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“Father, how about we get a tree and decorate it to celebrate for Christmas this year?” Adrien proposed as he entered his father’s atelier.
“I don’t have time for that, Adrien. And you know how I feel about Christmas,” Gabriel Agreste replied in a distracted tone. “Now please, return your room,” he said, waving a dismissive hand.
“Yes, Father,” Adrien said sadly, with head lowered. He turned and left the room.
As soon as Adrien had left, Gabriel turned to the painting of his wife. He pushed the buttons to activate the hidden elevator and rode down into the secret basement. Once there, he strode over to his wife’s capsule and laid a hand on it.
“Oh Emilie, the holidays just aren’t the same without you, but I’m determined to bring you back to us. Then we’ll make up for all the lost holidays,” he vowed, caressing the glass.
He turned abruptly, and quickly strode back to the elevator.
Once in his observatory, “Nooroo, dark wings rise!” he commanded, transforming into Hawkmoth.
He reached out for one of his butterflies, transforming it. “Now go, my little Akuma. I’m sure you’ll find many people with negative emotions at this time of year.”
The Akuma flitted away, out into the city of Paris.
…
Adrien passed Nathalie in the atrium on his way back to his room.
“You seem down, Adrien,” she observed mildly.
Adrien heaved a sigh. “I was hoping that with Father actually home for the holiday this year, that we might be able to do something together. But he didn’t want to.”
“Adrien, you know your father’s a very busy man even when he is at home,” Nathalie replied matter-of-factly.
“It’s more than that, Nathalie. Ever since mother died, he hasn’t celebrated anything,” Adrien replied with his voice tinged with sorrow.
Nathalie gently placed a hand on his shoulder. “Grief can cause people to withdraw from celebrations and holidays that bring back memories of what they’ve lost. He’s still grieving, in his own way, Adrien.”
Adrien’s shoulders slumped. “Yeah, Nathalie, I know.” He turned and walked away. “But so am I…” he whispered sadly.
…
“An Akuma attack! Geez, can’t Hawkmoth take a break even on Christmas Eve?” Ladybug complained as she landed on a roof.
“I hope you don’t ho-ho-hold it against me that I’m glad for an excuse to see you, milady,” Cat Noir said with a wink as he landed beside her.
Ladybug groaned. “Must you, Cat Noir?”
“Oh I must. It’s a Christmas tradition after all,” he chuckled.
“Whose?” she scoffed.
“Ours,” he replied with a patented Cat Noir grin.
Ladybug just sighed, rolled her eyes, and gave him a wry smile. “Come on, kitty, let’s take care of this so we can get ho-ho-home to our families and Christmas celebrations.”
“Was that a pun, milady?” Cat Noir asked with his ears pricking up.
“Not at all. My teeth must’ve been chattering a bit from how cold it is out here,” she replied, not dignifying him with a glance as she swung off toward the disturbance being caused by the akuma.
Ladybug and Cat Noir landed on the street to see what looked like a really grumpy version of an elf in eye-blinding green and red, firing what they took to be black snowballs from a snowball launcher.
“And coal for you! And coal for you! And, mwahahaha, coal for you too! You’ve all been very naughty!” the perturbed elf shouted as he launched more coal balls at fleeing civilians.
Cat Noir vaulted over in front of him and tapped his baton to the ground to lean on. “Now, now, only Santa gets to decide who’s naughty or nice,” he quipped.
Ladybug landed beside Cat Noir. “Exactly and we’re not gonna let any rogue elves ruin anyone’s Christmas. So just give up and hand over your akuma so we can all go home.”
The elf’s face turned bright red and he started stomping his foot. “Naughty, naughty, NAUGHTY CHILDREN! I’m not putting up with anymore whiny children this year!” he screamed and aimed his snowball launcher at them, firing more lumps of coal.
Ladybug dodged out of the way and Cat Noir deflected the coal with his baton, batting a couple back at the elf. The elf snarled and flicked a switch causing the launcher to fire more rapidly. Cat Noir had to dodge this new onslaught.
‘While Cat Noir’s got him distracted…’ Ladybug thought then called out, “Lucky Charm!” A large, Ladybug-patterned candy cane dropped into her hands.
Cat Noir landed beside her. “A candy cane, milady? But I already have an excellent baton,” he chuckled.
“Har har, kitty.” Ladybug looked around and then had a plan. “Well, well, kitty, this cane is in fact for you. It will be just want you need to stop that elf’s coal launcher.” Ladybug explained her plan to Cat Noir and they both went into action.
Cat Noir landed behind the elf who was still shouting “naughty” and firing coal everywhere. “Seems the only one who belongs on Santa’s naughty list is you. Maybe this candy cane will sweeten your disposition,” Cat Noir called to get the elf’s attention then just as the elf turned aiming at him, he flung the candy cane right into the tube of the snowball launcher.
The elf screamed in rage as the launcher jammed. He repeatedly pulled the trigger, though no lumps of coal shot out, until it exploded in his hand. With another raging scream of “naughty”, he flung it aside and was about to charge at Cat Noir when Ladybug appeared and wrapped him up in her yo-yo. He fell on the seat of his pants and kicked his legs, throwing a nasty tantrum. Cat Noir walked calmly up, pulled the elf hat from his head, and ripped it in two. The akuma fluttered out and the elf passed out on the ground.
Ladybug pulled her yo-yo back from the elf to catch the akuma. “No more evil doing for you, little akuma. Time to de-evilize!” “Gotcha!” She said as she went through her usual motions. “Bye-bye, little butterfly.” Then tossing her lucky charm, “Miraculous Ladybugs!”
After the ladybugs had cleared up all the chaos caused by the akuma, Ladybug and Cat Noir gave each other a “Pound it!” before turning to the confused akuma victim. He looked to have been a Santa’s helper from the mall.
“You gonna be okay now?” Ladybug asked him offering him a hand up.
“Yeah, sorry about that. I guess the work stress got to me,” he apologized looking rather ashamed of himself.
“Don’t worry about it. The holidays can be rough on everyone at times,” Cat Noir said with a grin.
“Will you be alright getting back to work?” Ladybug asked.
“Yeah, I’ll be fine. Thanks a lot,” the victim said with a nod, and turned to go.
“Merry Christmas!” Ladybug called, as she and Cat Noir leapt away.
…
Adrien flopped onto his bed and pulled out his phone. He started scrolling through his Ladybug photos. “At least I got to see her today,” he said with a small smile.
Plagg popped up munching a piece of Camembert cheese. “If you’re so bummed out about your holiday, why don’t you do something about it?”
“I already tried asking Father but he said no,” Adrien replied.
“Well then why don’t you do something on your own or contact some of those friends of yours from school?” Plagg suggested.
“Adrien Agreste isn’t as free to come and go as Cat Noir, Plagg.” Adrien whispered. “And I don’t want to intrude on my friends’ holidays with their families. I’m just glad I got to see Ladybug.” He smiled softly again.
Plagg sighed and popped the rest of the cheese in his mouth. “Well, if nothing else, you’ve got me.” And he hugged the side of Adrien’s head.
Adrien gently placed a hand over him. “Thanks, Plagg.”
…
“Defeated again!” Hawkmoth fumed and turned angrily from the window. “Nooroo, dark wings fall.” Hawkmoth transformed back into Gabriel Agreste.
Gabriel composed himself as best he could and returned to his atelier. He stopped and stood silently in front of the portrait of Emilie. Slowly the anger drained and disappointment and sorrow replaced it. “Another year without you, my love. But I will not give up,” he murmured. “Tomorrow’s another day and another chance to acquire the miraculouses.” He turned from the portrait and strode from the room.
Gabriel had eaten his dinner alone in his room and then prepared himself for bed. The rest of the house was quiet. No longer wishing to dwell on his failures or Emilie’s absence, he laid down to go to bed. But just as he was beginning to drift off, a feeling of a strange presence brought him back to full waking. He sat up and looked about his room. When he was beginning to think he had imagined it, something cloud-like and glowing floated through the bedroom door. He gasped at the image he saw as the eerie glow coalesced into something more substantial.
“Emilie?” he breathed, uncertain now whether he was indeed awake or had actually fallen asleep and this was nothing more than a dream.
“Yes, Gabriel,” Emilie replied as she approached his bedside.
He quickly moved to the edge of the bed. “But how have you returned? I have been unable to retrieve the miraculouses,” he questioned as he reached for her.
She smiled sadly at him as his hand passed through her. “I have not returned in the way you seem to wish. And you must stop trying to achieve this goal. Do you not see the dark path this is leading you down and the terrible harm it will bring?” she spoke softly.
“But, Emilie, Adrien and I need you. How can we live without you? How can I live without you?” he pleaded.
She shook her head. “You must learn to. And you must be here for Adrien and stop chasing after me. I am no longer a part of this world.”
“Never! If I can just get the miraculouses, you will be with us again,” he insisted.
She sighed, “If that is how your mind is set, then I can do no more to persuade you. Perhaps the three spirits to come with have better luck.”
“Spirits?”
“You will be visited by three spirits, Gabriel. Without their visits, I fear you will be unable to turn from this path you have set yourself on,” she spoke calmly. “And now, with my message delivered, I must bid you farewell, my love.” She turned to leave.
Gabriel quickly climbed from the bed and hurried in front of her. “Emilie, my love, my light, please don’t go. I need you.”
She smiled lovely at him but shook her head. “I must go. But if you love me as you profess to, please heed the warnings of the spirits to come.”
And with those final words, Emilie’s ghost vanished.
Gabriel turned and opened his bedroom door hoping to see her just on the other side, but when he didn’t, he returned quietly to his bed.
Gabriel must’ve slept, for when he was awoken by a strange noise, it was nearly one o’clock. He sat up in bed and looked cautiously around. Seeing nothing, he excused the noise as something from a dream and once more laid down. But not a moment later, a bright light appeared.
He sat up once more and looked toward the light through squinted eyes. His eyes widened at what he saw. “Adrien?” he half-whispered.
The spirit looked itself over. “No, I am merely in the guise of your son. I am the ghost of Christmas past.”
“What do you want with me?” Gabriel asked.
“I come for your salvation,” the spirit replied and waved a hand opening the window on the far side of the room. “Come, it’s time you took a look at your past,” the spirit commanded, stretching out a hand towards Gabriel.
Gabriel, skeptical and reluctant, still reached out and took the spirit’s hand.
In moments they had returned to the past. Gabriel looked around at a scene that slowly became more familiar. His breath caught when he saw Emilie, young and beautiful as he had first known her.
“Emilie!” he called out frantically, reaching towards her.
“These are but shadows of your past, Gabriel, they can neither see nor hear you,” the spirit said.
Gabriel let his hand fall to his side. He watched as Emilie moved across the room to greet someone whom it took him a moment to realize was his younger self.
The spirit watched him. “So you do remember this,” he spoke softly.
“Yes, I remember.” Gabriel replied equally as softly, as he watched Emilie and his younger self chat and laugh together.
He watched as friends joined them and they all chatted happily. Then music started up and the dancing began. He remembered how he’d felt dancing with Emilie that night, how happy it had made him.
“You haven’t aged well,” the spirit gibed, breaking into Gabriel’s thoughts.
“You sound more like my nephew Felix than my son Adrien,” Gabriel replied dryly.
The spirit smirked. “If you’ll recall, I am neither. Now come, there is much to see.” He laid a hand on Gabriel’s shoulder and the scene shifted.
Gabriel now saw himself, Emilie, and their young son Adrien opening gifts and laughing on a Christmas morning.
“Remember when you used to not suck, Father?” the spirit mocked in a very Adrien-voice.
“Adrien, that’s no…” ‘way to talk to your father’ Gabriel was going to say but stopped himself partway.
The spirit just grinned and waved a hand causing a series of family Christmases to pass by as Gabriel watched.
As Gabriel saw Adrien grow, he dreaded the Christmas that he knew must be coming… the first without Emilie. The spirit did not disappoint. A somber, grey Christmas day appeared. Gabriel saw himself alone in his atelier staring at his wife’s portrait, occasionally murmuring words of grief and love. As tears began to prick his eyes, the scene suddenly shifted and there was Adrien alone in his room. Gabriel gasped at the sight. Adrien sat on his bed holding a photograph of himself and his mother.
“Merry Christmas, Mother. Father and I really miss you. Things haven’t been the same without you,” Adrien spoke to the photograph as a tear rolled down his cheek. “Father hasn’t been the same… I miss him too and how things used to be…” Adrien set aside the photograph and turned into his pillow.
Gabriel heard the soft sounds of crying. “Adrien… I never knew…” he said softly.
“Perhaps you should’ve asked him, should’ve paid more attention to his grief instead of just wallowing in your own,” the spirit pointed out.
Gabriel turned on him with a glare. “What would you know of my grief?” he spat angrily.
“Oh no, I wouldn’t know anything about grief after over 2000 years,” the spirit retorted sarcastically.
“Leave me!” Gabriel demanded, turning his back on the spirit and returning his gaze to Adrien.
The spirit simply shrugged and waved his hand. Adrien disappeared from Gabriel’s vision and he found himself once more alone in his own room.
Then there came a loud noise from downstairs. Gabriel headed cautiously down to investigate. Upon entering the dining room, the room lit up to reveal that it was filled with cakes, pastries, and breads.
“Come in and know me better man!” came a jovial voice.
Gabriel looked to the source of the voice and saw a giant of a man in a dark green robe with a wreath of holly on his head. “Tom Dupain?” he asked uncertainly, for that was the visage he saw.
“Ho-ho-ho, no, I am merely in this guise for your sake. I am the ghost of Christmas present,” the spirit replied merrily.
“I see. And what are you here to show me?” Gabriel asked warily.
“Why the joy of Christmas! Ho-ho-ho!” the spirit laughed as he shrank down to normal human size. He walked over to Gabriel and put an arm around his shoulders. “Come, there is much to see,” he said as he led Gabriel into the foyer which was now lit by daylight.
“Good morning, Nathalie. Merry Christmas,” Adrien greeted Nathalie as he came downstairs from his room.
“Good morning and Merry Christmas to you too, Adrien,” Nathalie replied with a small smile.
“Do you think Father will be joining us for Christmas dinner this evening?” Adrien asked hopefully.
“I’m afraid not, Adrien. Your father has a lot of things to do today,” Nathalie said as she checked her tablet.
Adrien looked briefly crestfallen then tried to muster a cheerful appearance. “Then perhaps you’d be able to join me?”
“I’m afraid not, I have things to take care of as well, mostly to help your father.”
“Oh, I see.” Adrien replied quietly. “In that case, do you think it would be alright if I went for a walk after breakfast? Some of my friends said they were getting together for a bit today.”
“That should be alright, just don’t be out too long,” she replied, once again checking her tablet.
“Thank you, Nathalie,” he said quickly and hurried to have his breakfast and be off.
Gabriel watched the scene with a slightly conflicted expression.
“I wonder if what is keeping you busy is truly more important than spending the time with your son,” the spirit commented mildly.
“Of course it is! I’m doing it for both our sakes!” Gabriel snapped but then paused to consider if it was really true.
The spirit laughed comfortably. “Well even so, I have more to show you. Come.” He led Gabriel from the mansion out into the city.
Paris was decorated for the holiday. Many people were out early, enjoying the morning. There was a light dusting of snow making for a lovely white Christmas.
The spirit led Gabriel to a park where a number of kids from Adrien’s class had gathered. As they approached, they saw Adrien running up to join his friends. He was greeted enthusiastically by the others. There were a few moments of chatter, then they all placed the gifts they’d brought in a pile, and one by one found the gift meant for them. There was more laughter and excited chatter as the gifts were opened as well as many thank yous.
“What are they doing?” Gabriel finally asked.
“Ho-ho-ho, didn’t you ever get together with friends for a Secret Santa gift exchange? Each person is randomly assigned to get a gift for another person and then the gifts are exchanged. It’s quite a fun game,” the spirit merrily explained.
Gabriel thought for a moment. “I suppose I recall playing games at Christmas… once…”
The spirit put a friendly arm around Gabriel’s shoulders. “It’s still not too late.”
“Perhaps…” Gabriel replied ambivalently.
The group of friends was now beginning to break up and go their separate ways.
“Is that all?” Gabriel asked.
“Ho-ho-ho, oh my, no. I have more to show you. The day is not yet done,” the spirit jovially replied and turned them, changing the scene completely.
Gabriel had a suspicion he knew the place there were now in, but wasn’t quite certain.
“Come on, Mother, let’s open our presents now!” a familiar young boy’s voice called, approaching the room Gabriel and the spirit stood in.
“Alright, alright, Felix, I assume we’ve waited long enough,” a laughing female voice replied just as Amelie and Felix entered the room, approaching the Christmas tree and presents.
Gabriel scowled to see them. “Why are we here?”
“They’re family,” the spirit replied simply.
“By marriage only, and they despise me,” Gabriel rejoined with displeasure.
“But they have endured a grief similar to yours yet look how they celebrate with one another,” the spirit pointed out with a broad gesture of his arm.
Amelie was opening a present. “Oh, Felix, it’s wonderful. Thank you, dear.”
“Put it on, Mother,” Felix encouraged.
Amelie put on the necklace.
Felix admired approvingly. “Father would’ve liked how you look wearing it.”
Amelie’s eyes saddened. “I wish your Father were still with us, and your Aunt Emilie.” Her faced suddenly hardened. “At least I have the consolation that he no longer has her either,” she said in a harsh tone.
Felix laid a hand gently on his mother’s arm. “Let’s not dwell on that. It’s Christmas and we still have each other.”
Amelie smiled at her son. “You’re right, my dear.”
Gabriel turned away with a mixture of feelings. “Can we leave yet?”
The spirit sighed and shook his head. “There is one more thing for you to see.” He placed a hand on Gabriel’s shoulder and the scene shifted once more.
They had returned to the Agreste mansion and night had fallen.
“Did you enjoy your meal, Adrien?” Nathalie asked as Adrien exited the dining room.
“It was delicious, Nathalie. I just wish Father had been able to join me,” Adrien replied.
Nathalie simply nodded.
“I’m going to my room now. I’m going to read a little and then turn in early.”
“Have a good night then and sleep well,” Nathalie said.
“Thank you. Good night.” Adrien went up to his room.
Gabriel followed with the spirit close behind. When they entered Adrien’s room, he was reclined on his bed with a book. His face was somber. The book looked familiar to Gabriel so he moved closer to get a better look. He was surprised to see that it was a photo album. Adrien was flipping through photographs of his younger years when they’d been a family, loving and doing things together, all three of them.
“I miss you, Mother, and doing things together with Father,” Adrien said softly, drawing a finger lightly down one of the photos.
“I’m so sorry, Adrien,” Gabriel said, even as he realized that Adrien couldn’t hear him.
“It’s not too late,” the spirit said, laying a hand on Gabriel’s shoulder.
Gabriel turned to look at him. “But I continue to fail to bring his mother back.”
The spirit shook his head. “Perhaps he doesn’t need the return of his mother, but of his father.”
“I am here,” he protested.
“Are you really? Ho-ho-ho…” the spirit queried with a laugh then vanished, leaving the scene in darkness as a clock somewhere began to strike midnight, ending the day of Christmas present.
Gabriel turned round and round in the darkness but saw and heard nothing until there came the clicking of heels.
“Ugh, why do I have to deal with you on Christmas Eve?” a disgusted female voice complained.
Gabriel looked to the source of the voice. “Chloé Bourgeois?”
She gave an irritated sigh. “Of course I’m not Chloé Bourgeois! I’m the ghost of Christmas yet to come. We’re simply in the guise of people familiar to you. Haven’t you learned that yet tonight? This is ridiculous, utterly ridiculous. Why should I waste my time on your salvation?” the spirit huffed.
“Well you certainly act like the young lady,” Gabriel quipped.
The spirit merely glared at him then marched up and grabbed him by the ear. “I don’t have time for this nonsense. I have a future to show you.” She dragged him through a dark tunnel and they appeared on the roof of the Montparnasse Tower.
Gabriel looked around. “Where are we?”
“Paris, duh,” the spirit drawled, pulling out a nail file and buffing her nails.
Suddenly there came a voice singing. “Little kitty on a roof, all alone without his lady…”
Gabriel searched the rooftop for the voice and spotted the white figure with cat ears. “Is that Cat Noir?” he asked, puzzled.
“It’s Cat Blanc! Can’t you see the color!? He’s white!” the spirit huffed, gesturing with the nail file.
“Who’s Cat Blanc?”
The spirit angrily grabbed his ear again. “Cat Noir, of course, when you akumatized him,” she explained as she dragged him to the edge of the roof. “And just look at the mess you’ve made of everything by doing that.” She released his ear and gestured to the view of Paris below. Everything was underwater except the tallest buildings.
Gabriel gasped and put a hand on a railing to steady himself. “I caused this?” he asked weakly.
“Yes, you! Your actions have destroyed everything, including the things you professed to love,” the spirit spat at him then went back to industriously buffing her nails.
“But this wasn’t what I was trying to do. And if Cat Noir is akumatized, where am I?” Gabriel asked looking about, searching for a glimpse of himself as Hawkmoth.
The spirit just huffed and snapped her fingers. Suddenly they were under the water standing on one of the submerged streets.
Gabriel was about to question the spirit when he spotted the gray statue of Hawkmoth. He gulped. “B-but Ladybug can fix even this?” he asked, reaching for the desperate hope.
The spirit casually waved the nail file at something then went back to her nails.
Gabriel looked in the indicated direction and saw Ladybug in the same state as himself. “No… that can’t be…” He looked around frantically, searching. “And Adrien…?” he half choked.
“Don’t you dare even ask me what you did to my sweet Adrikins!” the spirit shouted, stomping her foot.
Gabriel, with a shaky voice, asked, “Spirit, are these the shadows of things that will be or are they the shadows of things that may be only? Can’t this horrible future somehow be changed or altered?”
“Uh! Why are you asking me!? You know what you have to do, so do it!” the spirit yelled at him then turned away in a huff and disappeared.
It seemed to be only a moment later and Gabriel was waking up in his bed. He sat up and looked around. Finding everything as he had always known it, he practically leapt from his bed and raced to his son’s room. He intended to just rush in and scoop Adrien into his arms. But he halted just outside the door, suddenly uncertain if his son would accept such affection from him. Instead he tried to compose himself and knocked on the door.
“Father?” Adrien questioned as he opened the door.
Gabriel’s composure deserted him and he immediately knelt, pulling his son into a fierce hug. For all he had intended to say, all he managed to whisper was, “Merry Christmas, Adrien.”
Adrien, being taken completely by surprise yet pleasantly confused by the occurrence, returned the embrace and said softly, “Merry Christmas, Father.”
When Gabriel was finally able to release Adrien, he leaned back holding him at arm’s length gently by the shoulders. “Is… is there anything you’d like to do today?” he asked hesitantly, searching Adrien’s face.
Adrien’s eyes rounded. “With you, Father?”
Gabriel nodded.
“You really mean it?” Adrien asked again, still not quite believing it.
Another nod.
Adrien’s face lit up. “I’d be happy just to spend the day with you, Father.”
“Then that’s what we’ll do,” Gabriel agreed with a smile.
“Oh, but,” Adrien suddenly hesitated, “I agreed to meet my friends later this morning for a gift exchange. Is that alright?”
“Of course. That will give me some time to prepare some things for the rest of our holiday.”
Adrien threw his arms around his father’s neck. “Thank you, Father.”
“You’re welcome. I love you, Adrien,” Gabriel replied softly, returning his son’s embrace.
“I love you too, Father,” Adrien replied wholeheartedly.
…
“I wonder what happened to change Father so much overnight,” Adrien mused with a smile as he headed to meet up with his friends.
“Who knows,” Plagg shrugged, “I just hope it’s permanent, for your sake, kiddo.”
“Me too, Plagg, me too,” Adrien chuckled softly.
…
By the time Adrien returned from the gift exchange with his friends, Gabriel, with a good deal of help from Nathalie, had managed to put up a moderate amount of Christmas decorations and had even acquired a Christmas tree. He had just finished stringing the lights when Adrien walked in.
“It all looks wonderful, Father,” Adrien praised as he looked around.
“I had a lot of help from Nathalie,” Gabriel admitted a bit sheepishly.
“I figured,” Adrien chuckled with a smile.
“Would you like to help me hang the ornaments like… we used to do with your mother?” Gabriel asked, getting slightly choked up.
“I’d loved to,” Adrien beamed, though there was a slight hitch in his voice and the hint of a tear in his eye at the mention of his mother.
They decorated the tree together and afterwards Adrien brought out the gift he had gotten for his father.
“But I didn’t even take the time to get you anything,” Gabriel stammered.
“That’s alright. This is more than enough,” Adrien replied, gesturing around the room.
Gabriel nodded and opened the gift. He was stunned by what he found in the box and deeply touched by the thoughtfulness of his son, despite his own inattention. It was what appeared to be a small book but, when opened, was revealed to be a photo album, and each photo turned out to be of a past family Christmas. “Adrien, this is wonderful. Thank you so much,” he said with heartfelt gratitude.
“You’re welcome, Father. I’m glad you like it,” Adrien smiled.
“I love it. And may there be many more and better Christmases for us from here on,” Gabriel said, embracing Adrien once more.
“Agreed, Father,” Adrien responded, hugging his father.
“God bless us every one,” Plagg said from his vantage point at the top of the Christmas tree and chomped a piece of Camembert.