Thank you, thank you, thank you to Monkish, Alex Hoodle, Btwnthecovers, and the guest, and JoAnna 47, for taking the time to review, it means so much to me to know there are people that stuck with this story and are still enjoying it. So, I had the basic structure of this bit of fluff of a chapter planned out months ago but none of it written. Then on my snow day today instead of grading like I should have I wrote and edited it in one day. This can mean only one thing, the grammar is going to be rough, like even worse than normal. Sorry in advance, I hope it is still enjoyable anyway.

Chapter 34: Revelations

Thursday, January 13, 2011, 3:47 PM

"Hey Natalie," TK answered her phone, "how are you?"

"I'm fine," Natalie answered, "but I could use some help with something."

"Sure, what's up?"

"It's for Mark," Natalie explained, "I just was at the station with Adrian and Mark seemed really down. When I finally got him to talk, he told me that he broke up with Dan, he found out he was cheating on him."

"Oh no," TK said, "that's horrible, where does he even find these guys?"

"I don't know," Natalie said, "but Mark is really down, and apparently all of his close friends are men, and they are not so great at the whole sympathy get drunk together and trash men thing."

"Men are the worst," TK shook her head, "poor Mark. So, what were you thinking?"

"We were supposed to have a girl's night tonight, what would you think about changing it to have Mark over and do the whole drink and support thing."

"I'm in," TK agreed automatically, "still having it here?" TK asked it was her tone to host.

"If that is okay with you."

"It works for me I am already all set, no big deal to add one more," TK said, "and this way I don't have to get Leland to give me a ride."

"Great," Natalie said, "I will talk to Mark, do you want me to bring anything else?"

"No, I think we are all set," TK said, "see you at seven."

7:32 PM

"I once went on a date with a guy who took me to the movies," Natalie said taking a sip of her drink, "and he got up to go to the bathroom and never came back. Twenty minutes later the movie ends I get up to leave, and there he is in the lobby, he was chatting up some girl that worked at the snack counter. She must have been about 25."

"When was this?" Mark asked with a chuckle and a shake of his head.

"Right after I had started working for Adrian," Natalie said, "I remember I was so upset because Adrian had said that I shouldn't go out. He told me I would have a better time helping him to wash and iron his money and that I would thank him later." Natalie paused as they chuckled, "and then he was right, that would have been more fun. I mean this guy left me alone in the theatre on our first date to hit on a girl young enough to be his daughter."

"Men suck," TK's friend Denise chimed in with a chorus of agreements from the group.

"If I didn't love them, I would hate them," Natalie said, "In all my years of dating I only found two that were any good."

"They do suck," Mark agreed, "why can't I find one of the good ones like you did with Adrian."

"He is great, isn't he," Natalie said with a smile, "he'd never leave me in the theater."

"Unless there was dirt," Denise murmured. TK shot her friend a look, and she stopped, but Natalie had heard it.

"Excuse me?"

"I'm sorry," Denise said, "I know you love him, I just don't get how you do it."

"Adrian is wonderful to her," Mark immediately defended.

"Now," Denise stressed, "but I met him at TK's wedding, he was different," Denise picked her words carefully but would not relinquish her point. "I know he is better now, but he isn't cured, and if he can fall apart like that once it can happen again. Besides he is still weird."

Natalie's face went blank, Denise's words seemed to hit her hard. TK finally spoke up, "Denise stop it, you don't know what you're talking about, you okay Nat?"

"Yeah I'm fine," Natalie said quietly, "Adrian doesn't always make the best first impression, you have to get to know him, but he is really wonderful when you do."

"I know he is," TK assured.

"Yeah," Mark agreed, "Monk is wonderful to you If I could find a guy that treated me that well there is no way I would still be single."

TK saw her friend Denise about to speak up again and quickly changed the subject before she could. The night continued with comforting Mark and the group drinking and sharing dating horror stories. Natalie continued to share, smile and laugh with the rest of the group and was happy that a few hours later Mark seemed to be feeling much better than earlier that day. Only TK seemed to notice that when Natalie smiled, it didn't reach her eyes and that when she laughed, it was a little forced. TK kept it to herself though, she didn't want to spoil everyone's night. Later when people started to leave Natalie picked up some dishes and brought them into the kitchen when she didn't return after a few minutes, TK followed her. Walking in TK saw Natalie at the sink adding soap to a sponge.

"You don't have to do that," TK said.

"I want to help," Natalie said with a smile, "I don't want you to have to do everything on your own."

"Well thank you," TK said as she picked up a towel and took the freshly cleaned dish from Natalie so she could dry it and put it away. The two women worked in silence for a minute before TK finally built up the courage to ask, "you okay?"

"What? Oh, yeah, sorry," Natalie said, "sorry my mind drifted off there."

"That's fine," TK said with a smile, "I wanted to say sorry about Denise earlier, I hope she didn't upset you too much."

"No," Natalie said shaking her head, "you don't have to apologize, and she didn't upset me, just surprised me. I think I sometimes forget, how Adrian used to be, and how some people still see him. And I get it, he can be a lot sometimes."

"We are all a lot sometimes," TK said with a smile.

"I know," Natalie said, "but you know what I mean, he is unusual, not in a bad way, but he is different, he doesn't swear, he is still picky, he can be very naive, but I look at him, and I just see Adrian, I forget how others see him still, how I used to see him."

"I don't think Denise was trying to make fun of him," TK said.

"No, I know," Natalie agreed.

"I just don't think she has seen much of him since he is better now," TK added.

"Yeah," Natalie acknowledged quietly as she passed the last glass over to TK, "last dish, do you want help with anything else?"

"No, I'm all set," TK said as she studied Natalie's face.

"Okay well I am going to head home then," Natalie said as she moved out of the kitchen toward the front hall with TK by her side, "thank you again for hosting, and for letting Mark come along."

"No problem," TK dismissed, "Mark is great."

"Well thanks again," Natalie shrugged on her jacket and got her keys out of her purse, "goodnight."

"Goodnight," TK said as she closed and locked the door after Natalie walked out. Something was still off with Natalie, but TK had no idea what it was, she just hoped her friend would be okay, and that she would tell her if she needed anything.

Natalie's thoughts were swarming around in her brain as she drove through the familiar city streets on auto piolet. She needed to get to Adrian's place, she needed to get to him. The sound of the door opening and a few rushed footsteps were all the warning that Adrian got before Natalie was standing in front of him, a look of desperation on her face.

"We need to talk," she said quickly, "well I need to talk… I need to tell you something," Natalie struggled to find the right words.

"Natalie, what's wrong," Adrian immediately walked over and took Natalie in his arms pulling her body close to his.

Natalie let her body soak in his warmth and comfort for just a moment before she pulled back to look Adrian in the eye, "Adrian, I love you."

"I love you too," he said with a nervous smile.

"No, I really love you," she insisted. "I love you for exactly who you are, and I need you to know that you, Adrian Monk, are not broken, you don't need fixing. I know you have anxiety and OCD, I like that those have gotten better and I hope that they continue to get better, but it's because I love you and I want you to be happy. You don't need to get better for me, I already think you are amazing, and I love you just the way you are, and I will always love you, no matter what happens, okay?"

"Marry me?" Came Adrian's only reply.

"What?"

Adrian took a breath and smiled, "Natalie Teeger, will you marry me?"

"What?" Natalie asked again in confusion, "did you just ask me to marry you? Because of what I just told you?"

"Yes," Adrian answered, "so will you?"

"Adrian you should think about this," Natalie said slowly, her mind still in shock.

"I have thought about it."

"Adrian, you should propose because you really want to get married," Natalie said, "not just as a reaction to something I said."

"I do want to get married," Adrian insisted, "and I have thought about it. I was going to ask you later this month, it was all planned and everything, but then you had to come in saying all of that, and I just couldn't wait any longer. Natalie Teeger I am going to love you for the rest of my life, and nothing would make me happier than doing so as your husband."

"Yes."

"Yes?" Adrian asked.

"Yes, I will marry," Natalie couldn't finish her sentence before Adrian's lips were on hers. For long minutes Adrian held Natalie close as he kissed pouring every ounce of love and devotion into that kiss. When air became a necessity, they pulled back.

"You did say yes, didn't you?" Adrian asked.

"Yes, I said yes, and I will say it again," Natalie said with a smile, "I can't believe it we are getting married."

"I know," Adrian agreed, "oh, you need your ring." Adrian took Natalie's hand and hurriedly pulled her towards his desk. Opening the top drawer all the way with his other hand, Adrian took a plain looking box out of the way back. Opening the box, Natalie saw the velvet jewelry box inside, "this is for you," Adrian said timidly opening the small velvet case, "I hope you like it."

"Oh Adrian," Natalie gasped looking down at the ring as it sparkled, "it is so beautiful." Adrian lifted the ring from the case and held it out to Natalie who offered him her left hand. Adrian slipped the delicate ring onto Natalie's finger, she instantly held her hand out to admire its new appearance. The ring had a delicate silver band with a simple cut of diamond in the center and two deep blue sapphires on either side. "I love it," Natalie breathed, I can't believe you got a ring already.

"Well like I told you I planned to propose later this month," Adrian said, "but I actually just had the ring changed a little, it was my mothers."

Natalie looked up in surprise, "your mothers?"

"Yeah, well she owned it, but it wasn't her engagement or wedding ring. It was my grandmother's ring, and she left it to my mother. I just had it cleaned and resized, then I had the sapphires added, because well, I just thought you would like them."

"I love them," Natalie said, "but Adrian, this ring is a family heirloom, I don't know if,"

"You are family," Adrian reminded her, "it belongs with you."

"I love you," Natalie said tears shining in her eyes.

"I love you too," Adrian said before leaning in and kissing her again. After a minute the kiss deepened both bursting with happiness and more than ready to celebrate their engagement properly. They slowly made their way to the bedroom and made love sweetly, taking their time to savor every moment together. Afterward, Natalie laid her head on Adrian's chest as she leisurely ran her fingers through the hair on his chest and they talked about everything and nothing.

"So, what did you have planned for the proposal anyway?" Natalie asked curiously

"I booked us a place to stay up north in the mountains," Adrian said, "in a cabin for the weekend of our anniversary."

"Huh," Natalie said, "that sounds great, but I am a little surprised, you hated the only cabin I have ever seen you in."

"Yeah this is a nicer cabin," Adrian admitted, "I made sure of it, and the cabin wasn't the point, I just wanted to get you alone for the weekend up there, and then I was just going to hope it snowed."

"Snow? Natalie asked in surprise, "you wanted it to snow for the proposal."

"Well," Adrian blushed slightly as he started to explain, "even though it was just as a friend the first time you ever kissed me it was snowing. I thought it would have a nice symmetry. Plus, you love the snow."

"That sounds amazing," Natalie leaned up and kissed him, "can we still go?"

"Of course," Adrian agreed easily, "we can go up and celebrate our engagement."

"I like that," Natalie said with a smile, "going away for the weekend with my fiancé."

"It does sound nice," Adrian agreed, "I like the sound of wife better though."

"Mmm, me too," Natalie agreed, "soon enough, I will be your wife, and you will be my husband."

"How did I get so lucky?" Adrian wondered looking down at his fiancé in awe.

"I was just wondering that myself," Natalie said, "and for the record, a proposal in the snow would have been nice, but I liked that you just couldn't wait."

"Well after your speech, there was no way I could wait any longer," Adrian said, "what led to that anyway."

"TK's friend said something tonight, and it made me realize that we got together after you started to get better," Natalie explained, "and I thought that you might not know that I would love you no matter what, even if your anxiety gets worse again."

"I love you too," Adrian said, "but it is nice to know, to be sure, that you love me for who I am, problems and all."

"I do," Natalie said, "just like you love me."

"That is cute," Adrian said, "but you don't have anything wrong with you, you are perfect."

Natalie snorted at that, "we both know that isn't true," she said. "I have problems."

"I think you are perfect," Adrian said leaning down and kissing her again.

"Well then we are a good match," Natalie said, "because I think you are perfect too."

"How about we just go get married tomorrow?" Adrian asked, "I don't think I can wait to marry you."

"Not tomorrow," Natalie chuckled, "but I like the idea of getting married soon, I don't want to wait either. But I'm not 20 years old anymore I don't want to elope this time. Besides, I need Julie and Molly to be there, oh god Adrian, we have to tell the girls." Natalie jumped out of bed and grabbed Adrian's robe off the door wrapping it around herself as she ran out of the bedroom. She returned a minute later and handed Adrian his phone. "Here do you want to tell Molly, I will tell Julie."

Adrian was about to dial when he noticed the time, "Natalie wait," he stopped her, "it is almost midnight, I don't think we should call them."

"Engagement exception to the 10:00 guideline?" Natalie asked hopefully, but at Adrian's look she knew he was right, it was too late to call. "How about we text them?"

"Good idea," Adrian agreed, he was trying to navigate to his text messages as Natalie had shown him, but these things always gave him trouble.

"I got it, honey," Natalie said as she typed her own message to both girls.

Natalie's house

Julie was standing at the kitchen counter making herself a snack. She loved her mother, but she kind of enjoyed the nights that her mother stayed at Adrian's place, it was nice having the place to herself. She didn't need to worry about being quiet at night, and she could wait a minute to enjoy her food before she had to clean. Julie heard her phone ding, so she grabbed it with her plate and headed out to the couch. Julie turned on the television and started to flip through the channels as she picked up her phone and opened her messages. There was a text from her mother with an attachment that had not yet opened. Julie read the text, 'New piece of jewelry and a new title!' at that moment the attachment opened, and there was a picture of a hand, her mother's hand, with an engagement ring. Julie was about to call her mother when her own phone started to ring.

Answering the call, she heard an excited squeal, "Double step it's official!" Molly's voice came through the line, "we are going to be sisters!"