I will love again

Part 24 - Nathalie's last goodbye

Gabriel had put an arm around Nathalie's shoulders before she even had the chance to push him away. And only a moment later he was glad that he did. Because without his arm supporting her, she probably would have just collapsed.

The young woman had come to the gate as well, while Gabriel was still trying to make the police officer tell him, why he wanted to speak with his assistant. And then she had insisted, that Roger Raincomprix would tell her the cause for his visit right in the spot. After a long discussion, the officer had given in and informed her about her mother's suicide.

Though Nathalie had tried to push off his arm just a minute before, she was now grateful for it. After letting the police man explain what had happened, she let Gabriel lead her into the mansion and have a seat in one of the arm chairs, in which he had put her, when he carried her out of his lair after she had used the broken miraculous for the first time.

Officer Raincomprix had left again, to take care of all the paperwork, but he had asked for Nathalie to come to the morgue and identify the dead body. Though Gabriel was convinced, that she would tell him, she could do this on her own, he wouldn't give in this time.

The policeman had also spoken about a letter that had been found at her mother's side and was addressed to her daughter. But as the forensic team was still checking it on being real, searching for any fingerprints and comparing to her mother's handwriting, it wasn't before later that day, that they were handing it out to her. And even that was a special favour to Gabriel Agreste from his long year friend, André Bourgeois.

As she was sitting in that white armchair now, looking so lost and desperate, he knelt down in front of her and laid both hands on her thighs.

Nathalie stared at him, tears glistening in her eyes, but her face showed no expression. He wasn't even sure, if she saw him at all.

"Now she'll never know", whispered the distraught woman to herself. "Why did she have to do that now?"

"What are you talking about?", Gabriel asked confused.

The female blinked several times and then she eventually 'saw' him.

"G-G-Gabriel, I-I.....I don't th-think, I-I-I c-can do this", she sobbed.

"Of course you can. I'll come with you and I won't leave your side for even a second. And don't even try to tell me, I can't come", the caring man said softly. "I will drive you there, so Adrien and Marinette are cared for as usual, and I will carry you inside and out, if necessary, okay?"

That made her smile a little.

"Actually, I was going to ask you, if you could find the time, to come with me", the woman admitted.

"I will go where ever you want me to go, my love!", Gabriel whispered and laid his chin on her knees. "Can I get you something? Coffee, tea, cognac?", he then asked.

"I am good, thank you!", she hummed.

"Are you sure? You should take the cognac into consideration. It would calm you a bit and would most likely keep you stomach from acting up again."

Nathalie gazed down at him and shook her head. "I would gladly take that drink, but I can't. So please, don't make it worse for me, yeah?", she pleaded.

"But why....well......I won't ask any further. Is there anything else you need to do or to get, before we can go there?"

"There are a few things I have to get from my room first. In about thirty minutes at the car? Would that be okay with you?", she suggested reluctantly.

The designer nodded. "Whatever you wish, my dear."

"Could you please stop being so nice and sweet? You are the very last person, I deserve that from, after what I did to you", she said with a self hating disgust. "I am not worth your friendship and even less your love."