Chapter 1: Pure Bliss

It was the happiest time he had ever known, and his surroundings were the most beautiful he had ever seen. Adrian Monk might have been 53 years old, but as far as he was concerned, it was springtime again. Blissful warmth had replaced the long years of desolate winter. Sometimes he was tempted to pinch himself to make sure that everything was real. No longer did he have to conjure up memories or dream of ghostly apparitions to cocoon himself in a superficial state of contentment. His eyes were solely turned towards the future. That future was walking along the beach as he lounged underneath what his wife had fondly labeled as "their tree."

Few would believe it if they saw it, a bare-chested detective, tanned and wearing sunglasses, lying beneath a shade tree on a blanket as he watched his beautiful wife walk along the beach. His new bride was slim, golden, her slender form graceful as she stood there in her teal bikini, a matching sarong around her hips. She was wearing a wide-brim hat and sunglasses as the water lapped at her bare feet.

It was the last day of their trip, but as far as Adrian was concerned, the honeymoon would never be over. Slowly, with Natalie's encouragement, he had conquered things he never thought he could.

"It's not that you can't swim, but that you don't swim, Adrian," his wife had gently chided. "You can't tell me that you don't know how to swim- I happen to know that it was required training at the academy!"

"But Natalie, in the ocean?"

"Says the man who threw himself into the Bay to complete an elaborate scheme to fake his own death. Look how blue and clear the water is, Adrian. Much cleaner and clearer than anything back home!"

She had put her arms around him, and smiled that seductive smile of hers. Of course he had relented. In the end, the most overwhelming thing on his mind was the nearness of his wife as they frolicked in the water, her scantily clad form wet and enticing.

They had spent two idyllic weeks together, completely alone. No commitments, no crime scenes, no 4 AM phone calls from Captain Stottlemeyer. They took turns cooking for each other, and doing anything they wanted, whether it was dozing together in the middle of the afternoon, dancing together to soft music, and talking and laughing into the night.

Natalie turned around and started to walk towards her husband. He was wearing sunglasses, but she could sense his dark eyes trained on her, never missing anything. Her breath caught as she looked at him, bare-chested and unbelievably handsome to her. He had the barest trace of grey at his temples and he was absolutely clueless about how sexy it was. He often shook his head, confounded, but was learning to accept how she saw him. She removed her hat and Adrian extended his hand out to her in invitation. She laid down on the blanket, and removed her sunglasses and smiled softly at her husband. "Hi, baby."

Adrian stretched out on his side next to Natalie and laid down next to his wife. He raised his sunglasses to peer affectionately at her. "I'm glad we're the only ones here."

Natalie flashed him her blinding smile. "A sentiment I don't disagree with, but what is your reasoning today?"

"Just the fact that I wouldn't want any other man to watch you as I was watching you just now. I get possessive enough when they look at you fully clothed," he replied.

"Well, I would just have to tell them that I'm a married woman and that lesser men need not apply." Her flirtatious smile grew serious as she recalled what she had been thinking about earlier.

"Natalie, what is it?"

"There is something I wanted to ask you about. Now that we're married, I wanted to ask you if you're serious about what you had said before we were married."

"After eight years, you know I'm not exactly the joking type. What is it?"

"A baby."

Adrian smiled softly at his wife, "So that's what you were thinking about out there."

"I couldn't keep a secret from the great Adrian Monk if I tried," Natalie sighed. "But as it stands, I don't want to. You said we could try for a baby when I was ready, and I wanted to know if you still feel that way."

"Absolutely. Is this what you really want?"

"You have no idea how powerful the pull is, Adrian. I'm already a mother, I know what it's like to carry a child, and I always wanted more children. But Mitch was killed, and those plans were put on hold, and might have remained on hold forever, if not for you. I want it...I want it so badly, to carry your child, to watch you put your hand on my belly and see the expression on your face when you feel it kick for the first time." Natalie turned over to face him, and ran her fingers through his dark hair.

"I already told you, Natalie. I want the same things you want. I just didn't want to push you into something you weren't ready for."

Her face lit up. "Then we're in agreement? I can toss the Tic-Tacs?"

Adrian huffed in mock protest. "Between you and Julie, I'm never going to live that down, am I?" But then his face melted, "By all means, toss the Tic-Tacs."

Natalie gave him her most innocent smile. "But Mr. Monk, what will my husband say?"

"Your husband," he replied, "isn't going to say anything." He gently rolled her onto her back and then playfully straddled her. "What he's going to do is give this baby-making business a practice run. I love you, beautiful. Let me show you how much."

Natalie slid her hands up her husband's chest. "Be still my heart."

"Not if I have anything to do with it," he quipped, as he bent down to kiss her.

It was with no small reluctance that they returned to San Francisco. Especially Natalie. From the beginning, Adrian had surprised her with his hidden sensuality. Just when she thought things couldn't become more intense between them, they were married. Their wedding night was both a shock and a delight as he showed her the true extent of his sexual desires. Being completely alone for their honeymoon had utterly relaxed him and in that private paradise, she reveled in his total lack of inhibitions.

But home was home, and their consultant work awaited them, and they were going to start looking for a new house. So they were both pleased to see Leland Stottlemeyer, waiting to pick them up from the airport.

Stottlemeyer smiled broadly as he watched them approach. In the past, people had made glib assumptions about the two of them being married. Now anyone who paid attention would notice they were newlyweds.

"Welcome home! How did you do on the plane, Monk?"

Monk shifted his shoulders a bit. "I still don't like flying. Claustrophobic, germ-ridden, stale air...but it was worth it." He smiled fondly at his wife.

Leland clapped his friend on the shoulder. "I think that sounds pretty reasonable, Monk. Let's get you guys home."