AN: So I did not have the energy for the next chapter I had planned but it has been forever so I at least wrote this little bit of fluff to try to get back into the mood to write. I am unfortunately back to the mood of only wanting to have a drink alone and go to bed early every night, but I promise to continue to try to update, I just can't tell you how timely those updates will be. Sorry. As always a giant thank you to those of you that took the time to review: PepperLily00, Btwnthecovers, the guest reviewer and of course Monkish and Alex Hoodle who have been there supporting me since the beginning.
Friday, January 14, 2011, 9:48 AM
"Hello," Natalie called out as she opened the front door.
"Mom!" came an exuberant shout from somewhere on the second floor before the sound of running feet and then there she was flying down the stairs. In a split-second, Julie was at the door practically tackling her mother with the ferocity of her embrace. Natalie laughed and hugged her daughter just as tightly while Adrian stepped back giving the pair some room. "You're engaged, I can't believe you are finally engaged."
"I know," Natalie said pulling back from her daughter to hold her at arm's length, "I still can't believe it myself."
"Oh, let me see the ring?" Julie reached immediately for her mother's left hand holding it in front of them. "It's so pretty."
"I know isn't it," Natalie breathed taking in the beauty of her new jewelry again.
"He did such a good job picking it out," Julie moved her mother's hand slightly tilting it back and forth watching as it caught the light.
"It was my mother's actually," Adrian interjected awkwardly from a few feet away. Both women looked up suddenly as if they had forgotten he was even there.
Julie suddenly let go of her mother and quickly wrapped her arms around Adrian, "congratulations, this is so wonderful."
"Thank you," Adrian croaked, "but I need air."
"Sorry," Julie said loosening her hold, "I was just a little too excited. Quickly Julie turned back to her mother and took her hand leading them both over to the couch. "Okay I want to know everything, how did he ask you, did you have a nice dinner, did he give you flowers? Come on, I want all the details."
"He just kind of asked," Natalie said.
"Oh," Julie uttered clearly disappointed.
"I did have something special planned," Adrian muttered defensively as he sat on the chair next to the couch the girls occupied. "Your mother ruined the plans."
"I did not," Natalie objected, "I was just being me, it's not my fault you couldn't wait."
"Wait, what?" Julie said looking back and forth between the pair.
"I had planned a weekend away at the end of the month," Adrian explained, "but she said some things when she came home last night that were just so amazing, it wasn't possible to wait any longer."
"What did you say?" Julie asked her mother.
Natalie reached over and took Adrian's hand smiling softly at him, "I just told him how I loved him," she practically whispered.
"Oh god you two are going to be insufferable, aren't you?" Julie asked getting up from the couch.
Adrian's face turned red, but Natalie just smiled, "I think we're going to be great," she then leaned over kissing him softly.
"So, who else knows," Julie asked trying to change the subject to something less awkward.
"We only told you and Molly," Natalie said, "but we are due at the station at noon, so I am sure that by 12:05 everyone will know."
"So, have you thought about the wedding yet, oh do you know what kind of dress you want?"
"I'm going to go, um, get changed," Adrian said looking for a reason to leave the girls to chat about details.
"Oh, okay honey," Natalie planted one more quick kiss on his lips before he made it out of the room. As he left to the kitchen, Julie rejoined her mother on the couch.
"No idea's for dress or flowers or anything like that," Natalie said, "the only thing we talked about at all last night was that we wanted a small wedding, and soon."
"What's the rush?" Julie wondered.
"Nothing," Natalie admitted, "I just want to be married to him, the sooner, the better. Adrian suggested we elope, but I think I would like a wedding this time. I do want to keep it small though, I want it to be something simple where I can enjoy my time and share the moment with a few family and friends, not 200 plus people in some stuffy hall while wearing a poofy dress."
"Yeah, I can't see you in anything poofy," Julie agreed, "we came up with a few suggestions last night." Julie pulled out her phone and started pulling up a few pictures.
"We?" Natalie asked as she looked through the pictures of dresses her daughter slowly scrolled through.
"Molly and I talked last night after your text," Julie explained, "oh this one is my favorite," she stopped on a picture of a bride in a long sleek silk dress with a very 40's starlet look.
"Eh, not really my cup of tea," Natalie said about the dress, "what did Molly say?"
"She sees you in a simple A-line knee-length dress," Julie said.
"No," Natalie explained, "I meant about the engagement."
"Oh, she is over the moon," Julie said, "I can't believe she didn't call you yet, she is so excited."
"Good," Natalie let out a small breath."
"What did you think she would be upset?" Julie asked.
"No, not really," Natalie said, "it is just having the approval of you two is so important, it made me a little nervous."
"Well you have our approval," Julie said, "you also have our love, encouragement, and help with planning, speaking of planning, this is her favorite." Julie looked down at her phone and flipped through a few more pictures when she looked back up and held her phone out to her mother, she could see the unshed tears in her eyes.
"It's perfect," Natalie said when she finally looked down at the picture, "just like you are."
The girls spent the next hour chatting on the couch and discussing possible plans for the wedding, Adrian only interrupted once to let them know he was going to go for a run, Natalie knew he was just giving her more time alone with her daughter, which she was grateful for, he really was very considerate. When Adrian got back from his run, he showered and came back down the stairs to find the girls putting finishing touches on an early lunch for the three of them. The trio ate happily, and although Adrian knew that sometimes Natalie would need alone time with her daughter, it didn't worry him because he knew they would never want him to be gone for too long.
12:13 PM Police Station House
"There you two are," the captain said in greeting as Adrian and Natalie walked into the police station, "I was getting ready to send someone to look for you guys, you are never late."
"Sorry," Natalie apologized immediately, "we were having an early lunch with Julie," Natalie didn't mention that they had shown up in the parking lot five minutes earlier, but Natalie had convinced Adrian that they were already late and that a few minutes of kissing in the car wouldn't really matter.
"It's no problem," Leland dismissed, "this isn't pressing, I just wanted to talk to you two about court on Monday, they have an expert witness that is a killer, so the DA wanted us to all sit down and go through the case again and make sure we didn't miss anything."
"Okay," Natalie agreed, "what can I do to help?"
"Actually, Leland," Adrian stopped them, "can we talk to you for a minute first?"
Now? Natalie mouthed silently to Adrian who just shrugged. Leland watched the exchange between the couple his curiosity growing, "why don't we go in my office?" The trio agreed and headed into the office shutting the door behind them.
Natalie and the captain both turned their attention to Adrian as soon as they were alone, but he immediately clammed up. "So, we have some news," Natalie started for Adrian.
"Well?" The captain asked impatiently when neither one of them continued.
Adrian still seemed unable to find the right words, so instead, he reached for Natalie's hand and held it up for inspection.
"Is that what I think it is?" Leland asked pointing at the gleaming rock on her finger. Natalie smiled and nodded excitedly. "You two are getting married?"
"Yes," Natalie said happily.
Leland stood there in shocked silence for a minute before he finally shook his head, "wow, you two, that is amazing!" Leland moved forward and hugged Natalie immediately.
"Thank you," she said, still smiling.
Leland turned towards Adrian, grasping his hand and shaking it before using that hand to pull his friend into a one arm hug. "So, when did this happen?"
"Last night," Natalie said, "I got home from your place actually, and we were talking, and he just asked."
"Wow, guys that is really fantasti…" The trio was suddenly interrupted by a loud knock on the office door.
"Hey guys," Mark said as he opened the door letting himself in, "you should probably know, you didn't close the blinds, and well, everyone saw what just happened here and knows your news." They all turned at that to see a crowd of faces, most quickly looked away as if they had not just been watching, but some continued to watch what was happening, one officer even giving them a thumbs up through the glass.
"Oh god," Adrian muttered, his face turning bright red.
"It will be okay," Natalie soothed, running her hand softly up and down Adrian's back, "they were all going to find out anyway."
"They are happy for you," Mark offered, "and I am too."
"Thank you," Natalie said turning to smile at her friend. Turning back to Adrian she took his hand and squeezed it gently in her own and placed her other hand on the doorknob, "you ready?"
The next five minutes were filled with people crowded around the couple offering their congratulations, asking questions he wouldn't answer, insisting on shaking his hand, and some even gave him a pat on the back, Adrian was in hell. But when Adrian looked at the smile on Natalie's face, he knew that it was worth putting up with if she was that happy. Eventually, the captain broke it up and started their work on going through every detail of their case to all make sure that they were set for court on Monday. Two hours later they had barely made any progress. Leland understood that Monk was having trouble focusing, and he tried to be understanding, he really did. When he saw Monk smiling while he was supposed to be looking at a particularly gruesome crime scene photo, the captain's patience snapped, and he had to tell Monk that either he would focus or Natalie would leave. This hurried the process along and two hours after that Natalie and Adrian finally got to head home.
Julie was already gone when they got home, she was staying the night at a friend's house before she had to go back to school on Tuesday. Adrian and Natalie cooked a nice meal together, and afterwards they sat cuddled on the couch and watched a movie. Adrian smiled down at Natalie as he watched her playing with her ring. "Are you even watching the movie?" He asked with a smirk.
"Hey, if you didn't want me distracted, you shouldn't give me something shiny to wear," Natalie said holding out her hand for him to see the sparkle.
"I think you agreeing to marry me earns you a prize," Adrian said as he leaned over and kissed her temple.
"I do like this," Natalie said referring to her ring, "but you're my prize."
Natalie's words floored Adrian, he had no idea how he got so lucky. Not only did he get to be with this amazing woman, but she loved him. "You are my everything," he whispered softly before kissing her deeply. Natalie felt like she was falling, and she was, every day, every minute, every second Natalie knew she was falling more in love with this man, and she hoped she would continue to fall her entire life.