((Alas, this fic is coming to an end. It wasn't designed to be very long, just pursuing a simple idea. But remember, the final chapter has a choice. While writing this, I had to wonder why it was that the Miraculous existed in the first place? What were they made to fight? If anyone wants me to write on that, I could also use villain ideas and the such. Also, I plan on filling out the ranks of the Miraculous users, but for the most part the roles are settled. Well, have fun!))
That night, after Marinette had left and everything had been cleaned up, Adrien sat in his room studying. A knock came at his door, and he was surprised to see his father open the door. "F-father? What is it?"
Gabriel stepped in and sighed, standing awkwardly. "Adrien. … I recognize I can be…cold. Ever since your mother—" He stopped, looking away and taking a breath. "I enjoyed meeting your girlfriend. You…picked a good one. She reminds me of your mother, that same smile." He smiled softly. "From now on, you have permission to visit the Dupain-Cheng home, when free. Your bodyguard has been informed. In addition, she may join us for dinner again if she informs me in advance. My only condition," he interrupted as Adrien started to thank him, "is that you do not ruin your diet, and that you discuss her interning at my company."
Adrien nodded and smiled, and before he could stop himself, he found himself rushing forward to embrace his father. He froze, terrified, but after a moment the man's arms slowly wrapped around him, hugging him back. "I, am not a good father. I have tried to provide you with the best of everything, only to falter with myself." Adrien felt tears at his eyes as he enjoyed this moment with his father. After some time, the man stepped back, putting himself back together. "Um, I was wondering if, perhaps, I should add on another dining room. A…smaller one, in the back."
Adrien smiled and nodded, bidding his father goodnight. Once he was gone, Adrien grabbed his phone and called Marinette. "Call Alya, get her in a conference call, I'm grabbing Nino. This is big!"
"Wait- What-? I-?"
"Quickly, this is big. You are amazing!"
In a few minutes, everything was set up. "Alright, man, what's the big deal?" Nino asked, half asleep by now. Marinette and Alya echoed the sentiment.
"Guys, I don't know how, but… Marinette may have fixed my dad?" His friends expressed their confusion, so he told them what had happened earlier, causing them to fall silent. "He hasn't been like this since… Since my mother… Marinette, you made him human again, even if only for one night. When can you come over again?" They all laughed a little at his eagerness, and after chatting some more each left for bed.
Over the next month, things in Paris started to slow down with the coming winter. Akuma attacks slowly became more and more rare, though perhaps that was just the cold driving people inside. Marinette and Adrien settled, no longer intoxicated by the novelty of their relationship, but they remained deeply in love. Ladybug and Chaton continued to protect the city, sometimes stepping in on normal crimes. And some swear they've seen the pair traipse off together after patrols… And Gabriel Agreste retained the warmth he found that night, slowly coming to terms with his own darkness.
As the holidays approached, Gabriel decided to throw a special party, telling Adrien to invite his friends, that he wanted to make a night of it. He scheduled it for Christmas Eve, inviting the families to stay in the guest wing if they had a little too much eggnog during the night. The four friends were sitting at a café the day before the party, talking about everything.
"Marinette, I can't thank you enough for what you've done to my life. Everything's better now." She blushed, going beet red when he suggested a toast and Alya and Nino agreed. "To Marinette Dupain-Cheng, a girl so amazing, even my dad warmed up to her." Hesitantly, she joined the toast, everyone laughing. "And modest. Speaking of, have you considered that internship?"
She nodded and sighed. "I just… I'm worried if I can keep up."
"Mari, you can do it, I mean, you work in a bakery," Alya reminded her. Nino laughed and nodded in agreement, while Adrien chuckled.
"Trust me, princess, you'll have them winded. I've seen how you work in the back, and you could easily outrun any of the interns I've seen." Everyone laughed, and Marinette relented.
"Alright, I'll accept the internship."
"Alright! Go, Marinette! Another toast!" Marinette groaned at her overenthusiastic boyfriend.
The night of the party came, and again the Agreste home was filled with warmth and life, business forgotten. What surprised everyone was Gabriel Agreste's casual wear. He had a white sleeve button up and a pair of jeans, looking very uncomfortable. He'd even let his secretary style his hair more casually, and to everyone it was like he was a different man. Adrien was the most surprised, and for the first time in years forgot his habits. "Dad? You look…"
"Normal?" the fashion mogul provided, fiddling with his cuffs. "I know it's rather, different from my usual, but I decided that, for the sake of the party—" He cut off at his son's hug and before long returned it.
When everyone got there, the party really started, Sabine and Tom starting up some games after greeting their host. Everyone was relaxed, everyone was happy. After a while, Adrien and Marinette snuck off for some quiet, chuckling at the fact that Tom had managed to convince Gabriel to join him in karaoke. They finally found refuge in a doorway nearby, the singing faint now.
"Well, that was a sight. Not sure how to react to that one."
"I hear you. I didn't know your father had anything other than that one suit." They laughed together, and Marinette glanced up. Adrien looked down, surprised to see her frozen, face flushed deeply. Following her gaze, he flushed too when he saw the mistletoe directly above them. He realized that, despite dating for as long as they had, he hadn't kissed her yet.
When next their gazes met, both were nervous again, like in the beginning. "Well, I mean, you don't have to—"
"It is tradition," she interrupted when he started to give her an out. She looked away when she realized that, blushing harder. Adrien felt the world stop at the look she gave him when she finally turned back. She was hesitant, but she looked at him with desire. She wanted this.
Slowly, Adrien set one hand on her shoulder, the other on her cheek. Their eyes locked, and her hand covered his as he leaned forward. A brief brush of lips, sparks flying through their minds…a cut-off laugh and the sound of a phone camera. They glanced over quickly to see Nino and Alya, looking panicked at being caught.
They chased the other couple through the house, and everyone laughed. A knock came at the door, and Gabriel chuckled. "That must be the mayor. I invited him and Chloe, but she refused. Apparently she changed her mind." He walked over and opened the door with a smile. He froze though, dropping the glass he had in his hand. Everyone turned to watch, including the kids. Adrien echoed his father with what he heard. "Amelia? You've…returned?"
Gabriel staggered back, and there in the door stood Adrien's mother, looking shy as she glanced around. "Hello, Gabe. And yes, I'm back. I'm sorry it took so long, I—" She glanced behind him and cut off. "That's a story for later." She turned when Adrien walked up, gasping. Tears stung her eyes as she looked down at her son. "Oh, Adrien, I'm so sorry. I'm home." With tear-filled eyes, Adrien hugged his mother, his father soon joining.
There came a cheer from the guests, and Tom spoke. "A toast, to a Christmas miracle!" Everyone cheered and she was pulled into the fold. After some introductions, Adrien walked up with Marinette, the two nervous.
"Mom, this is Marinette Dupain-Cheng, my girlfriend."
The newly returned wife smiled and shook the shy girl's hand. "Marinette, it's a pleasure to meet you. Have you two been dating long?" She shook her head and the woman smiled. "Good, I haven't missed everything then. You'll have to tell me all about yourself next chance we get." Marinette nodded vigorously and headed off with Adrien as Gabriel approached, two wine glasses in hand.
