Marinette grinned as she plugged the final switch into the socket. “Tada!” she exclaimed, as the room was filled with various colors. Multicolored fairy lights were twined around Adrien's trophies as well as bunched on top of some of the bookshelves and draped down the railing. Ribbons twined around the pillars and silver and gold tinsel was draped around his desk and the sides of the stairs.Green wreaths filled with small lights and topped with a red bow hung on all of his windows. Stockings adjusted to each of their tastes were hung on the back of the couch. However, the decoration that took the cake was the tree.

It was a fresh pine tree, somehow brought into the center of the room. Small enough to not make the room feel crowded, yet large enough so his room didn't feel quite so...big. Simple gold fairy lights were wrapped around it with light blue and white tinsel in a simple yet elegant way. A bright star with complex metal designs on the surface that threw various shapes onto the room sat on the top of the tree. Those were the only elegant parts. The rest of the tree was decorated with haphazard ornaments. Some of the ornaments were store-bought in packs, but the majority of them were either hand-picked or hand-made. In fact, they had spent the better part of the day just making ornaments and playing around.

The newly decorated room made Adrien’s mouth opened in awe. It was the first time his room, or any part of his house for that matter, was decorated for Christmas. His father didn’t see the need for it. After all, he was usually away for some meeting or in his room while Adrien was at school, a lesson, or a photoshoot. He hadn’t seen the need for the decorations either, but now he was tempted to ask if the house could be decorated every year. The usually cold, lifeless room was filled with warmth. He glanced at Alya, Nino and Marinette, immensely grateful that they had decorated this huge room for him.

“So?” Marinette asked, “what do you think?”

Alya laughed, “I think we’ve made him speechless.”

“Mission accomplished,” Nino cheered and high-fived Alya.

“Since the hard part is done, I’ll get some food from the kitchen," Marinette called as she started walking to the door.

“Oh! I’ll go with you.” Adrien got up. He didn’t want them to do everything.

“Nope!” Alya walked over and pushed them back to the center of the room. “There’s no point in decorating if the person we decorated for doesn’t even admire it and Marinette worked the hardest. Nino and I will get the food.”

“Wait! Why m-” Alya grabbed Nino and dragged him out of the room before he could finish. Marinette and Adrien looked at each curiously but looked away in awkwardness,

“So…”

“So…”

“R-room like do you? I-I mean, d-do you l-l-like the room?” Marinette turned away and sat down, relieved that Adrien couldn’t see her blushing face. Adrien followed her.

“Like it? I love it!” Adrien beamed and spread his arms out in glee. “It’s beautiful! I can’t believe you guys did this for me!” He glanced at Marinette and smiled, “Thanks, Marinette.”

She blushed and hide her face in her knees, “N-n-no p-problem. I’m glad you l-like it.” She smiled at him. They sat in silence, Adrien admiring the lights and Marinette trying to work up the courage to say something.

“They’re taking a long time, huh?”

“Huh? Oh, um, yes,” Marinette blushed again, cursing herself for being startled so easily.

“Marinette! Adrien! HELP!!” Alya’s voice resounded from downstairs. The pair looked at each and acted in unison. They both got up and dashed down the stairs.

“W-what’s wrong?” they panted from their abrupt run, leaning against the stairway.

“They’re standing under it!” Alya, who was holding up her phone and looked perfectly fine, squealed.

“Dude, you guys have to kiss,” Nino, who also looked perfectly fine, grinned.

“What?” they asked. Silently, Alya pointed to something above them. They looked up.

There, a bunch of white and red berries nestled among green leaves hung innocently above them. Mistletoe.

They both blushed and glanced away.

“Y-you don’t h-have to do i-it if you d-don’t want to,” Marinette stammered, glaring at Alya.

“You have to!” Nino and Alya exclaimed. “It’s a tradition! You can’t break a tradition!” Silence followed.

“W-well if it’s a tradition,” Adrien muttered to himself. “M-Marinette?” he stuttered, turning to face the bluenette.

“Yes?!” she turned, her face as red as the mistletoe hanging above them.

“D-do you want to…?” he stopped, too embarrassed to finish the question.

“I-if you don’t mind…”

They stared at each other hesitantly. Finally, Adrien, taking the initiative, leaned in just slightly. Marinette, relieved that he started it, closed her eyes and rose to the tips of the toes. Seeing that she was okay with it, Adrien closed his head, tilted his head, and leaned down. Their lips met in a quick, soft, awkward clash. A few seconds later, they pulled away. Alya was squealing, almost jumping up and down, and her camera light was flashing away. Nino was simply smirking. Silently, they fist bumped each other.

Adrien and Marinette looked at each as they pulled away, their eyes conveying a silent agreement of mutual understanding. Marinette looked away first, running to Alya and furiously whispering something to her. Adrien slowly walked to Nino, still processing.

“You okay, dude?” Nino whispered.

“Um, yeah,” Adrien mentally shook himself out of his daze, “why?”

“No reason,” Nino smiled secretively.

“Send the pictures, okay?” Marinette whispered to Alya.

“You got it, girl,” Alya grinned and winked, holding up her phone that displayed, “Message sent.”

“You’re the best,” Marinette quietly squealed.

Alya smirked and flipped her hair jokingly, “I know.”

The room was almost silent as each pair whispered amongst themselves. Eventually, it quieted down to a comfortable silence.

“So, who’s ready for some hot chocolate?”