A/N: I originally wanted to name this "What's the Scoop? Ice Cream and Cake!" but I figured I'd save that title for when we finally get to Andre the ice cream guy. Oh boy, the ice cream guy... well, we'll cross that bridge when we unfortunately inevitably come to it. For now, birthday fluff!
"Good morning, students!" Miss Bustier began merrily as she swept into the room. As soon as her folder was set on the podium, she clapped her hands. "We have a lot go get through today, but first! We have a birthday to celebrate!"
When her eyes swept over the room of kids, Alya straightened under her gaze. "Alya! Happy birthday."
"Would you like to read today's horoscope for Alya's birthday?" She asked Rose, who instantly brightened up and nodded.
"Today the Sun, Mercury, Venus and Saturn are all in your sign. Specifically, Mercury is dancing with Neptune, which makes you feel dreamy and imaginative. But this also makes you sympathetic to others because you can pick up on their mood." She read, casting a smile towards the girl in question.
"Interesting find," the teacher praised. "Marinette, did you bring anything special?"
Marinette held up two boxes of donuts with a cheerful smile. "Freshly baked! I made sure to bring the donuts with custard in them."
"You're a lifesaver, Nette!" Kim called from above, making her cheeks flush.
"Everyone gets one donut," Miss Bustier stated, smiling at the birthday girl in question. "Alya, you get the leftovers."
The bespectacled teenager beamed at her friend when she put a cinnamon-maple one in front of her on a napkin. "You're the best, Marinette."
"I try," chuckled the girl as she moved on, passing out more donuts.
As soon as all of them were passed (plus a box sat under Alya's desk, the girl careful not to step on it by mistake), Miss Bustier daintily licked the last of the glaze from a fingertip and smiled. "Excellent as always, Marinette. Now, we've got work to do. If you'll all get out the next worksheet in your planners..."
"Bye, Mama, Papa! I'm going to Alya's party!" Marinette called as she rushed down the stairs, trying not to trip on the steps. The pretty salmon-pink dress she picked swished around her calves and she stumbled a little as she tugged on white converse.
"You look nice," commented Tom, giving her a kiss on the crown of her head as she passed, mindful of her carefully-tied bun. "Don't stay out too late! And tell Alya happy birthday for us!"
"I will!"
As the door shut behind her she raced down the street, wrapped parcel in hand. Luckily it wasn't far to the Cesaire residence, and as the apartment building came into view she slowed down, allowing her heartrate to calm.
Pulling out her phone, she went back through her messages until she found the one with Alya's apartment number. Murmuring the number to herself, she stepped in out of the chilly November air and nervously smiled at the desk worker as she headed for the elevator.
"You're going to make it," Tikki encouraged from inside her jacket, giving her Chosen a little smile.
"I sure hope so." Heaving a sigh, she tapped her foot as the elevator went up.
As soon as it stopped and gave a pleasant chime, the doors opened and she stepped out into the hallway. It smelled fairly ancient - of old carpet and painted walls, and vaguely of something like disinfectant. She found the apartment number immediately and smiled, knocking on the door.
It only took a second before it opened, and an unfamiliar face peeked down at her. "Can I help you?"
"I'm here for Alya's party!" She answered. "I'm Marinette, a friend from school."
The young woman studied her for a few seconds before someone called from inside, "Is that Marinette? Nora, let her in!"
"What's she look like again?" She called back, turning to look at whoever was talking to her.
"I gave you a picture to look at! Why don't you have it?" There was a huff, and Alya came walking up to the door, peeking past Nora's side. "C'mon in, don't mind her."
"O- oh, okay," she answered, ducking past the tall woman with a meek "excuse me".
Following her in, she looked around and her face lit up upon recognizing Rose and Juleka among the little group of teenagers present.
"You made it!" She greeted when Rose looked up and noticed her.
The blonde hugged her tight, giggling, "Now the gang's all here, isn't it?"
"Oh!" Marinette's eyes widened when she saw a nervous new face. "Colette? Did Rose invite you?"
The girl's cheeks flushed pink, and she nodded her head slowly. "Y- yeah," came her murmur.
"I thought she needed an excuse to get out of the house," she whispered in her ear.
"Well, it's nice to see you. I like your shirt." She smiled at the cute blue blouse, flowy sleeves and white buttons a nice fit with the denim jeans she wore.
"Thanks..." She hid her face behind her hair, but if one looked closely they could see the happiness tinting her visage.
After a fun few rounds of board games and some party foods, it was finally time for the gifts. Alya beamed with pride as she held up the cardigan Marinette had knitted for her, a proud scarlet garment with a fox tail on the back ("Because you're shrewd and clever like one," she'd explained - and because her father worked at a zoo, but that part was omitted). She got a new phone case, some clothes, some nail polish, a bottle of perfume from Rose ("I made it just for you! It's got jasmine and cotton!"), and money from family. Before anyone knew it, the party was over, and as the adults started cleaning up, Alya brought Marinette in for a tight hug, her new cardigan spritzed with her new perfume.
"Thank you for coming," she gushed, running her fingers over the soft material. "I love this. I'm gonna wear it like all the time now."
"I'm glad, I spent a lot of time trying to get it right." With a laugh, she adjusted her purse. "I'll see you at school?"
"Definitely."
She bade her friends goodbye, even as Alya turned to thank the others for their gifts. As she stepped out of the apartment building the sharp cold of the late fall night hit her, and she shivered all the way home.
"Marinette!" Sabine greeted as soon as she stepped into the door, dusting off her hands on her apron and making a beeline for her daughter. "Come in, come in, baobei, it's freezing outside! Did you have fun? Did Alya like your present?"
"It was super fun. She said she's gonna wear it a lot," she answered with a smile as she took off her shoes.
"I'm glad you got to hang out with your friends. Now you get to bed, okay? It's late enough as it is."
"Yes, Mama." Pressing a kiss to her mother's cheek, she ascended the stairs with her shoes in hand.
The second she got to her room, Citron peeked at her from the closet and warbled happily, making their way into the main part of her room.
"It went great," she told the sentibeing as she shrugged off her jacket onto the chaise. "You were right to pair the dress with a sea green jacket - Juleka really liked it!"
Citron nodded firmly, folding two "arms" across their chest as if to say "I told you so".
"You ought to get to bed," Tikki advised as she flew across the room with the jacket in her paws.
"I know. I just-" yawning into her hand widely, she finished, "-just wanted to work a little more on Rose's dress first."
"Oh no, you're tired and you need your rest if you don't want to get sick." The Ladybug reprimanded her with an expectant look.
Marinette looked over to Citron, but the sentibeing was already trying to push her towards her loft. The teenager rolled her eyes with an exasperated "Fine, fine, I guess," and headed for the bathroom to get ready.
Marlena knocked gently on her middle child's door before opening it, and she smiled upon seeing her daughter curled up in bed with her phone illuminating her face. Though it was hard to see, she could tell that the new phone case was on it. "Did you enjoy your party?"
"I loved it," the girl answered, slipping out of bed in order to go to her. Alya wrapped her arms tightly around her middle and pressed her face into her nightgown, smiling as her mother hugged back.
"Fourteen... I just can't believe it." She pulled back in order to study her daughter, looking her up and down fondly. "It feels like yesterday you were a baby... now here you are, on your way to becoming a lady. Before I know it, you'll have a boyfriend!"
"Moooom," Alya halfheartedly groaned, causing the woman to chuckle and press a kiss to her forehead.
"I'm just teasing, cherie. Sleep tight, make sure to set your alarms."
"I will."
Smoothing her hair away from her face, Marlena smiled. Perhaps moving to Paris was the right decision in the end. "Good night, Alya."