This is a songfic for "Never Say Never" by The Fray. It'll a little OOC, and this chapter is only half of the song... The next, if you want me to continue, will be the other half. Oh, and it was supposed to be in the Romantic genre between Natalie and Monk... but it just didn't work. Sad.

Enjoy, mon cheries.

Natalie POV.

It was completely random, out of the blue, when he'd said it.

"You never talk about Mitch."

I, alarmed, looked up from the ironing board I'd been using.

There's some things we don't talk about
Rather do without
And just hold the smile

"Of course I talk about Mitch," I said, as if Mr. Monk were being absurd. I bit my lip, and looked down at the skirt I was ironing. I tried to remember the last time I'd actually honestly talked about Mitch. How long had it been? Some things were better left unsaid, pain was better unremembered.

I took a deep breath, and set aside the hot iron, and looked up at Mr. Monk. "How about some lunch?" I asked, smiling.

Mr. Monk frowned as I hung the skirt neatly on the back of my sofa, and walked into the kitchen. I heard his footsteps falling in behind me.

"Honestly, Natalie," he said, standing beside me at the refrigerator. "Don't you still love him?"

Falling in and out of love
Ashamed and proud of
Together all the while

Normally, I probably would have chided Mr. Monk for asking personal questions like that. Anything else, he could ask, and I would be fine with it… but why this? Why now?

"Mr. Monk," I said, opening the fridge, "I… I do still love him." I stood idly in front of the opened doors. "But… but he's gone. He's dead." I faced Mr. Monk. "And it still hurts," I whispered. Tears suddenly sprung behind my eyes. "Crap," I muttered, turning away, leaving the doors open, and Mr. Monk silent.

I pressed the backs of my hands on my closed eyes. I wondered how Mr. Monk could do it; he always talked about Trudy, and as emotional as he got, it seemed simple to him… like he could talk about her like she was still a part of him and his daily life.

I felt Mr. Monk's hand on my back. "Natalie," he said softly. "You don't have to be embarrassed to admit that you still love him, even if he is gone, even if you think you shouldn't." I sniffed, trying to control my tears. "Something I've learned, as unfortunate and ridiculous my experiences have been, is that you'll always have the person you love with you. Dead or not." He snorted. "Like I could give the right advice here."

And he let his hand fall, and walked away.

I turned to face him, but he was standing in the living room doorway, his back to me.

You can never say never
Why we don't know when
Time and time again
Younger now than we were before

"Everyone tells me to move on," he said softly; I had to strain to hear his low voice. "But she was my wife." I realized that he was talking about Trudy after a moment. He turned to face me. "I love her." At that moment, I felt as if Mr. Monk and I could honestly relate.

"Oh, Mr. Monk," I said. "I know just how you feel." Mr. Monk looked sad, broken. His head twitched to the side, his shoulder rolling upward- a look I'd learned either meant that he wanted to do something, but simply wouldn't allow himself, or that he was uncomfortable.

"Have you?"

"Have I what, Mr. Monk?"

He looked at me, an unreadable expression on his face. "Moved on? From when Mitch died?"

I bit my lip. "There is only so far a person can move on, Mr. Monk." I knew he understood completely. "He was my husband," I said.

"You love him still," Mr. Monk said simply.

I swallowed. "I do."

There was a long pause. "You haven't moved one."

I shrugged. He was acting... weird. "You've seen me go on dates, Mr. Monk."

"But you haven't moved on."

I frowned. "Why are you so set on this?" I smiled slightly, only to show him my tone wasn't meant as harsh. "How do you know I haven't moved on, Mr. Monk?" I walk toward him, and lean against the opposite door frame, facing him still.

"You would've found someone. And stayed with them."

"Are you saying that I've never found someone worth staying with, Mr. Monk?" I asked. I furrowed my brows. "Never say never. I have Julie. And I have you."

He laughed. "Me? Don't be silly." He looked down at his nails, but I could tell that he was blushing.

"No, Mr. Monk. Really." I smiled, and shrugged. "You're my best friend. I love knowing you're here." He looked up, and he smiled a rare Monk Smile.

I laughed and threw my arms open. "Come on!" I said. He took a breath in, and almost hesitated. And then he hugged me.

Don't let me go
Don't let me go
Don't let me goFor years, I'd had that emptiness inside of me, but it was only at that moment had I realized that my friendship, aside from working for him, with Mr. Monk filled me. I'd felt myself smile widely when his arms wrapped around me.

He laid cheek on my head, and that was when I realized, I'd done something to fill him too.

I didn't ever want to let go.

So, I know it's OOC, but it's impossible to get Monk's true character written down.

Should I finish? or was this simply horrible? haha.

Comments equal love.

-Rosie.