Marinette tries as she might she not sleep much that evening. She falls asleep around midnight only to be woken up by the sound of the neighbor's dog barking around 2 am. She wishes the animal would chill.  Then, again who knows what the racket is about at this hour.

          Perhaps, she should check to make sure everyone is safe.  It is her job as Ladybug anyway. 

   "Tikki spots on!" Marinette calls out. She feels her clothes turn into the familiar stretchy material that is bright red with black spots all over it.  She smiles as she turns around in the mirror.  

        She wonders why is it in a dress form this time?  Strange she does not recall any parties.

            She leaps outside and sees all of Paris appears to be quiet.  She thinks well the coast is clear, but instead of going home, she runs to the hospital. She swings inside the first open window she sees.
 

            "Ladybug, you came back!" Emma says with a squeal. She is glad to see her favorite hero came to visit her once more. She believes with all her heart the spotted lady is her mother.

             "Sure thing, you are one of my biggest fans," Ladybug says.

             "Yes, cause you are mommy," Emma says.

              "Emma, who told you?"  Ladybug asks in surprise.

            "No one, it was a guess," Emma explains.

                "Alright, well let us keep this a secret between us girls," Ladybug tells her.

           " Okay," Emma says.

            "Here, you can keep this though," Ladybug says as she places the small ladybug action figure she bought from a gift stand not far from the hospital.

           "Thanks, Ladybug," Emma replies with a small grin.

         "You are welcome," Ladybug states.

              "Is Mr. Adrien alright?" Emma asks.

          "Yes, I saw him yesterday and he was quite alright then," Ladybug assures her.

             "Good, cause I like Mr. Adrien,"  Emma explains.

        Ladybug walks out the door, waves to Emma, and remarks,  "I have other patients to see, so take care little girl."

           Ladybug goes to another room and smiles a teen boy inside it.  He grins when he sees who it is that came to see him.

            "Ladybug, wow!" He says.

             Ladybug takes a few photos with him, then hands him some ladybug stickers.

               "Thanks, " He says with a huge smile.

           "Sure, anything for a fan," Ladybug says.

                Ladybug true to her word visits all the patients that day.  She finally comes to the door to the room where she knows Adrien Agreste stays. She wonders if he is ready to go home yet.  She enters the room just as the nurse comes out.

                 "Adrien you have a special visitor, " The nurse says as she closes the door.

              Adrien looks up to see who came to visit him, then frowns. He does not get why Marinette insists she shows up in disguise.  It is rather obvious by now he knows who she is behind the mask.       

         "Hi, Adrien," Ladybug remarks.

         "Hi, Ladybug," Adrien says.

         "So, what makes you decide to come by to see me?" He asks.

            "As if  I need a reason to see my best friend," She replies as she detransforms.

                  "Marinette, I see you as more than just a best friend," Adrien states.

                      "Adrien, it is okay to be over-emotional sometimes. I get it. Goodness knows that I am like that more times than I can count," She responds.

                     "It is not my emotions speaking it comes from the heart, Mari," Adrien tells her.

                            Marinette sits in a chair without another word. She appears to be deep in thought about something.

                        Meanwhile, Emma smiles as she recalls a time when things were not so bad. A time when she, her mother, and Mr. Adrien were much happier.

                     Emma's  Flashback...

                       Emma was playing in the back yard when her mother got a phone call. She did not pay attention to the conversation. She was to busy with her own thing to pay attention to those kinds of things. She went to the treehouse just for a few minutes.

                     Marinette smiles as her daughter enjoys the treehouse. It sure was kind of Adrien to help her make sure it was sturdy and complete with safety features for her young child.  She hears her cell phone ring, so she pulls it out of her pocket.

                   "Hello," Marinette says.

                    "Hello, Mari,"  A familiar voice says on the other end.

                     "Hi, Adrien," Marinette says.

                 Emma grins when she hears her mother answers the phone she can tell whoever it makes her mom happy.  She continues to explore the tree fort as she refers to it as her mother continues with the phone conversation below.

               Marinette listens as Adrien tells her he has three tickets for a discount for ice-cream.

          "I think that is a splendid idea, Adrien," Marinette says.

           "Good, then, I will be by to pick up you ladies soon," Adrien says into the receiver.

           "Okay, we will be waiting," Marinette answers.  She smiles as she hangs up the phone and places it back into her pocket.

             "Mommy, is everything okay?" Emma asks.

                "Yes, sweetie, everything is fine," Marinette says.

                 "Adrien invited us out for ice-cream, so come down and clean up,"  Marinette tells her.

                    "Yipe, ice-cream with mommy, and Mr. Adrien!"  Emma squeals with excitement at the announcement.

                          Emma comes downstairs and goes inside. She changes her shirt, then washes her hands, and asks for help with her hair.

                      Marinette brushes Emma's hair, then fixes it back into a cute little french braid.  "There, no all done," She says a few minutes later.

              The doorbell rings and Emma asks,  "Is it, Mr. Adrien?"

                  Marinette looks out the peephole and sees it is Adrien. She opens the door and Emma hugs him.  She smiles at the cute interaction between them.

                 "Adrien, I will be right back," Marinette says. She grabs her purse, slips into her sandals, and re-enters the room.

              "Mari, Emma, you both look great as usual," Adrien says.

              "Thanks, Adrien," Marinette says.

            "Yes, thanks Mr. Adrien," Emma states.

                 Marinette locks the door, then she, Adrien, and Emma go to get some ice-cream. It is not that far so they walk there instead of taking Adrien's car.  When they finish the ice-cream Emma sees a man selling balloons.  She takes off in that direction.

                 "Emma, come back!" Marinette calls out.

                "Emma," Adrien calls for the young child.  He catches up to her, pays for a balloon, and brings her back to her worried mother.

             He grins at Marinette as he says,  "Here, Miss I do believe she is yours."

             "Thanks, Adrien, I do not know what I would do without your help," Marinette replies.

                 "Awe, pff, it was nothing," Adrien says.

          Emma, Adrien, and Marinette go back to Marinette's place next.  Emma smiles as Adrien kisses her mother on the cheek.  She frowns when her mom does not kiss Mr. Adrien back.  

        To bad cause, he seems to care a lot for her mother was the only thought of Emma's mind at the time.

         "Mommy, you suppose to kiss him," Emma pipes up.

            "Emma, it is okay, she does not have too," Adrien says with a blush across his face.

            "Mr. Adrien it is the rules," Emma says.

         "Rules, what rules?" Adrien asks.

         "You know a man kisses a woman so she is supposed to kiss him rule," Emma replies with a smile.

           Marinette shakes her head and Adrien just sighs.

              Adrien whispers something in Emma's ear, and she laughs.  "Okay, got it," Emma says.

                "What was that young man?" Marinette asks.

            "Sorry, can not tell you, " Emma answers.

               Marinette looks to Emma, then to Adrien, and back to Emma once more. She can not figure out what it is her child goes on about now.

              "It is a secret, mommy," Emma tells her.

             End of Emma's flashback...     

               Emma thinks   I kept my promise Mr. Adrien, but it sure is not easy.  She shakes her head as she still wishes her mother would date  Mr. Adrien, then marry him someday.  She thinks he is the best thing ever.  

             "Mommy, you messed up big time," Emma says with a pout.

               "Mr. Adrien should stay with us forever," Emma states to herself more than to her mother as her mom is not in the room anyway.  Somehow, she thinks her mother would not listen if she did come to the room again.

            Emma wonders why does not my mommy admit Mr. Adrien makes her happy. She counts the things on her fingers that show this:  1. Mommy smiles more around him, 2. She laughs more, 3. She gives him a special look and 4. She does not seem so sad when he is around.

            *Author's note:  Whoa, Emma sounds so smart for a two-year-old!  I mean here she is a toddler and she appears to have figured out more than anyone else.  

          Find out more in part 8

     until then,

-Summer out!