I'm baaaack! Sorry that this story keeps getting pushed to the back burner, but that's what happens. I think I'm going to try and get this one finished before I start writing any more Miraculous Fiction. Anyway, here's the latest update and hopefully more will be coming soon!

Tikki could hear the music from outside. Not waiting for Marinette to find her keys, she floated through the door to find Emma and Plagg dancing in the living room. She contained her laughter as Plagg wiggled through the air along with the video game. Emma was winning, but Plagg didn't seem to care. He was having fun, as he always did at Emma's side.

Tikki heard the door open behind her and both Plagg and Emma immediately stopped dancing and turned around. The music continued to play as the room froze. Plagg's eyes grew wide and his face blushed slightly at being caught, but Emma couldn't be more excited to see them.

"Papa said you wouldn't be back until tonight!" she called as she quickly gave Marinette a warm hug.

"Yes, but they canceled my class," Marinette explained. "I'll have to go back, but I thought I would come to check on you first."

Emma came over and let Tikki nuzzle her nose as Plagg switched off the game console. Closing her eyes, she could feel Emma's emotions. They were mixed and tangled, but she was doing her best to be happy and just enjoy her time here.

"Is that bread I smell?" Marinette asked, setting down her school bag and walking towards the kitchen.

"Yeah, I made Focaccia so it will be ready for lunch. Can you stay until then?" Emma explained, following her.

As the two of them walked into the kitchen, continuing to talk about bread, Tikki floated over to Plagg who looked like he was sulking.

"Dancing? Really, Plagg?" She said with a teasing smile.

"Can it." He snapped. "I was just trying to cheer her up."

"That bad?" she asked, taking a seat next to him. Plagg glanced around before answering.

"Tikki, I don't think she knows anyone," he answered in a serious tone. "When Adrien left this morning, I could feel her heart breaking. Something bad happened, sugar. Something really bad."

"Plagg, you need to stop getting information out of her."

"But what if we can stop it? What if was can stop this...whatever it is...before it happens. Can you see how troubled she is?"

"I can see," Tikki assured him. "But she is also a grandmaster. They always have difficult walks of life. You know that."

"I know. I just...I just..." his voice trailed off and Tikki could see his body shaking. She leaned her head onto his and wrapped an arm around him.

"You can't stand to see anything happen to our baby," she whispered. "Neither can I. But you know how strong she is. What she's endured."

"But Tikki, she should be Ladybug. Why isn't she Ladybug?" The question hung between them. They both knew the answer. There was only one explanation for why Emma would ever have been given Plagg's miraculous and not her own.

"Something happened to me. To Marinette. At least she has Adrien." She commented, but Plagg's eyes met hers. There were tears in his green eyes and Tikki finally understood how deep his pain ran.

"Adrien too?" her voice starting to crack with pain. "She lost him too?"

"Something happened, Tikki. I'm all she's got." He said.

"That can't be true," she pointed out, shaking her head. "No offense, but she's too well trained. She has a teacher. Someone is with her. Fu, maybe."

"No, I don't think so," Plagg said.

"What makes you say that?" she asked.

"She snuck out. She isn't supposed to have the cat miraculous. And Wayzz would never let her get it if he was around."

"Then...then who is teaching her?"

Note: (to lighten the mood) The song they were dancing too was Lucky Strike by Maroon 5.