"We're lucky my father is at the office today," he says, leading me through the circular entryway. I suck in a deep breath, turning slowly as I stare up at the ceiling. I've only been here three times, but they were rushed little flitting moments, never having enough time to really look and take it all in. "Big, huh?" he asks, watching me, a slight smile on his lips.

"It- It's miraculous." I flench some at my word choice, Adrien's expression changing some, but he replaces it with a fake smile before I can understand his reaction.

"Do you want to get looking?" he offers, holding his hand out toward a door across the room on the left.

I nod, following quickly after him. "S-so where did your dad keep the book?" I ask.

He sighs, still unsure of my assumption. "Behind the picture of Mom," he says, moving the large canvas out of the way. I stand beside him, staring at a safe. His eyes widen, I glancing between him and the keypad. "I don't know what it is. I mean, I have a few ideas.... Why don't you go check my room for any clues while I try to figure it out?" he offers, staring puzzlingly at the lock box.

Not having a better idea of opening, except for Tikki flying through the door, I nod, scampering quickly out of the room and down the hall. I skid to the right some, almost missing the elegant, white stairs. I force myself to keep up a steady jog the whole way, the million and one steps taking their toll on me. "For Adrien," I tell myself. I peak out from behind the wall, making sure no one is around, not exactly sure why I'm so nervous. I'm not trespassing, but my stomach constricts when I turn the knob to Adrien's room. I shut the door behind me, leaning back against it, a gasp of awe slipping through my lips. I take in the computers, video games that belong in an arcade, the furniture, the skateboard ramps, the whole wall of windows. I'm in absolute heaven, finally glancing up at the full library overhead. My hand flies over my mouth. I take the spiraled stairs up, running my fingers over the spines, wanting to feel the warn hard covers under my skin.

"Aren't we supposed to be looking for clues? Tikki pipes up, shattering my glassy, awestruck look.

"Right. Thanks, Tikki," I say, peeling my eyes from the books. "It's just that, why would he ever want to leave this place? I could be locked in here for ten lifetimes and still enjoy this room."

"You'd get tired of it eventually, if it's all you ever knew," Tikki argues, a wise expression settling into her features. "I mean, if your mom was gone and your dad was unloving and all you ever received was stuff, wouldn't you crave friends, actual love, adventure?"

I knew about Adrien's home life and how cold his father was, plus now throw in the fact that he was Hawk Moth, it just hadn't fully resinated in me until this moment. I felt a burning sadness for him. I wont say pity. He wouldn't like that. His life sucked outside of school. And, it made me love him more. I could give him that love. The kind he's craving. I would never dream of hurting him. I mean, look what I'm risking right now to save him.

Arien

"Alright, do it now Plagg," I whisper, waiting a few minutes after Marinette scurried off on a fake mission I sent her on. My little cat-like kwami zooms out of my inside shirt pocket, flashing through the safe door, it popping open seconds later. I stare unblinkingly at the shelves that I had only seen for the first time yesterday. Why would my father hide that book in here? What was he not wanting me to see? What would he be trying to accomplish as Hawk Moth?

"Go on, kid. I'm not getting any younger here," Plagg presses, his impatience showing.

I drag my father's office chair over to the safe, climbing up to have a better view of the contents. Nothing has been tampered with or gone missing since I looked in here yesterday. Picture of Mom? Check. Map of Tibet? Check. Old flier from a hotel? Check. Old, warn books? Check. Peacock broach thing? Check. Miraculous book? With Marinette. Marinette! How is it of all people to figure it out, it was shy, clumsy Marinette? I must be incredibly stupid in her eyes. How completely oblivious I can be. I collapse into the office chair, burying my face in my hands. How did I miss all the signs? Everything? No wonder Ladybug is the one everybody expects to save the day.

All that keeps flashing in my mind is Empire Strikes back. That type of stuff is supposed to be for the movies, not reality. I'm not supposed to hang from the edge in a machinery room, screaming 'no' because Lord Vader just said, 'Luke I am your father'. That isn't supposed to come true. Though, I never believed super heroes and villains and magic would come true either. But, one question haunts me the most. Why? Why me? Why would he want to create destruction and harm his own son and fellow citizens in the process? Why is he so angry? He's a successful fashion designer. Why would he become so evil?

And then it hits me like a cement block has just slammed into my chest at a mile-a-minute. My mind buzzing to life, conjuring up his whole purpose, his whole mindset in the madness. A single word. A harmless word really, in that it creates a sense of reassurance and peace, a feeling of warmth and tenderness bubbling over from the word. A tiny word. A powerful word. A single syllable brought forth from lips....

Mom.