Emotional Support [Complete]

S1 E33: Ladybug?

Marinette skipped into Gabriel's office with a wide smile.

Gabriel lifted his eyebrows in amusement. "Well, someone's happy."

Marinette giggled. "Yes, I am!"

Gabriel went to meet her halfway. "Care to tell me why?"

"Well..." she says, closing the door behind her. "I'm not supposed to tell you about what happens between Adrien and me, but I'm excited this time!"

Gabriel attempted to contain his laughter as he watched the pigtailed girl bounce with excitement. "Okay, then. I'm listening."

"You were right!" Marinette beamed. "Adrien does have feelings for me! And I mean, I knew this for a while, but today, he flat out confessed he was in love with me!"

Gabriel blinked. "Well, that's new."

Marinette erupted with laughter, clutching her stomach. "That was my exact reaction! And the best part is that he thinks I only see him as a friend! I love Adrien, I do, but my lord, he's just so..."

Gabriel grinned. "Dense."

"Yes!" Marinette laughed. "So dense!"

Gabriel tilted his head at the pigtailed girl before him. She was laughing hysterically, but it felt like something was off. It seemed like Marinette was only laughing to avoid feeling pain. He knew that type of laughter well.

"Hey..." Gabriel placed a hand on her head. "What's wrong, Marinette?"

Marinette's laughing came to an end as she frowned up at him. "How'd you know?"

Gabriel chuckled. "Paternal instinct?"

Marinette snorted. "And here I thought you didn't have any of that."

"Hey." Gabriel rolled his eyes. "That's not nice."

Marinette giggled before becoming serious again. "Adrien... may be in love with me, but he's still in love with someone else, too. I can't be with him until he drops his feelings for her. But, I fear that he might... that he might change his mind..."

Gabriel frowned and wrapped his arms around the girl beginning to sob. She returned the hug and continued talking.

"A-And, I can't tell him how I feel without hurting him. Like if I tell him I love him and he feels strongly enough for me to let this other girl go, great. But if he can't? Or, if he changes his mind? He's going to feel bad for hurting me and I'm just going to feel... bad. And it's ridiculous because he feel so conflicted and, for his sake, I pretend that he's the only one having a tough time, but in reality, he's been hurting me all along and I don't know what to do about it anymore."

Gabriel sighed, resting his chin atop the crying girl's head as he rubbed her back. "I'm sorry, Marinette. Adrien really doesn't mean to hurt you."

"I-I know..." Marinette replied, her words muffled in Gabriel's shirt.

"Marinette, I think you should tell him your feelings," Gabriel advised. "That way you both know how the other feels and what you guys want out of your relationship. You can work it out from there."

Marinette looked up at him, yet refused to end the embrace. "B-But..."

"I think Adrien would feel better knowing how you feel about him," Gabriel continued. "It also might help him chose you, because, from what I gather, this other girl doesn't really take an interest in my son."

Marinette shook her head. "I don't want him to choose me simply because I love him. I don't want to be his second choice."

"Trust me, Marinette," Gabriel said, pulling from her and placing his hands on her shoulders. "Adrien is an Agreste, and Agrestes do not settle for second best."