Chapter 21
Nathalie decided she would stay for the night, accompanying Gabriel while he resolved his affairs with the company to rehire her. That was when Gabriel remembered what he wanted to her explain about Emilie. He led her into her room so they could talk alone. They both sat on the bed.
"Nathalie, before you left, I just wanted to tell you why Emilie is still here."
She sat on the bed.
"I just wanted you to have a chance to say goodbye to her. I know she was your friend, so it would be only fair you could do it."
Nathalie felt like a fool. If only she had listened to him from the beginning...
"I'll say goodbye to Emilie."
Nathalie shifted her gaze to his face.
"Are you sure?"
With the sincerest look Gabriel could give her, he answered her.
"I am. It's about time I let her go."
Gabriel pulled out some papers from his nightstand drawer. He handed them to Nathalie and she look over them, realizing they were Emile's defunction papers. Nathalie saw the date these were issued. It was the day she had escaped to get him the Miraculous. It was all true.
Nathalie couldn't help but feel relieved that Gabriel finally took the courage to let Emilie go. They both prepared to tell Adrien. They discussed what would be the best way to tell him, but Nathalie was the one who suggested to also show him the place where Emilie was. It was the best for everyone. Besides, Gabriel wanted Adrien to have no doubts about everything.
They decided to do it the next day, when he returned to the mansion. There was no point in waiting, especially when Adrien already knew everything. As soon as Adrien arrived at the entrance, they were waiting for him at the bottom of the stairs to the first floor.
"Come with us. There's something we need to show you" Nathalie said, motherly.
Adrien was surprised, but did not question them. Gabriel pointed out where to press on the picture of his mother. Adrien felt the floor go down and he was carried to the lower part of the house. He didn't know they had a basement, but that didn't give him a good feeling.
He came to a fairly large space with a large window which had the same butterfly designs as the rest of the house. He saw there was light going towards a round platform. Adrien supposed that this place was used by Nathalie and his father to hide like Hawkmoth and Mayura.
He heard the elevator go down again. This time it was Gabriel alongside with Nathalie as they descended.
"Go ahead, son."
Adrien felt a certain fear and uncertainty.
When he got closer, he couldn't believe it. The person who was there was his mother, just as his father told him some time ago. Gabriel walked over to him and put his hand on Adrien's shoulder.
"Master Fu came to check her a few days ago and he told me that there was nothing to do. And having her like this only prolongs her suffering."
Adrien knew what that meant. He immediately hugged the capsule and wept bitter tears. Nathalie went to the boy's side and hugged him from behind while he cried for his mother.
Gabriel also joined in that hug. The situation was very hard. Above all, leaving Emilie in that state for so long. But he knew that, just as he loved her so much in life, he had to let her rest in peace and respect her last wishes. Gabriel opened the capsule after Adrien got off it.
"Mom, I've missed you so much. I love you. I will never forget the moments I spend with you."
Adrien kissed his mother's forehead. Then Gabriel approached the capsule, looking at his wife.
"I will never forget what I experienced with you Emilie. I know I must let you go, so that I can move forward and so that you can rest. I'll take care of Adrien just as I promised in the beginning. You have my word."
Gabriel took her in his arms. He stayed that way for a few moments, knowing that this would be the last time he would be Emilie. He kissed her forehead and laid her back in the capsule. Nathalie approached the capsule.
"Goodbye, Emilie. Thank you for everything" Natalie said, wistfully.
Gabriel got up from where he was and turned off the source that was keeping the capsule on. They waited in silence for a few minutes.
A small breeze caressed both Agreste's faces. It was a warm and very comforting feeling, just like Emilie. Nathalie also felt it from where she was standing. It was as if Emilie was saying goodbye. The sensation disappeared shortly after.
Emilie Agreste was gone. At last, her spirit could rest in peace, after a long time.
Adrien collapsed crying on the ground, like he never had. His father came up to him to hug him. Gabriel felt as if a stake was piercing his heart.
At last Gabriel had accepted the stage of mourning.
That night Nathalie and Gabriel stayed in Adrien's room to provide him with the comfort he needed. Adrien cried until he fell asleep. The three of them were there, together. Plagg joined them as well, sleeping on Adrien's head. The only ones who weren't asleep were Gabriel and Nathalie. They both surrounded Adrien in a protective way, to give him the comfort he needed.
Nathalie knew that Gabriel didn't seem right. The atmosphere was pretty quiet.
"Are you okay, Gabriel?"
He said nothing.
"Gabriel, I know you were holding out all this time so that Adrien wouldn´t see you and he wouldn't feel worse. Just let it out, Gabriel. I won't bother if you do. I know you loved her very much, it's okay."
Gabriel began to shed the tears that he had been holding back from the moment he released Emilie from her suffering. Nathalie took one of his hands and ran her thumb across the back of it. Gabriel spent a while so that he finally managed to calm down. Nathalie wiped away the last tears that fell from his eyes with her thumb.
"We will organize a private funeral. I'll see that its discreet and that we're not going to get in trouble for this" Gabriel said in a cracking voice.
Gabriel made some calls very early in the morning to begin the process of legalizing Emilie's death.
They paid an exorbitant amount to a competent authority to make the death of Emilie official and for the silence of all the people who saw the body. As Emilie disappeared a long time ago the process was made easy, they would just have to say that the police were no longer looking for her and that it was better to leave a grave of her. The funeral services prepared everything for a private ceremony inside the mansion. They left Emilie's body in a coffin.
Marinette had arrived at the instance with Master Fu. She was dressed in mourning, as was the old man. Gabriel led Master Fu to where his wife was. He made sure to stabilize the energies of the house, as well as to check how Nathalie's health was, which was already fully recovered.
They all attended the funeral, to say goodbye to Emilie.
The coffin was carried into the main room and the officer went to officiate the funeral. Nathalie was sitting next to Adrien while Gabriel kept his hands on his shoulders.
At the end of the ceremony, Adrien placed a rose in the coffin for his mother. Marinette hugged him and leaned her head on her shoulder, giving him support. In the end, she passed him her handkerchief so that he will wipe away the tears. He hugged her as if he didn't want her to leave him.
When the body was taken away, the house felt different. He no longer had that presence of the woman. At last, they were free.
"Gabriel, you did the right thing. Freeing your wife from suffering was the best thing you could do" Fu mentioned behind him.
"It was time to look to the future and let her go" Gabriel said.
Emilie would be buried in the family crypt overnight. Because for the rest of the world, Emilie Agreste was still missing.
They called the Grahams of Vanilly to tell them about the grave. Amelie was very sad, but relieved that her brother-in-law was finally letting her go and doing the right thing. She offered to return the ring that Felix had taken without permission, but he told her to keep it. It no longer mattered. Also, Gabriel believed it was time to pass his wedding ring on to Adrien, as a small part of her inheritance as Graham de Vanilly. Emilie left everything arranged for when the day she was gone, Adrien would receive all the fortune that she obtained in her years as an actress, only when the boy reached the age of majority.
Gabriel approached Adrien at the end of the funeral. He pulled the wedding ring out of his jacket pocket and placed it on Adrien's hand.
"Your mother always wanted you to have at least one of the rings. It's part of your heritage as Graham de Vanily. Take good care of it."
"I will father." Adrien put the ring in one of the pockets of his suit.
That night Gabriel slept with a calm heart, after a long time.
Nathalie was with him that night. They slept spoon-style, just the way he liked it. She woke up close Gabriel. Her breath made the tiny locks on her neck prickle.
Adrien still looked depressed. He avoided his father more so she always ran away from the mansion as Chat Noir when Gabriel tried to talk to him. It frustrated him, but Nathalie was always at his side to calm him down.
Gabriel had treated Nathalie as his queen after the incident. He would put her on a pedestal something she had only seen him do when Emilie was with him. Little by little she was softening her heart again, remembering why she was in love with him.
They started their relationship all over again. Gabriel began to court her just as he had done to Emilie in his time. From walks in the park to dates in luxurious places. He even allowed Adrien to go with his girlfriend as a double date or let him invite his friends over to his house to hang out while they were gone.
Adrien loved that new side of his father, despite still not having forgiven him for what he did. It was just like when his mom was still alive. In her memory, they left a painting of her and her statue in the garden. All other paintings like the one in the atelier and including the one in the main entrance were removed from their place and would be replaced with new and less depressing ones.
The Gorilla on his part, seemed happier and in a good mood with the whole situation. He never imagined that Nathalie and Gabriel would end up together. It was like one of those weird dreams, only this one was very real.
And Nathalie couldn't have been happier in her life. She loved her work, but she loved the Agrestes the most. She liked seeing Adrien so happy. But still, she knew something was bothering him a lot.
Nathalie took advantage of a day when Adrien went to sleep early. She noticed the expression on his face.
"Is something wrong Adrien?" Nathalie sat on the edge of the bed and ran the back of her fingers over one of Adrien's cheeks affectionately. "Adrien, I know I shouldn't ask this, but how are things going between you and your father?"
"Not very well, I know he wants to apologize, but I don't feel able to forgive everything he did, the fact that I kept my mother that way, that I was Hawkmoth for that reason leaves me without thinking."
"I also regret everything I did. I just think you should consider giving it a try. I'm sure he suffered enough already."
"I don't know Nathalie, he tried to hurt me and Marinette. I still don't feel ready to forgive father." Adrien rested his head on the pillow. "I really want him to be part of my life, but I just can't."
"I don't blame you, after everything that happened. You don't have to feel pressured, Adrien" Nathalie said understandingly. She got out of bed but not before giving Adrien a kiss on the forehead.
"I know it's not easy for you. It costed me a lot, but over time I have realized he changed and this time it is serious."
Adrien settled between the covers looking at Nathalie.
"I'll think about it."
She went out turning off the light in Adrien's room, not expecting to find Gabriel at the exit waiting for her. He seemed like he had been listening to their conversation.
"I feel like Adrien hates me."
"Give him time, love, after all he still hasn't fully assimilated that his father was Hawkmoth." They both went straight to Gabriel's room, where they sat on the couch.
"Maybe you're right" Nathalie ran her hands through his hair. "I just want to make up for my son for being such a terrible father."
She smiled.
"You will do it. Adrien cannot be angry all his life and you cannot continue blaming yourself for what happened all the time." She took his face with both hands and force him to look at him. "That is in the past, remember."
The next night, Adrien left alone telling Nathalie where he would go. She gave him the approval and he left.
He went to Marinette's balcony, where she was designing since it was a bit hot that day.
"Princess. Good evening" He bowed, still standing on the balcony.
"Kitty?"
"I would like to stay here with you, may I?" he said shyly.
"Come here" He leaned back with her on the balcony chair. She stroked her hair making it purr at ease.
Some hours later, Gabriel walked into his son's room and realized he hadn't returned yet. He was sure he was in his girlfriend's home.
He knew he didn't deserve his forgiveness.
"You just have to give him time. You know how temperamental he can be" Nathalie said, leaning against the doorway.
Gabriel walked in with long steps and sat on the couch.
"I don't have the right to look up for him after what I did to him."
Nathalie walked in and sat next to him. With her thumbs, she pressed right where she knew he was always tense.
Gabriel removed his glasses and massaged the bridge of his nose. He felt the tension throughout his body.
"Come on, I'll fix you a hot bath, it'll make you feel better" Nathalie rubbed the small of his back a little and then took his hand, helping him up.
They went into Gabriel's private bathroom and she turned on the hot water. He, with his robe already on, sat on the toilet bowl while they waited. She tested the water with her hand.
"Ready Gabriel." Give me your robe" Nathalie extended her hand.
He smiled at her a little mischievously. Nathalie could only roll her eyes, amused.
"Come on, I don't have all night."
He laughed at ease. She took the robe from her and hung it on the hanger. She set his slippers by the door. Gabriel stepped into the tub.
"Now what will you do?"
"I'm going to rest. I'll be back in a shortly" She turned to leave, but something stopped her.
Gabriel wrapped his arms around her waist and held her tightly. With a slight movement, he made her fall into the tub next to him with clothes and all.
"Gabe..."
"I know, I know… I was just having fun."
Nathalie felt her clothes stick to her body. Wearing her favorite white blouse wasn't such a good idea after all.
She didn't know how uncomfortable and yet exciting that they were in such an intimate situation.
"And now my clothes are soaked thanks to you." Nathalie showed her sleeve It was dripping water.
"You can leave it to dry on the door. For now, you can relax here with me" he whispered in her ear, sending shivers down her spine. He hugged her underwater. She returned the hug. They stayed like this for a while until they heard a knock on the door. Nathalie got up quickly for Gabriel to get out of the tub and put on his bathrobe.
When they opened the door, Adrien was already there. He saw how soaked Nathalie was and her father beside her.
"It's not what you think" Gabriel said.
Adrien only covered his eyes with one hand.
"I don't even want to think what you were doing. I was only looking for you because I wanted you to know that I won't be home tomorrow. I will help Marinette's parents with the bakery and I may go away for half a day."
"It's okay Adrien, you can go" Gabriel said. Adrien didn't say anything. Before retiring he said goodbye to Nathalie.
"Good night, Nathalie."
Gabriel showed a sad face.
"He doesn't even say goodnight to me anymore."
"Oh, Gabriel" She placed one of her hands on his cheek. "Everything will work out, I'm sure of it."
That same weekend, Gabriel went to wish Adrien good night. He was carrying something that he had been preparing for days and was waiting for the right moment to deliver it to Adrien. Gabriel took the opportunity to enter the room. He knocked on the door alerting Adrien, who was fixing his things.
"Adrien, can I come in?"
"Yes, father" Adrien said, sitting on his bed. Gabriel stepped in front of him.
"Adrien I'm sorry for everything that happened, I know with words I can't fix anything I did and I can't go back in time to avoid everything."
Adrien just looked at him seriously.
"I know father."
Gabriel extended the gift he was holding in his hands.
"Take this as a sign of peace. Nathalie already told me that you didn't have a birthday present from me, so I decided to make you one."
Adrien stared at the box.
"Better late than never."
Adrien received the gift in his hands. He removed the lid of the box, finding a jacket. He pulled it out and admired it. It was very different from what he normally wore in his fashion shows.
Examining it, he saw how detailed it was. It had several internal pockets, but he was particularly struck by the design behind it. It was the embroidery in the shape of a cat with a phosphorescent green color. The texture of the jacket was also quite good.
Gabriel noticed how his son's face lit up as he examined the jacket.
"Thank you, father."
At least that was a good start. For Adrien this was the first time that his father had been so considerate with his gifts.
I was going to publish this yesterday but I couldn't lol. Take this chapter as a christmas present XD.