The rest of the journey had been quite silent. Marinette's revelation echoed through Adrien's mind, as he replayed her revelation once, twice and even three times. After the mortification of what she said had died off, she'd passed out on his shoulder, one hand on his chest as the other linked around his arm. It was quite cute if he was being honest..

"Psst," Adrien could hear the sounds of his kwami calling him from his pocket. "Psst!" Plagg sounded again.

Adrien looked down and into the fluorescent green eyes of his small black kwami. Until this very moment Adrien had forgotten that Plagg was with him.

"What do you want?" Adrien hissed, watching as Plagg's face turned into a wide grin. The little black kwami wiggled his eyebrows as he nodded his head towards Marinette, and Adrien could feel the flush reach his cheeks.

As Adrien tried to calm his flaming cheeks down and not look at the adorable woman screwed up next to him, he missed the stewardess walking past and offering out warm flannels. He jumped a little noticing the woman's appearance, and he placed a hand over his pocket, pushing Plagg down and into his armpit.

A gagging noise sounded from the item of clothing as Plagg came into impact with Adrien's armpit. The spluttering continued, and Adrien attempted to cover it with an almost seamless cough, the vibration bouncing Marinette up and down on his shoulder.

"Hot towel?" Adrien knew when people were trying to hit on him, and this stewardess most certainly was. Every time she walked passed she was giving Adrien extra attention, attention which had also included an extra bag of pretzels. At this moment she was slightly bent forwards into Adrien's personal space, and he was quite sure the positioning of her arms were intended for his eyes only.

Adrien was used to attention, it was part of his job back in the day but that didn't mean he was comfortable with it. To be honest, it made him feel awkward. He was a people pleaser, but sometimes people took that too far and he always found it hard to say no. The feeling of guilt which plagued his mind after each negative interaction was too harsh to deal with, so a lot of time Adrien thought it would be easier to just say yes.

"No thank you," Adrien smiled sweetly at the stewardess before looking back down at his phone. His screen was displaying his latest 'Dingbats' app. Something about completing such challenges made him feel exceptionally smart, even if it was as simple as the word 'TOOTH' made out of sweets.

"How about another bag of pretzels?" Adrien placed his phone down and reached for the two on his table, careful as to not jolt Marinette again. He lifted them up to show the stewardess.

"I'm all set," he smiled and placed them down.

"Well, is there anything else I can do for you?" She placed one hand on Adrien's bicep and Adrien did everything in his power to not physically shiver, and push her away. He hated being touched by random strangers. .

As Adrien prepared his 'thanks but no thanks' speech, Marinette wiggled in her seat, dragging her hand onto his stomach and pushing it up to his shoulder letting out one of the most divine noises he'd ever heard. He was sure it was just a sigh, but it was the nicest sigh to ever grace his ears. He watched as she smiled in her sleep and muttered something incoherent.

"My girlfriend's trying to sleep, so we're ok at the moment thank you."

"Girlfriend?" The stewardess asked, obviously not believing the words leaving Adrien's mouth.

"Yes ... girlfriend, but it's a secret. I'm sure I can trust you, can't I Linda?" He smiled sweetly at the stewardess praying he'd gotten her name right.

"It's Belinda! But yes, we offer complete anonymity for all our travellers."

"Excellent," Adrien smiled, "I knew I could trust someone like you." He dropped her a wink and smirked as she visually swooned. Oh yes, he still had it.

Turning his head, he placed a gentle kiss on Marinette's crown only to be greeted by a small, sleepy voice calling him 'hot stuff'.

He'd locked that in the back of his mind in a special box to replay later, along with her declaration of her crush, for now though he just wanted to get back to his 'Dingbats' and think about the one thing that had made him exceptionally happy. She was obsessed with Chat Noir.

Meow!

•••••

"What do you mean there's only one cabin available? We'd booked two rooms in the hotel?" Adrien had gone to check in as Marinette stood admiring the decorations.

When they'd walked into the lobby of the ski resort the shoot was taking place at, he marvelled as her eyes lit up like and within seconds she was fawning over the red and gold ribbons, gaped at the giant gingerbread house (after a discussion about the amount of cups of tea you'd need to dunk it in) and waltzed her way to watch the six piece band playing a selection of Christmas tunes.

"Adrien, this is amazing!" Her voice a clear representation of a kid in a candy store and he couldn't help but be swept up in the Christmas spirit alongside her. It had been years since he'd felt such unadulterated joy at this time of year, Christmas just hadn't been the same since his mother had left all those years ago.

There was something about Marinette which gave him a warm feeling, and it wasn't just her admitted obsession with his alter ego or her declaration of teenage crush, it was just something about her. Something that passed between them.

When she woke up after sleeping off the champagne, they had already landed and taxied to the jet bridge. The horror she felt was clear on her face at the information she had revealed, and her silence had been overbearing. She hadn't spoken to him at all in the time from landing to when they reached the car waiting to collect them, and when the stewardess mentioned they were a wonderful couple, Marinette had turned as white as a sheet.

Ten minutes into their hour drive Adrien had had enough. If she wasn't going to talk, then he was going to talk enough for the both of them.

"My father is an overpowering douche, and the day I moved out of the mansion was the greatest day of my life so far."

He looked out the window and continued to talk, she'd revealed a lot of secrets to him, he wanted to make her feel comfortable by revealing some of his own.

"I'd never tell him this but I actually really enjoyed the extra activities he made me do. I still love to play the piano and fencing has become my life. Talking about fencing, I actually like the attention I get off the kids Maman's though I'd never tell them that." He turned his head to look at Marinette. "My one and only girlfriend is now a lesbian, and is currently in a very serious relationship with another of my best friends. Before you say anything, no, I didn't turn her to women, she just decided after meeting me that it wasn't what she wanted. I'm a wonderful boyfriend, I'll have you know, and I am also very protective of my friends and will do anything to make them happy."

"Even Chloé Bourgeois?" A small smile graced Marinette's face and Adrien was happy to have her talking to him again.

"Especially Chloé Bourgeois." He smiled back.

"Adrien you don't need to do this," Marinette said, but Adrien held up his hand. He wasn't finished yet.

"I told my father his last sportswear designs were only suitable for trainee clowns and that I would have to be diagnosed as legally blind to ever be caught dead in any of them. I also have an unhealthy obsession with a superhero and own every single piece of official 'Ladybug' merchandise, including the limited edition fashion dolls. However, my favourite is your clothing which I got from the expo. I went out of my way to try and find out who MDC was and felt a fool for not linking it when we were at the arcade on Thursday night. She is my favourite designer and I might have hinted to my father that he'd be a fool for missing an opportunity to work with such an amazing designer."

He noticed her face had turned pink and he couldn't help the smile that graced his own. Was it normal to like causing this reaction on someone?

"Adrien, no more please." She covered her bright blue eyes with her hands.

"To be honest, I thought MDC was male but still ..."

"Adrien," she laughed out loud, smacking him on the arm, and just like that the awkwardness was over and they were back to their normal playful banter. "Thank you for believing in me," her voice was soft and sweet, and he'd never felt prouder of anything in his life.

"Sir, the rooms are all fully booked out for the ball. It seems you were misguided with the booking as M. Agreste had booked a cabin for, let me see ..." The concierge pulled out a sheet of paper and flicked through it. " Arr, there we go. A cabin for M. Adrien Agreste and Mlle. Marinette Dupain-Cheng. Are those names correct?"

"Yes," Adrien sighed out. So his father had booked them a cabin. The idea was so far-fetched in Adrien's mind, he couldn't understand the gist of it. His father had always been overbearing and over protective, so why would he want Adrien staying in a separate building.

"The bellhop will take you to your cabin via car, and anytime you wish to travel between cabin and lodge a driver will come and collect you. Just press nine via the mainline in the cabin. You have a hamper already waiting for you with necessities and the fridge is stocked to your fathers liking. I also have transportation arranged for the two of you for the Winter Solstice Ball, and for the shoot tomorrow. Do you have any questions?"

Adrien rubbed the temple of his head. Yes he did have questions, tens and dozens of them, but at this moment he was quite sure only his father held the answers, and knowing Gabriel Agreste he wouldn't give them out so easily.

"How many bedrooms are in the cabin?" Adrien asked. He wasn't sure what answer he wanted, or what answer he expected. He considered what it would be like to share a cabin with Marinette and that excited him, but sharing a bed ... now that could cause issues.

"Two," the concierge said, looking at Adrien baffled. "Do you want me to change it to a cabin with a single room?" He asked, starting to tap on his computer. "Your father told me you weren't a couple, I'm so sorry."

"No," Adrien said, reaching out an arm to stop him. "No! We're not, I was just checking we had separate rooms, I don't know why I thought we wouldn't have." Adrien trailed off as he spoke, reaching to the back of his neck and scratching.

He looked over to Marinette, luckily she was still marvelling at the band playing on the small stage in the lobby swaying side to side with the beat. He dread to think what might have happened if she'd heard that conversation. Would she have thought he was a pervert or something? Especially after what had transpired on the plane journey over.

"If I can just have the key please, we'll get going."

Obviously noticing the embarrassment on Adrien's face, the bellhop was summoned over to take their cases and drive them to their cabin.

"Enjoy your stay," the concierge said.

Adrien waved him off and headed over to Marinette. She was still swaying along to the music, humming slightly with the band.

Date Three - Can I have this dance?

Being the playful fellow he is, he decided now would be the perfect time to show Marinette his true 'playful' side.

"Ho ho the mistletoe, is hung where you can see, somebody waits for you, kiss her once for me"

He grabbed Marinette's hand and twirled her underneath before taking her into ballroom hold. He watched as Marinette's face turned pink, but she didn't let go and he classed it as a win.

Swaying her side to side with the music, he was filled with amazement when she didn't pull away. Instead, pulling herself in closer to him and laying a hand against his chest.

"I didn't realise you were a regular Michael Bublé. The X Factor is missing out on not having you sign up."

Adrien threw his head back in a mighty laugh. He hadn't had this fun with anyone but Ladybug in years, or, come to think about it, ever. She was a whole little package of fun. He continued to move them around, rocking with the beat of the music as he sang the remainder of the song.

"Have a holly jolly Christmas, and in case you didn't hear, oh by golly have a holly jolly Christmas. This year"

The instrumental section of the song played and Adrien noticed a collection of people join them; from wealthy elders to the little toddler attempting to spin in circles and poof out her dress. Adrien smiled, pulling Marinette closer and placing a cheek on the top of Marinette's head. She was so warm and cosy to hold onto, his cat-like tendencies falling victim to her additional heat.

"Ho ho the mistletoe, is hung where you can see, somebody waits for you, kiss him once for me"

Marinette's voice flitted up to his ears and he was quite sure this was how an Angel sounded. Her voice was perfect, every little pitch calling to him, making him feel festive and special. She bopped him on the nose with her forefinger and his eyes opened in shock. Did she just ...

Her giggling distracted him again and he couldn't help but smile and continue swaying, whatever thought came to his head disappeared only to be replaced by pure joy.

"You sang the words wrong," he teased, barely containing his smile from splitting his face.

"As pretty as some girls are, I'm not about that."

"Shame, I'm quite sure my ex would love you."

"What can I say? I'm adorable."

He laughed out loud again. This woman was something else.

"I won't be denying that."

He watched her eyes widen and sparkle with the reflection of the Christmas lights which encompassed the foyer and the many trees surrounding it. Before she could respond, the gathering crowd all stopped their dancing and broke out in applause. Adrien released Marinette joining in with the crowd and showing his appreciation to the band.

"M. Agreste, we're ready to take you to your accommodation."

"Accommodation?" Adrien took Marinette's hand, leading her outside the main hotel building, as she questioned where they were staying.

"It seems there was a bit of a mix up ..."

Five minutes later, Marinette and Adrien were standing in the main room of their lodge.

"This is wonderful, Adrien," he could hear the awein her voice as she looked around the room, and he had to agree.

The lounge area was large, very stereotypical of a ski lodge cabin and, dare he say, romantic.

The large log burner fire was underneath a portrait of the ski lodge; blocks of wood to the side and a large mantle surrounding it. In front of the fire lay a fur rug, coffee table and sofas. Adrien looked around and noticed there was no television in sight. Gulping, he couldn't help but feel a tremor of panic. He wasn't socially the best of people, and now it was obvious the two would need to make conversation to get by. Not that he had any issues with that. He got on incredibly well with Marinette. He was more worried about the fact that he was, well, him. If anyone could mess this new budding friendship up it would be him.

Beyond the main seating area was a small kitchenette with an impressive hamper on the table, a kettle, toaster and cafetière. To the left was a smaller corridor which led to, what he guessed, were the bedrooms and bathroom.

"I've always dreamed of staying in a place like this. I guess I can cross it off my bucket list now." If her eyes widened at the sight of the hotel lobby, he didn't have a description for this. She glowed with radiance, her cheeks slightly reddened from the cold air outside and a look full of joy on her face. "Oh wow, would you look at that?"

Marinette walked over to the decorated pine tree in the corner of the room, placing a hand tentatively on the branch and running her hand down to cup the ornament on the edge. The green and red ornament, though it indicated Christmas quite clearly, made him think of something else. He watched her spin it around and saw the intricate pattern on the sphere shape. Tiny ladybugs and tiny paw prints.

She dropped her hand away quickly and looked to the corridor, her bottom lip trapped between her top teeth, what had she been thinking? Perhaps she still had that 'obsessive' crush on Chat Noir?

"Are the bedrooms down this way?" She pointed to the corridor, pulling Adrien's attention away from the tree.

"Oh, um, yay. You go ahead and choose first, you're our guest of honour after all." She smiled at him and walked towards him. He was tempted to step away, unsure what she was going to do.

"Thank you for everything. This truly is wonderful." She stretched on her tippy toes and brushed her lips to his cheek and his heart almost exploded. How was it possible for someone he'd just met to make him feel this way?

"You're welcome, Marinette" he smiled at her, noticing her eyes were reflecting his own and he felt his heartbeat a little faster. The effect she was having on him was dangerous, and he wasn't sure how he should proceed. "Say, how about you freshen up and we can do something? Maybe go into the town, there's a couple of things I can show you."

"That sounds great. Is about half an hour okay?" Adrien nodded in agreement and watched as she walked away and into the closest room to the kitchen.

"Oh, man! I wanted to be close to the kitchen." The nasally voice sounded out from Adrien's jacket before Plagg flew out to make himself known.

"You'll be fine for two nights, Plagg." Adrien scoffed, heading towards the Christmas tree.

"Say you. If you're hungry you just go and eat. I don't get that privilege." The kwami flew up to the tree and to the ornament Adrien had made a beeline for. "You should get it for her, as a Christmas present."

"I can't just take an ornament from a resort tree, Plagg."

"You're famous, rich and a superhero, I'm quite sure you'll be okay to take it, though I'm guessing they'd want an Instagram post or Twerp or something."

Adrien laughed at his kwami's obliviousness. "Do you mean Tweet?"

"Do I look like a bird to you?"

Adrien laughed and took the bauble from the tree, holding it up to the light. The reflections on the glass enhanced the colour of the design, not only making the red and green pop, but also the black decorations stand out.

"Here's your luggage, Sir," Adrien tipped the bellhop before sending him to drop the cases in each of the correct bedrooms.

Unknowingly to both Adrien and Marinette, two kwami's were plotting in the kitchenette.

"He's gonna get her that ornament, you know, I mean just look at him, the sap! Won't admit it though, nope, she's 'just a friend'."

Tikki started giggling as Plagg unleashed his thoughts on the situation.

"He won't buy her something just because she was looking at it." Tikki responds, looking for something in the hamper to snack on. Her search came up good when in her hand she held a wonderful white chocolate covered shortbread biscuit, glace cherries included.

"Wanna bet? The guy's a lovesick fool and won't admit it. Marinette this and Marinette that, seriously he needs to hurry up and just be honest with himself."

"Come on, Plagg, she's not exactly committing to a life long love either. Still complaining that because she's the guardian, she can't love."

"They're idiots Tikki, honestly we're on date four now and if that dance was anything to go by they're smitten with each other."

"I'm quite sure they are Plagg, but they need to do this themselves. We can only give them a push in the right direction."

Tikki and Plagg looked over to the lounge where Adrien was chasing the bellhop as he made his way back to the main lodge.

"Sir, excuse me, sir."

"Look Tikki, he can't even do that right." Tikki giggled at Plagg before elbowing him in the side.

"Sir!" Adrien bolted towards the door only to crash into the bellhop and send him flying into the frame face first.

"Ouch! Geez, I'm so sorry, are you okay?" Adrien said, helping the man back to standing and brushing his coat off. "Um, listen, could you do me a favour? Could you add the cost of this bauble to my room bill? I'll pay whatever."

Plagg smiled at Tikki, watching as the small red kwami attempted to hide the shock from her face. "See, I told you so."