Adrien had known this would happen sooner or later, Their showdown with Hawkmoth was a long time coming it was inevitable, like death, well maybe not death not something you wanna think about on your way to fight a supervillain. Still Hawkmoth was human a simple fact he had overlooked he wasn't some bogeyman or a monster to be slain. He was human. His father.

He had been uncharacteristically quiet since Ladybug had told him, he froze the second she he heard, she just sounded so sure and as she explained the pieces fell into place for him, his father was the man terrorising the city for the past year, he was the reason they were running themselves ragged fighting akumas everyday and for what? Well he guessed he was about to find out.

Getting into the mansion had been easy dodging ladybugs questions about how he knew so much about the place? Not so much still he managed to evade them, with his secret identity intact. He made sure not to know too much about the interior letting ladybug lead him to his fathers office.

"Keep an eye out there's probably a secret door around here somewhere" Ladybugs voice interrupted his thoughts as he remembered the safe behind his mothers painting up close however he finally noticed the buttons. The door opened and hesitantly the pair stepped inside.

Ladybug knew something was wrong with Chat, he would've made a joke about how close they were in the elevator, but he had been silent. The door opened and the lights switch on illuminating the garden, in the centre shinning under the pale moonlight was a glass coffin Adrien had a feeling he knew who it was and found himself running towards the case, there was his mother she looked so peaceful, she hadn't changed at all since she had disappeared.

He had to know for sure and he opened the coffin gently grazing his hand over her face. "Mom..." he heard a small gasp from ladybug but he couldn't focus on that right now he turned back to his mother as she felt a hand reach out for him.

"Adrien? Where am I?" Emilie said weakly as she sat up looking around Adrien opened his mouth to answer but was cut off by the elevator doors opening, Gabriel stepped out of the elevator into the garden glaring daggers at The two heroes before his eyes widened in fear as he saw Chat with Emilie. "She- she's awake!? She can't be awake she needs to remain in stasis, p-please she'll die, all of this it's to save her"

"Gabriel it's okay-"

"It's not okay I'm close so close If i can just take their miraculous I can save you" Gabriel explained frantically his hand hovering over his broach

"I DON'T WANT SAVING! not anymore. Don't you understand? Gabriel I love you and I can't let you destroy yourself over me" Emilie stood up though her legs were a little shakey she managed to maintain her balance.

"Even if you could use our miraculous to heal her the universe would take someone else instead, likely another family member like your son" Gabriel fell to his knees as Ladybug finished explaining.

"No... that can't happen, I can't lose him. Maybe this is the worlds way of punishing people like me I always seem to make the wrong decisions and now I'm being scolded by a child... and you two" he turned to Emilie and Adrien/Chat Noir. "I've hurt you, both how foolish can one man be?"

"How long does she have?" Adrien spoke his voice barely above a whisper he wasn't sure he wanted to know the answer "I have no way of knowing... days maybe" Gabriel answered as he slowly stood up. "I will not fight you, either of you, I just have one request let me spend my wife's last few days with her and my family after that I will accept any punishment, I realise I'm not in much of a position to make demands so this is merely a request as a husband" he turned to Chat Noir before pulling him into possibly the final hug he'd share with his son "and a Father"

"Nooroo, Duusu I renounce you both" Gabriel placed both miraculous into ladybugs awaiting palm before putting them away in her yo yo "you didn't put up a fight so I will grant your request but afterwards you will stand trial for everything you did as Hawkmoth" With that she left leaving the family of three alone, Emilie was the first to speak gingerly making her way over to the elevator with the help of Adrien. "I'm sure I've got lots to catch up on how about you tell me all about it Adrien?"

"Of course mom I'd be happy to- are you coming Father?" Gabriel snapped out of his trance "You two go on I'll be there in a moment" the pair left leaving gabriel alone, he removed his glasses sighing softly. "I don't know if you exist or not God. But please allow me the simple joy of spending a few days with my family" His voice broke as tears began to flow freely. "Even a guy like me deserves a break. Every once in a while" he stood crying In the garden for a few minutes as the weight of his failure sank in, he dried his tears before entering the elevator, after all his family wouldn't want to see him cry.