Marinette was working from home today. She held full-time job with a fashion magazine but longed to be doing the design rather than the write up. Alya helped her a lot with her articles. Proof reading them and suggesting changes to the wording. Her best friend was invaluable to her in every way.

She looked up from her work. It was her day off and she always used that time to sketch and make her own designs where she could. She often got a small commission from them which helped her treat Louis to day trips and other fun events that they could do together.

Her phone buzzed as a text message came in. 'please bring Tikki for a check-up at your earliest convenience – Fu'

she looked around, Louis didn't have playgroup today so he was happily sitting playing on the tablet, educational games of course. "Hey Louis?"

The little boy looked up smiling at his mother. His eyes sparkled in the light coming in through the window.

"Fancy a visit to nanny's for a while?" She smiled as she knew what the reaction would be, and he didn't disappoint.

Before she could say for how long he would stay there or any other details he had his backpack on and was trying his best to get his shoes on the wrong feet.

"here honey" Marinette smiled at him adoringly "let me help."

she helped him with his shoes, grabbed her keys and her purse, slipped into the other room and whispered "Tikki, Master Fu wants to see you"

The kwami had more energy than Marinette had seen in years as she buzzed from her hiding place giggling "I thought he would" she said happily with an all knowing air in her statement. She whizzed into Marinettes purse, eager to be reunited with her own other half.

A short while later Marinette was at her parents begging them to not give Louis too many cakes and sweets. "Don't worry!" her mother consoled her "we managed with you and we will manage with him"

they both looked over to see her father holding him in the air and whizzing him round like an aeroplane. She gave a mother a kiss on the cheek. "Thank you mama, I owe you!" Sabine smiled thoughtfully "Give master Fu our best" and with that Marinette turned and left the shop speeding round the corner, eager to see what had got Tikki so giddy.

The words hit her like a bombshell. She even dropped her cup of tea, a reaction which Master Fu had predetermined, his kwami was hovering under it to keep it from spilling on the floor. She found it hard to find the words, it was like a dream. In fact she had this dream only a few nights ago. She pinched herself. Nope, definitely awake.

"hes – he-he's, he's really back?" she stammered unable to take control of the whirring of her thoughts.

Tikki was happily dancing in the room having clearly regained strength from the proximity of her other half. Master Fu watched her delighted at her speedy recovery. He turned to look closely at Marinette.

He let out a sigh "please ladybug, give him and yourself time. Patience is key here"

Marinette looked at him, unable to comprehend her feelings.

She stood up suddenly. "where is he" she looked around the room expecting him to be hiding in a cupboard or something "I'm going to kill that stupid cat!"

Master Fu brought his hand up to silence her. It was only out of her utmost respect to master Fu that she stopped her rant.

"Please Marinette, he has had his reasons. He might not want to tell you straight away, please be patient with him. He is probably the unluckiest Cat we've ever had charge of." he looked very solemn.

"And maybe..." his words trailed off and Marinette looked at him expectantly. He let out another long sigh. "Maybe don't let him know about Lewis yet."