Chapter 3: Photographs

Adrien and Marinette woke up at around six-thirty the next morning. After a series of quick greetings, they sat down for breakfast.

"Uh, Marinette," said Adrien sheepishly, "I know I'm imposing on you today, but d'you think you could keep an eye on Em? I have to go out and sort some things today."

"I'm alright with taking care of Em," said Marinette, "but are you sure you should be going to work at this time? The poor kid's been separated from her mother, she's just arrived in unfamiliar settings, and I think her father should be with her at this moment."

"That is true," said Adrien thoughtfully. "But, I'm afraid I can't afford not to go."

"How about you wake Emma up before you leave?" suggested Marinette. "That way she'd know you're not here, and that she'll be in safe hands."

"Sounds good," said Adrien. "I don't leave until about eight, so I'll wake her up around then."

At a quarter to eight, Adrien went over to the guest room to shake his daughter awake. Marinette stood outside in the doorway as Adrien bid Emma goodbye and promised to be back before dark.

"She's taking it well," he whispered to Marinette, as he left. "D'you want to go in and talk to her?"

"I will if she's ready to talk," said Marinette reasonably. Adrien left, and Marinette decided to go back into the guest room. Emma was sitting, cross-legged, in the middle of the bed.

"Hey," said Marinette quietly. "Uh - morning, Em. Did you sleep well?"

Emma nodded.

"How'd you like some breakfast? A sandwich, maybe?"

Emma nodded again, and got out of bed. Marinette made sandwiches for both of them, and as she did, she contemplated.

Emma wasn't new to Marinette - in fact, it was quite the opposite. Adrien, who had long been a good friend of Marinette's, had married Capucine Le Marx, daughter of a wealthy businessman, some twelve years ago, when they were still fairly young. And about two years later, Emma was born.

Adrien and Capucine were busy people from the start, running around and working. As such, Marinette was often tasked to look after Emma.

She was a good kid - around unfamiliar people, she was fairly quiet and a bit nervous. With the people she knew and loved, she was her own person: playful, sociable, and sometimes a bit cheeky. But for the most part, she was well-behaved, and she and Marinette bonded well.

Perhaps it was being apart for five years that had made Emma more distant from Marinette. That was, hopefully, going to change, but at the girl's own pace.

Marinette finished up on the sandwiches and sat down at the table with Emma.

"Here we are," said Marinette, "cheese and tomato. You're not allergic, I hope?"

"No," said Emma, speaking for the first time that day.

"Well," said Marinette, "let's tuck in, then." The two of them began to eat.

The silence that prevailed was disrupted, surprisingly, by Emma.

"Um - Aunt Marinette?" she asked. Marinette turned to her.

"What happened to Mike? Aunt Alya and Uncle Nino's son?"

Oh yes. Marinette would look after Mike Lahiffe and Emma at the same time on occasions. They were the best of friends: they'd play together, they'd fight (like all friends did), and they'd get told off together (by either Marinette, Alya, Nino, Adrien or Capucine). It was only right that Emma would ask about him.

"He's alright, Em," said Marinette, "in fact, he became a big brother recently, about a year after you went to New York. He has a little sister now, Martine."

"Oh," said Emma. "Do they still live here?"

"They do," said Marinette, "but they're on holiday at the moment. But perhaps we could catch up with them once they come back - me, your dad and I."

Marinette decided to make further conversation, to connect with her friend's daughter.

"So, how was New York? Did you make any good friends there?"

"A few," said Emma. "I had a friend called Janine. But she moved away to Florida, before we came here."

"I see. Did you go anywhere special when you were there?"

"Not really." Emma shrugged. "But I liked it there. It was a nice place."

"I'm sure," said Marinette, but she hadn't been to New York herself.

"Are there any pictures of Mike and his little sister?" said Emma inquiringly, cocking her head to the side.

"I'm sure there are," said Marinette, taking her phone out. Emma scooted closer to take a look.

Marinette opened the gallery and showed Emma some pictures.

"That's Martine, with Mike and Aunt Alya - Uncle Nino was the one who took this photo. And this, this is of Mike on his first day at school."

"What about that?"

"That? You remember Mr Tom and Mrs Sabine, my mum and dad, who ran the bakery? There they are."

"Did they retire?" asked Emma.

"Oh, no," said Marinette, with a laugh. "They wouldn't retire if it was their only option. I'm sure they'll still be working when they're 90 years old."

The two girls went through the photos some more, bonding over them as they did. Marinette now knew that the old Emma, the happy, carefree one, was back.

And that's all for today, folks. Stay tuned for Chapter 4. Reviews are welcome!