Nathalie read the book page displayed on her tablet, one hand clasped over her mouth. She doing further research on the Miraculouses, and how they would go about bringing back Emilie Agreste. Through the power of the combining the Ladybug miraculous and Cat miraculous, they get one wish...meaning they can undo the event in which caused Emilie to enter her eternal rest… but at a significant cost. specifically, Adrien would be the one eternally resting, as opposed to Emilie. Chances are, that in order to succeed, Mayura would be needed again, or worse, Catalyst. She still suffered from the previous uses of the broken Peacock Miraculous. She had to say something; this was getting out of hand. As much as she supports Gabriel and wants him to be happy, she felt obligated to inform him of the outcome of his wish, in hopes of getting him to stop. He wouldn't like hearing it, and it probably won't stop him, but it was worth a shot. Miss Sancoeur walked to the large double doors, and knocked.
"Yes?" A voice replied from within. Gabriel was busy looking over designs for his upcoming fashion line.
"Mister Agreste, I have something I need to discuss with you. It is rather urgent." She urged.
He closed his design bible, and then said. "You may enter, then."
As Nathalie entered, she clutched her tablet to her. "Sir, I have found more information about the power of combining the Cat and Ladybug Miraculouses. Just to let you know… If you were to go back in time, and change the course of events to keep your wife alive… the cost would be losing someone else close to you… That means Adrien would be lost."
Gabriel stood up from his desk, and looked at her. "I… see." It hurt him to hear that. He wanted his wife back, but at what cost is too much? He was doing this for son, for himself… for his family. There was no point in trying to reassemble the broken family this way, if it means he'll lose another part of it instead.
To break the awkward silence, Nathalie sighed curtly. "I… will support your decision regardless, sir, but I strongly don't recommend continuing what you're doing."
"And why not?" He raised a brow.
Nathalie was surprised that he had even asked that. She kept a level head as she spoke to him. "What if Adrien gets seriously injured, or worse, killed as a result of an akumatization or sentimonster? Wouldn't you feel at least a little guilty?"
Something about that question got him to thinking, and then it clicked... She was absolutely right. Despite what people may think, he truly does care for Adrien. It's the only living piece of Emilie he has left. His son also had so much left to live for… He closed his eyes and reflected quietly. His eyes opened again.
"I… yes, I would," He then replied, "But Adrien is not be happy without her. She will make him happy."
She couldn't believe this man sometimes. She blinked, maintaining her composure once more as she felt herself growing more annoyed. "With all do respect, Mister Agreste, I don't believe that bringing back your wife will make Adrien completely happy."
"What will then?"
"Perhaps being more like a father to him rather than his boss and not distancing yourself away from him as you have been since Emilie disappeared?"
"...Have I really been pushing him away all this time?"
"I'm afraid you have been, sir."
He pinched the bridge of his nose in disbelief. "And why didn't you say something sooner?"
Now, she was angry. Her voice shifted from her normal, calm tone to something that slightly expressed her anger. "I tried, but you would just ignore me. You would always just end up turning into Hawk Moth, and just akumatize someone instead!" Her voice raised at him as she looks up at him. "Your son thinks you don't care about him!"
Gabriel looked at her. "You know that's not true, Nathalie. I care for him very much."
"Then you should act like it." She snarled, as she began to cough. Her anger caused another dizzy spell. Gabriel frowned, as he watched one of his most loyal supporter fall as she became light-headed. He caught her, scooping her up and sitting her down in a chair. He felt guilty watching her suffer. It was like watching Emilie's decline all over again. He knelt down beside her as he watched her, holding her hand gently. She mumbled as she sat up in the chair and rubbed her head.
"I'm sorry, Nathalie." He said.
"What are you sorry for this time?"
"For everything I have put you through. For you having to wear the broken miraculous that has left you in this state. For being awful to my son." He looked dismayed. Nathalie squeezed his hand gently to assure him.
"Gabriel, I chose to wear that miraculous to help you. I want you to be happy, and if that means-" She coughed. "Means helping you retrieve the cat and ladybug miraculous, then so be it. About you and Adrien… that's something you should talk to him about."
"I suppose I will have to have a discussion with him later."
"And are you finally going to tell him everything?"
"What? Absolutely not. He will hate me." He furrowed his brow at her.
"You've already hurt him enough. I don't believe he can hate you forever. Adrien has big heart… just like his mother." Nathalie looks away from him, looking quite solemn.
"You're… right. I do see a lot of Emilie in him." He said.
Nathalie sits up properly now, seeming to feel much better. She was going to be very upfront and honest on the matter. "Sir…I know you probably will not like hearing this, but I don't believe she would want this plan to continue. She would not want you to bring her back, especially if Adrien is at risk. Do you agree?"
Gabriel looked to her. She could see his stern, emotionless facade beginning to crumble. "...Yes. Emilie loved Adrien so dearly, just as he loved her. I.. suppose I forgot to take into account that as well. She would want me to do what's best for him, and I haven't been doing that. I'm failing her. She'd be so disappointed and angry." He closed his eyes, his hand on his chest and fingers curling into a fist. For the first time in a very long time, Nathalie saw Gabriel express genuine emotion- regret, sorrow and heartbreak. He was distraught and broken. She witnessed one of the strongest people she knew break like the most fragile piece of glass, and could swear she could pinpoint the exact moment he broke. He removed his glasses, and tried to hide the fact that there were tears coming and flowing. She slides out of her chair, and onto the ground with him. She wordlessly pulled him into a hug, and he hugged her back, holding her close to him. He felt absolutely weak and helpless like this, and slightly embarrassed at himself, but thankful it was only her to witness this. He had become overwhelmed with all sorts of negative feelings of his own, after pushing it away for so long.
"Gabriel… I'm so sorry… It'll be okay, I promise." She says in an attempt to comfort him, feeling awful that she had tipped him over the edge. She felt him resting his head on her shoulder. She rubbed his back gently, and looked down at him. Never had she seen him like this, and frankly, it was painful for her.
It took him a few minutes, but he managed to pull himself together, wiping his eyes with his sleeve before sighing. "Don't apologize, Nathalie, it's not your fault. But, thank you… I believe I can make things right. But, I'll need your help."
"This isn't going to involve Hawk Moth and Mayura, right?" She sounded a bit worried.
"No, no… I want to do the right thing this time." He says, with a much more gentle tone of voice as he sat up straight to look at her. Nathalie gave him a small smile, proud of him for taking a small step forward.
"How can I help you, sir?"
"I'm going to do what should have been done a long time ago. We are going to give Emilie a proper funeral. A private one. God only knows what a mess a public funeral will be… I would like this service to be done at the end of the week. And while you take care of that, I will speak to Adrien about this, and give him an apology."
Nathalie nodded. "Of course. I'll get on that right away."
He stood to his feet, helping her up as well. "Thank you, my dear Nathalie."
She walks back to her desk, and pulls her mobile phone from her pocket. "Of course, sir."
Gabriel proceeded to head up the stairs, to Adrien's room. He should be up here, doing his homework. He knocks on the door. "Adrien, may I talk to you?"
Adrien felt paralyzed with fear. His dad never wanted to talk to him anymore, not outside of his studies and modeling, anyway. "Uh… sure, come in, Father." Gabriel enters, and sits down at the foot of his son's bed. Adrien gets up from his computer desk, and sits next to him. "What did you want me to talk to me about?"
Gabriel said nothing… but then pulled Adrien in a hug. Adrien was confused, and a bit concerned. His father hardly hugged him now a days, let alone before his mom disappeared… Adrien hugged back though, smiling a little. He certainly didn't mind, but he looked up at his father. "...Is there something wrong?"
"Adrien. I… just wanted to apologize. I haven't been the best father I should have been to you. I don't expect you to forgive me, but I just want to let you know that I'm going to try my hardest to a better father."
"Thank you, Father. I know you miss Mom a lot… I do too."
"I know you do, son. That's what I wanted to talk to you about. Your mother has been found, and unfortunately… She's no longer alive. Nathalie and I are arranging a private service for her, hopefully for Friday. It will be us three, and Aunt Amelie and Felix." He hesitated. He was just about to spill everything. About Hawk Moth. About his goal. But he chose to bit his tongue. It would just crush his already-upset son. Adrien goes to hug his dad tight. He knew that his mother was probably gone forever, but to hear it confirmed just broke his heart. Gabriel gives his son a pat on the back. "If you would like to miss school, or not attend any of your activities for the rest of this week, I will allow it."
"Thank you, but I think I'd feel better if I did all that stuff as normal… I guess it'll be a good distraction." Adrien muttered sadly. Gabriel nodded. If that's what he wanted, then he will allow him to do so.
"I understand. Let me know if you change your mind. I'll have Nathalie take care of it. I must go back to my work now. I hope you finished your homework already."
"I already did, don't worry." Adrien said, with a small smile, as the father and son split from their hug. Just as Gabriel was about to leave the room, Adrien asks, "Father… can I please invite some friends to Mom's service? I think I'm going to need them more than ever."
Gabriel hesitated. He really did only want this to be a family affair, but he supposed he could make some exceptions, for his son's sake. "...Of course, Adrien. We will send out formal invites tomorrow."
"Thank you so much, Father. I appreciate it." Adrien said with a smile, as he gets up and heads back to his desk. Gabriel leaves Adrien's room, and shuts the door behind him, and made his way back downstairs, to check on Nathalie and how the arrangements were coming along. He entered the office again, and glances at his assistant. She hangs up the phone, just wrapping up a phone call, before yet another phone call. He smiled at her, and she smiles back. What ever would he do without Nathalie in his life? Someone who was so good to him and his son… he was beginning to wonder if there was something more between them. He cared deeply for her, and hated seeing her suffer as a result of her helping with his plans. Just as she's done everything for him, he would do anything for her, if she asked him. Her work ethic, poise and efficiency were top notch as well. Not to mention, she was so beautiful… and then he stopped his train of thought. This was wrong- Nathalie was just his assistant, nothing more.
Meanwhile, Nathalie notice her boss was just standing there… What was he looking at? She hung up the phone after talking to Ms. Cheng about catering arrangements. "Mister Agreste, is there something you need?" She asks, but is greeted with no response. "Sir? Mister Agreste? Gabriel?" That seemed to have gotten his attention, as he was suddenly snapped back down to Earth.
"Yes, Nathalie?"
"It's nothing, sir. You seemed to have been lost in thought. I am nearly done planning arrangements. We can discuss and continue tomorrow, it is getting rather late." She stood up from her desk and stands in front of him. "Have a wonderful night, sir. I'll be back first thing in the morning." As she was turning around to leave, he grabbed her hand, which caused her to stop. She glances back at him, confused. "Is there something wrong, Mister Agreste?"
"Not at all. Good night, Nathalie." He said, as he delicately kisses the back her hand. She blushed lightly, as he lets her hand go. She smiled back at him, before she exits the room. He couldn't read how she felt about that, but she seemed to be quite flattered. As Nathalie left the office, she held the hand he had so gently kissed over her heart. Is this more than just a professional relationship? She couldn't be so sure... but for now, she must remain professional, especially around the other staff members, and guests.