"You better not be naked!" Was the only warning Marinette and Adrien got before the blanket was ripped off.

"Oh good, I don't know what I would have done if you were."

Marinette rolled over to look at the interloper. A blonde, hands on her hips, and looking down at them with a superior smirk.

"Chloe?"

"In the flesh! Now, I know you missed your number one fan, but Gabriel was hesitant to let me visit while you were in the hospital. Something about being 'too excited' and 'physically rough'. Naturally, I consented to wait, because I'm self-sacrificing and I knew I'd leap on my Adrikins the moment I saw him!"

Adrien grunted, and pulled Marinette closer to him, still very tired.

"Why are you here?" Marinette asked, not hiding the irritation in her voice.

"Because it's Christmas Eve and I was invited!"

"No, I meant, why are you here in Adrien's room, this early in the morning?"

"As I said, it's Christmas Eve. We're having a big party and I'm going to give you a makeover!"

"Like hell you are."

"What, you don't expect to have dinner with Jagged Stone, Gabriel Agreste, and moi in your pajamas do you?"

"It's not comfortable to wear anything else right now."

"A poor excuse."

Marinette scoffed. "Chloe, get out of my face. Get out of this room! Don't you dare think you can boss me around!"

Not one to be impressed by anger, Chloe huffed and turned to Adrien. "Adrikins, do you believe this? I'm here to help and she just…spits in my face!"

Adrien did not share her sentiment, as he growled at her in disapproval.

Chloe deflated. "Look…Do you want me to get sappy? Cause I will. I wouldn't be here if I didn't care, okay? Ladybug gave me a chance and was patient with me, even when I was mean to Marinette. I owe you a lot. So just...let me do this." Then she grimaced. "Please?"

Marinette let out a groan. "Ugh, fine. But take it easy on me, okay?"

"Just going to do your hair and a little make up, and I brought this outfit over that you're going to look fab in!"

"Can't wait." She said dully.

—

Truth be told, it really wasn't all that bad. The dress Chloé brought was gorgeous, a black base with a red lace overlay. It was comfortable and fit just a little loose, though would have fit her perfectly if she was at her normal weight.

"I was going to bring you Louboutin heels, but Alya said you had stitches on the bottom of your feet. Naturally, I protested because you know as well as I that beauty is pain. But I suppose you can just wear them some other time. I'm expecting you to, you hear me?"

"You want to give me louboutins? Knowing my knack for tripping on a flat surface?"

"Oh puh-lease. Louboutins are designed for Ladybug! Black and red? Fierce? And besides, if you do fall on your face, that will just make me even happier!"

"Gee, thanks."

Chloe was surprisingly gentle when styling her hair. She curled it and pinned it elegantly.

The shaved side of her head still had 'Cochon' tattooed on it. Not much to do about it at this stage, but her hair was dark enough and had grown a bit so it was a little harder to see.

"I think I'll give you Smokey eye! Cover up those bags, and really make those sapphires pop!"

"If you say so. Just don't stab my eyeball."

"No promises!"

As Chloe carefully applied the eye shadow, she spoke, "you know, I never believed for a second that you took naked pictures of Adrien back then."

Marinette rolled her eyes, though the action went unnoticed. "Sure. Because you were so supportive back then."

"I was plenty supportive!"

"Chloe, if you want to pretend you're a good person now, fine. Good for you. But I spend a month in silence, reliving that moment in the classroom over and over again. You mocked me, just like everyone else. Don't try to rewrite history."

"Mocking people is a reflex. No matter if I agree with them or not. It's what I do."

Marinette gave a defeated shrug. "I guess I believe that much." She shook her head and pulled away from Chloe's makeup brush, "but, look. I can see what's happening here, and I'm going to warn you now. You all of a sudden want to be friends with me because you found out I was Ladybug. You hate me. You've said it several times before, right to my face. You've purposefully gotten me in trouble just for kicks. And now, you're trying to just sweep it under the rug. I understand guilt. I understand gratitude towards Ladybug. But we're not friends. I have a lot of hurt and anger from the past that I'm not just letting go. Right now, I need real friends around me. And so does Adrien. So if you're here for clout, or in it for personal gain, and I find out? You will never speak to Adrien or I again. Do I make myself clear?"

Chloe shrunk at the tone. Though Marinette hadn't really given her a warm reception at any point of the day, the raw venom that dripped from her lips was so sharp, so vile, that it was repulsive. She didn't sound like Marinette or Ladybug.

Chloe didn't say anything for a moment, but finished applying the makeup. Then she calmly and quietly put her supplies away.

"Marinette…you make me want to be a better person. I…I was jealous. You always had friends and a warm family and just…well, everyone liked you, and you made it look effortless. So, I'm…I'm sorry." Chloe clenched her eyes tight, willing the tears to stay back. But it didn't work. "The day you were taken…" She croaked. "Alya and some other classmates came to the hotel and asked if I had seen you. I laughed then. I told them that if you had run away, then it was good, because you wouldn't have to deal with a bunch of greedy idiots. I said I was glad you were gone. But then…then I saw Ladybug and Chat Noir…"

Marinette had only ever seen Chloe break down crying like this once, and it was while she was Ladybug. Back then, she had pulled the truth out of her like an abscessed tooth. But this time, the truth was bursting from her, like she had been holding it in from that very moment.

"As soon as that…that woman took off your mask, I knew I had messed up. I was so ashamed of everything I ever did. I wanted Ladybug to respect me so much, and I just treated you like dirt. My…resentment of you would just not leave…and Adrien—" She wasn't able to finish that thought as she just broke down. She cried and cried as Marinette just sat and watched.

Finally, after many minutes, Chloe's cries started to subside, and Marinette just wadded up some toilet paper for her to dry her eyes with.

Chloe took it graciously. "I came here with a plan, you know. I was going to take charge. Not take no for an answer. Like trying to give a cat a bath. But under no circumstances was I supposed to think about what happened on the stream."

"Didn't work out, huh?"

"My plans never do."

"Well. Your tears certainly seemed genuine enough. Thank you for apologizing. This doesn't mean we're friends, but it doesn't mean we never will be."

Marinette should have braced herself for the incoming hug, but dealing with Chloe was anyways a crap shot.

"Thankyouthankyouthankyou!"

"Sure, let me go."

—

Once Marinette was all dolled up, she and Chloe came out of the bathroom for the big reveal to Adrien. He was sitting on the edge of the bed, and sat up a little straighter at Marinette's appearance. His eyes widened with unshed tears as he mouth opened slightly.

"That bad, huh?"

He opened his arms, beckoning her to him.

She obliged, standing between his legs so he could press himself against her stomach. She patted his head.

"You didn't think you'd get out of a makeover too, did you?" Chloe asked, trying to get her bossy attitude back.

Adrien looked up at her, slightly afraid.

"I'll have to help you with him, Chloe." Marinette added. "He's still too weak to stand on his own."

"Fine then!" She went to the dress bag she had brought along and took out Adrien's outfit. "Here we go!"

It was a lovely black cashmere sweater, with neon green pinstripes. But the pants were white.

"He can't wear those pants Chloe."

"And why not? He looks good in white pants!"

"It's not that…his skin graft…"

"On his back though? That's why the sweater is black!"

Marinette sighed. "Where do you think they got the skin for the graft?"

"Oh."

"Not that he is actively bleeding down there, but his bandages do leak. It's best if he wears black.

"Yeah, okay," she relented pretty quickly. She put the white pants away and went into Adrien's closet in search of black slacks.

While she was away, Marinette helped Adrien out of his pajamas. It was slow work with the stitches in his back. First his sweatshirt was removed, then his shirt. Then Marinette held him up as he shucked off his sweatpants.

Chloe returned when he was down to his underwear.

She nearly shrieked.

Adrien flinched at the sound, and coiled closer to Marinette.

"It's alright, she was just startled," Marinette soothed. Then turning to Chloe, "You've seen him naked before, there's nothing to be startled about."

"I-I know…I just…his sweatshirt hid…" She didn't finish her sentence. She didn't need to.

Both Marinette and Adrien lost a substantial amount of weight in solitary, due to starvation and atrophy. But since Adrien was so tall, he looked much worse. Chloe could wrap her hand around his forearm and touch her fingers.

It wasn't the worst that they looked, but it still wasn't great. There was a long road of recovery left.

Getting Adrien dressed was easier, since Chloe had been able to help. She just gave him a little foundation to cover the bags around his eyes. Then she gelled his hair to look a little neater, sort of how it used to be.

But with blond hair, the word 'chatte' was still clearly visible on the side of his head.

"Are…you guys planning on getting those tattoos lasered off?"

Absently, Marinette scratched her tattoo too. "I might just leave mine. I don't plan on shaving my head like this again, and my hair is dark enough, it will be covered. Otherwise, I'd have to keep it shaved the entire time it's being lasered. And it's not a one and done deal. I talked to my doctor about it. It'd be a couple sessions over several weeks…I just don't think it's worth it."

"And Adrien?"

He just shrugged.

"I guess we'll just see how it looks once his hair grows back in fully."

There was another knock at the door. "Are my kiddos decent?" Asked Tom.

"Yes papa. Come in."

Tom entered, and then cooed when he saw them. "Oh pumpkin! You both look wonderful!"

"Thank you papa."

"Here, mama thought you might want to wear these." He held out two plush pairs of house slippers.

"Oh, those look comfortable!" She dropped her pair on the floor and scooted into them, while Chloe helped Adrien put his on.

"Ready to go down? The Cesaire's are here and I heard Jagged's on his way."

"I'm ready, are you Kitty?"

Adrien gave a curt nod.

"Chloe, could you help me down the stairs? My dad has to carry Adrien."

"O-oh, yeah, sure."

The lobby was alive with merriment. Ella and Etta ran around playing tag with Alya and Nino, while Gabriel, Sabine, Roland, Gina, Otis, and the Gorilla shared coffee and croissants.

As soon as Marinette and Adrien started down the stairs, a pair of colorful blobs whirled over to them, revealing to be Tikki and Plagg.

"Ahhhh Christmas! A holiday of great food!" Cheered Plagg, "I think I'll take my first nap in my favorite spot!" And he curled up on top of Adrien's head.

Tikki looked fondly over her chosen. "You look really pretty Marinette!"

"I clean up well."

"You can bring Adrien right over here Tom." Said Gabriel, gesturing to an open spot on a loveseat.

Gingerly, Tom sat him down and brought over an ottoman so he could put his feet up.

The game of tag had ended.

"Girl, your dress is so cute! It looks perfect on you!"

"That would be Chloe's doing," Marinette tilted her head in Chloe's direction.

"Are you comfortable enough?" Sabine asked.

"I am for now."

Alya went to call her sisters over, but they were nowhere to be seen.

"Ella? Etta? Where did you guys go? It's not polite to snoop around someone else's house!"

"We're not snooping." Said a tiny voice.

Alya peered over the banister to see her sisters peeking through the stair railing, looking at Marinette and Adrien. "It's okay," she assured. "It's just Marinette and Adrien. I know they look kind of scary, but they're okay now."

"Do they know?" Marinette asked, settling on the couch next to Adrien. "Who we are?"

"You're Ladybug and Chat Noir," Said Ella.

"And you were kidnapped and tortured," Added Etta.

"We didn't let them watch the stream," Otis clarified. "But we were very open about what was happening. They were getting questions at school, since all their classmates know Alya runs the blog."

"Ah, I remember now." Marinette spoke, as the forgotten night's memory returned once again. "Lady Lacrima and Grimalkin paid your apartment a visit."

"What?!" Cried Alya. "When did this happen?! Why didn't you tell me, dad?!"

"They came and went before we could do anything. Your mother gave them some food...it was really in your best interest you weren't there."

"But we were looking for them!"

"And we were looking for you, Alya." Marinette said calmly. "But not in a good way, I'm afraid."

"Me? You were…I was one of the people you wanted to hurt?"

Marinette frowned, still caught up in a lot of bitterness. "In solitude, my annoyance with you and the class became…something of an obsession. I felt so hurt, so betrayed by my own support network that it drove me a little insane. I convinced myself that you didn't care about me. I know now that that was misguided. And even if I was truly angry at you and you had done something wrong, I never would have hurt you. It was only because I was akumatized that I sought you out with malicious intent. Can you forgive me?"

"Of course girl! I know as well as you do that akumas act against their will."

Marinette screwed up her lips. "I just remembered…when we were akumatized, Hawkmoth asked us to go home and heal, no Miraculous required. He knows our identities, and he could easily overwhelm us. I can only wonder why he hasn't contacted us yet. He was never above taking cheap shots."

Unseen to Marinette, Gabriel took a sip of his coffee, hiding his sheepish face in his mug.

"Maybe he feels guilty?" Sabine asked, helpfully.

"Maybe." Marinette sighed, scooting a little closer to Adrien. "At any rate, I'd like to thank him. He saved us. Or, rather, gave us the ability to save ourselves. Whether or not he is still after the Miraculous, he still saved our lives."

Ella and Etta had started to creep closer, still keeping a healthy distance as the adults talked.

Marinette noticed and looked right at them, making them recoil slightly.

"You don't have to be afraid." She said calmly, "but you don't have to accept us. If you'd rather stay away, that's fine. I'd understand after how badly we scared you."

"You remember?"

"Yes. It didn't happen right away, but we remember it all now."

"Wow, cool." This seemed to intrigue them more than push them away. "We don't remember what it was like being Sapotis."

"Is it because you're Ladybug?"

Marinette shrugged. "We don't know why we remember, it just sort of happened."

"Ella, Etta," Otis scolded. "Don't smother them."

"But daddy-"

Before anymore arguments could happen, the front doors banged open, making Adrien and Marinette jump in fear.

"Who's ready to Rock and Roll!?" A voice shouted before a guitar riff filled the air.

Adrien and Marinette relaxed slightly, but still on edge because of the noise.

"Do you not know how to knock?" Asked Gabriel.

But Jagged ignored it. "Christmas! My favorite time of the year! And I can't wait to spend it with my favorite artist and model!"

Marinette gave him a fond smile. "Hello Jagged."

"There she is! The most beautiful girl in Paris! How are you, love?"

"I'm getting there."

"Can't ask for more than that, hmm? And you Adrien? You doing better?"

He shrugged.

"Fair enough. Now," he gestured Penny forward. "I have a gift for both of you, since it is Christmas."

"You didn't have to, Jagged."

"Sure I didn't have to, what's the fun in that? Here," he handed them both shiny wrapped squares. "Open them now, I'm dying to see your faces!"

Marinette smiled gently and unwrapped the gift. Inside was a CD case. "Lady Luck? What's this?"

"Its my new album! A complete surprise that I'm going to drop next week, and you get advanced signed copies!"

"This is wonderful, Jagged. Thank you!"

"And the best part," he paused for emphasis. "All the songs are about you and Chat Noir! Your powers, akumas you fought, things you've said…it's been in the works for a while. You're very inspiring, Marinette."

Looking at the track listings, it was evident where he had pulled inspiration from. 'Lucky' 'Cataclysm' 'My Lady' 'A bit of string and a paperclip'.

"I can't wait to listen to it." She said honestly.

Adrien nodded in agreement.

The dining room doors opened, and Marlena entered. "Lunch is served!"

Brown sugar glazed ham, potatoes AU gratin, fresh croissants and rolls, green beans, and a desert of ribbon jello.

A feast!

Adrien picked at his food, his stomach clenching in unpleasant ways. He was hungry at first, but quickly became full and then nauseous. Marinette wasn't too far behind.

They just weren't used to good food.

"Are you alright?" Sabine asked gently. "You've barely touched your food."

"My stomach hurts." She said as she set her silverware down. Adrien did the same.

"Do you not like ham?" Asked Marlena. "I can make you something else."

"No no, it's amazing! I just…I think I'm full. I'm sorry."

"It's alright. There will be leftovers."

Adrien twisted in his chair, trying to keep the weight off of his wounds. This chair was just not comfortable.

"Do you want to go sit in the living room?" Sabine asked. "I can bring you some sprite and saltines."

"Yeah, I think that might help."

Tom stood and came over to help Adrien. They both went to the living room, and sat down on the couch.

Adrien instantly felt better.

"Here's the remote," Tom said, handing it to her. "We'll join you when we finish lunch, alright?"

"Take your time. We'll just get started on the Christmas movie marathon."

Adrien pointed at a blanket draped over a chair and grunted.

"Cold?"

He whimpered.

"Okay, let's get this for you." Tom unfurled the blanket and draped it over both of them. "There, nice and snuggly buggly."

"Thanks papa."

"Of course my little ginger snap." He kissed her head.

Adrien whimpered again.

"And you too, my little sea salt caramel macaron." He also gave Adrien a kiss to the forehead.

Adrien smiled.

Not too far behind was Sabine with two glasses of sprite, a jar of tums, and a sleeve of saltine crackers. "I'm sorry baby, I didn't even think that your stomachs might not handle heavy food like that."

"It's alright. I wanted to eat all of that. And it was wonderful. A few tums and a nap, and I'll be fine."

Adrien was already settling for a winter's nap, as he pulled the blanket up to his chin and closed his eyes.

Marinette took some antacid, a few sips of sprite, and then laid her head on his shoulder. She flipped through the channels to find a station marathoning Christmas movies, and just let herself relax and enjoy the afternoon.

Keep the change, ya filthy animal.

—

At some point, Marinette vaguely recognized the Grinch song playing and blinked to wakefulness. She had fallen asleep on Adrien's shoulder as he slept on her. Alya was next to her on the couch, and Nino was next to her.

Everyone was in the room, some asleep in chairs, while most watched the movie.

"Hey sleepyhead," Alya said softly as Marinette rose to wakefulness. "Feeling better?"

"A bit." Marinette admitted.

Adrien also shifted with the noise, sitting up and wincing.

"You alright, Honey?" Sabine asked as she noticed his facial expression.

He tapped on his wrist twice, the sign they had made up for him to use whenever he needed medicine.

Sabine nodded patiently and left to get it.

"So, Nino's going to have to take off soon." Alya began.

"We celebrate with my mom's side of the family on Christmas Eve, and then my dad's side on Christmas day. I would like to spend more time here, but I don't see them often..." He rubbed the back of his neck.

"It's alright, Nino. I understand."

"But before he goes…" Alya stood and put her hands on her hips. "Your dad said we have to find a pickle."

Adrien scrunched up his face as he looked at her.

"That's the same reaction I had, Sunshine." Alya laughed. "He didn't explain anything! He just said it was tradition and you specifically asked for it!"

Marinette smiled. "It's not an actual pickle, just a glass ornament."

"Okay, and it's hidden?"

"Yes, papa hides it, and then mama and I look for it. Whoever finds it, gets a prize."

"Why have I never heard of this before?" Asked Nino. "I want to win a prize!"

"I guess I never thought of it before. We've just always done it."

"The pickle is somewhere in the lobby," Tom explained. "If it gets too hard, we can do hot and cold."

The players included Marinette, Alya, Nino, Chloe, Ella and Etta, and Jagged. Adrien was moved to a nearby chair to watch the whole thing unfold, his father sitting at his side.

"It's odd to watch people tear our house apart over a pickle." Stated Gabriel, watching as one of the twins tipped a priceless vase over very carefully to look inside. Luckily, she righted it a moment later without incident.

Adrien watched for a few minutes, getting antsy.

"Do you want to join?" Asked Plagg, sitting on his shoulder.

Adrien nodded.

"I can make that happen."

Adrien's eyes widened minutely at the insinuation. Surely, for something like this it would be okay…with an almost inaudible murmur, a flash of green took the room and grabbed the attention of everyone in it.

Chat Noir stood shakily on stronger legs.

"Adrien?" Gabriel asked with concern.

Adrien simply pointed at the others and whined.

"I…suppose there's no harm in it. Just don't over exert yourself."

Thrilled, Adrien toddled over to a corner of the room and started to search through a bookshelf close to the front door.

A little tug on his tail pulled his attention away.

It was Marinette of course, looking at him so smugly. "You know you're standing under mistletoe, right kitty?"

Chat looked up, noting that there was a sprig of mistletoe above his head, before the secondary thought of 'is that a pickle?' hit his brain.

But by then, Marinette already had her arms around his neck and was pulling him down to her.

Kissing Adrien would never get old. Not in a million years would she deny his taste, his touch, his scent. His claws delicately caressed her back, walking up her spine and sending shivers down to her toes.

Distantly, she heard someone make a gagging noise before she pulled away.

When she opened her eyes, he held a glass pickle right in front of her nose.

"Well, well, looks like we have a winner." She smiled.

Chat just shrugged, put the ornament on the shelf, and went back in for another kiss.

—

It was late. Today had been hectic, but definitely worth it. Tomorrow, they would all gather in the living room and open all the gifts fans had sent. Tom was making coffee cake, and Adrien and Marinette had a pair of matching sweaters that said, "why is the carpet all wet, Todd?" "I don't know, Margo."

It was all very soft and warm and exactly what the kids needed.

But there was still a lot of uncertainty on the horizon, mainly regarding Hawkmoth. He owed it to them to come clean, but Gabriel was hesitant to say anything. Despite the encouraging progress they were making, he still clearly saw the instability. One wrong move, and they would both shut down.

His phone pinged with a new email.

Or rather, an old email. An address he hadn't seen in a long time, and immediately brought tears to his eyes.

My darling Gabriel,

I finally walked to the village on my own. The monks have cleared me to leave. Nathalie is preparing the return trip, though it looks like it should be a few weeks away.

I miss you and Adrien greatly, though I'm sure not as much as you miss me. Nathalie told me the basics of what happened, and I am prepared for the worst, I suppose. I understand if I won't be able to see Adrien right away. I always want what's best for him.

Just tell me what to do.

And I think I deserve an explanation. I heard you've been naughty while I've been gone. But I would prefer to discuss this in person.

Either way, I love you, and Merry Christmas.

Love,

Emilie