"Are you going to do some sewing, dear?" Sabine asked, as Marinette finished drying the dishes. Snow was falling lightly and every few seconds they could see the lights of the Eiffel Tower glowing in the distance. "Yeah. Otherwise I won't have any Christmas gifts!" Marinette grinned and trotted up the stairs.

She stood still in the middle of her bedroom. Up here, closer to the roof, she could hear the wind singing a lonely melody. Then all of a sudden, the lights flickered and darkened. "Marinette, are all right up there, sweetie?" her dad called. "Yeah, fine!" she called back, but she was blinking back tears as she said it. Christmas was the day after tomorrow! How was she going to sew in the dark?

Marinette slumped down under her window, chin propped upon her knee, watching the snow fall. It was cold and lonely up here, maybe she should go back downstairs. At least her parents could give her a hug. She sighed. They were so understanding, even if she couldn't tell them about Ladybug.

Then suddenly, a light started to fill her bedroom window. Was she dreaming, or was it real? No, a lighted candle appeared outside her bedroom window, the snow now glowing softly around it. But who was the holder?

Cat Noir appeared in the window, he was the candle holder! Marinette wiped her eyes, sniffed, and opened the window. "I came to visit you, Princess, but the lights suddenly went out so I brought a candle. You doing all right?"

Marinette took the candle as he climbed in through the window. Even if she could feel the leftover chill from his body of being out in the snow, Marinette could feel the warm kindness in his heart. "Thank you, Kitty," she said, wrapping her arms around his waist.

The candle wavered and flickered, but it didn't go out. Marinette watched it a moment, her head leaning against Cat's chest. "You know, a candle is like a friendship," she said, wrapping the blanket around both of them as she sat in Cat's lap. "How's that, Princess?" he asked.

"Even if your friendship wavers, if its strong enough it never goes out." Sure, they had their arguments, but they were still best friends, even when Marinette wasn't wearing her mask. "I never thought about it that way," Cat said quietly, playing with a strand of her hair.

"Do you mind if I use your candle to do some sewing?" she asked. "Of course." Cat watched her, laying on the chaise, and as Marinette worked, she didn't feel so alone anymore. Sure, the power was still off, but that didn't matter. The power of love was stronger then that, love that shines out from the darkness.

Around nine, the power snapped back on, and Marinette blinked at the light. "Marinette, we're going to make some hot chocolate? Would you like some before bed?" her father asked. "be right down!" Marinette said, and holding Cat's hand, walked down the stairs.

Marinette watched as her parents hugged Cat, watching his face glow and soften as they did so. Love was warm and soft, like a blanket. The smell of hot chocolate and fresh baked chocolate muffins filled the air, and Marinette's mouth watered. Sewing had made her hungry.

"Hey, Mama?" she had an idea. "Yes, dear?" "How about we shut off all the lights and put the fireplace on TV?" Marinette asked. Sabine's eyes lit up. "What a wonderful idea." Papa started to tell stories of Chirstmas when he was a boy, and Cat set his mug down so he could listen. His hand brushes against Marinette's and she blushed softly, leaning her head against his shoulder, giving him a little kiss.

"Listen to that wind!" Sabine exclaimed as Tom finished his story, and Marinette sleepily raised her head from Cat's shoulder. "Can Cat sleep over?" she asked, and Sabine nodded. "Now, give us a hug before you go up to bed." "Group hug," Cat grinned, as they all hugged each other.

Cat was purring softly in his favorite box, as Marinette listened to the swish of snowflakes landing on her skylight. It was very cozy tonight, and all the people she loved were safe.

Cat would have to go home in the morning, and Marinette looked forward to Chirstmas, when they would be all together, like a family again.