Chapter 5: Back home

Nathalie opened the door, meeting the person she had been waiting for.

Adrien.

Adrien had returned to the mansion.

Nathalie and Gabriel ran towards him to welcome him. When Nathalie crouched close to him, Adrien stepped back.

"Adrien. You're back" Nathalie spoke softly "How are you?"

Adrien just raised his shoulders.

"I only came back because I don't want to be a burden the Dupain-Cheng's and because I want to see my mother."

"You will see it. When you feel ready." Gabriel answered him.

She couldn't help but notice the look of hatred Adrien gave her.

"Adrien." Nathalie interrupted, "I'm glad you're back home. I was…we were very worried about you."

"It doesn't seem like it." Adrien said.

Nathalie wiped the smile off her face when Adrien said that. She knew very well Adrien was still very angry with both of them.

"Since you're here, do you want me to bring you something to eat or something to drink?" Nathalie offered.

"No, thank you," Adrien said dryly "I already ate something on the way home."

Nathalie didn't know what else to say to make Adrien trust them more. Gabriel decided it was time to intervene.

"If you want something, don't hesitate to ask, Adrien." Gabriel said.

"Yes, father." Adrien still didn't dare look at him.

Adrien directed his gaze towards the window through which he had entered. Adrien took his phone out of his pocket, while looking at a specific point.

"Is everything okay, Adrien?" They heard a voice coming from Adrien's phone.

Gabriel and Nathalie directed their gaze to where Adrien was looking. In the distance they saw a red spot with black dots. Ladybug watched in the distance on top of one of the roofs in the buildings near the mansion. She wanted to accompany Adrien on this, so she offered to go with him to his home. But he asked her that he wanted to do it alone. So, for the moment she just stayed at a distant point to make sure Adrien didn't need help.

"Yes" Adrien answered a little unsure. Ladybug noticed his tone and his body language from afar.

"Do you want me to stay, Adrien?" Ladybug's voice was heard through Adrien's phone.

"No, I'm okay. I can handle it on my own." Adrien answered into the receiver.

"If you need me, Adrien, you know you can always count on me." Ladybug said into her yo-yo, waving her hand goodbye to Adrien. Ladybug left the place, leaving Adrien to deal with her problem alone.

Adrien unloaded the suitcase that Nathalie had sent him a few days ago on the floor.

"Can I see my mother?" Adrien asked reluctantly "I already feel ready."

"Yes, you can" Gabriel said "Do you want us to go now?"

"Yes, I'm not going to waste any more time." Adrien was impatient to see his mother. After thinking about it a little those days, he thought it was best to face the problem directly.

"Then follow us, Adrien." Gabriel motioned for him to follow them. Both adults went down to the first floor and led Adrien towards the atelier.

"Why are we going here?" Adrien was surprised to see the place they took him to. They entered the atelier, and Adrien looked around trying to discern the place where his father was hiding all this time.

"Because this is the way to the place where I have your mother. Just be careful when you go down." Gabriel approached the painting he had of his mother in the office.

Down? What is he referring to? Adrien thought, confused.

His question was answered when Gabriel positioned himself in front of Emilie's painting. With his fingers, he ran the painting in different directions until he positioned himself on some of the geometric shapes on the painting that went down when he pressed them, revealing them to be buttons.

A platform revealed itself beneath Gabriel's feet, leading him downwards. The platform closed and the ground returned to normal.

So that's how my father disappeared each time. Adrien now understood why he never found anything suspicious inside the mansion, other than the grimoire. The place was located in a very discreet way.

"It's your turn, Adrien. Do the same thing your father did." Nathalie instructed him.

Adrien positioned himself in the same way as his father showed him and looked for the buttons he should press. He positioned his hands so he could press the buttons. As he did, he felt the floor going down.

Adrien watched as the platform lowered. He shrugged his arms to avoid hitting himself as he went down. The platform led him to a larger elevator.

Adrien rested his hands on the glass seeing what was before his eyes.

Below his house there was a completely new area he had never seen. It was a very high room and at the bottom it was full of water. In the middle was a large platform with very large tubes that were attached to the wall. There was a dim light that illuminated the room which reached the other platform. Above him was a giant window in which the shape of a butterfly could be distinguished.

On the other platform there were a diverse number of different plants that decorated it, and they surrounded a kind of capsule in the center.

Once he got on the floor, his father was already waiting for him.

"It's this way Adrien, walk straight until you reach the other platform." Gabriel showed him the way.

Adrien walked forward where his father indicated. The path to the other platform was quite narrow, so only one person could walk along it. Little by little he approached the other platform and he could see more clearly what it was made of.

The capsule in the center was white and made of metal. It was decorated with golden details on its surface and several tubes coming out of it.

As he got closer, the capsule opened, revealing its contents.

Adrien immediately recognized who the person inside was.

It was his mother.

Adrien approached the capsule and placed his hand on top of the glass.

"She has been here the whole time?" Adrien felt his throat closing.

Both adults came to his side. Nathalie stood next to him, while Gabriel preferred to keep his distance.

Gabriel looked at the ground unable to face Adrien.

"Yes, Adrien. When your mother died, I preserved her body, because my idea was to bring her back. Just as I already explained to you."

"At the price of the Miraculous? At the price of another life?"

Gabriel approached him. Gabriel put his hand on Adrien's shoulder gently.

"It was going to do anything to bring your mother. Because I saw that you were very sad for having lost her and I thought that by bringing her back, you would be happy again.

Adrien frowned deeper upon hearing those words. Something in what his father said and, in his tone, ignited his anger again. He abruptly removed his father's hand from his shoulder.

"No father, that's what you wanted. I had already accepted my mother was not going to come back. Yes, I was sad. But when I saw how happy you were when you were next to Nathalie, my sadness went away, because I thought that you were finally happy again. I wanted to get over my mother and be happy." Adrien looked at his father, disappointed in him "But it seems that wasn't what you wanted."

Adrien slowly removed his hand from the capsule, looking at his mother before walking away. He headed towards the elevator to go back up to the mansion.

"Adrien..." Gabriel said. Adrien wasn't listening.

Adrien continued his way to the elevator. He climbed back up the Atelier and both adults followed him.

Upon reaching the elevator, Gabriel went ahead and went up as fast as he could to catch up with Adrien.

"Adrien!" Gabriel felt, for the first time in months, the need to comfort his son.

The gorilla stared at Adrien walking up the stairs. Adrien approached him and whispered to him.

"Don't let them go in."

The Gorilla nodded and let him go ahead. He knew that something bad had happened between Adrien and his father, so this time he would intervene and only listen to Adrien.

Adrien slammed the door that echoed throughout the mansion.

"Adrien…" Gabriel was going to knock on the door, but the Gorilla pushed him roughly. He had seen that Adrien talked to his bodyguard before locking himself in his room. That was probably the reason.

Adrien locked himself in his room. He covered himself with the pillow.

Nathalie moved close enough to the door so Adrien could hear her.

"Adrien, are you okay?"

"Leave me alone." Adrien covered himself with the blanket, resisting the urge to cry, even though some tears had escaped from his eyes.

Plagg peeked out from behind the Gorilla through the door, and shook his head.

Nathalie and Gabriel decided to respect his wishes and leave him alone.

Nathalie turned around.

"Where are you going?" Gabriel asked, watching as Nathalie left.

"I'm going to my room." Nathalie looked at him seriously "You should do the same."

For Gabriel it didn't make sense to keep insisting Adrien to talk when he wasn't willing to do so. He retreated to his study to try to get some work done.


In the afternoon, Nathalie finished her work to see if she could talk to Adrien alone. She went straight to Adrien's room, finding the Gorilla guarding the door again. She approached her coworker to try to convince him to let her in.

"Can I?" Nathalie looked at him as if asking for permission "I want to talk to Adrien, it's important."

The gorilla hesitated a little.

"Please, Placide."

Placide thought about it. After knowing her for so many years she knew that Nathalie would do the right thing. He moved to one side, and grunted, letting her pass.

"Thank you." she whispered.

Nathalie went to knock on the door. She wanted to talk to Adrien alone, even if it was just for a moment.

"I'm going in, Adrien." she spoke loudly, so that Adrien could hear her behind the door.

Nathalie opened the door carefully.

"Adrien, are you okay?" Nathalie looked out to see that Adrien was lying on her bed covered by the covers. Plagg was at his side on the other pillow.

"No, I'm not fine." Adrien said abruptly. Nathalie could notice that Adrien changed into her pajamas.

Nathalie sat on the bed next to Adrien.

"I'm so sorry for everything you went through, Adrien." Nathalie said sadly.

"Why did you do it Nathalie? I thought you were good, I loved you. I trusted you." Adrien said sadly.

"Adrien, I did it because your father was very desperate and I... I was just trying to please him."

That for Adrien was a confirmation that Nathalie did have feelings for her father. It was a real shame that that confession happened at a time like this.

"Were you only helping him because of my mother?" Adrien was sure about Nathalie, he also did it for his mother. Since childhood he had always seen them as good friends.

"I did it for you too Adrien." Nathalie assured him.

But there was an idea running through Adrien's head.

"Tell me, the reason I went to school was so my father could send akumas freely without me noticing?"

Nathalie was surprised that Adrien came to that conclusion. Maybe Adrien wasn't as innocent as she thought anymore.

"Yes, Adrien."

"And you agreed?" Adrien sat on the bed.

"No Adrien, that's not how everything happened." Nathalie stopped him before he could accuse her of anything else "What your father wanted at first was to leave you locked up so that you wouldn't be in danger, even if that meant that you couldn't go out like a normal boy."

"Why did you send me to school then?" Adrien questioned.

"Taking you to school was my idea, Adrien. Especially because I could see it was something you really wanted." Nathalie remembered when she went to the atelier to talk to Gabriel about the possibility of sending Adrien to school "Although I knew that your father was going to be angry when I told him that you had escaped to go to school, I knew I was doing the right thing. So, I had a talk with your father for a long time and convinced him to let you go. I even offered to organize your schedule. He wasn't very happy as you may have noticed that day. But I did it because it was something that made you happy."

Nathalie reached for Adrien's hand, but he hid it between the covers.

"I was wrong, Adrien. I should have stopped your father when I had the chance" Nathalie was very sorry for having followed with Gabriel's stupid plan "It would have saved you a lot of suffering. I'm so sorry. I failed you and I failed your mother."

"My mother?"

"Your mother asked me to take care of you when she was no longer here, Adrien." Nathalie remembered the recordings that Emilie left her before she died "I was blinded by the love I had for your father that… I thought maybe we could make everything go back to normal. And we would act as if nothing had happened. I'm so sorry."

Nathalie got off of bed when she saw that Adrien lay back down on the bed, turning to look at the other side.

"I'll leave you now." Nathalie closed the door behind her only to find Gabriel waiting outside it.

"What you doing here?" Nathalie asked with an unfriendly face.

Gabriel decided to tell her the truth.

"I'm here to talk to Adrien alone." he replied.

Nathalie wasn't very convinced about that. She stayed in front of the door, blocking Gabriel's path.

"Just let me talk to him just once. Then I will leave."

"You told me that last time." Nathalie crossed her arms "And I know it didn't end well."

Gabriel realized that going through Nathalie would be very difficult this time.

"Let's make a deal," Gabriel said. "If I take too long, get me out of the room."

Nathalie considered it for a moment before relenting.

"Alright. Five minutes. That's what you have to speak with Adrien, not a minute more and not a minute less."

Gabriel nodded.

Nathalie stepped aside.

Gabriel opened the door to Adrien's room slowly and walked a few steps until he stood in a position where he could see Adrien's bed. Adrien heard the creak of the door and cowered on himself.

"Adrien." Gabriel approached the bed.

"What? Did you come to justify yourself to me again?" Adrien was very angry.

"No." Gabriel responded immediately. He sat on the edge of the bed away from Adrien. "Adrien, I'm not here to justify myself to you again. I know what I did was wrong. I just want you to know that I'm so sorry. I thought what I did was a solution, but now I know I was wrong.

"And that's why you had to terrorize Paris? Make our lives hell?"

"Adrien I… I'm sorry for not being there for you when your mother left" Adrien listened to everything from under the blanket."

To Adrien those statements seemed like a joke.

"Now it's too late for that. How many months I was waiting for you to deign to eat with me, to spend time with me. And you didn't." Adrien said indignantly.

"Adrien I…"

"And all because you were playing the villain, for wanting to bring my mother back." Adrien wanted to tell his father a fact that he may have never wanted to accept "She wouldn't have wanted this. I didn't want that either."

"What did you want then, Adrien?" Gabriel asked.

Adrien rolled his eyes as if that wasn't obvious enough.

"I just wanted to have my dad back. At least one who cared about me. And that you were happy, instead of dragging us all into your misery."

Gabriel started to walk away from Adrien. At that point he realized that Adrien didn't want him there.

"Ok Adrien, I'm leaving." Gabriel opened the door "I'm sorry."

Nathalie was about to enter until the door opened wide and she showed Gabriel who was leaving with a look of unease.

"Time's up; isn't it, Nathalie?"

"Yes, it's time for you to leave." Nathalie told him to leave Adrien's room.

"As you say." Gabriel went the way he came.

For Nathalie that's very easy, maybe too easy.


They continued with the routine, while Adrien decided to get out of his room. They had only heard that Marinette came and went every day to see Adrien.

They both looked out one day to see what was happening. Adrien was in his bed again after a couple of days. He was curled up, staring at the wall. For now, they decided to let him rest and hoped that Adrien would finally decide to go out.

But neither Nathalie nor Gabriel had seen Adrien leave his room in the next two days.

"Adrien." Nathalie said from the door "Do you want something to eat?"

But he still didn't say anything. Nothing from a few words anyway.

"I'm not hungry." Adrien said reluctantly.

Nathalie put the plate on the floor.

"I'll leave this here Adrien, I'll be back later." Nathalie left and went back to what she was doing on that day.

But the next day Nathalie realized that Adrien hadn't touched his plate at all.


Gabriel_8:00

Breakfast is ready Nathalie.

That was the message she received from Gabriel that same morning. It had been a long time since Nathalie had gone down to have breakfast with Gabriel in the kitchen.

But she didn't know if going down to the kitchen with the situation between the two of them would be a good idea.

Nathalie went to the kitchen. Gabriel was serving the food he had just prepared on a plate. He had dressed again in his white suit and put on his apron.

"Do you want something specific Nathalie?" Gabriel asked in the kindest way possible.

"No." she said coldly.

Gabriel just grunted in affirmation and decided to just prepare her something simple: One of her classic pancakes. As she placed her plate in front of her, Nathalie gave him an unfriendly face.

When she finished, Nathalie went to one of the large kitchen drawers and from there, she took out a jar full of cookies. Gabriel didn't remember that being there.

"Where did you get that from?" Gabriel didn't know where that came from.

"I'm in charge of the house supplies. But it seems that you were so distracted with your extracurricular activities that you already forgot about it."

Nathalie looked for a glass and filled it with the milk she took from the refrigerator. She put one of the cookies on a plate and prepared to leave the kitchen with them.

Gabriel left his utensils on the kitchen counter to see where she was going.

Nathalie was going upstairs. With the plate of milk and a cookie.

"Wait Nathalie, where are you going?" Gabriel asked from the door.

"To give Adrien something to eat. He hasn't touched his food in several days."

Gabriel felt awful when Nathalie mentioned that. He quickly made another couple of pancakes and served them on a plate.

He went after Nathalie. She gave the door a couple of knocks. Gabriel walked up behind her.

Nathalie raised an eyebrow.

Gabriel shrugged his shoulders.

"I will not allow my own son to die of hunger."

Nathalie and Gabriel waited outside the door for a few seconds before entering.

"Adrien, were going inside."

Nathalie walked over to the bed to sit on it.

"I know, you wanted us to give you space, Adrien. But you haven't eaten anything in three days.

"I'm not hungry." Adrien replied weakly.

"Adrien, please eat something."

Nathalie showed him what she had brought him. But Adrien wasn't going to accept it.

"I don't want anything from you!"

That hurt Nathalie. Adrien could tell that he had gone overboard with what he said. Adrien sat on the bed and looked at her out of the corner of his eye.

"I'm sorry Nathalie. I didn't mean to be rude to you."

"I understand Adrien. But I care about you. And I wouldn't want to leave the room until I'm sure you've eaten something."

Adrien received the plate and ate what Nathalie brought him. She sat next to her and stayed there until Adrien finished. Adrien gave Nathalie the glass and the plate back.

"Don't you want something else Adrien?" Gabriel showed him the pancakes he brought with him. He only saw Adrien's disgusted face.

"No thanks," Adrien lay back down on his bed with his back to them.

Gabriel watched as Nathalie murmured "Let's go."

"Oh, it's fine. If you need anything Adrien, don't forget to tell us." Gabriel left first, but not before reminding Adrien that he could look for them whenever he needed.

Nathalie closed the door behind her.

She leaned against the door thinking of something that could very possibly help Adrien from the emotional situation she was in.

"What are you thinking?" Gabriel could tell that something was worrying Nathalie.

"Adrien needs professional help Gabriel." Nathalie explained.

"What are you referring to?" Gabriel did understand what she was referring to, he just refused to think about doing that.

"Adrien needs a therapist." Nathalie replied.

"Are you crazy? We're going to get caught." Gabriel whispered. He was afraid that all his secrets would come to light. It was already enough so many people already knew who he really was.

She looked at him determinedly.

"We'll set up a story. We will make up a lie as well elaborated as possible, so that the doctor doesn't suspect. Adrien has been very sad for a long time, and I think it's time for us to help him."

Gabriel seemed a little skeptical about the idea.

"Do you really think that's going to help Adrien?" Gabriel was being very honest with that question. He couldn't think of what else they could do to make Adrien feel better.

"Yes, that would have helped you too if you weren't so stubborn, Gabriel." Nathalie said aggressively.

Gabriel decided that he would listen to Nathalie's advice once again. He was thinking of a specific person who could help them.

"Then I think I know who we should consult."

Gabriel searched among his contacts for someone he knew could be of help. When he found the number, he showed it to Nathalie. Nathalie checked the name registered next to the number.

"Who is that person, Gabriel?" Nathalie didn't understand who Gabriel was talking about.

"Dr. Gerald Simson. He is a therapist."

"A therapist? Gabriel, since when did you have this contact?" Nathalie needed explanations. Where had he gotten this information from?

"Some time ago." Gabriel looked at Nathalie "Long before Emilie left. She asked me to speak with a therapist and he was her choice, but I didn't listen to her. I never contacted Gerald and, ...you know what happened next.

Nathalie remained silent. She didn't understand why Gabriel refused to seek help when his own wife offered it to him.

"And do you know if he will be willing to listen? Have you ever talked to him?" Nathalie was also a little worried that some of the information about the Miraculouses and what they were doing would be revealed to someone else.

"No," he replied. "As I told you, I didn't dare contact him. I thought he could fix everything with the Miraculous and everything would go back to normal."

How stubborn… Nathalie shook her head. All this time Gabriel could have gone to a therapist and they could have saved themselves a lot of suffering, especially Adrien.

"Then give me his number." Nathalie told him.

Gabriel sent the doctor's number to the chat he shared with Nathalie. Nathalie verified that the message had reached its destination. She saved the number in order to contact the therapist

"I'll call the doctor and make an appointment for Adrien. If we don't do something, Adrien will sink deeper and deeper into his misery.

"Alright Nathalie, so be it. Just keep me updated on the situation."


A therapist, but this one is special you know ;).