She'd always been quiet. It wasn't that she never had anything to say, it was more that she'd rather observe, and only share when she thought it relevant or important, or if someone asked her honest opinion. She wasn't stuck up, stupid, or shy, Emma was just... quiet.

But when people got her talking on something she was passionate about, oh boy, could she talk. It was like someone would open the floodgates, and every knowledgeable tidbit of information she had on the subject would come tumbling out of her mouth. Her friends and family affectionately called these moments, "The Emma Station" or "Talkshow Hour with Emma Agrest."

In that moment though, sitting on the couch in front of both parents, in the middle of the night, while her partner unhelpfully sat on her shoulder, snacking away on his cheese, she honestly couldn't think of a single word. Her mind was blank, and her hands were starting the sweat.

Actually, all of her was starting to sweat. Her parents hadn't said a word either. They all just kind of... stared at each other, waiting for someone to either fess up or blow up. Every time one of them would move to speak, the other two would freeze in apprehension, and the tension would get so thick that that person would lose their nerve, and then they'd all be back to square one.

After all, how would one begin such a discussion?

"Greetings mother and father, this is my floating cat, Plagg. By the way, I'm a superhero!"

That'd go over well.

As usual though, it was Marinette who took the lead.

"So, Plagg?"

The kwami stopped chewing long enough to say, "Yeah?"

Emma's head whipped to the side.

"Wait," she said, heart slowing in it's lightning speed panic for a moment. "You all know each other?"

"A little too well if you ask me," her dad said, and she saw the beginnings of a grin on the corners of his lips. "Do you know how many times people informed me I smelled like cheese because this guy was hiding in some article of clothing of mine? Marinette was lucky; it was socially acceptable for her to wear a purse to hide her kwami, who ate cookies. I couldn't even get away with wearing a shoulder bad most days unless it was for school, and even then, my bodyguard insisted on carrying it for me."

Confusion only clouded her mind for a moment before it lifted and shocking realizations struck.

"Wait, wait, wait," she said, hardly believing what she was hearing. "Are... are you telling me... that my parents, you guys, the busiest teenagers to have ever met and fallen in love, were Ladybug and Chat Noir?"

She didn't mean to screech, but her role models had just revealed themselves to be her role models.

"She's too smart and nice for Plagg," Adrien complained unconvincingly to Marinette. "Maybe Master Fu will let her trade him in for Trixx? Or maybe Pollen?"

Plagg and Marinette simultaneously rolled their eyes.

"You were too smart and nice for Plagg, and you turned out to be the perfect Chat Noir," she pointed out.

"And besides," Plagg added, popping the last chunk of cheese in his mouth. "She's perfect."

Adrien twitched. "Puuuurrrfect," he corrected.

Everyone collectively groaned.

"Alright," Marinette said, her voice taking on the authoritative tone again. "So now that we have that established," she turned again to the cat kwami. "Why have you been activated, Plagg? Is Tikki okay?"

He paused in contemplation, considering how much he should share. Fu never said, 'Don't share if they find out themselves.'

"You don't miss a thing, do you?" he said finally, deflating a little. "Yes, Tikki has been taken, along with the tiger, the dog, and the kobra miraculouses."

"How?" Adrien blurted. "All four were with Master Fu. All the miraculouses were accounted for and under his protection. How could they have been taken?"

Plagg gave him a resigned look.

"He's not infallible, Kid," he said. "In case you haven't noticed, he's kind of getting up there in age." He floated off of Emma's shoulder, and hovered in the middle of their circle.

"Three weeks ago, five masked, armed people came to Fu's store. They seemed to know who he was and knew exactly what they were looking for. Luckily, Nino was there too, and he did his best, but he couldn't protect us all. Four were taken, and I would have been too if Nino hadn't managed to hide me and a few others he managed to grab when they weren't looking. They believed he had stashed us away elsewhere for safekeeping. They roughed him up a bit, but then they got a call and left as quickly as they'd come.

He and Fu decided it would be best if they just chose one Miraculous holder to sniff out some clues and report back, but not engage directly. Emma was chosen, not because we wanted to get you guys involved all over again, but because she really was the best candidate for the Black Cat miraculous we'd seen in a while. I mean, the daughter of a Black Cat and a Ladybug? Incredible. Throw in those natural cat instincts she already has? Even better."

Emma blushed when both parents turned to regard her.

"She has always had a penchant for sneaking up on people," Adrien agreed. "But why can't she have a partner? I had Ladybug. Doesn't Fu realize how dangerous it is sending her against four other holders without any backup? Especially her counter?"

"But she's not going up against them," Plagg said. "Not yet at least. And having a partner that isn't Ladybug would be a really bad idea. Chaos, destruction, plagues, the possibilities go on. We can work with others, but Ladybug has to be present."

"Then why activate the Black Cat at all?" Marinette asked. "The best counter for the Cobra would be the Pig and the Dragon for the Dog. The Black Cat would be an outright disadvantage to the Dog."

"But the Black Cat and the Fox are the best at finding clues," Plagg said. "We needed someone who could both find the elusive thieves, and fight them later on. Black Cat is best for both."

Marinette didn't look convinced, but accepted his explanation for the time being.

"Can I talk?" Emma asked.

They all started and turned to her, almost forgetting she was there.

Go figure.

"Of course you can," Adrien said, crouching to sit on his heels, and Emma suddenly realized what a catlike trait it was, especially when he did it. She wondered at other things he did, and wondered what habits were the result of having once been a Miraculous holder. Plagg had already warned her that bad luck and cat-like characteristics would slowly start becoming more prominent in her life the longer she had the miraculous.

"So apparently Uncle Nino is in on this somehow too," she said. "And this Master Fu guy is supposed to protect all of the Miraculous?"

"Correct," Plagg agreed lazily.

"He's the one who would have chosen you," Adrien explained further.

Emma nodded. "Right, okay, so Uncle Nino and Master Fu were robbed and four Miraculous were stolen. Plagg already told me I'm supposed to be looking for clues, which so far has just been running around Paris doing absolutely nothing, but... what exactly am I supposed to do if I find out where they are?"

Both overprotective parents turned narrowed eyes on Plagg, who still couldn't seem to muster up enough energy to look truly concerned.

"Good question," he asked.

Marinette sighed. "I guess strategy will have to wait for when you find something useful," she said. "There are four other Miraculous wielders out there now; they're bound to come out of hiding sooner or later." She paused to consider, then her brow furrowed. "Just how late have you been staying up on these patrols, young lady?"

Emma tried not to look too sheepish.

"Later on the weekends, but no later than eleven or twelve most nights..."

Marinette sighed. "I guess it would be hypocritical of me to get mad, huh?"

Emma shared a cautious victory grin with her dad.

"But!" They both straightened. "If patrolling is all you're doing for now, and there's no reason to sneak off, I expect that to change right away. No later than ten unless you call with a good excuse to come later."

Emma's shoulders slouched. "I'm a hero with a curfew?"

"Could be worse," Adrien consoled.

Emma considered, and shuffled a bit in her seat.

"So you're not going to make me stop?" she asked.

"No!"

"Yup."

Everyone turned to look at Adrien, and Marinette glared dangerously. He raised his hands in surrender.

"Kidding!" he said. "I'm kidding! But all joking aside, I've gotta warn you that this is going to take up a lot of your time. Are you sure this is what you want?"

Emma nodded, completely sure of herself. "Of course! Especially now that I know you guys were Ladybug and Chat Noir!"

A proud smile tugged at Adrien's lips, and a warm glow erupted in his chest. He knew that if he still could, he'd be purring.

"It could mean a few sacrifices," he warned. "Your social life will be just about non-existent. You might not have as much time to practice ballet, or you might have to quit your job at the groomers."

That struck Emma a little harder. "Do I have to quit right away?"

"No," he assured. "If you want to try balancing it, you can sure give it a try but... you know, I wasn't really busy all the time just because I was a model and a superhero at your age. I had piano lessons, chinese lessons, fencing... and sometimes it got overwhelming. Just know that you might be forced to prioritize."

She swallowed hard, imagining the years of blood, sweat, tears, and dedication towards the ballet program just... washing away. But then, she didn't want to give up her new job either.

"I... I understand," she sighed. "If it gets to be too much, I'll ask for less hours at the groomers. If it's not enough, I'll just stop."

"What's the big deal anyway?" Plagg asked. "Your parents are rich, and that place smells. I say good riddance."

Adrien and Emma gave him identical green-eyed glares.

"No one asked you, Plagg."

"By the way," Marinette said, sending a little glance towards the shattered china dish still scattered across the kitchen floor. "What exactly were you doing tonight? It wasn't... you who broke the security alarm, was it?"

Emma looked insulted. "Of course it wasn't me!" she said. "I think I know how to get past a security system without breaking it.

Adrien snickered appreciatively, and muttered something about "little cat burglars." Marinette ignored him.

"What were you doing up so late, then?"

Emma allowed herself a short moment to preen. "Plagg and I were guarding the house."

Her dad tilted his head— another simple action with cat-like qualities to it.

"Guarding the house?"

"From the thief," Emma elaborated. "Plagg and I had a theory that maybe the thief was the Ladybug Miraculous holder. Now knowing that Uncle Nino is involved, I'm starting to think that maybe they suspect he left the Black Cat Miraculous, as well as a few others, here for safekeeping. You guys are his closest companions other than Aunt Alya."

They all considered.

"It's a bit of a stretch, but definitely not impossible," Marinette said, and Adrien nodded.

"Especially considering how often he comes over— well did come over until he got to busy to... now wait just a second; Nino knew my daughter had my old Miraculous this whole time, and instead of telling me, he just avoided me?"

"We'll yell at him later," Marinette assured. "Right now, I know a few people who have school tomorrow morning."

Adrien and Emma both groaned, and the latter turned to the former with sparkling, hopeful eyes.

"Sick day?" she asked.

He opened his mouth, but Marinette shut the idea down before he could agree that physics didn't sound all that appealing after such a late night.

"Alright, so I just have one question left," Emma said.

Marinette smiled patiently. "Just one?"

Emma paused. "Well, no. Actually, I have a million questions for Ladybug and Chat Noir, but just one more before I go to bed."

"Fire away, kitten!"

"Who was Hawkmoth really?"

It was like someone has scratched a record in her parent's brains. They stared at her, then at each other and had a silent conversation in that infuriating way that only adults can do.

"Um, maybe it would be best to save that story for another day."

So, due to an overwhelming amount of feedback from readers on Fanfiction.net, I have decided to continue this, and since I'm posting the stories on that sight, I thought I might as well do it here too :)