To First Set Our Hearts Right

To put the family in order, we must first cultivate our personal life; we must first set our hearts right. – Confucius

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Timeline Spoilers: Takes place before Volpina. The majority of this was written before Season 2 aired, and as such may conflict with events that have occurred. This story is Season 2 spoiler free.

Chapter 1

The buzzing of the intercom cut through Gabriel Agreste's focus. He frowned at the intrusion and set aside his tablet. He had been reviewing the latest trends for that season and brainstorming ideas for the upcoming quarterly line. He had ordered no interruptions. Once he got into his designer zone of inspiration, he could plot out the basic theme and colors and materials in an entire afternoon. But that required no distractions.

"Yes?" he spoke, tapping the button. He kept the irritation from his voice. He knew it must be important if Nathalie was calling. His assistant knew his rules and routine by now.

"Sir, I apologize for disturbing you, but a Mr. and Mrs. Hermine and Marie Eclat are here requesting to see you. They insisted it was urgent."

Gabriel frowned. "I'll be right down." He closed the program on his tablet and headed out of his office. Hermine and Marie were Yvette's parents – his in-laws. They had been a thorn in Gabriel's side ever since he began courting their daughter.

"No daughter of mine will ever marry a poor art student such as you!" were some of the last words Gabriel and Hermine exchanged.

Yvette attempted to keep in touch with her parents – a notion Gabriel never attempted to dissuade but always provided a shoulder for her to cry upon when her letters went unanswered. Eventually, she gave up entirely sometime after Adrien's birth when her joyful announcement was met with no response. Again.

The fact that they would show up in his life after so long did not bode well. Gabriel fought to keep the mounting dread from overtaking his senses. He schooled his expression into the familiar one of disdain, discovering he didn't need to try so hard to adopt it.

"Ah, Gabriel," Hermine spoke as he entered through the doors, his voice crisp with disapproval. "It's about time. It's not surprising you would keep us waiting. You never did have any manners."

Years ago, this would have riled him up but the fashion designer had long since perfected his poker face in the two decades since he last saw Yvette's parents.

"Hermine," he greeted with a stiff nod in a dull tone, "Marie." Another curt nod. "What are you doing here? I thought you made it quite clear you both wished to remain absent from our lives."

"Your life, perhaps," Hermine said. He stood up from where he had been seated and Gabriel took a moment to study him. He shared Yvette's startling green eyes and sunshine blonde hair - though his was now entirely white. He stood a head shorter than Gabriel but carried himself with the kind of authority the fashion mogul often adopted. Gabriel's lips turned downward as his mind drew the comparison. He wanted to relax his stance to separate him from his father-in-law, but didn't dare yield any ground. He waited for Hermine to continue. "We've come to see our grandson."

Gabriel refrained from rolling his eyes and instead merely lifted one eyebrow at the man. "Why the sudden interest?" he asked, mildly curious. "You've never wanted to be part of his life before. Why now?"

Hermine shrugged – an overt gesture designed to disarm him. He wasn't fooled. "We're getting on in our ages. We would like to spend our remaining years reconnecting with Adrien."

"I'm surprised you know his name," Gabriel said before he could stop himself.

His father-in-law smiled. Gabriel immediately pictured a shark closing in on its prey. The hairs on the back of his neck rose and he had to fight off the sudden inexplicable rush of trepidation that shot through him.

"That's funny," Hermine replied, "coming from you."

"And what's that supposed to mean?" he snapped. He narrowed his eyes at Hermine at the implied accusation.

"I've looked into you, Gabriel," Yvette's father said. "You're never present in Adrien's life. No exposure to children his own age. You've never attended any of the events at his school. Not a single one."

Gabriel's hands began to tremble behind his back. He clenched them into fists to still their motion. "How dare you come into my home and criticize me about not being there for my son," he began in a low growl, a sudden fatherly protectiveness shooting through him.

"Furthermore," the older man continued, unperturbed by Gabriel's threat, "it has come to our attentions that your actions are putting Adrien into danger."

Gabriel glowered at him with the best furious expression he could manage – the kind he reserved for when senior designers informed him of mistakes to the lineup during Fashion Week. He hoped it would have the same effect on Hermine as it often did on his employees. "What do you mean?" he demanded.

"Akumas, Gabriel," Hermine replied in a calm, steady voice. No such luck on the intimidation, then.

Gabriel rolled his eyes. "Hawkmoth indiscriminately attacks anyone in the city. You cannot possibly blame me for his actions."

Hermine withdrew a thick booklet of papers from the briefcase resting on the floor and for the second time that day, a glimmer of fear threaded through him. "Simon Says," Hermine said, putting on a pair of glasses and flipping through the pages as if he were reading off from the typed print. Gabriel knew better than to believe Hermine didn't already have everything pertinent memorized. "We all saw on live television how your actions caused his akumatization." Hermine shook his head sadly. "The man successfully launched an attack on you. In your own home. This home. I understand Adrien was also present. You put him into danger. What would the akuma have done to him if he stumbled across Adrien before finding you?"

The designer was stunned into a moment of silence. He would never admit that those same thoughts haunted him late at night, when he would suddenly bolt from a deep sleep, gasping and panting and drenched in sweat and fighting off the frenzied urge to dash over to Adrien's room just to make sure his son was safe and asleep. Hermine smiled and continued, knowing he had Gabriel at a momentary disadvantage.

"You are an unfit parent," he told Gabriel, driving the final nail home. He stepped over to the taller man and handed him the papers. Gabriel accepted on instinct, still in a dull state of disbelief at the events spiraling out of his control. "And the courts agree. Adrien is now under our custody. We're his legal guardians."

"What?" Gabriel exploded.

"It's all in the papers," Hermine said, tapping the sheets with his finger. "There will be a court date in about a month to finalize everything, but the judge agreed it would be best to get Adrien acclimated to his new home as soon as possible."

"This is an outrage!" the designer shouted. "I will not participate in this farce." Despite his words, his chest felt like a vise had clenched around his heart.

"You have no choice," Hermine told him. "It's all in the documents."

"And how many judges did you have to bribe or threaten to get them to agree to this?" Gabriel asked. "You were never above throwing around your influence when you were a senator and I don't believe you've stopped now."

Hermine's face darkened. "I don't bribe or threaten anyone. I suggest you take a moment to cool your head by summoning our grandson."

"He's at fencing practice," Gabriel snapped. "And that gives me more than enough time to study these documents." The papers felt heavy in his hands as he gripped them, taking care not to damage the pages. He stormed over to the door and swung it open, thrusting the papers at Nathalie who was standing just outside. "Get these to my lawyer."

"It won't do you any good," Hermine said.

"And make a copy," Gabriel added, ignoring the older man.

"No need," his father-in-law said. "I brought a second set." He held up another thick packet of papers. Gabriel clenched his teeth as Nathalie accepted the packet of papers with a nod and disappeared. The designer stalked back over to Hermine and snatched the documents. He continued to his desk without another word, already flipping through the papers before he even sat.

In the wake of the shouting, the ensuing silence was almost deafening. Gabriel ignored the awkward and uncomfortable stillness in the air. His sole focus was on the documents, and with each page he turned, it was as if another knife stabbed at his heart.

He was familiar with contracts and official documents. Even as his legal team reviewed everything, Gabriel had signed enough forms and seen enough official seals to recognize certain features which would allow for loopholes or the voiding of such documents.

His keen eye spotted none of these.

He could feel his face growing paler the further into the papers he read. Laid out the case. Documented the attack, the times, the TV station – every detail meticulously indicated and noted.

Was this really it? Was he really going to lose the one person he loved most in this world over a few pages of legal jibberish?

"I take it from your silence that you find no fault with the papers?" Hermine spoke up at last.

Gabriel lifted his eyes from the paper and settled them on his father-in-law, mustering up the deadliest glare he could. "I'm not surrendering Adrien to your care," he said.

Hermine's face hardened. "You have no choice, Gabriel. That is a court-ordered, legal document in your hands. Do you dare to argue a judge's orders?"

The elder Agreste stood, slamming a fist onto the desk. His eyes flashed in anger. "You can't just barge in here after twenty years of ignoring me and my family and whisk my son away. You're strangers to him. How can you justify uprooting him? You can't do this."

"I can," Hermine replied, his voice ice to match Gabriel's fire. "Shall I summon the police? You'll be defying a court order. I would hate to see you spend a night in jail over this. Imagine what your investors would think when they read about this in the headlines of the papers tomorrow. The tabloids would destroy you. The fallout alone would set your company back months in terms of revenue lost. Think of the damage control you would have to do."

Gabriel bristled at the underlying implication. "How dare you threaten me," he growled, his lips forming into a snarl.

"Then I believe you'll just have to see reason. You're a logical man, Gabriel. You know that I'm right and these documents are in order. Do yourself a favor and don't try to fight."

"I will always fight for my son."

"But not tonight," Hermine said. "You'll have your day in court." Gabriel opened his mouth again, but before he could retort, they all heard the front door open and close. His father-in-law smiled. "Ah, I believe it's time to meet my grandson. I'll give you a few moments to explain things. But do be quick about it. I would like to get back home before dark and I'm sure you have lots of important things to work on."

The jab at his busy work life didn't get lost on Gabriel. He ignored the older man and stalked over to the door, throwing it open. "Adrien!" he barked, then immediately regretted it when his son jumped. "Come down here," he said, softening his tone. "I have something important to tell you."

Adrien took one look at his father's ashen expression and vaguely wondered if he was in some kind of trouble. He had sneaked out the night before to fight an akuma but he had been certain he returned before anyone noticed. He fought against the impulse to glance at his pocket where Plagg rested.

"Yes, Father," he replied, turning around and heading back downstairs. As he passed by his father, Gabriel rested one hand upon Adrien's shoulder. His hand trembled. Adrien looked up into his father's eyes. Gabriel opened his mouth and appeared to be trying to say something, but the words wouldn't come out. Adrien didn't think he had ever seen his father speechless or so shaken, except when his mother had vanished.

Adrien swallowed. "Am I in trouble?" he asked in a timid voice.

"Do you get in trouble often?" an unfamiliar voice asked from inside the room. Startled, Adrien turned towards the sound to find an old man standing and an old lady sitting on a chair next to him.

"No," Adrien said. "Who are you?"

The man smiled at him and Adrien idly noted that his eyes were a similar shade of green to his own. "We're your grandparents, Adrien."

He blinked. "I'm sorry," he apologized, "but you're my what?"

"Your grandparents," the man repeated. "On your mother's side."

"Uhm..." A million thoughts raced through his mind. "What are you doing here?" he settled on.

"The courts have decided that your father is not fit to parent you," the man – no, his grandfather – said. "We're your legal guardians now."

"What?" Adrien gasped, then looked up at his father, who glared at his grandfather with a venomous expression. He had yet to release his hand from Adrien's shoulder and Adrien could feel his grip tightening. "Father, what is this about?"

Gabriel stared down at Adrien. "It's just a temporary situation," he assured him, "but you're going to have to live with your grandparents for the time being." Gabriel's face twisted as he spoke.

"What?" Adrien exclaimed again. "For how long?"

"Permanently," his grandfather said.

"No way," came Adrien's immediate reply.

"Don't listen to him, Adrien," his father said. "It's just until the courts decide. One month at most."

The expression on his grandfather's face told Adrien that he doubted Gabriel's words but didn't voice his disbelief. "Pack enough for several nights," his grandfather said instead. "we can come back for the rest once the courts decide with finality. We'll wait outside. Be quick." He offered his hand to his wife and both of them left the room. Gabriel glowered after them until the door closed with a quiet click.

"Father?" Adrien spoke in a quiet voice. Gabriel snapped out of his trance. "It'll be okay, Father," Adrien said, feeling an odd urge to be the one to comfort his dad. "I've never met my grandparents before. It'll give me a chance to get to know them while you straighten this out."

Gabriel's expression fractured for a split second before he smoothed it back into the confident persona Adrien had come to know.

"They never approved of me," Gabriel admitted at last. He focused upon Adrien. "But maybe they'll approve of you. I want you to be on your best behavior," his father told him, brushing off invisible lint from Adrien's shoulders and smoothing nonexistent wrinkles. Adrien rolled his eyes. "Do what they tell you – and don't roll your eyes at me, young man. No sneaking off while you're with them. You don't need to give them the wrong impression that you're some kind of rebel. I'm certain they would find a way to use it against me," he added in a soft voice. Adrien wasn't sure if he was meant to hear it.

"I'll behave, Father," Adrien recited dutifully, if only to attempt to soothe his father. Gabriel's nervous movements were starting to worry him and, with a shock, he realized that he never wanted to see his father look so completely out of control. Even during the akuma attack, as frustrating as it was for Adrien, it felt as if Gabriel Agreste was completely and utterly in control over everything. Now, Adrien likened this current feeling to water slipping through his fingers. He hated it. He wanted his calm, confident father back.

Father and son stood there for a moment longer before Gabriel cleared his throat. "You better go pack. Hermine – your grandfather – won't be patient forever."

"Right." Adrien left his parent behind and headed upstairs to his room. Plagg flew out once inside and started circling his head.

"Whoa, when I said I love dirty family secrets, I wasn't expecting this," the small kwami crowed.

Adrien flopped down on his couch. "Plagg, what am I going to do?" he asked.

"Relax, kid," the mischievous kwami said. "Your old man is going to fix everything. In the meantime, enjoy your new freedom and get to know your family."

Adrien felt his shoulders relax. Plagg was correct – his father could sort out any problem. He had nothing to worry about. So why not take the next couple of weeks and get to know his mother's side of the family? "You're right," he said with a large smile. He hopped up and rummaged through his closet, emerging at last with a large duffel bag. He started stuffing clothes into it at random.

"Of course I am," Plagg replied, resting upon Adrien's shoulder. "Now be sure and pack all of that cheese. I don't know if your grandparents carry the good stuff."

"Don't you mean the gouda stuff?" Adrien asked with a smirk.

"Kid, I never joke when there's cheese involved."

Twenty minutes later, Adrien slung his bag over his shoulder and headed out of his room. Plagg was safely tucked away in his pocket after a brief but furious debate. The kwami wanted to hide in the duffel. Ensuring the safe transportation of valuable cargo, he had said when Adrien questioned him. The model knew he just wanted to eat the cheese while on route. He couldn't risk having his grandparents sense something amiss, so he vetoed Plagg. With a grumble and a mouthful of cheese as a bribe, the black kwami flew into his usual spot in Adrien's overshirt.

"Adrien?" his father called up to him, waiting at the bottom of the stairs. Adrien walked down and stood in front of him. "Ah, I see you're all packed... Is that all you're taking?"

He shrugged. "I tried to pack light. I don't really need much. I can always come back if I need anything else, right?"

"Ah, right." They stood in awkward silence. His father blinked several times very quickly and the muscles in his jaw fluttered. Adrien shifted his weight. He felt the need to say something...

"Don't worry, Father," he began. "I know you'll get everything fixed." He smiled up at the older man.

Abruptly, Gabriel bent down and wrapped Adrien in a giant hug. The boy tensed for a moment, caught off guard, then returned the hug tightly. His father released him just as abruptly a minute later and Adrien's heart constricted with a sharp pang of longing.

"Take care, Adrien," he said, gripping him by the shoulders and staring into his eyes. "I will see you soon. I promise." Gabriel's eyes burned with an intensity Adrien hadn't seen on his father since his mother's disappearance.

Adrien left the house, noting the cool evening breeze and wondered if he should go back to grab some warmer clothes. He wasn't sure if he could face his father again in that state. He spotted his grandparents sitting in the back of a black car. They watched him, obviously waiting for him to emerge from the manor. His grandfather pushed open the door. His decision made for him, Adrien hefted his bag and slid into the back seat of the car. He noted his grandfather also had a driver as he settled in and looped his bag over his head, setting it on the floor.

"Is that all you're bringing?" his grandfather asked, eyeing his duffel bag as Adrien pushed it aside with his feet to make room.

"I can come back if I forgot anything, right?" Adrien asked.

"Of course," his grandfather immediately replied, though his face expressed doubt. For the first time, Adrien wondered if his father would prevail. He glanced back at the house as they pulled away and spotted his father watching from his office window. He couldn't be sure, but he thought the man looked drawn and pale. His heart thudded uncomfortably. Plagg shifted in his pocket, sensing Adrien's increased agitation. He stilled, calming down and making a mental note to give Plagg extra Camembert. He didn't know what he would do without the little guy.

He inhaled through his nose for a few seconds, then exhaled. He was headed away from the familiarity he had known his whole life and into the unknown.

But considering how his last year had been, heading toward the unknown was slowly becoming more of a standard with him. It was a good thing he was a cat.

They always land on their feet.

He would persevere, even if he had to do it alone.

Author's note: This is an 8 chapter story that will be updated weekly. A sincere and special thank you to PerditaAlottachocolate for beta-reading this and helping with ideas and plotting.

Additionally, Hermine is pronounced with a silent H. It sounds like Ermin.