"It's just a one or two shot," she said. "Nothing very long."

She lied. She lied lied lied.

This chapter goes fast because I didn't want to write it.

—

"So, how was school today?" Asked Tom. The family was gathered around the little table in the kitchen, Adrien and Marinette sitting next to each other. Sabine had made quiche, remembering that Adrien had greatly enjoyed it. So far, they were sticking to small talk, trying to avoid the inevitable reveal. It had to be natural, of course. "Mom said it was a little rough. You're still having trouble with that Lila girl?"

"Maybe," Marinette said as she finished her bite of quiche. "Miss Bustier had us air our grievances like adults. She said she wanted to avoid rumors and gossip, so Lila, Adrien, and I all got to state our sides of the story. And then Chloe and Nino backed us up."

"So, did it get solved?" Asked Sabine.

"We don't know," Answered Adrien. "We didn't stick around. There was a lot of shouting from the classroom, so…we're just going to let our classmates decide for themselves."

Tom gave both of them a surprised glance. "That's a bold move! Are you sure?"

"You can't force someone to believe you," said Marinette wisely. "I know from experience."

Sabine reached over and patted her hand. "Well, I'm proud of you. You're learning this lesson very early in life. It does get better as you get older, but some people never outgrow petty behavior like lying. But the older you get, the more dangerous it is to lie. It has bigger consequences for those who it affects, and when you get caught." She finished with a broad smile. "I'm glad I raised a daughter that's above lying."

Marinette smiled at her, before the look fell. She couldn't have asked for a better opening, but she just wished it hadn't made her feel so guilty. "Actually maman, papa…there's something I need to tell you. Something we both need to tell you."

This was it. The moment of truth. Of course, Marinette trusted her parents, and she knew they'd take it well, but she had just been hiding it for so long…

"I wanted to tell you from day one. It killed me that I couldn't. It was for your safety, you know?"

"Honey, what are you talking about?" Sabine frowned, concern etching wrinkles around her eyes.

"Just…don't get mad?"

Tom and Sabine shared a look. "We'll try."

Marinette exhaled, and reached over to take Adrien's hand. "Together?"

"Of course." He smiled.

"Okay…Tikki, spots on."

"Plagg, Claws out."

The bright flash forced Tom and Sabine to look away, and when they looked back, their daughter and her classmate were replaced with the Heroes of Paris.

Silence. It felt like minutes ticked by, as they just sat in silence. Both parents wracked their eyes over the teens, taking in every detail, making every piece fit in their minds.

Marinette held her breath, as Adrien squeezed her hand.

"All this time…? It was you…? Both of you?" Sabine looked absolutely horrified, as she remembered over and over, these two children taking fatal hits and falls, fighting on rooftops and cars, facing off with guns and swords.

Her baby, on the front lines of a magical war.

Marinette nodded, tears starting to form in her eyes.

Suddenly, Tom was laughing. Not just a chuckle. A full on, rattle the windows, fist pounding on the table, absolute uncontrollable laugh attack.

It startled everyone.

"What's gotten into you, Tom?"

"When did you—" more laughter. "When did you find out about each other? I have to know!"

Confused, and a little unsettled, Marinette answered, "Um…he found out yesterday, and he told me today."

That just incited more laughter, as Tom actually fell out of his chair and landed on the floor.

"Papa…?"

"I'm—I'm sorry, cupcake!" He tried to get a hold of himself as he kept giggling. "It's not—It's not that funny—!"

The other three just shared nervous glances. Did their reveal drive Tom to insanity?

"Were—" He wiped a tear from his eye. "Weredad! Breakfast!" He took a deep breath and tried to calm down. "I'm just thinking about that one time Marinette confessed to being in love with Chat Noir, and then he said he had to turn her down for Ladybug. But I knew Marinette had a crush on Adrien! And I got akumatized over that! That's hilarious!"

Both of the heroes blushed. "Papa…" Said Ladybug.

"No, no you're right, that was an emotional day for everyone." He held a straight face for about three seconds before he burst into giggles again.

Although Adrien and Marinette were actually dating now, it didn't ease the embarrassment for either of them, and they both blushed.

But his laughter did break the tension in the room, and Marinette was able to take a steady breath.

"Now Tom," Sabine chastised. "Leave the kids alone. I'm sure they had a good reason for hiding their identities from each other."

"We did. We had to keep each other safe. If one of us fell under control of an Akuma, Hawkmoth could use that to get our identities."

Tom's laughter finally subsided as he got off the floor. "I'm sorry, cupcake. I didn't mean to embarrass you. It was just—you got yourselves in such a pickle!" He retook his seat, and put his head in his hands. "Okay, now that that's out in the open…is there a wedding in the future?"

Sabine smacked his arm. "Tom!"

"What! You know I'm a huge romantic! And an even bigger Ladynoir fan!"

"What happened to Marichat?" Asked Marinette with a wiry smile.

"Old news. So…?"

"Well sir," Chat began, a dusting of pink on his cheeks. "I'd like to formally ask you for permission to date your daughter—"

"Yes! Of course! Absolutely!"

"—But," Chat interrupted right back. "There's something else we need to tell you before you make your decision."

"We're listening," said Sabine, resting a hand on her overly excited husband. "Take your time."

"Well," began Ladybug carefully, "we're revealing ourselves to you now because it's safe. You're the first civilians to know. And you're the first civilians to know that Hawkmoth has been defeated. Chat took his and Mayura's Miraculous."

Absolute joy and pride nearly burst out of both of the parents, as their smiles grew and their eyes sparkled. But before they could celebrate, Chat Noir elaborated, "It's because of that that I'm here. My...my father is, or was, Hawkmoth. He was suspicious of me, so I had to leave."

All that joy was snuffed out in a second, and Marinette swore she could hear her parent's hearts breaking.

A clattering of chairs and Chat Noir was embraced with two pairs of arms.

"You're a part of our family, Adrien," Sabine assured. "You will always have a place here with us. It's going to be okay."

He didn't cry when his father had revealed himself. He didn't shed a single tear because of the shock. But all of the subsequent actions had built up, and now in the arms of the Dupain-Chengs, Adrien felt himself beginning to break down.

"We got you, Kitty." Marinette promised, the flash of light signaling her transformation.

"Plagg, Claws In."

The suit faded, and all at once, Adrien let loose his tears of frustration and betrayal. Just a few tears being squeezed out of him by Marinette's family.

"Thank you." He choked. "Thank you so much."

"Of course, kiddo." Sabine cupped his cheek. "You're a great kid, and we owe Chat Noir a lot. We want you to be happy, and safe."

"Marinette is extremely lucky to have you as parents."

"Oh no," Tom disagreed. "We're horrendously annoying and nosy!"

"Papa..." Marinette warned.

"But cupcake! You knew when you got a boyfriend I was going to hound him relentlessly! Don't act so surprised!"

Sabine patted her husband. "Oh leave them alone Tom. I think we've all had a very stressful day. Let's cool down with a movie, hmm?"

"Actually...there's still more."

"More?!" Both Tom and Sabine shouted.

"It's not as bad as the last bit," Marinette waved her hands around. "Well...I guess that's debatable. We need to go to Tibet."

"Tibet?" Parroted Sabine. "Why on earth would you need to go there?"

"The Guardians of the Miraculous live there in a temple. Adrien and I...well, we learned why Gabriel did what he did."

"My mother," Adrien explained. "She's still alive. She's in a coma from using a broken Miraculous. He hoped that using our Miraculous would wake her up, but..."

"It's really risky." Marinette continued. "We just want to see if the guardians have a better idea."

"I see." Sabine breathed. "Where's Gabriel now? Did you not call the police on him?"

"No." Adrien shook his head. "We took his Miraculous. He's not able to hurt anyone anymore. And if we revive Mrs. Agreste, he won't have a reason to either."

Tom and Sabine shared a skeptical look. "Are you sure? I know you're Ladybug and Chat Noir, but...shouldn't he face judgement for his crimes?"

"I'm being selfish." Adrien said softly. "I don't want to lose my father. If I get back my mother, maybe he'll be back to who he used to be, and we can be a family again."

"Oh honey," Sabine cooed, wrapping her arms around him. "It might not happen that way."

"I know…but it's worth a try, right?"

Sabine wrung her hands. "But Tibet is just so far! Plane tickets would be expensive—"

"We're not flying. The Horse Miraculous allows the user to make a portal to any location. We'll go and be back on Sunday night."

Sabine frowned. "It sounds like you're telling, and not asking."

Marinette gave an uneasy smile. "This is official superhero business. I thought it would be better if we told you?"

Sabine sighed. "Yeah, I suppose it would be. If I can't stop you, at least I can make sure you're safe. When do you leave?"

"First thing in the morning. Tibet is six hours ahead of us, so it wouldn't make sense to leave tonight."

"Alright, then make sure to pack everything you need for an overnight bag. Papa and I will make sure you have plenty of snacks to take with."

Marinette smiled. "Thanks maman! The trip is instantaneous though, we don't need any snacks."

"Oh but you should offer your hosts some of our pastries! An offering of peace!"

Marinette smiled. "You're right, of course. Thank you. Both of you. For being so cool."

—

Later that night, Marinette was mostly asleep when Adrien's voice pierced through the silence. "Are you still awake, My Lady?"

"Hmm-mmm."

The floorboards groaned and then her mattress swayed as he climbed up onto her bed, leaning against the wall. "Sorry, I can't sleep."

She turned to face him. "I don't blame you. Wanna talk about it?"

He laid down beside her, propping his head up on his arm. "I can't really have my family back to normal, can I?"

"Do you want me to answer that honestly?"

"I want to be on the same page as you. You're…you don't have the same bias. You know what to do."

Marinette held her breath, knowing this would be the breaking point. The same question had come back to her over and over too. So what was the right thing to do? Hurt him? Or brush off her duty as Ladybug?"

"He needs to face justice, Adrien."

He hid his face in her shoulder and nodded. He knew what she would say. He knew what was right. He just didn't want to believe it. It wasn't fair.

It was fair, though. His father was a messed up, broken man who had done horrible things, no matter the reason, no matter how temporary. He had scars on his heart from that man that would take years to heal.

"I don't want you to do that alone, but I don't know if I can be with you when you turn him in." He breathed, sobs just at the edge of his voice.

"Kitty, I would never expect you to turn in your own father."

"But I want to support you. You have so much responsibility to shoulder being the guardian and—"

"Adrien," she pushed his shoulder so he would look at her. "You single-handedly defeated Hawkmoth. Please, let me take care of the clean up."

Hesitantly, Adrien nodded.

"But first, let's worry about your mom, okay? One step at a time."

"Thank you, My Lady. I love you."

"I love you too, My Prince."

—

At the break of dawn, Marinette dawned the Horse Miraculous, and along with Chat Noir, departed to Tibet.

The temple was on top a mountain, and stepping from tepid France to frigid Tibet was a whiplash. The snow whipped around, and threatened to knock Marinette's pastry box right out of her hands.

But they waded through the snow to reach the massive doors of the temple, and knocked.

The door slid open cautiously, a monk watching them with confusion.

"Hello," Chat translated. "I'm Chat Noir, and this is my partner, Ladybug, or Pinto Rouge, we're here to learn about the Miraculous."

Pinto Rouge held up the box.

"We brought snacks!"

Still confused, the monk allowed them inside and instructed them to wait in a large lobby. The room was mostly bare, only decorated with the symbol of the Miraculous on the walls, and huge columns.

"Welcome," another monk finally greeted. "How can we assist you?"

Both Pinto Rouge and Chat Noir bowed in greeting, offering the pastry box to the man.

"Tikki, Kalkki, divide." Ladybug whispered, returning to her normal suit.

Chat Noir translated for her, "Pardon our intrusion. My name is Ladybug, and this is my partner, Chat Noir. I don't actually speak Mandarin, so he'll be translating for me."

The monk nodded, indicating that he understood.

"We were picked to be wielders by Wang Fu, who trained me in succession to be a guardian. He was once a student here."

The assembled guardians all reacted to the name, nodding, some chuckling.

"How is Wang Fu?" One man asked.

"They want to know about Master Fu." Chat provided. Ladybug answered, and he translated. "He's well. Unfortunately, he was compromised and named me as guardian, and then lost his memories. He lives with his wife in England now."

"He must be quite old."

"186, last I checked."

"Well, despite not being chosen for our order by the council, you are still a guardian of the Miraculous, and you should be trained as every one is. Where do you hail from?"

"Paris, France."

"All the way from Paris! Wang certainly fled as we asked. When can you start?"

"As much as I desire to start training as soon as possible, there is something we need help with first."

They were beckoned into a meeting hall, and sat down among the order. Tea was served, and the pastries were divided up. Then they began the story from the beginning. How Hawkmoth appeared one day, and how they were bestowed Miraculous. How they fought together for over a year against him and Mayura. And then the day of the reveal, how Adrien had come to discover his own father was behind the whole thing, and that his mother was in a magical coma from a broken Miraculous. How that night, he stole the Miraculous and returned them to the Miracle Box.

"So you see, he doesn't pose a threat to Paris anymore, but his wife, my mother, is still asleep. He wanted to use the Ladybug and Black Cat Miraculous together to wake her up."

More nodding as their tale was considered, and then the conversed among themselves, speaking much too fast for Chat to translate completely.

"What are they saying?"

"Some of them are doubtful she can be healed, others are doubtful they can trust us."

"Yikes."

"Drop your transformations, as a show of good intentions."

"They want us to de-transform, My Lady."

"Oh, okay. No harm in that. Tikki, Spots off."

"Plagg, Claws in."

The Guardians seemed much more at ease after they took off the suits.

"I'm Marinette Dupain-Cheng." She reintroduced.

"And I'm Adrien Agreste."

"A pleasure." The monk bowed. "Now, we have discussed what you have said. We will need to examine this woman, Emilie, and the broken Miraculous before knowing exactly what there is to do. Our last resort would be to use the Black Cat and Ladybug, but it is very risky, and works with equivalent exchange. If your father, Gabriel, really wishes to wake her up so badly, he must decide who he wants to give up in exchange. Whether it is another loved one, or himself. He will need to keep that thought in his mind."

Adrien explained this all to Marinette, who frowned. "Would you be able to handle that? If he decided to take her place?"

Adrien was quiet for a moment, and then admitted, "I'd have to think about it…"

"You've both come so far, why don't you stay the night? We can get in a little training tomorrow before you leave. Then you can return with Emilie when you can."

"Thank you, Master. We'd love to stay."

—

Sunday night came quickly with all the training that had taken place. Marinette was thankful she had brought a notebook, since the monks had taught her how to read the coded Grimoire. Adrien had, of course, been there to translate all of it, so he was also being trained as a guardian.

But now it was time to return to Paris, and time to confront Gabriel Agreste.

It could go either way. He could be responsive to help, or he could fight the whole time. It was absolutely unpredictable.

Chat Noir and Ladybug arrived at the mansion at sunset, waiting outside the gate, gathering courage.

"You still with me, kitty?"

"I feel like I'm going to puke."

"I don't doubt that. Do you want to come back later?"

He shook his head. "No, the longer we wait, the worse it's going to be for me. I just…"

"You don't need to explain yourself to me." She offered him a smile. "You remember a few days ago? When I had my melt down?"

"Sure."

"It was this feeling of hopelessness, of everything being completely out of control and the whole world resting on my shoulders. But you gave me control back. You gave me peace of mind. Now I'm here to do everything I can for you. You and me against the world, and you and me against your father."

He clenched and unclenched his fists a few times before hugging her. Just soaking in her warmth for a while and letting her strength flow into him.

He could do this.

He had to do this.

"Let's go."

She rang the doorbell.

The camera came out, spotted them, and the gate opened without a word.

"Out of the frying pan, and into the fire." Chat muttered to himself.

"He doesn't have a Miraculous, we're stronger than him." She reminded him gently.

He scoffed. "I'm not afraid of him hurting me physically." The rest went unsaid.

Gabriel opened the door as they approached, then beckoned them inside. He was quiet, reserved, and looked tired. He had bags under his eyes, unkempt hair, and a shadow of a beard on his face.

"Ladybug, Chat Noir, please come in."

"Your secretary have the day off?" Ladybug asked conversationally.

"Nathalie and the rest of my house staff will be taking an...extended vacation."

Chat tried to not let his disappointment show, but he had assumed Gabriel would fire anyone he was suspicious of. He just didn't think that included Nathalie.

"To what do I owe the pleasure?"

Ladybug smiled as pleasantly as she could, like she was talking to any other civilian. "We're here to help."

"Ah, with what, exactly?"

"Please show us your wife, Monsieur Agreste."

Gabriel's almost pleasant attitude evaporated into something akin to anger. "He told you then? My son ran his mouth?" He sneered.

"Something like that."

"You have Nooroo now?"

"And Dusuu too, yes."

"So what now? Have you come to gloat? To beat me up anyways? I've already lost everything, what more could you take from me?"

"We're not here to take anything," Chat said. "We want to give back."

"We might have a way to save your wife."

The tightness Gabriel held began to subside. His fists unclenched, his brow smoothed, and the deep set frown relaxed into open mouthed awe. "You...want to help me save her?"

"Purely for selfish reasons on my end," Ladybug explained. "If your reason for hurting others is removed, you're not a threat anymore, right?"

He inhaled, his breath shuddering as he did so. "I never wanted to hurt anyone. This went on for so long, and I kept telling myself that I would quit, that it wasn't worth it...then I would see an opportunity, and get so close again. I was obsessed, Ladybug. Can't you see?"

"The powers of the Miraculous can be addicting. Knowing that you were so close to being with your wife again...I don't blame you."

Then Gabriel did something they were not expecting.

He started to cry.

"I don't deserve this. I don't deserve your help."

"You don't." Chat confirmed. "But your wife and son do."

"My son hates me. He'll never speak to me again. And I can't blame him for it. And my wife...once she knows what I did...this wasn't worth it. I ruined everything."

"Mr. Agreste," Ladybug spoke calmly, as he started to spiral out of control. "Let me see your wife."

Gabriel collected himself and turned from them, heading to the office.

Ladybug and Chat Noir shared a look. Villain or not, Gabriel Agreste was not well, and he severely needed help. Maybe not even help they could give him.

They followed him into his office, and up to the painting Chat had seen the other night. He typed in the code, and then they were descending in an elevator into a huge cavern.

At the end of a bridge, there was a garden, filled with flowers and swathes of butterflies.

In the middle of it all, was a glass coffin.

It might have been beautiful if it wasn't so horrid.

Ladybug reached out to take Chat's hand, holding it in comfort as they walked down the bridge.

"She was using the Peacock Miraculous," Gabriel explained. "It's broken. It hurt her, made her sick. By time we figured out what was wrong, it was too late. She had...she had fallen asleep."

Chat wanted to yell at him to shut up. He had heard the whole pitiful story before, but he just found himself as silent in shock as the first time.

"I have the grimoire too. There was a page on combining the Ladybug and Black Cat miraculous to create an amazing power, capable of granting any wish. Nooroo confirmed that it worked."

"We talked to the guardians about it. Yes, it would work, but not without equivalent exchange. To wake up your wife, someone else would have to take her place, perhaps you, perhaps your son. There's no way of knowing."

"I could have—" his words got caught in his throat as he fell to sit on the grass. "I could have killed Adrien. I was so concerned with bringing her back, I didn't even think…" He pulled on his tie, ripping it away from his neck. "What have I done? What have I done?"

"Will you let us take her to Tibet? To see the Guardians?"

"My poor Adrien…I could have lost him. What did I do? I tore apart his room! I hit him! I'd never—" He moaned as he rocked back and forth.

Ladybug looked at Chat. "Do you want to tell him?" She asked so softly.

"Tell me what?" Asked Gabriel, looking up desperately. "What else is there? What do I have to do? Is Adrien safe? Did you talk to him? Will you talk to him?"

Chat took a calming breath, trying not to lose it at the sight of his insane father. Then he spoke, "Plagg, Claws in."

Gabriel looked away at the green flash, and when he turned, his tears started again in earnest.

"I lied to you, Father." Adrien began, before he lost courage. "I'm the one that betrayed you. I had my kwami take your miraculous while you slept. I do want to save mom, but I had a feeling combining the Miraculous wasn't going to work. So I went to Ladybug. She's smart and she always has an answer. I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner, you just…you scared me. You're still scaring me. I trust that you only had good things in mind but…you've changed. You need help, father."

Gabriel clamored to his feet, finding shaky steps towards his son.

Ladybug stood at the ready, in case he became violent.

Gabriel collapsed on Adrien, hugging him and crying and begging for forgiveness over and over. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry…"

It wasn't what he had in mind, but he'd take any affection he could get from the man. He hugged him back.

"We're going to find a way to save her. You don't have to do this alone anymore."

"It's all my fault. I ruin everything…I've hurt you so badly." He pulled away from the hug to hold his face, squishing his cheeks slightly. "I'm so proud of you…"

Pride. Adrien never thought he'd be worthy of his father's pride. All his life, he had done everything right, and only now, after he had betrayed him and gone behind his back, at the reveal of fighting against him after all this time. Now he's proud.

It was kind of a kick in the pants.

"Father…"

"You knew when to ask for help, when I didn't. You knew I couldn't handle this. You did the right thing…I told you before, that you were a good kid, and you'll be a great man. I mean it. Adrien…"

And then Adrien understood what was happening. It wasn't immediately apparent, but with his father's face so close, he finally figured it out.

"You're drunk."

Gabriel started to sob again, grabbing hold of Adrien's shirt and sliding to his knees. "I didn't know what to do. I thought I had to say goodbye. I'm sorry, I'm sorry."

"Are you really? Or are you just drunk?"

"Don't leave me Adrien...please, son. I love you."

Adrien grabbed his hands and pulled, trying to wretch him free from where he was clamped. "Why did it take alcohol to get you to say it?"

"Because I'm awful...I'm worthless, I ruin everything I touch. Everything I did was a waste! I couldn't save her! Hundreds and thousands and millions of people were hurt because of me! How can I live with that?"

"Adrien," Ladybug began. "I think we should continue this conversation when he's sober."

"No!" Gabriel protested. "Take her! Take her to Tibet and save her! Give Adrien back his mother! Please I beg you!"

"Then what will happen to you?" Adrien asked, looking down on the blubbering mess that was once his indomitable father.

"I'm going to turn myself in. I'll live with guilt the rest of my life, but let me have some relief! Let me face judgement." He collapsed onto his hands and knees, bowing at the feet of his son. "Let me earn your trust. Let me earn your forgiveness. Please."

They spent a long time in silence, Adrien coming to terms with what had to happen.

"My lady," he finally said. "The Horse Miraculous?"

She handed over the glasses.

"Plagg, Claws out." In a flash, Chat Noir stood there, and stepped away from Gabriel over to the glass coffin. "Plagg, Kalikki, unify." Dawning both Miraculous, Belle Noir easily opened the coffin.

"Be careful with her! Please, I beg you Adrien! She's done nothing wrong."

"I will be careful," he spoke calmly, as he reached his arms behind her shoulders and knees.

"Ladybug. Please escort my father to the police. I'll take care of my mother."

"Of course, Chat."

"I'll find you when I'm ready."

"Stay safe."

He only offered a nod of agreement, before summoning his voyage and disappearing into nothing.