AN: Chapter prompt: Valentine's Day. One chapter to go after this one.

Chapter Nine: Expression

"So, how long have you been planning all of this?" Nathalie asked as she and Adrien broke apart.

"Not that long, actually; only a few days. It was such a rush to get everything done."

"And faking your father's handwriting?" She raised an eyebrow at him.

"Well, I figured if it was signed as him, that would be a licence for you to mention it to him, and then of course he'd say he hadn't sent it. But if it was anonymous, then even if you said something to him, you might think he was just denying it even though he had sent it. So I had to make you think it was from him in some other way. Um … what gave away the fact that it was forged?"

"The ends of the Xs weren't curled."

"Oh."

"But you should tell Marinette that it was very impressive work."

"I will." Adrien glanced around in the direction of Gabriel's voice. "Excuse me a moment, Nathalie; I have to … tell Father something."

"They're very impressive, Mr Agreste."

"Thank you."

Jagged took out a gift bag, placed the items carefully in it, and then held it out to Gabriel. "For you."

"Excuse me?"

"To give to Nathalie," Jagged said with a mischievous smile.

"Wh-what?" Gabriel stammered, completely taken aback. "What are you talking about?"

"Adrien!" Jagged called. "He needs an explanation!"

Adrien had obviously been listening at the door, for he entered immediately.

"It's like this, Father. I knew you wouldn't have time to get Nathalie a Valentine's Day present, so we … arranged this."

"I … don't understand," Gabriel said slowly.

"Marinette told you to design from the heart," Adrien said patiently. "Take a good long look at what you made, Father."

Gabriel took the items out of the bag with trembling hands, and did as Adrien instructed.

"Oh," he finally whispered.

How in the world had he not noticed? When he was staring at his sketches; when he was creating them?

He looked back up at Jagged and Adrien's identical knowing grins. "See?" Adrien said.

Gabriel could only nod.

Adrien poked his head around the door. "I've got to go to school. See you later, Nathalie."

"Have a good day, Adrien," she said.

"You and Father too." He winked. "Oh, and don't even think about not coming to the party tonight. I don't care what he has to reschedule; you're both coming. Bye!"

He had gone before she could reply.

A few moments later, Gabriel came back in, looking slightly in shock.

"Is everything alright?" Nathalie asked, lowering her cup in concern. "Did Mr Stone like it?"

"Er …" For some reason, he blushed. "It's a bit … complicated … you know what; forget that for a moment." He approached her, took a red gift bag from behind his back and placed it on the table. "Um … happy Valentine's Day?"

Nathalie blinked up at him, very confused. "Didn't we already do this?"

"Open it."

Overcome with curiosity, she did so, and took out … a pair of scarves.

In a flash she remembered Gabriel's words a few days ago. Jagged Stone wants a pair of 'his and hers' scarves for a Valentine's present. But apart from the colour scheme, which wasn't too far off what the rock star might wear, these didn't seem like his style at all.

They were beautiful. Nathalie spread them out over a clear section of the table. The material was incredibly soft, the colours bold. The embroidery was intricate and weaved back and forth across the two individual scarves.

One of the scarves was midnight blue, the embroidery magenta. The other was a rich purple, the embroidery creamy white. Both were accented in silver. And the pattern—when Nathalie looked more carefully, her heart leapt. The interlinked hearts were interspersed with what, on closer inspection, looked like abstract butterfly and peacock designs.

"I … I don't understand …?"

"Apparently the object of the exercise was to prompt me into designing something for you," Gabriel said, his mouth quirking a little. "It's astonishing what the subconscious comes up with when told to design from the heart."

Nathalie was completely speechless.

"You … do like them?" he asked, now sounding a little worried.

"Gabriel, they're beautiful," she half-whispered. "But … aren't you worried about these?"

"About what?"

"The butterflies and peacocks," she said, pointing them out, and his eyebrows rose. "Especially in conjunction with the colour purple."

"I—I didn't even see those," he exclaimed, looking closer.

"You didn't?"

"No—I only saw the colours I had chosen." He glanced up at the magenta streak in her hair, then back down. "The design is very subtle. I don't think anyone would see it unless they knew something. As for the purple—well, you're the one that told me wearing purple brings out the violet hint in my eyes."

Nathalie smiled, picked up the purple scarf, and tenderly wrapped it around his neck. "It does."

He picked up the blue one, and repeated the action on her, then drew her close and kissed her deeply.

Nooroo's paws were aching, he'd had them clamped over Duusu's mouth for so long. They had both waited for this for months; the last thing either of them wanted now was her emotional happy crying to spoil the mood.

It worked even better than I hoped, he thought happily as he watched their two owners gazing adoringly into each other's eyes.

Eventually, however, Gabriel noticed the pair of them tucked away in a corner of the room. Nooroo sent him a sheepish grin.

"You two have been suspiciously quiet since yesterday," Gabriel commented, and Nathalie looked around at them.

In response, Nooroo let the other Kwami go.

"YEEEEEEESSSSSS!" Duusu squealed, rocketing around the room several times before dive-bombing Nathalie with a hug, the force of which almost knocked her over. Nathalie smiled and petted Duusu as she loudly sobbed ecstatic tears.

"She's trying to say we're both very happy for you," Nooroo translated.

"I gathered that," Gabriel said drily.

"Did the pair of you have something to do with this?" Nathalie asked, eyebrows raised.

"Us?" Nooroo said innocently. "How could we have? We were forbidden from letting Adrien see or hear us."

But not from writing him letters, he thought smugly.

"So … what exactly are you doing?" Gabriel asked as he watched Nathalie arranging piles of cushions and assorted blankets from all over the house.

"You're the creative genius; can't you guess?"

"I have absolutely no idea. But I am enjoying watching you."

She blushed. "You could offer to help."

"I would be happy to, if I had any idea what you were doing."

Nathalie tossed a cushion to him and he caught it. "It's Valentine's Day."

"I know that."

"Traditionally, couples do something special together on Valentine's Day. Especially their first one together."

"Yes …"

"And, well, since you're more comfortable staying in, I thought we should make staying in a bit more special."

"And … it involves cushions and blankets?"

"It does."

As Nathalie moved on from simply sorting materials to actually building, Gabriel cottoned on, and eagerly assisted. Within a short time, the pair of them had built a large pillow fort in the middle of the living-room.

"I used to do this so much as a child," Gabriel said as he strung fairy lights up inside.

"I would never have guessed," Nathalie teased lightly. "I did it a lot as well." She paused. "I don't think Adrien ever has, though."

"The three of us should one day," Gabriel said, as if he had read her mind.

"Definitely. But for today, it's just for us."

A wicked grin spread across Nathalie's face, unnerving Gabriel, and his jaw dropped as she arranged her Scrabble letters.

"Quartzy," she said proudly. "One hundred and sixty-four points to me."

"How many?" Gabriel gasped.

"Feel free to check my maths."

"Is that even a word?"

"Check the dictionary."

He checked both, and groaned. "You are far too good at this game."

"And you're far too good at Trivial Pursuit."

"Good point. I'll stop complaining." Gabriel counted up what was on the board. "I think all the high-scoring tiles have been used."

"Do you give up?"

"Never. I can beat the odds … somehow."

Nathalie chuckled fondly. "I love that you think you stand a chance."

After a seven-hour day of answering endless questions about the previous night posed by everyone who hadn't been there, Adrien returned home to find the living-room curtains closed.

Odd, he thought.

The door was open, and the main lights were off, but he saw some sort of glow. Stepping inside, a smile broke over his face.

A very large, well-made fort had been constructed out of blankets. Judging from the inside glow, the interior was hung with fairy lights. More were strung around the room outside, and the mantlepiece was lined with candles, some of which had gone out. In front of the fireplace was arranged all the bouquets he had sent Nathalie.

"Anyone at home?" Adrien asked, and received silence in return. He and Gorilla glanced at each other, and he moved around the side of the fort to see inside.

Gabriel was sprawled over a mass of cushions, sound asleep, with a blanket tucked around him. Nathalie lay next to him, her head on his chest and her eyes closed. Around them were half a dozen board games, two mostly-empty pizza boxes, an empty wine bottle and two used glasses, an empty macaroon box and a half-empty chocolates box.

"Aww. Seems a shame to wake them," Adrien whispered, and Gorilla nodded.

Nathalie stirred at the sound of his voice. Adrien checked his watch. He could leave them to snooze a bit longer; the party wasn't for another couple of hours.

It wasn't surprising Gabriel had fallen asleep, after having been working all night, but Nathalie was surprised she had dozed off as well. She had just felt so at peace lying there watching him slumber.

She stretched her limbs a little, being careful not to jostle him, and stifled a yawn.

"Knock, knock."

Nathalie jumped and looked up. Adrien waved at her from outside the fort.

"How long have you been standing there?" she mumbled, rubbing her eyes.

"Just a few seconds. Though I looked in on you two when I got home from school a while ago. Also I took a photo, because you looked so sweet like that."

Nathalie felt herself blush. "What's the time?"

"Time to wake up, because you can't go to the party dressed like that."

Party? Oh, that party. Nathalie looked down at her favourite jeans and sweatshirt. "Point taken. Gabriel?" She placed a hand on his shoulder and gently shook him. "Wake up."

"Hmm …"

"Time to wake up, dear." The 'dear' slipped out as easily as if she had been saying it for years.

"Five more minutes," Gabriel mumbled, attempting to turn over and tumbling off the cushions. "Ouch." He opened bleary eyes. "Nathalie?"

"It's me." She planted a small kiss on his lips, and he instantly looked more awake. "Time to get ready for the party, Gabriel."

"Er … party?"

"The one at his school."

"Oh … that party." Gabriel sat up slowly. "I'm not sure I'm awake enough."

"You're going," Adrien said firmly, folding his arms.

"Adrien? Where did you come from?"

"School. A while ago now. Anyway, you two are expected there."

"Right." Gabriel yawned. "I think I need a coffee first."

"I'll get you one. Nathalie?"

"Yes please, Adrien. That's sweet of you."

"I think I'd better make Father's extra strong."

"Probably a good idea," Gabriel agreed.

TBC …