Queen Sunstar: Here's the first chapter. I'm not too happy with this one, but it will do for now. Enjoy, and I think I might have made Gabriel a little too OC.

Pain surged through her body. She knew she was waking up. Her blue eyes opened slowly, and pain stabbed her skull. A white room came into focus. A hospital room. She was in the hospital. Okay, awake was a good thing along with the hospital. That meant she had received medical care. Her right arm was bandaged to her body, and there was a cast on her right knee. She raised her left hand and felt bandages wrapped around her head. That explained the headache.

"Marinette! You're awake!" Alya cried, "How do you feel?"

Marinette blinked a few times, Alya's voice seeming to echo in her head. "What happened?" Her eyes went wide as the memories of the accident rushed into her head. "Oh God! Adrien!"

Alya winced, "Calm down, Mari! Calm down! It's okay. There you go, breathe." Marinette stared at her friend, fear evident in her eyes. "I'm going to go get your mom."

"Alya. Please, Adrien?" Marinette begged.

"Soon, I promise." Alya left the room.

Marinette closed her eyes. He was dead. That's why Alya wouldn't say anything! She forced back her tears. No, not Adrien! She refused to believe it. It wasn't true!

"Honey! Oh honey, I was so worried!" She felt her mother embracing her, "Shh. Do you hurt somewhere?"

"My head!" Marinette broke, "No one will tell me anything about Adrien!"

"I thought it best that it came from you." Alya said.

"He's dead, right?" Marinette screamed, "Just tell me already!" Sakine looked away. Alya sniffled. "He is dead!"

"He's alive, but very badly injured. You have a dislocated shoulder, broken knee, and a concussion. You are very lucky Cyber Neko got you here so fast. The doctors were able to relieve the pressure in your skull in time and save your life." Sakine answered.

"No, you can't go see him." Alya cut in before Marinette could even form the question, "Adrien was life flighted to Paris Children's Hospital after doctors managed to stabilize him."

"You can go see him after you are released. There is someone else here that would like to see you, if you feel up to it." Sakine said, "His name is Cyber Neko."

"Please." Marinette nodded, and regretted it as new pain exploded in her skull, "But may I have some painkillers first?"

"Here." Alya picked up two pills from the tray and a cup. "I asked the nurse to leave some Advil for you." She helped Marinette take the pills.

Cyber Neko walked in. He went to Marinette's bedside, a soft and gentle smile on his face. Alya looked like she was going to faint being so close to one of Paris's superheroes.

I am thankful you are okay." Neko broke the silence, "I apologize for not being fast enough to advert the accident."

"No, there is no need to apologize. You got to us and got us here. You saved us. A superhero can't be everywhere at once. Ladybug taught me that." Marinette responded, "May I have a minute alone with Neko?" Sakine and Alya both left.

There was a small movement from under Neko's collar, and a tiny red blur streaked toward Marinette.

"Marinette! I've been so worried! It's been three days since the accident!" Tiki clung to Marinette, "I thought for sure I was losing another of my bugs!" The Miraculous started sobbing. "I was so scared!"

"Tiki!" Marinette held Tiki. She looked up at Neko. "Thanks for helping Chat Noir keep Paris safe in my absence."

"I've been on my own." Neko decided to be truthful. "Chat Noir hasn't been seen since the accident three days ago."

"What? Wait, three days? I've been out for three days?"

"Yes. I've had Kaito keep an eye uh, ear on you." Neko looked away, "During that time, I had to deal with the Pufferfish. It was Mrs. Hawkins, the teacher with an immunocompromised son. She shot needles and those that were hit were sickened with any disease we vaccinate against. It was not an easy fight."

"Can we show Marinette what we can do?" Tiki asked.

"Yes." Neko reached into his pouch and pulled out a blank disk. "Tiki program. Run!" Tiki spiraled into the disk which turned red with black spots. Neko slid the disk into the reader on the back of his right hand. He closed his eyes as he felt his body rise from the ground, red light circling him. The white of his outfit turned red and gained black spots. His tail and cat ears vanished. A pair of black antennae took the place of his cat ears. He felt his feet touch the ground as his left hand flashed, a red and black yo-yo appearing. "Cyber Neko, Ladybug Form."

"Wow! You could pretend to be my temporary replacement!" Marinette said, "How did you discover this?"

Tiki reappeared, "Cyber Neko was down. I got really desperate as Chat Noir hadn't shown up. When I collided with Neko, that happened in a flash of red light, sending Pufferfish reeling backward."

"You were able to heal the Akuma?" Marinette asked.

"I was, once I located it. Since then, Tiki has been staying with me." Cyber Neko said, "I don't know if I can do this with other Miraculous. Even Master Fu was surprised over this development."

"I'm going to have to come up with an explanation for my absence. You have seen Adrien?"

"Kaito is keeping an ear on him too. I know you'll ask, so here's the list. Adrien suffered a traumatic brain injury that required the removal of most of his skull. Kaito offered his body to the doctors and is currently carrying the pieces of Adrien's skull within the upper left side of his abdomen. Both of Adrien's legs were crushed and his pelvis was broken in three places. His right arm is broken, and he suffered major bruising of his spine, and doctors had to take his spleen and three feet of intestine so far. His heart and lungs are strained. He had a lot of internal bleeding, and his liver is failing. It doesn't look good. I tried so hard to get you both here as fast as I could. If I had been faster, I could have stopped the accident from happening."

"Don't beat yourself up over it. It's okay." Marinette soothed. "You responded. That's the best you can do."

"I'll be okay. Sometimes being a superhero is difficult, especially when you can't save someone. I often cry for those I can't save." Neko made up his mind, "The accident occurred because the buses brakes failed and the driver lost control. He is real messed up over it. I will see you later. My Miraculous is pushing her limits." Neko left after Tiki tucked under his collar. Alya and Sakine reentered the room.

"So, what did the two of you talk about?" Alya readied her pen and tablet.

"Nothing really. He was relieved I was okay." Marinette answered.

"And?" Alya waited.

"Where is dad at?" Marinette ignored her.

"Hey! You can't leave me hanging here!" Alya protested.

"Tom is with Gabriel. They are good friends, and Gabriel needs a friend right now. His son is in critical condition. Tom made him use our guest room and has been dealing with him." Sakine looked away, "Adrien looked really bad. He is so bruised and swollen."

"Come on! Spill already! You two talked for ten minutes!" Alya begged.

"I told you, he wanted to make sure I was okay. He also told me what happened. I don't blame the driver nor do I want to press charges." Marinette said. "It was just an accident." She yawned.

Alya groaned, "Chat Noir and Ladybug are missing. Cyber Neko was seen wearing Ladybug's colors during Pufferfish's attack. Is he Ladybug's replacement?" She gasped, "Could Ladybug be d-dead?" Her voice went high, "What about Chat Noir? Could he be d-dead too? Maybe they're Akumatized!"

"Or maybe they are taking a vacation." Marinette supplied.

"But that leaves Paris defenseless!"

"There's Cyber Neko. I bet Cyber Neko talked them into a vacation. I hear he is doing fine alone." 'There's my excuse!'

"Cyber Neko very nearly died!"

Marinette sighed, "Cyber Neko can borrow Ladybugs abilities, and Chat Noirs too. He showed me how he is able to borrow their abilities."

"Spill!"

"He has disks with their abilities copied onto them."

Inside Paris Children's Hospital, in the ICU, Gabriel stared helplessly at his sons shattered body. Bad did not begin to describe Adrien. He was so swollen, bruised. Both of his eyes were black. His lips were fat. His face, what could be seen around the blue tube coming out of his mouth was a mottled mix of black, blue, red, and yellow. Numerous wires and tubing jutted out of his body. Thick casts incased both of his legs and his right arm. Bandages crisscrossed Adrien's body, some spots colored red. A thick white cap covered Adrien's head, providing protection for his swollen brain, his skull currently in several pieces and being kept alive within the body of one of his classmates, Kaito. Gabriel knew that was just the injuries that could be seen. What couldn't be seen was his crushed rib cage being supported by a silicon frame, his swollen heart barely moving blood, his bruised lungs working laboriously to exchange what little oxygen they could, his shredded liver, his failing kidneys, not to mention the severe internal bleeding.

Tears continued to fall down his face. All he could do was hold his sons uninjured left hand and pray. He wasn't a praying man, but now, he sent wordless pleas to every God and Goddess he could think of. Someone had to be listening. Adrien was still alive despite having coded three times so far. His mind brought up Rachel, Adrien's mother, his wife. Rachel. She would be working to find the best doctors for their son. She would not show the pain she would feel inside. She would be Adrien's advocate.

Him? Being a useless excuse of a father sitting beside his son crying and pleading to every higher power he could think of, and he was sure some of those higher powers were from various anime. He just didn't care anymore. He heard the door open and close.

"My w-" Tom quickly corrected himself. "Sakine called. Marinette is awake."

"Just because I lost my wife doesn't mean you have to avoid the word wife." Gabriel responded, "Go see Marinette."

"No."

"What?"

"You need me right now."

"You can go. I'll be okay on my own for a bit. Go see your daughter."

"Gabe, I know you. I know you don't want to be alone."

Gabriel bristled at his old nickname. "I won't be alone! There are nurses nearby! Just go!"

"Gabe."

"Do you have to call me that? We've been out of high school nearly 30 years!"

"27 for you, and 26 for me, mister I had to repeat 12th grade!"

"I had to miss half the school year because I had Leukemia!"

"So, it was the fault of the cancer, and not, perhaps, your D average?"

"You try getting good grades while being sick from the chemo and the cancer!"

"Maybe if you had let me help you instead of shut everybody out, you would have graduated on time!"

"My life went to hell in a hand basket! Wait a minute here! Why are we arguing about this? Tom, go see your daughter!"

"Fine."

Tom knew Gabriel would keep pushing him to do so. "I want a nurse in here with you."

"No need for that." Kaito walked in, "I'm here. I'll keep an eye on them. Wait! Ear! I'll keep an ear on them!"

"I can accept that." Tom left.

Kaito listened to the sounds of the multiple machines and Gabriel's breathing. It hitched occasionally, followed by a low whimper.

"Adrien is lucky he has you." Kaito replied.

"Lucky?" Gabriel scoffed, "He might as well be an orphan!"

"I am an orphan. I live with my governess, Deka. My parents died in the explosion that left me blind. I can't even cry for them. Adrien at least has you."

"Has me? He has barely seen me this year!"

"You can change that."

"I'm so busy!"

"Can you work from home?"

"Work from home?" Gabriel sounded stunned, "I could do what I do at home just as easily as in my office. I can hold meetings at home too. Adrien, have I been avoiding you?"

"Losing your wife had to be very painful for you. Do you think maybe you are avoiding Adrien because he reminds you of your wife?"

"Rachel. Her name is Rachel." Gabriel shifted a bit in his seat, "When Rachel told me she was pregnant with Adrien, I was so excited. I couldn't wait to be a father. I focused on my then small clothing store and worked so hard so that I could give Adrien a better life than I had. Is that so wrong?"

"What is Adrien's favorite color?"

The question threw Gabriel off, "What?"

"His favorite food?"

"What are you getting at?" Gabriel sounded angry.

"Do you even know Adrien?"

"Yes, I do know him!"

"You don't, Mr. Agreste."

"But I do!"

"You don't. What is his favorite subject in school?"

"What is with the questions?"

"Questions you should know the answers to. Questions all parents should know the answers to. You do not know Adrien. Adrian was the first to befriend me. He saw me, not my disability. He took the time to patiently walk me around school and Paris so I could count steps in order to be able to find my own way." Kaito felt his eye sockets start to itch, "Adrien was on that street because he was going to the Dupain Bakery to pick up your order for you!" Kaito reached up and scratched at his eye sockets, "I can't even cry! Adrien still loves you even though you aren't there for him!"

Gabriel shifted back, choked gasps coming from him. "Adrien…" Kaito heard him stand, and drop next to his sons bed. "I'm such an idiot! I was so focused upon giving you a better life that I forgot to give you me! I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!" These were deep body wracking sobs, the sobs of agonized grief. "Please, let me have a second chance! I will cut way back! I'll be there for you! I promise! Please! Don't leave me too!"

"Ebony, Cambert Cheese, and English." Kaito said.

"What?" Gabriel asked brokenly.

"The answers to the questions I asked you earlier. Ebony, Cambert Cheese, and English." Kaito repeated.

"I…" Gabriel turned, "Thank you, Kaito. You've opened my eyes." He squared his shoulders, "Adrien, things are going to change. I promise. Please give me that second chance!"

Night blanketed Paris. Once again her boss had made her stay late. Salome Bourgeois walked home toward her apartment. She walked by a still roped off street and shuddered. How had it felt seeing a car fall toward you? Ladybug and Chat Noir hadn't even showed up, only the Cyber Neko. Neko had said during an interview that he had literally dragged the two heroes onto the plane to get them to go. They needed the vacation, especially after the last akuma attack. Chat Noir nearly got ripped in half, and Ladybug had just managed to avoid getting run through. They were on the ropes until the Cyber Neko arrived and threw the Akuma off of them. He had ordered them to retreat while he fought the Akuma. She shuddered again, recalling how Chat Noir had blocked a strong hit with his body, protecting Ladybug. She had seen the entire fight from the conference room windows of her office building. That hit had to have been crippling. Didn't her cousin, Chloe, tell her that her boyfriend, Adrien Agreste, had missed three days of school due to a cracked collarbone, and that her rival, Marinette Dupain-Cheng, had come to school with her right arm in a sling, the same arm Ladybug had hurt during the fight? Coincidence? What if? Ladybug and Chat Noir had civilian disguises according to Cyber Neko, who said he had one too. Still, it was a coincidence. Unless… She was totally posting this on the Ladyblog!

Salome entered an alley, deciding to take a shortcut to get home faster. The alley was darker then usual. She sighed, the lights must be out, again. She'd have to call her uncle about that, and deal with him trying to hire her yet again. He needed to understand that she was happy with her job and life!

There was the sound of a crunch behind her, and she froze. Hot breath hit the back of her neck. She didn't dare to move. More hot breath. No. She was not about to die, not when she had figured out the civilian disguises of Chat Noir and Ladybug! She spun, and screamed. There was no way. A Minotaur? Minotaurs weren't real! She had to be dreaming. Wait, Minotaurs didn't have long twisted claws, or three tails tipped with sharp stingers, nor did they exist, at least not since the last time she checked.

"Mine!" The impossibility roared.

"No! Not yours, you freak!" Salome screamed.

She reached out and slapped the Minotaur across the face, and ran. It grabbed her after a few moments, it's claws digging into her body. She felt her ribs breaking under the pressure of the too large hands.

"Claw program! Run!" The Minotaur suddenly released her. "Stalking and capturing girls? I will end you!" Cyber Neko screamed, locked in a test of strength with the mythical beast, his muscles straining. With a grunt, he shoved it backward. A purple butterfly shape shimmered within the beast. It was slowly darkening, it's shape becoming crystallized. Cyber Neko's eyes widened. "No! Plagg Program! Run!" His colors turned black and gold while gaining Chats ears and tail. He charged. "Cataclysm!" His newly gained claws turned dark as he slashed at the Manticore. It stumbled backward, Neko's cataclysm too weak to do much damage. He groaned to himself. While Tiki and Plagg could grant him their power, they couldn't grant him their real users strength. What Neko used was a copy of their real users ability. "Tiki, take over! Tiki Program, Run!" His colors changed to red with black dots while his ears and tail vanished. A pair of antennae graced his head. "Tiki, help me out here! Lucky Charm! Seriously? A bubble wand? Tiki, this is no time for jokes!"

"I don't exactly control what lucky charm changes into! Marinette somehow manages to make what she gets works!" Tiki answered, "The charm chooses the best form to take!"

"Still, a bubble wand?" Neko sighed, "I feel like a magical girl." He waved it, bubbles billowing. The Minotaur charged into the bubbles and slowed down. Neko checked the Akuma's process, and groaned. There was no more time. "Claw program, run!" He reverted to his original colors, his claws glinting, "I'm so sorry." He kicked the beast back, lunged, preparing to sink his claws into its chest, "I really wish I could save you." A glow suddenly shone from his disk pouch. "What?" Tiki and Plagg, both glowing and holding paws, their eyes closed, swirled together into a disk, turning it red with gold spots. Neko reached out and touched the disk. It glowed brightly. He felt himself lift from the ground. The glowing disk entered his body. Neko blinked again. Chat Noir walked toward him. "Adrian? But, you are badly hurt and in a coma!" This Chat Noir was gold with white highlights. Ladybug joined him. She too was white with gold highlights. Standing between them was Bast, his own miraculous, in her former human form. She was dressed in her golden battle dress, her silver staff topped with a sistrum in her left hand. She smiled.

"Cyber Neko. It is not you behind the murders." Ladybug spoke.

"Those you take and destroy the crystalline Akuma live. Amun-Ra has been healing them." Chat Noir replied.

"Amun-Ra, the creator of the Miraculous?" Neko asked.

Bast nodded, "Amun-Ra is gone. He cannot help you anymore."

"We are here to create a new program. When you use it, you will become Luminous Neko, the first step toward your final form. As Luminous Neko, you will be able to destroy the crystalline Akuma, turning them into butterflies much like I do." Ladybug explained.

"We too will gain new forms. I will never see my new form. In six hours, I'm going to suffer a bad stroke that will leave me brain dead. I'm going to die. I want Plagg to go to you. You will gain my power." Chat said, "Protect my Ladybug for me."

"I will." Neko nodded.

"Say Miraculous Program Run, and it will do the rest." Bast smiled. They faded and the light vanished.

"Miraculous Program Run!" Neko's outfit turned white with gold highlights. A white and gold staff appeared in his hands. It was topped by a cross with the top arm a circle inside a ring. Acting on instinct, he raised the staff. "Healing Miracle!" The Minotaur roared. The crystalline Akuma turned white, and shattered into a white butterfly that flew away. The Minotaur shook, and reverted back to a human, who faded, returning to the place where they encountered the Akuma. Neko turned, nodded at Selene, and took off. His form returned to normal as the staff reverted to a necklace that rested around his neck. He rushed toward the children's hospital.

Gabriel jerked awake at the sound of pounding boot steps. The door crashed open, and Neko burst into the room. He doubled over, panting.

"He's going to… Have a stroke!" Neko wheezed out. Gabriel hit the call button. A nurse ran into the room. Neko repeated himself. The nurse got a doctor, who rushed Adrian to a CT scan, and straight into surgery. "I'm not letting him die when I can do something about it!"

"You can heal him?" Gabriel looked hopeful.

"No. I wish I could though. I wish I could take his place somehow." Neko heard the familiar beep of his Miraculous nearly out of power. "I need to go!" He rushed off.