The next few days continued in the same way the last time you had an awkward parting with Gabriel in the middle of the night. He avoided you like the plague, there weren't even any akuma victims, much to your surprise and delight. Your rehearsing for the play was going much more smoothly and you were able to practice your violin in your room without interruption. You were becoming masterful at the notes, the expertise music pouring from the open door to lead many around the house to stop and listen for a little, including both the Gorilla and Nathalie. However, Mr. Agreste was still locked away up in his office, and you didn't think much about him.

Adrien was starting to have a few extra problems at the moment, and he kept coming to you in order to vent them. His increasing anxiety at being trapped away, unable to see his friends, was making him more and more irritable. He never snapped at anyone, but it was obvious that he was just depressed and restless. Apparently, he had missed out on some movie outings, local parties, and even music rehearsals that his friends were having. Gabriel was being extra careful now for some reason, and honestly it just made you think about what he was planning.

Sadly, you didn't really have any advice for Adrien. You said you would try and talk to him, but you weren't seeing your boss around the mansion whatsoever, not even in fleeting. It wasn't until nearly a week and a half after the show that you heard yelling out in the hallway. Voices were raised in agitation, one young and one old. It took you by surprise, as there was never really any excitement that went on in this house, except when you were being summoned by Hawkmoth.

Peeking your head around the doorframe, you finally saw Gabriel Agreste standing out on the landing in front of the painting, he was waving his arms at someone, his own voice raised. If he was frightening when he was calm, this was much worse. In front of him was Adrien, refusing to back down, his face pure anger. It was shocking to see, as you had only ever seen him look at you that way when he was Chat. But now he was using that same face towards his own father. Oh no… what had happened?

Worried that Adrien might have found out something, you stepped into the hall, your slippered feet making no sound against the tile. They didn't hear or see you approach as you went to listen in on the argument.

You heard the older man speak first, "No, Adrien, I have told you this time and time again. Any event that lasts past 7 you are not allowed to attend. That is too late at night, and anything can happen. Things not even your bodyguard would be able to protect you from. We are done with this discussion."

"But father, this isn't any event we are talking about, this is the yearly school dance, the one that is available for everyone to go to. This would give me a chance to talk to some more people and maybe even gain some new friends. I'm lucky if I get to spend any time with them outside of school maybe once a week. I don't want to lose them." He stepped forward defiantly.

"Don't be ridiculous, missing one dance isn't going to make you lose friends."

"You say that now, but the more you keep me stuck in here, unable to make my own decisions, I just might one day."

"Keep talking back to me, Adrien, and I will be sure to keep you in here and away from them. Clearly, they are being a bad influence on you, making you talk back to me in this way. Maybe you shouldn't be friends with them."

Now you couldn't let this just slide, poor Adrien was beginning to crumble as he knew that his father's final decision wasn't within his control. You cleared your throat, the two of them turning towards you, a bit startled. "I think his friends are being a great influence on him. They are giving him the capability to speak up for himself and be brave instead of just backing down and giving up in stressful situations. I think he should be allowed to go to the dance, Gabriel. He has done nothing wrong and it is something that every kid gets to experience normally. Do you really want to take that away from him?"

Mr. Agreste stuttered for a moment, taken aback by your words. Although you had confronted him similarly before, he was just not expecting for you to defy him so openly again, especially with all that was at stake. But you were still too valuable, you were taking liberties now. His face grew dark, a bit of a snarl forming on his mouth. "You have no place to talk here, you are not a part of this family."

You stepped towards him, fists clenched and a stern scowl on your own mouth. "That is true, but Adrien is my friend. I will not let him be treated in such a way, especially by his own blood father. You are supposed to love and support him, not keep him depressed and miserable, locked away like some pet!"

His eyes widened in shock at your harsh words, but he didn't raise a hand to you. "I am keeping him safe! That should be what is most important!"

"Safe from what? Hm? The akumas?"

Gabriel closed the gap and you felt his fingers close around your forearm roughly as he started to drag you away from the area. Adrien looked shocked and tried to follow, but you shook your head desperately at him, not wanting him to end up getting in the middle of whatever this was. Rounding a corner, you were being dragged towards the closed door at the end of the hall, a room you weren't familiar with. You struggled against his grasp, but he was strong and he not only kept his grip on you, but kept you moving towards the door. Silently, you cursed yourself for only wearing slippers right now.

The door was swiftly unlocked by only the mere sound of jingling keys and then you were thrown down inside. You hit the floor of the dark room, not gently, and you groaned in pain, slowly turning and looking back at Gabriel. He was still in the doorway, framed by light. His silhouette was unnerving. "You think you are clever, talking to me in such a disrespectful way in front of my own son for the second time now. Bringing up the very thing we should not be talking about in front of him… You know very well why he should stay in here. You should be on my side in this."

"And you should know that he is capable of taking care of himself and that you control the very things that would 'hurt' him. They wouldn't hurt him."

He laughs menacingly. "You don't know what uncontrollable things can happen out there. You were even caught in the crossfire once. It's time you reflect on what you have done, and face the consequences of it. I told you what could happen if you didn't obey me…"

With that the door was slammed shut and the rattling of keys once again and the following 'click' was enough to know you were locked in. His words set you into a panic though. Rushing forward and off the floor, you tried to open the door. However, the knob just rattled uselessly, never turning. Stepping back, you tangled your fingers into your hair and breathed loudly, crying out as Duusu fearfully came from your jacket's safety. "Oh Maman, what have I done? He said that he could kill her if I betrayed him…"

Duusu flew at the door, looking at the handle. "Do you really think he would do such a thing though? For this situation? We have been talking with him for quite a while now, he has a lot of soft spots that we didn't even think could exist."

"But he is also a man of his word. Oh Duusu, I could have just doomed her by trying to stand up for poor Adrien."

She pointed to the lock. "I could open this door for us, we can try to stand up to Hawkmoth once and for all. Keep your Maman safe…"

You shook your head. "No… I don't have the power to face him. I couldn't face him. And what if I jump the gun and break out of this room only to then force his hand to kill Maman? I don't want to do that… I think we should stay in here." Sighing, you sunk to your knees, tears starting to pour from your eyes. "I hope he doesn't hurt her. Oh what have I done?"

Duusu flew down and settled into your hair comfortingly as you attempted to calm down, worrying over your Maman and Adrien and what Gabriel might be doing right now. After roughly ten minutes of this, you finally stood back up and looked around the room to see where you were, your eyes adjusting to the dim light. It was a relatively small room, much to your surprise, but it had a full bedroom's furnishments. A large four-poster bed stood against the far wall; the beams intricately carved with flowers. The sheets were a black pattern with deep red background which matched the color of the carpet in the room. The other wall had an oak dresser with golden knobs and carvings to match the bed. A singular window had large red drapes drawn across it, a door between it and the bed leading to a grand bathroom with a heated bath and open shower.

Swallowing hard, you think you knew where you were. Heading back into the bedroom, you sat on the edge of the bed. Gabriel's bed. He had locked you into his room. Crossing your legs and wringing your hands, you glanced around the place. Why had he put you in here? Now you had another thing to currently worry about on top of everything. You shouldn't have gotten involved in front of Adrien, you should have waited and confronted Gabriel alone in his office. You risked everything because of this, and now you might be paying the ultimate price.

Hours passed, the beams of light coming in from around the curtains growing dimmer. Dinner time came and went, no one coming for you. Duusu fell asleep, but your worry kept you alert, looking around the room nervously as more and more time passed. When the last of the light finally disappeared, you once again heard the tell-tale jangle of keys before the lock clicked back open. Jumping off the bed, you stood in the middle of the room, shaking a little bit in fright, but not so much that you would look weak in front of your boss.

Gabriel's silhouette was once again visible for a mere moment before he closed the door behind him, the outline of his features a bit more perceptible without the blinding hall light coming in. His face was still one of annoyance as he stayed in front of the door. He didn't speak, he didn't move.

Gasping, you took a couple of steps towards him, "Please tell me you didn't hurt my Maman…"

With your approach, he broke off from where he stood, coming at you at a brisk pace. He cut you off, placing a hand around your throat and pushing you backwards. Back, back, as your breathing became difficult at the constriction of your airways. Eventually your back hit the wall, jarring your head. Duusu hissed and started to bite at Gabriel's hand as Nooroo came out, looking worried.

"Master I…" His words were stopped as Gabriel reached under his tie quickly and removed his brooch, simultaneously reaching into your hair and ripping out the miraculous, a few strands of your hair stuck in it. He tossed them down onto the nightstand next to you as he lowered you, making sure your feet were just touching the ground.

His hand pressed a bit harder and he leaned in, that scowl still on his face as he looked in your eyes. You clawed at his hand, struggling to breathe as he came closer. Eventually, you felt something warm and soft brushing up against your lips, and you realized his face was right up to yours now. He didn't hold himself back this time, and he leaned in, his mouth pressing right up to yours. His breath washed over your cheek, and it felt comforting, the kiss and his presence starting to make your anxiousness melt away.

Finally, he pulled away, his breathing now hot and heavy on your neck. Your eyes blinked open, glancing at him, your cheeks incredibly red from the experience you just had. Trembling a bit, you sputter out a few words, "Why… why are you doing this?"

Gabriel did not answer you. Instead, his mouth began to press against your neck, not too lightly, enough to feel the dampness of his inner lips and the small pricks of his teeth catching your skin. Involuntarily, you moaned, waves of pleasure and heat cascading through your body. His hand didn't leave your throat as you heard a small thud from below you, his knee resting against the wall, sliding his leg up between yours.

It started to grind against your womanhood, the friction and closeness making you feel such an arousal that you had never experienced before. Crying out, you tried to reach out to touch his chest, but his hand tightened on your throat again. Your fingers clamped back to his, just so you could get enough air. His free hand found your waist, however, and began to travel up under your shirt, long fingers caressing the skin of your stomach and toying with your waistband.

His mouth traveled back up as his leg began to move faster against you. You felt embarrassed and hot as you panted in pleasure, the feeling between your legs something indescribable. "M… m… mr… hah, Gabriel…" He growled a little as you said his name, and his hand traveled all the way up your front, slipping under the edge of your bra and clasping your breast, squeezing the nipple between a couple of fingers.

You were now yelling into his ear, kicking lightly. All you knew you wanted to do was to be able to move, be able to touch him back, but he had you pinned right where he wanted you. Apparently, you were making too much noise. His lips found yours again and pressed down, his tongue sliding easily into your mouth as you shouted out loud. With the return of his kiss, you kissed him back, desperately, needingly. Your tongue danced with his as your fingers fought with his hand against your throat.

Finally, he was dragging you back, onto your feet and away from the wall. You were being brought around to the front of the bed, before being pushed backwards onto the edge of it. Falling back, the kiss broke, trails of saliva dropping between you two. His face was no longer Gabriel's. He looked entirely like Hawkmoth, with his wide evil grin and how he now stood towering above you. His hands found the clasp your pants with expert precision and undid them, sliding them away and off of you before you could even protest. But you didn't really want to. You wanted this, all worry for you Maman being clouded away.

Your panties now were shown to him, dark grey with a black lace trim. He chuckled upon seeing them, knowing you were taking the dark colors comment to heart now. Blushing, you turned a bit away from him, but he reached down and grabbed your chin, making you look at his face as he leaned over you. Gabriel slid you towards the edge of the bed and closer to him without wavering, pressing his crotch against yours as your legs wrapped around him. Even though he still wore his pants, you could tell he was aroused as there was a definite bump you were feeling.

Gasping, you squirmed a bit, but Mr. Agreste started to thrust against you, this new friction between your legs feeling even more incredible. Were you dreaming? It certainly felt like it. If it wasn't for Gabriel's roughness, you might just not believe this was happening. His warmth and scent were fogging your mind and you reached out in desperation, uncaring that he still had that grip on your chin. Without looking away, you placed your hand on his shoulders, fingers digging into the fabric and finding a hold. As he continued to move, you moaned, eyelids half-drooping.

He finally dropped your chin, breathing a bit heavily, and moved his hands back to hold under your legs and bring them up so he had better access. This made your own arms drop and you started just gripping the sheets, arching your back as his thrusts seemed to go on and on. Finally, you couldn't seem to hold yourself back anymore and you cried out, right as a burning and pleasure overtook your lower half. Squirming, you felt a wetness between your legs. Feeling embarrassed, you looked back up to see Gabriel pulling away, a triumphant smirk on his face. The front of his own pants were now a bit damp and he laughed reaching down to rub the darkened wet spot on your own underwear. "So sensitive…" You twitched as he touched you, unable to say anything as you panted.

Once again, Mr. Agreste approached the bed, looming above you. Scooting back, he climbed up on to the bed and over you, once again keeping that startling gaze on your face. He started reaching up and removing his jacket and unbuttoning his shirt as you watched in embarrassed interest. Laying them to the side, he moved his hands to your underwear, slipping them off and over your legs swiftly. He made quick work of your own shirt and bra, watching you as you now lay completely naked on the bed covers.

Shyly, you scooted towards him and undid the button of his own pants, sliding the zipper down and pulling them down over his black boxers. He frowned and backed away, wriggling out of the tight pants and discarding the underwear. Gabriel turned back towards you, and you couldn't help but stare. It was a sight you had never seen before, not even on any other man. His member stood firm and erect, a bit of clear liquid tipping the slit on his head as it twitched slightly. He moved back towards you, forcing you back down onto the covers as he clambered over you, moving your legs apart with his own.

Mr. Agreste let out a soft sigh as he let his erection finally touch the wet folds of your labia, making you shudder at the surprising heat you felt from it on your clit. He leaned forward as he ground his hips against yours, his tip ever inching towards your entrance, and he pulled you into another kiss, this one predatory and messy as his tongue immediately went for yours. You playfully struggled against him, arms wrapping around his shoulders and fingers tangling into his hair as you began to move your own hips back.

He growled lightly and thrusted against you, his member finally penetrating you all the way to its base. Crying out in pain, you broke the kiss and yelped, gasping and panting. Somewhat in a panic, Gabriel pulled back out and looked down at you with clear concern on his face. He gritted his teeth and glanced between your legs, propping himself up on his arms to do so. Looking back to you he spoke, "Are you… is… this your first?"

You flushed fearfully and nodded, glancing away briefly as you admitted this to him, feeling even more embarrassed despite is not being anything to be ashamed of. "I… I've always been too busy with school and work to do anything else really… I've never dated or… anything else."

Mr. Agreste looked a bit uncomfortable and flustered himself as he lowered himself back down to you. "I'm so sorry, I did not know. I'll be more gentle."

Reaching up, you removed his glasses from his face and gently held one of his cheeks in your palm. Much to your surprise, he leaned into the touch, lightly kissing your hand.

More slowly this time, he inched himself back inside, moving his hips in a rhythmic pattern. The feeling of him, warm and hard, was stimulating and very welcomed. He wrapped his arms around under your shoulders and pressed his body closer, his head next to yours, heavy breath in your ear. Your arms encircled him, letting out small gasps every time he hit a certain spot within you. That similar feeling from before was coming back, but you didn't want for it to come. Not yet, you wanted to stay just like this for forever.

However, Gabriel would not allow this as he continued to rut, going deeper as he went faster. His smell, taste, touch, and heat were all too much, overpowering your attempts to last longer. You felt your walls closing in around him, attempting to push him out. He groaned and struggled to stay inside as you orgasmed, sweet liquid spilling out past your connection.

He panted, moving a couple more times before he thrusted in as deep as he could and you felt his member twitch and spasm inside of you, loosening his own seed within. The ecstasy of the moment made you drool slightly, unable to let him go. The two of you stayed like that for a few moments, just absorbed in the pleasure while you attempted to catch your breaths.

Finally, he rolled off to the side, picking up his glasses. He started to clean them. "Damn, I didn't mean to go that far, but I couldn't help myself." Gently, he put them back on his face, looking towards the window, rather than you as you started to sit up, hair in a tangled mess. "I've been so lonely, for so long now. I miss her so much and you… you just remind me of her. I didn't hurt your Maman. I couldn't, I never would have."

Your heart pounded and you nodded, placing a hand on his shoulder. "We both have been lonely. I can see how we came to this but…" you put your other hand on your heart. "I know this won't change our overall relationship, and goals. I don't want to completely dismiss this moment, I…" your face flushed deep red. "I know you still love your wife, Gabriel, but this meant something to me. I've been feeling rather odd around you for some time now, and I believe I know the reason why."

Mr. Agreste turned towards you; his eyes wide. He reached out and grabbed one of your hands. He looked lost for words, which was incredibly unlike him. "Naturally, I won't shun you. This moment in which I have let myself give in to weakness, it has changed things. I know I don't want to continue on just being alone. You are welcome in here; you are welcome with me."

You frowned, looking away. "Until we find your wife…."

His slight smirk vanished and he looked towards the quilt. "That… we will have to see when the time comes for that. I don't really know how I feel about everything right now; it will take time. All I know for the moment, and all I can tell you is that I do care about you, greatly, and I don't want for you to stay away as you have been."

You nodded. "I can agree to that, but there is one thing." You sighed. "Please spend more time with Adrien. Watch a movie with him, play some music together, take a walk, eat dinner. I don't know, just spend time with him. He desperately needs it, and it is painful for me to see him that way."

Gabriel nodded, closing his eyes as a look of guilt clouded his features. "Of course, that is not unreasonable. I… will need to try and make time around work… and around our searching…" He hesitated.

You put a hand on his shoulder as you reluctantly started to get up off the bed. "We will still search and we will get those miraculouses. We will win, in time. I will not falter because I am doing this for you and for Adrien. You mustn't worry about that." Daring, you gave him a small kiss on his cheek. Seeing him break and be so vulnerable, you didn't feel any fear towards him. You weren't sure if you would ever be able to again. "For now though, I need to clean up a little." Still naked, you turned from him and stepped into the bathroom over to the massive, open shower as you felt something warm start to drip down a leg.

Taking a few moments to figure out how the knob worked, you finally turned it on, hot water cascading down around you. The slight soreness that the intercourse had caused started to melt away, and you closed your eyes, just basking in that, feeling a bit ecstatic.

Something loomed up behind you and put a hand on your forehead, pushing you back against them. The gesture was incredibly familiar somehow and you started, stepping away from them and turning around. Gabriel stood there, a bit startled, and you put a hand to your temple.

"Wait…. The man who danced with me when I was drunk at the show's afterparty… the one that was grinding against me…. that was you?" Everything came flashing back, you really had paid no attention to whom you were dancing with that evening. You had not cared, or maybe you did, and you just decided to let all your true feelings come out to Gabriel on that one night. It was so embarrassing; how could you not have known?!

He smiled at first and then laughed a little, reaching up and scratching the back of his neck. "Maybe… just maybe I was actually feeling angry and protective when I saw those other men approaching you at the party. They were unsuited for you, and you were drunk." The smile vanished as suddenly as it showed up. "It wouldn't have been the first time."

The night of the masquerade came back to your mind and several switches clicked. "So what I said was correct… you were jealous." You laughed a little bit, letting yourself move back towards him. "It seems that we really were just in a dance ourselves this whole time, always passing by each other when we were supposed to touch."

He moved into the water, drips coming off of the tips of his blonde hair. "How poetic, but that does seem to have been the case." You hadn't had a chance from before to really study his body, but it was as you had assumed it would be having seen him in the tight bodysuit of Hawk Moth time and time again. He was lean, but had smooth muscle running over the length of his body. There was nothing flabby or unappealing about him. It was as if he could have been a model himself had he chosen to.

Blushing, you found where the soap lay and went over to retrieve it. Before you could pick it up however, you felt a now familiar warm heat pressing up against your back, pushing you into the wall. His breath was on the top of your ear. "Now that everything is out in the open, I can't seem to hold myself back from you now." The smooth texture of his lips trailed over the cartilage to the side of your neck. "I just want to be able to touch you… and to be touched. I don't want that feeling to go away."

You reached up and put an arm around his neck, pulling him closer. "I'm not going anywhere; I will be here as long as you need me." You didn't want to think about the future right now, blocking it out, you closed your eyes and focused on the sensation of his hands running up and down your sides. Soon, you felt the tip of his erection once again sliding into you. He was ready again so soon? Impressed from what you had heard, you moaned as Gabriel began to pump in and out of you again, a lot more smoothly this time with the help of the water.

His teeth gritted as he moved, holding one of your legs up to grant him easier access. It was more work to keep going, as sensitive as he must have been from already reaching climax. However, you were having a much better time, having a body built for multiple orgasms. That was what you did just now, Mr. Agreste struggling to stay fully inside of you. With a moan in time with your own, Gabriel finally came again, his member throbbing rhythmically inside of you until he pulled out, a bit of white trailing down your leg from where he had just been.

With a chuckle, he pulled away and smacked your rear, the resounding clap echoing around the shower. Grabbing the soap, he walked back over to the stream of water. "It has been so long; I wasn't too sure if I even still had it in me."

You walked up to him, snatching the soap away from him playfully as he gave you a glare. "You may have lost, M…. Gabriel, but you are still you." It felt so strange, referring to him by his first name like this. "Time can't change the essence of who you are."

He looked down at one hand sadly. "I'm not too sure how true that is…"

Gently taking that hand, you put the soap back into it and curled his fingers around them, giving them a light kiss. "Well whatever you believe, you are a good man, fighting for what is right, and I stand by you and I…. care about you." Blushing, you lathered up your hair and continued to wash off while Gabriel started to do the same. A day ago, you wouldn't have even dreamed of such a thing happening, you would have thought you had gone crazy. Maybe you have.

Shaking your head, you finally walked out of the shower, drying yourself off with one of the plushest towels you had ever laid hands on. It was something so much fancier than what you had in your bathroom; the difference was noticeable. Mr. Agreste soon followed and laid back in the bed, a towel around his shoulders, you gathered up your clothes and he raised an eyebrow at you, looking up from the book he was now holding. It was the one he had borrowed about the history of fashion.

He cleared his throat, "Will you be staying… tonight? I did give the invitation… My room is now yours."

You hesitated; would it really be such a good idea. However, you did promise him. How much harm could this really be. Finally, you cracked a smile and put the clothes neatly on a chair along with his before crawling into bed with him and curling up next to him, an arm over his stomach. Gingerly, he put an arm around your shoulders, holding you close. "I'll stay as long as you want me. I'm not hiding away from you anymore. I hope you do the same for me…"

He frowned, eyes calculating. "It's not like I have anything more to hide from you. You are always welcome in my office, in my lair… just find me. It will be easier for you…" Gabriel sighed. "And a promise is a promise, I will also find the time for Adrien. I will let him go to that dance, if he is protected."

You settled in against him, feeling drowsy at how comfortable everything was. "If it makes you feel better, I can watch over the dance, make sure nothing unwarranted attacks. Though you just have to make sure to not send out any akumas that night."

He chuckled. "Very well, you make a fair point. I accept your offer. I do trust you to look after him. You've always tried your hardest for me, and I have noticed."

The two of you went silent and soon you were passed out against him, butterflies in your stomach. The day had taken such a turn, but it was one that you could definitely remember. You were happy, completed, and whatever the future threw at you, at least you could have these moments.