Emma's Nanny

Family Meeting

None POV:

Marinette, standing just behind Adrien, gasped softly, her hand flying to her mouth. Adrien's expression darkened immediately, his jaw tightening as he took the envelope. His grip was so firm the edges of the paper crinkled slightly.

Marc shifted uncomfortably under Adrien's glare. "I'll leave you to review the..."

"Get the fuck off my house" Adrien snapped

Marc hesitated but quickly nodded, retreating toward his car as Adrien slammed the door shut. Marinette stepped closer, her hand resting gently on his arm

Adrien turned to her, his features softening slightly at the sight of her worry. He pulled her into a hug, his arms wrapping around her protectively as his hand rested on her baby bump "She is not taking Emma away from us"

Marinette leaned into him, her fingers gripping his shirt as she nodded

Adrien's arms stayed wrapped around Marinette as he felt her trembling against him. When he pulled back slightly to look at her, he saw the tears welling in her eyes. Her lip quivered, and she quickly brushed a hand over her face, trying to hide her emotions.

"I don't want to lose her" Marinette whispered, her voice breaking. "Adrien, she is... she is my everything. She is now my little baby"

Adrien's jaw tightened as he cupped her face, his thumbs gently brushing away her tears "We are not losing her, Marinette. She is our baby girl, and I'll do whatever it takes to keep her here with us. I swear to you"

But before Marinette could reply, a soft voice interrupted them from behind "What does custody mean?"

Both Adrien and Marinette froze, their heads whipping around to see Emma standing at the base of the stairs, clutching her stuffed ladybug tightly. Her emerald eyes, so much like Adrien's, were wide with confusion and a hint of fear.

Neither of them spoke at first, their silence only making Emma step closer "Mama, Papa... what does custody mean?" she asked again, her voice wobbling slightly.

Marinette's breath hitched, and she looked to Adrien, who knelt down to Emma's level. His hands rested on her tiny shoulders as he searched for the right words. "Emma, my baby bug" he began softly "custody is... it's when parents go to a big room with a judge to decide who their baby will live with. His mama or papa"

Emma's brows furrowed as her bottom lip trembled "Why? Aren't I already home? With you and Mama?"

Adrien swallowed hard, his throat tight. He pulled her into his arms, holding her close as he kissed the top of her head "You are, baby bug. You are home with us, and that's where you belong. But someone else..." His voice cracked, and he had to take a moment to steady himself. "Someone else thinks you should live with them instead."

Emma stiffened in her father's arms and then pulled back just enough to look up at him "You mean... Kagami?"

Adrien hesitated, glancing at Marinette, who was wiping her cheeks. He nodded slowly "Yes, baby bug."

Emma's eyes filled with tears, and before either of them could stop her, she turned and bolted up the stairs, clutching her ladybug plush tightly.

"Emma" Marinette called after her, starting to follow, but Adrien stopped her.

His fists clenched at his sides before he slammed one against the wall, the loud thud echoing through the room "Fucking Kagami." he said "That selfish, conniving bitch. All she cares about is herself. She doesn't give a damn about Emma. She abandoned her, Marinette... she left her. And now she thinks she can just swoop back in and rip her away from us? Over my dead fucking body."