"Future Rewoven" Book 3 of "Secrets Unraveled" Trilogy |COMPLETED|

Chpt 15: Gabriel Breaks.

Adrien gently held Nathalie's hand while fidgeting in the chair he sat in next to her bed. He was really nervous about talking to his father, who should be arriving at any minute. How was he going to take the news?

There was a single knock on the door before it was opened and Gabriel walked into the room. Gabriel's gaze first went to Nathalie, checking on her, and then moved on to Adrien.

Adrien placed Nathalie's hand on top of her bed cover and stood to greet his father. He nodded once and then said "Father."

Gabriel appeared as his calm and controlled self, despite the chaotic thoughts that were increasingly whirling in his brain these days, and returned his son's greeting with a short nod and "Adrien." He wondered exactly why Adrien had chosen to meet him here.

"She's looking better than I expected. Better than when I last saw her in the hospital. I think the change in environment has been good. I'm glad that you were able to find her such a nice room," said Adrien, taking in the bright and cheerful sun-filled room.

Gabriel returned his gaze to Nathalie, noticing that she did have fewer dark smudges under her eyes since the last time he saw her. Maybe there was still some hope.

Adrien awkwardly returned to his seat and Gabriel sat in the chair opposite him. Gabriel noticed that Adrien wouldn't meet his eyes. Fear or guilt? he wondered. He didn't have to wait long for his answer.

"Father? I'm so sorry but my friends have been unable to figure out how to repair the Peacock Miraculous and without that, they can't reverse the damage to Mother or Nathalie." Adrien had rehearsed what he needed to say, going for the basic facts, and rushed through the speech to get it over as soon as he could. He now waited nervously for his father to reply.

Gabriel looked away from his son and clenched his teeth together to try to hold in the roar of anger and frustration and betrayal that he felt at his son's words. Adrien had promised that if I gave up the Peacock and Butterfly that he would fix everything! But, Gabriel knew that he could not show all that he was feeling or say what he was thinking to Adrien as it would reveal too much of the plans that he had in place. And he had planned for this as he hadn't trusted his superhero son to do whatever was needed to save Emilie, no matter the consequences. And now, despite the almost overwhelming negative emotions, Gabriel felt strangely free. Free to do whatever was necessary. He'd tried the first path- the one the old voice demanded he try first. Now he could ignore that voice and start along the second of the two paths that he had planned out, without even the tiniest bit of guilt. And this path was the one that made sure that he would get what he needed to save Emilie- no matter the cost!

Adrien's father returned his eyes briefly toward Adrien and noticed the look of anguish in his eyes, before focusing on Nathalie's face to keep his son from seeing the wild emotions in his own eyes that would give away all that he was feeling. He made himself get control of his emotions and then put on his practiced act of sympathy. All part of the plan.

"It's not your fault, Adrien. When I gave you the Miraculouses, I understood what a miracle it would be if the Peacock could be repaired and used to bring your mother and Nathalie back to health. I had hoped for that outcome with all of my heart, as I'm sure you did, and now we are both heartbroken. But, I do not blame you." He rose and walked over to the other side of the bed.

Adrien tensed as his father walked over to him, uncertain what to expect. He couldn't disguise the look of shock that crossed his face when his father opened his arms wide, offering Adrien a hug. The boy slowly stood and then hugged his father, trying not to cry from relief. He had expected to be berated but was instead met with understanding by his father! This almost unbelievable acceptance of his failure caused tears to slowly slide down Adrien's cheeks.

Gabriel hugged Adrien, though his disgust at the boy's tears and at the boy's failure was growing with every second, and murmured nonsense about how it was all going to be okay. And it was, now that Gabriel felt free to do what was needed. When he felt he had spent the requisite time for an average hug, he gave Adrien a pat on the back and then removed himself from his son's arms.

Adrien wiped his tears on his sleeve and was about to thank his father for his understanding when Gabriel suddenly said "You and Marinette, and perhaps some of your other friends, should come to dinner this week if there is a day that would work out. You could play one of the pieces you've been working on for us." He paused before adding "It would be nice, Adrien." I need to continue to lull Adrien into a sense of safety for my plan to work and including Adrien's friends always seems to have the most effect.

A bright smile lit up Adrien's face and he readily agreed, saying he would text him once he knew what night might work.

"I have to get back to work now. Try not to worry," said Gabriel as he touched Nathalie's hand gently before leaving the room.

Once Gabriel had left, Adrien took Nathalie's hand in his and said "Can you believe it, Nathalie?! It seems like things are finally turning around between my father and me!" He gave her hand a slight squeeze, placed her hand back by her side, and then left the room to head towards home.

- - -

Gabriel stood in front of his office mirror, studying the calm face that stared back at him. "You were right. My son failed. No son of mine should fail. He's now just 'Adrien'. We both knew we shouldn't trust him for something so important. We should have just continued with the original plan- we could have gotten his Miraculous that night, the night he discovered I was Hawk Moth, and there would have only been one more to go. And with no Cat Noir, Ladybug's Miraculous would have soon been mine! But, there had been that other voice. The one from so long in the past, the weak one that has now thankfully been lost. The one that had actually felt guilty and uncertain and who had still cared for his son! That one had ruined everything! There had never been anything to feel guilty about. Emilie has always been who mattered the most and anyone else was to be sacrificed if necessary to save her!" He was becoming increasingly irritated that the face continued to calmly stare back at him, even after everything that he just said.

Enough! Enough of calm! Let the anger come! Gabriel clenched his fists tightly and finally let out the roar that he had been holding back since Adrien had told him that he and his friends had given up on Emilie. The roar echoed throughout the office, yet even that couldn't remove the serene gaze of the face in the mirror. Gabriel's rage became directed at that face and he suddenly smashed his fist directly between the eyes. The mirror shattered and crashed to the floor. A minute later, Gorilla flung open the door to the office and raced toward Gabriel. He looked between Gabriel's bloody fist and the broken mirror on the ground.

"Just a slight accident. Get someone to clean that up and to find a replacement mirror," Gabriel said calmly. Gorilla noted that his employer acted as if he had just accidentally knocked over a vase rather than violently smashed the mirror.

Gabriel started walking but paused and added sternly "I expect it to be done by the time I get back." He resumed walking, heading out of the office and toward his bedroom. I suppose I should do something about this, he thought idly as he looked at the bright red blood dripping down his hand onto the black and white floor.

Gorilla watched his employer go, glad that Adrien no longer lived here as Gabriel's behavior was becoming more and more erratic. And violent. As Gorilla got a broom he started to think that it might be time for him to warn Adrien. And then find a new job.