Chapter Text
Nino was holding the amazingly pink and glittery silver gift up to his face, "BUT BRO! What if she doesn't like it!?"
He laughed, pushing the gift back towards him, "She is going to love it."
Ivan nodded next to him, "Yeah. Mylene said she lost her favorite to Alix in some bet a few months ago."
Nino took a deep breath, "Okay. If you guys are sure."
Kim clapped him on the back hard, "You worry too much. Take me for example." He held up the neatly wrapped box with a smirk, "You just have to go in with confidence."
Nino said it annoyed, "Anyone who got lucky enough to draw Nathe knew exactly what to get him. It's easy to be confident."
A familiar laugh reached his ears and his eye's immediately moved towards the sound. He smiled instantly, seeing her walking with Alya towards them. Neither of the girl's had noticed them yet.
"Yo, Adrien, what do you think?" Nino asked, waving a hand in front of him.
He blinked once, tearing his eyes away from her, "What?"
Kim snickered as he realized what had distracted him, "Girlfriend alert."
He ignored the comment completely. They knew what was coming, "See you guy's in a little bit."
"And we've lost him." Ivan muttered.
"As usual. I need to have a serious talk with Marinette about stealing our bro from us." Nino said seriously.
He called back with a smirk, "I stole her! Not the other way around!"
He heard the guys' mix of laughter and groaning, and his smirk widened when Alya saw him walking in their direction. She nudged Marinette's arm.
Marinette saw him and instantly smiled brightly, "Adrien!"
God he was never going to get over this girl. She rushed up to him, her arm's flying around his neck as she hugged him tightly. He swung her in a single circle the way he always did before kissing her lightly as he set her down, "Good morning my princess."
Her eye's sparkled, "Good morning my prince."
Alya gagged teasingly, "Ugh, you two dork's are so lovey dovey it even makes me sick," she started to smirk, "Even though I am glad that my ship has set sail so beautifully."
Marinette rolled her eyes at her best friend, instantly finding his hand, "It's only been two weeks Alya."
He asked her instantly, saying it in false shock, "Two weeks? No that can't be right. We've been together much longer I'm sure."
Alya laughed, "You wish you had been together longer Sunshine." She ruffled his hair with a smile before winking at Marinette very un-subtly, "Nothing but confidence."
He saw Marinette blush as Alya walked towards Nino, planting a kiss on his cheek.
He had to know, "What was that about?"
"Alya just being Alya." She reached into the large light blue tote in her other hand, pulling out a square box and handing it to him shyly, "Merry Christmas Adrien."
He smiled as he took it from her, "Thank you. You didn't have to get me anything you know."
She said it shyly, "I may have, sort of, already had your gift done," she hesitated as she added it like it wasn't important, "since September."
He chuckled softly to himself, reaching into his inside jacket pocket and pulled out a small box for her, "Merry Christmas my love."
Her eyes widened in horror, "Tell me you didn't do something you shouldn't have."
He said it offended, "It's Christmas and you are my girlfriend," he was never going to get tired of hearing or saying that either, "This was something I definitely had to do."
She slowly took the small box, smiling down at it, "Thank you. Are we opening them now?"
He smiled down at his gift, "Chat's are curious creatures."
She rolled her eyes but was smiling, "Okay, let's open them."
They opened the gifts, Marinette's eyes widened as she whispered it softly, "Oh my god."
He smiled as she lifted the necklace out of the box, the gold locket glinting in the light. The diamonds on the front of the heart made an infinity symbol on the left side.
He opened the box in his hand and smiled brightly, pulling out the scarf happily, "Where did you have this hidden the whole time?"
She was still staring in awe at the locket, answering mechanically, "Under my bed. Adrien, I can't take this."
"Yes you can. It is one of a kind and meant only for the girl who has my heart infinitely." He told her easily, feeling the soft material of the black scarf between his fingers. Each end of the scarf had a black cat outlined in green with green eyes, wearing a little gold bell on his collar. On one end, the cat was cradling a ladybug around his body. On the other, the cat was staring at where the ladybug had landed over his heart.
He smiled at the two images, knowing instantly what they meant. It was a promise that they would always be there for each other, no matter what. That she would always protect his heart, and that he would always be there to protect her.
He told her as he put it on instantly, "This is amazing. You really hand-stitched the cat and ladybug?"
He noticed her basically frozen in position, making him chuckle, "You haven't even opened it yet. Though I do advise some, discretion."
She blinked once before her eyes snapped to his, "Discretion?"
He held his hand out for the locket, which she instantly gave him. He opened it up and showed her the pictures on the inside. On each side was a picture they had taken the day she finally agreed to go out with him. Though one was as their civilian selves, and the other was as Ladybug and Chat Noir. He saw the tears in her eyes, but they didn't fall as she asked a little shocked, "How did you explain the pictures to the jeweler?"
He said it somewhat proudly, "I looked up how to add the pictures myself."
He had her turn around and placed it on her, smiling as her hand reached up to touch it gently when she faced him again, "I love this Adrien. Thank you." She kissed him lightly and he told her teasing – even though some part of it was true, "I had another gift in mind before this one. It was much smaller, but would glitter a lot more and would be better suited to be worn on a hand rather than around your neck."
She blushed nearly scarlet as she warned him in a whisper, "Adrien,"
He just smiled, "One day." He touched the scarf, "I really do love this Marinette."
She smiled happily, "I'm glad."
He took her hand as they walked to class, glad that they only had a half day today. "I'm actually glad you sent me the pictures you drew up of all the poses. These two were my favorite bugaboo."
"Mine too Kitty." She whispered.
It didn't take long for Miss Bustier to enter the classroom, greeting everyone happily.
"All right everyone. I know nothing is being accomplished today so as a Secret Santa gift from me to all of you, Finals are cancelled. Everyone gets an A."
Everyone cheered happily, Miss Bustier laughing softly to herself before she called everyone to attention. "Now, given that it looks like everyone remembered their gifts, let go ahead and do the exchange. Everyone is free to mingle and enjoy the morning until it's time to go."
He turned back and saw Marinette with her hand in the air, "Oh, Miss Bustier, I brought goodie bags for everyone too. Do you mind if I pass those out?"
"Go ahead Marinette. That was very thoughtful of you." Miss Bustier told her with a smile.
Marinette put the light blue tote on the desk in front of her and reached into the bag, pulling out a small, neatly wrapped box.
He asked curiously, "Who was your Secret Santa Marinette?"
She beamed at him, "You silly. Gift number two!"
He couldn't help but laugh as he took the small box. It was extremely light. He reached into his bag and pulled out a black and green wrapped gift, "Fate just had it out for us I guess." He held the box up to her and she said it holding back a laugh, "You had me?"
He nodded with a small smile, "Gift number two."
There was an extremely loud squeal that made them both turn to look up the stairs. Rose had a silver and pink Pegasus unicorn plushy in her hands, her face bright with joy before she hugged Nino tightly, "THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!"
The guy's all let out small laughs to themselves. They had all told Nino that he hadn't had anything to worry about.
Everyone was opening their gifts, and as he helped Marinette pass out the goodie bags, he watched carefully as Chloe took her gift from Alya. Alya stood there nervously as Chloe scrunched her face at the gift before catching his eyes. He warned her with a look and Chloe sighed, "Thank you, I guess." She opened the small box and pulled out a very familiar looking hair clip.
Chloe's eyes widened as Alya explained, "It's obviously not the real one, but I know how much it meant to you to have it so I looked through some old pictures and managed to,"
Chloe hugged Alya, cutting her off before letting go quickly and putting the Bee hair clip in place. Chloe's voice was soft and sincere, "Really, thank you."
Alya smiled slightly, "You're welcome. Merry Christmas Chloe."
Alya walked off and he smiled at Chloe, proud of her for how far she had come to be better.
He looked back at Marinette and saw her passing out the last goodie bags, her gift laid unopened on the desk. He shook his head, watching as everyone gave her quick hugs after receiving their bag. When she came back to the desk, he asked with a pout, "You aren't the least bit curious about your second gift?"
She touched his nose lightly with a finger, giving him a flirty wink that caused him to blush instantly, "I told you I would wait for you for a lifetime if I had to."
He looked back to his desk and saw that his gift was unopened too.
They picked them up and opened them together, Marinette sighing heavily, making him pause worried, "What? What's the matter?"
She told him softly, "Adrien, you shouldn't be spending your money on me like this."
She held up the gold bangle that had the same diamond infinity symbol that matched her locket. In the loops of the infinity symbol, were a simple A on one side, and an M on the other.
He frowned, "You don't like it?"
She leaned over and cupped his cheek with a shy smile, "I love it. It's beautiful."
Now he was confused, "So, why don't you look happy?"
She told him feeling guilty, "You shouldn't be spending your money on me. The locket was one thing, but now this too,"
He put his hand over hers and whispered it to her, "There isn't enough money in the world, to buy you the things you deserve. These, they don't even come close to showing you how much you mean to me."
She smiled at him as he told her, "You don't have to wear them, if you are uncomfortable, but I want you to have them."
She hugged him tightly to his surprise, "I'll wear them everyday and never take them off."
He put his forehead to hers happily before finally opening the little box in his hand. There was a keychain inside with a little black cat with green eyes and a gold bell around its neck. There was a single key attached.
He raised an eyebrow at her with his Chat Noir grin, "Is this supposed to be the key to your heart?"
She rolled her eyes but was smiling, "You would go that far you romantic."
He chuckled, saying it slightly disappointed, "So it's not?"
She smirked, "You can definitely look at it that way, but this is a two part gift. The key is just the first part."
"What's the second part?" He asked eagerly, knowing that if he was transformed, his ears and tail would no doubt be reacting.
She only laughed, "You'll have to wait for that one for the Christmas party later."
He put the key in his pocket with a smile, wondering what she could really be planning. She had a Ladybug look in her eyes, as if she had just figured out the answer to defeating an akuma.
Thankfully their day at school was only a half day, so at lunch time when they left, they decided to hang out together with Nino and Alya until the party later that night.
Mid-afternoon, Nino and Alya left them alone so they could go get ready for the party. He actually went home too so that he could change, but dragged Marinette with him.
As they left the mansion and walked to Marinette's he kept one hand in hers, the other stayed clutched around the mysterious key.
Plagg poked his head out of Marinette's purse, "Why isn't your pocket as nice as Marinette's purse Adrien? Tikki practically has a small house in here."
He reminded Plagg evenly, "Aren't you the one who said you like to sleep curled up in small spaces?"
Tikki's giggle reached their ears, making Plagg huff, "Well, maybe I think I deserve some better accommodations."
Marinette told Plagg, "You are welcome to stay in my purse with Tikki anytime you want Plagg."
Plagg stuck his tongue out before saying it, "Maybe she should have been my holder this whole time."
Marinette winked at him before he could say anything, "Maybe, but you have to think Plagg, if you had been with me, there wouldn't have been a smelly piece of cheese in sight. It would be nothing but cakes, cookies, scones, croissants, chocolate galore, macarons,"
"EW! Never mind I take it back!" Plagg disappeared back inside the purse, making the two teens laugh.
As they stood in front of Marinette's front door, she told him softly, "When you told me what you wanted for Christmas. I honestly didn't know what I could do to make it happen. I tried to think of anything and everything that would work,"
"What do you mean?" He asked a little confused, "Having you at my side, having your love, that's all I want for Christmas. It's the best gift you could have ever given me."
She smiled, "But still, I wanted to try." She stared at the door and told him, "My mom made a special dinner for you, before the party starts, and my dad made you a batch of special Belgian Chocolate Croissants."
His smile widened and she pulled a small box out of her pocket, "This is the second part of gift two."
It looked like a little ring box. He opened it and raised an eyebrow at her, "Marinette, this box is empty."
She giggled, making his stomach flutter, "It's getting cold out, don't you think we should go inside?"
He told her even more confused, "Then let's go inside."
She moved aside and told him, "Open it."
He hesitated and she told him quickly, "Humor me."
He tried the handle, "It's locked."
"So unlock it." She said smiling.
"How? It's not like I have a key." He said frowning.
"Don't you?" She asked with shy smile, "You've had a key in your pocket since this morning."
He quickly pulled out the small keychain, asking her in a whisper, "This, this is,"
"Try it." She said softly.
He put the key in the lock and turned it with ease, his eyes starting to water as he pushed the door open. He could hear Tom and Sabine's happy voices from the kitchen, "Kid's is that you!?" "Dinner's ready!"
He looked over at her, seeing her smiling at him with nothing but love in her eye's, "Welcome Home Adrien."
He started shaking his head as the tears fell, "Y-you're giving me a, a house key?"
She hugged him tightly, "This is always going to be your home, from now until the end of time. Whenever you want to come over, whenever you want to get away, you don't ever have to ask permission to come here."
"But, your mom and dad,"
"They love you." She pulled back and wiped the tears from his eyes, "I can't take all the credit for this one. It was their idea."
She took his hand and led him into the house. Tom came around the corner and instantly wrapped them both in a giant bear-hug, "Welcome home."
He set them down, Tom putting one of his hands on top of his head and telling him with a small smile, "We mean it, anytime you want to come over."
He nodded, trying not to cry again. Sabine appeared behind Tom, hugging him tightly, "Welcome home."
He told them all, his voice thick with tears, "Thank you. This," he looked down at the little key, "This means a lot to me."
Sabine said it with a bright smile, "You're welcome. Now let's eat before it gets cold."
She kept his hand and pulled him to the kitchen. They ate together happily, joking and laughing, and Sabine fussing about Marinette's gifts nearly as much as Marinette had. No matter how many times he tried to assure her that he hadn't really spent that much on them.
Marinette let out a small groan as he and Tom exchanged pun after pun. Their laughter built again, filling the small house with nothing but love. He knew that this was what he wanted his life to be. Nothing grand, nothing that money could ever pay for.
If someone asked him right now what he wanted for Christmas, his response would be instant. He stared around the table with a genuine smile on his face thinking it to himself.
This.
All I want for Christmas from now on, is this.