Chapter 10: You're My Answer

Natalie stepped out of the bathroom to find Adrian standing next to the mantle. She loved seeing him in charcoal grey. The tailoring was excellent and he had chosen a slate blue shirt and coordinating tie. It reminded her a bit of what he had been wearing on their first night together. Then his eyes swept down her figure and back up to her face. He couldn't look at her that way without the blast of sexual attraction that made her entire body tingle.

She was dressed in royal blue. It was his favorite color on her because it made her eyes even more beautiful than ever. The neckline was simple and had tiny straps. There was a row of small, iridescent stones that went all the way around underneath her bustline. A soft flowing skirt that came just above the knees and heels that showed off the most beautiful pair of legs he had ever beheld. It didn't matter if she was growing her hair out or had it almost pixie short- she always looked beautiful to him. But the soft waves that framed her face tonight had always been his favorite. She had an irresistible combination of class and sex appeal and he wanted to kiss her beautiful bare shoulders.

"You're so beautiful, Natalie," he beamed. I'll be the luckiest guy in the entire room. You look perfect."

"Well, there's only one thing left. I need you to zip me up."

She turned over as he walked over to her. He placed his hand on the small of her back and slowly slid it upwards as he zipped up her dress.

"God, Adrian, I've told you I can't think straight when you do that to me."

"Then we're even, because I can't think straight with you looking that gorgeous. He leaned over and whispered in her ear. "I have no idea how I'm going to keep my hands off of you."

Catching her breath, Natalie straightened her back. "You're going to have to! Won't it be that much better when we get back if we wait?"

Adrian walked back over to the antique mantle. "Did I say that? There are limits to a man's control, you know," he teased. "But we're not quite ready to go yet."

"We're not? Why?"

"Here's the thing. You can't go until I give you this." He picked up a small jeweler's box on the mantle and walked over to her and opened it. It was a diamond infinity pendant, with ten perfect diamonds.

Natalie gasped. "It's beautiful. Put it on me."

He removed it from the box and fastened the white gold chain around Natalie's neck. Then he couldn't resist his initial impulse. He breathed in the scent of her hair and then kissed her on one of her bare shoulders. "I love you, Natalie. Forever."

Leland Stottlemeyer's voice echoed in her head, "Once that man loves, it's forever." Natalie's heart burst with love. She was making the right choice. She would spend the rest of her life being the center of this man's universe, and they would share everything from work...to love and a life together, maybe even a child. She wanted to put all doubts out of his head that very moment, but she had her own plans for tonight. If she spilled it now, they would probably wind up in a heap on the floor and be late. She couldn't allow that to happen.

When Monk and Natalie arrived at the theater, Peggy and Bobby Davenport were waiting for their daughter. Peggy's eyes narrowed as she saw her daughter arrive on the arm of her boss. Then she kind of shook her head. That was nothing new. He had been at Natalie's side for years, and besides, he was a man obsessed with his dead wife.

Natalie spied her parents and saw them walking towards her. Her father hugged her, "You look so lovely tonight, honey."

"Well, I couldn't exactly embarrass Julie by showing up looking frumpy." Natalie favored her father with an affectionate smile. Even if her mother made her teeth itch most of the time, she knew her dad loved her.

Peggy embraced her daughter and said, "Yes, you look very nice, especially on a secretary's salary."

"Partner, Mrs. Davenport. Natalie was never my secretary and I haven't needed an assistant in over three years. However, Natalie is still indispensable to our consultant work," corrected Adrian.

Peggy stared at Adrian Monk. Perusing his attire, she thought that he had gained taste, a suntan, and a backbone at that. Still, Natalie wouldn't have to play junior detective forever, especially not once Steven retired from the Navy.

"Natalie, dear...I want to show you something." Peggy pulled her aside and pulled a wedding invitation out of her handbag. "What do you think? We can send them out next week."

There was no way that Natalie was going to get into the subject of her personal life with her mother, not tonight, not in this public place. But as she looked at the wedding invitation, she smiled in real pleasure. "Mind if I keep this one, Mom? I think it's perfect." Natalie secured it in her own purse.

Thankfully, Natalie and Adrian weren't sitting near her parents. So Adrian held Natalie's hand when they sat down, waiting for the curtain to rise.

Soon it did, and the music began and the stage was filled with people in breathtaking period costume, including Julie. She was resplendent in her white dress with the large brim hat. Her hair was pinned up ornately in the style of the period and she was wearing a cameo at her throat. During the prologue, Julie introduced her character.

The house on the hill in New Rochelle was Mother's

domain. She took pleasure in making it comfortable

for the men of her family and often told herself how

fortunate she was to be so protected and provided for

by her husband.

The days were gently tinted lavender-pink, lemon and lime!

As the curtain came down for intermission, Adrian was wiping tears out of the corners of his eyes. "I never could get through most of these without tearing up."

Natalie was genuinely crying and said, "It's a sad story. I always cry when I hear the song before the intermission."

Adrian reached in his pocket and removed his pocket Kleenex. He touched Natalie's face as he dabbed at her eyes.

Feeling a little claustrophobic, Monk tilted his head. "Let's walk around a bit."

Monk waited for Natalie to come out of the ladies room. She had come out and he smiled as she walked towards him. Then he heard a man's obnoxious voice behind him. "Well, if it isn't Captain Cool."

Monk turned around and quietly chuckled. "And it's Peter Sandstone, still the proverbial sand in everyone's knickers."

"Whoa, Captain Cool! When did you get some rocks? My kid's in the ensemble. Why are you here and not to defrost the fridge?"

Natalie heard this exchange and her blood started to boil. She walked over to Adrian and intertwined her fingers with his, making it clear that "Captain Cool" was with her. Sandstone's eyes swept down Natalie's figure and glanced from her to Monk.

Adrian's eyes narrowed and he let go of Natalie's hand. How he looked at Natalie in the privacy of their bedroom was one thing, but for this oaf to ogle her in public was not about to happen. He placed one foot forward and leant towards the rude man. Not even an idiot like Sandstone could mistake Adrian's intent.

"So, you have a son or daughter in the ensemble. As it happens, I am here with the most beautiful woman in the room, and her lovely daughter is playing the role of Mother. I hope you're enjoying the show."

Taking Natalie's hand once more, they walked away together.

Once they had gained some distance, she whispered, "I am so proud of you. That was brilliant, Adrian Monk."

"I really wanted to knock his teeth out. The way he ogled you, it was so disrespectful." Adrian clenched his free hand.

The smile Natalie gave him made him feel like the only other man in the room. Resisting the impulse to kiss her, he instead picked up the pendant at her neckline and merely whispered, "Forever."

Unfortunately, Monk wasn't the only man in the room, and certainly not the only woman. Peggy and Bobby Davenport watched this exchange. Peggy said, "Oh my God, Bobby. She's running around on Albright with that crazy boss of hers, and he looks like he likes it!" She started to walk towards Monk and Natalie but she was stopped by her husband.

Bobby grabbed his wife by the arm. "Peggy, this is Julie's night. I won't have you ruin it by making a scene. But if I were you, I would hold off on the wedding invitations. Any questions you might have for our daughter can wait."

And the show went on...Julie had her showstopper number- Back to Before, where Mother tells her husband that she has changed too much because of the tragedy of Coalhouse and Sarah, and as a result, their marriage has changed as well. Julie's voice soared through the powerful piece and she received nearly deafening applause.

At curtain call, when everyone stepped out to take their bow, Julie was one of the cast that received a standing ovation.

Natalie was in a hurry to whisk her handsome man away, but they did have to track down Julie. "Oh honey," Natalie gushed, "you were just so beautiful in every way. I am so proud of you!"

Julie's eyes grew watery as she returned her mother's embrace. "I love you, Mom!" Then she looked at Monk, who had not forgotten about that morning. Blushing slightly, he hitched his shoulder.

"You were marvelous, Julie. You're beautiful, too. Just like your mom."

Julie hugged him, "I love you, Mr. Monk!"

Then she whispered, "I'm about to do you guys another favor. Grandma and Grandpa on your six...so if you want to make your escape, go right past me!"

Natalie looked at her daughter gratefully, "Thank you, honey! I won't leave Berkeley without coming to tell you goodbye."

With that, Natalie and Adrian dashed past Julie and disappeared before Peggy could try to track them.

They arrived back at the cottage and Monk unlocked it. Impulsively, he swept Natalie in his arms and carried her over the threshold. She laughed as he set her down and pulled her into his arms for a kiss. "Julie wasn't the only one who was great tonight. I loved the way you put my mother in her place. I loved the way you made that jerk feel three inches tall before we walked away. I love you."

Adrian's hands went to the zipper of her dress. "I have been waiting all night to do this."

Natalie giggled, "Who knew you were such a sex fiend? Now, you can unzip it partway. I am going to the bathroom and I'll be out in a few minutes." Monk looked after her, mystified. Then he began to make his own preparations.

Monk loved the way candlelight looked, and even though he was no longer afraid of candles, he didn't like the way they smelled when you blew them out. He went to a shopping bag he had placed behind the chair in the corner and pulled out several LED candles. By the time he was done, the entire room glowed with soft, flickering light. He removed his jacket and tie and unbuttoned the top button. He had actually left off the undershirt because Natalie had whispered to him once that she would love to slowly unbutton his shirt and find his chest to be bare.

Then the bathroom door opened and Natalie stood there in a long, softly sheer confection that was a softer blue than the dress she had been wearing earlier. Even in the candlelight, he could see she wore nothing underneath.

She turned around and said, "What do you think?"

Adrian looked at her and thought she couldn't get more beautiful. "I think I am completely undone by you."

"Hold that thought." Natalie walked over to her purse and pulled out the wedding invitation her mother gave her earlier and showed it to him. "Mother wanted to know what I thought of it. I told her I thought it was perfect."

A pit began to grow in Adrian's stomach. What was she saying?

"What I didn't tell her was what I thought it was perfect for." Natalie took the invitation from Adrian's hands and walked over to the fireplace. Removing the long-handled lighter from the mantle, she lit it on fire and tossed it into the grate. Adrian's eyes never left hers as she walked back towards him. She cradled his face in her hands. "Adrian, I will never put that ring on again. You're my answer. You're my everything, Adrian Monk. Forever."

Something inside of Adrian broke and the tears started to come. He pulled her into his embrace and said, "I've been daring to hope, daring to dream that you would choose me. I don't know if I'll ever get over this miracle." He buried his face in her hair. "My beautiful Natalie, mine..."

She started to cry too and whispered, "Don't ever forget that the fact that you could love again, and love me in return...it's my miracle too."

With that, Adrian Monk picked up the woman he loved, slowly laid her on the bed, and they spent the rest of the night celebrating their miracle, spiraling to heights of new passion and whispered words of love and commitment.