[Narrator's POV]

Adrien is leaving school when Lila steps in his path.

"Hey Adrien." She greets flirtatiously. "Soo, with the holidays coming up I was wondering—"

"Sorry Lila, can't talk. I'm on my way to Marinette's." Adrien says before hurrying off.

Lila scowls in a "How dare he" manner.

Adrien hurries to escape into the warmth of the bakery. Marinette had invited him, Alya and Nino over to help her parents experiment with a new Christmas menu.

Adrien wrestles against the bitter wind to push the bakery door open. He stumbles inside and slams the door shut behind him.

"Brr, it sure is nippy out there." Adrien says as he removes his coat.

Marinette, Alya and Nino are already waiting inside. Alya gasps excitedly and elbows Marinette.

"I see you're wearing that nice scarf of yours." She says with a broad grin.

Adrien looks down at the blue scarf that Marinette had made him, though he thought it was from his father.

"Yeah, it's one of my favourite things." Adrien answers with a smile. "One of the perks about this weather is I finally get the chance to wear it."

Marinette smiles tenderly, happy that Adrien loves her gift even if she doesn't get the credit.

"Now that everyone's here," Tom speaks up. "If you all help us try out a few different recipes then you'll get the honour of taste testing."

So the four teenagers start gathering ingredients to cook. Adrien knew his way around the kitchen extremely well considering he has baked in there many times before as Cat Noir.

"Wow Adrien, you really know what you're doing." Marinette says.

Adrien smiles at her fondly. "I learnt from the best."

Of course, Marinette has only taught Cat Noir how to cook so she just assumed that Adrien's father had paid for him to get lessons from literally the best.

"So, Adrien." Alya transitions smoothly. "What was it like getting akumatized?"

"Alya." Marinette turns to her friend sternly. "Are you really trying to interview Adrien right now?"

Adrien had told Marinette that he found out his mother was once the wielder of the peacock miraculous. She knows that this is a private and sensitive topic, but if Alya found out she would never stop questioning him for more information.

[Adrien's POV]

"I just wonna know what happened." Alya says.

"Well, akumatized victims always lose their memories anyway. Adrien wouldn't know." Marinette replies.

It's sweet of Marinette to defend me but she probably just doesn't want to talk about it since she knows I'll feel guilty.

"Then stop denying me an interview with Cat Noir!" Alya begs. "What good is having connections when you can't use them?"

"Cat Noir wasn't even there." I say bitterly.

"He wasn't?" Alya replies.

"Cool, one on one time with the Lady." Nino says, wiggling his eyebrows. "I bet you were swooning all over Ladybug like a damsel in distress. Ladybug, my love, thank you so much for saving me!"

"So it was just Ladybug fighting? Awesome!" Alya continues. "What was she like?"

"Actually..." My eyes shift to Marinette, who shakes her head, begging me with her eyes. I turn back to Alya and sigh. "I didn't get to talk to Ladybug because I passed out, sorry. But she did save me...singlehandedly."

"So cool!" Alya says, giving Nino a fist bump. "Ladybug can do anything."

I hang my head guiltily. This feels wrong...Ladybug getting all the credit. Marinette was the one who saved me. When all hope was lost and everything was dark, she brought me warmth and light like the dawn of a new day.

I haven't gotten the chance to visit her as Cat Noir since then. I haven't even apologised for not being there for her...Even when she has always been there for me.

"Uh-oh, what do we have here?" Nino stands on his tippy-toes to hold his phone above my head. "Looks like Adrien and Marinette are standing under a mistletoe."

I look up at the photo of a mistletoe on Nino's phone screen. Seriously?

"It is tradition guys." Alya says with a shrug.

"That's not even a real mistletoe," I reply. "It's just a picture of one—

Marinette leans up and plants a soft kiss on my cheek. I freeze in surprise.

The oven dings, instantly drawing everyone's attention.

"Cookies are done!" Marinette announces happily.

Everyone rushes over to the oven excitedly but my body doesn't seem to be functioning. Marinette soon returns with a cookie in hand.

"Try one, Adrien. We all made them together!" She says, beaming up at me.

I smile down at Marinette. What a cutie. I lean down to the cookie in her hand and take a bite.

"Mmm..." I say as I lick the crumbs from my lips. "Delicious."

"Warm and sweet, just like you." Marinette winks before taking a bite of the cookie herself.

My heart skips a beat. I forgot how fun it is cooking with Marinette. I hope I can visit her as Cat Noir soon...