Marinette was sat Adrien's bed holding his hand when Gabriel had emerged at the door. Seeing her there brought back memories of how he had held his wife's hand. The similarities between his wife and his son were indisputable. Not just in their shared features, but their personality traits. Traits he had loved about his wife, irritated him when he saw them in Adrien. Marinette's parents had put a new spin on this resemblance though. Instead of thinking he would be constantly reminded of his anguish over losing his wife, they had gushed about how it must be lovely to see his son grow and be a welcome reminder of the good times him and wife had shared. This had encouraged him to open his closed heart to Adrien, leaving him wondering why he had ignored him for so long. Seeing him as a possession rather than a person had ultimately damaged their relationship. Now seeing the error of his ways, he was determined to make amends, starting with supporting him and learning to respect him as a person.

He saw how the relationship had gone with Kagami, how his son ended up shying away from his peers and becoming more withdrawn in general. This impacted on his work, on his grades, on his overall self esteem. Gabriel had not liked how this had happened so easily, and knew now that it was because of how he had conditioned his son that allowed for him to be so easily controlled by another. This realisation did not sit right with him.

He smiled at the back Marinette, he actually liked her parents and how casual they were, he knew Marinette was a good fit. He had hope, something he hadn't had for a long while.

"Marinette, would you like to stretch your legs?" He placed his hand on her shoulder with a soft expression. "Go and get some air, I'll stay and send for you if he wakes."

Marinette smiled and got up on her sleepy legs. They had spoken to the doctor who had said he would wake soon and was suffering from a severe concussion to the head. His small cuts were trivial and he was expected to wake once rested, they would assess him further once he was coherent.

"Would you like a drink?" She offered Gabriel.

"No thank you Marinette, you go and take a break and call your parents." He took his sons hand and was whispering to him as Marinette gave a small smile and left the room.

She headed for the exit and stood outside, taking shelter under the canopy from the rain that was pouring down. Looking at her phone, there were many messages from people who were concerned for Adrien, offering support in many ways. She looked towards the emergency department entrance, observing the many people coming in and out while debating who to contact first. Then looked out to the city. There was a familiar face smiling at her with concern walking up the path to the entrance. They had a grocery bag in their hand and their hood pulled up.

"Luka? What are you doing here?" Marinette was astonished he had come.

He opened up the bag and looked inside, "I brought some food for you and Adrien's dad." He said with a half smile avoiding her gaze. It was still awkward, she had only told him last night and she cringed at the memory of their exchange.

"Thanks," she replied sheepishly.

"How is he?" He seemed to know what she was thinking "I came because Adrien is my friend, I'm happy for you two Marinette, and I want to be here to support you both." He looked in the bag again, "Juleka has put in some chocolate for you," he gestured to the bar of white chocolate.

"Thank you Luka," Marinette said taking the bag off him. "He's got concussion and hasn't come around yet-" she looked back into the emergency department "-but it looks promising." She looked in the bag, "thanks for this Luka, it means a lot."

They hugged, it was comforting for them both but in different ways. Luka left and Marinette went back inside to Adrien's room.

Luka walked down the path and a familiar figure stood in front of him, Kagami. Soaked through, her face was tear stained and she looked hopeless.

'Her song is so sad.'

Luka outstretched his hand to Kagami. "Do you want a chat over coffee?"

She nodded feebly and he put his arm around her shoulders to comfort her as they walked away from the hospital.

As Marinette approached Adrien's room, she noticed the door ajar and heard the voices of Gabriel and Nathalie talking. It sounded like a very serious conversation which she did not want to intrude on so waited outside occupying herself with her phone. She was not listening, but she could not help overhearing parts of their conversation.

"-Don't understand what you're saying, you were set on this plan." Nathalie spoke in hushed tones with a sense of urgency.

"I'm not taking this risk anymore, this girl wasn't even Akumatised and look at the damage she's done." Gabriel replied with the same hushed tone but with anguish in his words. "I want to focus on what I have in the now, and have fond memories of the past. I want to make amends for my actions."

"But Gabriel, what will you do, how will you do it?"

"I'm going to support my son, I could have lost him today but luckily he is still here... I'm taking this as a sign."

Nathalie sighed "I am relieved-"

"You will still be by my side, please? You are part of our family and I'm not going to over look anything again-"

Marinette blushed as she heard a warm embrace, walked silently away from the room a few steps and turned on her heel this time making obvious noise with her feet and the bag as she approached the door. They had heard her coming and had separated slightly, still looking rather lost in the moment that Marinette had heard. She chose to not make out like she noticed anything and held up the bag in her hand.

"A friend has brought some food for us," she smiled and looked at Adrien. "Any change?"

Nathalie took the bag and sat down routing through and breaking up the chocolate bar and clumsily handed it out. Marinette walked over to Adrien's side, noticing the empty finger where his ring usually sat and held his hand gently caressing this finger in particular.

He stirred.

"He's waking up!" She gasped and Nathalie and Gabriel exchanged a worried look.

'Is there a chance he had heard our conversation?'

I started writing this story, not really knowing where it would go, it seems i can't stop writing now. I honestly did not think it would get to 10 chapters, let alone 24. Stick with me and let me know what you think.

Thank you for reading what I have written so far, and I really appreciate the comments that have been left.

xx