The Waiting Game

Chapter Nine - Let's Begin

"Alya, could you please grab the tray of cookies and put them...hmm..over there!" Marinette pointed a slender finger over to the glass table, she was followed by a small blonde boy doing the same.

"Aunty Alya! Cookies on that table!" Thomas said with a strong voice, his finger travelling in the same direction as Marinette.

"Sure thing, Thomas!" Alya smirked playfully as she carried the warm tray over to the designated table.

Marinette rolled her eyes. "Oh sure, listen to the child. Anyways, I thought you were helping Papa with the lights?"

Thomas froze as he remembered his assigned job, quick as a flash he ran out onto the little balcony where Adrien was. "Do you still need help Papa?"

Adrien stopped focusing on the dazzling gold lights and instead on his son. Thomas looked so small...then again Adrien was really high up on the ladder.

"I thought you'd never come back once Marinette pulled those cookies out of the oven," Adrien teased. Thomas twirled his foot in little guilt-ridded circles along the pavement. "It's fine, I know how awesome your mother's cooking is. Can you please grab that small green box on the table there?"

Thomas skipped to the table and picked up the box. His curious mind took a peek inside. "How many lights are there?" Thomas stood on his tippytoes to reach his dad.

"A lot. Marinette always loved Christmas. I remember this one time she made me this hat-"

Suddenly out of the darkness, Marinette slithered around the corner. "How are the lights going you two?"

Adrien jumped at the interruption, losing his footing on the ladder, luckily his hands kept him balanced. "Phew. Great! Almost done, just one string left."

"You can take a break. I know one of you," Marinette glanced at Thomas. "Has been dying for a snack."

Thomas took this as his one and only chance to snatch a cookie, he ran back inside as fast his legs could carry him.

"Okay sure. Thanks, Marinette." Adrien gleefully hopped down the ladder, confident in his jump, his ankles thought otherwise. He landed with a THUMP and tripped over his own feet, his body colliding with the ground.

Marinette placed her hand out for him to grab. Adrien looked up at her; the setting sun making her look like a glowing angel. "Woah, Woah Agreste. You better think before you leap." She giggled slightly.

An angel of mercy and sarcasm.

His favourite mix.

Adrien took her hand and was secretly shocked at Marinette's strength. "Thanks, Mari, but I had it covered."

Her cold hand seemed to melt instantly against his warm one, her heart melting slowly too.

"Hey, Adrien! Marinette! You guys need to see this!" Alya called from inside, breaking their hands apart. Marinette ran her hand through her hair before slowly walking back inside. Adrien took a deep breath.

"Always at the worst moments." He thought.

Adrien followed Marinette inside, where Alya was standing in the hallway, a puzzled look on her face. "Marinette, have you seen this before?"

Marinette and Adrien shared a confused glance, they walked in unison towards the hallway. Alya stepped back inside to give them room.

"What is it Alya?" Marinette glanced down the hallway but couldn't see anything. She stood alongside Adrien, neither of them able to spy what Alya had seen. "What on earth are we looking at?"

Without warning, the apartment door slammed shut, followed by the clicking of the lock that sent shivers down Marinette and Adrien's spines. He rushed to the door and began to twist and turn the handle. "Alya! Nino! What is this?!"

"You aren't coming back in until you work out your issues!"

It felt like something out of a sitcom, it couldn't be real.

"Alya!" Marinette shouted. "This is ridiculous!"

"Mama?" Thomas's little mewl made Marinette's determination skyrocket, to the point where she started punching the door, Adrien had to hold her back. "Mama is fine Thomas, Aunty Alya is just acting like a child."

"It wasn't my idea, Nino had the idea of getting you two alone together."

"Nino!" Adrien shouted.

"Sorry dude," Nino said meekly.

"Adrien," Marinette placed a small hand on his shoulder. "let's just listen to them. It's easier than fighting our way back in."

In all honesty, she made sense. There was no other way they could get back in (well the door could be broken down but Marinette may not appreciate that). "Alright, let's walk then."

Snow dropped from the sky like cherry tree blossoms, coating the city around them.

"So...what did you want to talk about?" Adrien hinted at a conversation. He wanted a declaration about everything that has happened.

"So we're going to talk?" Marinette contradicted. "I'm actually relieved, I've been wanting to talk for a while."

A little bit of weight fell off of Adrien's shoulders. "Me too. Is it okay if I start?"

"Sure."

Adrien straightened his shoulders. "I will understand if you don't want to answer. It's just something that Thomas mentioned a while ago and I still think about it from time to time." Adrien stopped walking and faced Marinette.

"Who is Renae?"

~~~

Oh, snap cliffhanger.

So yea I got my laptop fixed!! My mum and I had to go to an Apple Store and the guy fixed it within 30 minutes XD I'm just glad to have it working again!

I hope you enjoyed this chapter! I'm sorry it's so short, this is just the foundation for theexplosion that is the next chapter ;) 

Until next time, Pound it!

~Daina-chan x