"Marinette, put me down, I can walk by myself," whined Manon while Marinette carried the child via piggyback, more for her own personal warmth than a free ride.
"But Manon, you won't be this small forever. Better enjoy it while you can," offered Marinette.
This seemed to appease the child since she offered no response. Alya walked alongside Marinette, smirking at her bestie's cleverness. They had been watching Manon all day as a holiday favor for Mrs. Chamack. They had spent a better part of the afternoon in the park building snowmen and having a snowball fight. This in the end left Marinette freezing with a desperate need to make a new jacket before school resumed next year.
"So is your cat boyfriend coming over for Christmas?" asked Alya
"Marinette has a boyfriend?!" Manon practically screamed in Marinette's ear.
"No and he's not my boyfriend. He said he is spending the day with his family so we'll meet up after Christmas."
"Why don't you just bring him to our friend party? Since he knows all three of us. Good chance to show Adrien his competition," Alya winked.
Marinette grumbled something unintelligible, but not denying her friend's statement. The three entered the bakery where Tom and Sabine were beginning to close up shop early for the day, being Christmas Eve.
"Merry Christmas!" The couple called out, only after taking notice it was their daughter, Manon, and Alya.
"Hi Maman, Papa. Any orders still left?" Asked Marinette as she removed her coat, glad to be in the warm bakery.
"A few more, one for Alya," Sabine handed Marinette a packaged holiday log. Marinette turned to hand her bestie the dessert when it fell out of her hands, which Alya was quick to catch.
"Thanks, I'd better head home now. Merry Christmas!" Alya left the bakery, soon replaced by the Kubels.
The rest of the afternoon was filled with customers coming in to pick up their preordered holiday goods. Even a few people from Marinette's class came, although she could have lived without Chloe stopping by too. Mrs. Chamack picked up Manon during the rush.
Their final customer was Adrien's bodyguard.
"Adrien's bodyguard. The present! I'll be right back!," Marinette rushed up to her room in a panic, leaving Marinette' parents to smile for their daughter's sudden absence.
She knew that she would see Adrien again in two days, but she had made an additional present just in case she saw him before the holidays. She grabbed the wrapped gift on the counter, and rushed back downstairs to see Adrien's body guard leaving. She continued her mad dash to the car.
"Excuse me? Wait! If you don't mind, this is.. this is for Adrien," Marinette handed over the gift, which the body guard took and proceeded into his car.
"Can you wish him a Merry Christmas from me, that is.. I mean it could be from you too, in fact Merry Christmas to you from.. um, ah.. me, of course.. Ah," Marinette stammered until the car pulled away. She hoped Adrien had a wonderful Christmas with his father, as well as Chat Noir with his family.
"Marinette, you ready," Tom asked, holding two baskets full of leftover treats, while her maman held one as well as Marinette's coat. The sign had already been turned to say close. As per Dupain-Cheng holiday tradition, they would close the store, then donate leftover goods to the local shelter, officially starting Christmas. Marinette hastily put on her jacket and took one of the baskets from her father. With a turn of the key, the bakery was closed and the holiday began.
Adrien picked up a silver ornament from the box on the ground beside him, hanging it up on the Christmas tree in the foyer of his home. Sure the tree looked a lot more professional than the one he had helped the Dupain-Chengs decorate as Chat Noir, but his mother did love to have a big decorated tree in front, even if it did have to look professional in case Gabriel clients or board members came over. His family would have made a fun one in another room or even in Adrien's room. According to his mother, you could never have too many Christmas trees.
Nathalie helped with the decorations, remembering well how Mrs. Agreste wanted the foyer Christmas tree to look. Adrien's bodyguard had been helping until Nathalie had sent him to pick up the holiday log.
Adrien took a step back to admire his part of the tree. Lots of gold and silver decorations, just as his mother liked.
"Check it out, Nathalie. Do you think he will like all the decorations?" Before Nathalie could respond, Adrien's bodyguard entered the mansion, the holiday log in hand and a present in another. The only person missing from the room was Gabriel Agreste.
"He should be down here already. Did you call him?"
Nathalie glanced towards her boss's office then back to Adrien, who was looking worried.
"Perhaps we should give him... a few more minutes," she offered weakly.
Adrien sighed before picking up another ornament, only to stop short.
"What's the point? He's not coming," Adrien retreated from the foyer, heading up to his room. His bodyguard stopped him and handed over the gift.
"Thanks. Merry Christmas both of you."
Adrien walked up to his room, and sprawled onto his bed. In his own room he had a small Christmas tree his friends had helped him pick out and decorate. Underneath the tree were four presents: one for Alya, one for Nino, one for Marinette as Adrien, and one for Marinette as Chat. Looking at the gift he had received from his bodyguard, he slowly opened it, to reveal a Santa hat with three additional fluffy balls at the end. Inside he found a card.
"Merry Christmas. Signed Marinette." He smiled as he stroke the fluffy band, knowing Marinette had taken the time to make him a Santa hat for Christmas. Now as he thought about it, he probably should have accepted Marinette's invitation to join her family on Christmas Eve, but Adrien hoped just this once he could spend it with his father. Maybe he wasn't too late and could still join. Adrien was about to call her when Nino's face appeared on his call screen. Adrien answered.
"Sup' Nino, thought you were with your family for the holidays."
"I am, just wanted to wish my best bro a merry Christmas since I may not be able to tomorrow. Cousins are watching Xtreme Xmas right now so I got a few minutes to talk."
"Thanks Nino, Merry Christmas to you."
"How's your Christmas been so far? Your old man come out of his hole yet?"
"No… I was thinking maybe joining Marinette as Chat Noir since she invited me."
"Well, according to her Christmas schedule, they should be halfway through making dinner by now, so it would be a good time to call."
"Christmas schedule?"
"Oh yeah, they have a whole schedule of traditions they do for Christmas. It's almost as bad as the one you get, just more jolly."
Adrien slumped on his bed. As much as he didn't like schedules, he was sure the Dupain-Cheng's would be much more enjoyable than sulking at home alone. But he didn't want to intrude on their holiday traditions.
"You sure they wouldn't mind?"
"She asked you over didn't she?"
"True."
"Then go for it. I'm sure they would be more than happy to have you."
"Thank Nino, enjoy your Christmas."
"You too- Uh oh."
Adrien sat up, "What?"
"It looks like Volpina just stole some kind of experimental power cell."
"On Christmas Eve?"
"Definitely naughty list."
"Well, what are we gonna do? I don't want Marinette to miss out on her family Christmas," Adrien sat on his bed, trying to think. Even if his Christmas was partially ruined, he didn't want the same for Marinette.
"We're going to have to tell her," commented Nino.
"Unless…" Adrien picked up the Santa hat, a plan formulating in his mind.
"Unless what?"
"What if I just handle Hawkmoth?" Adrien smiled as he put on Marinette's Santa hat.
"You?"
"Come on, I'm sure I can take him. Plus my Christmas is already shot. And this would mean a lot to Marinette for her to spend Christmas with her family instead of working. You think you can get me a ride?"
"Why don't you just tell her you like her already. I'm sure that's just as good a Christmas present as stopping Hawkmoth."
Adrien choked on his spit, "Nino! She's just a friend."
"Friends don't flirt with friends unless they like them." Adrien pouted but said nothing more to deny Nino's statement.
"Just find me a ride."
"Fine, I'm on it. I'll message you where to go. And check the drawer by your bed."
"You went through my stuff?"
"A Christmas present from Nino to Chat Noir," and with that, Nino hung up.
Adrien opened his bedside drawer to find a tubular shaped present. He sat it in front of Plagg, who had been napping on the couch.
"Come on Plagg, open it." The lazy kitten opened one eye. It eyed the present before closing its eye again.
"Lazy cat," Adrien scolded before unwrapping the gift, and tossing the paper and bow on top of the cat, who only then began to play with the trash.
Adrien opened the tube, and out slide a silver baton with a paw print button. He gave the button a quick press, which cause the baton to extend into a body length staff.
"Awesome."
"Alright, everything is all ready," Tom called out. Marinette finished setting up the tableware to sit down along with her mother who brought over the dumplings and her father brought out the turkey and chestnut stuffing.
"Merry Christmas everyone," offered Tom, raising toast with his glass.
"To those far away," continued Sabine.
"And those who are near," concluded Marinette. They clinked their glasses together, Marinette's mind wandering to a certain cat boy whom she hoped was having a good Christmas.
Chat Noir stood near the back of small boat, fully outfitted with scuba gear, and very thankful for the time Marinette and him did some scuba training shortly after they became partners. He wanted to bring Plagg for moral support, but that cat hated water more than anything. Instead, he tucked his Santa hat in Plagg's pocket for good luck.
"Thanks for the ride Captain Laurence," commented Chat, while adjusting the goggles around his Chat Noir mask. Just because this was a solo mission did not mean he wanted to compromise his identity, even with his ride.
"It's the least I can do, after you saved this old tub from sinking. Hold on. Ladybug saved my tub from sinking. Who are you?"
"Chat Noir, Ladybug's partner. I'm taking care of this mission as a sort of Christmas present for her," said Chat, full of smiles and proud for helping his lady.
"Well good luck, and wish her Merry Christmas for me."
"Will do sir," and with that, Chat jumped over board.
"Use this one next," Tom nudged a cookie cutter towards where Marinette and Sabine were baking Christmas cookies, while Tom had previously been working on the egg nog.
"Where'd you get this one," Marinette held up the cookie cutter, trying to discern its shape, "I don't think I've seen this one before."
"We got for Chat Noir in case he came over. To go with your ladybug one," Sabine nudged to Marinette the ladybug cookie cutter they had gotten for Marinette' first Christmas as Ladybug. Marinette smiled as she pressed the cat and ladybug cookie cutters into the dough.
Chat quickly discarded the snorkel equipment once he made it to dry land, taking a moment to check out Hawkmoth's latest lair, which looked like a factory atop a Cliffside. He pulled the baton from his bag and pressed the paw button; the baton extending to human length. Chat pressed the button again and he skyrocketed towards the lair, stopping right in front of a window.
"Easy peasy, lemon squeezy," he whispered to himself as he entered the window, shrinking the baton once he safe inside. He wandered about the halls until he found Hawkmoth messing with a control panel and mumbling to himself. Chat looked around the room to find the battery hooked up with the panel. He quietly snuck over and removed the battery. Chat was about to make his clean escape, when he heard Hawkmoth yell from behind.
"YOU!"
Adrien quickly leapt into a fighting stance, Battery held behind him, "You want a piece of this?" Hawkmoth jumped at Chat, knocking the battery onto the ground. They both looked at the battery then at each other. Hawkmoth quickly shoved Chat to the side and raced to pick up the battery. He put it back into the hook up and proceed over to the control panel. Chat jumped at Hawkmoth from behind, using the baton to pull Hawkmoth away from the panel. However, Hawkmoth, being the older and more experienced of the two, spun Chat, who was still trying to pull back, so that Chat's back was to the control panel, pressing a button.
"Initiating Launch sequence in five seconds... four… three…"
The roof opened above them, the center where they stood the only thing that detached itself from the lair in into the atmosphere.
"Finally, a holiday where I get what I want. Total global domination! This is going to be the best Christmas ever," Hawkmoth grinned maniacally while Chat panicked. This was not how Christmas was suppose to go. He rushed over to the panel, searching for something that would land their aircraft.
"Alright, alright, let's see, let's see", his eyes came to stop on a blue button, "Now this one looks good." He pressed the button.
"Commencing landing sequence."
"Alright! Got it on the first try. Not bad," Chat commented to no one in particular.
"Commencing take-off sequence."
Chat looked over to find Hawkmoth smugly pressing a red button.
Chat pressed his button, "Commencing landing sequence."
Hawkmoth pressed his button, "Commencing take-off sequence."
Chat growled as he pressed his button again, Hawkmoth quick to press his own button, getting more and more agitated with every press.
"Commencing landing sequence. Commencing take-off sequence. Commencing landing sequence. Commencing take-off... commencing... commencing... Please make up your mind."
Finally having enough, Chat went again at Hawkmoth, this time using his baton as a makeshift sword (he was very glad at this point for being in fencing). Hawkmoth pulled out a pipe and began to parry Chat's attack, albeit not as properly as Chat. Every time Hawkmoth swung his make-shift sword, he would accidentally hit a button, or force Chat Noir into the control panel, even though Chat tried to stay away from said panel.
"Initiating emergency system test."
"Launching escape pods."
"Initiating self destruct."
"Initiating bedtime sequence."
"Wait a second... what was that," asked Chat, pausing in the fighting, while Hawkmoth scrambled to where popped out a set of pajamas, toothbrush, toothpaste, a cup, and a purple teddy bear with a swirl on its belly.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Hawkmoth positioned himself in front of the night time regime.
"Before the teddy bear," scolded Chat, not that he could really criticize the teddy bear since he slept with his pet cat.
"Self-destruct in twenty." Chat began scrambling to find a way to stop the destruction while Hawkmoth sulked, taking his teddy bear in hand.
"This was my chance to rule the world. All I want is what's coming to me. All I want is my fair share," Hawkmoth whined.
Chat pulled Hawkmoth up by the collar, "This thing is about to self destruct and all you can do is whine about a ruined Christmas?"
"I have escape pods," Hawkmoth shoved Chat off and proceeded to one of the pod doors. He looked out the pod window only to see the night sky.
"Had escape pods," Chat corrected. Hawkmoth panicked, looking around the room for something they could escape in. His eyes went wide as he spotted something.
"The garbage is jettisoned in an impact resistant container."
"English please, or French," asked Chat.
"I said, it's an escape pod full of garbage," responded Hawkmoth, getting annoyed with the cat boy.
"Works for me," Chat quickly jumped in, with Hawkmoth following. Their capsule was launched just in the nick of time as their previous ride exploded in the stratosphere. They began hurdling down towards Earth, Chat grabbing onto Hawkmoth for dear life.
"Get off me!" Hawkmoth tried to tear of Chat, but he continued to hang on. They re-entered earth's atmosphere, heat trailing off their capsule, Hawkmoth grabbed onto Chat as they braced for impact.
They came down with a loud crash, Chat hearing something like glass break as they came to a rolling stop.
Chat scrambled off Hawkmoth to see where they were. They were surrounded by snow and ice everywhere.
"Land ho!" Chat called out.
"No kidding," grumbled Hawkmoth as he got up.
Chat ignored the old scientist and jumped out of the capsule onto the snow.
"We're alive!" He toss some snow in the air.
"I'd better let Nino know." Chat turned to his watch only to find the glass completely shattered on the watch, some of it having scratched his wrist from the impact. It wouldn't turn on.
Marinette and her family settled down in their new Christmas pajamas, ready to watch a holiday movie or show. Her father wanted Xtreme Xmas, her mother wanted "A Christmas Carol", and Marinette wanted the "Grinch Who Stole Christmas". It was then that their home phone began to ring.
Sabine sat up from the sofa and picked up the phone.
"Hello? Merry Christmas to you too." Sabine looked over to Marinette.
"No we haven't seen him all night. Is something wrong?" Sabine began biting her lip, a habit Marinette had picked up when concentrating or nervous. Her eyes went wide.
"Kidnapped? I'm sure there's another explanation." She mouthed to her family as the person on the other line continued, "Adrien is missing." Marinette promptly ran up to her room to retrieve her phone.
"Alright, we will let you know if we see him. Good Night," Sabine hung up the phone as Marinette came tearing down the stairs.
"Please pick up, please pick up," she whispered waiting for the other person to answer.
"Marinette?" came Nino's voice on the other line.
"I need you to track Adrien asap. He's gone missing." There was dead air for a couple seconds.
"I know."
"Have you traced his phone already."
"Yeah."
More dead air, Marinette starting to grow frustrated.
"Where is he?"
Nino sighed, "North Pole."
"WHAT?!" Marinette jumped at her phone, her father managing to catch it. Tom handed the device back to his daughter.
"How is Adrien at the North Pole?"
"Um… funny thing actually…" Marinette could almost see Nino scratching the back of his neck with how he was talking.
"Hawkmoth had Volpina steal a battery…"
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"And I was already talking to Adrien when he said he didn't your Christmas ruined so he would take care of it for you."
"And you thought this was a good idea? Adrien has no field experience with this sort of thing? What if he was hurt? What if Volpina burned him? What if his burn is hurting? Why would he even think to do this?"
"Because he's actually Chat Noir," answered Nino.
Marinette felt her phone drop to the floor. She could vaguely hear her maman say, "I knew it." She could see her dad pick up her phone and continue to talk to Nino.
But Marinette was at a loss. For the past nearly four months, Adrien, her crush since sophomore year of high school, was her crime fighting partner. Adrien made puns. She asked Chat Noir to the dance. Adrien had cat kung fu skills. She made Chat a scarf for his birthday. She was going to be Chat's partner for the tournament. Adrien hugged her when she won. Adrien flirted with her. Chat was scared she didn't like him after the tournament. Chat asked if she was alright after she was hit by Le Paon. Adrien sneezed in a villain's face because he was allergic to feathers. She saw Chat dancing with his mom. She got see a Jagged Stone concert with Adrien.
Everything she and Chat or Adrien came back to her. She was finally awoken out of her stupor by a hand on her shoulder.
She turned to see her mother.
"Save Adrien now. Panic later."
"Right," Marinette nodded and asked for the phone back. Her father gave her the phone.
"Nino, can you get me a ride to the North Pole?"
"Already on it."
"We're coming too," insisted her father.
"Papa," started Marinette.
"Adrien is as much a part of the family as Chat," answered Sabine. Marinette nodded.
"Make it a ride for three."
Chat held up his cellphone, hoping for reception, but nothing.
"This is all your fault," Chat heard Hawkmoth as he emerged from the capsule.
"What? I'm supposed to let you take over the world?" Chat rolled his eyes to look at the freezing villain. He picked up some snow and began to roll it into a ball.
"In the spirit of the season, yes!" The snowball hit Hawkmoth directly in the chest.
"Oh, you want to throw things now." Hawkmoth rolled up some snow, which he threw at Chat, hardly causing any damage to the freezing cat boy. They continued to throw snow at each other, until after a hit to the face for Hawkmoth, he pulled out of his coat a flip phone.
"Dude! Dude! Stop! That's a cell phone!" Chat hurried over to Hawkmoth's side to find he still had service.
"How do you have service here?"
"Villain services allow global roaming calls," answered Hawkmoth as he dialed a number.
"Went to voicemail," grumbled Hawkmoth. Chat sighed and began wandering towards the capsule, looking through the garbage for hopefully something eat or keep him warm.
"Hello Volpina, it's Hawkmoth. I hope you're having a nice vacation. When you get a chance
could you get up here to the north pole and save me? Please? It's cold and windy and dark and we've got nothing to... That's my chicken!" Chat stopped short, about to take a bit of some discarded chicken. His father would have been disgusted, Plagg would have been proud.
"Hey, you threw it away," commented Chat.
All of Hawkmoth's remaining dignity was gone as he charged towards Chat. Hawkmoth knocked the piece of chicken out Chat's hand, but Chat was quick to retrieve it. Hawkmoth fell to the ground, ready to beg for that small piece of food.
"Name your price... power, glory. When I take over the world, you can have a continent. Any continent. Not Europe."
"Not Europe? Dude, I live in Europe." Hawkmoth crossed his arms and pouted, refusing to give up Europe for a piece of Chicken.
"Fine. I want the cell phone."
Hawkmoth glared, standing up with the cell phone in hand.
"You drive a hard bargain." They squared off against each other, quickly grabbing each other's wanted item. Hawkmoth began to greedily bite into the chicken.
Chat pulled out his phone and searched for Nino's number. He could not get Marinette or his father at all involved in this escapade.
He quickly dialed Nino's number.
"Hello?" came Nino on the other line.
"Thank god, you answered its Chat. I'm stuck at the North Pole with Hawkmoth and have no way out of here."
"I know, your watch sent me your coordinates before you broke it. An emergency feature I added."
"Can you please get us a ride out of here?"
"Already got one for you bro."
Before Chat could inquire anymore, he saw a look of panic cross Hawkmoth's face. He then heard a roar come from behind, turning to see a polar bear rising on its hind legs. Chat dropped the phone in shock, leaving Nino calling out to him as what was going on. He felt Hawkmoth grab his arm and drag him inside the capsule. The polar bear lumbered to the capsule and pushed it over the edge of the cliff, sending the duo tumbling down the snowbanks. Hawkmoth and Chat held onto each other for dear life, the capsule coming to another stop at an angle, forcing them to slide out of the capsule onto the snow. Hawkmoth shoved Chat away as he began dusting the snow off himself.
"We did it. We got away," Chat fell back onto the snow with a sigh of relief.
"Like this is so much better," complained Hawkmoth as he stood up, heading back towards the capsule.
"Better than being stuck at home."
"Family doesn't celebrate Christmas either?"
Chat turned his head to look up at Hawkmoth.
"We used to, back when my mother was around," Chat sat up. Hawkmoth turned and sat beside him.
"I thought this year would be different. That my father and I could enjoy the holidays this year," Chat pulled out the Santa hat from Marinette, "Instead I ended up alone."
"I know the feeling. After my father died, Christmas with mother was never quite the same," consoled Hawkmoth.
"Is that why you tried to take over the world this Christmas?"
Hawkmoth shrugged.
"Why not spend it with Ladybug? She's all warm and friendly like that," Hawkmoth grumbled.
"I was when Volpina stole the battery. Figured I could give Ladybug a Christmas with her family if I came and took care of the problem by myself."
Hawkmoth nodded.
"You're a good partner Chat Noir." Hawkmoth stood up and proceeded back over to the capsule.
"Let's see about getting you back to your Ladybug in time for Christmas then."
Chat smiled and followed after Hawkmoth.
"You know Hawkmoth, you aren't such a bad guy."
"I'm evil I tell you," argued Hawkmoth as he headed inside the capsule. But Chat could help but notice the small smile on Hawkmoth's face.
Marinette and her parents flew towards the North Pole, passing over the base camp where Xtreme Xmas was being filmed.
"Thanks for the ride Mr. Lau," said Marinette as she strapped one boot onto her snowboard.
Miss Sui, Mr. Lau's assistant had been chatting with Marinette's mother in Chinese as soon as introductions had been made, leaving Marinette and her father to watch Xtreme Xmas with Mr. Lau on the airplane's TV.
Mr. Lau whispered something to Miss Sui.
"Mr. Lau says it is the least he can do, after you saved his video game factory in time for Christmas rush."
"Marinette, isn't that that one woman who was in our kitchen a couple weeks back?" asked Tom, pointing to the TV.
Marinette looked to the TV to see Volpina leading the camera crew of Xtreme Xmas on a wild goose chase. One of the camera looked up to see Mr. Lau's plane following the chase. Marinette walked over to the door of the plane, opening it to see down below indeed Volpina leading the TV crew.
"I'm going to follow her, she may know where Hawkmoth and Chat are." Marinette's parent's nodded. Marinette strapped on her other boot to her board and jumped out of the plane, doing a flip before starting the rocket on the end of her board, only to land easily beside Volpina.
"Hey, aren't you supposed to be home bobbing for cider or something," snarked Volpina.
"Not without Chat."
"Loser." The two girls raced each other side by side over the hilly terrain. They saw a polar bear eating out of a small trashcan, but continued forward, only to come to the edge of a cliff. THey both jumped the cliff and proceed down through the snow. They came to a fissure, where they both separated, Marinette taking the low ground while Volpina took the high ground. Marinette turned to see if Volpina was following her, only to run into a snowbank.
"Marinette?" Marinette looked up to see Chat a top of the snowbank, gathering pieces of what she assumed were parts of the capsule. He was wearing her Santa hat.
"Chat," Marinette struggled to stand up but fell face forward, her boots still in the snowboard.
Chat rushed forward and her up, Marinette unclasping her boots before giving her partner a hug.
"I'm glad you're safe Adrien," she whispered.
"You know?"
"Yeah, your dad's secretary called us worried about you, saying you were missing. I called Nino and he told me…"
"But Marinette, your Christmas," started Chat.
"Would not be the same without you."
Chat smiled before realizing something.
"How come you aren't stuttering or freaking out right now?"
Marinette bit her lip, "I promised maman I save the freaking out for later. Right now, let's get you home."
Marinette was about to escort Chat when Volpina dropped down in front of them.
"Are you two finished? Because I am not," Volpina let burst some of her plasmaglow, sending Chat to the side and Marinette to a higher vantage point. Marinette launched herself at Volpina, who came attacking her. Neither girls noticed when Chat ran off, and neither noticed until the camera crew was too close that Xtreme Xmas was filming them still.
"Okay... and fight." Both girls stopped, both other the Xtreme Xmas crew. Just then, the ground rumbled as the capsule behind the snowbank took off.
"Come along Volpina, we have Christmas to celebrate elsewhere," announced Hawkmoth from the capsule.
"Later," Volpina jumped onto the snowbank then onto the capsule.
Marinette was ready to go after them when she felt a hand stop her throw of her yoyo. She turned to see Chat.
"It's Christmas," Chat offered, with big kitty eyes.
Marinette smiled and booped his nose, "Fine Chaton, just this once."
Adrien stood at attention in his father's study, his Chat Noir disguise long put away, now only left with his Santa hat from Marinette. Nathalie stood at attention by her desk, while his father face the portrait of Adrien's mother.
"Adrien. You understand I can't have you disappearing like that. I couldn't bare the thought of losing you."
Adrien's eyes went wide in realization of what his father said, only to let the sad memory of his mother missing dampen his thoughts. Just then, the doorbell rang. Nathalie answered the call and presses the button to open the gate. She turned to face Adrien, her face revealing no answers regarding the call.
"I think it's for you," she answered.
Adrien looked up to his father who nodded. Adrien smiled and raced towards the front door to find his friends and their families, with Nino, Alya, and Marinette front and center. Nathalie and his father came up from behind.
"I informed everyone that Adrien was home, safe and sound, sir. They were all worried about their friend." Adrien turned to look over at his father.
"Oh please, father. It's Christmas!"
"Of course. Come on in."
Nino was the first one, in, tackling Adrien in a hug, the rest of his school friends surrounding him. "Aww brother!"
Nathalie and Mr. Agreste proceeded to let everyone follow them into the dining room, the Christmas Eve dinner already prepared. Everyone sat down, Adrien sitting in the middle, which Chloe quickly claimed his right, while Nino claimed his left. Her turned to see Alya sit across from Nino, while Marinette sat across from him, her family following to sit beside her. He offered her a smile, which she returned with a smile, a blush dotting her cheeks.
"Merry Christmas Everyone," Mr. Agreste raised his glass in a toast.
"Merry Christmas!" "Happy Holidays!" Echoed everyone around them room, clinking their glasses.
Adrien turned around to see a painting of his family on the wall behind him, "Merry Christmas Mother."
The night grew late as people slowly began leaving the Agreste mansion, Marinette and her family being the last few people to leave.
"Thank again for having us Mr. Agreste. We are glad Adrien is home safe and sound," said Tom as he shook Gabriel's hand.
"My pleasure."
"You're welcome over any time Adrien," continued Sabine, bringing the boy into a hug, whispering into his ear, "Either as Chat or Adrien."
Adrien's smile spread into a Cheshire cat like grin at this.
He looked to see Marinette was still putting on his jacket.
"I'll be right back," Adrien rushed up to his room as Marinette rejoined her parents.
"Where'd Adrien go?" The three adults shrugged. Tom and Sabine started heading out with Marinette following. She hears snow crunch behind her, turning around to see Adrien with a present in hand.
"Merry Christmas Ladybug." Marinette turned bright red.
"Cha-Adrien, I'm sorry. I didn't bring yours. If I had-" Marinette spluttered.
"It's fine. You can give it to me another time," Adrien handed over the gift. Marinette hesitantly took it.
"Open it," urged Adrien.
Marinette opened the gift to reveal a black jacket similar to the one Chat Noir had worn that one time, only in feminine style.
"I noticed your jacket didn't seem warm enough, thought you could use a new one."
Marinette didn't know what to say. She quickly took off her old jacket to put on the new one, the inside of the jacket warming her to the bone.
"Do you like it?" Adrien asked, unsure by her silence.
Still not trusting herself to say anything, Marinette hugged Adrien, burying her face into his chest.
"So warm," she mumbled. Adrien smiled and gave her a hug back.
"Mari Christmas Marinette," Adrien chuckled at his own clever pun, Marinette groaning in response.
Merry Christmas in October!
Don't worry, lots more interesting adventures to come.
Just to cap, Nino, now Marinette and her parents know Chat/Adrien's double identity. This will be important later. ;)