Hello my lovelies! As promised here is the first chapter of 'A New Year Wish' in time for the New Year. I will do my best to update every few days again. Thank you to all of you who read and commented on 'A Christmas Wish'. I hope you enjoy this story just as much.

-"Ouch!" Marinette exclaimed as she pricked her finger for the umpteenth time that morning. The bluenette was grateful that her parents observed the Saint Stephen's Day public holiday, so with the bakery being shut it gave her plenty of time to work on the New Year dress.

"Careful m'lady. You know you still have a few days before the gala, the dress doesn't have to be finished today." Adrien had made himself comfortable sprawled out on Marinette's chaise. Knowing she would be working on the dress, he had come prepared with an old school handheld gamer to pass the time, although truth be told, he would have been just as happy to sit and watch her as she worked.

"I know Kitty, but I don't want to go to dinner and show your father an incomplete garment." Adrien couldn't help the little flutter he felt at her calling him Kitty out of transformation. It was a little reminder of the secret they now shared.

"Father is used to seeing incomplete work though, and it's almost done anyway. You can just explain the rest of it to him." Marinette almost froze at that. She stared at the dress in her hands before letting go of it and covering her face with her hands.

"Adrien, it took almost two years for me to talk to you in a complete sentence. How am I ever going to talk to your father? I'm going to babble and stutter and fall all over my words and he's going to think I'm an idiot and hate my dress and then he'll tell me I can't ever see you again and…" Adrien was on his feet, wrapping his arms around his girlfriend.

"Shush now, that's not the Marinette I know. Come on m'lady, you won his hat competition when you were just 14. You even impressed Chloe's mother and she is a very tough nut to crack." He pulled her hands away from her face, kissing her on the forehead. "He's going to love the dress and he's going to love you, just like I do."

"He's right Marinette." The small red Kwami agreed. "You really should take a break for a while and rest your fingers."

"I agree Tikki." Adrien took Marinette's hand and gently kissed her pricked fingers. "You've been cooped up here all morning. I'm taking you out of this room for a bit. There's a coffee shop down the road that I know is open today. A bit of fresh air will do you good."

"Do they sell cheese there?" Adrien, Marinette and Tikki all just looked at the black cat Kwami. "What?" Tikki narrowed her eyes at her counterpart.

"Plagg, you just ate a rotten piece of cheese less than five minutes ago." Plagg folded his arms.

"It wasn't rotten, it was aged. Besides, I am a cat you know, I eat small portions frequently. You don't hear me complaining about your sickly sweet cookies." Adrien shook his head at his Kwami.

"I don't suppose I could swap him for a different Kwami at all? One that isn't so rude and doesn't eat cheese." Plagg gasped in horror prompting a laugh out of Marinette. Adrien smiled mischievously rubbing his chin in thought. "You know I did get along with Sass pretty well." She cupped her hands around Adrien's face.

"Not a chance Kitty, I love you just the way you are and that includes with cat ears." Adrien brought his hands around her back and leaned his head down bringing her lips up to his. Marinette might have only been his official girlfriend for less than 48 hours, but as Ladybug she had been his partner and best friend for over 3 years. While getting to kiss her like this was still new to him, the feeling it gave him was as though they had been together forever. Falling back onto the chaise with Marinette on his lap, he never let his lips leave hers as he moved his hand through her hair. Eventually the pair had to break away for air, both with flushed faces trying to catch their breath. This could definitely get addictive. Adrien raised a suggestive eyebrow. "You know, on second thoughts we could just stay here and keep doing this." A loud groan from Plagg interrupted that idea. Marinette ran her fingers through his blonde hair.

"No, your right Chaton, I think I do need some fresh air." Adrien smirked at her.

"Did I just take your breath away m'lady?" Marinette sighed and flopped her forehead against his shoulder.

"Remind me again why I love you?" She moaned. Adrien just laughed and held her closer.

After a few more kisses the two eventually got up and grabbed their coats and headed down stairs. Tom and Sabine were huddled under a blanket with hot tea, watching a movie and enjoying the day off.

"Just heading to the coffee shop down the road for a break. We won't be long." Marinette said as they passed the lounge.

"Make sure you're both warm, and watch your step, the snow has been fairly consistent today." Sabine called out.

"Don't worry." Adrien popped his head in. "I'll be there to catch her." He winked. Sabine smiled and nodded as the two teens headed out the door. It warmed her heart to see them so happy and finally together.

Walking down the pathway Adrien marveled at how his heart leapt just holding her hand. He had always said that he would love the girl behind the mask, but how he felt now was nothing like how he imagined he would feel. Knowing Ladybug was Marinette and that he was already in love with both sides of her filled him with a warmth and love he never thought was possible. Just walking with her and holding her hand made him want to stand taller, made him feel braver and made him want to give everything for her.

After ordering some coffee, cake and a cheese platter (mostly for Plagg) the couple found a cosy booth in the corner where they could sit side by side. Adrien kept an arm around her as she rested her head against him. Marinette still had to pinch herself that not only was Adrien her Chat Noir, but that he had fallen in love with her as Marinette. All that time she had tried to build a wall between herself and Chat and he turned out to be the boy she loved all along. She was still worried about it, that Hawk Moth would use their love for each other against them, but she believed that as long as no one else knew about who they secretly were, then Hawk Moth couldn't touch them.

Caught up in their own little world between kisses and whispered declarations of love, the two were completely oblivious to the frantic searching of a certain aspiring journalist until she practically fell on them over the table.

"There you are girl. I went to the bakery but your parents said I'd find the two of you here." Alya puffed out as she tried to catch her breath.

"Alya, did you run here?" Marinette asked, the brunette nodded.

"I go away for a few days and not only do you and Sunshine here finally get together but look at the Ladyblog. I've never got so many hits before and I didn't even get to take the pictures! I mean seriously, why does everything happen when I'm not here?" Pulling out her phone, she showed them photos that had been uploaded overnight of Ladybug and Chat Noir holding hands as they raced over the rooftops and kissing in the moonlight on the Eiffel Tower. Considering the lateness of the hour, Marinette was surprised there was so many photos. Truth be told, she hadn't really thought about how they would handle their changed relationship status as superheroes. Knowing her Kitty though, there wasn't going to be much chance of hiding it. While she was slightly embarrassed at her private moments being public viewing, Adrien on the other hand looked proud as punch.

"Well, didn't Chat Noir always say he and Ladybug would be a couple some day?" Adrien squeezed Marinette's hand under the table. He was doing a terrible job of hiding his delight but fortunately Alya was too wrapped up in her phone to notice.

"He sure did. Now I just need to get an interview with them and pry out all the juicy details. Speaking of which, I'm going to grab myself a coffee and you two are going to fill me in on all the deets. By the way, loved that mistletoe pic your dad sent me Mari." Alya laughed as she left the table to make her order. Marinette groaned and flopped her head back on Adrien's shoulder. He leaned into Marinette's ear.

"Nino isn't due back until this evening is he?" Marinette shook her head.

"Nope. We have her all afternoon." Adrien hooked a finger under her chin turning her head up to him.

"You have her all afternoon Bugaboo, I've got to go to a meeting scheduled with my father remember." He said giving her a soft kiss. As he got up, Alya returned back to the table. "I've got to go I'm afraid Alya." He said giving her a hug before turning back to Marinette. "And I'll see you tonight." He gave Marinette a very Chat smile and wink before he left. It was going to take her a while to get used to seeing that look without a mask, but oh did it make her heart melt for him all over again. Alya grinned at the lovesick look on her best friends face.

"Okay girl, I'm all ears. Spill." This was going to be a long afternoon.

Adrien was greeted in the foyer by Nathalie as he entered the house. "Your father is on the phone but he said he would come and see you in your room once he is done." Adrien nodded in acknowledgement. Having a meeting scheduled just to talk to his father was yet another reminder of all the things that were wrong with this family. After spending so much time over the last few days with Marinette and her parents he could see clearly how families were meant to be and it made him feel that he had at least somewhere to belong where he would be loved and not be treated as an employee. Just thinking about it brought joy to his heart. Nathalie could see the soft far off smile on his face. "How's Marinette?" She asked, pulling him out of his daydream. He blushed slightly at being caught out.

"Wonderful, but nervous about meeting my father." Nathalie sighed and looked back at the young blonde.

"I understand, but I'm sure everything will be fine. She has talent I remember and your father has always admired talent." Adrien hoped so as he climbed the stairs to his room.

Checking his phone as he walked in, there was a message from Nino.

Nino: Dude, heard Mari is meeting your old man tonight. Talk about jumping in the deep end.

"Whoa, Alya gets news out fast." Plagg looked over Adrien's shoulder at his phone as he typed back a reply

Adrien: I know, I don't like it either but not much I can do. He wanted to see her ASAP. Best not get on his bad side straight up.

Nino: Good luck man. I'm sure Mari can handle it. Call you later.

"I'm worried Plagg. What if my father just wants this dinner to try and frighten her away? I don't think I could handle losing her." Plagg floated close up to Adrien's face.

"Kid, she's Ladybug remember. She's faced down Akuma's and saved Paris more times than you can count. I'm sure she can handle your father when your right there next to her." Adrien slumped into his computer chair.

"I know how to protect her from an Akuma Plagg, but I don't know how to protect her from my father." He folded his arms on the table and buried his face. Plagg watched on with concern. He'd seen his chosen have to deal with more than his fair share of disappointments regarding his father over the years, but this was different, because she was different.

"Look at me kid." Adrien lifted his head to look at the black Kwami. "You protect her the same way you always do, by jumping into the line of fire."

"You're not usually this forthcoming with support Plagg. What's up?" Plagg softened his eyes.

"You and I have been through a lot kid, and I like pigtails. Not all of my Chat Noir's got to know who their Ladybugs were. Sadly most of them died first, but you do kid, you have a chance with her, a chance to be happy. Tikki and I both knew you were a special pair when the old guardian chose you and I'll be damned if I see my favourite kitten lose his Ladybug because his dad decided to act like a pick." Adrien leaned back in his chair. He had never seen Plagg get so passionate about anything before, other than cheese.

"I won't let that happen Plagg. I promise." He scratched Plagg between the ears. "Thank you for caring." Plagg just huffed.

"Yeah, well just don't tell Tikki about it." When a knock finally came to the door, Plagg quickly hid and Adrien braced himself for whatever it was his father wanted to talk to him about.