"Have a fun time, dear!" Sabine smiled at Marinette as she stirred batter in the bowl. Marinette smiled, and walked out, blinking in the winter sunlight. She was heading to Adrien's, seeing if he wanted to play out in the snow.
Marinette loved this time of year where Paris was dressed to its best in lights and decorations. Whenever her mother went out shopping, Marinette would come along she would look longingly at thee toys and dresses in the shop windows.
It didn't take her long to get to Adrien's and she rang the buzzer at the gate. "Yes?" a stern voice answered. "Hi," Marinette felt a bit nervous. "I'm hear to see Adrien?" "Oh, come in, Marinette!" a different voice said, and Marinette recognized the voice as his mother's.
"Hello, Marinette, dear!" Emile Agreste sang as Marinette came inside. "For a moment, I thought a little ladybug had landed on my porch. Things going well at the bakery?" Marinette nodded. "Its the most busiest time of year, but Mom and Dad love making people happy." "I plan on stopping in for a cup of tea with your mother sometime this week. Now, you've probably come to see Adrien, but he's got a slight cold."
"Oh, poor Adrien," Marinette could sympathize. "But I thought you and I could cheer him up with a Christmas card and some cookies. Would you like to help me?" Marinette nodded eagerly.
They visited in the kitchen, and Marinette felt cozy as Emile poured her a warm cup of hot chocolate. The room smelled of spices and ginger, for they were making gingerbread cookies!
"You should have seen Adrien when he was a bit younger, Marinette," Emile told her with a light laugh. "Whenever we made gingerbread, he would sit in front of the oven to make sure they didn't escape." Marinette laughed heartily. "I've heard gingerbread can be very fast," she winked.
While the gingerbread cookies baked, Marinette started on her card, but she felt stuck. "Does Adrien have anyone he looks to?" "He's heard me tell many stories about Ladybug and Cat Noir," Emile smiled, and Marinette peered closely. Did she detect a hint of sadness in Emile's voice? "Ladybug…" Marinette said slowly, "And Cat Noir?" "Superheroes that do good in times of trouble and keep the world safe from evil. Here, I have a picture in this book…" Emile left for a moment to grab the book.
When she came back, she showed Marinette. Marinette loved the look of confidence on their faces, and begin to draw. She looked up when she heard a slight buzzing sound. The cookies couldn't be done yet, could they?
"Looks like your friend had the same idea as you, Marinette," Emile said, and Marinette looked up to see Luka. "Expect he came to sing some Christmas carols." "Luka!" Marinette gave her friend a hug. "Would you like to sing a few songs with me, Marinette?" Luka asked. "I brought my guitar." Marinette nodded, shyly.
"Tell you what, dears," Emile said. "How about you go up and see Adrien, and I'll come when the cookies are ready."
Luka knocked on Adrien's door, and they could hear a faint, "come in!"
"Hi, guys," Adrien said, with a stuffed up nose. "I look a bit like Rudolph, with my red nose." "We came to sing you a few Christmas carols," Luka told him, gently strumming his guitar. "And Rudolph seems like a good one to start with."
Adrien's face lit up like Christmas lights as his friends sang. Sure, they got the giggles once or twice, but it was fun.
"Guess who made you cookies!" Emile came in awhile later. "And a card!" Marinette said, shyly handing hers to Adrien.
Adrien blew his nose. "You are all so sweet, thank you." Then he yawned. "We'll let you get some sleep now," Emile said.
Before closing his eyes, Adrien admired Marinette's card. He loved how she had drawn Cat, playful and happy, not knowing one day he would call himself Cat Noir, and Marinette (Ladybug) he would call M'lady.