ADRIEN

"Ciao!"

"Chloé," I laugh into the phone, "what the heck are you doing? And why are you calling me?"

"Can't I just call you because I miss you? Dios mio, ew. Ew. I was trying to disgust you but in the end, I disgusted myself."

"Chloé, you're dodging the question again." I say making a turn to the corridor on my left as it leads to my office. Some fellow teachers would greet me and I would quietly greet them back or would just flash a smile at them.

"You're at your school right now, aren't you?"

"Yes, I'm about to enter my office." I tell her whilst turning the door knob of my office door.

"Oh, great! Don't end the call as you enter the room."

I stand by the entrance in shock as I see Karla, Beezus and Ramona standing in front of something flat and tall covered with a white cloth.

"Sir Adrien!" Karla exclaims upon seeing me. "Good morning!" She greets.

"You see the tall thing in your office?" I hear Chloé ask.

"Yeah..." I reply.

"Don't end the call just yet." She instructs.

"Good morning, ladies." I greet the three of them as I walk toward where they are standing. I point at the thing hiding behind the white cloth. "Do you know what this is?"

"It's something that is yours, sir." Ramona answers with an excited smile. "The three of us could not believe that we would get to see it again."

"But I thought it was in the hands of someone else..." Karla utters skeptically, raising an eyebrow at me. "Would you like us to reveal it?"

"Beezus, you do the honors please." I request and carefully, Beezus takes off the white cloth to reveal my painting that I had to fight for during the auction. But this time, it is enclosed in a wooden frame.

"Wow..." I sigh in awe. This is what it looks like when it is added some flair.

"You like the frame?" Chloé asks on the other side of the phone, she must have heard me.

"I love it, Chloé." I simply state not tearing my gaze away from the complete painting.

"Ladies," I start, referring to the three women standing before me. "thank you for preparing this in my office. You may now go back to your work." The three bow their heads and exit my office, closing the door behind them.

"But Chloé," I continue on the phone, "you shouldn't have bought a frame for the painting."

"Don't act all humble right now, jerk. I wanted to add the frame. So this is really my decision and you can't do anything about it. Besides, I don't hear you complaining about it."

I chuckle into the phone, "You're right, you're right. But could you at least tell me how much you spent for this frame?" I knock on the wood and notice that it is not shallow. "And what kind of wood is this?"

"It's mahogany." Chloé answers. And my eyes widen out in surprise.

"M-Mahogany?" I sputter out, "That's not found here in Europe, all the more would the wood be expensive."

"Adrien, I'm giving you a gift. When have I ever given you a gift? And you should not worry over how expensive it is, I made the frame!"

"Wow! But of course, with the help of your husband?" I teasingly add. This time I hear her try to hide a laugh.

"You know me too well. My husband got the wood for me."

"You did a great job, but again, why did you make a frame for the painting? It was okay without it."

"That's the problem, Adrien. It was just 'okay'. What you have is not just an artwork, it's a masterpiece...it's your heart. And I've failed to notice that during the exhibit." I hear Chloé sigh woefully on the phone. "I never understood why you sounded so frantic when buying that painting."

"Chloé-"

"It was Fabien who understood the painting before me. He pointed out your figure and that was when I got the point of the painting..."

"Y-Yeah...it was really my point to hide the real meaning of it. I made it only to be seen by the eyes of Marinette." I sigh and place the phone on loud speaker. I set it down on my desk and walked towards my painting. This time, with both hands, I examine the mahogany wood.

"Well, look how that turned out to be."

I laugh, "You don't have to rub it in, Chloé. More than a thousand people have seen this painting already. I don't know if I should be ecstatic or not."

"I love to flaunt stuff so I would want my painting of my family to be displayed. But I guess it's a different story for you...Tommy's in it." She clearly whispers the last part.

"Yeah...it's different when you display it and the people involved in the painting are not physically part of your life anymore." I trace the figure of my son on the glass covering the painting. "I miss him." I tell Chloé.

"I know you do." She utters. "You risked your finances just to get that painting back. He's your only child, Adrien..."

If only she knew about Emma.

We stay silent for awhile. Maybe Chloé was just waiting for me to say something but I was too busy admiring my painting in a new light.

"Adrien? You still there?" Her voice is heard all around the room due to how silent I am.

"Yeah, I'm still here." I quietly answer, not taking my eyes off the painting.

"I have to go now. The doctor's going to check up on me. Enjoy your painting. Send my regards to Marinette." I hear her chuckle into the phone with her last statement.

I also laugh it off too. "I wonder what her reaction will be." I sarcastically utter.

"Oh, just do it! Anyway, I'll see you soon. Bye." And she ends the call. My phone resonates a two-second beep until nothing is heard. All that's left is me and the painting.

"Hey, son." I softly greet the baby in the bundle placed at the middle of the painting. "It's nice to see that you're home again..."

I lean my forehead at the exact area where I painted my son. "Don't blame your mother with what she did. I understand that she's hurting too." I look up at the painting and let off a forced smile. "But I know that the both of us will be okay."

I start to take shaky breaths as the tears start to build up in my eyes. I hunch over as my shoulders shake and I pour out all I've been keeping intact for all these years. This time...I just want them broken. "I miss you, my boy." I sob, "I miss you very much. T-Take care of your sister, for me...tell her I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, Emma."

"I will paint again. And this time, I will include you...I will do anything to make up for all the years of not knowing you..."

"I will do anything to let you stay alive...even if it merely is only a memory." I look up, hoping that I could talk to my daughter in the heavens. "If you could hear me now, Emma, I will do anything until you forgive me...a-and until I can forgive myself."

----------------

"It's been awhile since I've last visited you, father." I place the bouquet of flowers by his headstone and I bow my head to utter some short prayers.

"I've been busy for these past months, but that shouldn't be an excuse." I sit on the ground and take in the view around me. "You knew about everything, right?" I question my father in a whisper. And of course, I get silence as an answer.

Yes, he did.

"That's...that's good to know." I try to laugh it off even if I'm feeling a lot of pain inside. "That makes me happy that you left me early..."

"Do you remember when I told you to just open your eyes to see your grandchild for at least one time? Well...you saw both of them before me." I look up to blink away the tears forming in my eyes. I'm going to stay strong for my father just like how Marinette stayed strong for me when father was hospitalized.

"I'm thankful that you left the earth early because who else would take care of your two grandkids? S-Show them the fatherly love they never got to experience from me, okay?" I smile at the headstone in front of me and rest a hand on it. "You and mother should take care of them for Marinette and I. That's the only thing I'm asking from you...and as a father, I'll be forever grateful."

I stand and dust off my pants in case some of the grass were stuck on them. I feel my phone vibrate in my back pocket. I grab it and check who's calling me.

Unknown Number

Skeptical, I press the 'answer' button and bring the phone to my ear. "Good day, this is Adrien Agreste."

"Sir Agreste? This is one of the nurses of Mister Tom Dupain." The voice says on the other side of the phone.

I perk up upon hearing the name of dad, and that is when I start to worry. "I-Is he okay?"

"I...You should come to the hospital at this instant, sir. Apparently, he is having a hard time breathing- his lungs are bloated with water already-"

"I'm on my way. Thank you." I cut her off, starting to panic as I realize what's happening. I end the call and place my phone back in the pocket.

"Father, I have to go ahead." I mumble, feeling frantic. "Despite everything that happened, this is something I can't let Marinette face alone again." I start to run to the exit of the cemetery and to the parking lot. I reach my car and open the door then try to start the engine. My hand fumbles with the key and it takes time for me to even stop my hand from shaking. I start to breathe unevenly as I am overcome with tears. "N-Not today, dad. Please not today." I plead in a soft sob. Finally I get the car to start and immediately start my drive to the hospital.

Marinette and I are in the car, on our way to Webford Hospital. "Adrien..." She sighs woefully. "He'll be fine-"

"How would you know?" I interrupt her, my voice raised with fear and doubt. "It's just been two weeks and I receive a call saying that his body is rejecting the life support." After changing the gear, I bring my hand to my eyes to wipe away the tears.

"Adrien-"

"I don't want him to leave me yet." I softly sob, turning to the street that will lead us to the hospital. "I...I haven't spent enough time with him."

I reach the hospital in a few minutes due to my fast driving. Patients, doctors, nurses and visitors buzz around me as I reach the main lobby of the hospital and I had to just pause for a moment to calm myself down. "Adrien, be strong...especially for Marinette." I take a deep breath and brisk walk down the hallway where dad's room is located. My palms start to feel sweaty due to anxiety or maybe fear of what's going to happen.

I turn to the right hallway and I see a figure, outside dad's room, her shoulders hunched as she cries loudly into her hand. And just by that voice, I completely know who that person is. Now I could not hold back the tears as I empathize with her sobs of sadness and grief.

"Marinette?" I unsurely call out to her, inhaling sharply as the tears just keep on pouring out.

"Adrien?" Nathalie calls out to me, clearly through her tears as Marinette and I walk to her. Upon reaching her, I engulf her in a hug and rub her back in comfort. "He's not doing good." She cries and I start to sob with her.

"The life support is not even doing anything on him...it's like he's slowly dying at this very instant." She continues, her voice laced with grief as she talks to me. She pulls away and takes a step back. "The both of you should go inside. Adrien," she looks at me in sadness, "this may be your last time to talk to him."

I frown deeply with what she said yet as much as I could, I hold back my tears. I...I want to be strong, one last time, for my father.

Marinette gives Nathalie a warm embrace before she reaches out to hold my hand. "Adrien, before we go in, I want to tell you something."

"Marinette-" I utter, trying to be stern with her.

"You can destroy that facade you're trying to put up." She places a hand on my cheek and forces me to look at her. She has tears running down her cheeks yet she still gives me a gentle smile, "I understand that you're in pain right now. Adrien, you can c-cry." She says, taking uneven breaths as she cries while she talks. "It's okay to cry, Adrien..."

I bite my bottom lip as I choke down a sob but as I feel another one coming up my throat, I let it out and let another one out until I'm sobbing out loud, my cries of grief overcome me and at the same time, overcomes Marinette as she wraps her arms around me tightly. "Adrien, I'm not leaving you." She cries.

She looks up at the direction of my voice and she faces the other way upon setting her eyes on me. I walk toward her, hoping to embrace her yet she would stagger back as I would near her. "Y-You don't need to be here." She mutters, wiping her eyes and fixing her hair. Now this time, she is the one who is building this strong facade. My heart drops upon noticing her physical and emotional state- a messed-up one.

"After everything I've done to you!" She tries to intimidate me to leave through clenched teeth. "I've hurt you. I've lied to you. And now, I don't need you."

Without letting her words get to me, I wrap my arms around her yet she started to push me away. "Let go of me!" She shouts, hitting me with her fists but she is not strong enough to entirely push me away. And I have no plans in doing so. "I don't need you here..." She continues, her voice cracking as her actions start to become weaker.

"I...I care and realize that you are in pain," I start amidst her weak punches and I tighten my hold on her fragile state. "B-But it's okay to cry, my lady." I whisper, shedding a few tears myself. I press a kiss on her hair and I lean on her head. "Cry all you want and whether you like it or not, I'm staying." I pull away just a bit to look into her eyes. Her eyes look dull, not like the same pair of eyes that would glisten with excitement and love every time I would look into them. This time, they were glistening with tears. I softly shake my head as I continue, "I'm not leaving you again. I'm never going to leave you, Mari."

Her lips start to tremble and she bursts out into heartbreaking sobs and falls to the ground which I follow after. She holds onto me as she sobs on my shoulder and I could not stop the cries I am emitting. I hold her close to me with no plans in letting go, and all the feeling of hurt and anger towards her disappears in thin air.

This time, I'm here just because she needs me as much as I need her.

"Adrien, I prepared myself for this moment." She utters through her tears. "I've been preparing for all these years, but why...but why do I still feel this way?" She lifts her head off my shoulder and her tear-drenched eyes peer into mine, and I could not stop myself from pressing a long kiss on her forehead. "It's different when i-it's really happening." She continues then clenches her chest. "It hurts so much here." She utters in a soft and broken voice.

"My lady..." I cry and allow her to lean on my shoulder again. Suddenly, the door leading to dad's room opens and mom steps out of the room, also in the same state as her daughter.

Marinette, upon hearing the door open, immediately gets up and she brings me up with her.

"Mom." I whisper in grief and she engulfs me in a hug, crying into the embrace.

"It's good to have you here." She pulls away and wipes her eyes. "He would want to hear your voice for the last time." She looks between Marinette and I then looks back at the room where her husband is.

"I think we should all head inside." She whispers in pain, "It's almost his time."

Marinette grabs my hand with hers and she is the one who opens the door to the private room father was transferred to.

There are less tubes on him than the last time we saw him at the ICU. Such a sight gives me a short sense of relief yet I am taken aback with the realization that he does not need more tubes on him when in fact, they are not helping at all. The soft sound of the beeping of his heart rate is going to turn into a long beep in a few minutes. I...I can sense it, sadly.

"Father..." I whisper in a shaky voice. I sit on the chair beside his bed as Marinette rests a hand on my right shoulder. I reach for my father's hand and it stays limp as I hold it tightly, not wanting to let go at all. "Your grandchild is still waiting for you. Can't...can't you just stay a little longer to see him?" I cry, begging for the inevitable to happen. "The baby will be a boy, father. Isn't that exciting?" I say, forcing a smile on my face but my eyes tell a different story and feeling.

"Father, you can rest now." I whisper, slowly accepting the hard truth. "You can reunite with mother...I'll allow you to do that." My shoulders start to shake and my chest tightens in pain. I sob once again and this time, I have no plans in stopping myself. "T-Thank you for everything, father. But this time, I have realized that I don't want you to stay in pain..."

Marinette bends down and kisses my temple and in that moment, I feel such short-lived peace. "I have Marinette with me." I continue, "I won't be alone...so you can go now. I love you very much, father."

I never would have noticed it if it weren't for the noise of the beeps as his heart rate started to go in a flat line. That long, dreadful line was moving at the heart monitor. Two nurses and a doctor enter the room and one nurse brings out the defibrillator and turns the knob to the first charge. But as the doctor kept on using the defibrillator on father and as the charges were rising, I knew that father just wanted to rest already.

He's tired...and I'm okay with that.

I don't want to keep him in more pain and agony.

The doctor and nurses stop as the flat line has not changed at all. Thus the doctor mentions the exact time and date of father's passing. He tells me the forms I need to fill up on behalf of father and he sends his deepest condolences. I nod mindlessly and the doctor and nurses leave Marinette and I alone first in the room.

I kneel by my father, just staring at his lifeless body in front of me.

"Adrien?" Marinette asks, concerned. She moves to kneel beside me and I look at her.

"He's with mother now...right?"

She nods, "Y-Yes, he is."

"Good." I whisper then I start to breakdown into sobs again. Marinette takes me into her arms and I just cry out for my father as I hold onto her too. "A-As long as father is happy, then I'll be happy for him too."

Dad has his eyes closed and his body has bloated due to the fluids that could not be excreted by the kidney already. A nurse by the heart monitor on stand-by. But from what mom mentioned to us, she signed the form choosing to not revive the patient. She said that she does not want him to continue in anguish.

Marinette holds my hand tightly, as I do the same for her, as we near him. Mom stays on the other side of the bed and she holds the left hand of dad and leans her face on it.

"I've said what I wanted to say to him already, Mari." Her mom whispers in a raspy voice. "Talk to him...he would love it."

Marinette looks at me with a face full of doubt and the only way I could think of doing to calm her is to kiss her on the forehead.

We both close our eyes as I shower her with all my love in that simple action. She turns away to look at her father yet she still has her hand latched onto mine.

"Dad..." She whispers, her lips trembling again. She bites her bottom lip to stop herself from sobbing out loud. "I have Adrien with me..."

"Hi, dad." I quietly utter from beside Marinette and she flashes me a smile of gratitude.

"He's going to take care of me..." She kneels by his ear and I follow kneeling beside Marinette. I cry silently with Marinette and did not hesitate to kiss her hand. "We're not going to leave each other...and I promise you, we are going to start anew. And you've always wanted that, right?" Mari wipes her eyes and muffle her quiet sobs with her hand.

"That's why I'm allowing you to go...rest now, dad." She cries and mom follows right after with her sobs. "I-I'm safe with mom and Adrien. If it hurts too much already, then you can rest all you want." She smiles amidst her tears, "We'll be okay here. I don't want you to continue in more pain...you've been the best dad I could ever ask for. T-Thank you for everything...I love you." She wraps both of her hands around the hand of dad and she sobs into it.

"I love you, dad." She repeats and presses a kiss on his hand. "Take care of Tommy and Emma for Adrien and I, please." And this time, I sob with her.

"M-Mari..." I cry, leaning my head on her shoulder. This is our first time to cry over both of our children without any feelings of anger or hate for each other, instead we cry due to sadness and a pang of grief.

"Be the perfect parent with father and mother, and t-take care of your grandkids. Show them all the love you have showered over me for all these years. Adrien and I will be so thankful..." She loses her voice towards the end due to her sobs that have taken over. "Adrien and I will take care of mom who will always love you...so rest now."

And just like when father was lying on his deathbed, we both hear a familiar sound of the flat line running on the heart monitor. It was just like a buzzing sound to the ears and we were all just waiting to hear such sound.

Marinette keeps on pressing kisses on dad's hand whilst her mom was crying loudly, hugging her dear husband.

And with what I promised Tom, I hold onto his daughter and do my best to comfort her despite the heavy feeling I have in my chest.

Dad, please take care of our kids as I will take care of your Marinette.

The nurse informs mom of the exact time of dad's passing and she takes it seriously, signing the forms needed to be done and passed to the hospital staff. We all watch the nurse cover dad's body with a white cloth and Marinette bends down to kiss him on the cheek for one last time.

"Mom." Marinette mumbles. "May we go out, first?"

"Sure." Mom replies, flashing a weak smile at the both of us. "I would like to have some time alone with him."

Marinette brings me out of the room with her and we walk to the hospital garden. She leads the way and sits on the same bench where we sat the first time I visited dad.

And we just sit beside each other, not uttering a word to one another. I watch Marinette the whole time as she closes her eyes and raises her head to the sky.

"It hurts..." She then whispers. With her head still raised and her eyes closed, I notice tears falling down her face. "I've let him rest in the best way I could give but it still hurts..."

"Then don't burden yourself with all the pain and lend me some." I whisper back at her, causing her to face me and I wrap my arms around her once again in a tight hug. "And this time, I'm not letting you go. I'm not going to leave you alone."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I love Tom Dupain with all my heart so this was somewhat hard for me to write (since I also wrote about Gabriel's passing).

Lemme give you all a warm hug. Come here, guys *virtually hugs everyone*

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