Chapter Text
Nino, Alya, Lila, Chloé, and Sabrina continue their dinner in silence. Well, it was quiet, until someone enters the room. The young adults turn their heads in the direction of the newcomer.
"Adr- What are YOU doing here?"
Gabriel Agreste is known as a quiet, civil, and a cold man. Lila can't see the man she knew. This Gabriel isn't cold. This Gabriel isn't quiet... and he looks angry.
"Gabriel, what's-... Oh... Hi, Chloé, Sabrina!" Nathalie follows after Gabriel, walking in the room.
"Is that some kind of a joke?" The old man asks.
"Uncle Gabriel, we-..."
"You what? Wasn't that the girl who was the reason for- Nevermind. What are they doing here?"
"Hey, dude, calm down. It's okay," Nino stands up. Gabriel barely looks at him, then he glares again at Lila.
"Gabriel, let's find the kids and talk with them. There's no point in a fight, no right now," Nathalie places her hand on his shoulder and Gabriel inhales loudly.
"Yes, you're right. But I want answers why this... girl is here." He says the word like he had a few alternatives on his mind.
"Papa?" Gabriel turns to the source of the sound and sees his son.
"Son!" Gabriel walks to Adrien and gives him a hug, type 'proud father and son'. The guests in the room are confused, because they don't know this Gabriel, Gabriel who gives his son a caring hug, full of love and worry. They don't know this Gabriel who shows his emotions so openly. They don't know the Gabriel who, right now, holds his son like Adrien is his happiness, love, and life. Oh, little do they know what will Gabriel do for his family, right now? "I'm so happy to see you!" Gabriel smiles. "Oh, Adrien, congratulations on the-..."
"Thanks, Papa, but they don't know." Adrien points the guests with a look for a second.
"Ah, I'm sorry!" Gabriel nods.
"Hi, Adrien!" Lila, Alya, and Nino withness something more amazing than the lovely hug between Gabriel and Adrien. The trio tries not to gasp when the cold assistent or Nathalie hugs Adrien just like a mother would hug her own son.
"Hi, Nathalie!" Adrien looks around the room and sighs. "Um... Marinette is in her room. I think she will need you..."
"Adrien, you didn't talk about-..."
"Yes, we talked about Sabine. Nathalie, I'm sorry, just some of us were so, uh, curious," Adrien rolls his eyes. He's sure that Nathalie hasn't heard everything, because the moment he said Sabine, she rushed out of the room.
"Adrien, I think it's time to call Jean again. What do you think?"
"Who's Jean?" Lila makes a face.
"I don't think Marinette was comfortable the last time we called him." Chloé states at the same time.
"Miss Rossi, I don't think it's any of your business to know who's Jean. Also, Chloé, are you sure she was uncomfortable?"
"I think it's best if we talk with Marinette tomorrow," Brina suggested.
"If it won't be too late tomorrow," Gabriel murmurs.
"It won't be! I'm here. Chloé's here. Sabrina, too. You and Nathalie," Adrien stares at nothing, though he was trying to convince himself as well as his father.
"I hope you're right. The last time wasn't only trauma for her, son. I'm just worried about both of you."
"I know, papa, but it'll be alright. You'll see," Adrien slightly smiles at his father and walks out of the room.
"Can someone explain?" Alya finally speaks, a little frustrated at being ignored.
"Oh, I don't know. Maybe, you can do your research first and then ask for an explanation, Miss Journalist," Gabriel smirks and leaves the living room.
"Can I come in?" The old designer knocks on MDC's door. At the lack of answer, Adrien unlocks and lets his father in.
"...so disappointed. I don't know why she left me when I needed her. Was I really that big a failure? Why did she judge me? Why do I still miss her? She left me, why do I have to think about her and her disappointed face from when I was de-akumatized?" Marinette sobs in Nathalie's shoulder, continuing her rant about Sabine. Nathalie carefully plays with the designer's hair. A red creature - Tikki, Gabriel remembers - is cuddled on Marinette's shoulder, while a black, flying, tiny cat - Plagg - lands on Marinette's knee.
"...What if..." The bluenette sniffs. "What if I'm like her?"
"No!" Everyone and everything in the room yells.
"God, darling, don't say that!"
"Nathalie's right. There's no fucking possibility, Bug!" Adrien sits next to Nathalie and Marinette and takes his wife's hand, kissing the back of it.
"Mari, you are the reason I have this type of father son relationship with Adrien. If you hadn't yelled at me the second week in the mansion and then came to apologize, we wouldn't be here." Gabriel gives a slight chuckle, glancing from the designer to his son.
"Listen to the old man here, bread. He knows his stuff," Plagg nods his head, flying to be next to Gabriel's shoulder.
"Marinette, you're the best holder I have ever had. You're the definition of good! Don't doubt yourself and don't ever think about you like that!" Tikki finally speaks.
"I-I..." Marinette looks around the room, smiling and sobbing. Then everyone in the bedroom is part of the hug. Each of them coming to where Marinette and Nathalie sat, creating a large family hug.
Ah... Family... Her family... Marinette couldn’t be more thankful she has them.
The young designer falls asleep with this happy thought.