Chapter 5

There was a staring contest between Gabriel Agreste and unknown to himself, his son. Gabriel broke the stare first, he needed answers. If he played his cards right he could get the Miraculous and get Emilie back all in one swoop.

Gabriel sat up and leaned back against his headboard, "So you caught me, congratulations. I won't give up my brooch. Now."

Adrien knew that voice, it was the one his dad used to get his way, the one that made him the ruthless business man, the one that he only used to use during business hours, but now it extend to his son in all things.

His father had a plan, but Adrien grinned, they had one better. Gabriel was slightly taken back at the wolfish grin on Chat Noir's face. It reminded him of himself.

Nathalie was giving them updates on his mom's condition as Master Fu worked by Duusu as a go between. Emilie was comfortable in a unused guest room a few doors down from from where his parents room was. Tikki had to go help once and Plagg decided to go with her. It was lucky that his father didn't wake up during that time.

Adrien could smell, in fact he thought his father and Ladybug could smell the cheese in the air. Plagg did throw up his favorite food, all over his chosen's head. Thankfully the Chat Noir magic covered up most of the smell and the mess in his hair. He needed to take a shower. He went off and quickly showed just before his father woke up.

Just as his father opened his mouth to call for Nooroo, Duusu zipped into the room. "She's awake, she's awake, she's awake! My chosen is awake!" Then the kawami busted into loud crying, tears ruining the carpet.

Adrien was gone so fast that he almost knocked over Nathalie who looked a bit shaken and shell shocked as she walked into the room to provide more details as Master Fu thought the the overjoyed Duusu wouldn't be able to get any words out besides that.

Duusu followed Adrien as he yelled "Claws in." on the way to his mom's recovering room, besides he needed Plagg to open the door, he was too excited to open it.

Nathalie's only sign of distress and joy was a tight fist. Her heart was full of joy but also sorrow as she look at Gabriel who was staring wide-eyed at the open door. Nooroo looked happy, but peeved that he couldn't greet Emilie as he should have been able too. He cased a frown towards his master.

"Sir. I suggest it would be wise to let Nooroo go to Emilie." She glanced at the puddle of tears on the floor. "He might be able to help Duusu to maintain his calm."

"Emilie's awake?" Gabriel asked shocked. He noticed that Nathalie was looking very well and the peacock Miraculouswasn't near her. There was new life in her eyes.

Ladybug's voice made him turn towards her. She was on her yo-yo talking to Chat Noir, the brooch in her other hand in a tight grip.

She got off the call and turned serious eyes towards Gabriel Agreste. "Your wife is awake and stable, but you need to give up your Miraculouselse she won't recover completely."

Marinette let her transformation drop after she showed Gabriel a video feed on her yo-yo which showed that yes Emilie was up, sitting up, while Adrien was in her lap like a little child, a black cat on his head as Master Fu watched over her carefully for signs of distress. The video was taken by Adrien's bodyguard Paul, and uploaded to her yo-yo. Magic.

Gabriel was in deep shock. He was frozen staring at Nathalie after he saw the proof his wife was alive and well. "Can I see her?"

"She doesn't want to see you sir. Not yet." Nathalie was the one to say that as Gabriel sat in shock of those words. "She's unhappy sir. Very much so. Let's say it's on the level of you almost missing Adrien's birth, sir." Nathalie had a bite to her voice that she never had around Gabriel. Emilie had said that she needed to talk to Nathalie in private when she was better and Gabriel wasn't invited into her presence until later.

"She also says," here Nathalie said something that only Gabriel understood, judging by the twitch of his face.

Gabriel swallowed painfully. He remembered that day of Adrien's birth. He was so screwed. The words he never thought Nathalie would say which was a private thing between him and Emilie gutted him.

"I renounce you Nooroo." It was hard for Gabriel to say, through clinched teeth but he wanted to see his wife more. His kawami Nooroo sighed in relief as he was sucked back into the brooch.

Marinette got up, letting Nooroo out of the brooch and he was zooming off to Emilie, Emilie's notebook tumbling to the floor as she ran to where Adrien was, Tikki keeping pace with her.

Nathalie stayed where she was, keeping an eye on Gabriel, Paul slipping into the room when Marinette left.

"Adrien is Chat Noir isn't he?" Gabriel said after a few minutes.

"Yes. Get dressed." Paul was the one to speak, Nathalie was summoned to Emilie's room.