STOP AND READ THIS FIRST!

Spoilers through Season 2.

This is the eighth work of a series. You should read the following works in order, as they are direct continuations and I don't explain previous stories:

1) Fanboy

2) Cosplay Contest

3) Resident Expert

4) The Merchant of Paris

5) Miraculously in Concert

6) Autograph Session

7) A Fashionable Endeavor

Additionally, Gabriel does NOT know that Adrien is Chat Noir. I know what has occurred in the entire series thus far, and while it may or may not conflict with canon, Gabriel NOT knowing works better for this story.

A Host Unto His Own

Chapter 1

A few weeks after the fashion contest, Gabriel had tied up all the loose ends surrounding his new line and discovered he had a free afternoon in his future. Time to put it to good use.

"Adrien?" he asked, tracking down his son and finding him in his room talking on the phone.

"Ah, Father," the boy exclaimed, jumping up from where he had reclined on the sofa. "Marinette, I've got to go. I'll talk to you later."

"No, wait, Adrien," Gabriel said. "Actually, I wished to speak to Miss Marinette about scheduling some time to critique her outfit from the fashion show."

Marinette's startled face blinked at him from where he could see it on Adrien's phone screen. "Me?" she squeaked out. Adrien angled the phone towards him so he could speak directly to her.

He nodded. "I've been busy finishing my work these last few weeks, but I have a free afternoon that I'll be able to schedule in. When would you be available? That is, of course, if you still would like me to offer some criticisms."

"No!" she exclaimed. "I mean yes, I would! That would be amazing." She reached for something off screen. "I'm available Saturday, if that's okay with you?"

He noted the date in his calendar app. "Yes, that is fine with me." They ironed out a couple more details such as the time and location, settling upon Gabriel going to the bakery instead of Marinette coming to his home office. The teens both seemed surprised at that, but Gabriel wished to meet her parents before possibly inviting them over for dinner. This was the perfect opportunity to kill two birds with one stone.

"I'll be taking my leave now," Gabriel said as they concluded their talks. "I look forward to seeing your designs Saturday morning."

He left, allowing the two to resume their previous topic of conversation. Today had turned out to be quite productive. Maybe he could stretch his luck and attempt another go at the Miraculouses? He hadn't released an akuma in so long.

His debates were cut short as he entered into his office, only to discover a minor fashion emergency. All hopes of akumas fled his mind as he spent the rest of the day dousing proverbial fires and fixing the issues.

Saturday arrived before he knew it, having thrown himself back into his work the rest of the week. He had to admit he was eagerly awaiting Marinette's creation. He gathered a few items together – his tablet mostly – and headed downstairs. Adrien intercepted him at the bottom of the steps.

"Hello, Father," he greeted.

"Adrien," he answered in reply, "how surprising to find you here."

His son smiled wide, ignoring the wry sarcasm Gabriel injected into his voice. Adrien had not-so-subtly been dropping reminders all week long about Saturday, as if fearful the busy designer would cancel at the last minute.

A thread of shame arose. After all, Adrien had every right to expect disappointment and cancellations. Gabriel had been getting better, however, and he definitely hadn't canceled on any of the dreaded conventions his son dragged him to. Still, it would take more than a few kept promises to eliminate the doubt Adrien held within. He didn't blame the boy one bit for his dubiousness.

On cue, Adrien cleared his throat. "So, uh, Marinette is super excited about today," he began.

"As am I," Gabriel assured him. "I've been looking forward to her creation since the contest."

Adrien beamed. "Well, I'll let you get on over to the bakery," he said, then immediately bit his lip.

"What is it?" Gabriel asked.

"Uhm... nah, nevermind, it's nothing."

"Adrien," Gabriel drew out his son's name, almost in warning.

"Please don't be too hard on Marinette!" he blurted out, then winced.

For his part, Gabriel merely stood there, baffled.

Adrien heaved a deep breath, squared his shoulders, and faced his father head on. "Even if it's not up to your standards, please break the news to her gently, okay? She wants honest critique, but she's not used to how you handle your employees."

The unspoken "please don't cause my girlfriend to break up with me" lingered between them.

"She has to learn how to accept proper criticism if she is to succeed in this industry. It's quite cutthroat."

"I know," Adrien insisted. "But... I just don't want to see her sad enough to attract any akumas. Please just consider her feelings?" He twisted his hands over his silver ring, the anxiety palpable.

Hmm, would that really be all it took to get her akumatized? After he's tried before with no success, this would be what broke the happy-go-lucky student? But as he stared at Adrien, who looked back at him with fear and worry in his eyes, he realized that if he akumatized Marinette, his son probably wouldn't hesitate to throw himself into the fray to save her. And he couldn't quite pull him aside to explain why she would be perfectly safe as his champion. Not even restricting Adrien to his room would prevent him from sneaking out – defying Gabriel's orders to remain inside. His son had a rebellious streak that, coupled with his fierce protectiveness and high-strung emotions, only guaranteed that if an akumatized Marinette started to wreck havoc upon Paris, Adrien Agreste would not be far away.

He conceded defeat. He lost his chance to akumatize her when she was merely a "good friend" to his son. Now that the boy solidified his feelings, Marinette was untouchable. He couldn't risk it.

A tiny part of him wondered if Adrien's safety was the only reason for not akumatizing Marinette.

The thought sprang unbidden to his mind – a vision of Marinette running at an akuma, desperate to assist in anyway she could.

He closed his eyes and shook his head to rid himself of that mental image. Perfect. Just what he needed. It wasn't bad enough he feared for Adrien's security during akuma battles, but now he realized another name had been added to the incredibly short list of people he cared about.

This wasn't fair! He wasn't supposed to start contemplating the consequences of his increasingly drawn-out battle! Why couldn't he just succeed in one fight so he could bring his wife back?

"Father?" Adrien's voice broke through his thoughts.

He looked to his son, understanding that it had been several moments since he last spoke. "Apologies, Adrien," he said. "I'll be sure to curb my words around your girlfriend." Marinette, his mind taunted him. Her name is Marinette and you've grown fond of her as well. Ignoring her name won't change that fact. "But for what it's worth," Gabriel continued, shoving that annoying voice that sounded suspiciously like Nooroo to the background, "I don't believe Miss Marinette has anything to worry about."

Adrien's broad smile lingered in his mind as he left the house. In a short time, he stood in front of the bakery. A soft bell tinkled as he opened the door. A heavenly blend of scents caught his attention and he inhaled a second breath – long and deep – savoring the experience. It wasn't just the expected warm yeasty smell of baking bread, but also the sweet nostalgia of sugar cookies and cakes that transported him away for the briefest of moments. No wonder Adrien relished spending so much time over here.

"Hello," a pleasant voice greeted, snapping him back to reality. He focused upon the speaker – a short woman who looked a bit like Marinette. Her mother, he assumed, but he wouldn't dare voice his suspicions without proof. "Can I help you?"

Stepping forward, he placed his full attention upon her, resisting the urge to glance around at the drool-worthy displays of pastries. "My name is Gabriel Agreste," he began. "I am scheduled to meet with Miss Marinette Dupain-Cheng this morning."

The woman's eyes lit up. "Ah, Mr. Agreste, of course," she said. She stepped around the counter. "I'm Marinette's mother, Sabine," she greeted, and Gabriel gave himself a mental pat on the back for his accurate deduction. "Tom!" she called out. "Come meet Adrien's father!"

He had been referred to by many things in his life, but getting introduced as simply "Adrien's father" brought a warm feeling to his chest. It lightened his heart, and it felt as if all his expectations to live up to his fame melted away. Here, he didn't have to worry about pleasing investors, or guarding ideas, or checking his words. Here, he wasn't burdened with expectations of greatness, ingenuity, or trendsetting ideas. Here, he was simply "Adrien's father". Equality among parents.

Though, he conceded as some of the heaviness returned, he couldn't exactly claim equality in that regard. Marinette's parents definitely succeeded where he had failed.

An enormous man stepped out from the back, coated in a fine layer of flour. "Ah, it's a pleasure to meet Adrien's father at last," the man said. "I'm Tom. Adrien talks about you a lot."

That surprised him. He would have thought Marinette would be the one to bring up his name in conversation. "He does?"

Tom nodded. "Yep. Told us all about how close you two are. He really loves going to those conventions. That's not too surprising though, from what I hear about you. Being Ladybug and Chat Noir's biggest fan, after all! It's wonderful to hear how you share with your son's passions. Ah, if we could close the bakery down more often, we would attend more with Marinette. Though she insists she doesn't mind going with her friends."

Gabriel didn't know what to say to that. Fortunately, he didn't have to as Sabine cut in with a gasp.

"Oh, Tom, we sent Marinette out," she exclaimed.

The gigantic man slapped his forehead with a flour-covered hand, leaving behind a white handprint on his forehead. "Oof," he muttered, "that's right. Mr. Agreste, I must apologize to you for our oversight. I sent Marinette out on a short errand not five minutes ago. I ran out of anise extract. I'm working on this special order of cookies and – "

"Tom, Mr. Agreste doesn't need to know all that," Sabine cut in. She turned to him with a smile. "Marinette should be back shortly."

"I see," he said. "I can always reschedule to a better time."

"No, no, that won't be necessary," Sabine assured him. "She's all set for you upstairs. Come on up and make yourself at home." She motioned for him to follow her through the back. He did so, and Tom vanished back into the kitchen as Gabriel trailed after Sabine as she wove her way through the bakery and out a side door. As they ascended a narrow staircase, Sabine spoke over her shoulder to him. "Marinette has been talking about nothing except your visit this past week," she explained as they approached the next level. "She's ever so excited. And you're very kind to offer her a private critique. She admires you greatly, you know."

They reached the upper floor and Sabine extracted a key, unlocking the door and pushing it open for Gabriel to enter.

"Marinette is very talented," he said as they stepped into the room. "She showed great integrity to recognize that her connection to my son might reflect unfairly upon her at the contest. It's only right to offer her the same level of critique she would have gotten anyway."

The petite woman laid one hand upon his arm. He turned his gaze to her. She smiled, a gentle serene curve of the lips. "Regardless, not many would have done what you have offered. Thank you."

"I... you're welcome," he replied. He swallowed. He wasn't used to honest praise and gratitude. Everyone he met nowadays always wanted something from him. Every kind word or gentle thanks manipulated him into agreeing with unfair demands or slipping up and spilling industry secrets.

It was a lesson he learned the hard way years ago, and one that carried him through his company's exponential growth. It was part of the reason he kept himself locked behind his office door for hours. It contributed to the decay of his relationship with Adrien after Emilie's disappearance. He didn't dare show any weakness lest he get taken advantage of again.

It was a lesson he was forgetting the more time he spent with Adrien, and then Marinette, and now Marinette's family. The harsh realities life had ground into him faded from memory bit by bit as pieces of love, warmth, and genuine goodness replaced them.

Adrien's lively laughter. Marinette's flushed stutterings. The pride shining in their eyes. If he closed his own, he could see those images clear and unfiltered. Sometimes, they even allowed him to forget his sorrow for one blissful moment.

"Marinette should be back any minute," Sabine said. "So go ahead and make yourself at home. Do you want anything to drink? Eat?" He shook his head. "Well, okay, I've got to get back downstairs, but if you need anything just head on down and ask. Are you sure I can't get you anything?"

"I'll be fine," he insisted.

"Okay then," she repeated, a little bit of doubt remaining in her eyes even as she sent him one last smile and departed. Gabriel turned his attentions to the apartment, allowing himself the first proper look at the room. Pinks and blacks colored the room, with bits of furniture arranged masterfully into a tight living space. Organized, yet unique and individualized. He could certainly picture Marinette living here.

And Emilie.

Again, that lump in his throat reformed as he thought to his wife's first apartment. Tiny yet homey. Warm and eclectic. Before he moved them to fame and sterility. Before technology and emotional distance.

Before she vanished from his life.

Even though she was still alive, her essence was gone. And each time he considered giving up on his quest, he only had to gaze upon her serene expression – frozen in eternal peace – to vow to find a cure for her coma. Only the Miraculouses would do.

He pushed aside the memory of Ladybug asking if she could help. All his life people offered things to him. Everything came with a price. He would rather the price be one he knew up front than one that snuck up on him when he least expected and attacked him in the shadows. This time, when it was most important, he would be the attacker.

With a sigh, he forced himself to focus on the present. He owed it to Marinette to give her a solid critique, absent from his melancholic distractions. He spotted a dressing mannequin near the stairs, covered with a dark cloth. Knowing what little he did of Marinette, it didn't surprise him she kept her creation covered. He resisted the urge to peek. This moment was hers.

Still, he couldn't help the little thrill of excitement at imagining her joy when she unveiled her design. He could definitely relate to that feeling. To put the anticipation out of his mind, he stepped around the back of the couch to have a seat. However, in doing so, his leg hit the edge of a sketchbook. It crashed to the ground. He winced, hoping he didn't ruin any of the pages. As he bent over to pick it up, a single sheet slipped out and fluttered to the ground.

When he picked it up, he realized it wasn't a page torn from her sketchbook. His fingers brushed over the thick glossy stock of a photograph. He flipped it over.

His entire world collapsed.

Ladybug, Chat Noir, and he – Gabriel Agreste – smiled up at him.

There was only one of those photos in existence.

And just to make sure, his eyes flickered to the bottom.

Ladybug –

May your mission end soon. I look forward to meeting the hero beneath the mask one day.

All the best,

Gabriel Agreste

Author's Note: Sorry not sorry. You all literally asked for this story. This one is not going to be humorous or cracky like my other works, because I feel in order to give the characters the proper treatment they deserve, it cannot be crack. But I do plan to resume crack for the next story!

A sincere and special thank you to PerditaAlottachocolate who, despite her own busy schedule and writing her own story The Girl in the Mirror, a connected story for Marinette March, still managed to beta read this story and help with ideas and plotting.

Another thank you to RoseGardenTwilight for brainstorming assistance!

Do check out both of their stories. RoseGardenTwilight writes lots of AU stories, so if that's your jam, check out her works!