Marinette turns to go but hands Tikki some cookies.  As soon as Tikki finishes the cookies, Marinette calls out, "Tikki spots on!" She transforms back into Ladybug because she can not let the hospital staff catch on to the truth.  Now, Ladybug waves bye to Adrien before she swings away.

          Adrien just sits there without another word as he watches her leave again. He thinks ouch that hurt. He knows the pain from feeling unloved is stronger than anything. He sighs then smiles for a moment as he recalls the happy look Emma gave him a few weeks ago.

        Adrien's Flashback...

          Adrien looks at the time and gasps. "Oh, no I am late," Adrien says.

         "Late to where?"  His secretary asks.

         "To the birthday party of a special little lady," Adrien states.

          "Oh, and by little you mean," She remarks.

         "Not that is it any of your business, but she happens to be the daughter of a friend of mine," Adrien replies with a grin.

        "You see she is the child of my best friend who happens to be divorced," Adrien tells her.

             The secretary shakes her head as she never did approve of divorces or people dating someone who has been divorced.  Then, again as far as her boss is concerned maybe he is better of dating this Marinette person he goes on and on about anyway.  It is like the guy practically lives and breathes news about her and her Emma almost daily.

            "So, I have heard, " She responds with a sneer.

        Adrien grabs up his wallet, and keys to head out the door. He turns around when he realizes he almost forget something.  "Oops, I almost forgot Emma's present!" He says.

        "Did I tell you she is turning two?" Adrien asks.  The question more of a statement full of excitement.           

         "Go on now, you are already late remember?"  His secretary gently reminds him.

            Adrien rushes off to the party feeling so bad about being so behind.  He falls into rush hour traffic and feels even more guilt.  He arrives at the place twenty minutes after it starts.  Well, he thinks to himself, better late than never, right?

            He knocks on the door, to have it slung open by a happy toddler, then to have it slammed in his face. 

           "Mom, mom, come here," Emma says.

             "What is it, sweetie?" Marinette asks.

          "Mr. Adrien, Mr. Adrien, he is here!" Emma squeals.

             "Then, how about we let him inside," Marinette responds. She opens the door and smiles over at him.

             Adrien enters the place only to have Emma hug him and say,  "See told you he is handsome."

      The other girls giggle, and one says,  "Emma, he is an old man."

       To which Emma responds, "He is not, he is mommy's age, and he is great."
           

    "If he is so great then he should marry your mother," An older kid says.

    "He will, you will see!" Emma says beaming.

          Adrien blushes as Marinette says,  "You will have to excuse Emma her imagination gets carried away with her sometimes."

           "Mari, I would not mind marrying you," Adrien remarks.

             "Haha, that is a funny one, Adrien," Marinette states thinking he is joking.

               Marinette walks back into the kitchen to pour the kool-aid for the children. She does not hear Adrien's response.  

             "Marinette, come on let me help with those, dear," Adrien hears a familiar voice say.

               Adrien's face falls when he realizes who it is speaking to her. He knows it has to be Kim. Since when were Kim and Marinette together?  He sits down on a stool unsure what to make of it all.

           "Kim, goodness no I have got it, you go on now, shoo," Marinette says.

              Kim exits the kitchen and scowls when he sees Adrien. He never did care for him as he always saw him as competition for Marinette.  He wonders sometimes what Marinette ever sees in the guy.

           Marinette comes out with the cups and almost spills them. Adrien immediately stands up and catches two of them before they can fall on the ground. Kim just sits there wide-eyed in amazement at Adrien's reflexes.  

           "Nice one there, Agreste," Kim says.

           "Thanks, Le Chan," Adrien remarks.

             Marinette hands the children his or her drink. Then, she takes the last two from Adrien. She blushes from embarrassment when she realizes she filled to many glasses.

            "I suppose these are for you two since the kids have there's," Marinette says.

             "Wow, thanks, Mari," Adrien says with a grin before swallowing the kool-aid in almost one big gulp.

           "Kool-aid, Marinette?  Honestly, I thought you knew me better than this," Kim scoffs.

             "Kim light up will ya?  It is Emma's birthday party," Marinette tries to point out.

             "No listen, Marinette, I expect something more grown-up to drink," Kim says and grabs her arm.

           "Kim, stop that you are hurting me," Marinette yells at him.

               Adrien walks over to him and glares at Kim, "Let her go, now or I will call the authorities," Adrien says.

            Kim lets go of Marinette, then swings a right punch at Adrien and hits him.

               Adrien gasps in pain on the ground.  

         "Ha, see told you he was nothing.  He can not even stand on his own two feet, right," Kim retorts.

              "Kim, that is enough, and for another thing, here, take this back," Marinette says.

             "What, you can not dump me," Kim yells.

             "Out, Kim!" Marinette says.

               Kim shakes his head as Adrien stands back up, so Adrien grabs Kim up and with one toss tosses him out the door. He slams the door and locks it.

             Emma claps for Adrien. She thinks it is was so sweet how he stood up to that rotten boyfriend of her mother's as he did.

            "Adrien, are you alright?" Marinette says. She holds onto his face and looks into his eyes.

             Adrien stares into her lovely bluebell eyes, gulps and says, "Yes, Mari, I am f-fine."

               Emma hugs her mother then Adrien once more.  "Great, party mom!" Emma says then goes back to join her friends.

               Adrien and Marinette stand up and go to watch Emma open her gifts.  She smiles as she opens each one and makes sure to thank whoever brought it. She finally gets to the last gift and smiles even bigger than before.

           "Mr. Adrien, thanks for the doll I love it!" Emma states.

           "You are welcome, Emma," Adrien says.

                Marinette smiles as she takes a photo of Emma holding her doll in one hand and hugging on Adrien with the other one. She thinks wow those two are so cute together. She blushes at the silly notion.

             Adrien hugs Emma and thinks to bad she is not my daughter. He loves Emma as if she were his very own and Marinette as if she were his as well.  He knows far too well though that he is not.

     End of Flashback...

      Adrien frowns as he recalls the look Kim gave him that day. The look that says stay away from my girl or you will be sorry. He wonders how it is Kim never came to see Emma or Marinette any since then.  He scratches his head and thinks, I suppose it is over between Kim and Marinette.

       He shakes his head as he remembers how Emma sees him as a father figure. If only Marinette could feel the same way or even better if she saw him as husband material. Who is he kidding?  She seems happy being the way they are already.

         He supposes he will be the shoulder to cry when she needs him.  He recalls how he, Emma, and Marinette went out for ice-cream a few days ago. It was one of the best dest ever for him. For once he felt like he belonged like he was apart of something big, something wonderful and something meant for him.  

     To bad days like that do not come along too often for him.                

         Back to Emma...

            Emma frowns as she recalls the doctor calling her Emma Cuffaine. She rather her name be Emma Agreste. It sounds nicer, and besides Adrien seems more like a father to her anyway.

            "Mr. Adrien is great.  Mr. Adrien should be with mommy," Emma says.

           "Why does not mommy love him?" Emma asks no one in particular.

             "I know I love him, and he loves us," Emma remarks.

          Emma sighs as she recalls how her mother does not see it. She shakes her head and thinks to bad for her.  

        She wonders now why would mom send Ladybug to see me?  I know Ladybug says they are friends, but what does that have to do with it?  How does Ladybug know Emma is her fan?

       Emma thinks to herself wait once Ladybug was in my room at home too. Mommy was not there, but Ladybug was there.  

      She grins as it dawns on her Ladybug must be Mommy.  

    Find out more in part 7

   -Summer out!