Author's note: Thanks for the review.

/

Marinette receives a text that she's been dreading for quite some time now. It's from Nathalie of course, Adrien would never inform her that he was struggling. He'd let his leg fall off from gangrene before he risked worrying her by asking her to take him to the doctor.

Nathalie similarly, she got the feeling, was reluctant to drag her into their private messes. So the fact that she's been summoned here is rather concerning in itself. It seems to lead her to believe that there's a potential threat here of some sorts. She's not a fool. She knows that Gabriel's return has hit her boyfriend hard, if only because the young man refuses to talk much about the matter. He's stubborn but also desperately sensitive. It hasn't taken much for the turmoil at home to affect him and that's beginning to show, despite his best efforts to conceal his mental and emotional state, from time to time, the sadness behind his gaze would shine through.

She's not too sure whether it's Marinette or Ladybug who is required but she decides to come as the former.

There's a certain sense of foreboding as she makes her way up the steps and towards the mansion. The code hasn't changed, at least Adrien's parents haven't altered that. She makes it to the front door. A few months ago, she would have been skipping up them, unable to contain her excitement at the prospect of seeing her boyfriend. Now, if she's honest. She unsure. The young woman doesn't know exactly what she'll encounter. She understands that he's not quite himself, at least not the version of himself which he displays to the outside of the world.

She's greeted by the boy's guardian. Nathalie doesn't offer a smile and looks simply exhausted. It's only been a few days but already Marinette can't help but wonder just what on earth's gone wrong here. They enter into the mansion which is dead silent. It almost feels like they are the only ones present.

"Are you well?" The woman questions, leading her through the building.

"Yeah. Thanks." She holds off asking Nathalie the same, the answer seems obvious.

"Thanks for coming..."

"My pleasure." Marinette replies hesitating a moment before getting to the source of her uncertainties. "Wasn't expecting a dinner invitation though."

The girl had no idea what to expect. Nathalie had been rather vague by her standards over the texts. Adrien would be involved, that much was for sure but his parents? They hadn't even made themselves known as she'd come in. The girl had to wonder if they were even in. If they were, the assistant was making no effort to locate them, instead, leading her towards Adrien's bedroom.

The room is empty. Neither Adrien nor Plagg or even Macaroon are present. Off on a walk apparently, at the least that's what Marinette assumes when she notices the lack of a leash. Nathalie settles down, sitting on the corner of the boy's bed. She must be tired, it's not common for her to make herself at home in such a manner. Uneasy, the teen follows suit, settling down in the seat next to his desk.

It takes a few moments before the woman speaks. She does so quietly, in a hushed tone:

"I'm going to need your help tonight Marinette."

"Anything." She declares only wishing that she could match the confidence in her voice with her true feelings.

"It's Adrien. He might flare up over dinner." The woman raises her eyes to meet those of the the teen. "Can you help me keep him under control?"

"Of course but uh… How do I do that? I mean… He's always gentle with me. I've never seen him-" She can't even begin to think of the right word to describe what apparently the teen suffers from on occasion. "Blow up?"

If she's honest, she doesn't want to see that side of her boyfriend. She knows it exists, having witnessed Cat Noir's fury when he confronted many years ago and never wants to be faced with the same madness behind Adrien's eyes.

If Nathalie's asking however she feels obligated to at least give it a shot. Perhaps, she reasons, if Adrien manages to temper himself around her then her presence at dinner might be enough to keep him under some form of control. On the other hand, she's fearful that she might be just something else on his mind. She feels uncomfortable. The teen lets out a sigh and kicks her feet out. She has a good few questions and doubts but is acutely aware that a good deal of them the woman would be able to illuminate her on.

"Anything I need to look out for?" Is all that she can think to ask.

"It's hard to say…" Nathalie shakes his head regretfully. "He can have these turns really suddenly. A couple of words, that's all it takes."

Marinette fixes the woman sympathetically. Whilst neither have ever gone into much detail about just what occurred behind closed doors, truth be told, she's never really asked about it. Nathalie is desperate, that much is clear. She's probably planned this. It's the Easter holidays represented the last break before the final push which would lead them in to the final exams. It would give them a week to get things back on course if things turned sour.

Trying to distract herself and to focus on other matters, she casts her gaze around the room. Adrien's bedroom is a space that she's come to know well over the years. It's a strange place however: both a refuge and a prison for him. He's done what he can to make it as homely as possible. The photos have only multiplied over the course of the years. She finds herself smiling as she recollects the various events where they'd been taken. There are a good few of the two of them together on a date or even just hanging out with their friends. It's to another that she turns however, a grin making its way onto her face:

"You're sweet together." The teen tentatively informs the woman.

She always treads cautiously around the boy's caregiver, aware that she's not the most sensitive of people in that she doesn't talk about her feelings, much, if ever. She must be safe today however as there's a gentle smile on Nathalie's face. She too turns to contemplates the image from afar. It's an uncharacteristic picture for her in that she's not attempting to be anyone else than herself or to conceal the affection that she feels for the teen. Adrien stands next to her, his arms dangle around her neck as he gives the woman what can best be described as a hug. Plagg's there too apparently. There's a tenderness behind her gaze as it rests on him. Marinette wasn't there that day. It was taken down south a good few years ago now back when he was still shorter that his "Man".

Marinette wants to fix things. To make them better so that there will be more photos on Adrien's desk.

It's a short while later that the door opens. Adrien drags his feet as he enters but Macaroon certainly doesn't rushing over to her. He always greets her as if the last time they'd seen one another he'd assumed that it was farewell forever. It takes quite a bit of effort on her part to push him down and to avoid getting a thorough tongue-licking around the face. Thankfully, the young man is there a few seconds later to pull his pet away from her and get the dog under some semblance of control once more.

"Marinette!" His greeting is just as enthusiastic, did he not know that she was coming?

"Hey chaton..." She speaks softly to him getting to her feet so as to be able to place a little peck on his lips.

Adrien smiles evidently pleased to be back in her company. Marinette wonders just what he's been told. It seems unlikely that any of this has been intended to surprise him. Still, he seems lighthearted enough given that in a few minutes he'll be sitting down to dinner with his parents. It's a good enough sign, she reckons. At the very least, they're starting off from a good base. So long as he's able to smile, his girlfriend is going to assume that things are going well enough. He asks after her parents, whom he saw only a few days ago but she informs him that they're well none-the-less.

After a few moments, the teen checks the old watch which he wears religiously. His expression clouds over somewhat before he turns to face them:

"Guess it's about time..."

Nathalie gives him a single nod confirming the statement. He lets out a sigh but makes no more of it.

It feels strange to go from Adrien's bedroom straight to the dining room. Like they've missed a step of socialization. Usually, there would be apperitifs and a chance to exchange before the meal. As it stands, she hasn't even seen Mr. and Mrs. Agreste. Maybe that's for the better. The last time she'd found herself faced with Gabriel, it had been shortly after he'd been unmasked. As faint and distorted as those memories are curtsy of the sedatives and other drugs that he'd had her on to ensure that she remained sleeping, they remain profoundly unpleasant and something which in all honesty, she could much rather do without. As they draw closer to the door, she has butterflies in her stomach.

In her mind, it's not Gabriel behind the door but rather Hawk Moth. They're one and the same of course but that doesn't make it any easier. She finds herself wondering if this is what it's like for Adrien? No wonder he loses it periodically.

Inside however, Gabriel stands next to his wife. Both are impeccably groomed, enough to make her feel somewhat under-dressed. She's put on some nicer clothes but not exactly her best. To be fair, she hadn't been told what to expect. Adrien however is still in a tee-shirt and Nathalie isn't especially dolled up either. So she tries not to focus on it too much. Given the state of affairs, she doubts that anyone will notice. This isn't exactly a high brow event or a fashion shoot.

Adrien takes her hand, pulling her out of her thoughts. What she initially takes for simply being an instinctive move or perhaps an attempt to solidify their relationship in front of both of his parents, she soon realizes is something else. His palms are somewhat moist. A quick glance towards him confirms that despite the clenched jaw, he is scared. She can see the fear behind his eyes which he's desperately trying to conceal. She squeezes gently, just enough to let him know that he's not alone, that she's here with him. Nathalie stands close to him as well, the comfort she provides is more subtle but none the less powerful.

Eventually, he goes to sit down. The three of them settle in front of Mr. and Mrs. Agreste. It's very much a face to face. It's Gorilla who has agreed to do the running around in terms of bringing in the food. Marinette often wonders just what he thinks about this whole mess, he's not the most expressive of individuals and she doubts that he's been kept up to date with all of the goings on in their lives.

There's a somewhat awkward atmosphere which hangs over the dinner table. Something big had happened not that long ago. Marinette might not be entirely in the know but a little word here or there from Nathalie and Adrien have been enough to clue her in to the fact that whatever it was, it was pretty nasty. She won't ask any questions, assuming and hoping that it's all in the past. Equally, when thinking about what was, she does her best not to meet Gabriel's gaze. As it is, he seems reluctant to lay eyes upon her. Perhaps, in fact, she even dares to hope that she's a painful reminder of his wrongdoings and he therefore wants to avoid a trip down memory lane.

Finally, it's Emily who speaks making everything just a bit more bearable:

"How have you been Marinette?"

"Fine, thank you." She replies, a little sheepish but trying her best to remain polite. "You?"

"Still getting my head around a few things." The woman confesses her attention drifting briefly over towards her son. "But getting better every day."

Adrien shifts next to her. He's uncomfortable. Nervous. So she slips her hand under the table and takes his once more, rubbing his knuckles with her thumb. It's a soothing action and she can feel him relax, just a little bit.

To Emilie's left, Gabriel looks towards his son. Although it has to be said, he seems to be more content with focusing on either his wife or Nathalie. The assistant doesn't bat an eyelid. If she's worried about things or intimidated by her boss' presence, she doesn't let on. Marinette is inclined to follow her example. She tells herself that this is just a normal day. Neither of them are in any danger. This is just the first meeting with both of his parents together. That in itself is stressful enough. A second later, it's like an electric current is passed through his body. He jumps a little, glancing towards his spouse. With a shake of his head, it's towards the two teens that he turns his attention:

"I trust that your parents are well?" The words are tentative, uncertain.

"Yes. They are." Marinette blinks a few times, unsure how to speak to a man who had held her captive for a good few weeks. "Thank you."

She feels awkward. It's clear that Gabriel – with some insistence from his wife – is making an effort. At the same time, every single bone in her body demands that she be cautious around this man. He's the one who imprisoned her and came terrifyingly close to killing his own son. There's a part of her which truly wants to believe that he's reformed and is eager to rekindle what has become a damaged relationship before it's too late. All that same, she finds herself on edge, fearing the worst. Adrien is the same, he focuses on the small space in front of him as if somehow that will serve to block out the rest of the world and take him away from this place.

It's not the most comfortable way to begin the evening but at the very least, she tells herself, Adrien is sitting down for a meal with his parents.

"Will your kwamis be wanting anything?"

The mere mention of their partners caused both Adrien and Marinette to tense up. They exchanged uncertain glances. Naturally, both Tikki and Plagg were with them. Both were hiding, as per usual. Up until Emilie had been awakened joining them, they would have been out for a meal like this, enjoying their own food on some saucers. It's more force of habit than anything else that has lead to them concealing themselves. However both of Adrien's parents know about their existence. There's no need for them to be secrets. Unless of course they assume that they are in company of potential enemies…

Both of them slowly make their presences known, floating up so as to be next to their human partners. They seem uncertain, eyeing the couple cautiously. Thankfully, they probably have relatively little too fear. So long as their miraculouses are in good hands and they can phase through objects.

"And um..." Gabriel seems awkward, his gaze traveling between the two creatures. "What exactly do you two enjoy eating?"

"I've already had mine, thank you." Tikki informs the man, remaining polite as she can.

"And you?" It's Emilie who asks Plagg.

"I..." His voice trails off, uncertainly. "I- like cheese."

"Very well then." The man hesitates a moment before almost instinctively turning away. "Nathalie, do we have any of that?"

"We most certainly do, sir."

She gets up, heading to the kitchen. With Plagg's existence common knowledge, there's little point in Adrien hording smelly cheese in his bedroom. She'll ask the chef to put some on a plate. It won't even seem odd. Just before she leaves however, she tenses up. It's as if he's just woken up suddenly from whatever daydreaming state he was in. Nathalie lingers, just for a moment in the doorway, aware he's about to say something and that it might not be the most sensitive statement that he's ever made:

"Stop calling him "sir"." Adrien's request is a cold one, although he's muttering more than anything else. "He's not your boss."

Actually he is. He pays her wages. Nathalie doesn't bring that up. She waits just another few seconds, fearful that this is going to be the beginning of another argument. Surprisingly, although to her considerable relief, Gabriel bites his tongue. In fact, he barely seems to react. So she takes a chance and leaves anyway. She isn't gone all that long but it's enough to have her fretting. Marinette's never seen Adrien have a bad outburst and if he suffers one, she's not entirely convinced that anyone will be able to keep him under control.

When she gets back, it's idle chatter that she's met with as opposed to yelling. Adrien is quiet. So Marinette is doing her best to ensure that they aren't just there sitting in silence. Quietly, she settles back down next to him.

It sets the stage for the rest of the night. They manage to get some semblance of a discussion flowing and Adrien just sits in silence. He isn't sulking, although for a while that's what Marinette assumes he might be doing for some reason. No, after a few moments, she realizes that he's doing something else. He appears to have somehow cut himself off from the rest of the world, isolating himself in his own little bubble. Just what's going on inside of his head, she can't quite tell. He does eat and is not so oblivious as to be entirely unaware of just what's going on around him. He does react occasionally but has very little to contribute. At least he's there.

When the time comes to leave, it takes Marinette a few moments before she can get Nathalie alone for a couple of seconds, just to talk about what she's just witnessed here tonight:

"He hardly said a word..."

"Yes..." The woman smiles sadly as she glances towards the young man who is busy getting his girlfriend's coat. "-but he stayed there. It's progress. Baby steps..."

"Baby steps..." Marinette murmurs in agreement.

She'll trust Nathalie. Even if it takes a thousand years, she'll help him through this.