PROJECT ML STORY 2!

PREMISE: Just write something about New Year's. (I'm serious)

So this is the shortest thing I've ever written. But that's only because I wrote it in one night since I was asked to on such short notice and I have holiday plans. Once again you can read this and other New Year's Miraculous stuff on the Project ML tumblr! CHECK IT OUT!

Thanks again to my beta: The-Bored-Bookworm

Nathalie's Resolution
A Miraculous New Year's Short
By: I Write Big

Twenty-two more minutes.

Only twenty-two more minutes left in the year and his father couldn't be there for them. Adrien slumped in his chair, rolling his empty flute glass between his fingers. The still unopened champagne bottle waited on the coffee table. The night had started with such promise. His father had made an extra effort to have all his year-end responsibilities for the Gabriel fashion company tied up so the two could do the countdown together. However, like every other holiday, something came out of nowhere. Some big emergency that absolutely required the attention of the always working Gabriel Agreste and could not wait twenty-two more minutes.

It was times like these that Adrien often donned his Chat Noir persona and took to the city. A freeing flight across the rooftops always made him feel better. Unfortunately, this time, his father had ordered Nathalie to stay by his side until he returned. The woman sat professionally in the armchair next to him. She was a perfect statue with an almost bored stare pointed at the live broadcast of the huge celebration being held at the Arc de Triomphe. The announcer's voice echoed across the gigantic living room, reminding Adrien just how empty this mansion was.

"You don't have to watch me, Nathalie."

Her half-lidded gaze remained on the screen as she said, "Your father asked me to stay."

He crossed his arms, "Why? I'm not a little kid."

"It may have something to do with you running away last week only to be brought home by a complete stranger," she said in a tone that suggested her theory was more of a fact than a guess.

"Hey, that Santa was a very kind man." That Christmas adventure had cost Adrien a lot of his already restricted freedom. His father had made him sit in his office every day so he could 'keep him safe' while he worked. Adrien was grateful that there were no Akuma attacks in those days. "Besides, it's not like I'm planning to jump out the window as soon as your back is turned."

Nathalie didn't respond. She only turned to face him.

"Okay, maybe I was."

She muted the TV, "I understand you want to spend time with your father, Adrien, but this is not the way to get his attention. He tried his best to be here tonight. He's just a very important man."

"And I'm not important?"

"He loves you."

Adrien bit back his next words. He knew what Nathalie said was true. Despite how little time he and his father spent together, those few moment were always filled with a kind and gentle warmth that could only be love. Was it selfish to want those days to last longer? Should he give his father a break? These were the kind of questions that he could stop thinking about when he was Chat Noir. Again, he had the urge to say the magic words and disappear into the night. Maybe he could join the crowd at the Arc de Triomphe.

They'd love to have their hero there.

They wouldn't have to leave last minute.

They'd actually have time to spend with their family.

Family…

"Nathalie… why are you here?"

For the first time in their conversation, her bored, inexpressive face cracked. It was a simple eyebrow raise, but it was something. "Your father asked me to watch you."

"No, I know that, what I mean is..." he stood up and observed her as if for the first time. "Why are you here? It's New Year's Eve and you're here. In fact, you were here for Christmas, too. Doesn't my father give you days off?"

The stray eyebrow returned to its previously straight form, "Of course he does, Adrien."

"So?" he pressed. "Why are you spending the Holidays with us? Why are you sitting here with me on New Year's?"

The question went unanswered for what felt like a full minute before she picked up the remote and opened the TV settings, "Perhaps a video game could help take your mind off things."

Adrien was struck. His father's assistant had always spoken in a calm, formal manner with direct, straight to the point answers. Even the prospect of telling her boss that he was wrong didn't frighten her. It was the main reason she was hired. She had never, as long as he could remember, avoided any topic. He was almost afraid to ask but his curiosity was burning, "Nathalie, why aren't you with your family?"

The TV turned off. Nathalie put the remote down and excused herself from the room. The boy was left in the empty silence. Multiple unguarded windows waited for him to slip through. Paris on the other side shined with promises of excitement. However, the drive to go was long gone. Instead, Adrien felt a crushing need to follow Nathalie.

He found her at her desk, of all places, typing away at the computer. The click-clacking of the keyboard filled Adrien with guilt. Clearly, he had overstepped his bounds and touched on something sensitive. "I'm sorry, Nathalie. I shouldn't have asked."

"Your father loves you very much, Adrien," her fingers never stopped moving. "I haven't seen such love and dedication to both work and family. Not many can manage that. To achieve such a career, most would have to… lose touch with what family they have, if any. Not your father, though. He makes an effort to be there for you."

"Well, I think you might be giving him a little too much credit."

"He's not the first millionaire CEO I've worked for. But he is the first one to let a crowd of people he never met into his house, including a street Santa, so his son wouldn't have a lonely Christmas."

Adrien's eyes widened as he recalled the wonderful Christmas he celebrated with his friends only a couple days ago. True, Nathalie was the one who called them over but it was his father who allowed them to stay. After thinking his son was kidnapped, he could have easily felt justified in not letting any of them in and yet he had… for him. Adrien could see why his father relied so heavily on Nathalie's blunt nature. Her words seemed to bring to light what mattered most. Still, he could've sworn he had heard a stumble in her usually calm voice.

"Is that what happened? Did you… 'lose touch' with your family?"

She stopped typing. Her scrutinizing look locked on whatever she had been writing.

"Sorry!" backpedaled Adrien. "I just said I shouldn't have asked and I did anyway. That was wrong. I'll go to my room and leave you alone." The ashamed boy bolted for the stairs. His legs only stopped when his ears caught a whisper.

"If I wanted to be with them... I would." He turned to find Nathalie looking up at him from her desk. Her stare had softened. "I choose to be here." This threw Adrien for a loop. He was no stranger to the concept of a family member leaving to take care of work, but his father wanted to be near him. He was forced by his job to leave. Someone choosing work over family was… unthinkable. As if she could read his thoughts, Nathalie heaved her shoulders with a sigh and explained, "As one gets older, Adrien, one gathers regrets. One makes life decisions they wish they hadn't. Most of all, though, one can come to feel embarrassed by their job."

"Embarrassed?" Adrien couldn't believe what he was hearing. "You work for the biggest fashion company in France. You're Gabriel Agreste's personal assistant!"

"That is not what I set out to become." She stood and marched back towards the living room, "It doesn't matter. Your father asked me to watch you until he returned and that's what I must do." She held open the door and looked expectantly at Adrien. The boy slowly obeyed the unspoken order.

As he took his original seat before the champagne bottle, he considered the woman with newfound interest. There wasn't a day Nathalie wasn't by either his or his father's side. No woman worked harder and yet she was embarrassed by her work. Adrien didn't really know what he wanted to become. Modeling was more for his father and it didn't feel right to charge the public to protect them as Chat Noir. Still, whatever he became, he imagined his father would make his opinion very well known. He didn't want to disappoint him. And with that thought, Adrien believed he understood. Not entirely. Just enough to grasp the reason behind Nathalie's actions.

He grabbed the bottle and the flute glasses and handed her the one meant for his father. "If you really want to leave, Nathalie, Father won't stop you. New Year's is about making resolutions. Goals to make this year and your life better. And if that means working somewhere else, then… I'll miss you." Adrien didn't really know where he was going with this. The words seemed to be pouring out on their own at this point. Sounded right, though. "But if you're happy here, then I think that's all that matters and your family should respect that."

He held his face in a resolute determined fashion as Nathalie stared down at him. The moment was definitely awkward, however he needed to let her know the she had a choice in this. She wasn't by any means trapped. Finally, he could've sworn he spotted the faintest hint of smile. "Well, it seems I'll have to inform your father of his mistake."

Adrien blinked.

"His son is certainly not a kid."

A half-laugh burst from Adrien before pops and blasts of fireworks erupted in the distant sky, signaling the end of the old and the start of the new. He opened the bottle and filled each of their glasses. They both held them up in a toast. "My New Year's resolution is to not run away as much."

"As much?" she quirked an eyebrow.

"Um, uh… You know what I mean."

They clinked glasses.

"Happy New Year's, Nathalie."

"Happy New Year's, Adrien."

Her boss carefully closed Adrien's bedroom door after having checked on his sleeping son and turned to his assistant, "I have another emergency meeting after lunch tomorrow. See that Adrien is taken care of."

"Of course, Mr. Agreste," she solemnly answered the already departing man. She watched him make his way towards his room to catch what little sleep he could before the sun rose. She took a deep breath, "Sir?"

"What is it, Nathalie?"

"If at all possible, could I have next week off?"

"Next week? Rather short notice, but I should be able to get someone from the office to cover. You've more than earned the days. Enjoy them." He left her without another word.

Nathalie attempted to settle her loudly beating heart as she drew out her phone. She swiped down her contacts until she reached the one she was looking for. If she calculated the time difference correctly, they should be waking up soon. She pressed call and held the device to her ear. The automated ringing noise was her entire world as her mind shuffled through the multiple ways this could go, the hundreds of questions she would be bombarded with, the infinite choices on how to even start. Then she heard a voice she hadn't heard in years.

"Hello?"

And the doubts left her. "...Hi, mom."

END

A Happy New Year's to you all, may you hold to your resolutions no matter how small. PS - I need to seriously focus on a script for Nickelodeon so gonna be radio silent for January. Sorry!