Work Text:
They were starting to run low on yeast and sugar. Marinette could try some alternative recipes without these, but how much should she sell those for? Maybe she could pass them off as a brand-new delicacy? Could work…
“Maaaariiiiii–”
Marinette turned her head at her name being sung out by a smug kid that had her hands behind her back as if hiding something—whether it’d be an actual thing, or a scheme, she still had to find out.
“Yes, Brie?” she asked with the perfect amount of curiosity to let Brie know she was interested in whatever this was, but still had something else that needed her attention.
“Do you know what day it is?” Brie bounced over to the counter, clutching on it to raise her grinning head over it—her palms only had schemes in them.
Marinette hummed, checking on the cinnamon pots. She could do a good amount of no-yeast cinnamon rolls with these! And she could always sell the veggies and fruits directly from her garden if needed. Now what to do for dinner–
“Is it a holiday?” It wasn’t, officially speaking, but Bridgette might’ve declared a new one.
“Yes!” She heaved herself over the countertop, immediately falling back with a gasp from the strain. Undeterred, she enthused, “A very important one!”
“I see.” Marinette giggled, ruffling Brie’s short hair as she walked around the counter. “Will we need to get decorations ready?” That could be arranged easily enough, Brie always liked Marinette’s alternatives for Holidays decor, but she’d have to shut down any request for some special food for the day.
Brie squinted up at Marinette, arms crossing. “Do you even know what important day it is?”
“Of course I do! I just want to make sure you know which day it is.”
Brie let out an incredibly skeptical uhum.
“In that case!” She grinned, raising a finger with her brand-new scheme on it. “You should stay out until I have everything ready for today. Then you’ll see the great organizer I am!”
Marinette snorted, fixing a basket on her elbow as she made for the door. “I was going to the garden anyway. You’ll have till around sundown to prepare everything, Holiday organizer.”
“Deal!” Brie raised a thumbs up.
~•~
The garden was a lifesaver for Marinette, having enough roots and vegetables for a hearty soup pantry for another week and enough to take to the market for some extra money. The variety would only be between the ingredients she could use, but hopefully, that’d be enough for Bridgette—it had to.
After feeding the chickens, she made her way back home with a somewhat lighter chest, but her mind still whirred with finances.
Marinette groaned softly while she rubbed her temple, a hand on the doorknob. She’d bring that one to Félix, when he came to visit later. He seemed to actually enjoy doing these things, and she enjoyed it a lot more when he was the one doing it—for two very different reasons.
Upon opening the door, though, Marinette was greeted with a sight—and sound—that managed to put her worries on pause.
“Bon anniversaire, nos vœux les plus sincères–”
Bridgette jumped from her seat by Félix, throwing her hands in the air and then around Marinette’s waist as she sang loud and bright with the soft strum of strings of Félix’s guitar.
“Que ces quelques fleurs vous apportent le bonheur–”
She caught Brie on instinct, mouth parted as she glanced around at the lilies and tulips decorating the doorway and the countertop with a small cake in it—a quiet part of her mind wondered if that was where the yeast and sugar went.
“Que l’année entière vous soit douce et légère–”
Félix got up too, guitar in hands, a bashful smile tracing his face when he flicked his eyes to her.
“Et que l’an fini, nous soyons tous réunis–”
There were tears tracing down her cheek. She wasn’t one for crying, but this– this–
“Pour chanter en choeur ‘Bon anniversaire’.”
The last syllabus drifted off as Félix strummed the final notes.
“SURPRISE!” Brie shouted, squeezing Marinette tighter with a giggle. “That’s the important day! How did you forget? It’s your birthday!”
Marinette let out a raspy laughter, wiping the tears away. She kneeled to fully embrace Brie. “I dunno. But you did! How do you remember?”
“It’s your birthday!” Brie pulled back to stare at Marinette with wide eyes. “I never forget your birthday!”
The older sister nodded, more tears threatening to escape, and buried Brie in her chest.
“Why are you crying? Is it because it’s just us? Everyone else was busy– but they sent gifts! So you can be happy, OK?”
“I am.” Marinette laughed, standing up as she pulled out a handkerchief to wipe her face, a hand squeezing Brie’s shoulder. “These’re the happy tears; you did amazing Brie, I’m–”
More tears mixed with giggles fell out from Marinette and she picked up Brie, who squealed and laughed as she squeezed her baby sister to her chest.
“Who made the cake?” Marinette asked, holding Brie in her arms as she headed to the counter, smiling warmly at the modest sweet, two wrapped boxes she presumed were from the Cesaires and the Boiteries settled besides it.
“It was a collaborative effort,” Félix replied, then raised a hand to his neck, averting his gaze. “I hope you don’t mind that we invaded your cupboard to make it.”
“Let me taste it first, and then we’ll see it.” That was a lie. Marinette had already forgiven them completely.
