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Marinette's P.O.V

I stomped down the hallway. Anyone coming from the opposite direction of me immediately stepped off to the side in fear, feeling the outrage pouring off of my person.

I did not bother to knock and slammed open the door to my father's office.

My father was startled at my loud entry, looking up from writing something in a book. Unfortunately, my mother was not in the room. She was one of the main reasons I came to this room but I will have to settle with father.

I approached his desk and slammed my hands on his desk.

"WHAT IS THIS NONSENSE ABOUT MOVING THE WEDDING TO AN EARLIER DATE?!" I yelled, glaring daggers at the man.

Father's eyes practically bulged out of his head at my sudden outburst of anger. He blinked in surprise as he processed what I said.

"WELL?!" I seethed.

"The date...was moved?" Father questioned. I was a bit taken aback by his confusion. Did he not know?

"What do you mean by that? Did you not discuss it with mother to move the wedding to this week?" I questioned. There was still heat in my voice but I calmed down. Father may hardly be present in my life but he was not a bad man. Unlike mother, he was a lot nicer.

"Of course not," Father answered, "Your mother and I agreed that Lord Couffaine would be your suitor for a year before you are to be wed."

This was news to me. So, Father had nothing to do with this? Which leaves me to believe that mother was going to go behind his back. Was she even going to invite father or maybe lie to him?

I growled under my breath, "Where is mother?"

Father narrowed his eyes, seeming upset as well. He stood from his desk.

"I would like a word with her as well," he said before shouting, "Guard, where is my wife?"

"Lady Cheng is in your quarters. She has asked for no disturbances," the guard answered.

I perked in interest, wondering what mother was up to. If she is asking for privacy, she must be up to something. If Rose is correct, she may be in contact with Hawkmoth right now. I need to go see what she is doing this instant.

"On second thought, I am recalling something I need to do," I excused myself from Father's office, "We shall talk to her once she has finished her business. Send someone for me when she is ready to talk."

I rushed to my bedroom and went straight for the secret tunnel entry. It was slightly agape. A sign that Rose had the same idea as I. My heels clicked down the small, dark hallway toward where I knew my parent's room was.

I paused and took my shoes off, leaving me barefoot. She may hear me approaching from the other side of the painting.

There was a slight gap of light ahead. I could hear my mother's voice talking but her words were muffled due to distance and a wall.

I quietly approached, hoping Rose would not react in a noisy manner. If I scared her, our hiding place would be compromised.

Much to my luck, Rose glanced over her shoulder and did not react to my sudden appearance. Silently, she waved me over before returning to overhearing my mother's conversation. I joined her but could not see into the room too well.

I did not need to though. I just needed to listen to my mother's voice.

"This man is going to be the death of me one of these days," Sabine muttered, "Are you sure he is even there? He could be dead for all you know."

"Who is she talking about?" I thought, wishing to get more context from the conversation than my mother's one-sided part.

My mother let out a long sigh.

"Very well then. I will look into it," Sabine relented.

I tapped Rose's shoulder, earning her attention. I used sign language to ask her if there was anything else she said before my arrival that was suspicious. She gave me a nod before replying, telling me she would explain when we returned to the room.

"Would you give me a moment? I do believe I have an unexpected audience," Sabine said.

Rose and I gasped when the thunk of a dagger impaled the wall right in front of our faces. Rose immediately shut the door. We ran through the dark hallway. In the distance behind us, I heard the creak of the secret door opening.

My heart pounded, not expecting any of that to happen. A million questions going the same pace as I am running through the darkness.

Who was my mom talking to and talking about? Was she talking about Hawkmoth? What was she going to do? How did she know of our presence? What was with the dagger? Where did she get it and know how to throw it?

I made it into my room and turned to see if Rose was coming.

I paled when I did not see her. I could have sworn she was right behind me. Did my mother get to her without me knowing? Maybe Rose escaped down a different tunnel to throw my mother off. The only way she would be able to find us is by hearing since the darkness is quite blinding.

I wanted to go back into the tunnel and make sure Rose was okay. I am unaware of what my mother is capable of.

Yet, I am aware that Rose knows how to take care of herself and has magic at her side. I would not be much use going into a dark tunnel, even with a weapon.

Rose must have some perfume that allows her to see in the dark or something to slow my mother, right? Maybe, Rose could make her forget what happened again.

I hope there are no other servants in the tunnels that would get caught in the middle.

Guilt still gnawed at my stomach, wishing there was something I could do to help Rose. I began to pace for any ideas and glanced at the open secret entry.

"Tikki, what do I do? I cannot just leave Rose to face mother by herself," I asked my Kwami.

Tikki gave me a reassuring smile.

"Do not worry so much, Marinette. Rose is a very capable witch. She has avoided being caught so far and has magic as a weapon. She must know the tunnel system by heart too, better than your mother. I believe she will be just fine," Tikki assured.

I nodded in agreement. I did feel reassured, knowing Tikki was correct. Rose is capable of taking care of herself. I am positive that she will be okay but it still did not sit right with me for abandoning her.

"I do recommend you close the secret door though before someone such as your mother discovers it open," Tikki suggested.

"Oh, yes! I probably should," I squeaked.

That was when there was a knock on my bedroom door. I quickly shut the secret door before making sure I was decent-looking.

"Enter," I allowed. Alya slipped into the room with a smile on her face.

"Hello, Marinette," Alya greeted with a bow of her head, "Have you chosen a wedding dress yet?"

"Hello, Alya," I replied, flinching at her question. The reminder of the wedding being in just a few days was not a pleasant one.

"No, I have not. There are just too many choices. Would you mind assisting me with a choice until I depart for a meeting with my parents?" I asked.

Alya seemed to light up at the idea.

"I would be delighted!" she exclaimed, excitedly. She practically skipped going to the first hung up nearby, asking, "Which one would you like to start with first?"

I could not help the small smile spreading across my lips. I do still feel bad about leaving Rose but Alya's child-like joy was very refreshing. I just prayed that Rose was okay and that I would rendezvous with her later.

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Chat Noir's P.O.V

"So, that is why I am caring for this child," I explained to Carapace. I glanced over at the little girl, who was laughing at Vesperia's funny expressions.

"I see," Carapace said, "If you ever need help with the child, you can rely on Rena and me to assist when you are unable to."

"That is very kind of you but I do hope to find her a good home soon. She cannot live in the rebel's hideout. It is far too dangerous," I explained.

There was a twist in my chest at the very thought of giving the little girl up. It felt wrong doing so. I still do not understand how I made such a quick and strong connection with her. It is very strange but I could not let my heart overpower my brain in making this decision.

Carapace narrowed his eyes suspiciously at me but did not make any sort of comment.

Polymouse dropped in through the skylight. I tensed a little at her arrival. I sent her to search for anyone to care for the little girl.

"Anyone good willing to care for the child?" I asked. For some reason, relief released the tension in my muscles when she shook her head in defeat. Carapace eyed me, raising an eyebrow almost knowingly.

"No one has room for another baby or enough to care for her properly," Polymouse explained.

"Then, we will continue looking," I said, heading for the prison room, "but we need to do our duty first. I am going to speak with our...guest. See if I can get any more information out of him."

"Be careful, my friend," Carapace wished me luck.

I made my way into the prison room and stood in front of the only filled cage. Unfortunately, Gabriel's lackeys had escaped during the Akuma attack.

Gabriel glared at me, probably wishing his stare could kill me. I returned the gesture.

"What happened to my son?" Gabriel sneered, sounding more like a demand than a question.

"Even if I did know something, why would I tell you anything," I retorted, "I am here for answers. Ladybug seems to think something is amiss with your nonsensical accusations with magic."

"You are confusing nonsensical accusations with proven facts. Magic is evil and corrupted. It only brings despair and death," Gabriel stated.

"Why do you believe that?" I asked.

"Why would I tell you anything when you will not answer my questions?" Gabriel shot back. I growled, getting irritated with this stubborn man. I took in a deep breath and exhaled.

I cannot let my temper get the best of me. I need to be level-headed. We will only see eye-to-eye if we meet in the middle. At the moment, we are just like this war where we cannot see common ground. Answering his questions truthfully will hopefully gain his trust.

I just need to skim the water and not go into the deep end. If I get too personal, he will not answer me no more.

"Fine," I relented, "I will answer your questions if you answer mine. Do not bother lying to me, I will know if you are. We can settle this like reasonable men."

Gabriel scoffed but I could see the deep debate going through his head.

"Alright," he seemed to force the word out, "Now tell me, what happened to my son? Is he dead?"

"He is alive," I replied, "I do not understand why you are so concerned with someone you abandoned though."

"I did no such thing!" Gabriel denied, "I may be a wealthy man but I would never be so cruel as to get rid of my only child. I spent years trying to figure out what happened to my son. I recently discovered he was last seen in this area of the poor section."

My eyes widened at his confession, spoken with such raw emotion. Gabriel Agreste was either one heck of an actor or he was telling the truth.

"What...What happened?" I asked, unsure if I really wanted to know. For a majority of my life, I believed my parents abandoned me on Master Fu's doorstep because they did not want me. Yet here is my father in the flesh saying otherwise.

"Why would I tell you anything more? I probably already said too much as is. Why are you interested in knowing?" Gabriel questioned me as if our roles had switched—him the interrogator and I the prisoner.

He is right. Why would a random superhero want to know what happened? I am not Adrien right now. I am Chat Noir. I could not tell him the reason why I was so curious. It would give away my identity and that would not end well.

"Very well," I responded, "Then, you can answer my question. Why do you hate magic so much?"

Gabriel went somber, flashes of memories passing along his eyes in remembrance. He kept silent for a moment, making me wonder if he was already going to break our unspoken deal.

It was not like he had not just spewed too much to me already. Maybe, this had something to do with what happened to me in the past.

Gabriel let out a huff.

"Why did I agree to this?" I heard him mutter.

"Is there something the matter?" I questioned, stalely. His dull gaze was cold but there was another emotion mixed in that I could not point out.

"You want to know why I hate magic," Gabriel said.

"Because magic took everything from me."

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Nineteen years ago...

Gabriel's P.O.V

I slouched in my seat, feeling the weight of guilt loom over me. A terrible ache in my bones. My heart withers and mourns.

Another defeat...another battle lost in this war...more allies perished. An endless loop of misery as we grow deeper into this war against those demons!

Many of the SSS members look up to me to win and end the tyranny of magic users. They rely on me to protect innocent people and bring back loved ones who stand to fight.

Yet, it seems that the monsters' claws have grown sharper and their demeanor a whole lot stronger.

It was not like they were human. Those atrocious manifestations are no wannabe magic user or witch. They truly are creatures of nightmares.

Much to my annoyance, the only ones who seem to be able to defeat such vileness is with the same vileness. Fight fire with fire.

They call themselves superheroes but what will happen once the war has ended? Will they not just take over and use their power against the weak? No matter, once they beat those so-called "Akumas," the SSS will make sure to take care of them at their most vulnerable.

I cannot trust magic users. I have lost so much due to magic.

My parents were murdered by a witch. Many friends of mine were either tricked from getting by to scrapes, killed or had gone insane from corruption.

"Darling!"

I perked up at the sound of an excited familiar female voice. She practically skipped into the room with the sunniest smile. Even in my stressed state, I could not help but let a small smile form. Out of all this chaos and loss in my life, I still had one good thing left in it.

A radiant candle in these dark times.

My beautiful wife, Emilie.

She is all the family I have left and I would do anything to protect her.

"I have the most wonderful news!" Emilie squealed before halting in her steps. Her cheery smile fell, worry creasing her face.

"Are you okay?" she asked, seeing right through me like always. I let out a sigh.

"It was just another hard day," I answered. Emilie's frown deepened. She stood behind me and wrapped me in her arms. I could feel her head resting on the back of my shoulder. I could not help leaning into her warmth, finding comfort from it.

"But," I continued, "your news may make this day a little better. What were you about to say?"

Without a word, Emilie released me from her embrace just to circle me and sit on my leg. She grabbed my hand and placed it over her belly. A smile blossomed on her face again, not as bright as before but had a fondness to it this time.

My eyes widened at the realization of what her unspoken news was.

"You are going to be a father," Emilie said.

Euphoria washed over me. My heart once filled with deep agony swelled with joy. The angels have blessed us. An amazing gift that we long awaited for. Something good we have not had in a long while.

I could not help wrapping my wife into my embrace, and placing a kiss on her cheek. She let out a giggle, returning the hug.

"That truly is wonderful news," I replied, happily, "You are going to be the most extraordinary mother in all of Paris."

"And you, the most extraordinary father," Emilie said.

"I assume you already have names picked out," I joked, earning another laugh.

"I will admit I was going to look right away but I wanted to look with you," Emilie said, leaving my lap, "I shall be back. I am going to grab a baby name book from the library."

I watched her leave.

My happiness seemed to dwindle though once reality hit. There was still so much evil in the world, so much danger for our growing family. I need to find the location of those Akuma's master.

I have around eight months to track and destroy Hawkmoth. Unfortunately, the person I usually rely on for this type of mission is unavailable at the moment. So, I need to do this on my own.

I will find Hawkmoth and destroy him for good.

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