When someone says they want to play a game most people's minds go to board games such as Monopoly, a card such as Uno or Poker, or maybe even an outdoor activity like volleyball or corn hole. If this person is at a party their mind might go to spin the bottle, truth or dare, or seven minutes in heaven. These are all games which a person could have a disinterest in for some reason or another. People who don't like these games decide not to play them and opt for watching or doing something completely different. When Nathalie is offered to play in the worst game a person can play she knows she shouldn't take the offer. Gabriel is the one asking though and they both start to lose track if it's all a game or not. Perhaps, as in the case with all games, it's best to start at the beginning.
"Nathalie, I need your help," Gabriel said, a typical statement he made before whenever he wanted her to use the peacock miraculous, now for a completely different issue now.
"What is it, sir?"
"I told my parents that I'm dating someone new and they insist that unless I show off my girlfriend publicly they are coming over here themselves."
"So why do you need my help? You getting caught in a lie isn't something I can help with," Nathalie responded. She was sure there was some sort of sentimonster she could create that could help the situation or even make a fake girlfriend for him. None of these were very ideal suggestions although if he asked she would do it.
"I need you to be my pretend girlfriend," Gabriel said instead.
Nathalie gives Gabriel a dumb look, "You're going to announce, publicly, that you're dating your PA, the press is going to get a field day out of that one."
"Please Nathalie."
"Fine," Nathalie agrees because she knows she would do anything and if he keeps asking she was bound to say yes at some point.
She shouldn't be surprised when Gabriel asks her for dinner two nights later, they are 'dating' after all.
"I booked the nicest restaurant in Paris so we end up on the cover of all magazines, be a top headline on newspapers and a big story for all new stations."
"You really want this to be all over?"
"That's the only way my parents will believe it. Being an Agreste, everything has to be big."
"Then that is how it should be," Nathalie agrees.
Nathalie's dress ombre's from blue to purple. Her hair in a braided bun. Gabriel wears a navy suit that almost reminds them of the one Nathalie wears most days. A beautiful image of a couple, something that will fool everyone, at least for one night. Gabriel opens the door for Nathalie and they walk hand in hand to their table, all eyes are already on them.
"Are you ready Nathalie?" Gabriel asks after the pair have gotten their drinks for the evening.
"Yes, just one quick question, how do you plan on announcing this 'relationship'?"
"Like this," Gabriel smiles and pulls her in for a kiss.
Nathalie smiles into the kiss because this was all she ever wanted. She reminds herself it's fake as the camera lenses flash but this is exactly what he wants so she goes with it until Gabriel pulls away. The adrenaline still flowing through her leaves after feelings of spark and shock.
"I love you," Gabriel says, just a little too loud so most of the surrounding table hear him.
"I love you too," Nathalie looks down as she says it because everything in her wants him to mean the words and she knows she means him.
They link arms as they walk into the Agreste manor, Nathalie has been living there long enough that it really shouldn't have been a surprise when they 'admitted' to be in a relationship. The speculation had been there since the day Emilie went 'missing' anyway. The worst rumors behind her disappearance insisted Nathalie, the mistress, had killed the wife. Adrien, while loving the idea of his father dating Nathalie, was certainly not expecting it after he had been so adamant that he and Nathalie were and would never be in a relationship. Adrien runs up to the door with a phone in his hand, trying to show the pair a picture.
"Is it true?" he asks hopefully.
"Of course, Adrien," Gabriel quickly answers, making sure to keep Nathalie close to him.
"I'm really happy for you two," Adrien smiles.
"Thank you, Adrien, I'm sorry we didn't tell you first," Nathalie nods.
"It's alright," Adrien insists, "goodnight Nathalie, goodnight father."
Adrien runs off and Nathalie and Gabriel are left alone, not having to pretend to be a couple but neither moves to put space between them.
"I wish we didn't have to lie to him," Nathalie turns to Gabriel once Adrien is out of earshot.
"We'll tell him one day," Gabriel says as if telling another lie to his son isn't that bad.
"Really? The last time I checked he still doesn't know about the miraculous, even though you said you were going to tell him months ago."
"It- I," Gabriel tries to explain.
"Forget it, I'm going to bed. You have a meeting tomorrow morning at 8, I suggest you try and get some rest," Nathalie says and walks away before Gabriel can say another word.
The next months are spent like this, having to lie around everybody, and all the time. Gabriel and Nathalie are basically tied at the hip trying to prove this relationship is real. Nathalie keeps telling herself that she has to figure out a way to end this whole fake dating thing but it is much easier said than done. She has asked Gabriel a few times when this is going to end because he said it would. He never gives her a firm answer and so Nathalie is stuck pretending that all her feelings are fake and she has no clue how Gabriel could continue so easily.
"Nathalie, we have an issue," Gabriel tells her.
Their fake relationship has been going on for one year now and now he tells her. Nathalie would tell herself that she had tried every day to end the rumor but she really stopped after the fifth month. Nathalie could probably list one thousand (1,000) things wrong right now, and she really didn't need Gabriel to add another item to that long list.
"What is it, sir?" even with the constant reminders to call him Gabriel or anything that wasn't as formal as 'sir' it was just something that she never lost.
"My parents are sending my sister to 'check up' on us. She is arriving in two days."
"You haven't even talked to her in years though," Nathalie points out. Nathalie knows she has met Gabriel's sister once, at his and Emilie's wedding, the last time she could recall Gabriel and her talking.
"She'll be staying for the week," Gabriel tells her.
Nathalie nods, "I will alert the rest of the staff right away."
The next two days Nathalie prepares herself. She moves the majority of her personal belongings into Gabriel's room. For the last year, she had stayed in the same room she always had slept in. The two kept their typical relationship when they were by themselves or when only Adrien was around. Adrien thinks it makes sense, they have been friends and worked together for so long that adding another doesn't change their relationship a lot. They are sure to share some physical affection from time to time, or just remain close to each other. Nathalie knows that explanation would not satisfy, what was the name of Gabriel's sister, she couldn't even remember. Rachel? No. Renee? Maybe? Did it start with an r?
"Maybe we could tell her the truth and ask her to lie," Nathalie suggests, it would be nice to have someone else on their side.
"She would never do that," Gabriel rolls her eyes, "I bet she is making 10,000 per night at least, our parents never played fair."
"I love you," Nathalie whispers. She knows Gabriel had a good father, a warm loving mother, and a caring sister. Instead, Gabriel's father was just as cold as he was to Adrien, his mother was obsessed with the image of perfection, and his sister was a twisted version of the two of them, so was Gabriel as much as he would deny the claim. The Agreste's were independent people and did not rely on family but made sure they were in line.
"I love you too," Gabriel says and Nathalie wishes it were true. She almost wants to cry because it hurts so much for her to mean it and for it to mean nothing to him. It hurts that her heart stops every time they kiss and to Gabriel, it's all an act. It's worse when they are alone like this and he doesn't have to lie, he could tell her not to say these types of things but instead, he continues that he loves her. It's horrible to her and unfair but Gabriel doesn't think about anyone besides himself.
"Gabriel," her voice is cold as she enters the manor as if she was at a funeral instead of seeing her brothers for the first time in years.
"Charlotte," he nods, "and this is my girlfriend, Nathalie."
Charlotte! That was her name, it didn't sound familiar to Nathalie but she could remember it for the week.
"Pleasure," Charlotte half groans.
"Lovely to meet you as well," Nathalie tries to be nice though her fake smile fades as she finishes her sentence.
"If you don't mind I have had a long day of travel, I will be off to my room now for some rest," Charlotte insists.
"Of course," Gabriel agrees, "they'll show you to your room and dinner will be served in three hours."
"My favorite meal I suppose? I am the guest," Charlotte says as if they didn't know.
"What would your favorite meal be?"
"Can't even remember your sister's favorite meal, you're an awful brother," Charlotte spits.
"Don't pretend like you have made an effort to visit Gabriel," Nathalie fires back.
"I'd bite your tongue little girl, you should have stuck to your servant life, you will never be a part of this family."
"Don't you dare talk to her like that!" Gabriel objects, "go, Charlotte! Now."
"Teach your 'girlfriend' to respect people when I'm gone," Charlotte rolls her eyes and she walks away from the couple.
"Don't listen to her Nath, you're perfect."
"Nobody is around right now, you don't have to lie."
Gabriel just shakes his head and kisses her gently before saying, "I love you."
He leaves Nathalie standing there who is currently a blushing mess. She hates how she has to remind herself every hour that this is fake. She can do this, it hasn't even been one hour of one hundred sixty-eight (168) she would have to spend with Charlotte here.
The week goes by much too slowly for Nathalie's preference. She doesn't talk much as she half listens to, what was her name, Nathalie had forgotten, not that she wanted to remember. Carolina, maybe? No, Caroline! That had to be it. Either way, if there was any way for her to forget this week, she would gladly do it.
Her relationship with Gabriel had driven her insane this week. The way he always made sure to have some sort of physical contact with her and rarely left her side, it almost made her think that he truly cared. Caroline could be lurking around any corner though, so it would only make sense that Gabriel and she had to be more convincing than they usually were.
"He doesn't love you," Nathalie muttered to her reflection in the mirror.
They were going out to a restaurant as a farewell to the wicked witch that had been staying with them for the week. Nathalie knew that between the public and his sister, just like she had been the past week, she would have to be the stunning girlfriend of Gabriel Agreste.
The dinner was going fine, somehow the other female was less annoying than usual and Nathalie felt like she could see the end of constantly pretending to be a couple. It was almost over, all that was left to do was to request the check. Nathalie could do this, then she would go back to her normal life and forget that Gabriel had been more affectionate than usual this week. This is when she truly learned how dangerous assumptions were to make because she was far from out of the woods.
"Nathalie," Gabriel got down on one knee, "will you make me the happiest man in the world and agree to marry me?" he asked and presented a silver ring with a blue-tinted diamond.
Nathalie starts crying, that's what every girlfriend does right, when the love of her life proposes. Instead, Nathalie cries because this act has gone too far and she doesn't know how to stop it anymore.
"Yes," she says through her tears because how could she say no.
When they get home, Nathalie storms off to her room because she has her own room, and Gabriel has his own room, and they certainly don't share a room. Nathalie glances down at the ring that Gabriel had elegantly placed on her finger and starts crying again. How did she let it get this far? Nathalie knew she shouldn't have let Gabriel persuade her to continue with the performance it felt like they were putting on.
"Nathalie," Gabriel knocks on her door.
Nathalie doesn't even bother to answer.
"Nath," he knocks a little harder this time.
"Go away, Gabriel," Nathalie responds this time.
"Open the door," he says, ignoring Nathalie's request.
"What do you want?" she grunts, swinging the door open.
"Why are you crying?"
"Because you're a damn manipulator. You are the worst game I ever could have played. You played my heart and my head and I can't stand you."
"Yet you said you love me and you're my fiancé."
"BUT IT'S ALL FAKE!" Nathalie screams and throws the ring to the ground.
"Is that really what you think, Nathalie?"
"Yes! You said so yourself, just so your parents think you have a new girl, just so the media gets their story, just until everything dies down. But no, now we are 'engaged' and I can't do this."
"Nathalie, I love you."
"No!" Nathalie objects, "don't say that, don't lie to me because I'm tired of having to tell myself you're acting when I'm not."
"I love you, Nathalie, that isn't a lie."
"Please," Nathalie's voice softens, "just don't."
Gabriel, despite her objection, steps closer. He runs a hand through her slightly scattered hair. Her blue eyes look brighter as a result of crying, they could rival the sky on a warm summer day. No, he is wrong, the sky wouldn't stand a chance, he is certain her eyes are definitely a more brilliant color. She always has been beautiful. He runs a thumb over her lips that she had applied a red color to earlier this evening. He tries to take in every small detail about her and wants to remember it all.
Leaning in to kiss her, he feels the same excitement that he did every time their lips met. It was a feeling like no other that he was positive couldn't be rivaled by anything else. He put a hand on her lower back to deepen the kiss that Nathalie was eagerly reciprocating. All their feelings start coming through. The endless feelings that Nathalie had always held back, the newly developed passion that Gabriel was unable to deny. If time could stop it would have and as they kissed it felt as if the world around them vanished.
"I love you," Gabriel whispers and kneels down. He picks up the ring that Nathalie had thrown to the ground moments before, "and I would be honored to call you my wife if you'll still have me?"
"I-you-we," Nathalie doesn't even know what she is trying to say, she should say no but too many thoughts are buzzing around her mind at this moment.
"At the altar, it's 'I do'," Gabriel tells her, "so, do I have to repeat the question, or are you just going to make me stay on my knee forever?"
"Yes, I would love to be your wife," Nathalie answers. She immediately thinks that she shouldn't have agreed, she wouldn't have put it past Gabriel to throw together a whole charade like that to keep his reputation well and alive. She believes it though and maybe that makes her as foolish as the rest.
Nathalie is stressed because why wouldn't Gabriel Agreste break up with his finacé. Nathalie knows she is nothing compared to the late Madame Agreste. Part of her is still worried about this game, between every kiss and every touch Nathalie's breath hitches as she thinks that this could still be an act for him.
Even as he places the sapphire-colored ring on her finger, for real, in front of a huge audience, and with the guidance of a priest, Nathalie still takes a deep breath as she hesitates. She hopes he would never go this far in some act, she hopes that he truly loves her the way he claims to, and her child will have a good father although her fear has kept her from telling him. The facts are hard to believe when it all started with the worst game anyone can play.