An E rated version of this fic will be posted later this evening in Love Squared.

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Nino

Hey man, I know we all said we were swapping presents on Christmas Eve, but mine will be coming to you today.

Adrien

I thought the whole point of secret Santa was that it remained secret 🤣

Nino

I'm too excited man, it's something you've always wanted. I was psyched when I knew I had you.

Adrien

Well, I guess I should say thank you then.

Nino

You're very welcome. Oh and dude, make sure you let me know what you think. Though I reckon most of your night will be taken up with it 😉

Adrien

Nino? What did you do?

Nino

My lips are sealed. Just enjoy yourself with it and we'll see you tomorrow night at Luka's place?

Adrien

See you tomorrow. I'll drop you a message in the morning.

Adrien shut down his phone and placed it back on the arm of the sofa. Luckily, he was in all day today so Nino didn't need to worry about him missing his gift. He chuckled to himself as he thought about what Nino had just done. Adrien was quite sure the whole point of secret Santa was that you didn't know who your Santa was.

Lifting his legs, Adrien crossed one ankle over the other before grabbing the coffee from the side table near his sofa and looking over towards his tree. He'd lived in the apartment now for around ten months and he was loving the independence and freedom. Though, he couldn't deny that sometimes the overpowering feeling of loneliness kicked hard in the crotch. He thought leaving the mansion would be everything he ever needed, but the big, fat gaping hole in his heart was a firm reminder that something or someone was missing.

Christmas was never the best of times, but this year he felt in limbo. He had things to be happy for — his new found freedom being a big boost — but also what was life without his partner in crime; his partner who was starting to make a name for herself in New York. He constantly berated himself for letting her go, for letting the woman he loves walk away from him to live her life without him by her side. He should have begged her to stay or gone with her, or even just told her he still was madly and deeply in love with her. But he didn't... he just let her board the plane and leave him to fend for himself in Paris.

Sighing, he pulled up the tv guide on the screen and looked for a Christmas movie to lose himself in. Usually he'd go for a Hallmark movie. A good old predictable movie where two ex lovers/old friends were reacquainted and fell into each other's arms; kisses, hugs and proposals follow after the two protagonists finally admit exactly how they felt. Damn, he was jealous.

Adrien moved from his usual mushy crap, instead opting for his second favourite Christmas movie — Die Hard.

Ladybug used to argue with him, making it very clear that Die Hard wasn't a Christmas movie. A smile graced his lips as he remembered the year an end was finally put to that debate when Die Hard made the official 'Top 10 Christmas Movies' list in her favourite magazine. His hand instinctively went to his phone as the opening scene played only to return promptly onto his warm coffee cup.

She'd made it very clear the last time he'd messaged that she was busy this week and that she'd text him when she could. He hadn't slept for two days after that message thinking she wanted him to back off. It wouldn't be too surprising if she did, they text each other all the time, the difference in hours not interrupting their conversations at all. He just missed her so much, but understood that maybe he was being a little too suffocating with her; after all, they were nothing more than friends.

The night after the message there had been a picture. A picture on Instagram of her out and about with American model, Lance Richardson. Obviously Adrien texting all night would do nothing for her budding relationship, a relationship that wasn't with him.

"You okay, Kid?" Plagg appeared on the Lazyboy seat beside where Adrien was settled on the couch. He looked from his phone, where he'd absentmindedly been staring, back to Plagg.

"Yeah, I'm good. Just wondering if I should order in tonight or go out somewhere? Maybe Kagami would be free for dinner, I think Zoé's out of town until tomorrow."

"Well, whatever you decide, just remember my rules." The small kwami said, lazing on a pillow and yawning. His cheesy breath hit Adrien, causing him to pinch his nose in disgust, taking his breaths deeply through his mouth as to not assault his senses too much.

"European cheese only, at least a week old, and no fondue," Adrien said, nasally.

The doorbell sounded, Adrien looking from the door to his kwami.

"What do you want me to do about it?" Plagg asked, his voice harsh and condescending. "Do I look like your butler?"

"You'll look like a skinny kwami if you don't actually do something."

Plagg gasped. "You wouldn't?"

"Want to test me out?" Adrien glared at his Kwami, falling into a staring contest as the doorbell rang once more.

Adrien wouldn't lose. This contest was far too important to drop out now; whoever was at the door could wait. He wasn't expecting anyone today, he'd already spoken to Nino and they were meeting tomorrow for Christmas Eve drinks anyway.

The ringing of the doorbell was now joined by knocking. Damn, this person wasn't giving up. What was it? Some sort of Christmas treat he couldn't give up on?

Christmas treat?

His gift from Nino.

He blinked and quickly stood up pausing the tv, Plagg celebrating his victory with an out of tune rendition of 'We Are The Champions', as Adrien left the lounge and made his way to the front door.

Adrien looked through the peephole only to catch his visitor halfway down the corridor and closing in on the elevator. The red coat, black tights and high heeled boots stilled his heart, a sudden ache hitting him as the colours represented the one person he wanted to see more than anything. His eyes searched for more of this visitor, catching the back of her hair just as she pressed the button to call the elevator.

His breath hitched in his throat, followed by the front door being thrown open and Adrien rushing out.

"Stop!" he shouted, any composure he usually displayed long gone as he stumbled down the hallway towards his visitor.

She turned around, his green gaze meeting her wonderful blues as he abruptly came to a halt and pinned her against the elevator door.

"Adrien?" she whispered, it seemed he may have taken the air out of her.

"Hey." He smiled, trying to grab some sort of control back and not look like a long lost dog. A sudden ping of the elevator put an abrupt stop to it as the doors opened and they both fell onto the floor, Adrien towering over a shell shocked Marinette.

He turned his head to find his elderly neighbour standing with her cane and wearing a rather fetching hat.

"Madame Cartwright." Adrien nodded, supporting Marinette to stand and holding the elevator door open for his neighbour to pass.

"M. Agreste." The sinister smile on the older lady's face sent a spiral of anticipation into his stomach. "As beautiful as this young lady is," she began, "have some dignity and wait until you're behind closed doors."

He could feel his face heat with embarrassment, his hand subconsciously moving to the back of his neck and his eyes away from Marinette. It's not that he wouldn't, it's just that he knew full well she didn't, the whole situation probably making her very uncomfortable.

"It's nice to see you again, Madame Cartwright."

"Mademoiselle Marinette, always a delight, ma chere."

Adrien looked up to Marinette, her eyes glistening with something he'd missed, something he didn't realise he needed to see until she was there in front of him. The amusement, the joy, the happiness — it was everything.

Madame Cartwright began to move down the corridor, shuffling her feet and grasping what looked like a bag of yarn. She was obviously finishing off her Christmas gifts for the building. Last year was a hat, and this year she seemed to be going for the matching scarf.

Adrien looked to Marinette, the smile still gracing her lips and pulling at the pink tinge on her cheeks. He smiled back, both letting out a small uncertain laugh before Adrien indicated down the hallway and back to his apartment. They made their way past Madame Cartwright just as she was stepping through the doorway.

"I'll turn my tv up loud tonight." She dropped them a wink and let out a little laugh. "Merry Christmas to you both." She closed the door leaving Adrien and Marinette awkwardly hovering in front of his own.

"Did you want to come in?" he asked as a means for something to say.

"Oh, yes, I – um – I brought you these." She thrust a box of her parents' treats into his arms and walked through his open door the sounds of Marinette, Plagg and Tikki reuniting hitting his ears.

He looked at the box before deciding it would probably be a better idea to enter the apartment rather than stand outside and hang around in the corridor. He followed where Marinette had just entered and closed the door slowly behind him, willing his fire engine red face to calm down.

Walking towards the kitchen, his head was ticking through everything that had gone on over the past weeks. The way Marinette had brushed his messages off about coming to see her over the holidays, how she said she'd be busy for a couple of days and not really on her phone, and then the final thing hit him — Nino's secret Santa gift.

Nino

Hey man, I know we all said we were swapping presents on Christmas Eve, but mine will be coming to you today.

Adrien

I thought the whole point of secret Santa was that it remained secret 🤣

Nino

I'm too excited man, it's something you've always wanted. I was psyched when I knew I had you.

He replayed the messages in his head. Swapping presents early, coming to his house, something he always wanted. Had Nino done this? He was sure it was something Alya would have done, but Nino? He didn't realise the guy cared so much. His heart whelmed with love for his best friend. He'd have to make sure Nino had something impressive for his birthday, like a yacht, or a house? Or maybe (if his budget would stretch) a small island off the coast of Florida?

The box he was carrying smelt delicious. All of his favourite sweets were brought to him by his biggest treat, his biggest treat who at the moment was conversing with his kwami who he'd just threatened. Delicately placing the box down, he rushed out of the room and into the lounge hoping and praying that Plagg hadn't decided to embarrass him further. His need to impress Marinette now she was here was overwhelming.

Skidding to a halt on the wooden floor he saw Marinette, Plagg and Tikki standing beside his tree looking at something. The sound of his body colliding with the door frame must have alerted them to his presence, Marinette turning and smiling that bright smile which filled him with love and longing, a black and green ornament hanging from one finger.

"I c-can't believe you kept it," she said, a slight stutter in her voice hinting to her equal amount of nervousness. Had she come to end it all? Whatever they were, was it the final time to say goodbye?

He walked over to her, taking the ornament from her hands and allowing it to glint under the setting sunlight. The glitter from the black paw prints bounced around the room in wondrous beauty. It was his favourite Christmas decoration.

"Of course I did. It's the first Christmas present you'd given me." He turned his focus to the ornament, the vision from years past playing in his head. "We'd only been partners for a few months and you said you weren't sure if I even celebrated Christmas but you'd always been brought up that Christmas was a time of giving to those that matter most. You wanted to give me something I could keep to remember our time together in case the time ran out and we never met again."

Marinette smiled sweetly, stretched to spin the decoration on his finger sending the sparkles around the room once more. "I was so lovely that Christmas to you, yet your present to me was nowhere near as good."

Adrien rolled his eyes, hanging the decoration back up on the tree next to the picture of the core four which hung in a Mickey face from a trip to Disneyland in their late teens. "You're so mean to me!" he said, no malice in his words as he smiled at the memory.

He'd bought her a beautiful crystal decoration for her own tree. A cat with a ladybug on its nose. He may not have personally made it, but as soon as he saw it he just had to buy it for her. It was sheer coincidence she'd matched with an ornament of her own; a handcrafted ornament of pure perfection, just like her.

But... he'd also given her the flu.

"Hi." He turned back to face her, a soft smile playing on his lips.

"Hey. I hope you don't mind me dropping in like this. I saw Alya this morning and Nino was with her–"

"You're always welcome, Marinette. You know that."

She frowned at him, and he knew it was because of using her name. He rarely called her Marinette, since the reveal anyway. It only ever came out when he needed to get her to listen, very much the way a parent would full-name a child.

"Can I take your clothes off? Coat! Can I take your coat off... of you? Not clothes because then you'd be naked and I don't think that's a great idea at the moment. Not that you don't have an amazing body, just that it's cold. My heating — I need to..." he trailed off, trying to keep a smile on his face. What a complete and utter idiot! He thought. The room suddenly grew incredibly awkward, not at all what he was used to when he was with her.

It had been four months since they'd last seen each other, and until last week they were in constant contact. Why did everything have to be easier over messages and FaceTime? He'd died for this woman multiple times, he should be able to form a coherent sentence in front of her without making an ass out of himself.

"Oh – um – yeah sure."

Great! He'd made her feel uncomfortable. He walked around to her back, helping to remove the coat from her shoulders and catching both Plagg and Tikki's sorrowful stare. He didn't need their pity, he had enough for everyone in the room.

Taking the red trench jacket from her body, he noticed the gorgeousness of her outfit. She was stunning. A red dress with a low neckline was paired with black tights and knee high stiletto boots, the skater skirt falling mid thigh. She was beautiful.

He didn't know whether to comment on her outfit or ignore it. He didn't want to comment on the effort she'd made for someone else when he wanted it to be for him so badly. But Adrien being Adrien couldn't hold back when such a wonderful display was in front of him, credit needed to be spread where it was due.

"You're looking wonderful, M'Lady." The term of endearment slid from his lips in a sultry way he never even knew he could possess. He saw the back of her neck prickle, goosebumps spreading over the bare skin.

"Thank you." Her voice was breathy. He had to close his eyes and focus, when she made noises like that he couldn't control himself, a problem he'd come accustomed to over the past few years where their close proximity caused changes in the atmosphere, and he couldn't help but hope it was sexual tension. But the Instagram post of her with Lance was a sure way of placing this feeling purely in Adrien's head.

Adrien headed back into the hallway, placing her coat on the rack before heading to the kitchen.

"Would you like a drink?" He called back to her only to be met by the sound of her stilettos tapping against the wooden floor.

Her face came into view, and she followed him into the kitchen. "Please."

Adrien moved to the wine rack whilst Marinette made her way to the cupboard where he kept his wine glasses, the two moving in perfect harmony as always.

"How long have you been back?" Adrien said whilst straining to take the cork from the bottle, popping it out and pouring two reasonably sized glasses.

"One day."

He nodded, unsure what to say next. The question hanging between them about why she didn't tell him?

"There's a chance of a white Christmas this year." If there wasn't a wine bottle in his hand he would have clenched his fist and bit on it!

What the hell was that Agreste?

"Yeah," she sighed, taking the wine glass from Adrien and holding it into her body. Her eyes were trailed down into it, obviously she wasn't taken by Adrien Agreste and his dazzling conversation skills. Seriously? What was wrong with him? "Alya wasn't sure what to do tomorrow night. Obviously she wants to spend Christmas with Nino, but I know she'd be gutted if she didn't see her sisters."

"Understandable," Adrien said, taking a rather large sip of his wine. He guided her into the main lounge area and signalled to the sofa, allowing her to take a seat first. She looked so well. It seemed the US air did good for her and probably her freedom too, away from here and the history that remained.

She sat down and placed her wine glass on the coffee table in front of her, before moving to her boots and unzipping down the inner seam. His eyes couldn't move away as he watched her petite hands move to the zip and pull it down to her ankles. She removed both, settling back against the cushions with one foot under the other.

"Here." He leaned forward, taking the glass from the coffee table for her and handing it over. Sitting beside her with a reasonable gap to make sure she wasn't uncomfortable. She was here with him and he knew it was selfish but he wanted her to stay for as long as possible. He reached forward, hand hovering over the remote ready to continue his movie when a giggle sounded beside him.

"Die Hard?" she questioned. "I thought we agreed this wasn't a Christmas movie."

He turned his head to look at her, noticing that she was hiding behind the glass placed strategically at her lips.

"I think I proved that it was a Christmas movie and 'Style Queen' agreed with me."

"You paid them off just to get back at me. You know the Bourgeois woman will do anything for you." Marinette said, taking a sip from her wine glass yet the sparkle in her eyes told him everything he needed to know.

He rolled his eyes and turned back to the tv, selecting the guide once more and choosing the other Christmas movie which had just started — The Family Man.

"It's good to see you," Adrien said, stretching forwards once more to place the remote back onto the coffee table. "I didn't know you were coming back."

You told me you were busy.

She sighed and looked down into her glass. "I was hoping it would be a nice surprise. I was going to come and see you yesterday pretty much as soon as I landed, but when I got to my parents they fed me up and I fell asleep on the sofa. Jet lag, you know?"

He nodded in response. This was Marinette they were talking about. The girl could fall asleep mid conversation and not wake up for another twenty four hours. "Of course. How long are you in Paris for?"

How many times can I see you in a short period?

She sucked her bottom lip under her top teeth, pulling it out without ruining an inch of her perfectly applied pink lipgloss.

"I'm not sure when I need to go back." Her answer was vague, and he didn't like it. His stomach churning and a cold shake taking over his body. He could be losing her once more within days and the idea was a kick in the gut. He wanted her to stay, he needed her to stay.

"Oh!" Adrien couldn't say much more. He didn't know what else to say.

Sitting back, he turned his attention to the tv. Watching as Nicholas Cage was transported into another time, into another life. He side eyed Marinette noticing she was playing with the glass of wine, swirling it in perfectly formed circles, her expression thoughtful making Adrien curious.

"I saw–"; "Did you–" they said at the same time, both stopping mid sentence with a blush and nervous laugh.

They turned back to the movie, Adrien tapping a finger against his thigh as Marinette wrapped her arms around herself to the background noise of Nicholas Cage having a breakdown.

Adrien noticed her hands rubbing up and down her arms. "A-are you cold? I can get you a blanket if you wish? I still have your Chat Noir one in my room." His voice stumbled over his words, just as his feet did attempting to get up. He ended up back on his bottom, bouncing her and destroying the wine circles in the process.

"Oh – um – yeah, I'm a little cold. It seems the Ladybug trait to weather has been wearing off on me." She shyly smiled back, a slight pink hue gracing her cheeks as she spoke.

"I'll just –" He attempted to stand once again, only for Marinette's hand to fall to his thigh, the pressure keeping him there.

"Would you mind – I mean – would it be okay if I just..." She shyly moved over towards him, shuffling in closer. His body was frozen to the spot, unsure whether to accept this or move away and get a blanket. But it was too late. She was already settled against him, her head resting on his chest and the hand from his thigh looping around his waist.

He was surprised she wasn't getting a concussion from the erratic beating of his heart as it thumped and pounded against his chest, and in result hitting her head. He lifted his arm and moved it to hang over her shoulders and pull her closer.

"Is this okay?" she whispered. "It's just you've always been really warm."

Adrien nodded, his throat too dry to make a response and his wine glass too far away to ease the pain. He shuffled in his seat a little, making sure they were both comfortable whilst his 22 year old body reacted in a way it only did for her.

He tried to gather some sort of liquid in his mouth to swallow down, finally wetting his tongue enough to talk.

"H-how are your parents?"

"They're good. Quite the surprise for them when I turned up on the doorstep."

He wasn't surprised. He'd seen Tom and Sabine two days ago and they were gutted they weren't seeing Marinette for Christmas. She had always come back over the past four years she'd been away, the older couple putting on quite a celebration; one he'd always been invited to.

"Oh they didn't know either?" Adrien asked, his one hand absentmindedly starting to stroke up and down her arm as she cuddled closer. He felt her head shake against his body confirming his statement.

She stayed silent, obviously ending the conversation there. He attempted to keep his eyes on the screen. To keep himself from feeling every part of her familiar body against his and reacting in an embarrassing way he'd surely regret.

"Do you ever feel like you made a wrong turn somewhere?" she whispered, her arm tightening around the front of his stomach as she snuggled in deeper.

"What do you mean?" He looked down towards her head, moving his other hand to subconsciously rub up and down her arm hugging him.

Her focus was set on the tv screen, his own turning towards it too.

"I should never have left. New York is not my home, it's not my life."

She sounded sad, his own heart breaking at the intensity of her words. Yet, part of him held hope for what was going to come next. Praying she would open up and finally let him in.

"Jack Campbell messed up his life," Marinette said, referring to the character on screen. "I'm worried I've messed up mine too, that I made the wrong decision."

"Marinette, you've always dreamed of this. You've done everything for everything else, you deserve to have everything you've ever wanted." He turned in his chair, coming face to face with her and looking into the depths of her wonderful blue eyes.

She shook her head again. This time pushing herself away from Adrien and looking at him. He couldn't help but think there was something deeper there. Something more than he'd ever seen; a vulnerability and honesty, a need to get something off her chest.

"My dream," she started, her hands joining in front of her, thumbs twiddling around each other in a nervous need to keep calm. He stretched out and took her hands in his own. Swamping them over as they were covered and supported. Her hands were freezing as he held them between his own, channelling his own warmth into her joints. Her lip trembled, her top teeth taking control over it as she looked at their joined hands.

"My dream," Marinette said again, "all of my dreams — they belong with you."

"Marinette," he said with a soft sigh.

"I know it's a lot to ask, Kitty, I know I'm being selfish. You have a life here and you have all of this." She signalled around the room. "But you asked me how long I'm staying in Paris, and my answer is for as long as you'll have me."

Adrien stilled. This had to be a dream. He looked at her with his mouth slightly opened, strange noises squeaking out of him as he came to terms with what she'd just said, what she'd implied.

"I'm sorry, this is too much, I should go." She made to get off the sofa, only for Adrien to scramble alongside her, grasping whichever part he could, which just so happened to be her leg.

Adrien made it halfway before falling back down and pulling a now red shaded Marinette with him. She landed on top of him, the way they had in battle many times before. Her head lay firmly on his chest as he cradled her in his arms.

"W-why didn't you tell me you were coming? Were you actually busy?"

What about Lance?

Adrien's fingers dug into her back, using the means to keep her there against him.

"I was, I was working my notice and then I was modelling one of the matching formal wear designs so had to attend one last event. I – I came b–back to tell you, I love you. I want to spend my life with you, in whatever way that might look."

His blood flushed up into his face. He was so shocked by the photograph he hadn't stopped to read the caption, instead, he'd gone with his first judgement and considered the worst case scenario. Adrien's fingers loosened a little on her back, allowing her to push herself up on his chest, her one leg hitting the floor as she made to get away.

"You never gave me time to answer." He rushed out, desperate for her body to return to his.

"Your silence said it all, Chaton."

Looping an arm around her back, he used the other to sit himself up, Marinette straddling his hips and her dress moving a little to display black lace coating her white milky thighs. Stockings. Not tights. How festive!

"I – I was in shock, I swear, I didn't mean anything by it. I was just... shocked."

"That's not making me feel any better."

He could feel his whole body shivering with anticipation, his bravery collecting itself and hopefully finally putting itself into use and winning him the long war for his Lady's heart.

"You know what my dream is. My dream is that we're back on the day you left, curled together in my bed–" his fingers courageously, but tentatively reached out, moving to her thigh and tracing the underside of the lace. The breath hitched in her throat, her hands grasping onto his forearms and eyes looking hopefully into his. "And when you ask 'is there anything you want to tell me before I leave' I finally have the courage to ask you–"

He blinked, his heart pounding hard as he considered his next words wisely. He would have never asked her to give up on her dream of being a designer, of going to New York, or of choosing him over everything else. It wasn't his place to throw ultimatums, he wasn't that type of guy, but he needed her to know the truth. His hand caressed along her thigh, lifting the skirt a little more and wrapping around her waist to join his other.

Marinette was on her knees towering over him, causing him to look up. His head was level with her chest, the harsh movements giving him the clues that she was as nervous about this as he was. This moment would change everything.

"No... I tell you that I love you. I always have and I always will."

They remained staring at each other. The sudden declarations smashing down a wall that had been there since the day they met, since the day they became heroes. They were stepping into unknown territory. Neither having ever dated anyone, and their only hook ups with each other due to intense emotions and irresponsible drinking; but, they were doing it together.

"What do we do now?" Marinette whispered, her hands pulling up to his shoulders and gripping hold of him. Her nails biting into his flesh, yet the pain was nothing short of a perfect reminder that she was here and they were together.

"Stay with me... forever."

Her face transformed into the brightest smile he'd ever seen, one of so much love and devotion aimed at him and purely for him he thought he was going to turn into a puddle of mush right there and then.

"Don't throw out comments like that so freely, Agreste."

"I never said it was free." He reached up and brushed a hair out of her face. "You'll need to pay towards the food bill. I'm not made of money, you know."

She giggled, moving her head down to connect with his. "So we're doing this?" she asked.

"There's no going back now, Marinette. There's no need to and I don't want to. I just want you. Here. There. Anywhere."

She brushed her nose against his. "Here is my home. You are my home. Merry Christmas, Kitty."

"Merry Christmas, Lovebug."

"We'll work on that nickname." Giggling, she leaned down towards him, her lips centimetres from his as she let out another small sound, one that he wanted to swallow and keep forever. Threading a hand through her hair, he pulled her lower, taking her lips with his own as he made sure she knew exactly how he felt.

Love, lust, desire... home.

It was far from perfect. Each stopping everyone now and then to check that it was real, giggling and announcing their undying love time and time again. It had only ever been them. The two of them against the world.

꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷♡꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦

A while later, Adrien turned off the film and stifled a yawn, careful not to wake the sleeping beauty beside him. The tension and anxiety of Marinette's visit finally left him as he looked down to his girlfriend sleeping peacefully. They were where they should be — together.

Grabbing his phone, he selected the camera, flipped the lense to selfie mode and held it above him, capturing his dishevelled, glowing face and Marinette's sleeping form. Adrien pulled up his messages to Nino and started typing a quick update.

Adrien

Photo sent

Dude! You are the best Santa ever! Whatever you want man you can have? Including that ridiculous car you wanted to buy!

Closing his phone down, he turned back to Marinette, bending down and placing a kiss to her sleeping lips. Even snoring and drooling into his shirt she was gorgeous. Just as he went to kiss her again, the doorbell sounded through the apartment causing a groan to leave his lips.

He lifted his phone to check the time, seeing it was 7 pm. He'd need to consider ordering food now he was awake; he moved around the room trying to find his boxers to slip on and wondered if Marinette would want their usual Mexican, or Chinese. He'd had Italian last night with Nino and the guys so he wasn't feeling that again... but if Marinette wanted it, who was he to deny her?

The doorbell echoed through the apartment once more, Adrien growing more and more annoyed at the person who disrupted his night with his Lady. Rubbing his eyes, he carefully lowered Marinette's sleeping form onto the sofa and headed to the door, yawning once again, only to be shocked when he looked through the peephole.

Undoing the locks, Adrien opened the door to be greeted by a UPS man.

"Delivery for Agreste, from Santa."

Adrien took the large box from the amused man and closed the door with a quick thanks. He took the box into the kitchen and placed it on the work surface.

"What's that?" All of a sudden Plagg was back, flying around the box, tapping on it and giving it a good sniff. "There's no cheese in there. Why did you order it?"

"I didn't," Adrien replied, finding a knife and cutting through the top. His phone chimed with a new message just as he lifted the flaps to find a vintage games console complete with two games.

He turned his head back to his phone, Nino's name laughing at him on the screen. Oh damn!

He heard Plagg's cackle as Adrien opened the message and read his best friend's reply.

Nino

Dude, I'm not sure what you think your present was, but I'm quite sure I didn't send you Marinette.

A whoosh noise sounded as he went to shut the screen down. Another message from Nino.

Nino

Alya's freaking out!

Another set of chimes blasted out from the lounge and what he thought must be Marinette's phone; one after another, after another in quick, continuous succession. A groggy moan was followed by rustling on the sofa, followed almost immediately with a low pitched growl.

"Adrien!" He winced as she called his name. "What the hell did you do?"