Adrien awoke in a daze that morning, most of it had been a complete blur.

He could vaguely remember lots of pink and the comforting smell of lavender mixed with freshly baked pastry. He knew he had been hugged by Sabine, patted on the back and comforted by Tom and offered a place to stay for as long as he wanted. Even if he did not need it, Marinette's parents were more than happy to let him stay with them under one condition: he was willing to join in with game night.

It had been said in jest, but the tears that came flowing from his eyes with their immediate acceptance of him into their home and welcoming ways into their family had taken them by surprise. Sabine, instantly bundling him up in a motherly hug, soothed him with kind words that he did not hear. He was too overwhelmed.

Adrien knew both her and Tom had apologised profusely for upsetting him, but that was not the case as far as he was concerned. He was just happy to have somewhere that he felt safe. Somewhere he felt respected and where his feelings were considered. Processing the previous day's events was not yet an option, and the teenager insisted on having some sort of normality, even if it was just in the simple task, of going to school.

Glad to see that Marinette was back wearing her usual attire, bar her earrings, he was hopeful that the mundane ritual of attending classes would serve as the perfect distraction. Marinette's parents had been very hesitant about this idea however, and had asked that they do their studies in the school library. With a note which Marinette had taken to the teacher, they had been granted the time to study independently, something which Adrien was quite thankful for in the end.

He had turned his mobile off, but still reached for it when he heard Marinette's vibrate.

"It's just Kim," she told him, as the device was put out on the table, "I hope you don't mind but I told him where I was."

Adrien nodded, "did you tell him I was here too?"

"Yes, but he won't say anything."

Adrien nodded again. Biting the inside of his cheek, he debated whether or not it was the right time to have a serious conversation. The library was practically empty, and they were yet to have a discussion about where they stood at least.

"Mari," his green eyes connected with hers from across the table, "can we talk about, us, please?" Even in the circumstances, he found some happiness with how comically wide her eyes became. The way her cheeks dusted with pink was endearing to the blonde, and Adrien found himself reaching across the table to take her hand in his. "I know last night was, not the best, but-"

He closed his eyes as the memory of seeing his mother's body motionless before him flashed into his mind. His body shook with a repressed sob.

"Hey," Marinette cooed, quickly standing up and rounding the table to sit beside him, "you don't have to talk about that until you're ready." She took both his hands in hers, drawing him to sit sideways to face her. The raven haired girl searched his pained expression, "I'm not going anywhere. We can just," she sighed looking for the right way to phrase what she wanted to say, "be us."

Adrien managed to smile gratefully at her, "I can't wrap my head around what my father's done," he squeezed Marinette's dainty hands in his, "but you, I am so happy to have you."

Marinette felt elated by his words. The tears threatening to spill from his eyes were echoed in her own orbs, she smiled back at him. A mixture of understanding, sympathy and relief displayed in her soft features.

"I want us to be, more," he said somewhat cautiously, "but at this moment I-"

"You need a friend more than anything Adrien," she reassured him, "I understand completely." His shoulders relaxed as he slumped forward, his forehead falling into the crook of her neck. Marinette wrapped her arms around his flaccid torso, running her hands up and down in soft and comforting ministrations. "I'm not going anywhere Kitty," she whispered lovingly into his hair.

"Thank you M'Lady."

"Tikki has cautioned me, and has said that there could be other avenues to explore. The wish is, unpredictable, I knew this, but," Gabriel pinched the bridge of his nose while scrunching up his eyes. He sighed heavily before continuing, "now it has been explained to me… I do not want to risk Adrien, as it cannot be guaranteed that I would take her place successfully. I might not be the best father, but still, I am his father."

Tom and Sabine had called in some of their occasional workers to man the bakery while they had a serious conversation with Adrien's father. Both of Marinette's parents sat irregularly stiff opposite a noticeably uncomfortable Gabriel. Eye contact was fleeting, and the presence of the visibly angry baker had the aged designer wishing he had brought Gorilla with him.

"I cannot say that I am not glad it has happened this way if I am honest," the greying man added, "I am completely indebted to your daughter for reaching out to me." His jaw clenched as he swallowed before giving them the next details. "I am ashamed to say that it is because of me that your daughter has been in such distress, I can only apologise to you for that."

A few moments of silence passed where Sabine relaxed and looked on pleasantly, but Tom felt his anger bubbling.

"Let's leave it at that then shall we!?" Tom got to his feet abruptly, speaking sarcastically as he continued to raise his voice. "I thought it was just some awful bully causing Marinette a problem in school, that was just that Lila bringing my daughter down but no~ she's been fighting flipping Hawkmoth and bloody butterflies, getting pummelled from building to cobblestone for the past so many years because an eccentric millionaire wants to get his hands on her jewellery." Breathing heavily, he stared Gabriel down. Sabine casually sipped on her cup of green tea while her husband had his say.

"It's lucky for you that we think so highly of Adrien, your son, who you have also been subjecting this despicable treatment to-"

"I never thought he would be-" Gabriel tried to interject but Tom's warning gaze told him to close his mouth quickly.

"I am not finished!" He exclaimed, struggling to keep his breathing even, as his face darkened with anger. "Even if they weren't the heroes of Paris, you put theirs, along with other innocent lives at risk on a weekly basis, sometimes daily! If I did not think so highly of your son, I can tell you now, you would be flattened on the streets of Paris before you could say Lucky-bloody-Charm!"

"Tom-"

"No Sabine! Mr Agreste needs to hear this." He glanced at his wife who used the cup in her hand to hide the amused smile she knew was about to appear on her face. It was a seldom occurrence for her husband to become so angry, and she could not help but think about how sexy he looked to her.

The big man protecting his family with ferocious passion was something Sabine had a weakness for.

"I heard your son's cries this morning," he shook his head with dismay at an emotional looking Gabriel. Tom's voice became quieter as he tried to emphasise the turmoil Adrien was experiencing, "he screamed in his sleep, because of you. My daughter was the one to comfort him, because you have kept this secret from him," Tom closed his eyes, rage morphing into sadness for the boy. "Because you failed to accept that your wife had passed, and selfishly put your own wants before his."

"I'm gonna head to the bathroom before lunch starts," Marinette told Adrien as she stood up and stretched out her tired body. "Do you want to stay here for lunch or go find a cafe somewhere?"

Adrien lifted his head from the book it was immersed in and stretched out his back with a yawn. "Cafe sounds good," he sighed, shaking off the tired feeling in his muscles, "I don't really want to see anyone if I'm honest. I think your parents were right to get us to stay away from class."

Marinette smiled softly down to him and patted him on the shoulder. "I won't be long."

"Should I pack up and meet you in the locker room?"

Marinette shrugged, "if you want." She bent down to pick up her bag and scoop up the books she had been using. Adrien put his hands on the books and smiled back up at her.

"I'll sort the books, you just make sure you've got what you need and I'll meet you down there."

"Thanks Adrien."

Marinette turned and walked out of the library as Adrien gathered the books up and put them back on the shelves. Two olive eyes watched from behind a corner as Marinette exited the library, walking down the stairs, the raven haired beauty was none the wiser that she was being pursued.

Hope you enjoyed the chapter. Got to love an angry Tom!

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Take it easy! =^.^=

Lady Rhi X