Welcome back! Not much to say this week, just that next week's chapter will likely be in the afternoon instead of the morning.

Content warning: Grieving parents, child death, self sacrifice thought of as a form of taking one's life, abandonment issues, secrets, and enslavement via Akuma

Chapter 18

Family Reunion

Both Adrien and Varian were left stunned by the revelation that Gabriel's wish had inadvertently taken Adrien in Emilie's place. It was clearly something Emilie never wanted. Something none of them wanted.

"When I awoke I was surprised to find that I felt…well. It was the first time in a long time I'd been able to get out of bed without feeling tired or weak. At first I didn't know where anyone was but something was drawing me to the basement. When I arrived there was a strange man who I would find out later was Quirin. My…former husband was also there hovering over a glass coffin. I couldn't see what it was at first but…"

She trailed off, wiping a tear from her eye as Quirin offered her some comfort. She remembered getting closer and closer, shaking knowing something was wrong. She called for Gabriel who looked up at her in shock with tear stains running down his face. When he stood she saw what was in the coffin. Adrien, her baby! She remembered frantically trying to open the coffin only for Gabriel to pull her away. She begged to know why, she was the one dying, why was her son…and then she saw the ring and earrings in his hands. And she knew.

How…how could he? She had told him to be there for Adrien and to protect him. She had accepted her death and her only wish was for her family to live on and enjoy life for her. She knew of the wish and she also knew there could be consequences. She had told him not to try, to just let her go, but he didn't do that. And because of his obsession their child was lost.

He tried to talk to her to console her but she wouldn't let him anywhere near her. He was a monster to her. Things just became worse when she talked to the other man. It seems his son had been taken in by Gabriel and even after knowing what would happen he allowed a boy to sacrifice himself for his own Father.

They were united in grief and anger towards the man whose carelessness cost them their children. They stripped him of his Miraculous and everything else he had. He didn't bother fighting, there was no fight left in him.

"We were able to meet the real Ladybug who was absolutely devastated to learn what happened to her partner and friend. We gave her back the Miraculous Gabriel stole along with the peacock. Even if it was fixed I couldn't bear to look at it anymore. Not after all the pain it caused. I kept the Butterfly Miraculous to spite him at first but then started putting it to good use. Ladybug still wears the earrings but no one wears the ring. No one could replace her partner."

The story they told was devastating. Adrien knew this wasn't their story but they were on the same path. As much as he would love to have his mother back he would never want his father to die in her place. And then there was Varian. He was going to just…So many thoughts were swinging through his head but the biggest one, the one he felt selfish for even thinking about was how they were both planning to abandon him.

The only thing keeping him from screaming was the feel of the ring on his finger. Varian had changed his mind. He thought back to the warm welcoming from all their friends when the boy had finally woken up. He broke down crying saying he didn't want to leave. Did…did he mean something different than what they thought? Was…was that little get together when he decided to…live. Had Varian been thinking this the whole time? When he first encountered Tanuki he had tried asking for the Miraculous to save someone and even accepting the cost of the sacrifice himself, along with Shadow Moth.

His Father. Did he not matter, was he not a good enough son? Why was it so easy for him to just leave him? Why was he trying so hard to bring back Mom when that would mean he'd be mourning his Dad? These thoughts felt selfish but yet he couldn't stop them.

He was also sad but comforted to hear that Ladybug didn't give his ring to another holder. With all the new holders she'd been summoning and their fight after his ring was stolen he was beginning to think he didn't matter to her. He really needed to talk to her.

"We've been helping Ladybug search for a way to undo the wish." Quirin stated. "As Madame Butterfly and the Procyon Knight we've been helping the citizens of Paris in memory of our children. We were attempting a long shot when the sky cracked open and we found ourselves here. Don't you see? It worked, we undid the wish!" He reached out his hand practically begging for his son to take it.

Varian was rubbing his arms to comfort himself. This was what he had dreamed about for so long, it was what he wished for. But he knew this wasn't real. If the wish had been reversed his Dad and Adrien's Mom wouldn't still be here. They were likely two lonely parents from another dimension where he and Gabriel were successful. And no one was happy about it.

Even though this wasn't his real Dad the pain he was emoting was real. And the thought of him inflicting that on his own Dad broke his heart a little. And once he told them the truth, that they weren't their real children it would shatter.

A part of him wanted to pretend, just for a little while but that would make it hurt even more when they learned the truth.

He was just about to speak when they heard something landing on the roof. The adults looked at each other for a moment before transforming to defend their children.

"Nooroo, Dark Wings Raise!"

"Ruddiger, Mix it up!" In moments the two transformed ready for whatever was coming for them or their children. They didn't expect the attack to come from the side however. The Akuma burst in through the wall on the left side, slamming Emilie to the ground and knocking her out.

"Mom!" Adrien cried as the knight tried to help his partner but was confronted by a beast-like man. An Akuma, no doubt.

"Beast Master, take out your other target and bring the children back to me. Then you'll have all the power you want to complete your mission." Hector just growled, a part of him repulsed by the idea of taking orders from someone other than his king, but this was for the sake of the mission.

He roared, launching himself at the knight who skillfully blocked his attack. Hector was impressed, not many could match him in battle, this was going to be fun.

He roared as he unleashed two beast-like shadow creatures to aid in his fight.

As the two went at it trading blows back and forth the boys ran over to Emilie making sure she was alright. Thankfully she was unharmed and just knocked out. As they pulled her to the side to keep her out of harm's way Adrien glanced at his ring and back at Varian.

"I only knew for sure recently and never told him." Varian said reassuring Adrien again that Gabriel didn't know his identity. That was at least a little relief but if his Father had sent an Akuma after them he couldn't transform into Chat Noir and Varian couldn't transform in front of Adrien if Gabriel was watching. This was all one big mess.

As Hector slashed and charged at the strange knight something was ringing familiar in his brain. It was like his opponent knew his moves and how to counter them. He tried a few more of his trickier maneuvers, ones with a lot of feints and false moves and still the knight countered everyone of them.

Like he did with his own bearcats Beast Master used his companions to attack his opponent on both sides. The knight countered by lighting his sword ablaze using the fire element weakening the shadow creatures with its light.

"That is so cool." Thought Varian as he watched his Dad in action. "It looks like he's using just the elements and was only combining them with his sword. He thought about how hard it was to use the power of the Black Cat without help. It would seem Ruddiger and Plagg were right. Anyone could use a kwami's power but only certain people could master it though. Still that flaming sword was pretty cool.

Hector growled again. His shadow beasts were based on his own flesh and blood one and yet this warrior still knew his every weakness. This was beyond skilled, did this person know him?

"Who are you?" He asked as he watched his opponent closely. The knight was also looking at him curiously also with a sense of familiarity. He couldn't see it but the knight's eyes shot wide open after hearing him speak.

"Hector? Is that you?" Hector didn't let his guard down.

"I asked you first! Who are you?" He was so distracted he almost didn't see the yo-yo aimed right at his head. He responded quickly and grabbed the weapon pulling its owner along with it. Ladybug was thrown to the other side of the building as Hector growled.

Adrien was grateful to see Ladybug but now he really couldn't transform to help her. He heard Varian swear and knew he was thinking the same thing.

Quirin saw Ladybug take a nasty spill and went to help her. This did not sit well with Hector or Shadow Moth. The knight had just helped the person who attacked him so whoever this was he must be an enemy.

As the fight continued two more people entered the warehouse. Adira and King Edmund looked on as Hector was fighting a strange looking knight and spotted heroin. The move set of the knight was familiar to them as well. Taking a quick assessment of the situation Adira spotted two children standing protectively over a woman in a butterfly themed outfit. She did a double take recognizing one of the boys from his wanted poster.

"Varian?" The boy looked up, confused as to how this stranger knew his name. Hector also paused hearing the name of his nephew. The dark-haired boy with a teal stripe stood up.

"Who are you, how do you know my name?" Hector ignored the voice in his head telling him to keep attacking the knight and focused on the boy.

"Varian? Quirin's son?" Varian looked back and forth between his father and these new people trying to piece together a puzzle with too many missing pieces. It was then the knight saw Adira as well as his King.

"Adira, your majesty?" The fight by now had ceased as everyone in the room was beginning to peace together who was who. Varian was still looking back and forth.

"Dad, do you know these people?" At that everything stopped.

"Wait Dad?" Edmund asked, startled looking from the boy to the knight. Adira's eyes widened as Hector looked back at the knight, the familiar movements now making sense.

"Brother? Is that you?" The knight paused for a moment then powered down.

"Ruddiger Separate." Quirin revealed himself as the rest of the brotherhood looked on in shock.

"Hold on." The King said, eyeing his long time friend suspiciously. "Quirin is supposed to be dead. Care to explain how you are here?"

Ladybug's eyes went to Varian. This was Varian's Father? Who were these people who seemed to know him and why did they think he was dead? Varian always spoke about his Dad as if he was in a coma or something.

Suddenly the Akuma, Hector, grabbed his head as Shadow Moth tried to take control again.

"Beast Master, what are you waiting for?!" But Hector was done with this creep.

"You bastard, first you trick me into fighting my brother and then you want me to kidnap my own nephew?!"

"I don't know who you think he is but he's not Varian's Father." Shadow Moth replied through Hector not releasing his hold.

"I know Quirin better than you, you conniving bastard!" As the two continued to bicker Emilie was starting to come too as Quirin stepped to the center of the room.

As Quirin explained about the wish everything fell into place, Varian was Tanuki. These people were from another world and so was he. She had suspected him for some time but there was a part of her that didn't want to believe it especially after he stole Chat Noir's ring. Strangely he didn't seem disturbed by the fact that he had just been outed by his father.

Not only that but Gabriel Agreste, Adrien's Father, was Shadow Moth! She was dreaming. She had to be dreaming. There was no way her enemies were revealed like this. And God poor Adrien. Come to think of it Adrien seemed a little too calm to just be finding out. Did Varian tell him?

"He's right." Varian said softly to the man who might as well be his Dad. "Yo-your not my Dad. Not my real one at least." Quirin's face just about lost all of its color.

"Varian, that man has you brainwashed. He-"

"No, he's right. Think about it, If you had reversed the wish we'd be here but you and Miss Emilie wouldn't." It was heartbreaking to see the lights dim from Quirin's eyes as he realized the truth.

"It's true sir." Ladybug confirmed. "I'm not sure how it happened but a few hours ago the barrier to our world was damaged and several…beings came through. You said we met before but I've never seen you before today." Emilie who was listening in Adrien's arms let out a sob. She thought she'd save her little boy but the one who was holding her was not her son.

"So you're saying," Quirin began. "We were somehow pulled to another world where our children were alive?" Ladybug nodded as the knight collapsed to his knees. Varian was torn, should he go to him or not. It might not be his real Dad but he still lost his son? Unable to decide he stood awkwardly to the side.

"So, is that the case for us?" Asked Edmund still trying to wrap his head around this whole situation.

"How did you get here and when?" Varian asked.

"All three of us got here several days ago. We followed Eugene through the same door in the House of Yesterday's Tomorrow." Adira confirmed.

"Then you're probably from the same world as me. I ran into Rapunzel and later Eugene who was looking for her. If you were here before the crack in the sky appeared then I think it's safe to assume we all came from the same place." The knights of the brotherhood were saddened by this. This meant the man standing before them was not their brother miraculously alive.

"Is all that true?" Shadow Moth meekly through Hector who was getting very annoyed with an extra voice in his head.

"It's true Gabriel." Emilie said red eyed with tears still streaming down her cheeks. "You and your selfish wish ruined everything!" Since she was also a holder of the Butterfly Miraculous she used her power to free Hector of the cursed butterfly, cutting off Gabriel completely.

VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV

Gabriel stared at his hand as his connection was cut off. He sank to his knees as his beloved's words echoed in his head. "You and your selfish wish ruined everything!" He was left with the sinking realization that if he hadn't pulled out during the Hack-san incident that would have been his reality. His son Adrien, gone and Varian imprisoned in his father's place and it would have been all his fault.

He had spent so much time and effort chasing a foolish wish it was only now when confronted with reality that he realized how close he came to truly losing it all. To make matters worse, Adrien and Ladybug knew he was Shadow Moth.

His son would surely hate him and Ladybug would soon be coming for him. It was over. Obtaining the Miraculous was no longer an option, Emilie was lost. Even if this wasn't his real wife he knew deep down this would be how she'd react. He had been fooling himself for so long. All because he couldn't let her go even after she asked him to. He was a failure of a husband and a failure of a father.

And now Ladybug knew everything. He'd go to jail or worse and Adrien and Varian would be taken away. Maybe it was for the best, maybe he didn't deserve to be a parent after all. He's done nothing but hurt everyone around him, and for what? An outcome no one wanted, save for himself at the cost of everything that was actually important to him.

He truly was the worst.

To be continued…

Next time: Adrian and Varian finally say goodbye to their parents.