I'm a sucker for Nathalie being like a mom to Adrien scenes, so this was a complete pleasure to write. Also part of this chapter involves a little something I thought "Hey that'd be cute if they did that in the show". So I decided F it, Imma put it in here since it doesn't change a thing but is just a cute little thing.

Chapter Fourteen

I Owe Her

Nathalie was genuinely at a loss of what to do. On one hand, she wanted Emilie back. They'd been childhood friends and Emilie had been there for her when her older brother passed away. Emilie had been liked her big sister and had none Adrien since he was born.

But on the other hand, she found it wrong. Before the idea of hurting Adrien brought fear to her, but now hurting and killing an innocent baby was just pure cruelty. At first, she'd been more comfortable with the idea, but after witnessing just how excited Adrien was to be a father over the past few months, it just seemed like an awful thing. But whenever she thought over what was right and wrong, she remembered Emilie and one conversation. It was just following her older brother's death and she'd been a mess. Her older brother had been her best friend(besides Emilie of course) and now she felt alone. But Emilie did something no one else did. She was quiet.

Whenever someone approached her and she was upset, missing her brother they'd always apologize and reflect on how much he loved her and what good of a brother he'd been. It didn't help and only made her miss him more. But Emilie had been silent. Whenever he was mentioned, Emilie would be silent and let Nathalie do all the talking or none of the talking. She was just there for her and that was what she'd needed.

And Nathalie needed that. So she felt she owed it to her best friend to do no matter what it took to save her.

But Em wouldn't want this, she thought practically pacing around her desk, playing with a charm bracelet she'd had since she was ten. Her older brother, her best friend had given it to her. Or her and Emilie's best friend. It was shocking since he'd been three years older but he loved hanging out with the two girls. They were a trio all through childhood, so when he got sick and eventually passed, it was just as hard on Emilie as it had been on her.

"He was like a brother to me," she could remember Emilie saying just weeks after his death. She remembered the pain Emilie had turning to her, enough pain to make her believe that her twin sister had died. But what she'd said next had shocked Nathalie."Nath, I promised Adrien to make sure you were happy, and I'll keep that promise."

After her older brother, Adrien had passed away, Emilie had kept her promise. For years that seemed to be her only goal. Trying to make Nathalie smile. And she succeeded for a while. For years Emilie was the only one to bring a smile to her face. But things changed in high school, sophomore year in particular. That's when Emilie met Gabriel. At first, Gabriel had been nothing but her best friend's boyfriend, and Emilie never abandoned her. She was always forcing Gabriel to let her come tag along and Nathalie always agreed. She never felt abandoned, but when her own crush emerged for him, she had to hide it. Emilie had saved her. She'd kept the promise she'd made to her dying brother and one of her best friends. So Nathalie made one.

Make sure she's happy.

So when she was introduced to Emilie's son, a boy named Adrien, named after her brother and Emilie's best friend, she felt her promise had to apply to him. So if the thought of being a father brought joy to the little boy that reminded her so much of Emile, her best friend, she felt forced to make sure he became a dad. Not for a few days, but to see his own son grow up.

Still unsure what she should do, Nathalie was certain of one thing. Adrien would make a much better father than Gabriel ever had.

If only Em knew, she thought, 100% sure her friend would've handled the situation so much better than Gabriel had.

"Are you okay Nathalie?" Adrien asked, holding onto his school bag as he walked down the stairs.

Nathalie paused her grueling pacing and straightened up, turning to face the teenager."Yes Adrien, do you have your schedule?"

Adrien nodded loosely, holding up a sheet of paper she'd print for him." Yup." he paused, looking up at the woman."Are you sure you're okay?"

Why does he have to be so much like her, she wondered, able to identify so many similarities between him and her childhood friend."Yes now," she had to pause. Like Emilie always could, he knew she was lying."Moderately well, but you have a piano lesson at 6-"

"What's wrong?" he had to ask. He knew Nathalie had been his mom's friend to some extent but didn't actually know much of her.

Nathalie clutched the charm bracelet, memories flowing through her. She remembered her older brother practically pulling her down the street with some surprise. To her surprise, she stood in front of a relatively cheap jewelry shop and was told by her brother she could get one thing. And she picked the grey charm bracelet. As she grew up, her brother began to travel more and at the end of each trip, he'd send her a new charm, but of course, they eventually stopped coming.

"My brother passed away today," she answered simply.

"I didn't know you had a brother," Adrien said unaware about much of Nathalie."I'm sorry,"

"Thank you," Nathalie said. He'd been the first in years to acknowledge his death, even Gabriel who knew of the person his son was named after, never brought notice to the day."Now your piano lesson is-"

"What was his name?" he asked, genuinely curious.

"Adrien," Gabriel interrupted before Nathalie could answer."Enough questions for Nathalie. Your bodyguard will pick you up halfway through the day for a modeling shoot-"

"Father, I was wondering if I could actually talk to you," Adrien said, twisting his miraculous around his finger, a nervous habit he'd developed.

Gabriel glared down his son who was nearly a young adult."Make it quick," he said, ready to step away.

"I was wondering if I could have your blessing,"

Gabriel flinched only slightly."What do you mean?" he asked through a clenched jaw.

Adrien remained strong, not even his father able to break him from his decision." I want to ask you permission, to ask Marinette to marry me." he stated.

"No," Gabriel stated coldly without a second thought.

Adrien was shocked since Gabriel had been nothing but nice to his girlfriend."You said you like Marinette. I'm dating her and we're having a baby together. I love her why-"

"Your too young," Gabriel said, turning his back to retreat to his office.

Oh, he was ready to fight." I'm eighteen tomorrow and Marinette turns eighteen in two weeks. Eighteen is the legal age to get married," he pointed out with confidence.

"I am still your father and know what is best for you,"

"Do you!?" Adrien questioned, feeling anger that had built up over the years beginning to bubble.

"Do not shout in this household," Gabriel said, whipping around to face him.

"And what if I do?! Will you throw me out?! Good, do it. At least then I can make my own choices for once!"

Gabriel fist tensed."Stop this Adrien. I understand your want to rush into things, but marriage is a choice and one you will regret."

"I'm not rushing into things," Adrine said through what was basically a laugh, baffled by how annoying his own father could be." I've liked her for years. I've been in love with her for so long. We'll get married one day either way, why wait to propose?" he asked.

"Because it won't last!" Gabriel responded.

"Won't?" Adrien questioned in a quiet voice, shocked and wondering why his father had changed his opinion on her so drastically."What the fuck do you mean it won't last!?"

"Adrien, I will not allow that talk in my house." Gabriel said sternly, as his son approached him."You've never acted like this before you started dating that girl."

"Marinette isn't just some girl," he said with genuine love and pride. He was proud to love her and proud to get to call her his lady, and no one could take that away from him."I love her and won't let you insult her."

Eye to eye with his teenage son, Gabriel scowled. He's glad I even allow this. My son with Ladybug! It's absurd and he better bet he won't be seeing her after this mother returns."You are naive. She won't make you happy. You'll regret everything,"

Face red with anger, Adrien felt the urge to cataclysm him." I hate you," he muttered under his breath. Anger still running through his veins, the 17-year-old stormed out of the house, certain of one thing. He didn't give a crap about what his sorry excuse for a father said. He would propose and marry Marinette, no matter what he said.

Nathalie looked at her employer red in anger." Sir, don't you think you were a little harsh on him?" she asked, still playing with her charm bracelet.

Gabriel turned to the woman, eyes aflame." I know what is best for my son Nathalie." he paused, glaring at her."I know why Emilie insisted on such a name and for years I've dealt with you, you're an asset of mine but I won't hesitate to keep you away from my son." Nathalie fell pale, nearly dropping her bracelet." I suggest you stop talking to him like such, it is detrimental." he said, retreating back into his office.

Like what? she had to ask herself, grip on her precious bracelet tightening and she felt the charm shape like Big Ben imprinting into her skin, Talk to him like Emilie would? One of these he'll find out the truth Gabriel. I won't tell him, but you'll have to eventually.