And Heartache

Gabriel stood at his window, watching his son swipe his training swords against an invisible opponent. Hearing a knock at the door, he breathes out "Come" causing the doors to open. Nathalie steps into the room with a small smile, her hair cascading down her back and over one shoulder, while a loosely tied dress covered the barely showing bump. Walking up, she pressed her side to his, feeling a warm hand encircle her waist, so that his palm sat on her hip. "I've never seen him so... obsessed with his swordsmanship."

"That's what happens when someone nearly kills you and promises to do the same thing to your loved ones." Nathalie commented. "It's strange that we haven't seen Vixen in several weeks." Watching the young man as he swiped his sword, she marveled at how focused Adrien had become. "Do you still believe that she's in Paris?"

"Not anymore." Gabriel answered. "After the first week I was still overly cautious, but by the end of the second, I figured that she's probably gone. Now, however, after more than three weeks with no sign of Lila Rossi, I'm seriously considering that she has most likely left France with no intentions on returning."

"Where would she have gone?" Nathalie asked.

"Italy. Perhaps Spain or even across the channel to England." Gabriel nuzzled against the top of Nathalie's head. "Right now, I don't care. All I want is to have as much time with my son before he leaves this house forever."

"It won't be "forever", Gabriel. Marinette won't let him forget to come back for holy days and after the births of their children."

Giving her a nod, he sighed. "I sure hope so..."

"You've been doing much better with your meditation lately, Adrien," Tikki said with a smile as she watched his training from where she was snuggled under his training clothes, "but I have sensed a growing anger and resentment."

Adrien swiped the sword down, the mental image of him cutting Lila from left shoulder to right hip being pushed away with the sound of the Kwami's voice. "I'm angry, Tikki, and the more I try to calm myself, the angrier I get." Replacing the sword in his sheathe, he reached up and wiped at his sodden brow. "The problem is that we don't know where she is, or what she's doing. What if she's still out there, preparing to kill someone else." Gritting his teeth, he groaned. "All of this waiting is killing me!"

"Easy..." Tikki soothed, and yet she could feel him trembling against her. "Lila will reveal herself sooner or later, and when she does..."

"We'll have her." Adrien growled.

"But you won't be able to face off against her if you can't control yourself, Adrien." Tikki warned. "Plagg might agree with this type of personality, but I do not... and Marinette wouldn't..."

"That's enough, Tikki!" Adrien groused before taking a breath, and letting it out. "I'm sorry... it's just..."

"No, you're right. I was out of line by mentioning Marinette." Tikki floated out of his shirt to look at him. "You're scared for her, but you are also in pain Adrien."

"I just... the past couple of weeks away from her has been..."

"You wisely chose to take a step back to deal with this burgeoning anger." Tikki lightly patted his cheek. "But you should always remember that she is there for you, that she loves you, Adrien." She then floated in front of him, kissing his nose. "It has probably been just as difficult for her being alone with Kagami, but understand that because of what happened, you can only do one of two things; become stronger, or crumble." He looked into her deep blue eyes as the little red and black creature smiled at him. "So far... I've seen you become stronger, not just physically, but emotionally, and mentally."

Walking over to where his towel sat, he picked it up and rubbed at his face. "I'm afraid, Tikki."

"Of what?"

"After seeing Lila nude," he finally admitted to her, "I've been wanting to see Marinette that way, been wanting to do more than just look. Our contract means that I can't touch her in that way until after we're wed, but..."

Tikki smiled at him. "Is that all?" Lightly giggling, she spoke softly. "Had you told me that you felt no sexual interest in Marinette, I would have found myself worrying. The fact that you want to be with her is a normal, healthy reaction between two people who love each other."

"But... you don't understand. This feeling is so overwhelming that I'm not sure if I can trust myself around her." Adrien breathed, as if he feared the words coming from his mouth.

Nodding at the statement, Tikki smiled. "Tell her how you feel, how much you love and desire her. I'm pretty sure you'll find yourself surprised by how much she reciprocates your feelings."

Adrien nodded, a smile finally finding its way onto his face. "Okay, when I see her next time I will."

"When is that?" Tikki asked.

"Tonight." Adrien answered. "We're switching Miraculous out, and Kagami is finally heading home." Wrapping the towel around the back of his neck, he sighed. "Father thinks that since we haven't seen Lila in so long that she's gone."

"If that's true, then why do you continue to train so intensely?" Tikki asked.

"Just in case she comes back, I want to be ready." After that, Adrien put his sword up in the armory. No longer using the training swords, he wanted to have something deadly in his hands, to feel the weight of possibility. "If she attacks me again, I want to make sure I can defend myself."

Looking at the teenager, Tikki nodded. "It looked like you were interested in more than self-defense, Adrien."

"I also want to make sure she can never hurt anyone again." Taking a deep breath, he let it out. "Lila has come the closest to making me felt... helpless, Tikki, and I don't like that feeling."

Nodding, the little spirit of creation looked at him. "I understand more than you know, but no matter what happens, don't let this change you, Adrien."

Gently hugging the little creature, he nodded. "I will try, Tikki. That's all I really can do."

Smiling at him, she nodded. "We'll all help you, Adrien, and that's not all we can do for you."

"Thank you, Tikki."

"You're welcome, Adrien."

oOo

The creak of wood and ropes, the clean salty sea air, and the call of the boatswain had been her life for the past couple of weeks, and it brought a smile to Lila's face. Something that was sorely missed in recent months. "Secure the sails! Tie off the bowline!" Anarka called out as they pulled the wooden sloop off against the docks in La Rochelle. Looking at the teenage girl standing next to her, she smiled. "How are we for the shipment?"

"We're two days ahead of schedule, just like I said." Lila felt her cheeks flush at the accuracy of her words. "They should be happy that the shipment from Turkey is so early."

"Not only that, but it offers everyone a bonus." Anarka wrapped an arm around Lila's shoulders. "Yourself included."

"R-Really?" Lila's jaw dropped open. "Did... I really do a good job?"

Anarka smiled "You did an amazing job, Lila. I'm proud of you."

Tears prickled at her eyes as she heard the praise, prompting the young woman to wrap Anarka up in a hug. The older woman could feel her body convulse as tears flowed down her cheeks. She held onto Lila, smiling at the feel of a child needing her once more. "Thank you." the young woman's voice was tremulous as she spoke.

"Lila, I should be thanking you. This shipment was meant to help the people of Paris." she looked at the teenager as she clutched onto the older woman. "Perhaps now you can forgive yourself for your past."

"No." Lila stepped back, shaking her head. "I have a lot more to do." Looking at her, she gave Anarka a broad smile. "There are a few people I need to apologize to, and... one that I have to beg the forgiveness from." Reaching up, she wiped the tears from her face. "Afterward, I'm planning on telling the militia everything, and accepting my punishment."

"You'll be killed."

Giving the older woman a nod, she smiled. "If that's my fate, then I go to it with my head held high, and my heart lighter than a feather." Anarka saw the change in the woman before her, from the scared, manipulative girl that broke down, transformed in front of her, and told her everything she had done, to the bold, confident lady that stood before her.

"We have a few days, let's not rush anything." Anarka said with a smile.

"Okay." The smile Lila gave her was genuine as the two ladies left the Liberty, and headed for the party their crewmates were throwing.

oOo

"Father," Adrien approached the baron on his way to his room, "may I have a few minutes of your time?"

Gabriel nodded. "Of course, son. What is it that you require?"

Adrien, still dressed in his typical day attire, although late at night, stepped up to his father with all the confidence of a mouse. "Father, about the requirements of the betrothal contract. What are the specifics regarding... physicality?"

He could see the heat racing through his son's flesh, tinting his cheeks the soft rose his own wife used to have when she was either embarrassed (which happened so few times) or when flushed with desire. Gabriel watched his son, and how he didn't quite meet the elder Agreste's eyes. "You desire to be more physical with Marinette?" he asked, his voice even.

"Yes, father." Adrien closed his eyes, as if he'd just said something shameful.

Reaching out, Gabriel touched his son's shoulder. "Adrien, it is perfectly natural to want to be with your beloved in a more physical manner." That got his son to finally look at him. "When I took Nathalie to my bed, it wasn't just because of her beauty, or because of my desire, but because I finally realized she had been with me, caring for me, loving me in her own way. I finally wanted to show her just how much I loved and appreciated her as well."

"I know, father, but... the contract..."

"There are ways to get around the basics of the contract, Adrien, but you have to understand what it all means." Gabriel gave his son's shoulder a paternal squeeze, smiling at him. "For instance, the contract requires that you not have a child out of wed-lock, not that you both keep yourselves pure, although part of me hopes that you both will if only so that Marinette can wear a dress symbolizing her purity on her wedding day."

"She could get married in a potato sack, and she would be the most gorgeous person I have ever seen, father." Adrien countered.

His father's smile spread. "That, son, is love speaking." Gabriel then thought about something. "Does this have anything to do with what happened between you and Lila Rossi in your room?" Adrien bowed his head, wishing he didn't have to answer that question. "Seeing her sparked more of an interest in Marinette?"

"Yes, father." Adrien said it as he let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding.

"Son," Adrien looked up at Gabriel at the sound of his voice, a voice that was soft, gentle, and more of a request than a command, "you have nothing to be ashamed of. Marinette is a lovely young lady, and it should be the most natural thing for you to desire her as a man desires a woman." He pulled his son into a gentle hug. "I understand your desire more than you will ever know, but understand that there are other avenues you can take if all you wish is to... relieve tension."

"F-Father..."

"I have heard of a brothel..."

"No! Absolutely not!" Adrien pushed himself away from his father, shaking his head. "I will be with nobody but Marinette." he balked.

Gabriel's lips spread into a smile. "That is what I hoped you would say." Looking at the young man, he nodded. "I will make you this promise. Whatever you both do in the privacy of your room, or with the consent of her parents, will not affect the contract... but, understand that if you both have a child before the wedding, I cannot, in good conscience, allow the contract to be fulfilled."

"We would be out the home and money?" Adrien asked.

"Yes." Gabriel's voice was solemn at the prospects. "Now I understand that Marinette may have no problem with such a development, but I would be very disappointed in you both if something like that were to transpire, and I doubt her parents would be... happy if any accidents happened."

"I..." he wanted to refuse his father's statement, but he also knew how it would shame both families if they weren't careful. "I understand, father."

To all of my readers, I must apologize. I promised you all five Medieval Miraculous stories... and I fear I have to cut that down to four.

At first I had everything planned out, but as I started writing this story in its entirety, I discovered that much of the information I was going to share in the fourth story was shared here, and that by writing Lila into a corner, the only thing I could do was have her make her grand escape... this gave the protagonists time to take a breather, and to understand the psychology of what had transpired in the beginning, but it also forced my hand to change the story's pacing drastically.

With this chapter we are past the halfway mark, and already the stage is set for the final curtain.

In other news; Lady Rhi X and I have finished off "A Stunning Revelation" with a bonus (teaser) in which we get a hint at the aftermath of the story. I will be posting on Wednesday the first chapter of our next story "Too Late". Be on the lookout for that, and to all those who have stuck by us both.

^_^ Thank you! We love you all! =^_^=