Reunited

-Chapter - 60 - Love You Unconditionally -

-December 25, 2026-
-Agreste Mansion-
-Afternoon-

-Gabriel & Nathalie's room-

The time was already 1:30 p.m., but Nathalie was still asleep. She wasn't the type of person that would sleep in because she loved to get things done. But today, she had no choice. Given her and Gabriel's lengthy exercise the previous night, it was understandable. The whole night, it was as if the engaged couple had forgotten they were no longer in their twenties.

Gabriel only awoke approximately twenty minutes ago. Ever since he awoke, he refused to leave Nathalie's side. He decided to stay and lay beside her on the sofa until she awoke. Gabriel wanted his bride to see her groom-to-be as soon as she opened her eyes. And also for the reason that his whole body ached a bit and he was just exhausted.

As he lay alongside her, smiling while staring at the love of his life, he reflected on what had happened the night before. When Nathalie apologized to Gabriel for her behavior, when she made sure Gabriel knew she still loved him as much as she did before, and finally, when he knelt before her and popped the question he had been dying to ask her... Gabriel couldn't believe it had happened, but every time he looked at the ring shining on her ring finger, he was reminded that it was indeed true, and wasn't just all in his head.

A few days ago, he told his friend Andre that he wanted to marry Nathalie because he loved her. But that was the time when he began to lose hope and really began to question if there would ever be a time when he would finally get to ask her to marry him. He wished he could return to that dreadful night just to assure his past self that everything would be fine and go according to plan.

Gabriel then began to envision his future with her. He envisaged a happy and free life in which they would continue to love each other until death did them apart. Of course, he had considered the fights and struggles they might face while married, but he knew those were normal for married couples to have. And, besides, he is well aware that their relationship has grown stronger and no fights or struggles they may come to face in the future would break them apart again.

The man leaned forward and gave her a kiss on her forehead and began to caress her cheeks gently. When he felt that he was way to close to the edge of the sofa, he held on to Nathalie and shifted closer to her. He then turned his head to view the bed which they broke. He saw the broken bed frame on the floor, scanned the messy room, and shook his head smirking...

When he turned to Nathalie again, he removed the piece of hair that fell in front of her face and continued to caress her cheek. Gabriel fixed the blanket that was covering both of their naked bodies, then he stared at her with a smile on his face as he admired the beauty he is seeing in front of him... His Nathalie, of course.

After a while, Nathalie started to regain her consciousness because of Gabriel's touch. At the moment that she opened her eyes, she saw her Gabriel staring at her and caressing her cheeks.

"Good morning, my darling," Gabriel said softly making Nathalie smile immediately and close her eyes because of his gentle touch, that she was sure could put her back to sleep.

While her eyes still closed, she responded murmuring, "Good morning, darling...."

"How was your sleep?... Do you feel rested again?" Gabriel asked whispering, continuing to caress her cheek.

Nathalie opened her eyes again and viewed Gabriel, "Although I still feel exhausted... I would say that, that sleep is the best I've had in months," she giggled, "Because you weren't just there laying beside me, you were laying close to me, cuddling me, and made me feel protected again, darling. I missed that feeling!"