Day 3, and with it comes another serving of fluff! Adrienette is coming up for your enjoyment! Thank you for reading.

3: Christmas Decorations

Adrien sat on his sofa, staring at the Christmas tree on his table that his friend had gifted him that day. The handmade decorations, which she had also given him, lay in a box next to the two foot tall seasonal item. Marinette had insisted that it had not taken her long, but the disbelievingly raised eyebrows Alya had not so subtly shot her, told the blonde otherwise.

He was conflicted.

Marinette had always told him he was just a friend, but the effort she had put into this gesture for him, even had his father's eyebrows raised. The seasoned designer had allowed his gaze to roam and assess the kind gesture, and Adrien even thought there may have been a hint of a smile momentarily present on his father's face.

That in itself was baffling.

The teenage heartthrob had no idea how to return the gesture, a truly heart felt gift that would say exactly what he wanted to. Something that would say, 'I'm lucky to have you you as a-a,'

The blonde sighed.

Not even he could consider his classmate just a friend anymore. No one would tell him anything however, even Nino became cagey and told him to just talk to the girl. Trouble was, Marinette always seemed to be uncomfortable around him, which was why he resigned himself with the need to spend some quality time with the budding designer.

'I can do this,' the blonde took out his phone, 'it's just Marinette,' his heartbeat quickened and his palms became slightly sweaty, 'what is wrong with me?'

He sighed and ran a hand through his neatly gelled mane and grimaced at the horrid feeling of gel now on his hands.

'Just phone her you silly cat!'

He smiled as his lady's voice urged him on in his mind.

Scrolling to her name, the blonde tapped her icon and the sound of the call ringing met his ears.

"He-hello?"

Adrien imagined a deep blush tinting her cheeks and smiled bashfully at the thought. "Hi Marinette." A squeak emitted through his earpiece and Adrien decided to go for it before she started rambling in her typical manner. "I've been looking at this tree, and I was wondering," he gulped while she stayed silent, "would you like to help me decorate it? I just thought it would be nice if, you, could join me in decorating it?"

The hand at his nape was a clear indication as to how nervous he was, the heightened heart rate was just a coincidence.

Adrien heard muffled knocks on the other end of the phone, he waited patiently for an answer, and was surprised when Alya answered him.

"Hey Adrien," she greeted effortlessly, "Mari has just, uh, tripped on her rug-"

"Alya!"

"-she would love to help you." The sound of Alya blowing a not so discreet raspberry at her friend had Adrien chuckling, "what time do you want her to come round?"

Adrien had not thought about Marinette possibly having company, and he suddenly lost his determination. "Well, uh, if you guys are busy-"

"Nonsense," the blonde could imagine Alya waving him off, "I was just leaving anyway. She can come now if you like?"

Adrien smiled shyly, feeling his own blush creeping over his cheeks as he began pacing nervously, "yeah, yeah," his voice became soft, "I would like that."

Another squeak reached his ears.

"Great!" Alya answered while seemingly distracted, "she won't be long." The smirk in her voice was not hidden, "bye~ Adrien."

"Bye."

The blonde put the phone down, and Plagg drifted mischievously up to meet his gaze. Before the tiny god could even get a word out, Adrien held up a finger with a pointed warning look.

"Don't."

"I wasn't going to say anything." Plagg defended with a smirk.

"Likely story," Adrien bobbed his head as he typed furiously on his phone.

Plagg feigned offence, "what? I was just going to say it's about time-"

Adrien deadpanned at the black being.

"-and that you should probably shower because you smell like your gym bag after fencing."

"On it."

Plagg shook his head fondly at Adrien's retreating form. Glancing at the phone still open on his messages, he saw the message Adrien had just sent to Nathalie and smirked. 'My kitten has finally opened his eyes'

"I've ordered the pizza as you requested and the car will be available when your guest is ready to leave." Nathalie addressed in her professional manner, "remember you have until nine tonight Adrien, because you have an early photo shoot in the morning."

"Thank you Nathalie." The blonde smiled at his father's assistant and made his way to wait in the lobby for Marinette.

'Three hours should be enough.' He smiled to himself.

A knock at the door signalled her arrival, and Nathalie was required to conceal her amusement at the suddenly flustered state of Adrien as he shot to the door quickly. The blonde tripped uncharacteristically on the way and banged his face against the double doors before pulling them open, wincing with the pain that now emitted from his cheek.

"Hey Ad-are you ok?" She peered with concern at his reddening cheek. All stuttering had apparently vanished with worry as she watched him rub his face.

He could not help the lovesick grin which grace his face as he tilted his head fondly at her. "I am." He stood in the doorway for a moment while her face tinted with an embarrassed blush as she got lost in the way he was looking at her.

Nathalie cleared her throat, "I suggest you let your guest in Adrien," amusement was evident in her tone, "you only have just under three hours until she has to leave."

"Ri-right," he jumped out of the way and almost bowed when she came in. With Marinette clearly baffled but entertained by his antics, the blonde pulled his hand down his face once she had her back to him. 'Keep it together Agreste!'

Once in his room, the ravenette took off her coat and bag and made her way to the table where the decorations were situated. The blonde watched her as she delved into the box she had prepared for him.

"Knew I didn't put them in," she muttered to herself before making her way back to her bag. Adrien watched her pick out a small box and furrowed his brow questionably. "Fairy lights," she smiled at him, holding up a small box of LED lights on a thin copper wire. "They're battery operated," she tucked a tendril of hair behind her ear bashfully, "so uh, you don't need to worry about a pug pocket."

Adrien smiled as she went red with her word mix up, "I know what you mean," he smiled with kind understanding. "Shall we?"

Marinette smiled broadly, a determined spark, not unlike his lady's, shone in her eyes, "we shall."

After thirty minutes of accidental nervous brushes and countless apologies, Marinette and Adrien finally started to relax around each other. The pizza box was off to the side with only a few slices left. Once they had gotten into the swing of things, and the tree had been knocked over twice, the lights were wrapped neatly around the tree. Each decoration, Adrien found, had been meticulously handcrafted with the best quality materials, and he was in awe of her attention to detail.

"Wow Marinette," he gushed, "I can't believe you've made all of these yourself." Marinette's permanent blush became instantly darker. "I feel honoured that you have gifted them to me."

"I-I just, uh, wanted to," she inhaled deeply, Adrien's constant praise had been giving her palpitations. Adrien noticed, and a deep crease appeared in his forehead.

"Mari," he placed his hand over hers as she was deciding where to place a decoration on one of the little branches, causing her blue orbs to connect with his green. "Do I make you nervous?"

Her oceanic blue eyes widened with panic, "n-n-no, no Adrien."

His halfhearted smile turned into a purse. Sighing with slight defeat he rubbed at his nape, "I'm not the best with people," he looked at at her with concern, "and if I've ever upset you-"

Marinette groaned internally, toying with the decoration in her hand. Her nervousness, due to her crush, had made him think that he had upset her. Alya had told her to be honest with him, it was just plucking up the courage to do it that was going to be the problem.

"Adrien stop." She stated firmly, looking to the tree instead of at him, "you do make me nervous-"

Adrien grimaced and stared at the decoration in her hand.

"-bits not you upset me-gah!-" Marinette shook her head and rubbed her eyes with her thumb and forefinger. "Give me a minute."

Adrien watched as Marinette stood up and started pacing. She was gesturing wildly with her hands and flinging her arms around her head. The blonde may have found it amusing, if he had not been feeling so apprehensive about what she was going to say.

"I know, don't know how to speak, uh, say this."

His eyebrows raised as as she started to ramble:

"When I first met you, I thought you were like Chloé, but I know you're not-" she turned to him briefly to reassure him while pacing, "-I honestly thought you were another stuck up rich kid, but I was definitely wrong." Letting out a long breath, she continued quickly, holding up a hand to gesture for Adrien to let her finish. "I realised that you're so much more than just a pretty face-" Adrien blushed, "-and I-I saw that you are kind, thoughtful and sincere in everything that you do." Marinette stopped pacing, and turned to face a rather bashful and surprised Adrien.

"I l-like you Adrien," she tapped her forefingers together nervously and failed to meet his gaze while her face turned beet red, "I wanted to brighten up your Christmas," she shrugged.

The blonde gazed at the blushing budding designer before him, chest swelling with the desire to scoop her up and hold her and bask in all that was Marinette.

"I like you too." He smiled and stood up. Two strides and he was standing before Marinette. Her big blue doe eyes searching his soft, kind green. "And I'd like to get to know you better, y'know," his voice dropped to barely a whisper as he gently took her free hand in his, "I'd like to take you out sometime, on a date."

With a rapid inhale, her lips parted but no words came out. The bluenette stood stunned in shock at his words.

He took her surprised expression as a good sign, and smiled adoringly down to her, "if that, would be ok with you?"

Blinking slowly, Marinette let his question sink in, "really?"

Adrien let out an elated happy chuckle, "really. Mari you are one of the most amazing people I have ever met." He gushed, taking her other hand and holding them both between their chests, gazing upon her earnestly. "All of my days are brighter when you're in them." He stooped down to her, "so, would you like to go to the movies with me?"

"Yes."

"You would?"

"Yes."

She nodded enthusiastically and flung her arms around his neck. Being pulled slightly off balance with the unexpected embrace, Adrien took a moment to realise what was happening. The blonde quickly returned the gesture however, only to pull away from her to place a soft kiss on her cheek.

"How about we spend some time getting to know each other and decorate the tree." He asked with a broad toothy smile, "we can finish the pizza and plan our date too."

Marinette's face flushed but her eyes shone with excitement. Feeling giddy, the secret hero laced her fingers behind his neck for stability while nodding enthusiastically, "I would like that very much."

"Come on then princess," he rested his forehead against hers, "let's make some memories."

Leading her back to sit next to him on the sofa, Adrien made sure to keep close as he pulled the tree to them. Holding up a star made of gold organza, the blonde chuckled to himself before bumping his shoulder against hers.

"Hey Mari," he smiled cheekily while she peered at him in amusement. "Why were the Christmas decorations late for dinner?"

She smirked and rolled her eyes playfully at him, "I don't know, why?"

"Because they were too busy," he hung it on one of the branches casually, "hanging around!"

"Uh, that was bauble~"

Before she could let out a snort at his momentary awe, the blonde cupped her face and captured her lips. Feeling her melt against him, he wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her close while one of her hands brushed his sore cheek lovingly and the other wrapped around his strong back.

"I'm so happy I met you," he spoke against her as the tree stood half finished.

Marinette smiled against his lips, "I'm so happy I met you too."

Too captivated with each other, the tree waited to be completed until fifteen minutes before Marinette was due to leave. The future Mr and Mrs Agreste were too busy decorating each other with love and affection to pay much attention to the tree that would stay an integral part of Christmas for them both for the rest of their lives together.

Content in getting to know each other like this for the time being, the two teenagers had many memories to make and adventures to experience together: one of them finding out, that they were partners, in more ways than one.

That's the end of this prompt. Did you enjoy it? Was it fluffy enough?

Let me know what you think, and thank you for the reviews, follows and faves.

Take it easy =]

Lady Rhi X