AN: Thank you to all of the people still reading this story, and a special thanks to alex hoodle, Kathy, Monkish, and amanda317 for reviewing, your kind words brightened my week. I posted this the other day and this is just a repost fixing the messed up name. Another chapter should hopefully be up this weekend.

Chapter 14: Exactly how lucky I am

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Tuesday, August 3, 2010, 7:30 A.M.

"Good morning," Adrian mumbled, as he leaned over to his nightstand to turn his alarm off.

"Morning," Natalie murmured back before turning towards him for her morning kiss. Natalie yawned and stretched a little but then tried to snuggle back into Adrian's side for a bit more sleep.

"Sorry I need to get up," Adrian said, "we have to leave for work in an hour, so I have to go start getting ready." Adrian gently extracted himself from the warmth of her. "You sleep a little more I'll get you up in half an hour," he quickly kissed her again before gathering his clothes and heading off to the shower.

They got ready and ate a speedy breakfast before meeting the captain at a restaurant where their latest victim was poisoned. Monk was having trouble figuring the case out, but he knew something didn't add up. They found poison in the fridge in a leftovers container from this restaurant. It was a small restaurant with only six people that could have poisoned the food in the kitchen. But the employees would have had time and opportunity to get rid of the leftovers with the poison. Why didn't they, knowing that it would lead the police back here? It didn't make sense and Monk just knew it wasn't any of them, no one here knew the victim, but then who was it. After sharing his thoughts with the captain, they decided to interview other people again starting with the girlfriend.

The four of them left the restaurant and walked to her car together. On their way, Leland let Dobson go ahead of him, and he watched as Monk took Natalie's hand in his own. Not only were they holding hands, but Monk had initiated it. The captain had been suspicious of the pair for a while and was interested to see what was going on, but right now he had a job to do. Soon the four of them were at the girlfriend's apartment, and Leland kept a close eye on the pair, as they got out of the car, and walked up to join him. But there was nothing suspicious with them now.

/././.

This was painful for Adrian. All he had asked this dolt was if he ate at that restaurant a lot. That was almost five minutes ago, and she was still talking. She was rambling on and on and somehow had yet to answer his simple question or to say anything useful at all. She also was misusing and mispronouncing words and had just said

'suposably' and Adrian couldn't take it. He looked at Captain Stottlemeyer, Lieutenant Dobson, and Natalie to see if they felt the same way he did. He couldn't tell a thing, they either were fine talking to this woman or were being polite. Monk knew there was no way that this woman had poisoned her boyfriend and that she would be no help to them in solving the case.

Adrian wanted to get out of this conversation and move on to something that could be helpful to them, but the girl was still droning on. She had just said 'Jason used to tell me how smart I was.' Adrian coughed slightly and was about to inform this girl how wrong her boyfriend had been when Natalie tapped his arm and shook her head no. Last year he would have ignored Natalie and said what he thought. Now, even if he didn't really understand her reason, I mean really this girl must know she's dumb, he knew to trust Natalie. So, Adrian shut his mouth let Natalie say goodbye for both of them, and they all headed back to the station, back to square one.

The captain pulled into the parking lot, and as he turned to walk into the building, he saw Natalie's car approaching the lot. Just like earlier, he let Mark go ahead as he stopped to observe the pair, but this time he pretended not to be watching, and that was how he saw everything. At this angle, he could see through the passenger window of the car and saw Monks hand was resting on Natalie's thigh. He could see they were deep in conversation and both occupants of the car were smiling. Finally, Natalie leaned over looking like she was about to kiss Monk, but then she saw the captain and just pretended to pick a piece of lint off his shoulder. As if there would be lint on Monk's shoulder that he hadn't noticed.

The captain marched over to the car and wrapped his knuckle on the window. Natalie got out of the car, and the captain stepped back and opened the door for Monk to do the same. "Hey, what's up?" Natalie asked

"See that's what I want to know," Leland tried not to yell, "I want to know what's up with you two. I mean I saw you holding hands, you, Monk, we're holding someone's hand. And now you're touching her leg."

"Well, what does it look like is going on?"

"It looks like you're dating, but I know you're not dating," Leland asked exasperatedly. "So, tell me what is this?"

"We are," Monk said after a beat of silence, "we are dating."

5 minutes earlier inside of Natalie's car:

"Thank you for not saying anything mean to that girl," Natalie said as she drove them back to the station.

"I saw you shake your head no," Adrian said, "I figured it was best to just do what you said."

"I like that policy," Natalie teased. "You should do that more often."

"I do what you say most of the time." Adrian added quietly, "at least I do now."

"I think I'll like having that power," Natalie smiled and nudged Adrian with her elbow to make sure he knew she was teasing, "let's try it out. Let 's see, tell me something nice."

"Okay," Adrian thought for a second trying to think of the perfect, nice thing to tell Natalie, "I am amazed that you were able to tell what I was about to do back there. You're intelligent and intuitive and amazing."

Natalie blushed slightly and smiled dipping her head down ever so slightly, "Thank you, that was very sweet."

Adrian was filled with pride, he liked making Natalie feel good, "anything else I should do?"

"Okay um," Natalie thought for a second, "kiss me."

"Natalie I can't kiss you, you're driving," Adrian looked at his girlfriend like she was insane.

"Well there goes doing whatever I tell you," Natalie kidded.

"I said I do most things you tell me, not all," Adrian clarified, "and it's not like I don't want to kiss you, I just can't while you're driving, it's not safe." Adrian reached his hand over placing it gently on her thigh just below her skirt. He started to slowly move his thumb back and forth over her soft skin, "I can do this."

"I like that," Natalie didn't want to tell Adrian that his hand on her leg was probably more distracting than a kiss on the cheek would have been. "Okay," she said wanting to lighten the mood slightly, "how about another. How about you tell me something funny."

"You know I'm not good at funny."

"You can be," Natalie insisted, "I'll admit you're not the best joke teller. But funny things have happened to you, you've done funny things, you've seen funny things, see if you can think of something."

There was silence in the car for a minute as Natalie continued to drive to the police station and Monk just sat and thought. "Okay, I think I've got it, a couple months ago I was funny, but I wasn't trying to be. I had met with Molly for lunch, you remember how she was sick this spring?" Natalie nodded, and he continued on, "well she was telling me this story about her work, and it was hilarious, I think she gets that from Trudy. Anyway, it was so amusing that we both started to laugh, but then she started to cough and it took a few minutes for her breathing to settle."

"Oh, but that's kind of sad," Natalie said.

"I'm not done," Adrian assured her. "So, when she had started breathing more normally, I asked if she was okay. Molly insisted that she was better she just coughed easily, especially when she would laugh. So, I told her that I would make sure to not be hilarious."

Natalie snorted and chuckled a little picturing Adrian's accidental deadpan delivery.

"Well Molly started to laugh, and then I did because she was laughing, thankfully she calmed down before the coughing started and she explained to me that it was funny in a dry way," Adrian finished. Natalie laughed more at Adrian's explanation and nodded her head. For the rest of the drive every time Natalie pictured it, she would giggle, and Adrian would laugh along with her, one of his purely happy comfortable laughs. After a minute, he looked around and realize that they were at the station. "You know Natalie since the car is parked that whole kissing thing is not as dangerous."

Natalie smiled and leaned over to kiss him, but at the last second pulled back and picked something off his shoulder. Before Adrian could begin to freak out about there being something on his shoulder, there was a knock on the window next to him. He looked up to see the captain there with an odd look on his face that Adrian couldn't quite place.

"Here we go," muttered Natalie as she unbuckled her seatbelt and got out of the car. Leland then stepped back so Monk could get out too.

"Hey what's up?" Adrian heard Natalie ask.

"See that's what I want to know, I want to know what's up with you two. I mean I saw you holding hands, you, Monk, we're holding someone's hand. And now you're touching her leg."

"Well, what does it look like is going on?" Adrian asked him keeping his voice low hoping the captain would do the same.

"It looks like you're dating, but I know you're not dating. So, tell me, what is this?" The captain was not keeping his voice low, he wasn't yelling, but he wasn't quiet.

Adrian and Natalie had talked about this, they had agreed if they were asked directly they would be honest. So, after a pause, he answered once again in a calm, quiet voice. "We are, we are dating."

"I knew it!" The three of them looked up to see Mark only a few feet away, "sorry I just came out to see where you were." He put up his hands in a gesture of surrender.

Monk looked around noticing all the attention they were getting. "Leland, could we talk about this more quietly, or somewhere more private?" The captain was quiet now. He just stood their mouth open. Done. Silent.

"Captain Stottlemeyer?" Natalie asked snapping him out of his daze.

"Oh yeah, why don't we go to my office," the captain muttered and just started to walk ahead of them. The four were silent as they walked into the station, Mark went to his desk, knowing he was not wanted there and the rest of them went into the captain's office. Leland closed the door behind them then lowered the blinds.

"Ok, so I don't know if I heard you wrong or what," Captain Stottlemeyer started.

"How are we supposed to know what you heard?" Adrian asked confused.

"You didn't hear wrong." Natalie reached over and took Adrian's hand in hers, "It's true," she said, "we are together."

"How long has this been going on?" Leland sat back onto the front edge of his desk.

"About five weeks," Natalie said sheepishly. "Sorry, we didn't tell you before."

"I can't believe it," Leland muttered. He looked up at Natalie and Monk holding hands, "But it's you, and you're Monk."

Adrian wasn't offended, "I know sometimes I can't believe it myself," Monk said looking over at Natalie. So, what do you think?"

"I'm surprised."

"But you basically knew it didn't you?" Natalie asked him.

"T.K. told me that she thought you two were together, but I mean it's Monk, I was sure there was another explanation." Leland was quiet for a minute before he asked again, "you're in a relationship with Natalie?"

Monk proudly nodded his head, "I am."

"How do you do it?" Leland shook his head looking at his oldest friend with wonder.

"What?"

"Get women like this?" The captain asked, "first Trudy now Natalie these women are way out of your league."

"I don't know," Monk admitted, "I think that's more a question for you." Adrian squeezed Natalie's hand and turned to face her.

"You wore me down," Natalie smiled to let Adrian and the captain know that she was only kidding.

"So Adrian Monk finally started living his life again," Leland stated. "I honestly thought I would never see this day, but I'm happy for you." Looking at Natalie, he added, "both of you."

"Thank you, Leland," Adrian let go of Natalie's hand momentarily, to shake his friend's hand, and he didn't use a wipe afterward.

"So, is it a secret?" Leland asked, "should I not talk to anyone about it? Because T.K. will kill me if..."

"No, it's not a secret, not really," Natalie explained, "and definitely not now. You can tell anyone you want." Natalie smiled "so you're sure you are really okay with this?"

"Yeah, I mean I'm shocked," Leland admitted, "but if you guys are happy, that's what matters."

"We are," Natalie confirmed, "so I'm going to go check on something in the other room I'll be back in a few minutes okay?"

"What do you have to check in the other room?" Adrian questioned.

Leland let out a heavy sigh, "Monk," he started, "Natalie is giving us time to talk alone together." Natalie blushed, and Leland muttered, "as much as some things change, you never really change Monk."

"That's good because I like you the way you are now," Natalie said leaning up and kissing his cheek. "Now you guys talk for a little bit I'll be back in a few. She squeezed Adrian's hands slightly before letting it go and giving him a nod and walking out.

"So how did this happen?" Leland asked immediately.

"I'm not even sure, it just kind of snuck up on us," Monk said. "I didn't even realize that my feelings for her had changed until Dr. Bell pointed it out."

"What?"

Monk then gave Leland a greatly abbreviated version of what it happened. "Well Monk, I am very happy for you. You really care about her?"

"Very much," Adrian breathed. "She's home to me. When I'm with her, I feel calm, and you know me I never feel calm."

"That's good Monk, just make sure you take good care of her."

"I think I do, I try," Adrian thought about it for a minute, "she tells me I do."

"Good, because I don't know how you got to be so lucky," Leland said, "but that is a special woman, she deserves to be treated well."

"I know," Adrian agreed, "trust me, I know exactly how lucky I am."

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Tuesday, August 3, 2010, 6:52 P.M.

Leland walked into his house to find his wife setting the table for dinner. Walking over he kissed her quickly before saying hello and helping her get dinner on the table.

"So, I got some news at work today," Leland started as he put the basket of bread down.

"Oh, what is it?" TK asked as she started to serve herself.

"Natalie and Monk are dating," Leland told her, "apparently they have been for five weeks."

"Really?" TK asked excitedly, "its official?"

"Yup," Leland said, "I saw them touching and confronted them today, they confirmed it for me."

"So, you know what this means," TK smirked at her husband, "I was right."

Leland let out a sigh, "fine if that is what you need to hear you were right and I was wrong."

"Thank you," TK smiled, "so how are you dealing with this news?"

"Oh, I'm fine," Leland dismissed, "I mean it's good you know, I want them to be happy."

"But…"

"It's weird, seeing them together," Leland admitted, "seeing Monk with someone that isn't Trudy, it just doesn't seem right. Trudy and Monk had that storybook, big romantic love of your life thing. Now if he's moved on maybe they didn't have that after all. It was just nice to believe that existed, you know?"

"I get it," TK said, "at least I think I do. But them dating doesn't mean that he is over Trudy. I think that they did have that great fairytale love. I didn't know Trudy, but with everything I have heard about her, I am sure that she would be happy that Adrian found a person to be with that he found love." TK looked her husband in the eye, "and if that doesn't make you feel any better how about this, I know that great love exists because I have it with you."

"Yeah?"

"You bet." TK kissed her husband with purpose and smiled as she leaned back.

"Am I still allowed to be weirded out by their relationship?" Leland asked sheepishly.

"Yes, but not for long," TK granted him.

"A year?" she gave him the 'you must be joking' look, "fine a month."

"Deal," TK agreed, "as long as you are also happy for them and you are cool about it when they are around. Which includes when we go out to dinner to celebrate."

"We are going out to celebrate?"

"Well, I'm going to call Natalie and ask if they would like to," TK said, "are you ok with that?"

"Do I have a choice?" Leland asked.

"Not really no," she answered with a teasing lilt to her voice. Leland leaned in and kissed her again, she was right, they did have that storybook love.

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Wednesday, August 4, 2010, 9:14, A.M.

"Hello," Molly answered her phone.

"Hi Molly, it's T.K., I hope you don't mind me calling you."

"No of course not," Molly said, "is everything ok?"

"Things are great. In fact, I just found out about Natalie and Adrian."

"Oh," Molly said surprised, "I didn't realize they were telling people now."

"Why didn't you tell me?" T.K. asked, "I mean we talked about this, you knew I was waiting for this."

"I know, I'm sorry," Molly apologized, "they wanted it kept secret, what could I do?"

"No, I get it, it's ok," TK quickly relented. "But now that I know, what else can you tell me about it?" The two women talked on the phone for half an hour each happy that they had the other to talk to. They were both in the unique position of being very close to Adrian and Natalie but also having known them for less than a year. Molly really liked TK and was ecstatic to finally be able to talk freely to her without worrying about spilling the secret.

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Wednesday, August 4, 2010, 10:00, A.M.

"Hey, Natalie what brings you guys here?" Mark greeted as Natalie walked into the squad room and right up to his desk.

"Actually, it's just me," Natalie said as she sat at the chair next to Dobson's desk, "and I'm here to talk to you."

"Really?"

"Yeah, I wanted to talk about yesterday," Natalie lowered her voice slightly.

"Natalie, if you are here to tell me not to say anything about… you know you don't have to worry about anything, I'm no gossip."

"No, it's not that at all," Natalie said, "I really don't care if people find out about Adrian and I. I was wondering about how you said that you knew it."

"Yeah, I thought you two had been dating for a while," Mark said, "you two weren't the best at being discrete."

"Okay, well I knew you suspected we were together at the very least with the comments you had made, by why didn't you ask us directly or say something to the captain?"

"It wasn't my place," Mark explained, "I had my share of secret relationships back in the day when I was still in the closet. No matter the reason people are in a secret relationship it's personal, and it shouldn't be made into water cooler gossip. I would never out your relationship, Natalie, I would never do that to anyone."

"Thank you, Mark."