July 3, 2015

Adrien fiddled with the strap of his bag. As much as he adored Marinette, did she have to spend so long talking to Alya? He needed to get some details from her about Marinette's surprise party before his driver grew too impatient.

It wasn't too long before Marinette left. She waved to Adrien, frowning, as if she were curious as to why he was still hanging around. He quickly ducked down, indicating that he needed to tie his shoe. His already perfectly tied shoe. The boy facepalmed as she finally walked out of the classroom.

"That's the best you could do, Agreste?" Alya quickly scurried up the stairs.

"I'm sorry! YOU come up with something like that on the fly!" Adrien straightened, readjusting his bag.

Alya rolled her eyes with a smile. "So, you able to make it on the 18th for the party?"

"I made sure Nathalie put it in every version of Father's calendar. I might not be able to be there to help with the setup, but I'll definitely be there before Marinette."

"Nice!" Alya stretched. "Have you figured out your present yet?"

Adrien shrugged. "I bought her a new sketchbook. But… I want to make her something too! I just don't know what!"

Alya shifted. She noticed something colorful at the edge of Adrien's bag. She maneuvered it out before he could protest. The girl quirked an eyebrow.

"Is this… Marinette's lucky charm?"

Adrien prayed that the blush creeping up his neck wasn't too noticeable. "Uh… yeah? She, uh… she let me borrow it for the Ultra Mecha Strike tournament. Guess I keep forgetting to give it back."

Alya played with the charm in her a little longer. "What if you didn't have to?"


Adrien finished wrapping his gifts the day of Marinette's party when he received a phone call from Alya.

"Hey, Alya. Is everything okay?"

"Yeah, it's fine. I just got a text from Marinette. Turns out her grandmother showed up to surprise her. Marinette asked if we can push the 'thing' until 4:30 so she can have some time with her."

Adrien groaned. "She knows about the party?"

"Seems so. It's pretty hard to sneak something this big past her. Anyway, are you able to sneak away to help with set up after all?"

"Yeah, I should be able to help. I just finished wrapping her gifts. I can be at the park in 10 minutes."


At 4:30pm on the dot, Marinette stood at the entrance to the park with her eyes blindfolded. Adrien couldn't help the butterflies in his stomach at the confident yet hesitant steps she took with Alya's guidance. He cheered with the rest of their friends as everyone wished her a happy birthday.

Marinette did a little happy dance as each of her friends came up to hug her and give her their gifts. When it was his turn, the butterflies in Adrien's stomach returned. Will she open them right now? Later? I don't know which one I'd prefer… His internal debating stopped when he saw something weighing on Marinette.

"Hey birthday girl!" He grinned, stacking his gifts on the pile behind her. "Want to take a break from greeting and get a snack?"

"Please!" She breathed a sigh of relief.

The duo wandered over to the refreshment table to grab some cookies and a cup of punch. Adrien steered them over to a bench under the shade of one of the larger trees.

"I can tell there's something on your mind." The blond took a bite of his cookie. He shrugged when Marinette whipped to face him, eyes wide. "We've known each other long enough at this point when I can tell. What's up?"

Marinette sighed. "My Nona came to visit."

"That's nice."

"It is," Marinette fidgeted with something around her neck. "She travels a lot, so she's rarely in one place for long and it's been about four years since I've seen her in person."

Adrien swallowed his cookie, coughing when it went down the wrong way. "That's a while."

"Yeah… it's been so long that she thinks I'm still into the same things from when I was ten. They're fun and all, but…"

"You've grown up." He finished for her.

Marinette smiled at his understanding. "I've kinda known about the party for a while now, and was really excited about spending time with Nona - even if it meant going to the train station or the zoo like we used to. I thought I could have both. But I don't think I left things well with her when it was time for the party." Her smile dropped. "I'm afraid she thought I was ditching her. She looked so sad…"

Adrien hesitated before placing a hand on Marinette's knee. He dipped his head to meet her eyes.

"Hey… Even if she is sad, it's not on you. You already had these plans. And… I guess it's something that every parent and grandparent has to deal with at some point."

Marinette scoffed. "What, being disappointed in their kids?"

"No," Adrien shook his head. "Watching their kids become their own person." He took a chance to cup Marinette's cheek. He didn't miss when her breath hitched. "Your Nona's going to be fine."

"MARINETTA!"

The teens whirled around at the sound of a motorcycle coming from… the sky? A green skinned woman with red hair rode the machine with several angelic beings flying behind her.

"...or she could become an akuma…" Marinette whispered.


"La Befana comes at night, on her shaky broom in flight. She gives candy to those who are dandy." Befana swooped in for a landing as Adrien shoved Marinette behind their bench.

"Stay here, Marinette. Ladybug and Chat Noir will be here soon." He dashed off to find a spot so he could fulfill his part of that promise. He hoped that was a secure enough spot for Marinette to transform.

"You naughty children…" Befana drawled, skulking about the party goers. "Where have you hidden my Marinetta?"

"Are you… Marinette's grandmother?" Alya stepped forward.

"Not anymore! I am only Befana - here to punish Marinetta for her lies… and anyone else who dares get in my way!"

"When did Marinette lie? We pushed her party so she could spend more time with you today!" Nino protested. He ducked behind Alya when Befana swung her gaze at him.

"She just couldn't wait to leave her Nona for her fancy party. I WILL find Marinetta and punish her!"

There was a commotion near the refreshment table as one of Befana's fairies wrestled with something.

"OW! Maman! That hurts!" Marinette struggled against her mother's transformed grip. Fairy Sabine managed to grab the girl as she sought out a better place to transform.

Befana spread her arms. "Very good, my fairy! Bring that naughty girl here."

"Yes, mistress." Fairy Sabine brought Marinette closer. The girl stilled as Befana squeezed her cheeks together.

"So disappointing," Befana tsked. "I would have thought your parents taught you better than to lie to your elders, Marinetta."

"Nona, if this is about the candy, I'm sorry!" Marinette begged. "I-I didn't know how to tell you! I didn't want to upset you!"

Befana's gaze darkened as she released Marinette. She paced back and forth, aura growing darker by the second.

"It's about the candy, about your excuses, it's about EVERYTHING!" She roared. Her voice then calmed, more menacing than her shouts. "And once I have taken care of you, I'll track down those naughty superheroes and claim their Miraculous for Hawkmoth!"

"How about I save you the trouble?"

Everyone tracked the voice to the top of the lamppost where Chat Noir now perched.

"Black cats are bad luck, my pet." Befana spun her gun to its 'fairy' setting. "You'll look so much better in white!"

Chat Noir easily dodged Befana's projectiles. "You sure about that? I always thought that black brings out my eyes!" He drew his fingers across his eyes dramatically before winking at Marinette. She laughed despite the position she was still in.

Befana stamped her foot in frustration. She gestured from Fairy Sabine to where Chat sat. "Bring me that cantankerous cat, my fairy! Marinetta won't be going anywhere."

"Yes, mistress."

The second Fairy Sabine released Marinette, the girl took off running. Befana immediately began firing in her direction.

"You little BRAT! Not wanting to stick around to face the consequences of your actions? I thought I raised your father better than to raise a liar and a coward!"

Marinette dove underneath the present table. Her heart constricted as she heard Rose step up to Befana.

"You leave Marinette alone!" Rose shrieked. "She's one of the nicest people in the whole world!"

That stopped Befana in her tracks. "You dare speak to me without permission?" She raised her gun, but then seemed to reconsider. "Then again, standing up for your friend is… quite admirable. You will become one of my fairies!" Rose was soon sporting a white mask and a pair of wings, floating next to Befana as Fairy Sabine was still attempting to capture Chat Noir.

Chat caught sight of Marinette emerging from under the present table and made a beeline for her. Even with her mother on his tail, he needed to get her out of here so she could transform. He scooped her into his arms, running as hard as he could.

"Thanks, Chat." Marinette buried her face into Chat's neck to keep the wind from burning her eyes.

"Anytime, Princess." He risked a look behind them. A couple of Befana's fairies were still following. "How do we lose these guys?"

Marinette raised her head to survey their location. "Try that alley. Then double back and take us to the Eiffel Tower."

Chat smirked at her cleverness. "As the birthday girl commands." He could feel Marinette's eye roll burn into the side of his head, but he also felt her tense up at the mention of her birthday.

It wasn't long before the pair reached the Eiffel Tower with nary a fairy in sight. Chat Noir gently set Marinette on her feet.

"Thanks again, Chat." Her eyes were downcast, her feet already shuffling backwards. "I'll go find a place to hide while you and Ladybug take care of things. Sorry for causing this-"

Chat took her shoulders before the girl could shuffle off, tilting her chin to meet his eyes.

"Marinette, NONE of this is your fault. If there's anyone to blame, it's Hawkmoth." He wiped away a stray tear that had escaped and snaked its way down Marinette's cheek. "After all of this is over, you and your grandmother will have a chance to clear the air. I promise." Chat released Marinette, leaping onto the railing.

"Oh! Almost forgot!" He turned to look back. "Happy Birthday, Princess."


True to Chat's promise, Ladybug and Chat Noir defeated Befana and returned her to normal. The party was soon back in full swing. Marinette caught up with her grandmother at Andre's ice cream cart, latching herself around her Nona's waist.

"Marinetta!" Nona exclaimed, returning the fierce embrace. "I am so sorry I ruined your birthday!"

Marinette shook her head. "You didn't ruin anything, Nona…" She stopped as Nona tutted.

"I was being selfish. I… I chose to stay away for so long, exploring so many wonders of the world. I hadn't realized that I was missing the wonders of my own family." She cupped her granddaughter's cheek. "How about I stay through Christmas and then you and I take a trip during your spring holiday, just the two of us? Time enough for us to become acquainted with each other again."

Marinette squeaked, burying her face further into her Nona's shirt. "That would be the best birthday and Christmas gift rolled into one!"

Adrien watched from afar, smiling at grandmother and granddaughter reconciling. He winced as Plagg pinched him from his place in his shirt.

"You don't seem too broken up about Pigtails not opening your gifts yet."

"She'll get to them eventually. It's her party." He turned, looking for a dark corner to sneak away. "Come on, Plagg. Chat Noir needs to leave his birthday gift for Marinette on her balcony."

The kwami groaned. "What color rose are you leaving her this time?

Adrien grinned. "Yellow."