Chapter 6: Serenade

The next day, Monk was preparing the final details for his plan, along with Randy and Captain Stottlemeyer's help. They had blocked off Sharona's street with police barricades, and set up a microphone and speakers right in front of Sharona's house.

"I can't believe you're actually going to do this," the Captain said in amazement. "It takes a lot of guts to do something like this. You're a very brave man, Monk." He slapped Monk on the back, causing him to flinch, but he smiled, anyway.

"I wouldn't do it if she wasn't important to me," he assured the Captain. He finished polishing the microphone stand and moved to straighten the cord when Randy ran up to him.

"I think she's awake now," he announced. "Are you ready?"

"I'll have to be." He turned to the Captain. "Turn it on, Captain!" The Captain grinned and flipped the on switch, causing an initial moment of feedback, but then things quieted down and Monk was left holding the microphone. He had a nervous look on his face, but Randy gave him a thumbs up, signaling for him to start.

Monk cleared his throat and began. "Ooh, my little pretty one, pretty one. When you gonna give me some time, Sharona?"

Inside the house, Benjy heard Monk and looked outside. "Whoa. Wait till Mom sees this." He quickly ran to Sharona's bedroom. "Mom! You have to get up right now!" he ordered excitedly, shaking her.

Sharona rolled over, hair sticking out all over, and glared at Benjy. "Unless the house is on fire or we're having an earthquake, I don't care. I'm tired."

"No, Mom, it's Mr. Monk," Benjy started. "He's outside…"

"I especially don't care if it's Adrian," Sharona mumbled into her pillow.

"…singing," Benjy finished. Sharona lifted her head, raising an eyebrow at her son. She reluctantly stumbled out of bed and slogged into the living room. Sure enough, she could hear Adrian belting out an off-key version of 'My Sharona.'

"What the hell is he doing?" she asked herself, and made her way out the front door, where she made eye contact with him.

"My my my I yi, woo," he was singing. "M M M, My Sharona." He stopped singing when he saw her, and his last note trailed off flatly.

"Adrian…I-I…what are you doing?" Sharona asked breathlessly. She walked up to him in complete shock.

"Sharona, I-I-I don't know how to say this," he started nervously. "I was looking through your living room, and I found your CD…"

"And you read the words to the song," Sharona finished. "Then what? You decided to sing to me for the fun of it?"

"No," Monk said, shaking his head. "Sharona, I-I think I m-m-might be in l-l-love with you." He let out his breath, glad to finally have that off his chest.

Sharona looked even more shocked than before. "I can't believe this. Disher said you were probably in love with me, but wow. He wasn't lying."

"Is-is that all you have to say?" Monk squeaked, even more nervous than usual.

"No, Adrian," Sharona assured him, smiling. "Brace yourself. I'm gonna kiss ya." She leaned towards him, taking in the smell of anti-bacterial soap and disinfecting spray. 'He must've been cleaning before he came over,' she thought crazily. 'He's always cleaning.'

Suddenly, their lips touched, and all her crazy thoughts disappeared. She was kissing Adrian. Adrian Monk. The man that didn't like people looking at him the wrong way. This was insane.

In the background, the Captain and Randy stood watching in awe.

"I can't believe she just kissed him," Randy said.

"And he hasn't pre-moistened wiped her yet," Stottlemeyer cracked. "Amazing. He really does love her." He turned to Randy. "Sorry things didn't work out for you and Sharona." He clapped a hand on his shoulder in apology.

Randy shrugged his comment off. "Aw, I knew Sharona was out of my league." He looked back at the pair, who were now talking comfortably with each other. "I just never thought she'd be in Monk's."

Sharona touched Monk's arm lightly. "Does this mean you've moved on from Trudy?" she asked softly.

"I'll never forget Trudy," Monk said.

"I'm not asking you to forget her," Sharona assured him. "I just want to know what's going on in that head of yours."

He smiled. "She's at rest now. I can finally get on with my life." He looked into Sharona's eyes. "And I'd like you to help me."

Sharona smiled at him. "I'd be happy to." She paused, then seemed to realize she was still in her pajamas. "Oh my God, I look like I got ran over by a train."

"Nah, you look…" Monk started, then realized he didn't have a better answer than that, and trailed off. "Your call." Sharona glared at him and retreated back into her house.

Captain Stottlemeyer and Randy walked over to Monk, who, in spite of Sharona's dirty look directed towards him, was smiling.

"Told you it would work, Monk," Randy said excitedly.

"Yeah, looks like it did," Monk agreed.

"So," Randy inquired, "what was it like?" Monk looked at him, and he elaborated. "You know, kissing Sharona?"

"Randy," Stottlemeyer warned, pulling him away from Monk. Randy motioned for Monk to 'call him' and Monk smiled to himself.

"Great," he said to himself, answering Randy's question. "It was great." He slipped his hands into his blazer pockets and walked into Sharona's house.