Gabriel Agreste  sits down in his office.  His slave, Natalie enters the room.  He often wonders why she never speaks.  He can tell something is up that troubles her.  What is it?  Why does he even seek to find out anyway?   It is not like he owes her anything.  Yet, he wants to please her!

         "Natalie Sancouer," he says, for that is the young slave girls name.   

        "Yes, sir!"  Natalie says. She feels nervous as she has no idea why he requests her presence at this time. She has been his slave for two years now. She taken away from her family and brought her when she was only seventeen.  Now, she is nineteen!  She is unsure of the age to the man, the boss or owner who has her might be.  Somehow, she is to afraid to ask him. 

        "Oh, so you can talk then!  I was beginning to think perhaps, something took place to make you unable to speak."  Gabriel remarks.

          "No, sir.  I am capable of speech.  It is just my former master was strict.  He would beat me if  spoke out of line."  Natalie says.

         "What?  That is dreadful business indeed! There shall be none of that here, I assure you!"  Gabriel says.

           Natalie finds this situation to be usual indeed.  It is something that makes her rather cautious though as one can never be to careful when it comes to such things.  Besides, she reasons he is still her boss no matter how kind he might be to her.

          "Are you ill?"  Gabriel ask.  He does so hope the answer will be no.  He hates to think he must have done something to cause her health to decline.

        "Not that I am aware of sir."  Natalie answers.

        "Good, glad to hear it."  Gabriel says.

          "Now, about my birthday next week." He says.

         "What about it?"  Natalie says. She dreads the answer.  She is sure it requires something quite distasteful to her.

         "Well, I want you to entertain me.  That is to say, someone else will cook, so you need not worry about it that day. This way you can focus on me."  Gabriel states.

          "Yes, I understand."  Natalie says. She backs away.  She stops suddenly when she recalls that he did not say she could leave yet.  Oh, how she wishes she were with her family once more.  Although by now, her fiance has bound to have forgotten all about her.   It is probably for the best anyway, as she is not so sure he was someone she could ever say that she loves.  

         "Good, glad we are in agreement then!"  Gabriel remarks, as if it were an everyday thing. He laughs when he sees the look she gives him.  He finds her to be someone who amuses him easily. He is not sure when he begin to see her as special. 

          Yet  , Natalie  is indeed unlike any other slave he has ever met before or bought from someone to own.  She is quieter than most.  She does not flirt so much with the guest, or seem to have her eyes on his son. No this one appears to have no clues what she wants.  Somehow, this pleases him just fine.

         "That will be all for now.  You may return to the headquarters."  He flicks his wrist to signal he is ready for her to leave his office.

             Natalie does as he wants.  She is use to this as this is what she was brought her to do.  However, she is still not sure about next week.  What if he ask her to do something she finds to be well uncomfortable to her, or even worse expects her to be his bride?  She blushes at the thought.  

           Next week arrives sooner than anyone thought,and here it is the day she dreads.

          It is Gabriel's birthday and she Natalie must appear before him.  She must wear a blue dress that only falls to her knee caps.  She must not wear a veil, or any shoes. She must do only what he requests of her.  Nothing more, and nothing less. She must not displease him!  She knows not what he will do if she refuses to obey!  She decides she rather not find out either though.  

      Natalie comes into his office. She notices he is rather quiet this time. She thinks, how peculiar?  She begins to wonder if something troubles her master. She approaches him slowly. She hears him stir.  Turns out he was asleep, but her steps towards him have him wide awake now.

       "Hello, Natalie!" Gabriel says simply. He does not bother to call her Miss Sancouer or even Natalie Sancouer, let alone slave girl.  He only uses her first name today.  He can sense she is afraid of him. He reaches out and gently strokes her hand. He does not say another word.

      Natalie stands there. She does not move a muscle. She lets him touch her hand. She turns bright red as no one not even her own father was ever this affectionate towards her. She does not know what to make of it. She remains quiet. 

     "Young woman, do tell me, what brings such sadness to you?"  Gabriel asks kindly.

      "It is just that I have not seen my family in years.  I often wonder what has become of them."  Natalie says.

     "Ah, I see.  Well, you shall be glad to know that your sister is here now.  Unlike you though she is a feisty one.  As in all the others say she makes trouble. She is loud and she is a fighter.  Now, where do you suppose she got those type of skills?"  Gabriel remarks.

   "I have no idea.  I do know she lies.  I have no sister.  I am an only child.  My only sibling was a brother, but he died soon after birth due to health complications.  This is what the  doctors told my parents anyway."  Natalie says.

   "Well, then I am sorry.  I can not help you with your request then."  Gabriel says.

    "What may I do to please you? " Natalie says. She looks away from him.

    "Natalie, since it is my birthday, I tell you what I will let you decide."  Gabriel remarks.

    "Me, but how is that proper?  I am a slave and you the master."  Natalie reminds him.

    "Yes, I am very much aware of that girl."  Gabriel states.

   "Then, how shall I know?  I was only hurt by the other master.  He would try to touch me and I would run from him.  He would beat me.  He would make me so sore.  Once I would pass out, he would abuse me, but in a different sort of way.  It was awful."  Natalie sobs. She closes her eyes. She tries to shut out the horrid memories but finds they still remain.

   "What? You mean to say that he would?  Oh, why the word is so bad, I can not even speak of it."  Gabriel says with a tone that tells how he feels about it.  He shows sympathy for her.  He decides he must keep her from ever being sold again.  How?  He is not sure, but he must.

    "It is not your fault, sir.  This was long before I ever came here."  Natalie says. She gently lays her hand on his back to try to comfort him.

     "I know, but even a slave girl should never have to go through such treatment."  Gabriel remarks.

    Natalie sits down, she is not sure he approves but does so anyway. She sobs. She can not help it!  She to broken not too. She sobs and sobs. 

     Gabriel can not stand it. He can not stand to see her cry.  He does know what has come over him but decides he will protect her even if it cost him his own life.  He will!  He must!  He can not let anyone ever abuse her again.   He reaches over and gently hugs her.  He watches her fall asleep. He places a blanket over her legs and tucks them around her.  He thinks she looks so peaceful when she sleeps at least. He kisses her forehead. He pulls away and shakes his head.

     He makes a call. He smiles.  Well, then, that is that he thinks.  Little does he know the entire situation itself is far from over.  

     Gabriel hears someone storm into his office. He can see it is a young gentleman.  He can see the man has his eye on Natalie.  He gets up and pushes him away.  "Not on my watch you do not," Gabriel says.  He picks her up and carries her to his room. He places her on the sofa next to the bed.  He can only hope when she wakes up she will not think ill of him. He locks the door and closes it behind him.

    Two days later, Gabriel gets down on one knee and pulls out a ring.  Natalie looks at him and thinks, I am not sure about love, but at least he means well.  She smiles and says, "I will!" She says this softly.   

   Gabriel puts the ring on her finger. He removes the shackles from her. "There, since we are to wed you are free!  No longer a slave.  You are more of a un, well almost family. Yeah, that is it."  Gabriel says.

     Natalie nods her head.  "Thank you, sir." She says out of habit.

     "You may call me Gabe now that we are to marry soon!  I am sorry it has to be in  a rush, it just so that no one else may try to ruin everything for us."  Gabriel says.

     Natalie replies, "Yes, I agree, Gabe."  

        Two days later, they wed!  The only witness is a pastor and two other slaves.  Then, she and Gabriel go away for a few days.  

       Natalie is not sure how to act now. She is a wife, yes!  Only, she feels like something is missing. She frowns. 

      "Natalie, what is with you, my dear?  you look like you were made to swallow an entire batch of lemons, or some other stuff you do not like. "  Gabriel remarks.

     "Haha, very funny!  It just that I do not know if you love me."  Natalie says sadly. She looks away not sure if it is proper for a woman to talk to her husband in such away. She so out of custom with such things it troubles her very much.

      "Love?  You mean, you desire to have love?"  Gabriel ask. He gently holds his hand out and strokes her arm slowly.

       "Yes, but I ...I do hope it does not anger you.  I love you!"  Natalie confesses. She still does not look at him. She thinks it might make him feel bad if he does not return her feelings.

        "I love you too!  I  know you might find it hard to believe since I am twenty-one and you are nineteen. Yet, I do love you.  This is why when you told me a little about your past that I felt sorrow for you, my dear." Gabriel confesses. He strokes her arm and kisses her forehead.

       Natalie looks at him. She sees his words are true. She can tell by the way he smiles at her. She can feel it in his voice and in his gentle kiss on her face. She can tell by the kindness, and finally, by the way, his hand touches her arm slow and careful like. She blushes but places her hand in one of his hands. She kisses his other one. She thinks, for now, that is all the affection I can give.

     the end... Gabrielle (Gabriel and Natalie)  one-shot by Summer Cheng