Adrien was trying really hard to listen to Nathaniel and Marc explaine the background story to their Manga. Really he was. It wasn't that he wasn't interested. As a fan of anime he was blown away to discover that Marc was a writer and Nathaniel an illustrator - plus the whole superhero premise sounded fascinating. They made a great team, but his mind was drifting to a different team - the one that had been him and Marinette.

He watched her as she crossed the room, talking with Ms Bustier and Mr Ramier. She had taken off her red coat and was wearing a red dress with white trims. It was very Christmassy, it was very her. Adrien was almost certain it was one of her own designs too out of that sketchbook she had showed to Fu.

"Everyone quiet down." Ms Bustier suddenly called out. "They are about to announce the winner."

A hush soon fell over the cafe and everyone turned to the large TV mounted on the wall. Ms Bustier turned up the volume so they could hear what Aurore and Mireille were saying. The two hosts were standing in the movie memorabilia store with Mrs Mandeleive, her face pensive with anticipation.

"I don't know about you Mireille, but this year's display by Silver Lakes was not what I was expecting at all."

"You're absolutely right Aurore, Silver Lakes have outdone themselves and brought to our viewers a little bit of history along the way. I don't know about you, but it's left me with such a warm and fuzzy feeling."

The camera then panned back, bringing the two judges into view, the woman holding an envelope in her hands. Aurore took the envelope holding the verdict and held it up to the camera. "The two judges have conferred and made their decision on which display has best represented the spirit of the Christmas season this year. Will it be the modern electric light spectacular of Diamond Cove or the warm and welcoming nostalgia of Christmases past offered to us by Silver Lakes. Mireille, if you would like to do the honours."

Mireille took the envelope and opened it before the two girls spoke in unison "Silver Lake".

The cafe erupted into cheers and applause with hugs and kisses all round. Mrs Mandeleive accepted the crystal snowflake statuette on behalf of the towns people, the smile on her face bigger than any had ever seen. Taking the microphone she looked down at the camera.

"I want to thank my great great grandfather for coming to this town and to all the townsfolk who made this win possible. I also want to send a special shout out to the two contest helper people. You have been amazing and we couldn't have done this without you. Thank you."

Adrien cast his eyes across the room, meeting Marinette's she gave him a bright smile before she was caught up in another hug by Ms Bustier and Harmony. They had done it. Somehow against all they odds these two people from different worlds and different experiences had come together and achieved the unachievable. Adrien felt a real sense of pride, but it was also touched with sadness. Now that the contest was over, Master Fu would be making his decision, and Adrien wasn't ready for it. He wasn't ready to say goodbye.

In his pocket, he heard his phone chime. Opening it, he found a text message from Chloé.

Chloé: You beat her. I don't know how, but you did. Good for you, although it must have been your girlfriend's doing because you have no fashion or style sense whatsoever/ jks. Must catch up in the New Year x

Girlfriend. The word glared mockingly from the screen at him. As the roar of success subsided, the townspeople settled into lively chatter as Marinette helped Ms Bustier pass around slices of coffee with cake. Marinette even jumped in behind the barista, something she hadn't done since her university days. Adrien took the opportunity to at least try and talk to her.

"She's put you to work has she?" He asked in good humour.

"I don't mind." Marinette replied. "I'm sure the cafe has never been this crowded before, and everyone is devouring that chocolate cheese cake you made. You didn't tell me you had been baking today."

"You didn't ask." He replied. Marinette called out the order name, before starting on the next set of lattes. "Actually I came to ask you a huge favour."

Marinette stopped momentarily. "What kind of favour?"

"Nothing bad, it's about Plagg." Adrien replied, rubbing the back of his neck as he spoke. "My apartment won't allow any pets and it might take a while for me to find a new place that does. Are you able to take him, just until I can sort something out?"

Marinette was a little surprised at that. "You… you're going to relocate from your apartment just to keep the cat?"

Adrien shrugged. "I can't leave him here and I guess I've become kind of attached to the little fleabag. Anyway, I'll most likely need to find a new building for my shop, so who knows where that will take me. Can you take him please? I'll pay for his food and whatever he needs and I'll come and see him as much as I can."

Marinette gave him a teasing smirk. "Are you sure you're not just asking me to take your cat as an excuse to come and visit?"

Adrien's face broke into a grin. "I won't deny that I'd still like to see you too." His eyes then became more intense. "I've really enjoyed this time with you Marinette. No matter what Master Fu decides, I hope we can still spend time together… even if it's just as friends. I…" He considered his choice of words. "I don't want to lose you."

"You won't lose me." Marinette said back, a thousand different thoughts running through her head. "Of course I'll take Plagg. I'm kind of attached to him too." She giggled. "And you can see him whenever you like."

"Marinette?" Ms Bustier called out. "Do you have those lattes for table 6?"

"Coming." Marinette called back. She gave Adrien an apologetic smile before getting back to the coffees. Adrien left her to it, wandering off to find Nate and Marc.

After a few more beverages were brewed, Marientte was finally able to step away from the barista and found herself admiring the photos Ms Bustier had hung on the wall.

"Crazy night huh." Ms Bustier said, coming over to stand next to Marinette.

"The best." Marinette replied. "I still can't believe we won." She looked back at the pictures of Ms Bustier's mother and grandmother. "I was just admiring your photos here. Looks like you forgot to take your Christmas decorations down in a few of them though." She chuckled, noting the wreaths and tinsel still hung up in spring.

"Oh these weren't forgotten." Ms Bustier smiled. "That side of the cafe used to be an all year round Christmas store my mother owned."

Marientte's eyes opened wide in surprise. "A year round Christmas store! Gosh I haven't seen one of those since I was a little girl in Lyon. How magical! You must have loved that growing up."

"I did. Here, let me show you something." Ms Bustier said mysteriously, beckoning Marinette to follow her. On the other side of the cafe, Ms Bustier opened a door that Marinette had assumed would lead outside. Instead there was a whole other room filled from floor to roof with the most amazing Christmas decorations.

"It's a bit messy because I let Nate and Marc in here to hunt for decorations." She said as Marinette looked over the overflowing shelves. "But this is what remains of the old store. I should have emptied it years ago, but I couldn't bring myself to let go. It's like still having a bit of my mother with me."

Marinette wondered if that was what baking was for Adrien. A way to keep that connection with his mother.

"If you see something you like, feel free to help yourself." Ms Bustier added. "You deserve a gift for all you have done."

"It's like a Christmas explosion." Marinette gaped in awe. "I wouldn't know where to start."

Picking up one of the snow globes, she found it was a scene from the Nutcracker. Winding it a little, Clara had in the centre began to spin with her Prince to the Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies. She chuckled to herself remembering that obscenely large Nutcracker at the motel she and Adrien had stayed at. "And you didn't want to continue it? The Christmas shop I mean."

"After my mother passed I tried to, but once Harmony was born it got a bit much for me. I'm happiest just running the cafe. Maybe one day I might reopen it if Harmony is interested in helping me run it."

"It's such an unusual combination." Marinette mused. "A coffee shop and an all year Christmas store. I never would have thought it."

"Somehow my mother made it work." Ms Bustier said wistfully. "It was the unusual combination that made this place special. Like a two for one deal."

"It's certainly inspiring." Marinette said offhandedly. She then froze in her tracks. A two for one deal. Two shops, completely different yet combined to make one. Oh why hadn't they thought of this before!

"I have to find Master Fu!" Marinette said a little too loudly, startling Ms Bustier. "Did you happen to see where he was?"

Ms Bustier nodded in understanding. "He was sitting in one of the booth seats, talking up a storm with Fei. I'm sure he's still there."

Marinette thanked her so much for showing her all this and promised she would come back for the Nutcracker snow globe she had been eyeing off. On the way to Fu, she spied Adrien taking selfies with Mrs Mandeleive and the trophy.

"Can I borrow him for a few minutes?" Marinette asked, grabbing his hand. He could see that Marinette was practically bursting with excitement.

"What's up?" He asked. "You look like you've just won the lottery."

"Maybe I have." She replied. "But we need to find Fu first."

Without asking any further, Adrien let her lead him across the cafe until they found Fu and Fei. The two were laughing, but their attention soon turned to Marinette who almost crashed straight into their table.

"I'm so sorry to interrupt your reunion…" She began. "But I think I have a solution to our building problem."

Adrien looked at Fu confused before looking back at Marinette. "What do you mean solution?"

Marinette took a deep breath. "We share the building."

Well that was unexpected. "Really?"

"Yes!" Marinette exclaimed. "Adrien, you've been in there. The floor space is huge with that massive area out the back. There is more than enough room for you to build a kitchen and set up a counter while I have a design studio and plenty of floor space to showcase my designs. It might take longer to get it all together, but I'm sure it would work."

Fei nodded along with what Marinette was saying. "A fashion and food house. I like it. It's different."

Fu also nodded. "Half the investment each makes good business sense too." He pondered. "Plus I've seen the way you two work together. You make quite the team so I have every confidence it will be a success."

Adrien was taking in all their words and making a picture in his mind. Marinette's designs and his chocolates. Yes, he could see how that would work. "Ladybug and Chat Noir's Fashion and Food Emporium." He said, his eyes lighting up. "It has a nice ring to it, don't you think?"

Marinette almost felt like she could melt at the hope that was in his eyes. His dream and her's, both now with a chance to become a reality. "I think that sounds amazing." She grinned, before doing a little happy dance and jumping up into his arms. Adrien held her tightly to him, her warmth radiating all over him.

Once most of the patrons had left the cafe, Adrien and Marinette left Ms Bustier to close up and made their way hand in hand towards Fu's house.

"I'm really excited about all this." Adrien said, feeling her hand give his a light squeeze. "I can't wait to get started on our new partnership."

"Me too." Marinette beamed. She then started twirling her hair around her finger nervously. "I was thinking about something else too." She said, slowing down to a stop. Adrien turned to look at her, her eyes looking away to the ground and a clear blush invading her cheeks.

"I um… I was thinking about Plagg?"

"Plagg?"

"Yes." She nodded, her breathing sounding a little laboured. "And well, I think he might miss seeing you everyday."

"I can always visit everyday." Adrien said. "I think I remember you saying the shop building wasn't that far from your apartment. I'm sure that will give…"

"It's not that." Marinette cut him off, suddenly looking a lot more nervous. "See my bestie is moving out next month to live with her boyfriend and I need a new roommate and… well… Plagg might not like having a stranger in the apartment."

Adrien smiled at her softly, gently brushing the stay hair that had blown across on her face behind her ear. "What are you asking me Princess?" He asked tenderly. He had a feeling he knew the answer, but he needed to hear it from her.

"Well you did say you were looking for a new apartment. Who better for me to share with than my new business partner?"

Adrien smirked. "Business partner. Hmmm, I see." He scratched his gin as though he was pondering what she had said. "Is that what we are? Just business partners?"

"Well…" Marinette looked up at him, the pink in her cheeks growing in intensity. "Maybe something more than just business partners. I mean we are friends right? Or maybe something more than friends… if you still want to."

"Oh I see." Adrien's grin was laced in mischief. "So friends with benefits then?"

"Adrien! Oh my god!" Marinette exclaimed, slapping him in the arm before turning around and burying her now flaming face in her hands. Adrien's laugh carried down the deserted street, carefree and full of life into the night air. All the barriers were now gone and they could finally give in to the feeling they had been trying to keep at bay.

Adrien turned her around to face him, but she kept her face hidden, disappearing into his chest as he held her to him.

"You know what I keep thinking about?" Adrien asked her. She kept her head firmly planted against him and shook her head. Adrien let go of her so he could hold her head between his hands and turn her eyes up to meet his. "I keep thinking about that kiss the other night, and how much I would like to kiss you again." He then leaned in closer to her ear. "And again." He whispered. "And again."

"Oh." Marinette exhaled, as a shiver ran down her spine. "I've thought about it too."

"Then, with your permission." He murmured, his lips ghosting hers. Marinette reached up on her toes, pressing her restless lips to his. A fire burst in her chest as the sky began to open up and flurries of snow began to fall all around them. Adrien practically lifted her up off the ground, kissing her with such fervour it made her breathless in the best possible way.

~~~~~

Around 12 months later…

"Stop feeding Plagg. If he gets any fatter he won't fit through the cat flap." Marinette laughed as Adrien pretended he had not just dropped another cat treat on the floor.

"I can't help it." Adrien replied. "I can't resist those Kitty eyes. Plus he is my best customer."

Marinette shook her head. If they ever had kids, it was clear Adrien would be the biggest pushover.

"He's eating all the inventory." Marinette pointed out. "Those cat treats you developed have become a huge seller in the pre-sales. Last time I checked though, Plagg isn't paying for his."

"You sound like Félix." Adrien mused, watching his girlfriend count through the floor stock and mark everything off in her tablet. In 24 hours they would finally be opening up their joint venture, just in time for the busy Christmas week shoppers. Ladybug and Chat Noir's Fashion and Food Emporium had gone from just an idea on the night of the Main Street competition to a glorious reality. The walls smelt still off the fresh paint and the shine on the wooden floors was almost like glass. It was shiny and new and all theirs.

On one side of the spacious showroom floor was Adrien's chocolate counter with a variety of velvety smooth delicacies and the unexpected discovery of pet friendly treats courtesy of a drunken suggestion by Nino (who had quickly become Adrien's best friend) and a willing taste tester in Plagg who was filling out into a very rounded Cat with a bottomless appetite.

"Your brother had a lot of great business advice." Marinette acknowledged. "Especially after your Father cut you off."

Adrien shrugged, walking around his chocolate counter so that he could hug her from the side. "My Father doesn't make idle threats, so it was to be expected. I knew exactly what he was going to say in that "meeting", and I also told him where he could go stick it." He then began to laugh. "You should have seen the look on Felix's face."

"I can imagine." Marinette mused. "Still, I can't believe he did that over a chocolate shop."

Adrien turned her to face him, taking her tablet and sitting it down on the counter. "It wasn't just the chocolate shop, Marinette. It was you too."

"Me?" She gasped in surprise. There was an extra intensity in the way Adrien was looking at her, like he was protecting something precious.

"He wanted three things from me - quit the chocolate shop, come back and model and ditch you. Even if I could give up the shop or go back to modeling, I could never give up on you."

"Oh Adrien." Marinette sighed, reaching up to gently touch his face. Gosh she loved this man so much, even in his ugly Christmas sweater with a picture that looked suspiciously like Plagg. "I never wanted to make a rift between you and your family."

"It was there long before I met you." Adrien said, his eyes looking at her tenderly. "He just didn't like the fact that he couldn't stop me from marrying you."

Marinette's brain suddenly short circuited. "He… what?"

Before she knew it, Adrien was down on one knee right in the middle of the showroom floor surrounded by her new festive designs. "I couldn't think of a better place to propose to you, then in the one place that inadvertently brought us together and the same place where we have made both our dreams come true." Taking her hand in his, he fished out of his pocket a diamond ring. "Marinette Dupain-Cheng, you helped to bring light, love and laughter back into my life. You might have started out as my rival, but then you became my partner, my friend and the love of my life. Will you do me the great honor of becoming my wife?"

Marinette could feel tears beginning to well in her eyes. "Yes." She cried out, letting Adrien slip the ring onto her finger before falling into his arms. Plagg came running over to see what all the commotion was about and why everyone was rolling around on the floor.

Adrien rolled onto his back, pulling Marinette with him until she was resting on his chest. "Best Christmas ever." He whispered, moving her hair from her face so he could claim her lips the same way she had claimed his heart. Completely.

A/N - I hope you enjoyed this year's Christmas story. Thank you all for your support and I will see you for more stories in the New Year