Here's my next chapter, takes place during Catalyst. What would happen if Gabriel's identity was revealed in the battle. There are some spoilers, if you haven't seen it yet and you want it to be a surprise, please hold off. If you have already or you don't care about a slight spoiler read on!

Nutellalover: Thank you for being the first to review. I'm glad you like my stories!

Disclaimer, I don't own Miraculous Ladybug, all rights belong to Thomas and his team.

Adrien could feel eyes on him where ever he went. It hadn't been unusual before his world had crumbled apart, but now, he could sense that it was now out of hate rather than admiration. After Hawkmoth's grand scheme of turning everyone in the city into a villain at once was defeated, it was revealed that the mastermind had been none other than Gabriel Agreste. The blond pulled up his hood and tried to hide his face in it. He could vividly remember the look on the man's face when his transformation had run out.

Now the world knew who the infamous villain was.

Unfortunately, the one villain they had missed, a woman in a red and blue costume, swooped in and carried the man off before he could be captured. Ladybug, Chat Noir, and the other heroes had no choice but to go home. Paris was saved even if the villain hadn't been caught. At least they knew who he was now. It was a relief for Paris, but absolute hell for Adrien Agreste.

A lot of people were blaming him for his dad's choices. There were a lot of court cases being held, and like a hero Natalie had swooped in to be his legal guardian. She fought to make sure he didn't end up in foster care. Adrien was a minor so he couldn't even speak for himself, he was glad that Natalie was there for him. But there were still many problems the woman couldn't solve. The blond was very aware of how people now saw him.

It was almost as if they saw him as the spawn of Satan.

Though, that wouldn't be a far off evaluation for someone on the outside. The news was full of people demanding that the house be taken as collateral, that the Agreste fortune be put to compensating the victims of Hawkmoth's attack. Natalie readily argued with the media that the money created by the fashion line had nothing to do with Gabriel Agreste's hobby. There was also a lot of speculation about why his father had been terrorizing Paris. Some believed that he was a power hungry maniac bent on taking over the world, others believed he was hoping to use Ladybug and Chat Noir's powers for a less sinister reason.

Whatever his reasoning, there was one thing everyone agreed on.

Adrien Agreste was an accomplice.

The teen couldn't even leave his house as a civilian, there were too many reporters camping outside the front gate. It was because of this, among other reasons, that Natalie refused to let him go to school. At first Adrien had agreed, he needed some time to process his father's actions. He didn't know why his father had become Hawkmoth, he didn't know why he was now essentially an orphan. After a while, Adrien began to miss his normal life, to miss seeing his friends or speeding through the teacher's lectures because he already knew more than his classmates about each topic.

He even missed his father being around to ignore him.

That was how Adrien used his powers to escape his house and brave through the rain to get to school. No one noticed as Chat Noir leapt out of the bathroom window and across a few city blocks before he transformed in an alleyway. Plagg was a little hesitant, a little worried, but mostly, he was mad about the rain. Adrien didn't protest as the kwamii burrowed his way into the collar of his hood to soak up the teen's warmth. Luckily, pulling the hood up lessened the eyes scowling at him as he walked past.

Would they be looking at him like this if they knew he was Chat Noir?

Adrien new he couldn't reveal his identity, he wouldn't, but he wondered if the people of Paris would give him the benefit of the doubt if he did. The rain became heavier as he grew closer and closer to the school. He wondered if his friends would even want him there. Did they blame him too? Would the principle kick him out?

"Hey, Agreste!" A voice bit out.

Against his better judgement, Adrien turned around. There was a crowd, a fairly large one at that. A chill went down his spine as they glared at him. Plagg gave a little growl from his spot in Adrien's hood, the kwamii's protective instincts making themselves known. The group felt like a wave of negative energy was rolling upon him. Some of the people had rocks in their hands, and they looked ready to use them.

"Look," Adrien held his hands up and took a few steps back. The hairs on the back of his neck rose. Maybe going around as Adrien wasn't the best idea. "I don't want any trouble."

"What about the countless people who your father caused trouble for?" Someone in the back hollered. A chorus of agreement followed immediately.

A guy in the front of the group smirked evilly. "Maybe if we rough you up, daddy will come and save you. Then he can get what's coming to him."

"I haven't talked to my dad in weeks." Adrien protested and took another step back. "I had no idea he was Hawkmoth."

No one believed him, that sentiment was confirmed when a rock came flying at him. The teen stumbled back and cried out when it hit his face. Blood flooded down his cheek where it had hit him, his delicate, fair skin had been cut. He heard someone shout 'Get him' before he turned on his heel and took off running. Why did he even try this?

The mob chased after him like bees swarming an intruder.

"You're going to pay, Adrien Agreste!"

Plagg gripped tightly onto the teen's shirt as he was jostled back and forth by the boy's running. Luckily for Adrien, his training as Chat Noir gave him a slight lead. Well, enough that he could duck into a building to escape them. He'd have to find somewhere safe to transform and return home. He would not be going to school today. This mission was a complete failure. Adrien couldn't put them in danger for being in his general vicinity.

He could try the park, but that might lead more people to come after him. Why were there so many people out in the rain? Adrien chose to turn the next corner and immediately dove into a building. The teen ducked and hoped that the group chasing him didn't see him as they rushed past. Thankfully they didn't.

Adrien huffed and tried to catch his breath. His chest felt like it was on fire and his legs felt like jelly. The teen didn't look at where he had decided to hide in, but where ever he was, it smelled delicious. It smelled like...like the Dupain-Chang bakery. Compared to the danger he had been in a moment ago, it was Heaven on Earth.

Unless they were against him too.

"Adrien?" Mrs. Chang gasped. Sher rushed at him, but not to attack. The woman got on her knees and inspected his face. Her eyes lit with tears at the sight of a cut on his cheek. "You're hurt and soaked. What have they done to you? Come up stairs. Tom, we're closing early."

The burly man gave a nod and removed his apron.

"Please, don't do that for me." The teen protested as she brought him to his feet. "I'll leave as soon as its clear."

"Absolutely not." Mr. Dupain told the teen as he flipped the sign and locked the door. "You're going upstairs to warm up. I'll come up to make you something to eat after I finish down here."

Mrs. Chang guided the teen up the stairs and to their home. She rubbed his arms, trying to warm him up. He wouldn't lie, it was nice to have a mother doting over him. Their home was warm and comfortable, the sweet smell of cookies seemed to be a staple of the Dupain-Chang home. Marinette even seemed to come to school with the aroma seeped into her skin. It smelled great.

He absolutely loved it.

"Here, sit on the couch, I'll get some fresh clothing for you to change into." She guided him onto the couch before rushing off to another room.

Part of him wanted to leave. He didn't want to cause problems for Marinette or her family. Adrien didn't want to be a problem for his friend. Though, he did love the feeling of warmth and love coming from the Dupain-Chang home. It was so comfortable he could almost fall asleep. His eyes were even beginning to feel heavy.

Adrien would recline on the couch if it weren't for the fact he was still soaking wet.

"I've got some of Tom's clothing." Mrs. Chang snapped him out of his daze. She held out a pile of neatly folded clothing out for him. "They might be a little big, but at least they're dry. The bathroom is over there. Change and I'll take care of that cut."

Adrien did as he was instructed, he was practically swimming in Mr. Dupain's clothing. She had picked a simple t-shirt and a pair of drawstring sweats. It was really comfortable. Plagg frowned and shook the water from his fur. His green eyes were gleaming with anger. They became fiery when they looked at Adrien. When he saw the cut on the boy's cheek.

"Those...those. I ought ta find them and ring their cowardly little necks. I..."

Adrien pat the kwamii on the head. "It'll be fine, Plagg. I'm okay."

"Yeah, but you almost weren't." Plagg's eyes became sad. "It's just not fair."

Plagg tucked himself into the pocket of the sweat pants with a sigh. He must have felt awful for not being able to help. Before leaving the bathroom Adrien looked at himself in the mirror. He looked terrible, his blond hair was matted down by water, his eyes had dark circles under them, and the gash on his cheek was still bleeding slowly. It needed to be taken care of.

With a bracing sigh he left the bathroom.

"Come sit here, Adrien." Mrs. Chang told him and she gave the couch a pat. Sitting next to her was a box of medical supplies. "I have this in the kitchen. Marinette and Tom are accidents waiting to happen."

Adrien slowly sat down on the couch, trying his best not to let the shirt sleeve slip off of his shoulder. "Thank you, Mrs. Chang, for helping me."

"It's no problem at all, Adrien." She smiled, her grin grew wider when she realized how he looked in her husband's clothing. Mrs. Chang giggled before she began to clean the cut on his face. "I'm sorry, it's just you look like a little kid in Tom's clothing. You look so cute."

Adrien blushed, the embarrassed smile that came to his face made the cut sting a little. She laughed even more when she saw the red that came to his face. She said something about Marinette between fits of laughter and continued to clean the cut. A frown came to her face when a particular dab of the peroxide made him flinch.

"I'm sorry that people are so full of hate and anger, Adrien." Her voice sounded watery as she spoke. "No one should do this, especially not to an innocent child."

"Mama." Marinette's voice called as the door swung open. "Why is the bakery closed? Is something w.w...wrong?"

The girl's face turned an impossible shade of red at the sight of Adrien. She was acting strange, the way she always did when around him. It was nice to know some things never changed. Marinette stuttered a bit more as she awkwardly inched her way into the house. Adrien gave her a shy wave, a smile warmed his face.

"Hi sweetie," Mrs. Chang greeted, "Can you finish up here for me? I'm going to put Adrien's clothes in the drier."

Marinette looked confused for a moment. It would be strange to come home and find your friend in your house. When she finally spotted the gash on his cheek, her eyes went wide in shock. She was at his side in an instant. Her thumb gently prodded at the cut as she did so. He could feel a bruise was forming under his eye, but it wasn't as bad as the initial pain of the hit.

"What happened?" Marinette demanded as she put an antibiotic on his cheek. She sounded as mad as Plagg. "Who did this?"

Adrien did his best not to flinch as she prodded the cut with her finger. "Just a misunderstanding."

"A misunderstanding does not involve an injury like this." She told him. Her voice held more confidence than she had ever had when talking to him. "Try again, Adrien."

Adrien frowned as she put a band-aid on his face. "Some people, they think I worked with my dad. They hate me."

"'Work with your dad'?" Marinette muttered with a baffled expression on her face. "You don't have an evil bone in your body, Adrien Agreste."

The girl blushed when she realized what she had said. Adrien blushed too and ran a hand through his hair. It was nice to see she thought so highly about him, even after finding out his dad was Hawkmoth. Marinette stuttered a little, trying to rephrase what she had said, but he got the point. She didn't hate him.

"What are you doing home anyway?" He asked her. It was barely noon, school should still be in session.

"Oh, the power went out so they sent us home." Marinette explained before she countered. "What were you doing on the streets?"

He sighed and leaned back on the arm rest, the couch was really comfortable. It almost seemed to be sucking him in. Adrien felt his eyes become heavy again. Who knew how tired stress could make him? The teen just wanted to go to sleep and everything to go back to normal.

"Adrien?"

He blearily looked at her, sleep creeping up on him. "I was trying to get to school, I just wanted to pretend things were normal. Even if it was just for a few hours."

"I'm sorry, Adrien." Marinette's eyes grew watery with tears, "You deserve better. I hate that people blame you."

"They are just looking for someone to punish." The blond blurted as he felt his muscles go limp, there was something about Marinette being near that made him feel completely at ease.

"Why does it have to be you?" She whimpered and clenched her fist. "You've done nothing wrong. You can't be punished for being his son."

"I don't know. Marinette." He told her as his eyes closed.

Adrien couldn't help it, being surrounded by the comforts of the snuggly Dupain-Chang home. The love and warmth and security he felt made it so easy for him to fall asleep. Marinette's soothing voice didn't hinder the process at all, just her being near made him feel loved. He didn't know why, but his body decided not to fight it. He could stay for a few hours.

...

Marinette fought back tears as she watched the boy she loved fall asleep. His face lost all of it's tension as a dreamland took him away. She brushed her fingers through his hair, her eyes were glued to the large white band-aid on his face. How could anyone ever hurt him? The teen simply couldn't understand it.

"I'm sorry that people let themselves become that consumed with anger." She told him as she put his feet on the couch. Of course he couldn't hear her, but she needed to say something. "Sleep well."

Marinette resisted the urge to kiss him, to run her fingers through his soft blond hair. She wanted so much to do so, but she might wake him. Instead she covered him with a blanket from the couch, tucking him in as if he were a small child. When she had arrived home, when she had seen her papa closing up the bakery, she could have never guessed Adrien was the reason. The girl wished her father would have warned her they had a guest.

And that the guest was Adrien Agreste.

Marinette, Alya, Nino, and yes, even Chloe were worried about him. Adrien hadn't showed up to school for a long time. There were no explanations or answers anytime they tried to contact him. At first, people would loiter around the school and wait for Adrien to show up. A week later they stopped coming around. Chloe kept the whole class informed about Adrien's situation.

There were a lot of people wanting to punish the model. It made Marinette sad and mad and all sorts of other things. Some of the kids at school were on Adrien's side, but others, they made veiled threats about what they'd do if Adrien chose to come to school. She'd hate to think about them being the first to 'greet' the poor boy. Though, would it be any worse than being chased by a mob of angry people.

"He's going to be alright, Marinette." Her mom looped an arm around her shoulder. "Adrien is a strong, smart boy."

She looked at Adrien's peaceful face. Just knowing what almost happened to him, thinking about what could have happened to him. It made her so mad. Marinette couldn't fathom anyone wanting to hurt her 'Buttercup'. What a ridiculous name she gave him when she had started an operation to score a date with the model.

Marinette gave her mom's arm a pat and leaned her head on her shoulder. "I know, Mama. I just wish he wasn't going through this by himself."

"He won't." Her dad assured her as he entered the house. He must have finished cleaning up the bakery. "He's going to have you, your friends, your mother and I. And my famous chicken noodle soup."

"Some cookies don't hurt either, Papa." Marinette gave a watery giggle. "Can I go down to the bakery and get some?"

Her mom kissed her cheek, "Go ahead, sweetie. We'll keep an eye on your boyfriend."

Marinette gave a bird-like squawk before running out and down to the bakery. Her face burned hotly, she hoped Adrien hadn't heard her mother refer to him as her boyfriend. How embarrassing? The teen could hardly talk to him, let alone enough to ask him on a date. Marinette had once, but she allowed him to think it was a friendship thing. She was absolutely hopeless when it came to him.

When they were down at the bakery, Tikki happily floated out of her clutch purse and searched for her chosen treat of the day. The kwamii cried in triumph as she found what she wanted and munched on it contently. Marinette also chose to grab some cookies. She hardly paied attention as she stacked a plate full of them.

"Marinette? Are you alright?" the little red creature asked as she finished off her treat. "You look sad."

The girl felt her lip quiver as she looked at her kwamii. "I am Tikki. How could anyone want to hurt Adrien?"

"Well he is Hawkmoth's son." the kwamii reasoned.

"So. He's innocent."

"We know that Adrien is good, but they don't." Tikki told her, there was a little something to the way she spoke, as if there was something she weren't saying.

Marinette decided not to press her on it.

"I should call Alya and Nino." Marinette told her friend as she carried a full plate of cookies. "I'm sure they'll want to see Adrien, and he'll be happy to see them."

Tikki praised her for her idea before diving back into the girl's purse. It would be a good idea. Adrien could use the friends right now. The blonde's absence was driving Nino crazy. He was on edge and refused to let anyone sit in Adrien's usual spot, even Alya. This was not the Nino they knew, but he was missing his best friend.

Marinette could smell her papa's home made soup wafting through the air. It smelled amazing. How often did Adrien get real home cooked meals? One where his parent's actually cooked rather than a payed chief. Did they sit down at a table and enjoy each other's company. Maybe before Emilie Agreste disappeared, and now Gabriel Agreste was on the run. Adrien's family had been torn apart.

"Oh good, you're back." Her mom greeted as came back into the house. "How about you and Adrien play video games and eat cookies while your father and I finish the soup?"

Adrien must have just woken up before she came back into the house. His blond hair was a bit askew and his green eyes were squinted as if he were fighting to stay awake. The look on her mom's face told her something happened, maybe he had a bad dream or something. Marinette didn't say anything as she brought the cookies over to her friend. He grinned tiredly and thanked her for the cookies.

"Is there any game you want to play?" She asked.

At first Adrien didn't answer, he took a bite out of the first cookie he grabbed and it seemed to snap him awake. "I love these cookies. And I'm cool with whatever game you choose, Marinette. You have great taste."

Marinette blushed at the complement before grabbing one of her favorite games to play. It had been awhile since she and Adrien had played video games together. She enjoyed it. He was at the same level as her practically. Way better than her dad at playing video games.

They were having fun, playfully bumping shoulders, trying to get a one up on each other. All of the sadness seemed to lift off of Adrien, even if it was just for a moment. Marinette felt her heart warm at the sight of him. He was too pure and sweet to be suffering so much. The girl hoped that he'd stay that way, even after all he'd been through since his father's reveal.

Since his mother's disappearance.

"Hey, Adrien. After lunch, how about I invite Nino and Alya over?" She suggested as the delicious aroma of the chicken soup became even stronger. "I know they'd like to see you."

Adrien frowned and eyed the controller in his hand. "I really don't want to impose on your family anymore than I already have."

"My parents adore you." She told him. "They wouldn't be fussing over you this much if they didn't. Just stay until night, when Gorilla and Natalie can safely pick you up."

"You really don't want me to go." The blond gave a megawatt smile. "Perhaps you like having me around?"

"Who wouldn't?" she blurted out before she could stop herself. Marinette blushed when she realized what she said. At first Adrien had that cute baffled expression on his face before he laughed.

"Kids, the soup is ready." Marinette's papa called from the kitchen.

Adrien jumped up so fast that the over sized shirt he was wearing slid down his shoulder. He looked so small in her father's clothing. She almost forgot that Adrien was rather thin. Compared to her father, Adrien was absolutely tiny. The boy blushed and quickly adjusted the baggy clothing around himself. She tried to hide her smile as she followed him to the kitchen table.

"It's nice and warm." Marinette heard her mother tell Adrien as she set a bowl of steaming soup in front of him. "Eat up, honey."

The boy didn't hesitate, he happily began slurping at the soup. Marinette didn't doubt that he had been hungry. Running from a mob of angry people tended to burn a lot of calories. That, and her Papa made the best chicken noodle soup. Marinette's mom had her sit next to Adrien. The girl tried her best to act like a normal person being so close to him.

With the cute look of contentment that came to his face as he ate, she was having a hard time doing so.

…..

Mr. and Mrs. Dupain-Chang were the best cooks in all of Paris. That was what Adrien decided as their home made chicken soup practically melted his frozen muscles. For once, he felt he could understand why Plagg was so obsessed with food he liked. Adrien had at least gone through three bowls and two croissants before he was full. Or at least full enough to resist the beckoning call of the soup's aroma.

"That was so good." he gushed, still longing for another taste of the soup. "Thank you."

Tom Dupain blushed at the complement. "Thank you, son. I'm glad you enjoyed it. You know, I've taught Marinette how to cook like this."

"Papa..." Marinette complained as her face became as red as a tomato. Mr. Dupain gave him a playful wink before collecting the dishes. The blond offered to help the man clean dishes. Tom had no objections.

Marinette and her mom were clearing off the table. Everything at the Dupain-Chang felt comfortable, content, and natural. A frantic knock at the door turned the whole home silent. Marinette was the first to go to it. As soon as it was swung open, there was only shouting and crying and unintelligible ramblings. Adrien leaned back to see what was happening. It was Alya and Nino, both looked as if the world was coming to an end, sobbing as they tried to explain something to Marinette.

"Slow down." The dark haired girl soothed. "What's going on?"

"It's Adrien..." Nino choked out and pressed his tear soaked face in his hand. He wasn't holding himself together at all. Adrien was confused. What had he done to make Nino and Alya this upset?

Marinette spoke softly, also confused by their friends, pointing her finger in his direction. "He's..."

"I'm so sorry, Mari." Alya sobbed and wrapped her arms around the other girl. "It...it's not looking good."

"And what would that be?" Adrien asked as he walked up on the trio.

Both Alya and Nino looked like they had seen a ghost. The blond gave a nervous wave. It took only a moment before the two rushed at him. Adrien was crushed between them in an instant, struggling to breathe as the life was squished out of him. Alya had even given him a kiss on the cheek. The one that didn't have a band-aid.

"Thank God you're alright." Nino sighed shakily. "We saw the fire and we thought..."

Adrien felt an electric shock go down his spine, "Fire?"

"You mean you didn't know?" Alya asked as she whipped a tear from her cheek. She then got a good look at him. "Boy, what are you wearing? What happened to your face?"

He gave them the same explanation he had Marinette. Both looked as indignant as Marinette when she had heard about what had happened. But that didn't matter at the moment. What was the fire they had been talking about? Alya turned on the television in spite of Nino's protest. They were covering a fire. A building had been set ablaze, arson had been confirmed. The arsonist was proudly taking credit for the destruction, even as he was taken into custody.

"All of the employees in the building have been evacuated." The reporter noted glumly, her eyes looked a bit watery. She took a moment to wipe the tears away. "No one has been able to access the room of Adrien Agreste. That is the last place his primary caregiver reported him to be. The Molotov's had been thrown into his bedroom window. That is where the fire originated...Oh, god, what have we become? He's just a boy."

The camera cut away from the reporter and to the inferno that had once been the Agreste manor. Adrien felt his whole body become numb as he slumped onto the couch. Someone had tried to kill him, they almost killed everyone in his home. All of those memories, photos, silly trinkets from his childhood that had been neatly stowed away. Gone.

"Adrien?" Marinette's hand gripped his shoulder tightly.

As much as he wanted to look away, he couldn't. That was the last tie to his family. The only place he had known as his home. He vaguely heard Marinette's parents come in to see what the noise was about. Even surrounded by his friends, he couldn't feel the love and warmth he had felt just minutes ago. He only felt, empty.

"Bro...?"

"I...I need to go." Adrien could hear the lifelessness in his own voice. "I have to go home."

"You're not going anywhere." Marinette told him firmly. "Not after seeing this. You shouldn't be alone."

He tried to pull away but she held him tighter. Who knew a small teen girl could be so strong? The blond finally managed to shake her hands off and try to walk to the door, but she grabbed him again. Marinette was determined to keep him in place. The more he tried to get away, the tighter her grip got.

"Marinette, let me..." She pounced on him, her arms looping tightly around his shoulders and her face pressing into his neck.

"You don't need to be alone." Marinette cried as she held on for dear life. "I promise, I'll never let you be alone again."

Adrien felt as if the air had been knocked from his lungs. Did Marinette really care that much about him? The blond felt his eyes become watery as he wrapped his arms around her. She smelled of cinnamon and flower and every sweet thing he could think of. It was the kind of smell that could almost chase all the bad things away.

Almost being the key word.

"Hawkmoth is here!" The reporter screamed.

Adrien felt his stomach turn when he heard his father's pained voice shout over the screaming woman. "Where is my son? What have you done?"

Gabriel Agreste, dressed in his villain persona was attacking citizens with a new akuma at his side. He was throwing the spectators about, clearly inconsolably angry. Adrien had never seen his father so mad. People were getting hurt. The man sent his akuma to the smoldering building. When a small explosion blew out the windows in the bed room, Adrien saw his father's anger go up three notches.

"You will all suffer, suffer like you've made him. I'll never forgive you for taking him from me!" The man bellowed and rebegan his attack with a vigor.

"I need to stop him." Adrien pulled himself from Marinette's desperate grasp.

The boy didn't listen to the pleas for him to stop as he ran out of the Dupain-Chang home. Adrien had to stop his father, he had to protect those people. It was still raining out. Rain and oversized clothing didn't mingle well, but Adrien tried not to let it slow him down too much. Luckily, it seemed as if the rain had finally chased the citizens on the street back into their homes. Plagg flew up, following right next to Adrien.

"Hey, kid," Plagg hissed. "Don't you think we should suite up?"

Adrien shook his head, his damp blond hair stuck stubbornly to his face, "He thinks I'm dead or something, Plagg. Maybe seeing that I'm alright will calm him down."

"Are you sure about this?" the kwami asked worriedly. When he saw Adrien was committed he sighed, "Ooookay, I'll follow your lead, but if things get scary, I want you to promise me we'll get out of there and transform."

"Aren't you the one who doesn't want to transform?" Adrien smirked at the kwami's concern.

Plagg gave a huff before diving back into the pockets of the sweat pants, the task a little less pleasant due to the rain. Adrien was glad he didn't live too far from Marinette's house. He rounded the corner and could see the smoke coming from the direction of his house. A painful reminder of what he's lost. The run seemed to take forever, but Adrien finally managed to reach the frightened crowd surrounding his house.

"ADRIEN!" His dad's voice wailed. "He was my son! My world! All I had left of her!"

Adrien weaved through the crowd, desperately trying to make it to the front of the group. He had to calm his father down before he did something irreversible. The blond was very aware of Mr. Dupain's clothing slipping from his frame and did his best to prevent it as he worked against the current of people. Maybe he should have at least changed back into his own clothing before rushing out of the house.

"Father!" Adrien shouted as he broke through the front of the crowd. "Father, you need to calm down."

At first Gabriel hadn't heard him, he was gripping tightly onto the front of a man's shirt. It was the man who had set the house on fire in the first place. The man wasn't as confident as he had been when admitting to the arson earlier. The blond couldn't blame him for being frozen in fear. After facing countless foes as Chat Noir, Adrien thought nothing could scare him. His bravery as the hero was his most well known qualities. But, seeing his dad this angry was terrifying, he couldn't seem to order his body to move.

"He was only fourteen." His dad sobbed as he shook the man. "Fourteen and innocent!"

Adrien forced himself to take a step forward, "Father..."

The fashion designer's head shot in his direction like a hawk honing in on something. When his father's grey eyes landed on him, Adrien hardly had a moment to process his father practically teleporting to him. He felt the air was crushed from his lungs as his father's arms wrapped tightly around him. His father had never held him so tightly before. Gabriel shook and cried as his hand cupped the back of the boy's head.

His father's legs gave out and the both of them were kneeling on the wet ground.

"Adrien, I thought that I..." Gabriel's voice cut short. "I thought that you...Oh, Adrien."

Adrien didn't fight as his father practically cocooned him in his arms. The world around them faded at the sound of his father's heart beat. It was erratic and every so often overpowered by Gabriel's shuddering breath. The teen had never seen his father so emotional before. After a long moment, his father pulled away and wiped tears from his eyes, he kept his hand on the teen's shoulder.

"I was so afraid, I was walking by the house, to check on you." His father explained before giving a loud sniff. "I saw the fire, that God awful fire and feared the worst, especially when you didn't come out and...what happened to your cheek?"

The Band-Aid had fallen off, his father's clothing had probably ripped it free, revealing the nasty cut along his face. Adrien winced as his dad ran a thumb over the gash. Growing up, Adrien had never received any injuries, his parent's had made sure to that. Seeing the bloody, bruised, torn skin must have been startling for the man.

"I'm fine, father." He assured. "But you need to stop hurting people. Look around, they're terrified."

"I'm terrified, Adrien." Gabriel grimaced before looking away from the teen. "I could have lost you today. That is why, you are coming with me."

Adrien felt his heart leap to his throat as his father grabbed his wrist. A swarm of butterflies formed around them and lifted them from the ground. He didn't really have time to question the logistics of it all as Ladybug swooped in and snatched him out of his father's grasp. She quickly set him on the ground as his father had landed once more. The blood chilling look of fury returned.

"Give me my son." He snarled at the heroin. Adrien felt his blood go cold at his father's feral tone. "He's not safe here, not with these...heathens. They tried to kill him."

"They're scared, Gabriel." Ladybug soothed, her arm was still looped protectively around Adrien. Not that the boy minded. "Just like you had been a minute ago. You have the power to fix all of this, make things right. No one has been permanently harmed by your actions. Please, give me your miraculous, before something happens that my Lucky Charm can't fix."

The designer clentched his fist as he glared at the hero. "So they can take away my son? So that you can deny me my wish?"

"What is your wish?" The girl asked, her fist knotting into the oversized shirt that Adrien wore. "If you just ask, I might be able to help you, but not when you're like this."

Gabriel glared at Ladybug, glared at everyone surrounding him, it was clear he didn't want to surrender. With the power at his fingertips, he didn't have to surrender. The man's eyes softened a fraction as they landed on him. For the first time in a long time, Adrien could feel his father really looking at him. Not just evaluating him. It almost made the teen want to cry.

"Come with me, Adrien." His father reached his gloved hand out. There was a desperate look that began to cloud his eyes the longer Adrien took to return the gesture.

"Why don't you come home, dad?" The blond knew he sounded like a child, he knew he sounded pitiful, but he didn't have the strength to hold a mask up for his father. His cheeks felt warm and his eyes stung. "I've lost mom. I don't want to lose you too."

Gabriel's outstretched hand curled into a fist. His posture looked more relaxed than the boy had ever seen it. It was Adrien's desperate hope that his father took his words to heart. Maybe he had finally broke through the shell that the man stubbornly kept around his heart. Could this be the miracle that Adrien had been waiting for?

Ladybug frowned gently at him, "Hasn't there been enough pain and violence going around?"

"My wife had an accident, Ladybug." The man spoke mutely. "Ten years ago we had discovered a magical item, one that could summon a creature more powerful than any force there had been. Emilie found out it had the power to show us the future, we wanted to see our son's. What would be in store for such a perfect child? She saw pain, so we kept him close. We did that for many years, but how could a bird be happy locked in a cage when it was born to fly? We wanted to understand what would harm him, she tried to enhance its power, recreate one of the spells from the book. But...it ended in utter failure and resulted in a coma. I wanted the miraculous so that I could bring her back, so that I could protect my family."

Adrien felt himself fall to his knees. His mom was hurt, in a coma, because of him. His mother was trying to protect him and she ended up paying a price for it. Ladybug gasped and knelt with him, her warm arms wrapping lovingly around his shaking frame. She made a remark about him being cold. As luck would have it, her lucky charm summoned a blanket and an umbrella. He hardly protested as she wrapped him in the blanket and placed the umbrella in his hand.

"I'm so sorry I never told you, Adri..."

"It's my fault, isn't it?" Adrien gasped as he looked tearfully at his father. "If you two hadn't been trying to find out how to protect me, if I had just stayed quiet and in the house you wouldn't have had to do that."

Gabriel rushed forward and took him by his shoulders. "None of this is your fault Adrien, it was a self fulfilled prophecy. I see that now. We caused your pain, the pain we tried so desperately to protect you from."

Adrien looked up at his father, the man's eyes now seemed to be crystal clear, more so than they had in a long time. He watched as his father removed the broach and ended his transformation. It was just his dad now, abet in clothing he'd never thought he'd see his father wearing, but his dad all the same. A purple kwami floated at his side looking absolutely awe-struck. He faintly heard Plagg say 'Nooroo' before his father handed the broach to Ladybug.

"I...I renounce you, Nooroo. I'm sorry."

The kwami gave Adrien a grateful nod before returning to the broach. It seemed like the sun finally peaked out from the clouds and the rain had finally went away. As if it had been waiting for such a break through to happen. The fire that had consumed the Agreste mansion had finally been defeated by the firemen and the retreating rain. Everything was finally peaceful.

Until the leash less akumatized villain went on his own rampage, but without guidance from Hawkmoth, Ladybug made quick work of it. Adrien watched as she cured it with ease. She smiled at Adrien after sending the butterfly off.

"May I?" She asked. He handed her the towel and umbrella. "Miraculous Ladybug!"

The smell of smoke and heat of the fire faded away as Ladybug's magic rebuilt the Agreste mansion to its former glory, it was almost as if nothing had happened. She would never cease to surprise him. Adrien grinned thankfully at her, she was incredible. Gabriel also seemed to be awestruck by the girl's ability to put all the pieces back together.

"See, what's broken can always be put back toghether." Ladybug smiled. "And as for, Emilie, I'm going to talk to Master Fu. He may know how to save her. Thank you for returning the miraculous."

Adrien caught her as she turned to leave, he was very aware of her miraculous beeping in warning. "Wait, Ladybug. Thank you."

She smiled and caressed his cheek, "Anything to put a smile on your face. Uh...I mean...Oh, look at that, I'm about to change back. Gotta go!"

Ladybug took off so fast that she left the smell of cinnamon in her wake. His father pulled him in for a tight hug, Adrien felt as if the weight of the world had been lifted from their shoulders. If Master Fu could save his mother, his family would be whole once more. He was surprised his father had actually put his trust in her.

"I've caused enough pain." Gabriel muttered into his son's hair, "To others and most importantly you. I'm done putting your life at risk. If Ladybug can't help her, your mother would understand."

Adrien knew Ladybug could help. She could make miraculous things happen.

"I think after that heartfelt confession, after everything that's happened here." the reporter began in a watery voice, crying as the camera man filmed hr. "We can agree that, Gabriel Agreste can be forgiven."

A little sappy, but I like happy endings! Of course Gabriel still has a lot of redemption to go, but he's willing to ask for help now.