Mylène frowned, clutching her teacup in both hands as she studied the contents, her cup almost half-empty already. Something about this apartment left her with a strange, unsettled feeling, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it. Was it something her mother had said? From what she could remember, she'd never been somewhere like this before, though that wasn't much to go on. People always talked about these places and how you would only go if you had a problem. But it really shouldn't be so… "unsettling" to be here. She and Ivan had come a couple times together, and it had helped while they were starting their marriage. Since then, she had only been here a handful more times – almost all of them with Nadine – and it had been a good experience. But still. It didn't make the experience any less embarrassing and nerve-wracking, at least on a subconscious level. Even with the company sitting across the small kitchen table from her.
"You realize I'm not about to start psychoanalyzing you, right?" asked Sabrina, one eyebrow arched, a hint of amusement in her tone.
Mylène grinned sheepishly. "Oh, I know. It still just… feels different when I'm in your office. Even if it doesn't look like a normal counseling office. Even when I'm just here to have tea with a friend."
Sabrina stifled a smile, quirking an eyebrow at her. "Oh? And how does that make you feel?" Mylène gave her a deadpan look, and Sabrina sighed. "I'm kidding! But if you ever do need to see someone…"
"You'll be the first one I call." Mylène rolled her eyes before smiling affectionately. "I suppose I should be grateful that 'mental health' is fully covered with the Heroes of Paris…"
Sabrina hummed. "Considering what we do – especially the rest of you – I'm happy I can provide something to help out. Even while I'm just starting university for it." She paused. "Why? Is there anything specific on your mind?"
"Hmm?" Mylène cocked her head, brows furrowed, and finally shook her head. "No… not that I can think of, anyway. At least, not like that." Sabrina raised an eyebrow. Mylène let out a breath. "I just… Ivan and I have been talking about the pregnancy, and everything that goes along with it. With the Tarasque and everything else, it's not like I've been able to work – not enough to put any money away to care for the baby. And with university starting up… we have a plan in place already: my mom will watch him – or her – during the day so I can go to classes, and Ivan's parents will take him – or her – if we need time in the evening. Maybe Nadine and Philippe can help out too…"
Sabrina's brows furrowed. "It sounds like you have a good handle on things," she observed. "But you're not convinced."
Mylène frowned. "It's just… if there's an emergency with the Heroes of Paris…"
Sabrina's eyes widened. "I understand. But you're already aware that that's not something that will happen often," she pointed out. "Most of the time you won't have to worry about what to do with the baby because the Heroes of Paris need you like that. And whatever the reason, everyone understands that the first priority is our kids. But," she added, "if it does happen, there are options: I can ask Max to put in a portal in your apartment so you can send them over for us to watch – if you and Ivan need to leave for something. Or I'm sure my mom or Emilie could watch both babies."
Mylène nodded slowly, contemplatively. "I suppose that's true – and it would be helpful to have that as a backup. Thanks."
Sabrina shrugged. "I'll already have one; what's a second?" She smiled, shaking her head. "You know, I still can't believe that you're having a baby now, too! And that ours will be almost the same age! Have you really not had any morning sickness?"
Mylène shook her head. "There were a couple days that I could only have a light breakfast, but that's it."
Sabrina groaned. "Lucky. Dr. Ouazani was worried about my weight for a few weeks there, I was eating so little. Although I feel as though my feet have started to make up for it…" She grimaced.
Mylène's eyes widened. "I'm sorry."
"You'll get there, too."
Letting out a breath, Mylène glanced down at Sabrina's hand. "The wedding was really nice," she told her. "Nice and intimate, with just enough people there."
Sabrina shrugged, looking down at the ring on her finger and smiling fondly. "Under the circumstances, that seemed like the way to go," she mused. "I think my dad was hoping for a little more 'pomp and circumstance' – something a little more like Adrien and Marinette did. But since we have the baby on the way…" She quirked an eyebrow. "This seemed like the time to do it, and the way to do it."
Mylène nodded. "That's true – they have a way of changing plans. With this, I think we're going to have to put off the party with our friends and family – we'd been planning it for next spring, but that's right around when the baby will be born, and that just seems like it's too close."
"Well, if you ever need someone to watch the baby…"
Mylène smiled. "I'll absolutely keep you in mind – as long as you don't think two will be too much."
Sabrina waved a hand dismissively, jerking her head toward Nooroo. "We can divide and conquer!" She suppressed a giggle before raising an eyebrow. "So…" she began, "why did you want to come over today? I'm glad you came over for tea, but I can sense that there's something on your mind, and it's not just pregnancy/baby woes."
Mylène pursed her lips, thinking for a long moment before finally admitting, "There was something else I wanted to talk to you about." Sabrina gave her an expectant look, waving her hand in invitation. Finally, Mylène sighed. "I was wondering about Nadine. How do you think she's doing now? I know you've seen her a bunch of times for counseling…"
"But…"
"…but she still seems to be stuck on something, and I'm not quite sure what it is."
Sabrina frowned. "You know I can't exactly give that kind of patient information, right? Even though you've sat in on a few of her sessions. She still has a right to privacy."
"Oh, I know," Mylène assured her quickly. "I'm just curious what your impression is. Is she any better now than when we got her away from Lila? Most of the time, I think she's doing better… but every time I start to think that, something happens and it's like Nadine reverts back. It's like there's a hurdle there that she just can't get over. Like Lila is still there in her head, even though Lila herself is in prison – and is going to be there for a long time."
Sabrina hummed, nodding slowly. "Without going into an specifics, that does seem to be the case for her," she confessed. "There's something that's holding her back, but she hasn't actually revealed what it might be." She pursed her lips, eyeing Mylène carefully. "What do you think it is?"
"I think it's the Heroes of Paris," Mylène told her immediately. "She thought she was part of the Heroes of Paris when she was helping Lila, but it turned out that she really wasn't, that Lila was using her as a criminal. That would shake anyone's confidence – especially someone like Nadine who tries to be a good person and to help others so much. Sure, we've welcomed her into the Heroes of Paris, but not until after Marinette and Chloe and Alya grilled her for information about Lila. And the only thing she's actually done since then was when she helped us arrest Lila. She's never even gone out on patrol. Not exactly a ringing endorsement from Ladybug and Cat Noir."
"That's true," Sabrina agreed, grimacing, "but Marinette is worried that if we push her too much in that way, we'll just be doing the same thing to her that Lila did: directing her to do what we want her to do, instead of letting her decide what she wants to do. Making her decisions for her could end up doing even more harm in the long run – even if we think what we're doing might be in her best interest. And I have to admit, I agree with Marinette."
"Maybe." Mylène frowned. "But does Nadine realize that's what we're doing? If we don't at least ask her what she wants to do, then how is that any different from Lila? Making decisions for her?"
Sabrina was silent for a long moment. "What do you want to do?"
"I want to take Nadine out on 'patrol,'" Mylène replied. "Nothing big or dramatic. Just something to let her see how we do things. Give her a chance to feel like a hero again."
Sabrina's eyes widened. "You realize you're not supposed to be going out on patrol, right?" she demanded. "Marinette would have a cow!"
Mylène placed a hand on her belly. "I'm barely showing yet. I'm no less capable of being a hero now than I was two months ago. Dr. Ouazani has said the danger to the baby is minimal – especially this early in the pregnancy. Besides," she added, raising an eyebrow at Sabrina, "you and I both know Marinette is just being overprotective." Sabrina inclined her head in concession. "I bet this stupid rule goes away the moment Marinette gets a positive pregnancy test."
"I'm not going to bet against you," Sabrina admitted, suppressing a laugh. "But I'm also not going to be the one to ask." She examined Mylène carefully for a long while before continuing, "If you're going to do this, you have to be careful. No risks."
"I know," Mylène assured her. "I don't want to do anything to put us in danger – no fighting, no Multitude. I just want to show Nadine that we really do trust her. That I trust her."
"Oh, don't worry so much about the danger," piped up Mullo, glancing over from her plate of fruits and cheese. "I can adjust your suit with more padding so the baby stays even safer. And there's no reason you couldn't use Multitude – it's perfectly safe for a baby!"
Mylène nodded. "I'll… keep that in mind." Not that she would risk it.
Sabrina frowned. "I'm still not sure if it's is the best idea for you to be the one doing it… but I can agree that going on patrol could be helpful for Nadine. So, if you are going to do this, you need to bring someone else along with you. Just in case something happens."
Mylène raised an eyebrow at her expectantly. "You think so?"
Sabrina's eyes widened. "Not on your life!"
