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.

It was the big day. Sharona was sitting in the bride's room in front of the mirror, admiring her dress and getting ready to put the veil on. She had finally convinced herself that she was doing the right thing. Benjy needed a father, and she needed a man who cared about her, and Randy definitely cared about her. Her stomach had been rumbling with butterflies all morning. Was she really doing the right thing? Of course she was. She put her veil on and stared at her reflection, deep in thought.


Monk was sitting in the chair opposite Dr. Kroger. He was slightly slumped over, staring down at his folded hands. All he could think about was Sharona.

They were both silent for about ten minutes before Dr. Kroger spoke. "So, Adrian, how are you?"

Monk looked up and with a despondent face said, "I'm miserable."

"Is this because of Sharona?"

"Of course it is."

"What's wrong, Adrian?"

Monk's eyes filled with tears as he said, "I lost her. Just like I lost Trudy."

"Adrian, how do you feel about Sharona?"

"I…" Monk started twisting his hands nervously. "I love her," he said with a tiny laugh, "I love Sharona."

"So why don't you tell her before it's too late?"

"I can't. It's already too late. She's getting married today," he said gloomily, and looked back down at his hands.

"What time does the ceremony start?"

"Two o'clock," he whispered.

Dr. Kroger pulled up his sleeve and glanced at his watch. "You still have an hour. Go to her, Adrian, there's still time."

Monk slowly looked up at him and smiled. "Thanks, Dr. Kroger." He jumped up from his chair and headed straight for the door.


Monk's taxi pulled up to a small, white wedding chapel with a navy blue roof and a cross above the green front door. He scuttled out of the taxi, paid the driver, and ran into the building. Men in tuxedos and women in blue gowns were all crowded into the small lobby of the chapel. Monk had to push past them, trying not to come in contact with any of them. He bumped into Gail Fleming.

"Ow! Watch it buddy!" she screamed, and then she took a closer look at who she was talking to. "Monk? What are you doing here?"

"Uh…I'm—I'm looking for Sharona. Do you know where she is?"

"Yeah, she's in the bride's private quarters. Go down that hall and take a right, it's the very last room."

"Okay, thank you, Gail."

"Yeah, sure," she said, wondering what was so urgent that Monk would venture into a crowd of people and risk being touched. She watched him zoom off into the empty hallway and shrugged her shoulders. She turned back to the group that she had been talking to before Monk interrupted her and forgot all about him.

Monk approached the bride's door and knocked twice. He heard Sharona say, "Come in," and he took a deep breath. This was his chance. It was time to tell her. He slowly opened the door, hearing it creak as he moved it. He stepped into the room, and Sharona took her veil off and turned towards him. He swallowed away his nervousness and walked over to her.

"Adrian, what are you doing here?" she asked, shocked at his sudden appearance. Just when she had finally begun to forget about him, there he was. He had the worst timing in the world.

"Sharona, I—I have something to tell you."

"Can't it wait till after the ceremony?"

"No…no it can't. I've already waited too long to tell you."

"Tell me what?"

He looked into her iridescent blue eyes and said, "I love you, Sharona. I've always loved you…I was just too lost to realize it."

"What?!" she asked, not believing her ears.

"I said I love you, Sharona." He smiled. "I love you." He waited for a response, but she was too frozen with shock. He reached for her hand and said, "I lost Trudy…I can't lose you too. I won't lose you. Please, don't marry Randy. He can't love you the way that I can."

"Adrian, I…I don't know what to say. I mean, I'm supposed to be getting married in five minutes and you're telling me this now?"

Monk shrugged and said, "Better I tell you now than after you're married."

"Adrian, I'm sorry, but I just can't--"

"Sharona, I—I don't have a life if you're not in it."

"Adrian…I'm getting married to Randy."

"Do you love him?" he asked, afraid of what her answer might be.

Sharona looked away from him and said, "Yes."

"Can you honestly look me in the eyes and tell me that you love him and not me?"

The tears started rolling down Sharona's cheeks. She couldn't bring herself to look at him. It didn't make sense. Her and Randy were so right for each other, and yet whenever she heard the word "love" Adrian would pop into her head. Whenever she pictured the rest of her life, Adrian would be right there beside her. When she pictured herself getting married, it was always Adrian who was lifting the veil. She finally looked up into Adrian's brown eyes and said, "No…I can't."

Monk let out a breath. He couldn't keep a smile from forming on his face, no matter how hard he tried. "Does…does this mean that you love me?"

"Yes…it does," she said with a smile.

Monk pulled Sharona close to him, wrapped his arms around her, and planted a sweet, passionate kiss on her rose colored lips.


Five years later…

"Adrian! Adrian, stop it. Leave it alone, the TV's fine," Sharona said.

A little boy with dark curly hair and brown eyes turned to look at his mother. He was wearing a gray suit and a white shirt with gridlines on it, buttoned all the way to the top, with no tie. Still holding a wipe to the TV screen he said, "But Mom, it's dirty. Don't worry, you'll thank me later." He turned back to the TV and continued cleaning it.

Sitting on the family room couch with his arm around Sharona, Monk said, "The boy knows what he's doing Sharona, just let him be."

"Yeah, Mom, just let him finish," said a deep-voiced Benjy.

Sharona glared at Monk and let out a sigh of defeat.

Finally, little Adrian stepped back from the TV and said, "There."

Sharona rolled her eyes, turned to Monk, and said, "He's definitely your son."

A/N: Thanks to all the readers who stuck with this story, and thanks to everyone who took the time to review. I was a bit nervous about writing a romance, but you all made it a worthwhile experience. I loved each and every comment that I got, and I can't wait to hear what you thought about the ending. Thanks for reading.