A/N: I'm dragging out this part of the story line a little. I didn't mean to at first but I couldn't fit the whole thing into one chapter. Even though I have no idea how to do the next one because I will be awful at describing fight scene's. But we'll see, I'll figure it out and hopefully get you next weeks chapter at some point next week.

A/N 2: Sorry if you get notified when the story updates and have just seen 2 updates when I've only replaced this chapter. A typo got pointed out to me that would have confused the entire story so I have now corrected it.

PS: I have no idea if you do get those notifications, I only created an account a few weeks ago when I wrote the first few chapters and it's only on my laptop, whereas I read fanfiction on my phone, so I haven't favourited any stories yet even though I read a lot of amazing ones on this platform.

Chapter 11

*Marinette's POV*

So far this day has been running smoothly. I woke up a couple hours after sunrise enveloped in Adrien's arms, in the same position as when we fell asleep. I don't think I've ever been happier. Then, after a quick shared shower, the day truly started. The plan was in action.

The first step was to ring the photographer assuming the identity of Adrien's model co-star for the next day's photoshoot pretending to be sick. As predicted, he flipped out and immediately rang Adrien to let him know and to solve the situation with the nicer Agreste. Adrien then told him that the only solution was to tell his father so that he could choose the back up. So far so good.

Next was to get through breakfast nonchalantly which was much easier said than done. However the buffet style selection of breakfast delicacies did make it a lot easier! About half way through our meal, the phone rang and was answered by Natalie.

"Sir, it's Vincent. He says that the female model for the Gabriel fall shoot tomorrow has come down with a nasty illness and can't make it. He doesn't know what to do," she said to him after listening to the photographer's panicked voice on the other end of the line.

"Pass the phone to me. This is not good," Mr Agreste gruffly replied, standing up and walking out of the dining room and into his office, slamming the door behind him. For the rest of breakfast, the muffled sounds of a very loud and angry conversation could be heard, causing Adrien to look at me in worry, wondering if maybe we'd gone too far and cost Vincent his job. I reached over and placed my hand on his, squeezing it gently, assuring him that it was ok.

We were just standing up to leave the table when Mr Agreste came storming out of his office.

"Natalie, we have to go and look at the other test shots of Adrien with other models. I don't have copies and they have to be chosen carefully this time by me in person, unlike last time," he huffed before turning to face Adrien and I. "Seeing as Gorilla will have to drive me and Natalie will be needed, you will both have to stay here. Do not go anywhere. We will hopefully be back soon."

"No problem Father. We still have a little work to do anyway before Marinette has to go home," Adrien replied, giving me a covert thumbs up behind his back.

"Good," Mr Agreste said curtly. He then turned on the ball of his foot and walked straight out of the front door, without acknowledging Gorilla holding it open for him. Both Natalie and Gorilla followed him out, shutting the door behind them, leaving Adrien and I to let out the breath that we had unconsciously been holding.

"I didn't think it would actually work," Tikki said as she flew out of my hoodie pocket. "It was a crazy plan, and rather a lot of work just to snoop on your father."

"Yeah it was, but it's too late now to think about that. Let's just carry on," Adrien said as he grabbed my hand and pulled me over to the office door. "Ok, we don't have long. All four of us need to concentrate and move quickly and efficiently. Remember to put everything back exactly how you found it, my father has a very good eye for noticing things that are out of place. It comes with his job I guess."

Plagg, Tikki and I nodded at Adrien in acknowledgement. He carefully pushed open the door to reveal a very clinical office, the last thing I'd expect the office of a fashion designer to look like. As soon as we walked in, each of us went to our assigned corners, carefully searching the areas for any abnormalities or clues to help solve the mystery of Gabriel Agreste. I very quickly finished my area, so I made my way over to the back of the room, towards an abstract themed portrait of Adrien's mother. I stood there for a little and studied it, noticing the little details of the artistry. It truly was a very beautiful painting, but something was slightly off, I just couldn't figure out what,

"Strangely beautiful isn't it?" Adrien said as he came and stood next to me. "It took me ages to like it because something never sat right with me about it."

"I was just thinking that. Something's wrong, I just don't know what," I answered, turning to face him. "Are you done with your section?"

"Yeah, I didn't find anything. Hey Plagg, do you remember the safe behind the painting that the Grimoire was in? Can you and Tikki have a look in there please? Mari and I will look over here at his designing station," Adrien said.

"Sure, if we find anything, I'll open it from the inside," Plagg answered. I don't think I've ever seen him so serious or without cheese in his tiny hands for this long!

Plagg and Tikki phased into the safe, leaving us staring at the design station, and the tablet left on it.

"He's never left this before, maybe we'll actually get some real answers," Adrien murmured, walking over to it and trying to unlock it. After 4 tries, he was successful. "Of course it was my parents' anniversary, it was the one day every year that they celebrated with full gusto." He looked a little wistful as he said this, as if he was remembering lost good times. I reached out and rubbed his shoulder, coaxing him back to reality. He shook himself and started to scroll through the tablet while I looked through the last few drawers, yielding no results.

"Hey, look at this," Adrien called, pointing at something on the tablet. "I've never seen these before." He was pointing to pictures of a young Gabriel Agreste, his hairstyle matching Adrien's perfectly and smiling radiantly down at a beautiful girl in his arms, whom I could only assume was Emilie, Adrien's mother. Her eyes shone a bright green, love reflecting in both of their faces. They couldn't have been older than us in the photo, and yet they looked so happy. Seeing them like that, I couldn't help but be reminded of our new found relationship. We kept scrolling through the assortment of photographs, uncovering each beautiful moment of Adrien's parents relationship, their engagement, wedding, moving house, Emilie's pregnancy, teaching an adorable baby Adrien how to walk, and many more from their everyday life. And then they just stopped. No more happy memories from around Adrien's 11th birthday

"They stopped when my mum started to fall ill and we didn't leave the house anymore. That's also when they hired Natalie and separated themselves from me. They were present but nothing was the same, the mood in the house was a lot less happy," Adrien said. "But I think we now know why my father's been acting so weird. Our relationship and the joy we have brought to each other has been reminding him of his late teenage years with the love of his life, my mother. It's meant that he's been more lenient and is letting me have the love and life that he once had. It's the nicest thing he's done for me in years and it's as if the man he once used to be is returning, no matter how slowly."

"That has to be it. It's honestly not what I was expecting, but it's a relief. I think we should leave now, I don't think it's a good idea to hang around much longer. Oh and where are Tikki and Plagg?"

'I know it really is a relief and yes let's go. Erm, I think they are still in the safe. I think if you pull the painting on its hinges and knock on the safe, they'll hear and come out. I'll put this tablet away quickly while you do that."

I nodded at him and walked back to the strange painting again, noticing the hinges and carefully swinging it forwards, revealing a safe. I rapped on the door hopefully catching the attention of the kwami's. A couple seconds later, they phased out of the door, looking at me with wide eyes.

"Hey, what's with the expression. Did you find anything?" I asked.

"Erm maybe," Tikki replied.

"Not maybe, we did. There's a picture of Adrien's mum in there and she's wearing a peacock brooch," Plagg interrupted.

'Yes, and?" I asked, a little confused. Then it clicked. I gasped in realisation. "No it can't be."

Both kwami's nodded at me with identical frowns on their tiny faces,

"What can't be?" Adrien asked as he walked up behind me. Oh this is bad.

"Plagg and Tikki found a picture of your mum wearing a peacock brooch. The peacock brooch.." I let it sink in and then watched the realisation hit his face.

"It can't be. There is no way that my mum held the peacock miraculous. It's not possible. The first time it was traced in Paris was with Mayura, and that was after her disappearance."

"The first known trace in Paris was then. We still don't know the journey it took when Master Fu lost it and the butterfly miraculous all those years ago. It's perfectly possible that it came to Paris way before we know it did."

"Ok I get that. But what about the butterfly miraculous? Is it safe to assume that they got separated?"

"Yes it is…" I started but I was interrupted by Tikki before I could finish.

'Hang on a second Marinette. Master Fu lost the Peacock and Butterfly Miraculous at the same time as he lost the Grimoire. Remember all those years ago when we witnessed Adrien with the book and you got really jealous when Lila showed an interest in it and then stole it?" she said.

"Yes, what's your point?"

"Well you then gave it back. To Adrien's father. The original owner of the book..."

"Tikki, that's a pretty out there thought," I considered, understanding what she meant.

"Wait a second, " Adrien put in, coming out of his thoughts. "You're saying that you don't think they got separated at all and that my father has all three?"

"Yes I am. I hate to say it but it's a logical option," Tikki replied to Adrien, saving me. He had a shocked look on his face, placing his hand on his forehead. I reached out and gently caressed his arm in an attempt to give him some comfort. I can't imagine what he's going through right now. He's facing the prospect that his father may have something to do with Shadowmoth.

*Adrien's POV*

It can't be true. But it makes a terrible amount of sense. My mother's illness and very sudden disappearance. My father's withdrawal from society. Of course there was another reason. But we're only speculating. We don't have any real proof.

That's when a loud clattering sounded through the air. Tikki, Marinette and I all turned in Plaggs direction, to find him pushing something on my mothers painting.

"Sorry, but I think the clatter means that something's wrong. Tikki can you please press that triangle over there?" He said.

"Erm sure. How do you know which one I need to press?"

"I don't know. I was staring at it and then all of a sudden the reason why the painting seemed off stood out to me. These buttons don't fit with the pattern of the painting. They've been added to blend in but they weren't there originally," Plagg explained.

Tikki flew over to the triangle that Plagg pointed out, pushing it carefully. All of a sudden, we were descending. This was the strangest thing. I had no idea that there was this under our house. But what was this?

After a few minutes, we stopped. The tube doors then opened up to reveal what looked like an underground garden. However, in the middle there was a glass coffin, much like a scene out of Snow White. I grabbed Marinette's hand for support and slowly walked towards it, scared of what I would find. There, looking like an ethereal beauty, was my mother. I gasped and ran towards her, not paying attention to the little white butterflies floating around the room.

"What is she doing here? Is she alive? This whole time I had been told that she was dead. We even had a funeral and memorial for her. That's why we have the statue outside," I stammered.

"I don't know Adrien," Marinette replied. That's when I noticed that she hadn't moved from where I left her. She was studying the surroundings in awe, analysing every detail. "This is unbelievable really, I didn't even know it was possible to entomb and preserve someone like this."

"It's not. But she's not dead. She's in a magical coma. That means that this encasement is doing nothing, making me think that she was put there by someone who doesn't understand them. This is perfectly reversible so I don't know why she's here," Tikki explained.

"Magical Coma? But how did she fall into one?" I asked, trying to hide the distraught in my voice.

"The peacock Miraculous, it's broken. If she used it, it would have been making her very ill, eventually falling into this coma," Tikki added.

It was all clicking into place. The absence of pictures after my 11th birthday was because my mum was starting to fall very ill and couldn't do much. By the time I turned 13, she was so withdrawn that she 'died' a few days later. This really is a lot to take in, but Tikki said that this is reversible. I can see her again. Speak to her. Play piano with her. It's everything I've been dreaming of since she 'died'.

I was staring at my mother, looking so peaceful and serene, when Marinette's voice broke me out of my thoughts.

"Erm Adrien. I think someone is coming," She loudly whispered from her position by the butterfly garden. My brain leapt into action as I quickly called for Plagg to transform me. Marinette did the same with Tikki and then we both hid only to watch Shadowmoth walk out of the tube lift.