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  Alya's blog had provided the location of the newest attack, so Marinette was able to go straight there.

  As she approached the scene, a Christmas tree of large proportions stretched up into the sky. Marinette paused at the sight. The tree was as tall as the Effiel Tower.

  "What in the world....?"

  "Bugaboo!"

  Marinette blushed and whipped around. Her emotions once again becoming conflicted at the sight of him.

  Her mouth opened and shut before she mumbled, "I um... I-"

  He was grinning broadly, his eyes twinkling brightly with the joy he felt. Although he had slipped into doubt a few times before, he had always believed that one day she would love him. Like how HE loved HER. But the idea that they would so soon get to KNOW one another in their civilian lives?? As insistant as she was about hiding their identities, this was the LAST thing he had expected. But he was ecstatic.

  "M'Lady, there are a MILLION QUESTIONS I'd love to ask you right now!"

  "I... I-I..."

  Seeing Chat's adoring expression made her want to melt like butter. But the fact that he was apparently in love with Kagami too, made it feel like a knife had pierced that butter. Kagami's laughter at her incompetency echoed in her mind, then her words replayed as well.
  The only reason you fell, is because you hesitate. I NEVER hesitate.

  Irritated by these words, Marinette swallowed and said, "Let's go, Chat Noir. There's an akkuma loose."

  As she leaped across the buildings, Chat followed close behind and asked, "We WILL get to talk later, right, Bugaboo?"

  Silence.

  "I mean, there doesn't need to be any parting of ways after the battle, right? You already know who I am. And I'm DYING to know who YOU are."

  Silence.

  As they landed on a building that was closest to the tree, he glanced over at Ladybug.

  A horrible expression had filled her face. He followed her gaze to the ground below.

  Strange figures were everywhere. Some were gingerbread people, others were mice. But they just stood wherever they were. Stiff as statues.

  "Well! I always heard that when the Chat's away, the mice will play. But I had no idea it'd get THIS BAD. And who left these cookies everywhere?? For shame!"

  He glanced over at her, to see her reaction to his humor. All he saw was her frown deepening. Then her eyes flickered at him, but without actually looking at him.

  "Is something the matter, M'Lady?", he asked gently.

  She winced, as she struggled to restrain herself. "We have work to do..."

  She hurried down below and rushed into the Theatre. This place was also choked with mice and gingerbread people. Even a few normal people were around, who had managed to find hiding spots.

  "Where's the villain?", Marinette asked.

  One person pointed outside in a vague gesture. Both heroes glanced back at the revolving door. And it was then that they heard a screech.

  Dashing outside and down the street, they found the akkumatized victim chasing a little girl.
  "Hold still!!! You deserve this!!! You hurt my Prince, and now you have to pay!!!"

  The villain had a pale purple outfit on. She looked EXACTLY like one of the fairies from the play, but was also sporting glittery purple wings and a mask. The mask faintly resembling the shape of Hawkmoth's glowing transceiver. Her hair was white and pulled back into a bun, and her eyes an even darker shade of violet. And what little skin showed, was completely powdery white.

  Chat bolted over a few cars and hastily disappeared with Feah Sucreah's target.

  Seeing the villain start to fly after them, Marinette swung her yo-yo around the little girl and pulled.

  Feah Sucreah smiled and disappeared in a sparkly puff of glitter.

The sudden lack of restraint sent Marinette sprawling. "Oof!!"

  Glancing ahead, she saw her partner still running across the rooftops. Feah Sucreah popped up in front of him.

  "Watch out!!!", she screeched in vain. For no sooner did she say it, and the little girl in Chat's arms turned into a large mouse. The villain having shot a puff of shimmery glitter at her target.

  Chat immediately released the mouse and began dodging explosions of glitter.

  Marinette swung his way and landed behind him.

  He whipped out his baton and batted the magical ammo away. "Now might be a good time to be the lucky bug you are!", he suggested.

  She snorted. "As if!"

  "Huh??", he glanced back in surprise.

  With a gasp, she lunged at him and both of them toppled over the buildings edge. Barely avoiding another puff of glitter.

  Watching as they disappeared, Feah Sucreah angerily trembled. If she hadn't been hovering, she would've stomped her foot.

  The purple hallo glowed in front of her face. "Make the armies come to life and send them after those two!"

  "But they're suppose to fight each other!"

  "And they will! But first, we need those miraculouses!"

  "Yes, Hawkmoth!"

  Half way below, Adrien's extended baton was lodged into the walls. With Marinette's string snagged somehow onto IT and around THEM, they came to a jolting halt.

  "A bit De-ja-vu-ish, don't you think so, Bugaboo?" Grinning, he winked and added, "You might even say we're in a bit of a spot."

  She gaped for a second at the proximity of his face, but then she began panicking. The yo-yo had slipped from her grasp during the fall, and was tangled elsewhere.
  "My yo-yo!!! I can't reach it!!!"

  She was frantically kicking her feet, and straining her fingers to detect her weapon's whereabouts.

  "It's one thing to be wrapped around your finger, M'Lady. But this is ridiculous!"

  He snorted, as his choice of words registered to him. "Utterly ridiculous!", he quoted.

  Marinette quit her struggling and burst into tears. "Why???"

  Adrien's eyes widened in shock. "Ladybug! I'm- I'm sorry. I was only trying to brighten up the situation. Too many puns?", he winced.

  When she didn't respond, he anxiously glanced up their sides and spotted the yo-yo. It was behind his right knee. Stretching, he barely managed to hit the button with a claw.

  He hastily pulled Ladybug against him, to protect her from most of the fall's impact. And upon landing, she abruptly pushed away from him and stumbled over to her yo-yo.

  At a distance, many voices rang out as the word "Charge!!!" was yelled.

  Adrien leaped up and retrieved his baton, then scooped up his partner and ran.

  He didn't stop until he was well away from the searching army. Behind a chimney, he set her down and crouched beside her.
  "Ladybug, what's wrong? What's going on?"

  Marinette had clutched her head in frustration. But in an attempt to control her emotions, she took a deep breath and let it out with a sigh. Without looking at him, she tensely asked, "Who...do you love?"

  Adrien tilted his head at the unexpected question. "I beg your pardon, but- what..?"

  The stress entering her voice again, she repeated, "WHO do you love?? Me or- or-" She was fighting to still keep her identity a secret. Waving a hand in frustration, she exclaimed, "That girl from your class!!!"

  His eyes had widened in bewilderment. It wasn't often that she became agitated where he was involved. "Which girl?"

  Her expression at his question suddenly made him feel awkward, and he began to berate himself.
  Oooooh!! You idiot!! Why did you even ASK that?? You should've just answered the question!!

  Marinette quickly came to mind and he blushed.
  Oh no. She must've seen us talking or something...

  "M'Lady... I admit that I've crushed on other girls than just you. But... You're the one that I want."

  Her expression softened and she managed to glance up at him. "But what about... That one girl? The fencer?"

  "Kagami? Yeah, she's attractive and we have some things in common. But... She's not the one that I WANT."

  She blushed a little. "You're-  you're not dating her?"

  "I went on one date. But that was it."

  Picking up her hand, he gave it an affectionate squeeze. "Bugaboo. I'll willingly list all the reasons I love you. But do I really need to do that right now? The city's waiting for us."

  Marinette, at his touch, the loving words, and the peace that she was THE one; had temporarily slipped into the world of fluffy feelings and pink bubbles. But his last words sunk in like a rock in a pond.

  She gasped.
  "The akkuma!!! We gotta go!!! Ugh!!! I've been distracted!!!"

  Jumping up, she hastily led them back to the scene of the large Christmas tree.

  As they ran, Chat grinned and asked, "Is that such a bad thing?"

  Lacking her sense of humor at this point, she replied, "Yes it is! And Chat! You're not helping!"

  He snickered; completely enjoying the fact that Ladybug was attracted to him.

  As they neared the Theatre, it became harder to avoid the two armys. Repeatedly, they had to send mice and Gingerbread people flying over the sides of the buildings.

  Having enough of it, Ladybug finally shouted, "Lucky Charm!!!"

  Into her hands dropped a tube of glue.
  "Uhhh.... I'm not seeing anything, Chat!"

  He swung his baton at another group of the soldiers, then grabbed his partner and propelled them both into the sky.

  He snickered again at her lovestruck expression, then forced her to look away by pushing her nose. "Start searching, M'Lady. We don't have much time.", he said, while glancing down at the villains who were approaching his extended baton.

  It didn't take long for her to find the highlighted item. "THERE!"

  Adrien immediately shifted his weight and sent them both falling in the gestured direction.

  The item was the broken nutcracker. He was much larger than he had been before, and he was standing stoically beside two humans.

  The heroes looked apprehensively at the man and woman. They appeared worried, but weren't hiding like the other humans.
"And who are you two?", Chat Noir asked.

  As they explained, Marinette examined the Nutcracker and opened the tube of glue. But as she squeezed the tube, nothing came out. "Huh?? A-uh- Chat! There's no glue!"

  Adrien glanced at the soldier, then he looked behind them at some charging mice. He raised one eyebrow and looked back at the Nutcracker. "Wait a minute!!!"

  "What?? What is it??"

  "Ladybug, everything is happening in order!"

  "Huh??"

  "It's- have you ever seen 'The Nutcracker' play before?"

  "No."

  "Alright, just do as I say!"

  He glanced back at the parents and asked, "Do you have any idea what the akkuma entered into?"

  "Uh, yes! Her hairbow! It was black when she suddenly started speaking to someone. Hawkmoth."

  "Got it!"

  Adrien pushed the nutcracker over to his partner. "Here. Whatever you do, make sure she doesn't get it. And stay behind me."

  Then he stepped out into the road and gave a piercing whistle. "Shreeeeet!!! Hey Clara!!! You'll NEVER get your prince NOW!!!"

  Sticking his thumb to his nose, he crossed his eyes, stuck out his tongue, and wiggled his fingers at her.

  Infuriated, Feah Sucreah flew straight for them, sending shot after shot of the glittery explosives.

  Marinette made sure to stick close to Chat Noir, while he reflected the shots with his baton. It was too difficult to do that herself, seeing as the nutcracker was taller than her. And bulky at that.

  Feah Sucreah flew in as close as she could, in a attempt to snatch her prince away.

  "No Feah!!! It's- ", Hawkmoth started exclaiming. But Adrien stretched out his claws and yanked the hairband out. She shrieked as it pulled at her hair.

  "Get it back!!!", Gabriel shouted anxiously at her.

  With a snarl, she tackled Adrien. Just as she powered up another puff of glitter, Adrien hastily shouted, "Cataclysm!"

  The hairband disintegrated; yet for a split second, Adrien was a mouse.

  But Marinette swung out her yo-yo, caught the akkuma and de-evilized it. Then tossing the glue tube into the air, she shouted, "Miraculous Ladybug!"

  Back into his kitty self, Adrien glanced anxiously around, then sighed in relief. Smiling sweetly at the confused little girl that sat on his stomache, he said, "Everything's alright kid. But do you mind letting me up, purrrlease?"

  "Oh! I'm sorry!"

  Now standing, he brushed himself off, as he chatted light heartedly with the little girl and her parents. Trying to help them relax and see how she now felt about the broken doll.

  Marinette, meanwhile, had picked up the nutcracker and was looking at the broken piece. The little girl who originally had had the doll, was leaving. Ready to go home apparently, after this fiasco.

  Marinette stepped up to her partner and tapped his shoulder. "I'll finish up here. Why don't you go talk to them?", she whispered, while secretly signaling at the leaving family. He nodded and hurried over. Soothing wounds and settling strife was one of the things he was best at.

   She smiled adoringly as she watched him go. She didn't just know and believe that he was Adrien. She was actually SEEING IT. For helping people was EXACTLY the type of thing Adrien did. And yet, exactly the type of thing Chat did...
  So cute... Those big green cat eyes... The mussed up hair...

   A beep in her ear brought her back to the moment and she whipped around to the family that was watching her patiently.

  Blushing, she said, "Um, here you go. Find some glue, and you can fix him easily."

  "But- it's not mine..."

  Chat Noir suddenly showed up beside Marinette and draped his arm around her shoulder. "Don't worry about it. She doesn't want it. Because according to her, it's still broken, even if it's fixed with glue."

  Marinette had instinctively blushed at his proximity, but she exclaimed, "You asked her that??"

  "Well, I figured that might have been what the glue tube was about. Besides showing us what the source of the problem was."

  "It was... I had just realised it too."

  Alma took the broken doll and smiled slightly. "Um... Thanks!"

  Beep beep!

  "Uh-! We better split!"

  As they hurried away, Adrien asked, "We're not REALLY going to split up, are we?"

  Landing on a roof, she turned to him and gave a consoling smile. "For the time being, Kitty..."

  He winced and his ears flattened. He looked like a deflated balloon, with his shoulders drooping as well. "Please no more secrets...", he whined a little.

  Her eyes widened at the painful expression he had. "No, Adrien! I- I mean,  it's not a secret! I- oh gosh..." She rubbed her neck and tapped the tip of one foot uncomfortably. "I was hoping to make the reveal a little more special by giving you hints... Make it a Christmas gift..."

   Adrien sighed with a touch of relief. It wasn't what he had been hoping for, but it was better than what he had been expecting. And dreading.

  He smiled warmly at her, stepped forward, scooped up one of her hands, and kissed it. "I can deal with that."

  Although blushing, she looked up at him in concern. "Well, I could go ahead and-"

  "No! No, don't worry about it, Bugaboo."

  "But I know you want to know NOW!"

  He laughed softly and squeezed her hand. "That's true! But I want the hints because YOU want to give them. ...But I will ask for one consolidating early gift."

  "Um, what's that..?", she asked nervously. She really hoped he wasn't wanting that kiss, just yet.

  "A date? No patroling, no akkumas. The two of us, spending time together, just because we can." He winced a little, and tensed up. "Please..?"

  Her earrings gave the next to last warning beep. She touched it subconciously, for she was once again lost amongst those pink bubbles.

  Smiling broadly and mindlessly, she nodded while mumbling, "...Supersplendiriffic..."

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