in which our fearsome four skate to glory, blossoming romance... and bruised behinds

"The ice-rink is bound to be packed, Mar. Don't you think it's a bad time to do this?" Alya frowned as she with Marinette and Adrien waited for Nino to show up.

Marinette grinned in response. "You'll see," was all she said, laughing with mischief at their confused and slightly irritated expressions as she raced up to Nino. "You ready, Nino?" 

"As ever, Mari!" He returned her smile with just as much excitement and happiness. "It's gonna be great, now come on, my brother's here with the car."

Alya and Adrien trailed behind the two, listening amusedly as Marinette squealed. "I haven't seen Charlie in ages!" 

Adrien leaned over to Alya. "Who's Charlie?"

"No clue."

Turns out Charlie was Nino's older brother, in his early twenties and home for Christmas. Apparently, he adored Marinette and treated her like a little sister (much like Nino did) and, also much like Nino, he didn't hesitate to include Adrien and Alya in their conversations. Not one minute of that car ride was silent.

"Hey, where are we?" Alya questioned once they stopped.

Charlie met her eyes through the rear view mirror and smirked. "You'll see."

The brunette girl groaned. "Why do people keep saying that?"

Adrien nudged her as he tied up his skates. "It's a wonderful phrase when you're keeping a secret. One day, you'll see."

"UGH!"

"Guys! Come on!" Marinette waved them out of the car, an excited grin plastered on her face. 

Why was she so excited?

They found out as they followed her out.

It wasn't an ice rink. It was a frozen pond.

Marinette laughed as Alya and Adrien stood in shock, gazing at the spectacular sight of crystallized droplets on clear icy veins and intricate webs of sparkling snow spun in complicated patterns by the wind. 

Adrien, without tearing his eyes away from the practically postcard picture, leaned over and said to Alya, "Now would be a bad time to say I've never skated before, huh?"

Alya full on cackled as Adrien scowled. "At least you put on the skates, huh?"

"Nino! You take Alya, I'll take Adrien."

With barely any warning, Adrien was pulled onto the ice by surprisingly strong and stable arms.

"Come on, Adrien, relax! Here, move your feet like this and keep your knees bent." Marinette giggled as she slowed, letting Adrien catch his breath and watch what she was doing. Copying her actions, he slowly began to move. "You're getting it!"

Five minutes later, he felt confident enough to move without Marinette's supporting grip.

And he slipped...

Right into her arms, like a scene from a movie except the common gender roles were reversed.

Her flushed cheeks seemed to grow hotter as she smiled gently. "You alright?"

He nodded, unable to move his mouth for fear of saying something stupid.

And then Alya bumped into Marinette, resulting in her dropping Adrien and landing on top of him with a thud.

Ouch. 

Marinette whined, pouting at Alya as she tried to push herself up. Her eyes sparkled like freshly fallen snow, like the ice that surrounded them, lips curled in a small smile. She glowed with reflected light, like an angel, so pure and optimistic and filled with positive light. And her smile, the soft curve with a perfect Cupid's bow and the slight shine of gloss and the way her lower lip bent and the corners of her mouth lifted upwards... It was a smile that made others smile. 

In a word, he was starstruck. 

And she got up, dusted herself up, and held out a gloved hand for him to take. That same smile on her face.

"Wanna try that again?"

He couldn't help the grin that worked its way onto his face. "Let's go."