One shots

After Reunion

"I'm sorry!", Gabriel said, after opening the door to Nathalie's room.

He had just failed, as so many times before, to get his hands on a miraculous, this time the one, he would be able to travel back in time with and safe not just Emilie any more, but himself and Nathalie too.

"Mh!", was all she replied and he was about to shut the door, when he heard her say, "would you come here for a moment?"

Hesitating for a few seconds, the infirm man inhaled deeply, then turned around and made the few steps to her bedside, quickly sitting down on the edge of the mattress, his hand on top of the duvet, almost touching hers.

"Don't look so sad, Gabriel! You did your best and it was a good plan. Just come to bed and don't feel so bad any longer, okay? I promise you one thing! I won't give up until I found a way to save at least one of us to stay with Adrien! I won't even mind, dying while I do. But there is no way, to weigh any more sorrow on his little heart! I need you to promise me the same, Gabriel! I've always seen him as a son too and Emilie asked me to care for him like a mother! So please....", Nathalie was interrupted by a severe coughing fit.

Rushing to hold her, Gabriel quickly scooted up on the mattress and pulled her into a upright position to ease her breathing.

"Thank you!", she croaked and leaned weakly against his chest.

"Don't!", he spat angrily, "it's my fault after all, that you're feeling so miserable!", his voice grew calm again, as he asked, "is there anything I can do or get you? Do you want something from the kitchen maybe?Just tell me!"

Nathalie smiled and shook her head.

"I'm fine, thank you. The only thing, you 'could' do would be...", her cheeks suddenly had a slight blush to them and she didn't finish that sentence.

The man's expression softened, when he encouraged her:

"Just tell me, dear. What can I do to make you feel better?"

She sighed, then muttered:

"The very same, you did last night! Just stay with me, so we both won't be alone. If you would want to, of course!"

Gabriel smiled at her lovingly now and whispered:

"So I heard you right, when you told me to come to bed just before?"

She didn't answer, just scooted a little bit to the other side of the bed, to make room for him and nodded.

"I just go and take a quick shower and get into my pyjama. Are you sure, I can't bring you anything?"

"Very. Just have a look at your son on your way, that would be very kind. I was about to do that, but if you went there, I wouldn't have to get up again. He has been a little love sick lately, so please, try and say something nice to him!", the younger woman pleaded.

He was already about to get angry and yell at her, when he looked into the female's face and couldn't. He swallowed heavily, then nodded.

"You're right, I have been rather cold towards him, since Emilie.....", he closed his eyes and took a deep breath, then spoke out something, that had been on his mind for quite some time now:

"I never understood that special bond, you and her had. I mean, I cheated on my wife with you, even got you pregnant, yet neither you nor her ever acted like rivals or jealous, you just went on to be friends. Maybe you can make me understand, when I get back in a couple of minutes. That would be very nice and we had something to talk about, other than...."

"Than the child we lost back then?", she said with a bitter tone and he just squeezed her hand shortly, before he got up and muttered:

"I'll be right back!"

When he returned about twenty minutes later, Nathalie had switched of her computer already and had dimmed the lights, only the small lamp on her nightstand giving a little light for her to read.

"How's Adrien?", she asked, when he stepped into the room.

"Fast asleep already. I tucked him in properly anyway, because he had kicked the duvet off of the bed!", he told her with a light smile, remembering how he had done that himself, when he was a child. And how Nathalie had still been doing that, when they were in Tibet, searching for the miraculous' and they had spent quite some nights with each other.

"What had you smiling like that, Gabriel?", she asked curiously.

He told her, what he had just remembered, then questioned:

"When did you stop doing that?"

Nathalie chuckled, then told him:

"To be completely honest, I still do that. At least in those nights, I have enough strength to move my legs. But just lie down now, I really need to get comfortable, because right now, they're hurting like hell."

She could see his mood drop, as she spoke about the pain, he could've stopped, if he hadn't screwed up big time. Trying to not let her notice, he quickly lifted up the duvet and slipped underneath, placing himself beside her, as she was still lying on her back, asking:

"Are you okay with me, laying an arm around you? Or would you rather get into a different position first? Do you need help for it?"

His sudden vigilance made her smile, despite knowing, that it was his guilt, which made him talk like that. Still, it made her feel loved and cared for.

"Would you mind, if I turned towards you? I mean, I... well, I always liked smelling you, when you held me in your arms. If it makes you uncomfortable, then...."

"It's fine!", he interrupted her, "just come here!"

He had turned towards her, one arm underneath his head, while he held out the other, gesturing the woman to come closer.

She did, slowly, making it very visible to him, that she really was hurting. Eventually Nathalie had found a good position and sighed, when she felt his arm around her waist and his hand, gently stroking the small of her back.

"I'm so sorry, love. Just try to sleep, you can tell me about your special bond with Emilie another time!"

Looking up at him shortly, she opened her mouth to object, but he just shook his head to then press his lips firmly onto hers.

"Sleep well, Nath! I can tell, that you're exhausted!" he cooed after that and hugged her a little tighter.