To Butterfly: You know what they say – "Absence makes the heart grow fonder"!

To armadas: You certainly can do worse than having Kwamis running around to watch the kids!

To StarDaPanda225: Given that their Mansion is Superhero Central, it would be pretty much impossible! I do enjoy writing Marco!

To yellow 14: We've seen Emilie as a parent to Marinette and Adrien, but I really wanted to show her with a little one – and a bit of her and Julia interacting (the two "super-moms" that we really know).

"I think that just about covers it for the Christmas party. Are the Dupain-Chengs still planning to cater it?"

Emilie nodded and took another sip of her tea. She and Jeanne had spent the last hour in Jeanne's spacious new office at Agreste finalizing all the plans for the party which they (and Marinette) would be hosting at the Mansion next week. It was only the last week of November, but having the fashion house's party during the first week in December just made far too much sense. After all, they still had dozens of fashion show entries to prepare throughout the rest of December. And Adrien had put his foot down and insisted that the company had to take at least a couple days off for Christmas. "Sabine is especially excited to try out their newest dish!"

"Are you sure you don't need help with the decorating?" Jeanne asked, raising an eyebrow. "I really don't mind. I can stop by after work on Monday to help with organizing things."

Emilie shook her head dismissively. "You have so much to do already, I'd hate to make you work even more, and during one of the busiest times of the year! But," she added, smiling mischievously, "if you have a chance after you finish up here, you're always welcome to stop by for some eggnog and cookies!"

Jeanne chuckled and picked another macaroon out of the bag Emilie had brought. "I suppose you have more than enough help at home to get the lights and tree up," she conceded. "It seems like every time I stop in I see someone else I don't recognize – is Adrien running a bed-and-breakfast now?"

"Something like that," Emilie acknowledged, giggling. She slipped another macaroon into her purse for Duusu. "From what I've heard, I think after seeing almost no one for years, he's decided to make it his mission in life to fill the Mansion with friends!"

"He certainly deserves them," agreed Jeanne, a hint of regret coloring her emotions. "That boy has been through more than enough… all things considered…" She set aside that notebook and pulled out another one, grimacing. "But on to the Charity Fashion Show. I talked to the hospital and a couple of our models just backed out. Unfortunately, they don't have anyone available to replace them."

Emilie hummed contemplatively. "What about that orphanage?" she suggested. "You know, the one over in the 19th Arrondissement? I remember visiting there–"

Jeanne shook her head, embarrassment rising to the forefront. "Shut down two years ago from lack of funding," she explained. She knit her brows for a moment before snapping her fingers, eyes lighting up in realization. "But the Diocese does have an orphanage just outside of the city. I think I remember the Heroes even saved it from an Akuma toward the end. Perhaps a few of the kids there would like to step in and participate. And I'm sure the hospital will be willing to split the proceeds, given the circumstances."

Emilie sighed in relief and relaxed. "I'll look it up and stop by there tomorrow. After confirming with the venue, of course. And I don't think the kids will complain if we dip into the Charity's funds to make a donation to the Diocese for the orphanage."

Jeanne shut that notebook and pushed it aside before pouring them both another cup of tea. "I must say," she began, leaning back in her desk chair and raising her cup to clink against Emilie's, "I am so glad to be back to planning these kinds of events with you – it's been such a long time!"

Emilie nodded, smiling in remembrance. "Four years ago – no, five – since the last Christmas party," she agreed. "And I don't even remember the last fashion show we planned together."

"It was the Spring collection the year after the Olympics," Jeanne reminded her. "I remember we tried to get a few of the swimmers to come as models for the swimwear line since Gabriel had decided on a patriotic theme."

"Oh, god, that was…" Emilie paused and cocked her head in surprise. "Adrien was six that year!"

Jeanne nodded sadly. "It's been a while! I'm glad we're doing it again now, though I'm still sorry for getting you roped into it – I'm afraid it's my fault it happened."

Emilie shrugged, helping herself to another macaroon. "If it gives me an excuse to see you, I'm not going to complain! I'm happy to help out where I can, especially with how busy Marinette is this year."

"I… may have put a little too much on my little protégée lately," admitted Jeanne, flushing nervously and looking down at her desk. "I noticed last year that she could get overwhelmed if she took on too many projects at once, but I wanted to give her another test for this year. If she's going to have this job in a few years, she needs to be able to work with a team, and that means accepting and critiquing other designers' work, rather than just doing everything herself."

Emilie hummed in agreement. "She has gotten pretty good at delegating," she pointed out.

"Oh, I know," Jeanne agreed, quirking an eyebrow in amusement. "Although it's different here than… elsewhere." Her emotions shifted to guilt. "I didn't realize just how much it would overwhelm her to have her submit at least one design for each of the fashion week shows and ask her to incorporate other people's designs into this show, on top of fishing up her designs for the Summer Marinette Line. It isn't that much more than she did last year, but I guess it was just enough." She paused, amusement creeping into her emotions. "Although in my defense, it's not my fault that there are so many new Heroes we have to incorporate into the Charity show this year!"

Emilie chuckled in agreement. That part was entirely thanks to Marinette and Adrien!

Jeanne sighed. "It's so easy to forget just how young they both are, considering everything they've accomplished in the last couple years. But then I remember that they really are still just in their last year of lycée!"

"Well, you said it yourself: you're training Marinette so she can eventually take over a fashion house," Emilie reminded her. "All of this is just part of that. And forcing her to acknowledge her limits and delegate to others early on isn't such a bad thing!"

"That is quite true," Jeanne agreed. "And I am glad she's had so much help with everything – between you and all her friends." Her emotions turned nervous and she paused for a beat. "And I don't just mean everything with the company. Or with school."

Emilie raised an eyebrow in feigned surprise. "I have no idea what else you could mean."

Jeanne gave her a deadpan look. "I'm sure."

Emilie examined Jeanne's face carefully and finally nodded. She looked behind her to make sure the door was still closed before asking, "How long have you known?"

"I suspected it back in the spring," Jeanne replied, not hiding her relief. "Sabine said the kids had some secret life thing going on, and sure enough they had to run off for a week, only to appear again in New York with a new friend and no explanation. Add to that just how close they are, so different from any kids dating in lycée: that's not something that just happens. But the kicker came when they woke you up." She paused, turned nervous. "It was enough of a shock when I found out I was working for Hawk Moth; to find out that now I'm working for Cat Noir and training Ladybug…" She chuckled. "I'm glad I stayed now!"

Emilie smiled. "I know the kids appreciate having you here!"

"I just – I wish there was more I could do…" Jeanne swallowed. "After everything they did, I wish–"

Emilie put her hand on Jeanne's arm, and she stopped talking instantly. "What you've done for them in helping them keep this company going has been more than enough – especially when their… other jobs… can interfere." She furrowed her brows in thought. "I suppose if you already know the kids' identities, it's okay for you to know mine."

Jeanne's eyebrows rose in surprise. "You're kidding! Let me guess: you're the new Peacock? That's the only new hero that would fit. Is it just recently?"

Emilie smiled. "Actually, since I was younger than the kids – except when Nathalie was using it, of course," she added, pursing her lips in distaste.

"I suppose that shouldn't surprise me," Jeanne acknowledged, nodding. "Adrien had to get it from somewhere…"