The plot shall thicken... (I also hope to update tonight but no promises.) Oh and the next chapter involves little baby bug's gender sooo... Please leave guesses because I'd love to hear them!

Chapter Ten

This Changes Things

"Ever going to tell me what happened to my matcha?" Adrien asked, finishing off his egg sandwich as the two walked down the sidewalk, taking their sweet time since neither was in a rush to have this conversation. Though the cold egg sandwich was as good as Starbucks sandwiches could get, he would've liked a drink to go along with it.

"Nope but you can guess," she chimed, feeling like it wasn't her choice to tell Adrien about a topic that was still so sensitive to Kagami. Still, she was happy and almost relieved to have a friend her age going through almost the exact same thing.

Adrien frowned, but smirked down toward her."Is this my punishment for wishing to cuddle with you, my lady?" he asked innocently.

Marinette coffee, throwing her head back."Please, you wanted to do much more than 'cuddle'."

"Well we still can after this," he said in a low sultry voice, placing his arm over his lady's delicate shoulder.

Though her cheeks flamed up for a moment, she wiped the blush away shaking her head." No, I'm dealing with one Agreste at a time." she swore, falling silent and growing pale as they stood at the gates to the mansion.

Noting her sudden attitude change, a frown played on his lips."Hey, it'll be fine. As I said, princess, I'll protect you." She forced herself to laugh, but a squeak of cry left her. Adrien frowned, able to tell just how scared she was. He wanted to help her like how she'd helped him when they told her parents, but this was different. He was just as afraid and even more afraid of his father than he was the Dupain-Cheng's."We'll protect each other," he said, holding his hand out."Shall we M'lady?"

Marinette smiled sweetly, nodding as she held onto his arm for dear life."We shall."

As usual, the house was desolate with zero sound and zero life. He hoped his or their house would be the opposite. He wanted a simple house or apartment. Not huge or fancy, but simple. He wanted it to look lived in. He wanted the cries of a baby and squeals of a toddler. He wanted a home where he could wake up beside his princess and press a kiss against her cheek. Every day he could wake up and see her, a place where he didn't have to visit her in the dead of the night. a place of their own. A place where he could walk across the hall to his son or daughter's bedroom. See their sweet face, whatever it would look like. He couldn't wait for that day, but first, he had to walk into the home he hated. The home filled with no love and silence. He had to face his father.

I wonder what mom would've thought, Adrien, wondered as Marinette clung to his arm. Looking down at his lady, he couldn't help but shed a smile. Mom would've loved her. She would've been so excited to be a grandma. She would've loved both of them so much.

"Adrien, what are you doing here?" Nathalie asked with no expression." You have a fencing lesson and you were not given permission to invite your friend over." she stated coldly.

Adrien could feel Marinette shaking and all he could do was tighten his grip on her, moving slightly in front of her so the shirt that clearly showed off her bump wasn't visible."We need to talk to my father," he said, trying to be strong and live up to what he'd vowed. No matter what, he would keep his princess and little kitten safe.

Nathalie's expression didn't change though inside she was surprised how persistent he appeared."He's working, now your bodyguard will bring you back to-"

"We need to talk to my father," he repeated, this time more sternly. They were both terrified but he wouldn't wait another minute. He had to talk to his father then and only then.

Though she showed no change in emotion, Nathalie was once again stunned. Adrien was never this forward, and that meant he really did have to speak with his father. Pushing her glasses up the bridge of her nose, she nodded."Yes, I will go get him," the woman said, stepping into Gabriel's office silently.

Alone again, Adrien felt the shaking Marinette cling to him again." I feel like I'm going to puke." she said, voice quiet and eyes wide.

"So you did drink my matcha," Adrien smiled, chuckling quietly to himself.

That did the trick. Marinette turned up to him with red cheeks and fury in her eyes."You think your so funny don't you?"

Adrien shrugged, still smiling."I've been led to believe so, so yes." Marinette groaned and he felt his grin widened."It's okay if you did drink it, I have an appetite for something else anyway."

Anger initially hit."I didn't drink it for Pete's-" thinking over the end of his sentence blush reached her cheek realizing what his appetite was for. She rolled her eyes, pushing his face away."Your gross you know that?"

He shrugged again, smiling."Nope, just a teenager in love."

The blush thickened and a faint giggle escaped her tightly pursed lips. She was ready to respond with an 'I love you' or 'You're so stupid' but the door to Gabriel's office opening swiftly caught her attention."You have five minutes," Gabriel said with no emotion as he stood facing them.

Both teens were pale and more terrified than they'd been when facing Tom and Sabine. Adrien cleared his throat and hesitantly opened his mouth."Fa-"

"Can you explain why Miss Dupain-Cheng is here?" Gabriel asked,d noticing his son's strange positioning before her.

"She-" Adirne began through a stutter but was quickly cut off.

"Y-you remember me?" Marinette asked, stunned after believing she would be a stranger to him.

"Of course I do. You were the winner of my contest and the one who informed me of your class trip to New York," Gabriel said, holding his hands behind her back.

Slight stress and fear lifted from the duo, but some still lingered. Adrien cleared his throat again." Father I," he quietened for a moment as Marinette moved slightly beside him, flashing a confident smile. Before he could continue or even attempt to explain, Gabriel interrupted them

"What is that?" the man asked, eyes directed at the teen's stomach. The striped shirt she wore clearly showed off her developing bump.

Shit, both teens thought and Adrien was prepared to face death, but Marinette's voice interrupted his thoughts." Mr. Agreste I'm here because Adrien and I have been seeing one another for some time," she said with zero lead up. She smiled assuringly towards him, her Ladybug side seeping through."And that I am pregnant,"

There was silence. A silence that he hated with every bit of his being. The blink of his eyes lasted longer than usual and slowly he opened them again. Looking up at his father, he shocked to not see anger in the man's face but a wavering smile.

Well this changes things, Gabriel thought, but not through hate or anger, but through an ounce of relief and even happiness.

"Mr. Agreste," Marinette called, voice cracking in fear.

"Father?" Adrien asked. What Gabriel did next choked him to his core.

His father slowly stepped up to him, hugging them both. It was confusing and slightly unwelcome but better than screams and such. He'd only had his father hug him once or twice and as he felt loved for the first time by his father, he couldn't help but think of his son or daughter. They would be so loved. He would always show them love and never make them feel alone.

"Sir," Nathalie said from the corner where she'd been present for the entire conversation." I don't mean to ask but is that really the right thing?" she asked, having expected shouts from the man, all directed at his son and his girlfriend.

Gabriel smiled, hands held behind his back as he turned to the portrait of his wife."No Nathalie, though I would've enjoyed reprimanding him, this is the best. My son and that little slut must believe I am alright with their little circumstance, it'll make it all more believable."

Confused, Nathalie walked up to her employer."What do you mean by 'believable'?"

Gabriel faced the portrait of Emilie with a smile."We always believed Adrien would be the sacrifice, but it seems I am now wrong. The child, his child will be it now."

The news brought slight shock to Nathalie but her bland facial expression didn't change."Are you sure sir? I mean, it is your grandchild after all."

"Adrien is a child," Gabriel stated with force in his tone. Turning to look out his window, he spotted Adrien and Marinette holding hands as they walked out into the city to do whatever. The pencil he held broke into two."He is not mature enough to have his own."

"Do you feel that is a choice you can make for him?" Nathalie asked. Adrien might not be her own, but she cared for the boy.

"He is my son, I and I alone can make choice for him. Believe me that if we were unaware of the miraculous potential and it was earlier I would've forced an abortion," he said with no ounce of love for his son.

Nathalie was genuinely choked but didn't show it."I know where you are coming from but-"

"I'm helping him I assure you. Tomoe Tsurugi informed me at our last meeting that her own daughter is expecting. Apparently, she kicked her out and I can't help but agree with her choice."

"You're not saying you want to kick out Adrien?" Nathalie questioned.

Gabriel shook his head."No, I will allow Adrien to do whatever he wants for this girl and their thing, it'll make its death more manageable."

Nathalie could feel herself want to go against this plan, but she couldn't. Emilie had been her best friend, and she'd do whatever it took to bring her back. Even if that meant the baby had to die.