Tales of the Bug and Cat: Book 2

Sunday, July 23rd

Gorilla carried Adrien into his room and placed the unconscious boy on the bed. Nathalie and Gabriel followed. "Sir, about what you've said about Lily's disappearance?" Nathalie sighed. "I find it very hard to believe. She wouldn-"

"Yes, she would. She did." Gabriel said. "I'm going to see if what Adrien said was true. Stay with him until he wakes." He faced the door.

"Of course." Nathalie said. 

"And don't let him leave." he demanded.

"Sir?"

"I need to deal with this on my own. Gorilla, make sure Adrien doesn't leave this room until morning." Gabriel waked out the door and towards the dining car. The head server hastily bowed, and neatened his tie when he realized who Gabriel was. 

"Monsieur! What can I do for you? A table?" The head server politely asked.

"No, thank you. I'm looking for where a, uh, good friend is sitting. She has striking green eyes and strawberry blonde hair."  Gabriel described. The waiter drew a blank, and shook his head. "She's wearing a hat that covers most of her hair and face. She wears light colors."

The waiter sighed. "I'm so sorry Monsieur Agreste. There is many blondes with hats.  You can ask the servers if they've seen anyone who fits the description. Anyone who has been recently seated is in the farther dining cars."

Gabriel muttered a thanks and head through each of the dining cars. No one he saw was Lily. He asked a couple servers along the way and all side the same, except for the last one.

"About half an hour ago, I showed a woman with that description to her seat. She's  over there, sir." The woman said in a heavy English accent, pointing to a corner booth in the back.

Gabriel continued to stay frozen well after the server left. "There she is." Adrien thought aloud. Lilith sat in the booth, very indulged in the menu. With her hat off, Gabriel clearly saw her blonde hair in its usual style. He took another second then walked forwards to her. He sat down across from his wife. She looked up, and broke into a slight smile when she saw: "Gabriel?" 

"Lily." He softly responded, and scratched the back of his neck.

"Gabriel! It's been-" Lily softly exclaimed. She reached for his hand, but he drew it away. She sighed. "Is this still about my... departure?"

"You left." Gabriel coldly said. 

"Only because-" 

"You left. And I had to finish raising Adrien when I had no clue how to. I lied to him because he can never know why you left!" Gabriel sipped the glass of water.

"Oh really? What exactly did you tell my boy?" Lily now demanded. She stared straight into Gabriel's eyes. "My reasons for leaving were just. The right choice! You turned to power. And I-"

"Was the one left us. You just turned to a different type of power. But it's not working isn't it?"

Lily sighed. "You know the answer to that, Gabriel. You live in Paris. You know what's going on. " Gabriel frowned at the mention. "and I know it's you, the others don't, but I do. I remember them."

"So you've figured out the game of cat and mice I've been playing with Paris' saviors?" Gabriel lowered his voice. Lily smirked. "You don't know far I've gone, how close I've gotten to the Miraculouses!"

"Oh, then thank you for trying to steal jewelry off kids." Lily chuckled.

Gabriel tilted his head. "You don't know who Ladybug and Chat Noir are?" He questioned. Lily remained silent, giving her answer away. "Well, I guess i'm one step ahead. I've known who the heroes are for a while, and I've closer than ever to getting the ultimate power."

"And what will you do with this holy power once you get it?" Lily sarcastically asked, but she remained curious for the answer.  

"The same thing as you." Gabriel stood up. "I'm going to change the past." He took a few steps away, but Lily dragged him back to the booth.

"Please."  She begged. "I haven't since you for a few years, Gabriel. Please. Just stay and talk. How's the business. How's Nathalie? How's Adrien? Is he still fencing? I remember his first day all those years ago when he started out." 

Gabriel finally smiled. "Adrien is a very good fencer. He does modeling too... he really is the image of perfection."

Lily laughed, "You've been saying that since he's been born!"

"It's true." Gabriel sighed. He looked at the time. He has more time to talk. He and Lily continued to discuss how Adrien has been doing. She felt guilty as she realized how much she has missed.

A long time later, Gabriel and Lily finished dessert and it was time to go to their rooms. 

"Lily, what are you doing on a train to London?"

"Business...for work." She responded.

Gabriel shut his eyes hard. "Of course. Tonight was seldom. I'm sorry but until one of our plans succeeds, I cannot let you near Adrien."

Lily became angry. "You can't keep me away from my own son!"

"You didn't say anything earlier when he saw you!" Gabriel harshly whispered back. 

"Because I didn't know what to say!" Lily grabbed Gabriel's arm before he could walk away.

"Lily, let me go."

"I love you." she argued.

Gabriel took his arm away. "And I love you. But it isn't enough. Until you're ready to put them behind and come back home for good..." Lily nodded, she knew what she had done when she left. She has to stay put.

"Okay then...I guess, this is goodbye." She gave him a hug. 

"Goodbye." He held her tight for a few seconds before heading their separate ways.