What The Future Holds

Our Little Secret

While Hugo was off playing hero with Ladybug and Cat Noir, little Emma hid as best as she could within the small office, trying to make herself blend in with the furniture. She could hear everything that was going on outside the office, and it wasn't until she heard voices outside did she begin to panic.

"Shhh, Emma. Don't worry about it, okay? Everything is going to be okay," Honey says, trying her best to comfort the small child. "Ladybug will fix this. I'm sure of it."

Emma nodded at her, wanting to believe her so much, but she couldn't help it. After all, if they fail and get caught in any of Hawkmoth's traps, it really is possible that their future could be set in stone. She didn't want to know a future in which Ladybug and Cat Noir are defeated. They were the heroes of Paris. More importantly, they were their parents. They can't imagine a world without them.

"Chloe, you'll be safe here," Ladybug says as she pushed Chloe into the office. She needed a plan fast now that Chat Noir was down for the count. That was when she noticed her. A little girl hiding in the corner, covering her ears as she squeezed her eyes tightly shut, obviously scared. "Don't move, alright. I'll handle this."

Chloe wasn't happy one bit, especially when Cat Noir forced his way inside. Still even if she was alright with sacrificing everyone else for herself, seeing how much Ladybug was struggling fighting against her partner was enough to make her feel guilty. That was when Chloe noticed the young girl as well.

Now, in that moment, time seemed to stop for her as she watched this frightened child sitting there alone. Chloe couldn't help but be reminded of the time she herself was that small, looking for someone to call a friend. If it wasn't for Adrien or Sabrina, Chloe would have been so lonely growing up, and yet, even now, she sometimes still feels like that little girl.

That's when everything was made clear for Chloe. She couldn't let Ladybug fail, especially in front of that little girl who is depending on her. Before Ladybug could get caught by Cat Noir, Chloe jumped in front of her and allowed herself to be taken by the cat.

Emma couldn't help but watch in shock at the scene play out in front of her moving away from them. She couldn't help but scream in fear, wishing for her brother to come back to her.

The minute she heard Ladybug fix everything, Emma couldn't help but look out the window to see the magical ladybugs fly all around, fixing everyone. When that was done, she took one look at her parents standing there with Hugo, talking and wanting to know answers to questions he wasn't ready to share just yet.

Without even waiting for them to stop talking, Emma quietly opened the door and ran in the opposite direction. She didn't want to get caught by her parents just yet, knowing they would probably ask her questions about who she is and where her brother is.

As she ran, it was actually Cat Noir that noticed the young girl running away first. Once all three of the heroes took off in an attempt to protect their identity, both boys decided to find a spot nearby, playing the part of the victims rather well.

Hugo found a spot on the bottom of the Eiffel tower, racing up to the top in a hurry to pick up his little sister. However, as he ran towards the elevator, he couldn't help but run past his friend and his girlfriend, Nino and Alya.

"Hugo, what are you doing here? Were you caught by Zombizou too?" Nino asked, trying to stop him long enough for an answer. "What's the hurry? Trying to catch Ladybug before she leaves?"

Hugo ignored the boy before pressing the button to call the elevator. That's when he felt an arm on his shoulder, reminding him that he was not alone. Turning around, he looked at the smiling couple's face before shaking his head no.

"I'm not here for Ladybug. When those kissing zombies got me, I was with my little sister when I told her to run. I didn't want her to become one of them too..." he explained, looking down shyly at his shoes. What can he say? With Nino and Adrien, he was able to talk openly and comfortably, but with Alya there, it was different. "I know her, so I'm sure she's somewhere around here. I just don't want to leave her alone for so long..."

"What if we help you find her?" Alya asked, understanding the feeling. "I have little sisters of my own who I know I would be so worried for if they were here right now. And Nino has his little brother to look after too."

Nino nodded at that before saying, "I know how important your little sister is to you, so we want to help."

Meanwhile...

Emma ran by as many people as she could, looking out into the crowd of adults hoping to find literally anyone she knew that could take her back to her brother. Unfortunately, the more faces she saw, the more she began to panic.

What if her brother forgot about her? What if Hugo got caught by Hawkmoth and was taken prisoner or something? What if something bad happened that needed Hugo more than she did? Should she start looking for the master on her own? What if Luka and Juleka decide to kick her out because they were friends with Hugo more than her?

As tears gathered in her eyes, she couldn't help but stop where she was to cry. Despite the strange looks she was getting from the strangers around her, Emma continued to cry in the middle of the hall.

"Hello, are you lost?" a kind voice asked, making her look up to see the familiar blond hair of her father. "You're Hugo's little sister right? Emma?"

Emma nodded and without hesitating wrapped her arms around him, surprising him for a bit. Without a second thought, Adrien wrapped his arms around her as well, comforting her the best way he knew how.

"What are you doing by yourself, Emma? Does your brother know you're here?" he asked her as he lifted her into his arms. She didn't answer him. Instead, she clung onto his shirt tighter, refusing to look at him. "How long were you by yourself? You must have been scared being here all alone during the akuma attack, huh?"

Again, Emma didn't answer him. Instead, she decided to take this time to appreciate her father's embrace. The feeling she got from Adrien was the same feeling she got from Luka. Safety and understanding. Still, she knew they would have to tell him eventually about them being from the future, but she didn't want to scare him either.

"Did you get to see Ladybug and Cat Noir save the day? That would be cool, right?" he asked her, just trying to get the girl to answer at least one of his questions. "Man, they are so cool. Imagine fighting alongside them one day."

"I know your secret, Adrien," Emma says quietly into his ear. She notices his smile twitch a bit before falling to a frown. "I know you're Cat Noir."

Adrien shook his head no at the little girl, not wanting anyone else to hear her. "What makes you think I'm Cat Noir? Cat Noir is much braver than I am." He chuckles a bit at her words, still wondering whether or not this little girl had possibly seen him when he transformed back. "Cat Noir is everything I'm not. How could you possibly think I'm him?"

Emma looked into his green eyes with her own, wanting him to believe every word she is going to say to him at this moment. As much as she loves Hugo and understands why they should wait to tell them, it wouldn't hurt to already try to get one of them on board. Besides, she was daddy's little girl.

"Because you're my daddy," was all she said.