"...And then you should have seen how I took care of that akuma all by myself, while playing like a rockstar! He was so pissed he threw himself at me! Tikki, do the akuma please!"

"Mon chéri, I'm really eager to listen to the whole story of your accomplishments, but you don't need to climb up the table to do so!"

"Sorry Maman!"

Hugo jumped down from the little height of the low table and instead, came crashing on the sofa near his mother who had been patiently listening to him sitting there, while his sister was resting on the sofa's back, humming.

After their return, he had been subject to yet another scolding from Ladybug, but it was mostly her evacuating the accumulated stress from having her two boys disappear in an explosion. Then, they had parted; letting their father and sister along the other superheroes help all the victims of the massive akuma attacks that had occurred. Hugo had learned that about 25 of them had popped throughout Paris for more than 24h of constant fighting, and casualties weren't to be ignored, although the quick mobilization of all the superheroes and public services had permitted them to avoid the worst scenario. But his brain had just decided he didn't want to hear about the depressing stuff, he had had his share of adventure. He did however call Aysha to see if she had returned, and was relieved when he heard Bunnyx had brought her back to her parents safe and sound. Needless to say Sabine and Tom had had the scare of their life when the superheroin had appeared in their kitchen. It reminded him to call his grandparents later, just to reassure them too, including Nathalie.

Himself, Louis and Marinette had returned to their home in order to rest in the meantime, especially the woman who had fought and desakumatized all day long; or his brother who had to sleep at a busy hospital for one night. They took the opportunity to help her cook something, and soon, night had come and they all shared a meal like always, relieved the day was over. Except Hugo, Xuppu and Emma couldn't stop talking. Even Plagg gave up on asking back for the promised camembert from 2 days ago! And now, here he was still pursuing his story, making theater drama movements and asking the Monkey and Ladybug Kwami to assist him for the demonstration; only to be partially interrupted by his sister's taunting comments.

"He didn't tell you how he kept crying when Papa found him!" mused Emma, receiving daggers from her brother's eyes.

"You traitor! She didn't need to know about that!" He pouted childishly, before lying down on his side in quest of comforting warmth, feeling his mother extend her arm around him in response as he hoped. It was unusual for him to act like this, as he was more in a period of his life where he wanted to feel independent and transpire reliability, but damned be his pride tonight! He wanted to be pampered.

" Haha, but don't worry mon chéri, I can see my baby has grown up from this journey already."

"I'm not a baby.." he barely defended. Clearly, he didn't look like a grown up adult right now.

"You will always be to me."

"Waaaa, stop! It gives me goosebumps just by hearing it! So Cliché!"

Emma took the opportunity to throw herself on her brother and tickle him like mad.

"Good idea Emma! Let's teach this ungrateful one what it takes to disobey me!"

"Hahahaha! What Mom, Nooo! You're too old for this kind of stuff!"

"What do you mean too OLD? Come here!"

"Is it a human game I don't know about?" questioned Mullo.

"From my perspective…I would say a funny torture session with your loved ones? They have done that a few times before. " tried explaining Tikki with what a god perspective could be.

"Why would human find torture fun? Might only be our holders being weird." frowned Xuppu, lifting his shoulders up.

Not noticing one bit the Kwami's exchange, the three humans ended up in a tickle battle, laughing their asses off, until an outraged voice surprised them from behind.

"Hey! Who's laughing when I'm not around! That should be forbidden!"

"It's ok Chaton, I'm here with them to preach fine jokes, as your commandment."

"Ah! If my Lady's here, then I shall allow it!" Adrien grinned, before taking place on the sofa surrounded by his loved ones.

Not all of them though.

"Where's Louis?"

" I think I saw him studying when I came out of the shower! I really don't know how he can prefer this to spending night time with us! Such a workaholic! " shrugged Emma.

" He just got back from a time travel experience and he is thinking about studying on a saturday night? That might be my fault for raising him too well for his own good…" said the only raven haired woman of the bunch. Adrien saw she was in deep thought and worried a little bit about her eldest son's thinking. Himself was reminded how sometimes he fled his loneliness and stress into studying too, and he hoped deep down it wasn't Louis' case. They were already feeling guilty about the scar that was left in the form of his phobias. Since nobody made a move, Emma called for the TV to turn on and clapped her hands enthusiastically for attention.

"So, what's gonna be the movie tonight?"

"Can we choose one where camembert is involved for once? There's not enough 'dairy' in your movies!"

All looked to the almighty smug Plagg taking place on Adrien's head and snorted. This cat weren't giving an easy request. But they actually took the challenge to find one corresponding to the Kwami's criteria and watched it, just for the fun of it. They promised Tikki, Mulot and Xuppu to do the same for the next weekend and nuzzled comfortably in one comfortable family bundle.

ooooooooooo

Later that night, Adrien crossed the dark corridor until he reached Hugo's room. He hesitated to knock, but saw the door was opened, and to his surprise, he met his son's gaze, eyes wide open.

"Oh, sorry did I wake you up?"

" No no…I couldn't sleep anyway."

"Yes, I figured it might be the case so I went to see how you were going. Can I come in then?"

Hugo nodded and Adrien smiled softly, before walking toward and sitting at the edge of the bed.

"I've heard from Louis you've…stayed at my old place in the past. How was it? With my past self?"

Hugo thought a bit, turning on the side.

"It was tough..I mean, past you was really nice to me I swear! But it…it wasn't you. Not the actual you. Arg, I don't know how to explain…"

"I wasn't the one knowing you by heart."

"Yes! And also, past you looked way less ..happy than right now. You…him..urg…well, Past you was so overjoyed when he learnt about me and at the same time so uneasy with it, like he couldn't believe it. He even asked me if he was a good father to me."

"I can totally see myself like that at the time. Let's say I didn't have the best example of a father around."

"It's funny because Past you told me the same thing. I knew Grandpa wasn't really the nicest guy in the world, but damn, I didn't imagine it was that bad. Legit when I saw him, he looked crazy scary. And with Nathalie too, she felt so…different than nowadays."

"Ah…so you've met Gabriel.."

The ex-model seemed lost in thought, his smile turning melancholic and his eyes looking in the distance .

"You know, he wasn't always that bad. Not until your grandmother died. Of course now I know in hindsight why he was doing all this and keeping me away; that pursuing the miraculous had driven him halfway crazy; but also that he was grieving as much as I did and so blinded he couldn't stop himself on time and move forward like I was trying to do…"

His hands clasped in the reminiscence. He had thought over all his lifetime memories when he had finally gotten all the puzzle's pieces together. Sometimes, he felt like it was partly his fault, not seeing how his father was drowning himself in grievance; or how his mother had died because of 'creating' him with a broken miraculous. This, he already had to deal with, and it still hurt to think there was somewhere in the past an Adrien finding his world shattered by the different news coming at him behind the lies. But he had managed, like he had told his past self. And it was thanks to the love of his life and the friends he had made all across the years.

He felt Hugo's hand reaching for his.

"Dad? "

"Yes son?"

" You're going to be here tomorrow?"

Adrien's eyes widened at the question.

"Why? Of course I will be? What's gotten into you?"

The boy cuddled in his blanket, shivering, but still held his hand tightly.

" I was so scared…that when I came back you wouldn't remember me. That anything I knew would disappear. That I would have never existed just because I goofed around. I'm still a bit scared to sleep and to wake up on that queen bed size in your big empty room…"

So, that's what was keeping him awake then.

Adrien leaned a bit so he could face Hugo's correctly, and caressed his head gently.

"No matter where you are, even if it's lost a billion years away or in some other dimensions; Papa and Maman will always find you, I promise you."

"..Even in another dimension? Like if I'm transformed into…I don't know, a rock?"

"Even if you're in a dimension as a rock. Did you know your mom already did travel in dimensions to prevent Monarch from stealing the miraculous there?"

"Woaa really? You're not joking right?"

" I swore it's true! And what if I told you your grandpa in some other dimension seemed like the nicest man; first to resist a power that overwhelmed him?"

He told him about that weird memory of his (it was so long ago and he had seen so much crazy stuff since then he didn't even remember if it was real or a fever dream) and succeeded to put a smile back on his boy's face. Now relieved that his parents were awesome and that he didn't risk anything anymore, Hugo's eyes shut right on the spot, so Adrien ended the conversation, leaned a kiss on his forehead, and closed the ajar door for him to rest soundly.

ooooooooo

Marinette thought she was the last to go to sleep, but was attracted by the light behind the door of her eldest son.

She frowned, knocked and entered.

"Louis? Are you still studying at this hour? It's 2 a.m…"

The boy barely turned his head, two bags under his eyes not at all masked by his glasses.

He did take a nap earlier when he had come back home, but she knew he was still pushing his limit.

"Yes Mom. I've been delayed of 2 days! The semi-finals are starting Tuesday, I can't slack off any longer…"

The woman immediately disapproved with a sign of head.

" Mon chéri, I'm happy you're so invested in your studies, but believe me, I've been enough of an expert myself in 'late homework catch up' to know it's not healthy and even useless to learn anything in that state…"

She heard him sigh and scratch his nose in tiredness, before she reached for him and rubbed his back.

" Besides, I've heard plenty of how you've managed the situation in the past from Hugo's or Alix, but I haven't heard from you how you really felt about all this. I know you always try to be as reliable as possible and that a part of the reason you study is to actually help us from afar. But please, I'm your Mother, you don't need to put that facade with me. Do you remember that you can confide in me?"

She felt his hesitation, but from he had been through in the past, he had learnt that bobbling everything in wasn't going to help.

"...Well, I didn't feel as confident as I let it appear. Hugo was under my care and I've lost him. At first I panicked like hell, I was lost like everyone and brought to a hospital but fortunately I found Alix among the evacuated and she put me at ease; giving me a real task and solution to our problem. If I had been on my own, I don't know how I would have reacted…"

"..But you've succeeded in finding my past self on your own and repairing one Miraculous which brought back everyone in the end. You've nothing to be ashamed about…"

"...you should have seen when the akuma appeared." he scoffed. A pregnant silence ensued, before she spoke again, eyes on the floor.

"...I'm sorry."

It was for him to be surprised, the man turned around seeing the gloomy face of his mother. Marinette who wanted to comfort him was flipping roles unconsciously, poisoned by that 'event'.

"Mom…we've already discussed this…"

"Yes, I know. It's Pandora's fault. But I can't help thinking if I had been more present for you 17 years ago, if me and your father didn't leave you to that house thinking you were safe; you wouldn't have gone through so much afterward…"

"Mom, stop beating the bush over and over again; I'm fine…Of course it's a pain in the ass to have this fear whenever an akuma shows up, but I've made huge progress. I've even been able to use your magical charm and protect Dad and Alix with it, so it's not AS bad as I let it appear! If I study harder, I will be able to help you elaborate more magical objects to help catch Pandora…while having a good job. I swear I'm not isolating myself from you because I'm feeling bad. Like I said, having a purpose only makes me move forward."

She smiled at how grown up her son looked like right now, and caressed his hair. She remembered how he used to glue to them and be insecure about his abilities. She knew that he was sometimes jealous of his sister and brother who could face enemies without worry and that he had suffered from mockery about the way he would lose all his means and run or cry whenever an akuma appeared. But now he looked much more serene about himself, full of resolutions instead of brooding like she had expected at first. Really, she was so proud of him.

"..Okay, I believe in you. But don't overwork for our sake. I told you that I would never force you to fight akuma if you didn't want to, and that I would support you whatever path you choose…except evil that is."

"Haha, alright. I'm just finishing that equation and I'm going to sleep. If I'm doing well on my semi-finals, I will be able to hang out with you all for a bit."

"Then we have a deal. I love you mon Grand, I know you will do great. Have a good night."

"Good night to you too, Maman." And thus, Marinette left the room, heart feeling more at peace. Not long after she had closed the door of her marital room, the house went all dark, and only snores and Kwamis roaming to the fridge could be heard.

oooooooo

These two days had certainly been terrible and unproductive in many aspects.

After his failure with the Conductor ( that idiot), Gabriel had sensed a new kind of Akuma, a resentful young girl. But when he had tried to communicate with it, he had connected with such a chaotic mind that he had immediately severed the connection before his own could get affected. He had asked Nuruu on the matter, emitting the hypothesis this akuma was too "deranged" to even be able to order it. The Kwami also talked about a curse and warned him about trying any interaction with them, but he could swear Nuruu didn't want to elaborate on the subject.

Not farther than the next day, he had noticed perturbation on the video cameras around his house, and soon enough, Nathalie informed him his son wasn't in his room anymore. Thinking about a potential kidnapping, he had commissioned Nathalie and Placide to find him back, while he had frantically returned to the secret room and used Nuruu's powers to find an akuma in order to retrieve him (and Ladybug's and Chat Noir's miraculous in bonus). What was his surprise when, after a day of relentless searches for potential useful akumas, he had finally sensed three new akumatized souls, one having very intense emotion! But again, trying to reach for them had been like bumping into a hole…or into hell. Only one of them seemed to have enough sanity to establish the connection, however, when he did, the akuma didn't welcome him pleasantly. It's merely if he could introduce himself before the wizard rejected his presence like an annoying fly; which was to remind him of Timetagger.

However, thanks to that one access, some information leaked toward him, even when said connection only lasted for a brief moment before the villain was put down by the Monkey masked hero. Oupsie, it might have been his fault. But hey, serves that impudent right! If he had listened to him faster, he wouldn't have been caught! Sensing a major headache incoming, Gabriel gave up the idea of getting involved in this one fight, and preferred processing all the information : The strange boy and the akumas were coming from the future, no more doubt about it if Bunnyx was involved. But what really frustrated him was that there was a new Monarch it seemed; Pandora. He would have hoped it was yet another of his ultimate forms, but it didn't sound likely seeing how akumas reacted toward him.

"Nuruu…Am I really going to fail? Am I really…going to die before reaching my goal?"

He was only met with an apologetic gesture from his Kwami, and sighed, massaging his necrosed arm. He glared toward the caged Kwamis in deep discussion, shutting them all up, before slowly walking away, back to his office. All the remaining afternoon, he went back to absentmindedly designing some new outfits while making plans in order to change his fate, until he heard a knock at his door.

It wasn't Nathalie as he believed to be, but his son. He had of course been informed he had returned and was a bit furious because he didn't seem to have been kidnapped at all.

"What is it Adrien? Don't you see I'm busy? I've heard you've been wandering outside against my orders again…"

To his surprise, Adrien didn't shy back like usual. In fact, he entered uninvited and closed the door.

"Dad, I need to tell you something extremely important."

Gabriel frowned, right hand reaching sneakily for the ring in his left one, ready to wipe off any unreasonable query. But it wasn't only talking the blond model wanted, he was still walking forward, closing the security distance between them. The one his father had put all through the years, like an invisible barrier. And just like this, Adrien broke it, one step after another, until he launched himself on him. Was his attempt to give him a heart attack? It almost succeeded, because clearly, it was the least thing Gabriel imagined happening right now. The man almost pushed him back until he heard these four words :

"I love you Dad."

This froze him on the spot. Not even a combined Ladybug and Chat Noir's trap with every of their holders simultaneously jumping on him could be more effective than this.

"..Adrien..what did you…"

"I love you Dad." Adrien repeated, muffling the word into the fabric of his classy shirt, before the boy parted with him. It might have been a plan to actually shut him up in order to tell him what his feelings were, and it worked perfectly, Gabriel being too stunned to even formulate a coherent word.

"I really wanted to tell you this. I know we haven't always been on the best terms since Mom died. But precisely, since she died I couldn't tell you that you were one of the most important persons left to me. I don't want to only have bad memories of you on that screen avoiding my gaze, or making promises ending up with me eating alone in an empty room; or then eating together only for you to add more pressure on me.

I…I'm so scared to lose you too with only these memories, or that you would think I hated you…"

This really echoed in his very soul, and he felt his left arm burning so vividly he could start crying from the physical and psychological pain. Adrien didn't know anything about his shortening life, yet he wasn't far from the truth.

"...That's why I want you to know that I love you and even if we might not agree on everything, even if I hate a lot of things in that current lifestyle you're imposing on me, I would never be able to hate you."

For a first in a long time, Gabriel felt some ice around his heart melt and his vision clearing up. He thought it didn't really matter if Adrien hated him, so why was he feeling so relieved by the statement he just made? How could he really face him after all the scheming he was doing unwittingly in order to control his life? The somber blue eyes couldn't stand the sincerity in Adrien's gaze and he deflected his on the side with a contrite blond stayed there, wishing for their eyes to connect, and seemed deceived and betrayed when his father didn't pronounce a word back. Gabriel saw how deflated he looked and it pained him so much that, by instinct, he catched up on him when Adrien was ready to flee to his room.

"Wait! "

The blond boy returned and felt the embrace he had desperately waited for.

"..I'm sorry you are feeling this way. You might not understand, but I'm doing this all for us. For you. You might not see yet how all this could lead you to happiness, but believe me when I say I want for you the best. See, I've been trying to be more present lately and to cook you pancakes, right? "

"...Dad sometimes your definition of 'the best' doesn't match mine…"

"..."

He didn't answer this. He still was a stubborn man and didn't want to argue about his positions. But it seemed to suffice to Adrien, who was now smiling, and Kwami gods knew their discussion rarely ended like this, even when he had tried to play 'best Dad' since his deadly wound. This exchange just felt much more genuine.

"Talking about the best for me…I was thinking if I could go see Marinette tonight? Tomorrow is sunday and after The Shift a lot of my schedules were blocked so…Can't I go sleep at her place just that one night?"

Ah, the little rat! Had he planned all this just to ask him a favor? Nathalie chose this moment to enter and take his defense, as always.

"I think it's an excellent idea Sir. If you truly want Adrien's happiness, you should let him hang out with his friends a little bit."

Like if Marinette was just a 'friend'! He wasn't stupid! But after all his shaken foundations and trapped by his own promise, Gabriel felt cornered …for tonight.

"... Alright, I am allowing it; but only if you work two times more next week on your lessons and for the piano recital ."

The way his son's face lit like it meant the world struck him again.

"Thanks Dad!"

The boy stormed out of the room, maybe scared he would change his mind in about a second, but came back just to tell him one last thing.

"And Dad…I really hope to see you tomorrow."

Then he disappeared for the night, and both the older couple could hear him calling for the Gorilla to prepare his car.

"Tch…this youngster…I may engage another private teacher to teach him back some manners!

"Strange, it reminds me of someone I used to know back in the days."

He glared at a smirking Nathalie, unaware his own lips were curving up. Just a tiny bit.

ooooooooooooo

It was a miracle and Marinette didn't have to use some Ladybug's magic to make it happen. But here they were, both in her room and alone, comfortably installed to watch some series on her computer. Well, that was the 'official' plan. In reality, they had very much more things to talk about to ever concentrate on what was on screen. They just didn't know where to actually start, so for now, it was only some quick glances on the corner of their eyes, and blushing. Until one of them found the courage to break the ice.

" So, it was some crazy days! "

"Y-yeah! Very super crazy days! Who would have thought we could meet superheroes from the future haha!"

"And not only superheroes…"

Adrien reached for her hands and she slightly shivered .

"... Hugo's slept at my place and after discussing with him, I discovered we've a lot in common! He also revealed me some….things you wouldn't even believe about."

" Actually, Me and Alya met Louis before and he has told me a lot of unimaginable things too. "

"Oh..then does that mean…you know about..uhm…their parents?"

"Yes I do. Heck, seeing how Mom was looking at me earlier, I think she might suspect something as well! Aysha's really pretty bad at keeping her tongue in haha…."

Okay, here they were, still beating the bush but cornering the question that was burning on both lips. They looked at each other with intensity and she took a deep breath.

"That's crazy right? I mean, meeting your future children like that!"

"Yes! Yes totally! And to even imagine it's 'our' children, it's just…!"

"Wait wait wait Adrien! I'm not ready for YOU to say that yet!"

She couldn't help but to hide her face behind her hands, but it was pretty easy to imagine how red she was right now. She felt his green eyes on her, then his arms, and was a moment scared she had offended him by acting that way, but that was underestimating the blond model.

"Meeting with them made me so happy, you know. I've always been insecure with my future, or …With our relationship."

"Why are you saying that?"

" Mari, I've been missing your signals for years because I'm an utter idiot! I still can't believe the cute and clever girl I love so much was just under my nose and I've messed up so many opportunities! Clearly, I really feared I would end up messing it up again…"

This really triggered her protective self, and she circled her precious boyfriend with her arms in response, as for shielding him from all these thoughts.

" Adrien, whatever you do, I will still be up on heels for you. You might not be perfect for everyone, but you are for me. You're MY idiot and I'm the only one allowed to call you that!"

"Not even I have the right to?" he grinned quizzically.

"Not even you!"

And then they kissed, tiny little ones then longer and tender ones. Once, Twice….they lost tracks of the count. When they were over, one episode of the series had already ended. They just noticed it but neither wanted to reach for the mouse pad, curled against each other under a blanket in warmth and love.

"It made me happy too. I think we will raise them well. Louis looked pretty fine and charming."

" I'm pretty sure you're the one raising them better than me."

" Well, knowing you, you might be the kind of doting father buying them every gift you can find on the perimeter."

"..Shit I think you're right about that. Do you think I need to change before it happens?"

"No!"

They both laughed, and that night was the most blissful they could have hoped. They probably weren't ready for what would happen next, both as civilians and heroes; but at least they knew what they wanted and would get : a happy and numerous family.

Notes : And it's the end! It is the part I ahad difficulty about. How to end it satisfyingly...It was easy for the future, but for the past ones... For example, should I give a good or shitty end for Gabriel knowing what would come? And should I make a identity reveal anyway?I choose for it to be a happy one, because i'm a sucker for it. OuO Even if Gabriel didn't though much of Hugo, meeting him really helped for him to become more compliant with Adrien in the ending. I'm not saying he approved of Marinette and his son relationship, on the contrary; just that he though he could give him a day, like a compensation for what he was going to do to him. A lean one to be fair.

But anyway, thanks you so much for reading this!