A/N: I'm back! Did you all miss me? Lol! Thought I'd let you know, that I decided to make it a full out romance, so bear with me. I've never been in a romantic relationship so I don't have any experience in that area of life. But I do watch enough romantic comedies and read enough romance stories, so I should be able to pick up on something. Lol! Anyway, on to the shout outs!

Bubba Bridges: Aw, shucks, thanks! And you don't have to wait anymore, 'coz here it is!

asliamtrue-business: That's exactly how I want people to feel about my stories. It really puts a smile on my face and pride in my heart to know people not only read it and enjoyed it, but also LOVED it! And I have to say thanks for saying my writing was great! I don't want to sound egotistical, but I was reading over chapter two and (because I was switching from two different screens and forgot what story I was reading) I almost cried when I read the part where Natalie and Monk had that little argument of theirs.

Monker (who gave me 2 reviews!) : lol! I'm glad you think the name was cute. And yes, I'm dead-serious. In fact, I fixed the board just the other day so you could. Have fun! Oh, and thanks for liking the "bra" joke: ) I kinda thought it was funny myself!

id burns (I'll respond to the one for chapter 2): I'm glad you think the name "Operation: Keep Natalie" is interesting. And I think I updated rather quickly considering that I've been super busy lately. I just hope people aren't disappointed with the genre change. I hope you're not either: )

Amymimi: Hey, no prob. I understand how things go. Sometimes you have time, sometimes you don't and sometimes things just don't work out. I'm glad the characters are staying in character, and yes I agree with you, that is the most important part of fan fiction. I've seen one too may stories that just didn't have that. Anyway, I've tried desperately to keep them the way they are on the show and, according to you, my efforts weren't futile! Oh, I'm also glad you like how the story is written through Monk's POV. I want to thank you also because it was your stories written through Natalie's POV that inspired me! Thanks a bunches!

And thanks to those who read it but didn't have time to review! Ok, no more stalling! On with chapter 3!

Chapter Three: Plan A - Raise Her Pay

As I arose from my bed that morning, thoughts of what happened the day before ran through my mind. I smiled brightly as I thought about "Plan A" of "Operation: Keep Natalie". I looked over at the clock on my bed-side table. It read 5:10. Which meant that in three hours, Natalie would show up at my door. I hurriedly pulled out several items from my drawer and retreated to the bathroom.

After about three hours (a new record for me), I emerged from the bathroom fully dressed. I was fastening the buttons on my checkered shirt as I walked into the living room. That's when a soft, familiar female voice suddenly said "Hi Mr. Monk." I turned to see Natalie sitting on the couch. She smiled at me, and I offered her a small smile in return. I felt a knot in my stomach. It was the same feeling as yesterday, except. . .Natalie looked. . .different. Her face seemed to give off a sort of glow. She turned away from me (still keeping a goofy grin on her face) and looked ahead into space. I watched her intently, studying her. She sighed a happy, content sigh. A fearful look replaced the smile on my face. Oh no! I thought. But it couldn't be what I was thinking. . .could it? I'll just get on with the plan anyway. . .

"Um. . .Natalie?"

"Hmm?" she answered, still staring ahead.

"I, uh, I have a surprise for you." I waited for her to turn her head. . .and about a minute later, she did. She looked intrigued about my comment. "I'm. . .I'm raising your pay." I told her, with a smile. She squealed and jumped up off the couch. She came up to me and hugged me tightly. Instead of cringing and trying to gently push her way, I just let her hug me. . .What is wrong with me?

She pulled back and asked, "Are you serious?" I nodded and then she squealed again and pulled me back into another hug, that this time, I returned. I wrapped my arms around her and held her close. Then I realized why I didn't push her away. . .it was because it had been a long time since I held someone in my arms. . .it felt. . .strangely wonderful I suddenly had an unstoppable urge to smell her hair. I don't know why. I ever so slightly sniffed her hair. It smelled like a mix between lavender shampoo and flowery perfume. I smiled again, as Natalie slipped out of my embrace. She looked at me, confused.

"Did. . .you just smell my hair?" she asked me.

"Um. . ." I had to think of something - FAST! "It was an. . .accident? Yeah, it was an accident." she looked at me as if she was trying to see if I was lying or not. "Well. . .alright then." she said after a moment. Mentally, I applauded myself for actually telling a white lie to keep my assistant. "We better get going. The Captain called me and said you've got another case to solve." with that, we headed outthe front door and out to Natalie's car.

As we rode in silence, I thought about what I did back when we were inthe apartment. The way it felt to hold her in my arms. . .the way she smelled. . .

Wait a minute! I yelled in my head. What am I thinking? What about Trudy? Oh no! What she must think of me! I sat there in the car, staring out the window, feeling extremely guilty for the thoughts I was starting to have for Natalie and began to wonder why I started thinking of my assistant in that way.

When we got to the crime scene in downtown San Francisco, I timidly stepped out of the car and towards the scene, which was a front lawn connected to a small house that was painted an awful green color. The victim was female, and looked to me about the age of twenty-three. She lay there in a pool of blood on the front walk that was paved with slate stone. I deducted that she must have been dead for several hours. I started to do (what my former assistant used to call it) my "Zen-Sherlock Thing", but thoughts of Natalie and Trudy filled my mind and I couldn't concentrate. After a few minutes, I stopped in mid-pace and rubbed my temples. My jumbled up thoughts were giving me a headache.

I looked back over at Natalie. She rushed to my side and placed a gentle hand on my back. "Are you okay?" she asked me. I wanted to tell her I was fine, that I could go on with the investigation. . .but I couldn't bring myself to do it. I slowly shook my head no. she nodded and rubbed my back soothingly. She gave me a small reassuring smile and headed over in the Captain's and the Lieutenant's direction across the yard. I don't know what she said, but it must have been enough to upset Leland. "What do you mean he can't finish!" I winced as I heard his harsh voice. "Look, Miss Teeger, I need to get this case settled and I can't without Monk!" I started to cross the yard to try to explain myself better, but Natalie threw her hands in her usual angered and annoyed fashion and came toward me. She grabbed my hand and pulled me along. "Let's get you home, Mr. Monk. . ."

About twenty minutes later, we reached my apartment. Natalie sloppily dropped her purse on my coffee table, and (of course) I had to fix it. While I was doing that, Natalie came rushing back from where ever it was she had went to. "Where do you keep your Tylenol?" she asked, slightly annoyed. I forgot about the bag and explained to her why. She growled and snatched her purse of the table. She rummaged around, and after a moment, she pulled out a small medicine bottle. She placed the purse down on the table (neatly this time), opened the bottle up and handed me two white pills. When I didn't take them, she thrust them at me again. "Look, Mr. Monk, I know you have a headache and I'm not leaving until you take these pills!"

Wanting to get her out of my apartment as quickly as possible so I could figure out my thoughts for her, I slowly and shyly took the pills. She retreated to the kitchen and came back a moment later with a bottle of Sierra Springs. I gently grabbed the bottle, placed the pills in my mouth (while cringing) and, with a mighty swig of water, swallowed the medicine. "There, now if you don't mind I need to get home to Julie."

She grabbed her purse and started to leave but turned around as if she forgot something. "Oh, uh, Mr. Monk. . .I can explain why my head wasn't with me this morning. . ." right away, I knew this wasn't going to turn out well. . .

"Danny and I went out last night. . ." I couldn't believe it! She's doing the same thing Sharona used to do! I thought Natalie had more sense than that! "What? Natalie, you can't keep dating him." I told her. She placed her hands on her hips and was starting to look angry again. "Why not? He's perfectly fine!"

"It's not that. . ." I sighed before continuing. "He-he's not right for you. . .He's not the guy for you. . ."

"Oh? Than who is?" she asked me huffily. I wanted to say something. . .but my mind didn't know what to say. . .

"Fine." she said she waved a quick angered goodbye and left then, slamming the door behind her.

Well, I guess I'll try Plan B next. . . I thought gloomily to myself. I just hope it'll be enough to make her stay. . .and make her stop dating Daa-nny.