The Truth and What Remains

by Snivylord1

Louis, Hugo, and Emma had never known their dad. Their mom likes to avoid the story even though Louis has wondered about his dad for his entire life. Adrien had lost someone dear to him 15 years ago, but what he doesn’t know what happened, or what Gabriel did to Marinette. However, the time is coming when Marinette can’t hide what happened and the couple meets again.Modern Child AU

4. Chapter3:AnEternityforBadMemories

An eighteen year old Marinette sat on the hospital bed that day and felt her stomach churn and flip with the impeding news of what was wrong with her. Earlier that day, she felt extremely dizzy and she collapsed and fell unconscious while she working in the bakery. She was taken to ER and she and her parents eagerly awaited the news. After an excruciatingly long wait, the doctor came back with a semi grim look on his face.

"What's wrong with her Doc?" Tom asked urgently as the doctor returned a kind smile and looked at the results paper on his check board.

"Depends on whether you see this as a good or bad thing, your daughter's pregnant," The doctor said promptly and after a moment of silence between the Dupain Cheng, they all laughed out loud like it was the funniest joke they ever heard.

"My daughter? Pregnant?" Sabine wheezed as the other two tried to recover from their initial laugh but when they looked up at the doctor, he still had that serious look on his face.

"Wait... Marinette, did you and Adrien..." Sabine asked excitedly while Marinette immediately blushed and looked bashfully in her lap. Sabine took this as the answer she was looking for and she abruptly cheered, "YES!!! HALLELUJAH!"

"Mom!"

"Oh my PATISSERIE! You and Adrien did the deed?!" Tom asked, nudging Marinette, causing her groan and blush into her hands, she even got a glimpse of the doctor laughing.

"We did, but I wasn't even on my period! There's no way I'm pregnant! Ok... maybe a slight chance, but... I don't know..." Tom and Sabine stopped cheering and teasing Marinette and turned to the doctor seriously.

"Where did you get your degree? The University of Dumbass? If my daughter isn't pregnant, then I believe her so do another damn test," Tom pulled out all the stops on sass and stared intimidatingly at the doctor, who looked taken aback but he nodded.

"Alright..." The doctor said, bringing Marinette along with him so he could get another urine sample. About 5 minutes or so later, he came back with a test and the urine sample. The family waited eagerly as he dipped the test into the urine sample, "Pink means pregnant." He pulled out the strip and on the strip, there was a pink mark where the urine touched the paper. Marinette felt dizzy again and steadied herself on the bed. There was no way this was happening, she heard gasps from her parents as she tried to process what was gonna happen.

"I need to go..."

"Marinette?"

"I need... to go!" Marinette said, almost going crazy and she ran out of the room. Later that night, Marinette felt herself slowly unraveling as she busied herself with cleaning up the bakery. Her parents were upstairs for the evening, but they were asleep. Marinette decided to stay up late to busy herself working, because she couldn't sleep. Suddenly she heard a ring at the door.

"That's weird, We closed already..." Marinette wondered aloud as she set down the towel and walked to the front of bakery where she saw a tall figure with platinum blond hair stare blankly out the window: Gabriel Agreste. Marinette approached the man cautiously, as none of them were making a sound. Finally, Marinette found it in her power to speak up, "Mr. Agreste, good evening, what brings you here?" Marinette asked as Gabriel immediately turned towards her voice and she swore she saw ice in his eyes.

"Good evening Ms. Dupain Cheng... how has your day fared?" Gabriel asked solemnly as Marinette took a seat across from him. She eyed him curiously as she curtly replied, leaving out the elephant.

"It's been well... tell me Mr. Agreste, what brings you here?"

"It's truly unfortunate that I have to ask this of you, but I know..." Gabriel said lowly. Marinette felt an uneasy feeling rise from the bottom of her stomach as she gathered the air to reply.

"Know what?"

"The baby you're carrying..."

"How did you find out? I'm so sorry, I never meant for it to happen! That means you know that Adrien's the father," Marinette gulped as she apologized profusely to Gabriel, but he didn't look amused or sympathetic... not one bit.

"Yes... unfortunately... now... for the reason for why I'm here... get rid of it," Gabriel put simply, making Marinette blink once before narrowing her eyes slightly at his shadowed figure that was only illuminated by the moonlight.

"What do you mean get rid of it?"

"Don't play dumb... you know exactly what I mean, I assume you already got the medication from the doctor," Gabriel said coolly as Marinette widened her eyes in shock before narrowing her eyes at Gabriel again. Any sort of hospitality she had... was gone.

"Yes... I did... however, it is not your choice to tell me to have an abortion or not. How could you even ask me such a thing?" Marinette said in a harsh tone, she was almost yelling.

"Don't tell me you're actually going to keep it, that's the worst possible thing you can do for Adrien," Gabriel let out a low chuckle as he folded his fingers and looked at her icily.

"What do you mean?"

"Just look at what you're gonna do to Adrien's reputation. He's one of the most famous models in Paris, if people find out that he engaged in such indecency at this point in his career, it will ruin him, his life, I mean... a father at 18? You've got to be joking," Gabriel smirked knowingly at Marinette took a second to realize his point.

"Adrien... a father at 18? As much as I hate to admit it... he's right, there's no way Adrien and I can be parents at 18, I can't do that to Adrien, knowing him... he would freak out of course, but he would love this child with all his heart. Regardless, I can't do this to him... but... I can't abort this child, it's without a doubt wrong, killing a child before it's born, how could Gabriel be so barbaric to even suggest that... Having a child, it helps I think, through those more difficult times in my life. There's really only one thing I can do," Marinette thought, thoughts racing throughout her head. Marinette blinked and refocused as Gabriel awaited her response.

"You are right, I can't do this to Adrien... we're only eighteen, however... if you think I'm actually gonna get rid of this baby as if it's some sort of inconvenience.. you're mistaken," Marinette finally spoke, Gabriel smirked but then narrowed his eyes at her as she said her other piece. Gabriel then closed his eyes and let out a harsh breath as if he was thinking about something. Then... he spoke.

"I knew you'd say that. Although... I have a proposition for you..." Gabriel said, hardly above a whisper.

"What do you want?" Marinette whispered and she saw Gabriel give an evil grin before he said what broke her heart.

"I want you... to go off the grid."

"What? What do you mean?"

"It's exactly what it means... cut off all contact with your friends and limit your contact with anyone from your previous life to only your family. However... if your family even makes one move towards any contact with your friends. I think you know what will happen, you will move away by the middle of the week, you cannot contact any of your friends to give them any sort of explanation. Just leave without a word. If I were you, I'd get started on packing. You can tell your parents that I'm blackmailing you, it's not as if they can even do anything," Gabriel explained, making Marinette feel like she was starting to sink into a rabbit hole of hell.

"So am I just gonna move away just like that?" Marinette asked crudely as Gabriel leaned back slightly in his chair and moved his leg over his other leg.

"I'll provide you with a place to stay, it'll be a lovely condo, and it'll be completely yours without any sort of lease or rent. You are going to be responsible for your own bills. I'm just going to purchase the real estate for you so you have no reason to come back. It'll be on the other side of Paris, far far away. You will sign a contract at a later date that will bind your bad fortune for an eternity... When I meant your friends, I meant all friends, including your soon to be former boyfriend, Adrien... say good bye Ms.Dupain Cheng... to your life before, you brought this upon yourself," Gabriel leaned in so he could stare directly into her eyes as he said those words and he promptly left. He stood up without making any more eye contact and left the bakery with a soft jingle of the bell, leaving Marinette to sob alone.

"An eternity... huh?" Marinette sobbed quietly into her hands. Eventually she was able to look up where Gabriel once sat and look at it with a discomfort that spoke volumes. All of her senses suddenly became extremely hazy and distant, slowly drifting away from any sort of reason, "an eternity... is such a long time to collect bad memories... Someone... anyone... help me..."

It would be another 6 years before Marinette and Gabriel would have another intense talk. Another six years, until another mistake was made that was even worst from the last. However, it was not one, but double the joy that would come into the world. Marinette, now 24, walks around in her apartment/condo, wondering what to do, as she finally got released from the hospital after being told she was pregnant... again. It was an accidental artificial insemination and Marinette was lucky... or unlucky enough to get pregnant again with twins. Marinette learned that it was Chloe Bourgeois who was supposed to be inseminated because she took Adrien's sperm sample without his permission... so there's that. Marinette had to beg the doctor, who was gonna lose her license anyway, to not tell Chloe or Adrien what actually happened. Marinette also had the doctor lie that the inseminaton wasn't successful and there wasn't a good chance it would actually give anyway. Chloe... did not take it well at all, that day, you could practically see the hospital windows shatter with her voice and hear it from 10 blocks away.

"WHAAAAAAAAT!? WDYM IT DIDN'T WORK!? AREN'T INSEMINATIONS SUPPOSED TO BE LIKE 100 PERCENT?! WHAT KIND OF HOSPITAL ARE YOU RUNNING?!"

"Ummm Mademoiselle, I never said it was... 100 percent... it was only a 25 percent chance it would give anyway..."

"EXCUSE MOI!? THAT IS NOT WHAT YOU SAID 2 WEEKS AGO!"

"Umm... that's exactly what I said 2 weeks ago..."

"I'M GONNA GET MY DADDY AND GET YOU FIRED!!!"

"I'm about to lose my license anyway..."

"GET READY CAUSE I AM GONNA SUE YOU FOR ALL YOU GOT!"

"Ummm... Chloe... I think you're going too far... just face it... you're not pregnant with my child (thank all that is holy)."

"BUT ADRIKINS!"

"Just... leave it... I'm so sorry Doc about the loss of your license. although I didn't think they would suspend a license just because an insemination didn't go right."

"It's quite alright, my license is getting suspended for a different matter, I am truly sorry again about the insemination."

"Again, it's quite alright, next time Chloe... just don't steal my sperm sample, I had it just in case for a reason..."

"UGHHHHHHH SON OF A-"

Earlier that day

"Doc do you seriously want Chloe to unleash her wrath on you? Or both of us? Cause if she finds out that you accidentally inseminated someone else and the fact that you had to fake an insemination with saline, I'm gonna need a half of Paris head start before she goes on a manhunt and kills me when she finds out it's me and you are gonna get slapped with a fat lawsuit and lose your license if she finds out. Please, you have to say that the insemination just didn't give, it's the more sensible solution than taking both of us down. The hospital will know what really happened back but they know about my situation"

"Yes I know, and I'm sorry, I never meant to put you in this predicament."

"Yeah, I know, it's ok really, because if my pregnancy gets leaked, a certain something else in my situation will come along and kill me anyway."

"Really? What, or who is it?"

"It's really none of your concern, thank you for asking, but Adrien will understand and he will without a doubt convince Chloe to not slap you with a huge lawsuit. Ok? Do you trust me?"

"Yes Ms. Dupain Cheng, I'll trust you on this."

"You may wanna protect your hearing though, cause I have no doubt that she's gonna scream."

"Ah... I see..."

And so that leaves Marinette here, recalling everything that happened with a 6 year old boy staring questionably at his mom. Marinette was definitely afraid for a reason, she was afraid that the cover up for what really happened would be unraveled by Gabriel. Gabriel, she figured, would have known about Chloe attempting to have a baby, and he would no doubt believe that it didn't give... for a good 5 seconds before figuring it out. She doesn't know if he would have the faintest idea of checking who else checked into the hospital that day. He would have known about the doctor losing her license because she's Chloe's gynecologist and getting admitted to a new one. That she assumed, would be suspicious to him. Or at least, that's what she thought his thought process was, knowing him. He has enough influence to know if she's pregnant or not, just by looking at the hospital records, even though they're supposed to be private. She wondered if she could sue him for that, a breach in confidentiality for private records, but she doesn't have the proof nor the team of lawyers to successfully sue him. Marinette then wondered if the combination of the failed insemination, the doctor getting suspended, Marinette checking into the hospital and being declared pregnant on the same day would tip him off into connecting the dots and figuring it out. Unfortunately for her... her suspicions were correct. As Marinette sat herself on the sofa and rubbed her eyes, she stroked her hands through Louis' hair and looked almost despairingly at the empty space before her. Soon, a ring could be heard throughout the house and Marinette immediately sent Louis to his room.

"I'll be with you in a sec Louis, I'll read you a bedtime story I promise."

"Ok Maman! Make it a good one!" Louis chirped happily before running off to his room. Marinette quickly picked up the phone and heard that cold voice that hasn't changed in years.

"Good evening Ms. Dupain Cheng..."

"Gabriel... what do you want?" Marinette asked coldly, she realized that any sign of emotion is a sign of weakness to Gabriel, "It's been years since you even bothered to call..."

"I allowed you to keep your first child, Louis? Was that his name? And now, you're having twins... and coincidentally... they also happen to be Adrien's..."

"How do you know that?... those records are confidential, Gabriel, you realize you can get arrested for doing that."

"Hmmm... very much so... but who says you can actually prove that I even looked at your records, for all I know, you just told me you're pregnant just now with Adrien's twins. So it's my word against yours, and I think we know who wins," Gabriel said coolly, making Marinette curse silently under her breath, "Now... I let you keep Louis, but you're mistaken if I am gonna let you keep your twin spawn."

"Really? Spawn? Do try to use modern English will you? I told Gabriel, it's not exactly your choice, it's mine. You have practically taken everything from me, at least let my own choices be mine," Marinette said wearily into the phone, leaning on the couch chair.

"I'm going to ask you again, please get rid of-"

"No... before you go any further... no. I will not have you ask me such a detrimental question, jackass. It's incredibly barbaric and it's wrong," Marinette sighed indignantly into the phone, making Gabriel chuckle a little on the other line.

"You are playing a very dangerous game Ms. Dupain Cheng, I must say... I think justice will catch up with you soon Ms. Dupain Cheng, since your actions do have consequences... imagine the anger on Adrien's face when he finds out you lied about the real reason behind the insemination."

"You told me to do whatever it takes to keep Adrien from finding out that I'm involved at all, and yet you are using the very terms that I am abiding by as blackmail, how low will you go?" Marinette whispered angrily into the phone, with every word, their conversation gets darker and darker.

"True, you are abiding by the terms well... considering you're being monitored 24/7 and this conversation I know is being recorded by you," Gabriel said coolly again, making Marinette widen her eyes in surprise.

"What proof do you have that I'm even recording any of your conversations?"

"Don't play dumb, I know you've been recording every single one of my conversations with you for the past 15 years, looking for some way to incriminate me, well let me tell you this, you're never gonna find proof," Gabriel said with the same icy coolness that Marinette hates hearing. Marinette stood there silently, mulling over her options.

"I'll give you until they are born, to make a decision... tick tock Ms. Dupain Cheng," Gabriel whispered into the phone, making Marinette immediately hang up the phone. Marinette felt herself drop into the chair, cross her legs, and bring a hand to her face. It was just too much... It was horrid enough for him to hound her about Louis, but about two more children. She was just going to have to be that much stronger, she had no choice. Marinette sighed and walked to Louis' room where he was happily awaiting his bedtime story. Marinette smiled cheerfully as she always did and sat down by his bed and began her story. She always had a knack for telling stories, even when it came to her own life, she always had a thing with getting into the weirdest and most exciting situations.

Nine months later...

"Congrats! You are the proud mother of fraternal twins!" The nurse happily said as she set the swaddled twins into Marinette's arms on the hospital bed. She couldn't be happier, she had two more bundles of joy in the world. Marinette smiled appreciatively at the nurse while she just remembered.

"Excuse me? Nurse Marlene, can you let my son in? He's waiting outside the door," Marinette weakly whispered as the nurse nodded and smiled and opened the door. Immediately, an energetic, excited Louis came barreling through the door and came to his mom's side. He looked at the twins with sparkles in his eyes, "Meet your little brother and sister Louis..." Marinette said as she handed the small boy for Louis to hold lovingly in his arms. Louis stared longingly at the sleeping child before looking up happily at Marinette.

"Did you name them?" Louis asked hopefully, he was hoping to name one of them. Marinette gave him a small smirk.

"I only named the one you're holding, meet your baby brother Hugo," Marinette whispered as Louis beamed with happiness and rocked Hugo gently, kissing him on the forehead.

"Hey Hugo! It's me, your big brother Louis. I promise to love you, our sister, and Mama with all my heart," Louis whispered, holding Hugo close. Marinette smiled warmly at Hugo before looking at her daughter and kissing her forehead.

"Louis? Do you wanna name your sister?" Marinette asked with Louis almost screaming. Louis quickly bit his lip and promptly nodded yes. Louis then moved closer so he could get a good look at his sister. She had such an angelic face, and she was actually awake. Louis could see that she had green eyes, which was a trait he hadn't noticed in their family before, but he and his sister shared blonde hair. The baby held our her hand and gripped Louis' finger, making him smile. He was a big brother, and he had to do his duty as their protector.

"I think... I'll name her..."

"I trust you Louis, don't name her something weird..."

"Trust me Maman, I got this... I'll name her... Emilia," Louis smiled after a moment of thinking. Marinette felt herself gasp and smile brightly.

"That's a beautiful name, let's call her Emma for short."

"Yeah!"

Marinette had allowed her parents to see the newborns of course, but she trusted Louis first and foremost to see his family first. She didn't know why, but she felt like Louis was the only one who was always by her side. He drove something away when she need was in her darkest hour, and that was her loneliness. That's why she puts Louis first and foremost in her heart and trust before her parents. Marinette had always remembered that on the day that the twins were born, he would come back. Marinette was sick of living her life in fear, it was the most unbearable feeling. Soon, when she was still in the hospital, she received a visit from the man himself.

"Mademoiselle, there is someone here to see you," A nurse said as she closed the door behind her to curtly warn Marinette. Marinette and Louis narrowed their eyes at the door as a tall, pristine man walked through the door and looked solemnly at Marinette. Marinette felt her lungs constrict as he signaled for the nurse to get out so they could be alone.

"Your nine months are up, there is a decision to be made..."

"Gabriel... let me ask you something... does HE know you made this physical visit to the hospital?" Marinette asked quietly as Louis continued to stare at the man. Louis had never met anyone who was so... scary and it worried him to no end that this man that he didn't know had business with his mom.

"No. No he does not, Marinette, you have to make a decision, you either give the kids obediently to an adoption agency that I have arranged or keep them and or I'll get rid of them by force," Gabriel said coldly, Marinette stared in horror at what this man was saying, he would actually put two newborns voluntarily into the worst plight they could ever imagine. Marinette looked furious, but Louis was livid. If his mom wasn't gonna say something about what this man was going to do, then he will.

"Knowing you, it's probably some suspicious, underhanded, seedy adoption agency isn't it, do you really think I trust you?" Marinette said with all the malice she could in her voice. Gabriel smirked as he slowly inched closer to them, making them feel a rush of fear and desperation.

"Mister! If you think Maman is gonna give our family to you, then you're wrong. I dunno why you want to get rid of them, but getting rid of people who can't defend themselves makes you a meanie, A BIG MEANIE!" Louis huffed angrily as he stood on his tip toes as an attempt to square up with Gabriel. Gabriel looked at Louis with amusement, not a good one though, but he was amused nonetheless.

"Little boy, I don't think you know what you're talking about... you see... your mother was caught up in a mistake, she wasn't even supposed to have your little brother and sister, but her mistakes happen to be very tiresome for me," Gabriel explained as Louis widened his eyes in shock for a split seconds before narrowing his eyes again angrily.

"I don't care if it was a mistake, or if it happens to create a problem for you Mister but a life is a life, and the lives that you are threatening happen to be my little brother and sister. I speak for Maman when I say No, so please leave us alone," Louis said angrily, almost feeling a need to scream but Mom always told him that screaming is bad for people's ears. Marinette smiled at Louis before looking at Gabriel angrily.

"Louis, you do speak for me, Gabriel, I'm gonna have to ask you to leave, I'm keeping these children," Marinette said firmly, making Gabriel taken aback for a moment before his expression darkened.

"Tch... you always had to be so... difficult... I really didn't want to dirty my hands..."

"Wait... No!"

"I guess I'll just take them by force" Gabriel whispered darkly as he quickly started towards the bed and latched onto Hugo and Emma. Marinette gasped and yelled as she tried to tug her kids back, who started crying from the sudden force. Gabriel tugged even harder as the blankets covering Hugo and Emma started to slip from Marinette and more into Gabriel hands. Louis then quickly climbed up onto the bed and rammed himself into Gabriel, knocking both of them down to the ground. Marinette quickly reestablished her grip on the twins, who were still crying, and attempted to calm them down. She then realized that Louis is currently struggling with a man, who could most likely have the lack of conscience when it comes to harming kids. Louis could die. Marinette gasped as she attempted to sit up and look over the bed to warn Louis. She gasped again when she saw Louis struggling to keep Gabriel down on the floor. Louis is fierce, but he can't keep Gabriel down for long. Gabriel snarled as Louis kept trying to punch him as hard as he could, and he used his leg to move between Louis and himself so he could kick Louis as hard as he could into the foot of the hospital bed. He unfortunately succeeded, as he used the base of his shoe and kicked hard into Louis' stomach, sending him flying back into the foot of the bed.

"AAAAHH!" Louis screamed in pain as he crumpled to the floor and clutched his stomach in pain. Marinette stared in horror as she wondered, why aren't the screams in here attracting any attention?

"Louis! Sweetie! Are you okay!?" Marinette yelled as Gabriel slowly stood up and kicked Louis again harshly back into the foot of the bed, knocking him unconscious, "LOUIS! NO! Gabriel! YOU BASTARD! How could you do that to a child! Oh my god, Louis!" The bed started to lurch forward slowly, moving Marinette slowly forward, slowly folding her back till it hurt. If she didn't reach the button, both her and her children are gonna be crushed by the bed. Marinette balanced Hugo on her arm and tried to reach her hand to the button that controlled the bed, Louis must have activated it when he was kicked into the foot of the bed. She strained as hard as she could while she was slowly moving, but she couldn't reach far enough. She then saw a pair of arms latch and pull on Hugo and Emma again. Marinette was then forced to focus all of her attention on pulling the children back, they were crying softly but her situation was pretty bad.

"Marinette, if you don't let go of your children, they will die along with you, cause I am not pressing that button," Gabriel yelled at Marinette, who weighed her options carefully. He was right, they were going to die if she kept holding onto them, but either way, they were gonna die no matter what because of Gabriel. Marinette shut her eyes tightly, trying to hold back Gabriel while facing her impending doom. Was this it?

"NO!" Marinette heard a voice from the foot of the bed as she felt Gabriel suddenly let go of Hugo and Emma and bang his head on what she thinks was the foot of the bed. Marinette then heard a beep and the bed starting moving back up to its original position and she saw Louis using the foot of the bed as support as he kept his hand on the button, barely supporting himself.

"Oh my god! Louis! Are you ok? Please tell me you're ok..." Marinette cried as Louis slowly came to her and fell into her arms as she hugged all three of them. They soon heard a groan as they saw Gabriel stand up and that look of horror mirrored between both of them again.

"It hurts... Maman... it hurts... so much," Louis tried to blink the tears away from the pain, Marinette comfortingly comforted and apologized into his hair. She cried and apologized for even leading her child into this situation.

"Yes... Sweetie, I know, I'm so sorry... This... is all my fault..." Marinette cried as she saw Gabriel look at them with such an anger, it was palpable.

"Marinette... I hope you're ready for what's coming... all of you are gonna die in here, and no one is gonna give a shit!" Gabriel almost screamed as Marinette covered Louis' ears, but he heard regardless. He couldn't describe the anger that was coursing through his veins, it was like lava, he couldn't think rationally, he was just thinking by instinct now, "You all are gonna die... Marinette, it really is a shame you will die without accomplishing anything, what a fitting way to die. I'm gonna enjoy wringing the life from all of your necks."

"You're insane..." Marinette whispered with as much hatred as she could. Gabriel laughed as he slowly stalked further to the family as Louis felt his anger go to a boiling point as he could no longer think about anything else other than getting this man out of this room. He and his mom and his siblings were in danger, Gabriel lunged for them and Louis grabbed the first thing he could reach for on the side table next to the nightstand: a scalpel knife. He then did something that shocked even him, and even traumatized him if that was his worst case scenario. He raised the scalpel knife and plunged it into Gabriel's hand as he lunged both of his hands at them. Gabriel screamed in pain as he immediately stepped back and clutched his hand in pain. Louis felt the blood splatter onto him and he saw the blood dripping from the knife. He looked back at his mom to find a horrified look on her face, she also had blood on her face as well. Marinette gasped in surprise as she continued to stare at Louis' knife and at Gabriel's pain. Gabriel kept clutching his hand but he glared at them with malice.

"You..." Gabriel growled maliciously as Louis dropped the scalpel on the bed and started shaking. Louis was frozen in fear, he could no longer move, his hands felt frozen, shaking in place. His entire body felt numb as he fell backwards into Marinette, who moved slightly so he was resting on her chest with Hugo and Emma by his side.

"Louis?! Are you ok?" Marinette asked as she looked down worryingly at her son, who was despondent but still had his eyes open. Marinette looked angrily at Gabriel who kept clutching his hands, "Gabriel, you better leave right now before I force myself out of this bed and beat you with this saline bag and that scalpel. You caused enough misery for one day..." Marinette admonished Gabriel, who huffed angrily before straightening himself and turning towards the door. He turned his head to look on her and he grinned evilly.

"I'll let you have this temporary peace Marinette, but mark my words... you're gonna be walking in hell from here on out for an eternity, good day Ms. Dupain Cheng," Gabriel said silently before slipping out the door and out of their lives, for now anyway. Marinette and Louis breathed a huge sigh of relief as Louis suddenly felt completely drained of energy and slumped against the bed. Marinette gasped as she used her hands to move his head so she can get a look at his face. Marinette looked with extreme worry as she saw he fell unconscious from the pain.

"An eternity's a long time to collect bad memories... " Marinette whispered as she hugged Hugo and Emma closer, as if she was still trying to protect them from Gabriel. She felt drops of regret and resentment flow from her eyes as she saw her beaten son lying unconscious in front of her. Soon, a nurse came in and almost screamed at the site she saw. She immediately rushed over to the bed and and checked the boy's pulse.

"Oh my goodness! Ms. Dupain Cheng! What happened here! Are you ok?!" The nurse asked promptly as she examined Louis' injuries, they were pretty bad, he had a large bruise in his stomach, and parts of his back were bruised as well.

"I'm fine... but... Louis... he isn't, he tried to protect me from Gabriel Agreste, he's badly beaten, please save him... he's my pride and joy..." Marinette cried silently as the nurse nodded and immediately carried him to the next empty room to perform first aid and an x-ray. Worrying for the boy's safety, she did the work quickly. The doctors and nurses checked the security footage later and were horrified at the events that transpired in the room. However, they couldn't touch him, nobody could. He's one of the most influential people in Paris, he was protected by a team of top notch lawyers, nobody could touch him. Louis, after a few hours in urgent care, was fine. They had to do a check on his mind to check in his mental health after what happened. It was damaged slightly, however, it wasn't much and he was declared mentally stable. Marinette soon after was discharged from the hospital, keeping a mental book on every single bad memory. She wanted to give Louis, Hugo, and Emma the best childhood she could give them, in their situation. She at least wanted that much for her children. It would be another 8 years before he called again... but this time, things are gonna be different.