Marinette's alarm beeped endlessly. Tikki sighed from her little bed and flew up to turn it off and try to wake Marinette. To say Tikki was surprised when she discovered Marinette's bed empty would be an understatement. Marinette rarely woke up before her alarm. Tikki's antennae quivered as she flew into the bathroom to look for Marinette.

Not there.

She phased through the trapdoor leading to the balcony.

Not there.

Tikki pressed her little hands together to fight the rising panic she was feeling. Where was Marinette? Where could she have gone without her? Tikki phased through the floor headed into the rest of the house. She knew she needed to be careful as to not get caught by Marinette's parents.

Tikki found Tom and Sabine in the bakery preparing their wares for the day. The rest of the house was empty. Marinette was not here. Tikki didn't know what to do. With Master Fu gone, the only other she could go to for help was Plagg (and Chat Noir). It would be risky to make that trip away from the bakery, but what if Marinette needed help?

Tikki zipped back up into Marinette's room when she heard Tom call out Marinette's name. Oh no thought Tikki, she really is missing!. She glanced around the room and was preparing to head out to the balcony again when she heard Marinette's voice replying with a cheerful 'Good morning, papa and maman'.

Tikki waited anxiously for the sound of feet on the stairs, staring at the hatch in the floor. Finally, the hatch opened and Marinette's head poked through. Tikki sped towards Marinette and hugged her cheek. 'Marinette!' She cried in her high pitched voice, 'I was so worried! Where have you been?'

Marinette gave Tikki a wry smile. 'Oh Tikki, I woke up early so I went for a run. I didn't want to disturb you.' Tikki let go of Marinette and looked at her with a gasp – 'I didn't know what to do when I couldn't find you. I was about to go and get help.' Marinette frowned. She didn't need help. She was the Guardian now and she had already put her Kwami in a position where she felt that she had to go out and look for help. She sighed. 'I'm sorry, Tikki. Tomorrow I'll wake you up before I go out'. Marinette turned and headed into the bathroom to shower.

Tikki's eyes widened. Tomorrow?!

A few moments later, Marinette emerged from the bathroom wrapped in a pink towel. She grabbed out some clothes and got dressed for school. Tikki sat patiently on the desk near Marinette's purse, watching her run a comb through her damp hair. When she made no motion to tie it up in her signature pig tails, Tikki offered to do it for her. Marinette glanced at her reflection and replied that she was planning to just leave it out today. Marinette slipped on a headband before grabbing her purse, holding it open for Tikki to get inside.

Marinettebounded down the stairs to the bakery, grabbed a croissant and waved goodbye toher amazed parents. The bell above the bakery door jingled as she headedtowards school. She would easily be there before her first class started. Although she knew that seeing her friends atschool would be bittersweet, every step forward was a step in the rightdirection.