Honestly wasn't planning on posting another chapter for a while, but I typed up 25+ pages today so here you go!

2 – Parents of an Angry Teen

Emilie Agreste just did not understand it. Was this what it meant to be the mother of a teenager? Adrien only turned thirteen a month ago, but it did not explain why he suddenly didn't want to even look at his father. Stopped calling him 'Papi' too. Gabriel was trying to command more respect from his son for the past few years, true, but completely doing a 180 like this was not something she expected.

"Gabriel," she started during lunch, eyeing her busy husband. Now his behavior was off too, but in a different way. More of a left-hand turn than going the opposite direction. Ever since he woke up that morning, he was either overly affectionate and responsive to her, controlling himself in front of their son, or rapidly writing notes into a notebook. She didn't mind the affection frankly – rather enjoyable and made her wonder if he was agreeing to her idea of a second child at long last – and his restraint around his son was a growing concern, but the notebook instead of a sketchbook was very weird. What use did a designer have for only writing his thoughts instead of drawing them? And unless he handed them to Nathalie, she sincerely doubted it had anything to do with work.

Her husband jerked up at her voice, his attention barely snapped from the pages he was working on. What was he writing anyway? "Yes darling?"

"Did you do something to Adrien?"

He stopped, hesitating for some reason, and looked away, conflicted. Emilie did not like the look on his face. What did Gabriel do? Letting out a breath, he put down his pen and ran his hands through his hair, exhausted already. "Not exactly."

"What happened?" It was more of an order than a question, but she knew there was only one way to get through to her stubborn husband: be direct, blunt, and spare no one. He wore down eventually, especially if it was her asking.

Usually.

He pursed his lips closed, thinking over his answer. This worried her more now than before. What was Gabriel hiding? He only hid his designs and plans to make their lives better. The remodeling plans for Adrien's room, giving him everything a teenaged boy would want, were hidden behind that look once. So was how he proposed to her. It usually led to good things, but Adrien was angry and wouldn't stay in the same room as his papi. There was no way this was good.

"Gabriel -"

"Technically nothing." He looked forward, not at her but intently into the future. Emilie knew that look too. These were serious thoughts on the road to change the world if he could. Every detail had to be covered before he would go forward and share them. "And if all goes according to plan, nothing will."

"What are you talking about?" Plan. So he was planning something. Something Adrien didn't approve of? "What plan? And why is Adrien mad at you?"

The intensity of his eyes wavered to grief, remembering something painful. He leaned back into his chair, letting out a long breath. She knew this look too. Oh for the love of chocolate, did he have to take on so much? Stubborn Gabriel. He finally looked back to her, somewhat pleading. "Please give me a few days. I swear, I am doing everything I can to make things right. I will tell you everything soon enough, my darling."

For what it was worth, Emilie believed him. Clumsy though he was in love, Gabriel never broke his word. Not to her, and not to Adrien. He would sacrifice anything and everything to protect what they had.

But that did not resolve the angry teenager problem.

"So what are you going to do about our son?" Fine. If he wouldn't tell her what was going on, he'd at least take responsibility for… whatever was going on. Adrien was mad at his father. What over, who knew. Well, Gabriel knew, but he wasn't talking. Was this a man to man thing?

Oh dear. Was this a hormone thing? Not for the first time, Emilie wished Adrien was a girl so she could handle every problem her baby had. This better not be something normal with teenaged boys or she was screwed.

Gabriel took another slow breath, choosing his words. "I'll… I'll talk to him, but I doubt it'll do much good. Teenaged boys tend to become… unpredictable."

Oh crap. She called it. Blushing slightly, Emilie went back to her meal. "And I thought girls were the only ones with mood swings."

Her husband chuckled. "We're lucky Adrien's mostly level-headed. He won't cause too much trouble."

He picked up his pen to continue working, stopped, and put it back down. Emilie tried not to notice his eyes on her, both far off and soaking her in. Why was he looking at her like that? Well, whatever the reason, he took her free hand in his and gave her a small squeeze. What was with his behavior? "Is something the matter?"

For a moment he said nothing, then raised their hands to his lips, pressing them against her wedding band. Clumsy in love, but he knew how to sweep her off her feet. Well, she may have more than she expected for lunch.

"I'm taking the next few days off from work," he said after a few heart pounding seconds. "I want to spend as much time with you as I can during that time, but I also have a project to do. A promise to fulfill. Would you mind clearing your schedule, my dear?"

Okay, now his behavior was taking an even wider left turn. Wow. Not going to work? Despite the ever-growing and changing fashion world? Keeping on top was brutal, and he wanted to fall behind? And he wanted her to play hooky with him? What about their son? Was he so intent on giving him a sibling he'd ignore the angsty teen for a few days to make one? Oh there were so many red flags in his behavior, but not one of them was something she didn't want in the past.

"Well…" She coyly looked to the side, thinking of her plans. Most could be rearranged, no problem, but saying yes automatically wouldn't be any fun.

Besides, she promised Duusu a trip to their favorite chocolate shop. Bird had quite the sweet tooth. "I think I can squeeze you in. But you absolutely have to talk to Adrien first. And get that project done. You do that first, and I'll take care of the rest."

For some reason he hesitated, some sadness flashing across his face, before he nodded and rested his head on their hands. "You take on too much Emilie."

She winked playfully at him. "What part-time superhero wouldn't?"

"It doesn't matter what you wish, do or say now mister! You broke your son's heart! And that's going to carry on whether you like it or not!"

The kwami's words remained with him, along with the guilt. Gabriel clutched his lapel, trying to gain some of the strength he needed to do what was necessary. He didn't have a lot of time, so he had to make every second count. Nothing started yet, so there may be a way for his young and forgiving son to begin healing before things turned south.

He took a breath before knocking on his son's door. "Adrien? May I come in?"

No response, and he didn't want to cross yet another line, so he let out a long breath. "Then I will speak from here. And pray you will listen to me.

"I know you're angry, and in all honesty, you have every right to be. You may not understand why, or know what happened, but I know… and I accept your disapproval. I've been a poor excuse of a father of late, focused more on a goal than on what was important, but I have started on a path I cannot leave, and could not for a long time. I believed, and still believe, that the end result will make you happier than anything possibly could. So I am willing to pay any price. Any price but you."

Gabriel stopped momentarily and swallowed. His plan better work, or all of this was for naught.

"Always remember… I love you very much and would throw the entire world away to see you smile once again. Nothing… that I've done or will do… no event… none of this is your fault. You can blame me until my dying day, but never blame yourself. I accept the consequences of my actions, even your wrath.

"Just don't let your anger control your future. Stay by your mother's side, make friends, laugh, find love, be kind and forgive those around you. Be you, Adrien. Don't be swallowed up in anger and regret. My choices are my own. Make the best choices for you and your life.

"I love you son. Never forget that."

His heart clenched as he finished. It was everything that needed saying, and hopefully it would keep Adrien on the right path, but it only brought the future into clearer view. The image of Adrien's back to him, crouched over his 'friend's' body, would likely never leave his mind. And if the pattern kept up, that was likely the last time he'd see his son clearly for a long time.

Gabriel let out a long breath, trying to ease the pain in his chest as he left his son's door. If he could see through it, he would have seen an emotionally confused teenager staring at it. It may have brought them back together, changed the world in a different way, but the man was determined to continue down his path, and couldn't spare another second.

A/N: Care to guess what happened? B3 I had a lot of fun writing today and Emilie was fun to create from near scratch. We know so little about her, but if Adrien's anything like her, I think she'd be like this. yes that's her name, I looked it up on the wiki.

Writing Gabriel's talk with Adrien's door actually made me tear up. He's got a lot of explaining to do, but at the same time, he can't. So much fun!

If I talk more now, I'll be leaking spoilers. I'm working on the 7th chapter right now. Well, until the next one!