Marinette hadn't stopped feeling giggly since Adrien left. And that was yesterday.

"Tell me everything, girl!" Alya was excited too. The curiosity was all over her face. Class was about to start, but Adrien and Nino hadn't arrived yet, so it was safe to talk.

"Adrien touched my shoulder!" Marinette couldn't stop herself from smiling. She should have been tired since she didn't sleep well last night, but she was full of energy.

"Well that's something," Alya laughed.

"How did you and Juleka's brownies turn out?" Marinette asked.

"I'm no baker, but I'd say they came out pretty nicely," Alya grinned with pride.

Marinette noticed a certain someone walk through the door. Adrien flashed the two girls a smile as he sat down. Marinette had to keep in a nervous giggle.

"Hey guys," Adrien said to them and then turned his head to Marinette. "Do you have enough cookie molds or should I go buy some?"

"No, t-that's okay. We have plenty!" Marinette assured. She wanted it to be afternoon already. Or did she? It could be easier to do things by herself, so she wouldn't make a fool out of herself in front of Adrien. Maybe it would be easier if Adrien wouldn't come at all, and then -

Nino ran in just as the bell rang. "Made it!"

o - o - o - o - o

Adrien grabbed his bag and ran as fast as he could. His photoshoot had finally ended, and maybe he could still make it in time to Marinette's house. Maybe he could tell his car driver to drive just a bit faster, and he could even make a cool entrance. Not that he needed to impress Marinette, he didn't want people to like him for fancy cars, and they were already friends. Kind of?

Were they, though? The atmosphere between them was not the same he had with Nino. Adrien knew how friends acted together, and Marinette always looked like she felt uneasy with him. They did address it yesterday, but Adrien hadn't really gotten an explanation.

Adrien's phone rang. Maybe it's Marinette. Adrien grabbed his phone from his bag in a rush.

"Hello?"

"Adrien, I have another photoshoot for you. Come here right now, Buford knows the way," said a serious voice. It always felt weird to hear Adrien's father call The Gorilla by his real name, but Adrien couldn't focus on that right now.

"I'm sorry, father. I have other plans for today, I'm baking with Marinette for - "

"You must cancel that. This photoshoot is great for our name."

Adrien turned grim. This again? "Do they have someone else to fill in?"

"Yes, but I got this job for you, therefore I need you to arrive as quicly as possible." The tone in his voice didn't change. It never did. Always demanding, almost robotic. Adrien was sick of it.

"I truly am sorry, father." Adrien hung up. His good mood had been shattered, and now he really needed to hurry. Adrien was already at the bottom of the stairs as he realized he couldn't get in the car. As much as The Gorilla was his friend, he was still under Gabriel Agreste's commands and would take Adrien to the photoshoot. Adrien needed to figure something out and time was running out.

Adrien can't get to Marinette, but Chat Noir can.

Adrien ran to a side street where no one could see. "Plagg, claws out!"

Adrien, now Chat Noir, got his way to the rooftop of a gray building, and enjoyed the moment of freedom he felt jumping high above the expectations of his father. He couldn't actually succeed them, but sometimes physically being away from them was enough.

Chat Noir was on top of the bakery in no time. Oh no. He wasn't the only one at the bakery, well at least wouldn't be. He saw the familiar car in traffic lights, relatively far away. But Chat knew the car was coming here. I shouldn't have told him where I was going.

Chat had no choice but to wait for the car to arrive and The Gorilla to knock on the bakery's door. It took painfully long because of the traffic, but Chat didn't want to cause a scene. With what seemed like lightning speed, Marinette opened the door.

"Sorry, we're closed today, my parents are participating in a competition. Come again tomorrow, we'll have Christmas-themed muffins!"

"Is Adrien Agreste here?"

A pause. Chat felt bad about being late, Marinette had probably expected him to arrive already.

"No, haven't seen him since school."

"I was told he would be baking here today."

"Yeah. I'll let you know if he arrives?"

If. Not when, if.

"Thank you, miss." With that, The Gorilla got back in the car and left. Marinette was an honest girl, and Chat didn't want to make her lie for him. He looked to see if anyone was around and jumped down.

"Hello, princess!" He smiled. Just seeing Marinette made him suddenly very happy.

"Hey, kitty. What brings you here?" Marinette looked like she wasn't in a very good mood. Her blue eyes weren't as bright as they usually were.

"Since there are no akuma attacks right now, your classmate Adrien, the cute model, sent me here to be your prince and bake with you!" Chat said and hoped he could get Marinette to smile. She looked like she expected him to tell more.

"He got caught up in his photoshoots and is very sorry. He really wanted to be here," Chat said with a sad smile.

"Oh." Marinette paused again. "That's okay, I think I can handle. Thanks for telling me, Chaton." Marinette grabbed the door to close it, and Chat was caught by surprise.

"Whoa-oh, slow down, Princess! I know I have paws for hands, but is it really that awful of a thought to bake with me?"

Now Marinette looked surprised, too. "I didn't realize you were so excited, kitty. Come in."

Marinette led Chat to the kitchen even though Chat already knew the way.

"We made the dough yesterday so now you and I just make the best gingerbread cookies possible!" Marinette said. She still didn't seem too happy.

"Before we start..." Chat said and grabbed Marinette's arm before she could reach the fridge. "Tell me, why do you look like your cat ran away?"

Marinette turned to Chat and looked at him with curiosity in her eyes. Why did I grab her? Would it be weird if I let go now? Chat felt a light blush reach his cheeks, and wasn't really sure why it happened.

For a second it looked like Marinette wasn't about to open up, but she then sighed and looked away. "It's just that..." Marinette glanced at Chat again. She touched her blue hair with her free hand. "I thought it would be better if Adrien got busy, but now that it actually happened... I guess I was just kind of excited, after all."

Chat felt awful. Maybe he shouldn't have come here as Chat Noir. But now it was too late to be Adrien, so he just had to cheer her up as what he was. And hopefully that would be enough.

"I understand, Princess. I'm sure he felt the same way," Chat said and grabbed Marinette's other arm too. They were eye to eye and maybe, just maybe, Marinette's pretty eyes did have some sparkle to them again.

The awkward arm-grabbing transformed into holding hands. Her hands were small and Chat cursed that his costume involved gloves. A string of hair had fallen from Marinette's left pigtail onto her cheek and Chat gently moved it behind her ear. They stood there in silence for a moment. Chat felt like he couldn't get enough of looking at her.

"The cookies."

"Right! The cookies!" Chat practically jumped away from Marinette and his face was as red as a ladybug. What am I doing? What am I doing? WHAT THE ACTUAL HECK AM I DOING?

"I found the dough!" He said.

"We shall begin!" Marinette said, amused by what seemed to be Chat in a weird mood.