The morning of Monk's 60th birthday was unseasonably warm and sunny. Adrian woke up happy, excited for the day with his mind busy, hoping to discover exactly what sort of a surprise his beautiful wife had planned for him that day.
Natalie had been away for three weeks, visiting with her brother Jonathan in Colorado. Jonathan had been fixing up the family's Winter lodge, and it had snowed just enough that he was able to go to some of the higher elevations and indulge in a little skiing. Unfortunately, this venture resulted in bad fall and Jonathan had to have surgery on his leg after a break on the slopes.
Natalie stayed with him and provided Jonathan's girlfriend Tonya a little relief in her schedule, waiting on Jonathan and helping him navigate the house. It was good for the two siblings to see each other again, though after three weeks, all Natalie really wanted to do was to return home to the comforts of life in Swampscott, Massachusetts with her two young children and her soulmate, Adrian Monk.
Her flight into Boston's Logan airport was to land around one o'clock, but Adrian had Leland drive him to the airport a bit early, just in case they made better time. He was so excited to see her that he hardly minded the hectic swarm of travelers. If he had received no other Birthday gift at all, just having Natalie home with him and the kids was present enough. As the time came for her flight to arrive, he stood in the waiting area with a bouquet of flowers in hand, straining to catch his first glimpse of her after their longest time apart as a married couple.
When the plane came in, right on schedule, the Monks practically ran into one another's arms, as Stottlemeyer watched over the kids. After so many years of seeing Adrian give up on life, it was gratifying to Leland to see how happy Natalie had made his old friend, and how well, in spite of being opposites in many ways, they seemed to just complement each other.
After one long, passionate kiss in the middle of the walkway, Natalie took the flowers and smelled them, and Adrian took charge of her carry-on. She bent down and hugged and kissed both of her babies, lifting young Lee up into her arms as Adrian held on to Abby's hand. She then looked up at Monk with a smile and beamed "Ready to go home, birthday boy?"
Adrian smiled. "Never been readier." He said, as they marched through the concourse towards baggage claim to retrieve Natalie's luggage. "It's a shame Julie couldn't be here to see you come in."
Natalie nodded. "Yeah. I talked to her on the phone before I took off. She had the conference booked seven months ago. No getting out of it. Cat's in the cradle I guess."
"Cat's in the cradle?" he asked.
"Yeah. The song. You remember. Harry Chapin. Mid-seventies?"
"Vaguely. Wasn't he a hippy?"
Natalie rolled her eyes. "I don't know. Maybe. He was a humanitarian who wanted to end world hunger."
"Yeah. He was a hippy." Monk replied.
"Isn't everyone a hippy to you that played music in the sixties and seventies?" she asked.
Monk paused. "No. Joey Heatherton wasn't a hippie."
"Ha! There you go with Joey Heatherton again." Natalie laughed. "You liked her didn't you?"
"No."
"Ah, I bet you did. I bet you had her poster up on your bedroom wall." She teased.
"I absolutely did not." He replied. "Mom never would have allowed it."
"In your school locker then?" she asked.
Silence.
"Ha, ha, ha! You had her picture in your school locker. I know you too well, Adrian Monk."
Monk gave a sheepish grin. "Perhaps. Can we change the subject? You know…the kids…"
"You're the one who brought her up – again."
"I know, I know. We'll just…you know…let it slide." He replied as they continued to walk. "What's new? I haven't seen you in forever?"
"Yes, but you talk to me three times a day." She replied. "Not much else since before I left this morning…oh, except that, so far, 48 of my Facebook friends wish you a Happy Birthday."
"48? Who has 48 friends? I'm lucky to have eight." He responded.
"You would have more if you put yourself out there. Social media is the rage. You should try it sometime." She said.
He stopped walking. "Have we met?" he asked.
"Well, you can't complain about not having friends if you don't try to reach out to people." she laughed, as they stepped onto the escalator.
"Who was complaining? " he asked, as the doors shut. "I never complain."
While they stood at the luggage carousel waiting for the bags to come out, Adrian and Leland watched the early news which was showing on television sets at various places in the airport.
[News Anchor] Police say that there are no suspects in the brutal slaying of actress Sophia Mitchell outside the Shubert Theatre where she was starring in the Off-Broadway production of Queen Bess. Mitchell was found around midnight by a night guard, Earl Cash of Dallas, Texas, who had just arrived for his evening shift…
Natalie walked up beside the men as the news played.
"Isn't that the actress we saw at the Harbor festival last Summer?" she asked.
Monk nodded as he continued to watch. "Yeah. Probably one of her adoring fans."
"Or not so adoring." Leland replied.
[New Anchor] Initial reports are that Ms. Mitchell's mutilated body was found in the alley next to the theatre, hidden next to a dumpster. She leaves behind her husband, Representative Ryan Pershing who was on the House floor at the time voting on legislation concerning the new super-highway stretching from Boston to L.A. In other news, drug kingpin Miguel Escobar, who was scheduled to be executed in Terre Haute, Indiana next Spring was found dead in his cell in California's San Quentin prison of an apparent heart attack. Escobar, 55, was once the FBI's most wanted man and was a notorious leader of one of Colombia's chief cartels, and was said to be worth some thirty billion dollars at the time of his arrest in 2006.
"Wow! Escobar's dead?" Monk asked.
"Yeah. Just when his appeals appeared to be running out, just ups and dies in prison." Stottlemeyer replied.
"Isn't that the guy who was on trial at the same time you had jury duty?" Natalie asked her husband.
"Yeah. Seems weird that he would die that way. He looked to be the picture of health when we saw him." He replied.
"You never know." Natalie replied, patting him on the shoulder.
The two were interrupted when Lee and Abby ran in between them, pushing them out of the way.
"Abigail Margaret, you stop chasing your brother right this instant!" Natalie scoulded. Monk just smiled. At two years old, his little girl already had him wrapped around her little finger.
"Awe, let her be. He probably deserves it." He said.
"Why would you say that?" Natalie asked.
"Because, he's a boy." Monk said. "We're always doing something."
Natalie smirked. "Yeah, that's true, like…I don't know, turning sixty?!"
"Awe gee. Here we go." Monk responded.
"Guess who's Sixty?!" she answered, poking him in the side. "Six – Oh! Three-score. Six times 10!"
"Don't remind me." Monk said, squirming uncomfortably.
"Oh. You don't want to be reminded that today's your birthday? I guess I'll have to return a little something that I bought at the department store in Colorado Springs." She said.
"And, what's that?" He asked.
She leaned up and whispered something in his ear which made him swallow hard and adjust his collar.
"On second thought…" he said, with a mischievous grin, "remind me all you want."
"Oh boy. I can tell someone's been away from his wife for three weeks." Leland mumbled under his breath. "Come on you two lovebirds. We need to get you home, so you can have time to rest up a bit. I'm sure Natalie is tired from a long flight." Leland said.
"Time? Why would we need time?" Adrian asked.
"Huh?" Leland responded.
"You said 'so you can have time.' We're not doing anything the rest of the day, you know, that would make us have to be sensitive of time…are we?" Adrian probed.
Natalie smiled and winked towards Leland. "Listen to him. 'Mr. - I don't like surprises', trying to see if I have any plans for a surprise party for our sexagenarian here…" she continued, pinching his cheek.
"Sexy-gen-arian?" Abby asked, looking up at her mother with a confused expression.
The three adults stopped and looked at the toddler in shock, but then burst out laughing.
Adrian looked the other way. "You're right, Leland. We'd better get home quickly before she corrupts any more minors." He quipped.
"Out of the mouths of babes." Stottlemeyer chucked.
Natalie rolled her eyes and took Abby's hand as Adrian walked with Lee. "I swear, these kids are like playback machines. Repeat everything they hear!.. But…since she brought it up…yes, I am talking about my sexy-genarian here." She said, tickling Adrian's side as they walked toward the car.
"Don't make me have you arrested." Adrian replied.
"On what grounds?" she asked.
"On the grounds that you've stolen my heart." He replied.
She hugged his arm. "Oh my. Those are serious charges, Mr. Monk. Maybe you need to put me under house arrest, make sure I don't get away." She purred.
"That could be arranged." Monk replied.
Stottlemeyer shook his head as they reached the car. "Hate to break this love fest up, but we've got to go. Monk, I think maybe you should sit in the front seat and Natalie with the kids in back."
"Why is that?" Adrian protested.
"Let's just say I don't want you two fogging up the windows while I drive." Leland replied.
Adrian grinned and then mock-whined. "But, Leeeeeeland…. it's my birrrthday!"
Stottlemeyer laughed. Monk was in rare form.
Natalie giggled too. "Boy, you're in a good mood. You're actually joking? You never joke!"
"Who said I'm joking?" he winked.
"They don't pay me enough for this." Leland replied, as they got in the car and Natalie joined the toddlers who were in their car seats in back. "Besides, you two can celebrate all night. Randy and Sharona are going to watch the munchkins. Meanwhile, we have places to be." Leland said.
"Places?" Monk asked with a grin.
The Cove was an intimate, little-known spot just outside of Swampscott, with a great view of Nahant Bay. It had been reserved by Natalie for 3 months in anticipation of Adrian's special day, and she had gone to great lengths to make sure that indeed, it was a birthday to be remembered. Knowing that he would be uncomfortable with a big party, she invited just their closest friends, as well as Ambrose and Heather. She dropped the kids off at her parents' house, so the adults would have nothing to distract from an evening of friendly fun.
As they drove up to the restaurant, Adrian feigned irritation, but not-so-secretly was excited about what his wife had in store. When she had planned his 50th Birthday Party, it had been one of the nicest experiences of his adult life, accentuated by the fact that he knew she did it out of love. In fact, it had been his happiest birthday to date. Now, that he was at another milestone birthday, he wondered what kind of surprises she might have up her sleeve this time. Regardless, he knew whatever she had planned, she would do it well.
Inside the venue, she had arranged for minimal wait staff to deliver a menu consisting of all of Adrian's favorites while a small Jazz band played quietly in the background as the group ate and honored their friend with something of a roast.
To start the festivities, she stood up beside the birthday boy and read some introductory comments.
"It goes without saying how happy Adrian and I are that each and every one of you are in our lives, but I would also like to thank you for being here with us on this special day – Adrian's sixtieth birthday." She said.
The group whooped and cheered, as Adrian smiled a bashful smile.
"But…I didn't invite each of you out here just so we could have a meal and go home. No. This day is all about Adrian, and I wanted to start it off by going around the table and sharing a few special stories that you might have as you look back on your history with this wonderful man that I married." She said, placing her hand on his shoulder. "Try to be nice…"
Randy snapped his fingers "Awe mannnnn…." to laughter around the table.
"...And lets just take this time to let Adrian know how special he is to all of us. Who wants to start?" she asked.
After a few moments, Sharona Disher stood up. "I guess I will. When I first met Adrian, he was a mess. Barely said two words. I guess in retrospect, that wasn't entirely a bad thing."
The group laughed, including Adrian.
"But, once he began to open up a little, I realized very early on that this was probably the most genius person I'd ever, or would ever, know. He was also a genuinely decent guy. I mean, he knows he's smart, but he doesn't flaunt it or brag. I'd brag, not him. He's humble about it. He used to go out on crime scenes and just dazzle everyone by being able to see things that nobody else saw. In just a few minutes, he would pull out clues that would ultimately solve the case, and I saw on more than one occasion where some hot to trot cop would leave the room with his tail tucked between his legs because the solution seemed so obvious. But Adrian was the only one that would see it. It just took his unique intellect to get it. And…well, it's really special. So, I would like to raise a toast to that brilliant, and sometimes very strange mind of his!" Sharona said, raising her wine glass and leading everyone else in a toast before reclaiming her seat.
"Here, here!" Stottlemeyer said, taking a sip of his beverage.
Randy stood next. "When I first met Monk, I have to admit, I couldn't stand the guy. I felt like he felt he was above everyone and that he felt like he knew it all. Time came and went, and I got the honor of working with him and found out … yeah…well, he pretty much does know it all – and what I took as arrogance is really a discomfort with people in general. Seeing some of the characters we've run into, I guess I can't blame him there. Between him and Leland, I have learned so much about what it means to be a good cop and detective, but also how to be a good man. Glad I can call you friend, Monk!"
Monk nodded and gave Disher a small smile, then his brother Ambrose stood to speak.
"Well, when I first met Adrian, he was nothing but a whiney little brat that they called my little brother." Ambrose joked. "Now, he's a whiney big brat."
Everyone laughed.
"But, seriously, I've always said that you're my hero, and you are. I remember your first date…" Ambrose said.
"Oh, boy." Monk said, burying his face in his hand.
"Do tell!" Natalie exclaimed.
"Adrian was seven and already breaking hearts. The girl was ten, and they were starring together in a school play." Ambrose continued.
"Ohhhh…an older woman!" Natalie teased.
Adrian looked at him strangely. "Are you talking about Gina Fitzsimmons? She wasn't my girlfriend."
"She kissed you." Ambrose said.
"As part of the play." Adrian responded.
"No. She was supposed to kiss you on the forehead in the play. Instead….right in the ol' smackeroo!" Ambrose replied.
Adrian blushed as he remembered. "Oh yeah. I remember that. She came down with chickenpox early the next morning, and I came down with it a week and a half later."
"Wow! Adrian Monk, swapping spit on the playground! Who knew?" Sharona joked. "I never took you for a romantic."
The group laughed as Monk bowed his head.
"Oh, you guys, now stop it! Adrian is very romantic." Natalie interjected.
"Thank you, dear." he replied.
"Just not always in a conventional sense." she added.
"What is that supposed to mean?" he asked.
"Oh,don't get me wrong. You have your conventional moments, like when you bring me flowers and stuff like that, and then of course there's in the bedroom…"
"Natalieeeee!" he protested.
"Yeah, Natalie. We don't need to hear about that." Randy said.
"Amen!" Sharona said, shaking her head.
Natalie rolled her eyes. "But, spontaneity is not your thing."
"I can be spontaneous." Monk replied.
"When? Spontaneity to you is like when you decide to wear blue jeans instead of a suit." she replied.
"Yeah, well...that's a big deal." he replied.
"It's true." Randy interjected. "We almost never saw Monk in casual clothes until you two got together."
"I know, I know, but that's just a decision on style. That's not romance. I mean, we don't do a lot of 'date nights' or go to the movies together or…."
"Do you know how germy movie theatres are?" Monk interrupted.
"Yeah. But you don't even watch a lot of movies with me at home. Remember when I tried to get you to watch You've Got Mail?" she asked.
"That's the one with Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks, right?" T.K. asked.
"Yeah. Well, we couldn't get through the movie because Adrian got fixated on getting stuck in an elevator and how all of those guys could live on that yacht out on the water. " Natalie said.
"I happen to have had a bad experience on yachts." He replied. "Thanks to you, I might add."
"Yeah, I know. But, it's not just that movie. What about Harry Met Sally?" she responded.
"Natalieeeee. Helllloooo. The Diner!" He answered.
"Yeah. I could see why a guy wouldn't like that scene." Randy replied.
"Don't worry dear," Sharona interjected. "It's not a documentary…at least not usually."
"Hey!" Randy responded as the women giggled.
"Maybe he just doesn't like Meg Ryan." T.K. suggested.
"Who doesn't like Meg Ryan?" Natalie asked, as everyone shook their heads in agreement.
Monk looked at Leland "Leland, save me."
Leland grinned. "Nope. You're on your own with this one, buddy."
"You watch romance movies with T.K.?" Adrian asked.
"He sure does." T.K. said, reaching over and kissing Leland on the cheek.
Monk rolled his eyes. "Well that's of no help."
"And it's just not rom-coms," Natalie continued. "I tried to get him to watch Out of Africa, but he fell asleep."
"Pretty scenery. I didn't get the thing between that couple though." He said. "Washing hair in the middle of a field? What's the point?"
"Or, there was Pride and Prejudice, which he tuned it out in the first thirty minutes."
"It was about a bunch of girls looking for a husband." Adrian replied.
"Oh, I love that movie, how Darcy is so stern at the beginning." Sharona said.
"And how Elizabeth realizes she was wrong." T.K. sighed.
The women all swooned, while the men grinned and shook their heads.
"We watched Braveheart together." Adrian said, hopefully.
"Yeah. We did. But you shut your eyes during the romantic parts." She said.
"Would you have preferred I watch?" Adrian asked.
Natalie thought. "Uh…you have a point…maybe not… But, it's okay. That's just you, and I knew that when I married you. It's okay, honey. You're romantic in your own way and I love you for being you."
Adrian probed her face to see if she was just saying that for his sake. Her expression was one of contented acceptance, but he became concerned that perhaps she wanted more. He was rescued by Stottlemeyer from going too far down the rabbit hole on that one at that time.
"Well…I have a Monk story." Leland said, changing the subject.
"Thank heaven!" Adrian said, happy for the relief.
"Well, it goes all the way back to when Monk made detective. I was the rising star on the beat, and, well, Monk already had a bit of a reputation for being…a bit wound. He was actually made my partner because they thought it would help my experience base to be with someone that could try my patience. I, on the other hand, entered the relationship with an open mind. The guy was supposed to be smart. I had no idea how smart. First day on the job, he solves a homicide that eight of us thought was a suicide. Every day that week, it was something similar. Second day, there was this body that was found in the woods. Initial thoughts were that someone had gone out there and had a heart attack and died. Monk comes on the scene and within five minutes deduces that the person was poisoned." Stottlemeyer said.
"How'd he know that?" asked Randy.
"You want to tell them?" Leland asked.
Adrian smiled. "The man's watch was one of those wind-up kind that shows you the date. The watch had stopped and the date was at least two weeks prior. And yet, there was little to no decay of the body. Arsenic will slow the rate of decay."
"And that's what it ended up being." Leland noted. "I knew from that moment, I was dealing with someone special and I can't tell you what a privilege it has been to have worked with him and to have been his friend all of these years. Sometimes you'll get on my last nerve, buddy. But, I wouldn't trade you for anything."
Monk smiled.
After the rest of the group gave their Adrian stories, it was Natalie's turn.
"My life changed from the day that Adrian Monk entered my life. As all of you know, we met on a case when my house was broken into and I had to kill someone in self-defense. I was terrified, but also determined because I was a single Mom and Julie's well-being was my number one concern."
"You were very brave." Adrian interjected.
"I had to be." she continued. "By the time we caught the guy who was spearheading the whole thing, Adrian had the choice between getting the bad guy or taking care of a little heart-need of my daughter's. He chose the latter. I knew there was more to the man right then and there. And I watched. I watched him risk his life by hanging out a car window to save me from a getaway dump truck. I watched him get up from a sick bed to go to a garbage dump, of all places, and save me in a murder case. I watched him as he chased and physically stood in front of a fighter jet and didn't budge an inch even when the US Military had a bunch of M16s pointed at his chest, and I thought this is the bravest man I have ever met. But then…he would be afraid of a ladybug or a glass of milk and I was just struck by the dichotomy. He could be a real jerk sometimes too…yes, you could. But then you could be the most loving man I had ever met. And soon, I knew that if I was ever in trouble, I could count on you being there. And soon, I felt a need that if you were ever in trouble, I wanted to be there. My heart joined to yours, even before you knew it. I loved you, almost from day one, and that love has only grown ever since." She said.
He smiled. "But you dated other guys."
"Yeah. Of course. You were emotionally unavailable. I had no way of ever knowing if you would ever come to me. So, I dated. Mostly men that were safe." She said.
"Like the leper?" He asked.
"Ha. You're fixated on him. Yeah, maybe dating a former leper wasn't the safest, but that was just me trying to fill a void – a void that only you could fill. I never knew it for sure until we were together, but I think I sensed it the moment I knew I was in love with you." She said.
"And when was that?" asked T.K.
"I can answer that." Said Leland. "It's when we faked his death."
Natalie looked at Leland. "There were inklings before then. I certainly knew I was attracted to him, even if he did threaten to shoot me over it."
Adrian laughed. "The bank."
"Yeah. Oooh honey, did you ever look good in that uniform!" she purred, rubbing him on his arms.
"Natalieeee. There are people watching..."
"Okay, I'll stop." She said, as he looked up at her somewhat disappointed. She continued. "For now." She winked. "But, yeah. You're right Leland. I knew for sure when I thought I lost him. One of the worst things I ever went through. I don't think I could ever go through that again."
"You were a wreck." Leland said.
"Yes. I was. But…this is not a day for bad memories. As I was saying, and as everyone here today has said, having you in our lives has been absolutely amazing and something none of us would trade. We just wanted to get together tonight and show you a little appreciation and wish you a happy sixtieth year, and tell you we hope the next sixty will be even better!"
Adrian smiled. "Thank you sweetheart. " he said, giving her a kiss.
"Speech...speech..." Randy said.
"Alright." Adrian smiled. "Guys. I can't tell you how much tonight has meant or how much each of you have meant to me and Natalie in our lives. I really would like to thank you for being there with me, in the dark times and in these very, very good times. I am blessed and finally at a point in my life where I can say that I feel truly happy. No reservations.
You know, I have felt for a long time that it's better to tell people how much you love them while they are still alive and healthy and able to hear it. I hate when those kind of things are saved for funerals, and when I pass on someday…"
"Way to turn it morbid, Monk." Said Randy.
"I don't even want to think about that." Natalie said, dismissively.
"What I was going to say, is when it is my time…sixty years from now…" Natalie hugged his arm. "I just want you all to know that I've heard it all from you today, so you don't have to do anything big then. And I want you all to know I love each of you as well. Thank you for this evening and for your friendship. It means everything."
That evening, after the group dispersed, the Monks went back to their home in Swampscott. As nice as the evening had been, Adrian really was just looking forward to spending an evening alone with his Natalie. As they entered the front door, they kicked off their shoes and walked into the kitchen, setting the car keys down on the kitchen counter. Natalie turned to walk towards their room, but, Adrian gently grabbed her by the arm.
"Shhhh…." He said. "Do you hear that?"
Natalie stopped and looked around, wide-eyed. "No. What is it?"
"Absolutely nothing." He smiled. "No kids. No phones. Nobody here at all, just you and me."
Natalie smiled and wrapped her arms around his neck. "Ah, I like that sound. And what do you want to do with this nice, quiet evening, Mr. Monk?"
He pulled her close to himself and kissed her tenderly on the lips. "Oh, I can think of a few things."
She giggled and bit her lip, "Like what?"
He unbuttoned his top button and began to plant kisses along her neck. "Like getting…" *kiss* "reacquainted" *kiss* "with my beautiful wife." *kiss, kiss, kiss*
"Oh, I like those plans." Natalie said.*kiss* "But, I think maybe I'm dressed wrong for that." She said, batting her eyelashes.
"Dressed wrong? Why does it matter how you're dressed?" he asked, confused.
"It doesn't entirely, but I did buy a… little something.. while I was away, just for this occasion." She smiled.
"You did?" he grinned.
She winked and began to walk towards the bedroom, but he would not let go of her hand.
She turned around. Now it was her time to be confused.
"What? What's the matter? I was going to go change..." she said, pointing towards the bedroom door.
He looked at her with an amorous gaze. "Show me what you bought later."
"Later? You mean you want to wait until late…" she asked.
"I didn't say that. I just said you could show me what you bought later. I don't want to wait at all." He said, suggestively.
Natalie's eyes grew wide, and she spoke nervously "Now?! Um…don't you want to go back to the…"
"No. Here. Now." He said.
"In the kitchen?!" Natalie said backing away in shock.
"You said you wanted more spontaneity." he replied.
"I didn't say that." she responded.
"Well, you implied it." he said as he walked towards her, secretly enjoying the turned tables.
"Adrian! This is where we prepare food!" she said.
"You wanted me to be more romantic." He teased, continuing the pursuit.
"I didn't mean in the kitchen!" She said.
"It's clean." He responded.
"Um, so is every square inch of this house thanks to you…but don't you want to…?" she said.
"Yes, Mrs. Monk...I do…" he replied.
"Why, Adrian Monk!" she exclaimed, as she took off running and giggling through the house and he gave chase.
The next morning, Sharona Fleming drove to the Monk's house in order to drop Lee and Abby off before heading to Boston General for work. As she let herself into the house, she stopped in her tracks when she saw various items of clothing strewn throughout the front hallway, hanging from kitchen chairs and trailing into the living room. Quietly, she walked into the house and over towards the living room holding Lee's hand with her left and Abby's with her right. Arriving at the living room entrance, she peaked into the room and saw a lumpy comforter laying in the middle of the living room floor next to the fireplace.
"Awe, snap!" she exclaimed, releasing the children's hands and bringing her own hands up to her face.
The lump suddenly moved with a jolt as Adrian's and Natalie's heads poked out from underneath the cover, scrambling to see what was going on.
"Sharona!" Adrian cried out, pulling the cover up to the bottom of his eyes.
Lee walked into the room and smiled. "Awe, schnap!" he repeated, running up to Natalie and throwing his arms around her neck.
Natalie closed her eyes and started laughing, "Good morning, baby boy!"
Abby came running and threw her arms around Adrian's neck as well. "Hi, Daddy. Whatcha doin'?" she asked.
Monk blushed deeply and glared at Sharona before looking at Abby. "Oh, daddy's just…just waking up…" He cleared his throat.
Sharona smirked and called the toddlers back to her side. "Hey, Lee, Abby, why don't we go back to your room for a minute so Mommy and Daddy can go …um…get dressed." she said, as she led them out of the room.
Adrian closed his eyes and shook his head with embarrassment. "The indignity. So much for being romantic."
Natalie smiled and rolled over on her belly, placing her chin on his chest. "Honey. Don't take all that to heart. I think you're very romantic, and I never ever doubt your love. You've made my life complete." She said, kissing him over and over again, along his chest and neck.
He pulled slightly away and smiled. "I love you too, sweetheart, but unless you want to give Sharona a show that she'll never forget, I think we'd better get up and go get dressed."
Natalie rolled her eyes and mock-pouted. "If you insist." She said, grabbing the comforter from off him and giggling,then running off with it down the hallway, leaving Adrian to confront the thing that Randy Disher once insisted that he feared even more than death.
"Natalie!" Adrian cried. "Wait for meeeeee!" He said, grabbing his suit jacket off of the floor to wrap around himself as he streaked through the house. Running past the kids' room, he accidentally ran into Sharona, and a calamity of monumental proportions happened. The blazer slipped.
Sharona immediately squeezed her eyes shut. "Oh, gosh!" she said as Monk let out a terrified "Ahhhh!"
Monk quickly regained control of the blazer and wrapped it tightly around his midsection and was looking with pale countenance at Sharona when she reopened her eyes.
"Y-you…you d-didn't like…see…see anything…did you?" he asked in a hopeful tone that was betrayed by the quiver in his voice.
Sharona immediately thought to herself Yep, and what has been seen cannot be unseen. But she didn't answer.
"Puh-please…t-tell me, you…you…didn't." he tried again.
Sharona looked at the floor and then bit her lip, looking back up at him with a shrug.
"Disaster!" He cried. "Natalie, it's a disaster! Open the door!"
"Adrian. It's okay. It was just a split second and…"
"Oh, mother of pearl…how can I ever..." He said, pacing the hallway. "Natalie…open the door."
"Adrian, I've seen guy's butts before. " Sharona added.
"Awe, gee…" Monk said, beginning to sweat. "NATALIE JANE MONK! OPEN THIS DOOR."
Sharona bit the inside of her jaw to keep from laughing, beginning to enjoy the display but knowing he would never get over this. "I mean…it's not like you look bad or anything…"
"Please. Stop. Talking."
"Adrian. I don't know what you're worried about. You have a cute tush." Sharona teased.
"NATALIE JANE IF YOU DON'T OPEN THIS DOOR!"
"Once I stop laughing…" was Natalie's muffled response.
"Natalie, dam—darnit! OPEN THE DOOR THIS INSTANT!"
"Think of it this way, Adrian. Now, we're even. You saw me naked, now I saw your backside." Sharona said, referring to a time where Monk had been shown compromising photographs of her taken when her son Benjy was just a baby.
"THAT doesn't help!" he snapped "NATALIE! NOW!"
The door cracked open and Natalie's face peaked outside. "Wait a minute. You saw Sharona, naked? When was this?"
Monk looked uncomfortably between the two women then chuckled nervously. "Um..."
"Forget about it, you can tell me later." she said, taking his hand and pulling a grateful Adrian into their bedroom.
Sharona stood in the hallway laughing as she listened to the conversation coming from Monk's bedroom .
"What were you thinking?! Y-y-you l-left me out there in…in…m-my….my skivvies!"
"I happen to like your skivvies." Was Natalie's response.
"Stop, tickling me! This is serious!" Monk replied.
"Yes, Mr. Monk." she said, mock seriously.
"I don't think you-you're ap-appreciating the gravity of what you have done!" he exclaimed. "Y-y-you may like my skivvies, and you can d-d-d-do that be-because we're married, b-b-but Sharona is now likely traumatized and will have PTSD an-and w-we we're going to have to move and…"
"Move? Why would we have to move?!"
"N-Natalie! Helllloooo! I was n-n-naked in the hallway!" he replied.
"So? It's your house." She said.
"Sharona saw my butt! We have to leave the country." He replied.
"What?!" Natalie laughed.
"It's a calamity. A disaster. A catastrophe."
"Oh…I see." Sharona heard Natalie's voice followed by a second of silence. Then Adrian saying, "That that's not going to work. You…you have to…."
More silence.
"Take…"
More silence.
"Hey! That's not fair."
"All's fair in love and war, Mr. Monk." She giggled
"Which one is this?" he asked.
"Both!" Natalie exclaimed. "And you do have a cute tush."
"Natalie!"
"Uh…I've got to be going guys…I'll be late for work." Sharona chuckled, just outside their door. There was no answer. "Uh…yeah…so I'll be seeing you two later…um…hopefully not so much of you…but um…have a nice day." She said, walking towards the front door.
The bedroom opened just a crack and both Adrian and Natalie poked their head out the door, his head above hers.
"Thanks Sharona!" Natalie said.
"Yeah, thanks for everything." Adrian said as well.
Sharona smirked. "Any time." She said, turning at the top of the stairs. "And Adrian, I'm glad it was a Happy Birthday for you. Does my heart good. You two are really good together."
"Yes, we are." Adrian replied, kissing the top of Natalie's head as Sharona walked down the stairs. Natalie looked up at Adrian with the adoring look that only she could have, and he looked down at her with the grin of a very happy man.
"I call dibs on the shower." He said.
"Only if you can beat me there first." She said, raising up and nibbling behind his ear before running to the shower. He closed his eyes and tried to steady himself, as he turned to walk towards the bed while Natalie closed the bathroom door. Knowing the kids were in the next room, Adrian knew he couldn't very well follow her inside.
"Natalie!" he said, then sat down and smiled. "Thank you for my birthday, it was really...nice." he said as he laid back on the bed and smiled at how happy he was at that instant, not knowing that such happiness would be short-lived.