"Tikki, it's absolutely perfect," Marinette swished the skirts of her dress, smiling like a child on the first day of winter break.

"Do a spin," Tikki motioned, Marinette happily obliging as she spun around on the elevated platform, revealing the silver shoes that matched her tiara. Marinette began to wobble in her happy spin, almost falling off the platform if not for Tikki who righted the dizzy girl. Once she managed to stand on her own, she checked her watch to find the store should have closed seven minutes ago.

"I'm sorry for keeping you. I'll go change," Marinette slurred as she stepped off the platform and headed back to the changing room.

"No worries dear," Tikki called out before disappearing to the back to grab a garment bag, allowing Marinette some peace and quiet while she changed.

Marinette had a fashion show next week, and hell had already broken loose at the design house. She had spared this Friday evening to pick up her dress before her life became wrapped around the fashion show starting tomorrow.

Marinette finished adjusting her work clothes before stepping out, Tikki right by the curtain with the garment bag.

"Let me get this dress all packed and you'll be ready to go!" They switched places as Tikki collected the items from the changing room.

"Aunt Tikki, Uncle Plagg's on the phone for you," called out Pollen from the front desk, waving the old fashioned telephone in their direction.

"Alright," Tikki hung up the bag and walked over to Pollen. Marinette watched as the two women exchanged words before Pollen skipped over to Marinette while Tikki took the call.

"Whose Plagg," asked Marinette as Pollen began finished what Tikki started with Marinette' dress and the garment bag.

"My uncle and Aunt Tikki's husband. A grumpy cat of a man, but can be very affectionate when he wants to. From what it sounds like everything is ready for the ball on the Black Cat's end. Even had Adrien Agreste came in for a re-fitting today despite only ordering it on Wednesday."

"Wait, did you say Adrien Agreste?"

"Yeah, remember, he was in here when the bratty Chloe Bourgeois tried to get another ticket and tried to buy yours. Funnily enough, they just broke up."
"What?"

"Yeah, Uncle Plagg called us after Adrien left Wednesday. He found the whole thing hilarious when Adrien called Chloe and broke up with her on the spot. I guess they are keeping it out of the news for the holidays though."

"What?!" Marinette grew pale. Adrien Agreste was Chloe Bourgeois' ex-boyfriend. The same Chloe Bourgeois who tried to buy her ticket. The same Adrien who had agreed to go with her too the ball. As friends. Because his girlfriend, now ex-girlfriend couldn't get a ticket because Marinette refused to give them hers.

Marinette crouched to the ground in panic, whimpering as she rocked on the balls of her feet. She felt like a homewrecker.

"Marinette? Marinette!" Pollen knelt beside Marinette.

"Aunt Tikki! Somethings wrong with Marinette," Pollen called out. Tikki nodded and hung up the phone before rushing over.

"What's wrong sweetie?"

"I'm a terrible person," Marinette sobbed, tears starting to form in the corner of her eyes.

"And what makes you say that?"

"I caused Adrien to break up with Chloe."

Tikki frowned at Pollen, who apologetically went back to packing the dress. Tikki ushered Marinette to a nearby chair.

"Honey, you did no such thing."

"But I did. If I had just given Chloe the ticket, then they would have gone together, but he's instead going with me, so I made him question his relationship, so he broke up with her, and I don't want to be a homewrecker," Marinette began to cry, burrowing her face in her sleeves.

"Marinette, those two have been broken for a long time. A ticket, a kind face, and some friendly advice helped push Adrien to realize there's a whole world waiting for him outside of her. It wasn't your fault."
"You sure?"

"I'm positive. Just as much as this ball is a chance for you to meet someone new, it should be for him."

Marinette wiped her remaining tears on her sleeve, "Thank you Tikki."

"Cookie?" Marinette looked up to see Tikki pull up a tin of cookies from beside the chair.

Marinette smiled and accepted one, a mixture of fluffy chocolate and peppermint goodness.

"You are all set to go. And your makeup still looks fine. Just a little red around the eyes but people would just blame the weather," assured Pollen as she handed over the garment bag.

"Thanks Pollen," Marinette stood and accepted the garment bag.

"Call us if you need anything, otherwise we'll see you at the ball," Tikki and Pollen followed Marinette out the door, locking it after she left.

Marinette took a deep breath. Everything was fine with the world. She had her dress, and soon she would have a relaxing evening before the holiday chaos truly began.

"Marinette?"

Marinette froze at the familiar sound of her name, afraid of whom the voice belonged to.

"I thought it was you. Did you pick up your dress?" Adrien jogged up beside her. The last person she want to see right now.

"Were you crying?"

"What? No. I wasn't crying. It's just the cold," reassured Marinette as she started walking briskly down the sidewalk, Adrien walking after her.

"But you just got out of the boutique."

"I get cold quickly." Adrien stepped a head of Marinette to stop her before they hit the crossroads.

"What's going on?"

"Nothing."

"You are being usually short?"

"I'm always short."

"I mean your conversation. It seems like you don't want to talk to me."

"I've had a long day at work and I want to get home."

"At least let me walk you home then."

"I can manage by myself," Marinette stepped around him and continued on her way. Adrien frowned before following, silent falling into step beside her.

"Well, I got refitted for my suit today. Don't know if it will exactly go with your pink, but the guy working there said to trust Plagg, so I assume it will be fine. Plagg is married to Tikki, it will be interesting to see them together at the ball. They are just so opposite from each other in looks and personality-"

"Stop it!" Marinette covered her mouth with her hands as soon as the words had slipped. Why was this boy so persistent in finding out what was troubling her?

"I knew something was up," grimaced Adrien, pulling Marinette under his arm.

"What's bothering you?"

Marinette let go of her mouth, holding her hands and her dress to her chest.

"I'm sorry about you and Chloe," she whispered.

Adrien looked at her, shocked for a moment.

"How'd you find out?"

"Plagg told Pollen who told me."

Adrien groaned, ruffling the back of his hair with his free hand. Marinette was about to make an escape from under his arm when he gave her a gentle squeeze.

"No need to be sorry, this was a thing that was bound to happen but I drew it out too long."

"I feel like its my fault, if I had just given her the ticket…" Marinette voice fell as she thought of the what ifs.

"I told you when we met. There wasn't anything between me and her for a long time. It just took a lot of people to help me take that step forward."

"Towards something new?" Marinette looked up at him curiously.

Adrien looked down at her and smiled, "yeah, something new."

They walked like that in silence the rest of the way home, Marinette tucked under Adrien's protective arm.

"Thanks, again, for walking me home," Marinette whispered as she turned to face him.

"Anytime. And thank you for the scarf, it's kept me very warm," Adrien held up the hem of the scarf she had given him spur of the moment last time he walked her home. It honestly looked a little too short with how it hung around his neck. Maybe she could find some extra yarn to make him a scarf more his size. As a thank you for escorting her to the ball.

"You're welcome."

They both stood there nervously, Marinette unsure if she invite him up to wait for a ride, or he planned on walking home. Adrien scratched the back of his neck not covered by the scarf.

"I know you said that we would be going together just so we wouldn't have to go alone. But since things have… changed… would you go with me as like, you know, a date?" Adrien searched for the right words, his eyes hoping he had correctly conveyed what he meant.

Will you be my date to the ball?

Marinette turned bright pink and tucked her head into the collar of her jacket.

"I know, it sounds awkward. I just broke up with my girlfriend, and I should take some time, but I don't want to regret not asking you. We can still go as friends, nothing seriously crazy…"

"Yes."

Adrien stopped his rambled at the three letter word Marinette muttered.

"Yes. I would like to be your date to the ball."

Adrien's eyes lit up like a Christmas tree as he pulled Marinette into hug.

"Thank you. And like I said, nothing to serious. We'll just see where it goes from there," he breathed as he rested his head on hers.

Despite her worry of ruining the dress still in her arms, Marinette closed her eyes to enjoy this moment.