Disclaimer:Monk belongs to the USA Network
Author's Note: Thank you for all the helpful reviews. I truly appreciate every bit of feedback that I get. I must say that I am deeply depressed about the departure of the Sharona character from Monk. I wasn't sure if I'd continue with this story, but then I watched some old Monk episodes and decided to keep writing. If Benjy and Sharona can't live on in the show, they must live on in fanfiction. I hope that the new mother and daughter characters will be just as good as Sharona and Benjy, but I'll never forget the wonderful chemistry between Monk and Sharona, and the beautiful family that Monk, Sharona, and Benjy were.
Benjy was in his bedroom getting ready for the big dance. He was standing in front of the mirror in his suit pants and white button down shirt, trying to figure out how to tie a necktie. He was trying all sorts of combinations, but nothing looked right. He kept taking it off and trying again. His mind drifted to the memory of when he had asked Danielle to go to the dance with him.
Benjy was at his locker, gathering his books for the next few classes, when he glimpsed Danielle by the water fountain, all alone. He figured if he ever had a chance to ask her, now would be the time since her friends weren't around to giggle at him. He threw his books back into his locker, shut the door, and took a deep breath. "Okay, Benjy, you can do this," he said to himself, staring at the locker door, afraid that he'd loose his courage if he peeked at Danielle. "Remember what Mr. Monk said. Just go for it." Benjy took another deep breath before he looked up and saw Danielle standing by his side, leaning against the neighboring locker and holding her books to her chest.
She looked at Benjy with immaculate brown eyes and said, "Hi Benjy. Who were you talking to?"
Benjy stood there, his mouth hanging open in utter surprise. Fumbling for words he said, "Wha—I—I was just—I—Sorry, what?"
Danielle giggled and said, "Never mind. So Benjy, have you asked anyone to the dance yet?"
"I—no, I haven't. Have you? I mean…has anyone asked you yet?"
"A couple boys did, but I told them 'no'. I'm waiting for the right boy to ask me."
"Oh…really?" Benjy asked, afraid that she might say no to him too.
"Yeah, but he hasn't asked me yet. I've been waiting for days for him to come around."
"Oh…" Benjy started backing away from her and said, "Well, I better be getting to my next class then."
"Wait!" Danielle grabbed his arm and said, "Benjy! You're the boy I was talking about!"
"I am?" Benjy said with amazement.
"Yes. Now will you just ask me already?"
Benjy chuckled and said, "Sure! Danielle… will you go to the dance with me on Friday night?"
Danielle gave Benjy an elegant smile and said, "I thought you'd never ask."
Benjy was brought back to the present by his mother screaming, "Benjy! Benjy, where are you?"
He looked towards his door and shouted, "I'm in my room! I can't get my tie right!"
Sharona opened Benjy's door, and when she saw him she put her hand to her heart, smiled, and said, "Ohhh, you look so cute!"
"Mom, please don't say that when other people are around."
"What if I can't help it? What if I'm so proud of you that I can't keep my mouth shut, huh?"
Benjy smiled at his mom and rolled his eyes, still playing with his tie.
"Come here, I'll help you," Sharona said, holding out her arms. Benjy walked over, and Sharona grabbed the tie, telling him all the steps to tying a tie as she did it. "There," she said when she finished. She turned him around to look at himself in the mirror. Benjy smiled, and Sharona wrapped her arms around him, resting her head next to his, still looking in the mirror. "I love you, kid."
"I love you too, Mom," Benjy said with a big smile.
Their hug was broken by the sound of the doorbell. "That must be Randy," Sharona said with an excited smile and raise of her eyebrows. She ran to the door, but when she opened it, the smile disappeared from her face. "Adrian, what are you doing here?"
"Hello to you too," Monk said with a smile as he dodged around her to get into the house.
Sharona stood with her mouth open, staring at the empty space where Adrian had been standing. She shut the door, turned around, and found Monk sitting on the couch in the family room. "Adrian, what are you doing here? I have tonight off, remember?"
Monk looked up at her, taking in the vision that he saw before him. Sharona had her hair down, flowing blond curls all over the place. She was wearing a black, strapless dress that only reached halfway down her thighs, black pantyhose, and black high-heeled shoes with very thin straps. Monk swallowed, looked away, and gave his head a shake. How was he supposed to think clearly with her dressed like that?
"I—I know you have tonight off. You're going to Benjy's dance…and so am I." Monk felt underdressed for the occasion after seeing Sharona. All he was wearing was a gray suit and a white shirt with grid lines on it. Just plain old everyday attire.
"What?!"
"I said I'm going--"
"I heard what you said! What do you mean you're going too?" Sharona paused, waiting for his answer, and then a thought came to her. She backed away and said, "Oh…Adrian, you didn't think…that I…that you…"
"What?" Adrian said, baffled as to what she was trying to say.
"You didn't think that I was going with you…did you?"
"What?" Adrian laughed. "That's ridiculous! Why would I think that?"
Embarrassed, Sharona said, "Well, I don't know…why are you coming then?"
"Benjy asked me to be a chaperone."
Sharona started laughing hysterically and said, "You?! A chaperone at a middle school dance?"
Adrian smiled, looked around, and said, "What—What's so funny? Why are you laughing?"
Still giggling Sharona said, "Be—hahahaha—because they're gonna eat you alive."
Monk made a sour face, stared at Sharona's laughing figure, and said, "I—I fail to see the humor in that, Sharona."
She started to laugh even harder.
Monk just rolled his eyes.
