"…don't worry son, I'll make sure to take some snacks up to her for when she wakes, I just wish I knew why she was so tired."

Tom's hand gave Adrien's shoulder a gentle pat as the blonde was leaving after telling the baker that Marinette had not eaten her soup. The teen could not exactly give Marinette's father the whole truth as to why the ravenette was so exhausted, but he could offer some sort of explanation.

"I know this situation with Lila has been a nightmare for her," Tom nodded at Adrien's explanation. "Then there were the issues with the boys in school."

"Yes," Tom's brow furrowed, "I know things happened in school and it was stressful for Marinette, but after seeing Luka act like that… well I was shocked to say the least." The large man looked genuinely dismayed, "I just had to intervene after the way he spoke to her."

Adrien felt his eyebrows raise in surprise, he was yet to find out what had actually happened, and it seemed that it had been worse than he originally thought. "I'm sorry Mr Dupain, but I'm not aware of what happened after I left."

Tom nodded solemnly, "well, I guess telling you what happened won't be such a bad idea, least you'll have an idea for tomorrow. Marinette's not sure if she wants to go anymore, but she's the one with the band's outfits, so she feels obligated, although I have told her she doesn't have to be the one to take them."

"Don't worry Mr Dupain, I've already said that I'll give her a lift with them, so if she wants me, or any of the others to stay with her while she hands them over, we can."

Tom's hand landed on the blonde's shoulder once more as he smiled thoughtfully at the teen. "Son, I don't think you being there would be a good idea, Alya seemed to be able to deflate the situation quite well last night but, well… I don't know how much more I can say without possibly embarrassing my daughter a little."

Adrien knew his cheeks had given him away as Tom's smile turned mischievous and he leaned down teasingly into the blonde's space. "Something tells me you might already know, hmm?" He smiled kindly, "just promise me you'll be careful with that knowledge." Tom stood up straight once more and Adrien could see how intimidating the man could be and was instantly reminded of the whole 'Weredad' incident. The blonde was very conscious of how unprotected he felt without the safety of his suit; Adrien gulped.

"I-yes, and don't worry," he held his hands up and waved them plicatingly, "I will never hurt your daughter…" as he trailed off, Adrien sheepishly reached for his nape and glanced off to the side while the blush tinting his cheeks darkened. "I uh, like her like that, too-ah!"

Adrien was suddenly being embraced and picked up off the floor by the strong and elated burley baker. Adrien could not help but think of how easy it would be for this man to snap him like a toothpick.

"Tom! Put him down, he looks scared to death," Sabine's head was barely visible from where Adrien's face was squished into the man's shoulder, and he felt his whole body shake with Tom's hearty laughter.

Placing Adrien back on the floor gingerly, Tom smiled gleefully at his wife, "he's just told me some good news," and then turned back to face Adrien. "I'm sorry son, I can get a bit carried away when it comes to my daughter, as I'm sure one day you will understand if you have children of your own."

Adrien's whole face resembled a tomato, and Sabine came to his rescue by playfully chastising her husband and placing a comforting hand on the teen's shoulder. "Dear, he's too young to be thinking about children, leave him be before you scare him away." She turned to Adrien, "now Sweetie, do you want to stay for dinner?"

Adrien smiled thankfully, and wished he could say yes, but he was really meant to be practicing his piano. "I would love to, but I really need to be getting home."

"Not a problem son," Tom patted his shoulder again, "the offer's always, on the table," the large man chuckled at his joke while his wife rolled her eyes fondly. Adrien felt his chest warm: the Dupain-Chengs were lovely people, and he wished he was able to enjoy their company more often. He would definitely be back later on that evening, and hopefully he would find out what had happened with Luka then too.


"Your friend was the akuma's target last night, is that right?"

Adrien had to take a double look to make sure it was his father sitting at the head of the table. The blonde had been mechanically eating his dinner without noticing the man's arrival, and the question was completely out of character. "I… yes, yes she was."

Gabriel hummed thoughtfully, "I saw on the news that Ladybug was nowhere to be seen, and now my gardener has his work cut out for him."

Adrien felt really confused, had his father become so unfamiliar with having a casual conversation with him that he resorted to making random comments as a way to break the silence? Why was he wanting to make menial small talk when the silence was much more suited to their dynamic nowadays?

"…and I hear that Miss Rossi will not be returning to school either."

It took Adrien a minute to realise his father had been talking in his monotonous tone the entire time the blonde had been wondering why his father had suddenly turned up to eat a meal with him.

"I uh, I'm not sure," Adrien replied truthfully. "I would think not after what happened, but nothing has been said to us as far as I know. I thought the school was investigating."

Gabriel pursed his lips, "it is no longer a school matter, they will be assisting the police and conducting their own enquiry, but now Lila is within the judiciary system." He took a sip of his wine while Adrien continued to wait for him to finish, "the police have contacted myself, as you have put in a complaint against her for harassment and I have supplied them with your availability if the matter goes to court. I would hope that it does not however, as that is not something I would like the Agreste name to be associated with."

Adrien was required to clench his jaw shut as his indignant response begged to come out. 'Classic father, more concerned about the brand than the people.'

"Your friend," the older male resumed talking as if he had not noticed the sudden tension in his son's posture, "she is also the one to make claims against Lila, is that correct?"

Adrien stared at his blasé father with wide dumbfounded eyes, "how did you-"

"It is my business to know these things Adrien," Gabriel replied curtly with a sharp edge to his tone, "I believe it is her house you were at last night also?"

"Ye-yes," Adrien cursed his stammered answer and could feel his anxiety levels rising, "she is a close friend of mine."

"How close do you want to be with Mis Dupain-Cheng, Adrien?"

Damning the heat rising in his cheeks, the teen remained silent as he was not sure what exactly his father was getting at. Gabriel's lips curled gently and he took another sip of his wine.

"Your friend seems to attract trouble Adrien," Gabriel spoke flatly, "it would be wise for you to consider other options before you embark on a relationship with a teen like her."

Adrien narrowed his eyes, "I do not believe that she attracts trouble, father, and I think I would be very lucky to have the opportunity to date Marinette." Gabriel's eyes hardened instantly at his son's defiant and defensive nature, but the teen was not having anyone criticise Marinette. "Marinette and her family are some of the nicest people I have had the opportunity to meet, and I honestly believe you could learn a lot from them."


Adrien had been prevented from leaving his house that night at a reasonable time to visit Marinette's parents. His comment about his father learning form the Dupain-Chengs had received a response, but not one that the blonde had been expecting.

Gabriel Agreste simply bowed his head and agreed.

He actually agreed with Adrien's statement, and that had the blonde completely stunned. What shocked him even more was the moment his father conceded that he had lost himself since his mother had left… and then Adrien found himself sitting in the living room of the mansion with his father by his side.

"Your mother always told me to look for the good in people, Adrien," the aged man rubbed his forehead and the blonde noticed how tired his father seemed. "I miss her so much. She brought out the best in me, and since she's not here anymore…" the man trailed off with an uncharacteristically somber sigh.

Adrien did not need the greying man beside him to elaborate his point further: Adrien understood.

"You remind me of her, so, so much Adrien," Gabriel's sad steel eyes turned on his son, "I know that if I allow you, you can bring out the best in me too… will you do that for me? Will you help me to see the good in people?"

Blonde eyebrows rose on the teen's forehead, and a sad smile graced Adrien's face. "If you let me in father, I will."

Gabriel bowed his head slightly, "thank you," and then turned to face the television and pointed the remote at the screen. "Would you watch a film with me, Adrien?"

Adrien felt his chest swell and smiled kindly at his rather emotional looking father. Sure he wanted to find out what had happened with Luka the day before, but Marinette would hopefully be awake after sleeping all day and he could find out from her later. At that moment, Adrien felt it was important to spend some quality time with his father: a man who was finally turning a corner, and opening up to his son.

As the title 'Solitude' appeared on screen, Adrien swallowed the growing lump in his throat. He and his father sat in a new, companionable, silence and there was a surprising moment when the elder Agreste reached out for his son's hand. The teen was brought out of the story starring his mother when the tearing Agreste gave his digits a comforting squeeze, and it was only then that Adrien realised that he too, had tears streaming down his cheeks.

Maybe it was his mother's character's heartbreak, or the fact that she was completely alone in a city filled with people, but Adrien could not help but put himself in her shoes. His heart had broken when she left; he had felt completely alone until he finally broke out of his father's confinement; and now it seemed his father was ready to do the same. The blonde was not sure what had changed the cold man so rapidly, but now that the greying man had opened his doors, Adrien had decided he was going to keep them that way.


With the foresight of knowing how difficult it would be to gain entry through Marinette's trap door, Chat Noir made sure to visit the gardener's tool shed to grab a pair of shears. He had been cautious of the security system in the process, as Chat was aware how it would look if the blonde hero had been seen rummaging around a random person's property.

Being quiet, the hero proceeded to cut just enough of the vines to allow the trap door to open, he did debate using his cataclysm to get it out of the way quickly, but again, Chat did not want to draw attention to Marinette's balcony; especially since there was still so much of the city that could also benefit from having the new foliage removed. The blonde was yet to check if the teen was awake, but he reasoned that it would help her anyhow if she needed to escape the opening as Ladybug. Hawkmoth was yet to take advantage of a seemingly missing heroine, and Chat felt it would not be long until he did.

He had only been at it for a short while when the trap door began to lift from the inside. Hoping not to worry Marinette, he whispered quietly as to not draw attention to him from any of the neighbouring buildings. "Just a sec, I'm almost-"

"Young man-"

Chat froze, the female voice that travelled through the opening was not the one he was expecting.

"-what are you doing? And why are you doing it at this time of night?"


Once Chat had finally cut enough away to open the trap door fully, the woman emerged with a thankful smile on her face. Looking around, her eyes suddenly widened and she took in just how badly overgrown her daughter's balcony was. "I guess that's why our house is covered then."

"Don't worry Mrs Dupain-Cheng," Chat smiled as he rested back on his heels, "it can be fixed next time Ladybug throws her Lucky Charm." He nervously rubbed at his nape while the woman continued to look at the dense foliage consuming the entirety of her daughter's balcony. "How is Marinette now?"

The hero's question put a halt to Sabine's marvelling of the roof terrace. "Oh she's fine dear, thank goodness," the petite woman replied pleasantly, "I was just getting her plates and changing her bed while she's in the shower. Tom's asleep already, but I'll tell him you popped by," she smiled warmly, "would you like to come and wait for Marinette to finish, I have herbal tea if you'd like some while she finishes up?"


So Gabe has accepted that he has some learning to do! Another change, but will it last? Thank you for reading, and you follows, faves and reviews are very appreciated =)

I hope you're enjoying the story so far!

Take it easy =^.^=

Lady Rhi X