Disclaimer: You know the drill. I only own the plot.

I am Hawkmoth.

"WHAT?!"

Father and son stared at each other.

"I am Hawkmoth, son…and I've been trying to get Ladybug and Chat Noir's miraculouses for years now. I was able to get my hands on this particular book, and it says that with their miraculouses comes a great power to grant any kind of wishes. I wanted to use it to find your mother… Or to resurrect her with their powers is she's truly dead. I know it sounds crazy, but I was too blinded by my grief and denial to truly see what I've been doing. And now I know that all I've been doing is pushing my only son away from me… And instead of cherishing my wife's memory, I'm just hanging on a chance that is not a hundred percent sure of working… I…I just want my wife and your mother back." And at this, the great and mighty Gabriel Agreste truly broke down and cried shamelessly in front of his son.

His father… the number one fashion designer in all of France… is his number one enemy? The man who tried many times to kill him and his Lady?

But looking at his broken father, crying, vulnerable, resigned and defeated, he can't feel any anger towards him. He's still my father, after all. He was doing it for Maman. A bit twisted, for sure, but that's only because he loved her so much. And I made a promise to my Maman… that I will take care of him no matter what. "You…you don't want to kill Ladybug and Chat Noir anymore?"

"No, not kill! Goodness, Adrien, I cannot kill anybody! I only want them defeated! That's why my orders to the akumatized are only to get their miraculouses so that I can use them to find your mother. I don't care who they are, I have no personal grudges against them. I just want to find my Emilie, and for us to be family again."

At this, Adrien made a snap decision. "Plagg, claws out!"

A blinding green light covered his son, and Gabriel Agreste found himself speechless for the second time in his life. Standing in the place of his son is none other than the other half of the Paris's superheroes. The one that he's been after since forever. Chat Noir. His son is CHAT NOIR.

"A-Adrien?"

"Y-yes, father?"

Gabriel just stared at his son unblinkingly.

Adrien waited for his father to say something. Anything. After a moment's silence, he started to panic. Oh no, what if I miscalculated? What if he reacts badly or tries to get my ring or-

His mind was not able to finish his sentence when he felt his father's strong arms hugging him gently but firmly.

"I-I can't believe it… I-I've been sending monsters after monsters after my own son?!"

"Father-"

"No! Your mother is now gone," (Adrien noticed that his father said this without his usual flinch) "and I've been unintentionally hunting down my one and only son!" His father started tearing up again. "You must hate me now! Can you ever forgive me?"

Adrien's eyes widened. Truly, he is shocked to find the truth about his father, but looking him now, remorseful and so very different from the Gabriel Agreste he grew up with, he knows in his heart that he cannot hate his father in any way. He remembered Marinette's voice. Give your father a chance to explain, Adrien. Your father must have a good reason for what happened.

"Father…Dad. There is nothing to forgive. You're doing it for maman, and you didn't know it was me. You're my father, my only dad, and I could never hate you. Maman's already gone, and I couldn't turn away from my remaining parent. And I've promised her to take care of you no matter what. I…I love you."

At this, both the Agreste men have now tears endlessly streaming down their faces, but neither of them cared. They looked at each other as if seeing one another for the first time. Adrien muttered a whispered claws out! before giving his father a bone crushing hug which the elder Agreste returned it with his own as fiercely. And that is how Nathalie found them in the dining room, both breakfast untouched. Nathalie had to pinch herself to check if she isn't dreaming, for it isn't everyday that you see the Gabriel Agreste crying his eyes out and hugging his only son to death.

She cleared her throat to announce her presence to the two Agreste men. "Uh… Sir? S-sorry to interrupt, but I need to tell you that you have an appointment in 10 minutes with Monsieur- "

Gabriel, still looking at his son, called out to Nathalie. "Cancel it."

"Of course, I-what?!"

"Cancel my appointments and clear my schedule for today, Nathalie. Also Adrien's. Clear his photoshoot and other appointments for today. My son and I have a lot of catching-up to do."

Adrien couldn't help the beaming smile on his face when he heard those words. His father! Making time for him! And he also cleared his own calendar for today!

"O-of course, sir." Nathalie couldn't also help but smile to the father and son duo. Finally, love is coming back between the two Agreste men. She couldn't help but notice that Adrien's smile could light up the whole room upon hearing what his father just said. Suddenly, she remembered something. "Adrien, Mademoiselle Marinette Dupain-Cheng asked me last night to give this to you. She was in a great hurry, she just uttered a quick – and I quote - 'please give this Adrien as a thank-you gift for the invite tonight, thank you" and I was not able to inquire anymore of her. She handed the small parcel to Adrien, then went to the door to give them privacy and to cancel all the aforementioned calendar of the two men.

Adrien opened the parcel, and his eyes widened at the sight. It was a friendship bracelet, woven with black, green and red fine leather, with a bell, black cat and ladybug charms. He doesn't know how, but she made it possible for a charm bracelet to become manly. A small Marinette lettering can be seen woven by the edge of the trimming. That's the confirmation that he only needed to be sure that she made this for him. It looks so expertly made that it can be mistaken as store-bought if not for her name on it. He blushed, thinking how considerate of Marinette to make this for him; it looked very difficult to make but she pulled it off splendidly.

Gabriel noticed the blush on his son's face. "Marinette Dupain-Cheng… Her name rings a bell. Someone I should know, son?" He smirked at his son, and Adrien blushed a little bit harder.

"Uh, ah, erm… She's a classmate, dad!" Adrien said, still blushing.

He called me Dad, Gabriel thought, chest warm and fuzzy.

"Y-yeah, and uh, you might be familiar with her, she won your contest with her bowler hat last time."

"Oh, that's her, isn't she? Well, I guess I shall be seeing her more often then."

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"She has potential, her designs are exquisite, and she is meticulous in her creations. I take it that she made that gift by herself?" At Adrien's nod, he continued. "I am thinking of her being my apprentice." He smirked. "Truly worthy of the Agreste name." he waited for Adrien's reaction, then chuckled when his son become even more flustered.

"Dad! I-I, ah,-oh no!"

"What is it, son?"

"She…" Adrien sighed deeply. "We had a fight last night. Well, that's not wholly true. I-I… I yelled at her last night at the ball." Adrien admitted meekly.

This surprised Gabriel. His son is usually polite and subdued especially when it comes to women. "Whatever for?"

"I… I was feeling angry and betrayed when Eloise announced your engagement, so I ran out from the ball room into the hallway… She followed me and tried to comfort me… I was angry at you, I thought that when you asked me to be on my best behaviour that night, you were referring to your engagement with Eloise… She defended you, saying that there must have been a reason for that announcement, but I just yelled at her and told her that she is in no place to tell me what to do or what to feel because she will never be in my situation…But she still gave me a gift even after I yelled at her for no reason at all. It's not even her fault that I…jumped to conclusions and directed my anger at her." At this, Adrien hung his head. "I'm the worst friend ever." And I now have zero chance with her because of it.

Gabriel was shocked. A mere girl, giving Gabriel Agreste the benefit of the doubt despite his coldblooded and heartless reputation, the old man with the cold and icy glare enough to freeze the whole of Paris? She defended him from his son? This girl is quite something… She reminded him of… Emilie. Giving people second chances and the benefit of the doubt. And she still cared enough to give a gift for his son even though he yelled at her. He took the bracelet gently, noting the careful weaving and felt awed at the details and precision of her creation. She would be a great addition for the company, but also especially for his son.

"I would like to meet Miss Dupain-Cheng, son."

"What-dad?"

"I'm serious. She has great eye for details and is very thorough in each thread and corners. She would be good for our company." He said neutrally, gauging his son's reaction with his next statement. "And for you, it seems like it."

Adrien blushed, again. "W-what? What do you mean? I don't k-know what you're talking about!"

Gabriel just chuckled. He remembered when he was doing that in front of Emilie, stuttering and stammering and blushing painfully. "You can apologise and ask for her forgiveness at school on Monday, son. But today is our father-son bonding time."

Adrien smiled at his father. I love Ladybug! But…I also like Marinette. Can she ever forgive me for last night? He sighed deeply. Father's right. I can start apologising to her on Monday. If she still wants to be friends, I am truly grateful for her second chance. Then we can see what goes from there. Ladybug doesn't return my affections, anyway. "Of course, dad. Have you heard of Ultra Mecha Strike III?" He asked with a grin.