediately rummaged through her ottoman for a present to give to Adrien. The gift tag that she had already attached had been removed and she had rewrapped it in generic Christmas paper: she wanted this one to be anonymous.

She was not planning on telling Alya.

After seeing how happy he had been to receive the scarf, supposedly from his father, she had hoped that by asking Chat to drop this one off using his namesake's stealth, Adrien would think that his father had been thoughtful again. Marinette just wanted to see him happy. Even if that meant someone else taking credit for her actions.

With a hot flask of cocoa ready for his arrival, and draped in her Chat Noir inspired blanket, the young lady waited. Sure enough, her patience paid off, as she heard the soft thud of leather boots land on the roof behind her. A small smile gracing her face, she pretended she had not heard her partner's arrival.

The soft sound of his boots approached her from behind, "Purrincess," he purred low, just close enough for his breath to tickle her cheek.

"Hey Kitty." She smirked and felt him stand up straight behind her.

Marinette could imagine the deadpan expression he was sending her. "You heard me, didn't you," he stated, slightly disgruntled.

The smile was not concealable, as she turned around shooting him a cheeky finger gun with one hand while clutching the blanket around her with the other. "You got me."

Chat tsked feigning annoyance, "I will have to up my game."

"That you will Minou," she smiled broadly up at him, "would you like a hot chocolate?"

"Always," he gazed at her in appreciation, "you're the purrfect hostess Mari," she handed him a mug, "thank you."

They sat down facing each other on the lounger, Marinette's legs crossed while she pulled the blanket around her, hiding the present in her lap. Chat mirrored her position, cradling his mug in his clawed hands. "Something tells me mew've been waiting for me Purrincess." Chat smirked playfully at her, earning a coy eye roll in return.

"And what, pray tell, makes you say that?" She questioned aloofly.

"The fact that you could have just left the cat flap open, instead of luring me in with the warm heavenly goodness of hot chocolate."

Marinette gasped with mock offense, "and here's me thinking you come here for my company!"

He winked, "that's just a bonus."

Marinette tapped her pointer fingers together nervously and avoided his gaze, "actually Chat," she began, "there was a little favour I wanted to ask you."

"What do you need Purrincess?" He put his mug down, and scooted closer to her. Peering at her with enthusiastic curiosity he smiled proudly, "I'm sure I'm the right cat for the job!"

Marinette glanced at him with a hesitant smile and clutched the present under the blanket. Toying with the bow she pulled it out carefully for Chat to see. "I, uh," a small blush tinted the apples of her cheeks. "I would like you to, um, take this to a friend of mine."

Chat looked at the gift with his lips slightly parted.

"He's not always been given the most thoughtful presents," she placed it down between them and bit her lip, "an-and I'd like him to have something special to unwrap under his tree this year."

The memory of the conversation he and Nino had been having that lunch hour flooded into the forefront of his mind. The girls had been sitting with them, but he had not realised Marinette had been paying attention to him and Nino at the time.

"Who-" his voice cracked so he cleared his throat, "where do you want me to take it?"

He watched Marinette trace the gold lacing on the organza bow, "you know my friend Adrien right?"

Chat felt his cheeks warm, her voice was soft and unsure, he wanted to sneak a glimpse of her as she spoke but he dared not risk it for his own sake. She wanted to give him something special. The blonde hero simply nodded as excitement and anticipation stirred inside his stomach.

"Well, he, um," she blew out a long breath. "He said today that he hasn't had a meaningful present since his maman disappeared-"

'Understatement of the century,' Chat thought bitterly.

"-and I wanted him to have this."

Chat picked up the present carefully in his clawed fingers. Upon examining the wrapping he saw Marinette had not put who it was from on it. "Why haven't you signed your name?" The leather bound hero asked in abrupt disbelief, "surely he would want to know this has come from you?"

Marinette straightened up, taken aback, she blinked several times before relaxing again. A kind smile rested on her face as she stared at the present in his hands. "He was so happy to think that the scarf I made him was from his father, I wanted him to be that happy again."

'That was from you?!'

Chat barely managed to hide his shock. His jaw dropped while his green eyes flitted between the present and its sender. "You would do that for m-him?" He caught himself before he compromised his identity.

Marinette replied easily, "I would."

Complete adoration for the girl before him flooded his face, "you really are something special Marinette." She blushed and a bashful smile could be seen before she dropped her head to look at her lap. "I already know that he will love whatever this is."

Marinette giggled and shot him a wide smile, "I hope so." She brushed a loose hair behind her ear, "I just want him to have a happy Christmas, and hopefully this will help."

"I still think you should sign it."

"Pfft," she shot him a knowing look, "and how would I explain it appearing under his tree without looking like a crazed stalker or endangering you."

Chat tilted his head questioningly.

Marinette rolled her eyes, "if Hawkmoth ever found out about us being friends, there is no doubt he would try and use me to get to you."

Chat's chest warmed. He felt tears prickling in the corner of his eye and the hero could not hold back any longer.

Quickly leaning forward, the leather clad young man pulled Marinette's unsuspecting form towards him and settled her in his lap, pulling the blanket around them both. Cradling her head into the crook of his neck he whispered tentatively against her cheek. "We're really lucky to have you Mari."

"I'm lucky to have you too Chat," she murmured against his chest. As she relaxed fully in his arms, he held her closely and savoured the feel of her hair against his bare cheek. "If he does see you though…" He hummed to acknowledge that he heard her. "Can you just say it's from his 'Secret Santa' or something please."

"Of course Purrincess." He smiled with her still held securely in his arms, "but you need purromise me something."

"Go on." He felt the smile in her cheeks against his collar, as well as heard it in her voice.

"The next present you give him needs to have your name on it."

"Fine~" she leant back to look up at him smiling down at her. Peering at him through her lashes, she cupped his cheek before reaching up to scratch behind his ear. "I purromise Kitty."

So Chat was taking his own present home! Such lovable dorks =) Dont forget to leave a review!

Take it easy =)

Lady Rhi X