I know you love Gabenath, so how do you feel about Nathalie and Adrien only having a snugly relationship after Gabriel died? Some of their scenes together look sweet, but it feels like Too Little, Too Late for me.
I don't really see it that way. I think the setting is perfect. We saw Nathalie at times holding back in S1-S2 on Gabriel's decision making over Adrien (to which she tries to guide Gabriel into making the right decisions, like sending Adrien to school, which is something Adrien wanted). Also it always seemed to me that Nathalie didn't wanted to get too attached with Adrien on the very first seasons.
S3-S4 is more about on how Nathalie and Adrien started getting closer as Adrien sees Nathalie is getting sick just like his mother had before her, and him realizing that Nathalie has done a lot of things for him ever since his mother is gone.
Nathalie finally decides to stand up fully for Adrien in S5. Even if Nathalie doubts herself about how important she is in Adrien's life now in S6, (something that is quite normal as she isn't Adrien's biological mother.) I think it makes sense with the setting we got from previous seasons.
I really love the writers are touching upon this topic.
S6 seem like Nathalie is warming more to her new role as Adrien official caretaker and mother as he is an orphan now. She and Adrien becoming even more close its important as Adrien is on the grieving stage. He needs as much of emotional help as he can and Nathalie is the adult who can provide that.
It also makes Gabriel's sacrifice not to be in vain, as he gave his life for Nathalie, so Adrien didn't end up alone.