"I can't believe we've been home for almost two months and this is the first time we're doing this!"

"I know! You've just been so busy lately, it's been hard to find time."

Groan. "Between the Charity and the Fashion House and the wedding final touches, I've hardly seen Adrien, let alone anyone else!"

"You know, if you need a hand with anything, I'm more than happy to pick something up for you."

Sabrina smiled, taking a long pull of her water as Emilie and Marinette caught up. The butterflies in her stomach eased a little more as she allowed herself to relax, settling back into the couch. When Emilie had invited her over for tea and pastries after she finished up her last counseling session of the day, she had not been expecting to find Marinette there as well. Sabrina's first emotion on seeing Marinette had been nervousness – she hadn't actually seen Marinette in the last week, not since the bachelorette party. Her stomach fluttered. Had it really been less than a week since she first sensed the baby's emotions? It felt like a lifetime ago that she had woken up with an upset stomach, blaming it on the Angolan food they'd had at the party. Her hand surreptitiously traced down her stomach to rest above where she knew the baby had to be, its emotions settled into the simple contentment that she had gotten so used to feeling. The baby couldn't be more than seven weeks, but if she concentrated, she could almost imagine that she felt a kick.

Sitting beside her on the couch, Marinette's attention was almost entirely focused on Emilie as she recounted her latest idea for the Agreste Family Charity Gala they had decided to hold at the end of the summer. Sabrina sighed, setting her mostly-empty water glass back on the table and picking out one of the petit fours Marinette had brought from the bakery. Emilie quirked an eyebrow at her, a hint of amusement in her emotions, mingled with some nervousness. Sabrina's stomach rumbled, and her mouth watered. Popping the first petit fours into her mouth, she immediately took another one – she'd gotten nauseous right after breakfast that morning, and nothing had tasted good at lunch. The chocolate-and-mint petit fours was normally her favorite, but today it tasted strangely tart. Sabrina stifled a groan: Marinette and Emilie were eating them normally – it had to just be her.

When was her appetite going to go back to normal?

"… don't you think that would be amazing?"

Sabrina blinked and started, glancing over to find Marinette watching her with a questioning expression, her emotions radiating concern. Sabrina gave her an apologetic smile. "Huh? Sorry."

"I just said, I thought you should come to the Gala also – not to speak or anything, but just to visit with the people who attend," Marinette explained. "It will help for donors to know all of the services that we are providing. And to see how we are helping people cope with everything that happened over the last four months, not just Hawk Moth."

Emilie hummed pensively, nodding. "I have gotten a few questions from people who wondered why we're still necessary when it's been two years since you defeated Hawk Moth," she admitted. "I've explained that we're doing more than just helping Akuma victims these days, but they might appreciate speaking to someone who is providing those additional services."

"So…" Marinette pressed, raising an eyebrow at Sabrina, "what do you think?"

Sabrina frowned. It sounded nice, and especially if she could help them to keep the Charity running, she needed to do what she could. But with the timing… Slowly her eyes drifted around the room. Nooroo, Duusu, and Tikki were huddled together on top of the bookcase around a plate of macarons. Just below them, Emilie had arranged a line of photographs. A framed copy of one of the few pictures of Ladybug and Cat Noir's Angolan wedding set in the middle of the shelf, mirroring one of Marinette and Adrien from their trip to Peru last year. On one end was a picture of Marinette, Sabrina, and Chloe together. Sabrina's lips turned up in a small smile to see how happy they looked – how different it was from the picture of her and Chloe next to it, taken at Chloe's eighth birthday party.

"Sabrina?" asked Marinette, her concern and confusion rising.

"No, I'm still here," Sabrina assured her, nodding earnestly and trying to hide the flush in her cheeks. "I'd be happy to help however I can."

Emilie stifled a laugh. "That really isn't supposed to start happening to you for a few more months, dear!"

Sabrina's breathing hitched, and her anxiety spiked. Marinette cocked her head, confused. Emilie raised an eyebrow at Sabrina meaningfully, her emotions shifting to encouragement and confidence. Sabrina swallowed hard, a flash of annoyance running through her emotions. Guilt mixed into Emilie's emotions, though without overpowering her encouragement. Sabrina's stomach clenched, anxiety and fear rising. Emilie's encouragement built up even higher.

The meaning was clear.

"What isn't supposed to happen for a few months?" asked Marinette, staring at Sabrina hard, a calculating look coming into her eye.

Sabrina let out a heavy breath. "I wasn't exactly planning to tell more than a handful of people, at least for a while longer," she began, glaring at Emilie halfheartedly.

Emilie shrugged. "Marinette isn't 'just anyone'," she pointed out. "She's your team leader, so she has a need to be aware of what's happening."

Swallowing in resignation, Sabrina finally nodded. "I suppose."

Marinette furrowed her brows. "What's happening?" she demanded.

Sabrina sighed, a small smile spreading across her face. "I'm pregnant."

The reaction was immediate. Marinette's eye s shot wide open in shock, her mouth falling open in an excited squeal. "You're–you're pregnant!?" She immediately covered her mouth with her hands to stifle the sound, stomping her feet excitedly, and threw herself at Sabrina, pulling Sabrina into a bone-crushing hug. "Congratulations! That's so amazing! You're going to be a mom!" Marinette squeaked as Sabrina awkwardly extricated her arms to wrap them around Marinette and return the hug. Almost as quickly Marinette relaxed her grip, and Sabrina pulled in a deep breath in relief. "Sorry," Marinette apologized, abashed. Her eyes widened. "But are–are you sure?"

Sabrina nodded firmly, resting a hand on her stomach. "I can feel the baby's emotions," she explained.

Marinette blinked. "You can feel – right." She smacked her forehead. "I forgot about that." Her eyes widened, and her hand drifted down to her own stomach, looking back and forth between Emilie and Sabrina. "C–can you feel – am–am I–?"

Emilie stifled a smile but shook her head. "No – or if you are, the baby isn't far enough along to have developed its emotions yet," she told her. "That usually happens by about week six or so. Though Duusu can feel it by week four…"

"Not yet…" Duusu called in a singsong voice, giggling shrilly.

Marinette blinked dumbly. "I'm never going to need a pregnancy test again, am I? Or be able to hide it from my mother-in-law…" she added under her breath.

Emilie grinned. "Nope!"

"But how long have you known?" asked Marinette, turning on Sabrina.

"Not long; less than a week, actually."

"Who knows so far?"

Sabrina shrugged. "Max and Chloe, of course. Emilie. My parents and Max's mom. And now you."

Marinette nodded pensively, tapping her chin. "Thank you for telling me!" She grinned eagerly. "This is so incredible! You and Max are going to be parents! But–but you'll need a crib–"

"–Chloe," Sabrina interjected.

"–You'll need a changing table–"

"–Chloe."

"–You'll need toys–"

"–Chloe."

"–You'll need a stroller–"

"–Chloe."

"–and a baby carrier–"

"–Chloe."

"–and–"

"Marinette!" Sabrina almost shouted, interrupting her tirade. Marinette started and blinked, staring at her. Sabrina stifled a laugh. "Chloe already thought of all of that, so if you both start shopping for us, I'm pretty sure we won't have any room for the baby!"

Marinette huffed. "So what can I do then?" she demanded, folding her arms.

"At the moment? You can calm down and not overwhelm me?" Sabrina pleaded. "I'm still not sure if I'm reconciled to the fact that this is happening."

"Okay–yeah, I can do that," Marinette agreed, nodding and letting out a breaath. Her eyes widened, anxiety suddenly invading her emotions. "But this means you can't continue as a miraculous holder!"

Sabrina cocked her head in confusion. "I'm sorry?"

"If you get hurt, then it could hurt the baby," Marinette explained, exasperated. She pursed her lips. "There is no way that I'm going to let you put your baby in danger like that!"

"I'm not about to just sit at home for the next seven months!" Sabrina objected heatedly, her mouth setting in a thin line. "I'm no different today than I was yesterday – or a month ago before I knew, or two months ago before it happened! I am perfectly capable of continuing my life! I can keep going as a hero!"

"No!" Marinette shot back. "I won't be responsible for that! Could you imagine what it would do to Adr–Max–if his baby were killed along with m–you?"

Sabrina blinked. "What are you talking about?"

Emilie's brows furrowed in confusion, and she fixed Marinette with an intense gaze. "You're not talking about Max and Sabrina anymore. But I'm not sure what you are talking about right now, sweetheart."

Marinette let out a heavy breath, her emotions shifting from righteous anger to shame and embarrassment. She looked down at her hands for a long moment before starting to speak, quietly. "I told you about when Adrien and I were brought to the other universe, remember, Sabrina?"

Sabrina nodded slowly. "I remember."

"There was something I didn't tell you about." Marinette frowned, still staring at her hands, guilt invading her emotions. "The reason everything went so wrong there was because I – that is, the me in that universe – got pregnant and then was killed, along with the baby. That crushed the Adrien in that universe. I don't want that to happen to my Adrien – I don't want it to happen to anyone." She finally took her eyes off of her own hands, fixing Sabrina with a pleading look. "So please…?"

Sabrina tapped into Marinette's emotions, sensing the fear and anxiety there beneath the surface-level guilt and anger. She sighed. "I promise I'll be careful," she assured her. "I don't want to do that to Max, any more than you want to see it happen!" Marinette nodded, swallowing hard. Sabrina tensed. "But I can do that while still holding my miraculous."

Marinette opened her mouth to respond, but Emilie cleared her throat.

"I think there's something you're forgetting here, sweetheart," Emilie pointed out delicately. "For you – or for that other version of you – being out there and fighting the bad guys is normal. But for Sabrina or myself it really is not. The miraculous holders in my family have always continued to hold and use their miraculous while pregnant – I didn't do it often, but I did transform once or twice while pregnant with Adrien. It was the same with my own mother. We send helpers out into the field, but we don't typically join them, so we're unlikely to get hurt."

Marinette let out a breath. "Okay…" Her voice trailed off, but she gave Sabrina a worried look.

Sabrina put her hand on Marinette's. "I will stay safe. Chloe already promised to tie me up if I try to go out on patrol again before the baby is born!"

Marinette's mouth set in a thin line, her eyes narrowing. "That goes double for me: and you won't be able to break loose when I hogtie you with my yo-yo!"

Sabrina stifled a giggle. "I'll be sure to tell Max that's an option!"

Marinette hummed, her mouth twisted around in concentration. "Now what am I going to do for a blanket?" she murmured, tapping her chin.

"Don't you have a clothing line to finish up for the fall?" Emilie pointed out, raising an eyebrow.

Marinette waved one hand dismissively. "I'll get to it… but I have to knit a blanket for your baby!" she told Sabrina. "Purple and grey, I think. I don't like the brown with purple – no offense to Kaalki. But horseshoes! You can say it's just for good luck if anyone asks! And–"

As Marinette continued brainstorming ideas for a new baby blanket, Sabrina sighed, popping a savory tart into her mouth. She could feel Marinette's excitement for the new project, Emilie's relief and encouragement after she had told Marinette what was happening, the baby's warmth and contentment bubbling to the surface. The next few months might not always be so easy, but she would get through it. She wasn't alone – she had Max, she had her parents and Emilie, she had Chloe and Marinette. Her friends would look out for her and help her. She was going to be okay. Glancing down at her stomach, she smiled. They would both be okay.