A/N: Hello all you wonderful people! I would like to thank you all for reading, and especially thank those of you who have been following me since January. When 2017 started, I made a goal for myself to write every day. I decided to join the fanfiction world and write about a show I had recently fallen in love with. As of this Chapter I have written over 200 pages in this story, plus the 100 pages from my pervious story (the Great Chatsby). I am so amazed to see that I have completed over 5 months of writing every single day. I do not think I could have don't so without all of your encouragement. You are all very kind and wonderful readers. I just hope that this story does for you all what it has done for me. The sleeping writer within has been awoken, and I am thrilled about this. I'm sure I will make it to 6 months writing continuously, but I have your love to thank for this. I feel I should do something special for all of you, but I don't know what. If you have any ideas pleas message them or comment them to me.

As always please let me know what you think. I love hearing your thoughts.

Thank you all again!

Traditional Twist

Chapter 36: The Family Jewels

Marinette did not expect to receive a phone call from Gabriel; especially not after seeing him as Ladybug. His voice, though stoic, had a crisp edge of anxiety to it. She rushed over to the home.

The Gorilla bodyguard escorted her into the entryway. Gabriel met her at the bottom of the stairs. "Thank you for coming, Mrs. Dupain-Cheng."

"Of course, Mr. Agreste." She turned her head to look around the room. "Where are you?" She called out to Adrien. She received no response.

"I will escort you to Adrien shortly," Gabriel said coolly. "I first would like you to do something for me. Please hold out your right hand."

Marinette did as she was instructed. The older fashion designer pulled out a tablet from behind him. He pressed it firmly against the young girl's hand. The screen illuminated, and a red light scanned around her hand. "Scanning in process," The tablet spoke. Red lights twirled around the girl's hand. She felt the tips of her fingers warm, before the red light vanished. "Scan complete. Welcome, Marinette Dupain-Cheng."

"Thank you," Mr. Agreste was short as he began typing and pressing at the screen. "You will now be allowed in and out of the mansion on your own. I added you to the security system."

Marinette was shocked. That was an immense amount of trust he had never shown to any of Adrien's other classmates. "Thank you," was all she could reply with.

"It doesn't make sense to lock out Paris' greatest heroine," Gabriel explained.

"How did you know?" Marinette gasped.

"I know my son. After my encounter with Simon Says, it wasn't too difficult to realize Adrien had other responsibilities. Being Chat Noir while keeping up with all his other work is an impressive load."

Marinette watched as his light blue eyes saddened. "You don't seem to happy about this," she noted.

"Let me take you to Adrien." He walked towards his office doors and pushed them open.

Marinette followed timidly. She realized, as unknowing as she was to the situation, that she was entering the work space to one of her greatest fashion icons. She was more engulfed with examining the details of the room as she entered. She noticed the Mannequins that lined the wall. She saw the runway in the center of the room, and the seats around the catwalk. A tuft of blonde hair caught her eye on the seat of the couch. She walked over to the edge and peered over to see an unconscious Adrien. "Adrien! Is he okay?" She hopped down beside the sleeping boy. Marinette lifted up her head and placed it in his lap.

"He should be fine. He's just overwhelmed."

"Is this because of the accident?"

Gabriel took time to think before answering. "In a way, yes."

Marinette scrunched her eyebrows with disapproval. "And you didn't call for help?"

"I called you, didn't I?" Gabriel sighed. "I'm not good at this. Adele was always better with children. I don't know how to protect him and keep everything normal." He closed his eyes before looking back up at her while folding his arms.

Marinette was stunned. She had never thought Gabriel Agreste would be so upset. The man she had placed on a pedestal for his incredible of fashion style and creations, was now shaking. She noticed his hands shook under his arm. His tight lips quivered, and his eyes glossed over through his glasses. "Mr. Agreste… I don't know what to do." the pigtailed girl began to run her fingers through her partner's hair. "If he is hurt, Adrien needs to go to the hospital."

"He's not hurt."

"But you said this was caused by the accident."

Gabriel cleared his throat. "In a way it is, but it's not a physical injury."

"I'm sorry, I'm not following."

"Adrien's psychotic uncle is the one who crashed into us. I don't know how he knew it was us. I have all the windows tinted. He saw our car pulling up and drove straight into the car. He is willing to do anything to get to Adrien."

"Why?"

"Because He feels Adrien should be his son with Adele, and not mine." The words sank heavily into Marinette's mind. There were too many implications that were possible with Mr. Agreste's statement. Gabriel turned away as her eyes began to grow with realization. "I shouldn't say more while he is out. He-he needs to know. I haven't been fair to him, but I honestly never wanted him to know or be involved. He's comfortable with you." Gabriel walked behind Marinette and handed her a remote. "Press this button when he begins to wake up." The man walked out of the office.

As soon as Gabriel left Plagg poked his head out of Adrien's jacket. "Finally, he's gone."

"Plagg, is Adrien okay?" Marinette asked.

"He's fine. He's just overwhelmed, and mad." The cat's ears fell flat. "He just isn't allowing himself to be mad. The kid has been holding it all in for a few days."

"He was upset when we met his uncle trying to break in. I could tell he was holding back," Marinette nodded.

Tikki popped her head out of Marinette's purse. "Being near Adrien is going to help. Mr. Agreste did do the right thing."

"Stay low Tikki," Plagg hissed. "There's a camera in here."

"Do you not trust Gabriel?" Tikki asked. "He already knows they are both Ladybug and Chat Noir."

"I want to know what he's hiding before we let him know any more than needed. He's no Tom."

The teen frowned as she continued massage Adrien's scalp. "Gabriel cares about Adrien. He just doesn't know how to show it. I remember as Ladybug he said Adrien was perfection. He looked so proud when he said it, too."

"That doesn't mean, he's been the best for the kid," Plagg argued. "I've seen him disappoint Adrien more than help. Purposely or not, he has been proven untrustworthy."

"We will have to see what he has to say when Adrien's awake," Tikki commented.

"He should be here when Adrien wakes up," Marinette mumbled. She lifted the remote Mr. Agreste gave her and pushed the button.

Within a few moments Mr. Agreste ran into the room. "Is he awake?" The man panted.

"Not yet, but you need to stay here," Marinette spoke calming. Marinette turned to look the man in the eyes. Her bluebell irises burned with authority.

"You think you can dictate what I should be doing?" Gabriel questioned. "There are many things that I can be doing."

"Things more important than your son?" Marinette challenged.

Gabriel dropped his gaze. He slowly walked around to the stairs by the catwalk, climbed down, and took a seat next to Adrien's feet. "I see you point." He crossed his legs and folded his hands onto his lap.

Several minutes of silence passed. Marinette continued to play with Adrien's hair. Every so often she would look over to Gabriel to see the poised man fidgeting. It was interesting to see her idol so vulnerable. He was clearly worried, and unsure; something he clearly didn't know how to handle. A rumble moved from Adrien. Marinette and Gabriel both flinched.

"Did he..?" Gabriel's voice faded into the question.

"Yeah, he purrs now." Marinette watched as Gabriel searched for the words. "His mouth started to open, but the pigtailed girl already knew what he was going to say. "No, hasn't always been able to do this. It's kind of a new development."

They sat and listened to the boy purr. It slowly grew louder and Adrien's fingers began to move. Slowly his eyes began to twitch, and his green eyes came into view. He blinked cautiously, slowly letting his vision clear.

"Hey," Marinette whispered.

"Adrien placed a hand to his face. "What happened?"

"You fainted," Gabriel spoke coolly.

"Father? Marinette?" Adrien went to sit up, but Gabriel placed his hand on his chest to halt him.

"Adrien, I'm sorry I upset you. I am also sorry to have to tell you all this information at once. I though Ms. Dupain-Cheng may help."

Adrien blinked then began to remember. His father had arrived home early. They had been in a car accident. His father knew that he was Chat Noir. His mother had also been a miraculous holder. His father had his mother's Miraculous. He had an uncle who wanted to meet him. His mother and father had both lied to him.

Adrien felt his face grow hot as he glared at his father. "You think Marinette can help when you have been lying to me my entire life? Why would you and mother never tell me I had an uncle? You! I expect you to lie! But mom?" Tears began to bubble in his eyes. "I thought that Michael was maybe a crazy man, but you have been with holding family from me? Do I have cousins too! What else do I not know?"

"We never told you about him, because he is a mad man! For goodness sake, do you not realize that he was the one who caused the accident?"

Adrien thought for moment before staring at the ground. "He probably needed to go to extremes to get your attention."

"That man, is an extreme! He wants your mother! He wants you! He's the reason your mother had to leave. She's been hiding from him since she was seventeen. He is not alright. Michael thinks that because you came from his sister, that you are one how his. He tried to take you once before. You were only a year old, but he had you halfway to London. If your mother- if she had not abused her miraculous powers; you would not be here."

"What?" Adrien's expression softened and he looked up at his father. Gabriel's hands were shaking. His eyes were now staring at the painting of his wife on the wall.

"How did she abuse her powers?" Marinette asked.

"By using it to threaten and attack her brother," Gabriel admitted. "It was all she told me before she unclipped the brooch and gave it to me and told me to hide it. It's been in the safe for fifteen years. Your mother was never the same woman after that day. We began to bulk up on security; getting all the latest software. She wanted you to be safe, Adrien."

The man sighed and leaned back into the bench seat. "I don't understand how those miraculouses work, but I do know they are all jewelry. I began researching, traveling across the globe to jewelry vendors when traveling for fashion shows. I found a vender in Tibet who had more information about the jewels than I knew what to do with. I purchased a large book from him, that contained pictures of all they know miraculous jewels. Then I noticed on a page there seemed to be some additional pieces. I began to collect anything that reminded me of any of the miraculouses in the pictures. I don't know why I started to collect them. Part of me hoped Adele would find the courage to place her brooch back on and be the woman she was before Michael took her courage away."

Adrien began to slowly sit up. He moved his feet to the floor, and leaned on Marinette, as the blood began to rush to his head. He had never seen his father appear so somber. Had his uncle really been that much of a creep? "Why didn't you ever tell me about this before?" he asked.

"Your mother couldn't talk about it. She never wanted to hear anything about it. She even refused counseling on the matter. A few years ago, she received a letter from Michael saying he was going to find power like she had, and get back at her for being so 'disobedient'. This terrified her. She began staying home with you. She lost trust in most of the house staff. You both traveled with me wherever I traveled. Then it became worse. She realized he was looking for a miraculous. I decided it was my duty then to begin making replicas. I started, of course, with the peacock brooch. My jewelry line would bloom. I have made others as well. Most recently, the fox necklace and the butterfly brooch.

My peacock brooch collection came out just in time. Your mother was sent a letter with no return address a bit more than a year ago. It was from michael, and he said that he was now miraculous too. He would be coming for her. So that night your mother left. She bought a ticket to Tibet and left her hotel information next to the letter she had received along with a note explaining that she hoped being away from you would keep you safer. That is the last of her I had seen."

"And that's why mom left? Without a word?"

Gabriel nodded. "I've tried contacting her hotel, and even sending Natalie to her location. She wasn't there."

"Then why haven't you been searching for her?" Adrien's fist tightened.

"I have tried!" Gabriel yelled. "I don't know where she is. I am in the same position as you. All I know is her obsessive brother was coming for you. I did all I could do!"

Adrien was silent. He could hear the worry in his father's voice. This was a very messed up situation. He heard his father sigh; exasperated by what he had to explain. Adrien sighed as well. His father had never wanted this situation. He was trying to do what his mother would have wanted. No wonder he had changed so much when his mother left. No wonder he had been kept in isolation his entire life. If anything his father had provided him with more freedom than his mother had.

Adrien turned his head towards his father. "If this bothers you so much, why did you never try to make me stop being Chat Noir? Mom stopped, so why wouldn't you ask me to do the same?"

"Because I believe your mother setting down her miraculous was the moment she gave up all her power to Michael. I won't let my life, be run by a mad man. I will, however, do what I can to protect you."

"Then why keep Adrien in the public eye?" Marinette asked. "If he was a model, he would surely grab some attention?"

"The publicity would always be a problem. The fashion empire I have worked to build is large and well known. Putting Adrien in the public eye, means everyone knows who he is, and if something were to happen, everyone would know. Also," Gabriel added, wiping a tear from his eye. "I wanted to make sure your mother could always see you."

"Dad," Adrien whispered. He could feel the warmth of a tear slide down his face. He leaned over to the tall man, and wrapped his arms around his waist. Gabriel, flinched at first, but quickly reciprocated action. The two Agrestes held their embrace for a long, needed moment.

Marinette smiled as she watched the father and son join together. She dare not disrupt this moment. Each of them needed the other so much. She just sat and smiled until the two finally let go.

"I have something I believe I should show you both," Gabriel said standing up. He walked to the safe and pulled out a small grey box. He carried it over to the two teens. He opened up the box to show them a collection of brightly colored gems.

"While traveling to India a few years ago, I encountered a tray of small, blue gems. They were absolutely stunning. I thought that perhaps I could make something like the peacock brooch with them. When I returned home, I realized that one of them was flashing. I picked it up to examine it while near the brooch. It levitated from my hand and onto the miraculous, making a new pattern to the brooch. I don't know what it did, but I assumed there would be one for all the miraculous. I've found a few that are glowing, and I hope that, maybe you would know what to do with them.

He opened the box and immediately, a bright red light flashed and flung itself at Marinette. The flash filled the room with heat, as two stone rose from the box and onto each of the earrings, Marinette was wearing.