Shoulders hunched while looking down to keep herself as small and hidden as possible, Marinette hurried away from the confrontation she just had in the alleyway. A part of her felt guilty for saying those things, she really did, but her anger had spiked all of a sudden to a point that it actually scared her a little. What was even worse was that her charm was now damaged, which she was unsure how to feel about as she was having doubts about if she managed to create it correctly.

So deep in thought she didn't notice the wall of maleness she literally bumped into causing her to fall back on her butt. Avoiding the boy's gaze, she mumbled out an apology while climbing up after brushing off the offered hand of help from the boy.

"Are you…" Luka said softly, giving her a strange and worried look as he hesitated a few moments, "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine." Marinette groused in what she hoped was a more masculine voice in hopes of hiding her identity. She had hurt the boy when she chose Adrien over him before the whole Lila thing got out of hand. Something she regretted the worse Lila got as Adrien showed time and time again he would not stand up for her as he urged Marinette to take the high road.

"I don't think you are." Luka sighed, shaking his head. "There is something wrong with your song, I can feel raging rifts below a falsetto of calmness. You know you can talk to me, I won't judge."

"Thanks, but no thanks." Marinette grumbled.

"You know, I still care for you." Luka said softly, giving Marinette a hopeful look. "I never stopped, even when you chose him over me. Not even when I found out about…your other life when I was Viperion."

"I-I don't know what you are t-talking about." Marinette stuttered, eyes wide in shock as Luke reached out and caressed her hood softly tracing her head and down her cheek.

"I was so worried when I heard about what happened, then I saw Ladybug on the news and knew you were safe." Luka said causing Marinette to nearly hyperventilate. "Don't worry, I won't blow your secret. That isn't my song to share."

"Thank you." Marinette mumbled out as she pulled back out of Luka's range making his arm drop. She knew it wasn't any use pretending with him, he had some kind of gift that never seemed to be wrong. She often wondered if he was some kind of empathy or something. If it wasn't for his sister, Marinette wondered if she would take him up on his offer of talking.

"You don't need to thank me, Mari. You mean the world to me, you will always be my heart song." Luka said softly, "I don't know everything that has happened and what caused you to do what you did, but everyone misses you. I miss you."

"I don't know what I feel anymore." Marinette said, feeling a wave wash throughher when she reached in her pocket and grasped the damaged charm as she avoided the sharp piece now on it. It seemed to dull her sadness and anger as it settled her breathing for her.

"Why don't you come with me, we can get a bite to eat and talk some." Luka suggested, "Let me help you."

"NO! No, I have to do this on my own!" Marinette snapped, though it wasn't out of anger or anything. She would have said it was out of fear of others finding her, but the void of emotions that was filling her at the moment pretty much discounted any chance of feeling that, or anything else right now.

"Mari, please." Luka pleaded before Marinette turned tail and ran for all she was worth.

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Gabriel sat on his couch waiting for his son to come home after giving Nathalie the rest of the day off. She was his best friend since forever, she was there for his wife through everything from them getting married, to having Adrien and even her getting sick. He felt that it was even his fault that she was getting sicker from using the peacock miraculous even if it was fixed now. Now more than ever as he kept reexamining all of his decisions of late.

Sipping his brandy he idly wondered just what his son was going to think of him upon seeing his condition. Gone was impeccably dressed man as his hair was a mess and his clothes no better. His jacket was discarded in his office and his tie hung undone around his neck while his shirt was pretty wrinkly with the top couple buttons undone. He had to admit that this was a lot more comfortable than how he normally dressed, though he did that to maintain an image in order to give his son everything he needed unlike his own parents. He knew he failed though, he was too caught up in trying to bring his wife back and everything to do so while trying to maintain a perfect image for his company to provide all the material things for his son that he forgot what was most important. Something he often wished for, a parents love.

Of course he tried to rationalize that he would fix everything with the wish when he set everything right, but he failed to take into account what would happen if he failed. He knew it was time to give up because he couldn't bring himself to prey on the people hurting in their weakened state and akumatize them. He just couldn't do it anymore, especially after that poor girl jumped to her death. He knew he had a part to play in it as he encouraged that monster of a girl that pushed Marinette to do what she did.

"Father, I'm home!" Adrien called, not much warmth in his voice. It sounded like it was just an obligation, or something he just did out of habit which Gabriel couldn't fault the boy for.

"In here son!" Gabriel called, smirking a bit at the shocked look on his son's face upon entering the room and seeing the state his father was in. He had to admit it was a little amusing, but hopefully he could be forgiven by his son and they could build a relationship and move forward. Not that he held out much hope with what he was going to drop on Adrien.

"Father, what happened?" Adrien gasped out, "Are you okay?"

"Yes, Adrien, but come over and sit." Gabirel said, waving to the spot next to him on the couch while putting his drink down on the coffee table. Turning sideways and resting an arm on the back of the couch while Adrien tentatively sat on the far end of the sofa making the older man sigh. "I have some things I need to talk to you about."

"Like what, father?" Adrien asked, worry lacing his voice.

"No need to be so formal son, you can just call me dad if you like." Gabriel said, not smirking this time as the look of shock came over Adrien which caused the man to flinch upon noticing it. He knew he messed up, but maybe it was much worse than he feared.

"Are you okay fa-dad? Are you dying or something?" Adrien asked, worry overcoming his shock making Gabriel relieved that at least Adrien cared meaning he wasn't driven away…yet. The next few minutes was going to be crucial.

"I'm fine, son, but ever since Marinette…after what happened I have been reevaluating everything and I've come to some really bad conclusions. I failed you, Adrien, and for that I am so sorry." Gabriel said, wiping away a tear that managed to escape. He waved his son off when Adrien started to speak so he could go on. "Your mother, she was who kept our family together. I was clueless on what to do, I had very poor role models as parents."

"What do you mean poor role models?" Adrien asked, visibly swallowing his urge to ask more about his mother as Gabriel would always change the subject. Not anymore Gabriel swore.

"You are old enough to understand things I should have talked to you about long before now. We will talk more about your mother in a few minutes." Gabriel said, earning a slight smile from his son despite the serious atmosphere of the room. "My parents didn't have anything growing up, neither keeping a job for long and losing one quickly when they did. They were alcoholics, drug addicts and…very abusive."

"Oh father!" Adrien gasped out as she scooted closer in order to hug Gabriel.

"It is alright, son. It was a long time ago and your mother and Nathalie both helped me through it as I got a full scholarship to college and cut all ties with them." Gabriel said as Adrien pulled back, "I tried my best to never hit you or anything while trying to make sure you would have everything you could ever want. While your mother was here she was able to help me keep that balanced and help teach me to be a good father. I hate to admit that I fell apart without her and failed you because of it."

"You didn't fail me, dad. You did give me everything I could ever want." Adrien protested, but Gabriel could see it in the boys eyes. Adrien wanted, no, he needed a parents love and it was about time that Gabriel showed it.

"No, I didn't Adrien. I failed to give you the love and acceptance you needed while I pushed you too hard to be perfect. Children aren't meant to be perfect, they are meant to have fun and make mistakes they learn and grow from. I failed to give you that these last couple years since your mother, but I will make sure to make up for it moving forward." Gabriel said, once again being hugged by his son. Only this time it was an excited one which Gabriel happily returned. The easiest part of the conversation was done, but now he still had the hard part to go into.

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Sorry it has taken a little more time between chapters this time, but this week has been a little rougher than usual. Hopefully you enjoyed this chapter and thank you very much to everyone who has fovorited or followed as well as all of your reviews. Please, if you do enjoy the story, let me know what you think of it. Thank you.

Guest: Thanks, I hate/like Gabriel depending on the story though for the actual show I hate him. I wanted to show he can have regrets, doubts and actually try to fix things.

Guest: Thanks, it may not be too much longer but maybe I can try and get the next one a bit longer.