Secret Kitten

Chapter 28

Thank you for reading this far . You're awesome ! Hope you like this chapter. 

There is nothing more peaceful than the quiet of the night with the moon serving as company and solace to all of those that need peace themselves. One particular restless soul remained awake, hunted by his thoughts. His only company was the moon light reflected by Emilie's glass case.

"What should I do?" Hawkmoth asked, staring at his wife. Was it strange that, even after this long, part of him still hoped for an answer? He sighed as he called off his transformation. Unable to look at her as he admitted his flaws, he turned his back to her. "I can't find the strength to bring you back. I failed you, didn't I?"

He closed his eyes, only to imagine her looking at him, disappointed and angry. Her eyes were exactly like Adrien's, so it didn't take long for Gabriel to remember the last time his son looked at him that way. "Emilie, if you had seen Adrien's expression when he saw I was Hawkmoth during the truthteller akuma, if you had seen the way he looked at me... his disappointment, his anger... if I had not turned back time to save his life and make him forget, then... I... I don't think he would ever have been able to forgive me."

At the time, he considered the moment he turned back time to save his son, and his identity, as a blessing. Now he saw it equally a curse, because every night he relived that moment... over and over. Adrien took his broach, then began walking backwards in shock, then he fell.

Gabriel sighed. If only he had his wife's comfort. If only she could tell him what was the right thing to do. He sat with his back against the glass and closed his eyes, prepared for whatever nightmare he knew surely awaited him when he fell asleep.

Suddenly, he was running. He never ran, but he had no choice. This was just that important. Why did he take so long to get to the hospital? Why did the meeting run late? Why did this have to happen when he was having his most important meeting?

He stopped at the door, nervous. His son's crying was enough to make him reach for the handle. With shaking hands, he opened the door only to see Emilie holding him. The newborn looked so tiny and small in her arms. He was crying and she was trying to sooth him. For a new mom, she already had those maternal eyes, full of love.

"It's okay Adrien. I'm here for you. I'll always be here for you, my little baby."

Her eyes turned to the door and Gabriel quickly began apologizing. "Honey I'm so sorry I missed it. I was at a meeting and I tried to come..."

He expected her to be angry, but instead she just kept smiling as Adrien calmed more and more. "It's okay Gabe. I know how hard you are working to create your brand and how much it means to you." Her expression then changed to a more serious one. Gabriel became nervous as he expected the scolding of a life, instead Emilie just said, "I just don't want you to forget that he is our most precious gift, and from now on, you have to put him and his happiness first. It's not just about you, or me, or even your work. Now, it's about taking care of Adrien and making sure he is happy."

He got closer, and as he looked more clearly at his son for the first time, he had Emilie's blond hair and, although it was too early to tell, he had a feeling Adrien had her eyes too. He honestly looked like an angel being held by another angel. Looking at his son, Gabriel had no trouble promising. "I promise from now on that I'll always put him first and keep him safe."

"I know you will," Emilie answered as she slowly passed Adrien to Gabriel so that he could hold him for the very first time. He became nervous and it didn't help that the newborn started to cry again. His first instinct was to try to hand him back over to Emilie, but she insisted, "Keep holding him, and don't be scared."