The drive home was very quiet for Molly Evans as Adrian appeared to be contemplating all that was said during the time that she and Natalie were busy inside the house, a time that for her would remain a mystery. She tried to probe a little and Adrian had opened up enough to let her know that Steven wasn't particularly happy with his attention towards Natalie; but, he would not elaborate, telling her that he would deal with it and assuring her that things were okay between himself and his assistant. In truth, he wasn't sure they were, but he was satisfied that he had at least done what he could, without knowing what set Natalie off, in order to make amends for anything that he might have said or done.

At Natalie's the scene was not a whole lot different as she assiduously avoided discussing what she and Monk had talked about and dismissed Steven's inquiries into her feelings. He wasn't so bold as to accuse her of having feelings for Monk, but that is what he felt. Indeed, that is what he knew and it was a source of building anger. But, Albright was a politician with a good poker face, and so he portrayed his questions as worry about her well-being against the unstable and manipulative wiles of one, Adrian Monk. When she seemed to get defensive, he even went so far as to recast his and Monk's conversation as one in which he was merely showing Monk the back yard that he had created for his girlfriend only to be attacked as if he thought that Natalie was about material things.

"That doesn't sound like Mr. Monk." Natalie said in response.

"Maybe not around you. But that's what he said." Steven replied. "I'm telling you, Nat. The guy is just playing a game with you because he senses you're going to leave him. Why else would he be paying this kind of attention to you after eleven years?"

Natalie didn't want to believe Steven and inside told herself that he was misreading things and was perhaps a bit jealous. But, he succeeded in planting a little seed of doubt within her mind– a seed that would flourish in days to come.

The next morning, Adrian received a phone call from Natalie letting him know that she had gotten a call from her parents who were throwing a going away party for her brother Jonathan up at their ranch in Napa Valley. Jonathan was traveling to Europe and would be there for several months as a part of an expansion of the Davenport brand and Natalie's mother Peggy had told her they were going to have a party but never said when. She had received the call that morning and explained to Monk that if it wasn't for the fact that she wouldn't see Jonathan in a while she wouldn't even go. But, Peggy had invited her, Julie, and Steven by extension, and she really felt like she needed to make the trip.

To her surprise, Adrian didn't seem upset with her at all about the late notice and in fact told her to go and to have a good time. He would be fine. Even as he said it, however, he knew that he wasn't fine. Increasingly frustrated at the injection of Steven Albright into their daily rhythm and plans, he felt frustrated at being separated from his assistant and trapped between what he wanted and how he knew things must be.

The light of day had also brought to him a new perspective on Steven Albright. He had tried to shake off Albright's confrontation as the jealous reaction of a man whose girlfriend was inordinately close to her employer – and for that, he couldn't really blame him. They were close. Still, there was something more to the encounter that bothered him. There was an implicit threat in what he had said which, although subtle, gave him a chill. There was a side to his rival that he had never seen – a side that Natalie may have never seen, and he didn't like it at all.

It would bear watching, that was for sure; but, for this morning it all had to be set aside because Monk had a job to do and an investigation to undertake.

Sitting at his desk that morning he opened up the box that Natalie had handed him and found stacks of letters, photographs and a couple of books, all bound together lovingly with a black ribbon of mourning that had no doubt been there for years. Untying the ribbon, he imagined the tears that Natalie shed as she packaged up her husband's things and placed them for safe-keeping within the box. As he did so, he couldn't help but feel as if he were intruding into something that was almost sacred, and so he was very careful in how he handled things as well as how he put them back.

.

Picking up the first letter, he would soon see that they were organized by date. He opened the flap of the slightly yellowed envelope from fourteen years prior and began to read.

February 6, 1998 –

From an Aircraft Carrier in the Balkans

My Dearest Natalie,

I hope that this letter finds you and Peanut feeling better. I felt awful that I passed along my cold to you both while I was on leave. The last thing I wanted to do was to leave my girls all red-nosed and coughing like I was the last few days of my visit. I guess I picked it up onboard somewhere but don't know who from – so who knows? Third cold I've gotten this year. I should start carrying antibacterial wipes!

Things have been slow here, just waiting for instructions. I've flown a few drills over parts of Italy that will best mimic the terrain in the Balkans if we should go to war, but there's been none of that since last week and so we sit on this carrier and wait.

Your cookies were a hit, and the care package. Cougar, Klondike and Red all send many thanks and SilverWolf, J.B., and Falcon have requested that you make some of your chocolate-caramel ones next. Yes, I did get some. But, I can't eat everything you send or they'll be sending me home in a crate with a hole on top for my head because my butt won't fit in the airplane seat! You do spoil me and I can't wait to spoil you back.

Give Peanut a big kiss for me and tell her that her daddy misses her and try to take care of yourself. You worry too much about what could go wrong. Trust me. I'm being very safe and you shouldn't worry.

Until we meet again – I love you a million times over.

Your husband,

Mitch

Monk folded the letter carefully and reached into the box for the next envelope. Opening it up, he saw a photograph of Mitch along with seven other men, one of whom was Steven Albright. To Monk, they looked like kids. Opening the letter, he took in the words that Natalie's husband had scrawled across the page. It was dated one week later than the first.

My Darling Natalie,

Happy Valentines Day, my love. I hope this gets to you in time.

I received your care package with the homemade candies and the pictures of you in the red dress. I really wish you wouldn't send the latter for a couple of reasons. 1)I'm afraid that someone will see you and discover you and you'll become this world-class model and they'll take you away. 2)Because I'm over here and you're over there and you know what seeing you in red does to me. You're a cruel woman, Mrs. Teeger but don't think you're getting by with it. No. I'm storing up everything I want to do with you for when I return home. So just take note.

That's great about Peanut and her bicycle. She's growing up so quickly! I can't believe that she is already six. Such a big girl. Don't tell her but her little tea-cup she made got crushed in the mail. I pieced it back together with some superglue, but I don't think it will hold anything. Just an FYI.

Training has picked up and we're flying more recognizance missions just to get the lay of the land. The Serbs have remained quiet, at least in terms of combat. I don't think they want to mess with the U.S. or NATO forces. I still feel weird working with the KLA. But, that's politics I suppose. The guys seem nice enough and the one's I've met speak pretty good English if you can get past the accent.

I'm enclosing a photo of myself along with two of the KLA guys, Silverwolf, Cougar and Klondike. Klondike just got engaged. There's hope for him yet.

I'm told the next time I can get leave is going to be April 6th, so be waiting for me then. I was only gone for three days in January, so I figure I can come in for Spring Break and maybe spend a week. That'll leave twenty days for the year. Can't wait to see you and Peanut, Nat. Love you always.

Yours,

Mitch

On and on, Monk read through letters and notes as the last days of Mitch Teeger unfurled before his eyes. Most items were benign but they always contained a personal element that gave Adrian a real feeling of the amount of loss that Natalie had suffered when her husband died and how strong she had to have been to pull herself together and raise Julie after that loss.

It wasn't until he reached March of that year that Mitch's letters really struck a chord. Not only was he introduced into a couple of additional characters, whom he assumed were Harry Chambers and Robbie Robinson, but Mitch's tone changed as well. It was much more serious and Monk knew that at times he was reading the words of a man who knew he might never return home.

Looking back at that time, Monk wondered if Mitch would have thought that it was worth it. His wife and daughter grew up without their father and husband for a war that ultimately proved to be easy for the U.S. and NATO to win. He found his answer in the last letter that Natalie received from her spouse. The stamp on the outside of the envelope showed she had received it after his death and its tear stained and crumpled pages were an indication of the grief she bore when reading it.

March 23, 1998

From an Aircraft Carrier in the Balkans

My dearest Natalie,

I am writing this letter to you from the cockpit of an F/A-18F Super Hornet waiting for clearance for takeoff. We ran some sorties yesterday against a couple of Serbian MIGs but they bugged out and returned to whatever hell-hole base they came from before we could fully engage. They still managed to pop off a few missiles that did little to no damage to where some of our guys have pitched their tents. So, as a result, myself, Klondike, Vulture and Speed are all heading out on a recognizance mission to try to find out where those buggers are hiding. We're going on in two groups. Klondike and Vulch are outfitted like me and Speed, and together we should be able to make quick work of it and come back to the carrier – that is as long as Speed is paying attention, which I suspect he will be after the last talk I gave the good Lieutenant.

Natalie, I don't want to lie to you and I don't want to scare you. Some of what I'm dealing with and the people I'm dealing with right now are a bit dangerous and, as I know you hate to discuss, there is a slight possibility I might run into real trouble – particularly over the next few weeks. Obviously, I can't speak about it but what I'm doing right now, I am doing with the knowledge that it has to be done and will likely save many lives – particularly those in the U.S. Military. So, if I should fall in battle somewhere, I want you to know that I have no regrets for what I'm doing right now because ultimately, I'm doing it for us and our family. If America is hurt, we are hurt. And I want for Peanut to be able to grow up in the kind of country that I grew up in, where she's free. To do this, we have to be vigilant – even when the answer to that vigilance isn't the answer we necessarily want. It's all for the greater good.

And so, my love, even though I think I'll be okay – I want you to know, just in case I am not, that I'm thankful for every moment we have spent together and that you chose to go against your parents wishes to marry me. It's been a heck of a ride that the two of us have had and you've given more to me than this old country boy ever hoped he could have. You've given me a wonderful life and a beautiful daughter whom I love so very much. So, if I should not return I want you to let Julie know how much her daddy loved her – each and every day – so that she never doubts it. And please, never doubt my love for you.

Also, if I don't make it home, I want for you to be happy. Please don't mourn me forever but find yourself a good man who will love you and Julie and can help to raise her as I would have if I had been there. I know you're stubborn and don't like to be told what to do, but listen to me for once and look for him. If I'm not there, I may even send him your way.

They are giving me the sign now that it's okay for takeoff, so I'm going to go take to the skies. It is supposed to be beautiful today and tomorrow with no clouds at all so it should be pretty safe. Give Peanut a hug for me and I'll try to write again later this week.

Yours for always,

Mitch

As he gently placed the last letter back into the box, Monk closed his eyes and bowed his head in reflection about what he had just read. Carefully, he put the lid on the box and then placed the box inside his desk drawer where he knew it would be safe. Looking across his desk he reached for the photo of himself with Natalie and Julie and smiled. He felt glad for them that they had known such a man as Teeger, if only for a while and sad for the loss they felt. He thought a moment more then shook his head yes before returning the photo to its place and pushing his chair away from the desk. A moment later, he had his keys in hand and after checking his stove, quietly left his apartment. He knew with new clarity exactly what he needed to do.

In Napa Valley, Natalie was facing a completely different situation. She, Julie and Steven had just walked into the front door of her parent's country estate and already her nerves were on end as her mother sashayed up to them, drink in hand.

"And there's my lovely daughter – fashionably late as usual. So good to see you, dear and you as well, Steven. And, there's my princess! It's wonderful to see you too Julie! Such a pretty girl!"

"Thank you, grandma." Julie responded, giving her grandmother a hug. "It's good to see you too!"

After Julie released her, Peggy explained to Natalie where to find the hors d'oeuvres and told Steven about a famous medical doctor from Stanford that they had in attendance. She then excused herself to go find her husband and told the couple to make themselves at home.

While Steven and Natalie began to mingle in the crowd, Julie made her way over to see her second-cousin Pauline, daughter of her mother's uncle Jerry. It has been years since she had seen her. Pauline was the daughter of Jerry and his third wife April who was around Natalie's age and who had once served as nanny to her other two second-cousins through Jerry - Dan and Becky. The moment Pauline saw Julie a huge smile broke out on her face as the two had always enjoyed getting into trouble at family get together when they were much younger.

"Ju-lie Tee-ger!" the young woman voiced from across the room before running up to Julie for bear hug. Pauline looked exactly how Julie remembered except for the fact that she had a very rounded belly in front of her that didn't match her otherwise thin frame. "I was hoping that you were going to be here! How many years has it been?"

Julie smiled uncomfortably as some eyes had shifted her way even as she counted back in her head to the last slumber party they had attended. "I think it's been about five years ago. I wasn't driving and Mom and your Dad agreed that I could come over to your house and spend the night."

"Was that the house in Mendocino or in Malibu? I can't remember."

"I've never been to the one in Malibu, so it had to have been in Mendocino. How are you? You look…healthy." She said.

Pauline laughed. "Yes…well, I'm due next month so I'm not feeling as healthy as I did a few months ago."

"Oh. Nobody told me." Julie said.

"I don't suspect they would." Pauline replied. "I'm now number one in terms of being the family's outcast. I won't name the baby's daddy so that beats out eloping to Paris like your mom and dad did. Your mama is out of the dog house."

Julie did not smile.

"Speaking of your mom, where is she?" Pauline asked. "I heard aunt Peggy talking about her this morning and about that Naval officer that's she marrying."

"Oh. Mom and Steven are just dating. They aren't getting married." Julie replied.

"That's not what I heard." She responded. "Seems like her doctor paid a visit to your grandparent's house about a week or two ago. Asked for Natalie's hand in marriage. Can you believe that? Ah, to find such chivalry in a guy! Did they not tell you?"

Julie frowned. "No. They didn't." she said, upset.

"Well that's what happened, girly. Heard it with my own two ears. Not only that, but your grandpa helped to get him a promotion to go to Japan. Going to go there after they get hitched." Pauline replied, eying some hors d'oeuvres that had just passed her way. Julie was even more upset and began to look through the crowd. The audacity of her cousin just blurting that out. Surely, it wasn't true. Julie had to find out.

"That's not possible. She wouldn't move to Asia without telling me. Excuse me, Pauline. I need to go."

Julie pushed her way through the crowd looking specifically for her grandparents. She spotted Natalie and Steven off talking with a man she knew to be that famous doctor and figured with Albright's profession they would be with him for a while; and so, when she spotted Bobby and Peggy out on the patio together she made a beeline towards them, dragging them both by the arm towards the house.

"What is this, Princess?" Bobby said in protest.

"Yes, what on earth is the urgency?" Peggy complained.

Julie pulled them down into the wine cellar and shut the door so that the people outside could not hear her speak. Unbeknownst to her, they were not alone.

"What do you guys think you're doing?" Julie said with exasperation.

"Doing?" Peggy said. "Why, dear. We're having a party. Can't whatever this is wait? We have guests."

"No. It can't wait. It's about my mom and Steven." Julie said more clearly. "Pauline said that he came to ask for her hand and that you two not only willingly accepted it but that you, grandpa, helped secure a promotion for him to take Mom away to Japan."

"That's correct." Bobby said. "Is there a problem?"

"A problem! Yes, there is a problem." She replied. "My mother isn't in love with Steven. He's just some guy to hang around. She loves Mr. Monk."

"Adrian Monk? That funny little man?" Peggy scoffed. "You can't be serious."

"I'm very serious. She's loved him for years and over the past several months the two of them have grown closer. I've tried to stay out of the way as much as possible so that things could develop – which I think they're doing." Julie said.

"Oh, for crying out loud." Peggy said, rolling her eyes. "How ridiculous - Monk!"

"And, the last thing we need is for you and grandpa to be using your money and power to try to engineer something for her that she most definitely doesn't want." Julie said.

"And how do you know that she doesn't want it?" Bobby said. "He's a good catch, young lady. Handsome. Successful. Can support your mother very well."

"None of those things are her priority grandpa, and you know it." Julie said. "Mom could have hooked up with a number of guys through the years, doctors, lawyers, architects. But none of them ever worked because she had already found love."

"With that crazy detective?" Peggy replied.

"With that wonderful detective, grandma, and man – a wonderful man. I know he's a bit eccentric at times, but when we've needed someone, who has stepped in for us – Adrian Monk. When someone was trying to hurt my Mom, who protected her – on more than one occasion, Adrian Monk. They have been best friends forever and he's been more of a dad to me than my own dad ever got to be. I've been with Mr. Monk for more years than Mitch Teeger was ever in my life, and he taught me about the birds and bees and the importance of waiting for the right guy, he helped me with my homework, he helped me when I needed my license, he and Mom went to all of my plays and he's generally filled in where my real dad couldn't." she said. "He's part of our family."

"Sounds like maybe you're worried that that you're going to lose out on a friend if your mother goes and marries her doctor." Bobby suggested.

"Grandpa, give me a little credit here. I'm twenty-two years old and living on my own. This is about my Mom and this is about her future happiness. I've seen how she looks at Steven and I've seen how she looks at Mr. Monk. There's no comparison. It's like they are bound in their soul or something. They are opposites in some ways but they fit perfectly together. Steven knows how to be polite and he evidently knows how to politic. But to her, he's just another one of her boyfriends – someone to spend time with. He's not someone to spend the rest of her life with, like Mr. Monk."

Bobby put his hand on Julie's shoulder. "Well, Princess, I'm afraid that this decision isn't up to you or up to me and your grandma. Your mother will just have to…What was that? Did you hear something?"

Suddenly they heard a sound coming from the back of the cellar and the three of them jumped. As a figure appeared from the shadows, Peggy gave a relieved sigh.

"Jonathan Davenport! What on earth are you doing down here?" she asked.

Jonathan displayed a slightly embarrassed smile. "Just getting another bottle of Bordeaux, mother. The Fitzpatricks drank up the last drop."

Peggy shook her head. "Oh, that Elma Fitzpatrick, if there was ever a woman that could learn some temperance! Let me see what you have dear." She replied, taking the bottle from his hand. "Oh good. You've got the 1988. That was a good year. Just the right taste of fruit with a little bite in the end. Good choice, son."

"Thank you, Mother." Jonathan said. "I'll just be taking this out to them now. Hey Julie. Great seeing you today."

"Hi, uncle Jonathan. Great seeing you too."

The party continued for several more hours and evolved from a casual business affair to the kind of gala that the Davenports were known for, as soon, people took to the dance floor as a soft band began to swing old familiar tunes from the 40s and 50s. Some were fast and some were slow songs and the crowd seemed to enjoy themselves with each hastening beat. During one fast song, Steven held out his hand and asked Natalie to dance. His style was nowhere near as smooth as Adrian's was but they made it awkwardly through the dance, happy that nobody broke any bones. When the music slowed down, Steven held Natalie close and her brother Jonathan watched from the sidelines as his sister stood there with her head against her beau's chest with a look on her face as if she would rather be any place else than on that dance floor in that moment. At that, Jonathan set down his glass and made his way over to his niece who was sulking in the corner.

"Why so glum, sugar plum?" he asked.

Julie looked sadly up at him and shrugged her shoulders. "It's nothing. Just, life doesn't always turn out the way you hoped it would."

Jonathan smiled. "Oh, you're too young to be thinking such defeatist thoughts. Hey, I happen to believe that if you're a good person and you try to do good, good things will eventually happen to you and some bad things won't."

Julie looked at him with confusion. "What do you mean?"

"Take me for instance. Several years ago, I almost made the biggest mistake of my life by marrying someone that was decidedly not good."

"She was a murderess. I think that goes a bit beyond being not good." Julie smirked.

"True. But you see, what I think really happened is she came in my life to teach me a lesson and thankfully right exactly at the right moment it was revealed what a mistake it was and I was spared."

Julie took a deep breath and looked out at her mother. "Who is going to stop this one?"

Jonathan smiled. "Oh, Julie. I think you don't give your mom enough credit. She's remained single all of these years because none of these guys have been the right one."

"Mr. Monk is."

"Maybe." He said. "But that's for her to discover. And, I think that she's smart enough that she will not make the mistake you're afraid of her making. Of course, she may need a little reminding about what it is she really wants." He said.

Julie looked over at him with curiosity.

"Care to dance, young lady?" he asked.

Julie tilted her head and grinned. "Sure."

Uncle and niece made their way out onto the dance floor and swayed back and forth as the second song turned into a third. He directed his niece a little ways over to where his sister and Steven were standing, swaying back and forth. About midway through the song he leaned in towards Julie and whispered into her ear.

"Keep him busy."

"Huh? Keep who busy?" she asked, perplexed; but, before she received her answer, Jonathan had released her from his grip and tapped Steven on the shoulder.

"May I cut in?" he asked.

Steven looked at Jonathan and then Natalie then down at Julie and shrugged. "Sure thing, man. Enjoy!"

Julie gave Jonathan a glare even as Steven offered her his hand and she took it, aghast. Meanwhile, her uncle led her mother off into another direction. Jonathan noticed as they danced that Natalie's expression immediately brightened.

"Thank you." She smiled, then dropped her eyes as she realized what she just said.

"Thank me?" Jonathan said. "Things not going well?"

"No." She replied. "They're fine."

"Because if they aren't, I can still go beat him up." He replied. "Nobody upsets my sister and gets by with it."

Natalie laughed. "No, seriously. We're fine. I…I was just hoping to get to see you, and he kept us dancing and I was seeing the hours go by and ….well…here you are."

"Here I am." He replied. "Just like old times."

Natalie smiled as she remembered the parties and the dancing that she and her brother did when they were children. "Exactly. Except we both have a few more miles on us than we did back then."

"True. But you're still my beautiful sister." He replied.

"And you're still my handsome little brother." She responded. "Are you getting excited?"

"About Europe? Eh…seen Venice once, you've seen it a million times."

"Ouch! Don't rub it in!" Natalie chortled, shoving him ever so slightly.

"Seriously though, I am looking forward to it. I know the first several weeks are going to be all business, but eventually I plan on getting out and about, have some fine food, meet some fine ladies."

"Don't go meeting Mrs. Right over there." She replied. "We never will get you back to the states."

"Oh. Don't you worry about that, Missy." He replied. "I have learned my lesson once. Romance is like fine wine, you've gotta let it age to where it really gets good. You know what I mean?"

Natalie nodded, so he continued.

"Which reminds me, you and Mr. Fulbright over there…"

"Albright."

"Yeah, him." Jonathan replied. "You've been dating, what, three or four years?"

"Four. Actually, less if you count all of the time he was deployed." She replied.

"Any thoughts of…you know…getting hitched?" he asked.

Natalie shook her head. "No. Nothing like that at all. I think we're good the way we are. He's a good man and fun to hang out with."

"Hang out?"

"Yeah, you know. Watch movies. Go see a show." She replied.

"Ah. Do you talk much?" he asked.

"Sometimes." She responded.

"What about?" Jonathan asked.

Natalie thought, "Well, mostly about his deployment and things about his career. Sometimes we will talk about mine, but honestly, Mr. Monk is a little bit of a sore subject with him. I think he might be a little jealous."

"Of your boss?" Jonathan asked.

"Yes. He's really the only thing we ever argue over." She responded. "Aside from that, it's been…you know, pardon the pun, smooth sailing with me and the Lieutenant."

Jonathan nodded. "That's good, that's good. I suppose."

"Why do you say that?" she asked. "I suppose?"

Jonathan tilted his head and raised one eyebrow. "Well, the fact that you never fight might be a sign you're just that compatible and have nothing to fight about – or it could be that you don't have much in common to discuss or fight about. People generally only fight about things they feel passionately over, and if you two are fighting over another man…I don't know…it could be good or it could be…not so good."

Natalie's eyes shifted slightly as she tried to reframe the conversation. "It's not just another man, Jonathan. It's Adrian. You know, my boss?" she replied. "Steven has no reason to be jealous of Mr. Monk. He's my best friend, but we're not…it's not like we're together or anything."

"I didn't say you were." Jonathan replied. "And, truthfully Nat…I think the reason I brought it up to begin with has little to do with Adrian Monk. I mean, I've met your boss and he's smart and resourceful – a little odd, but aren't we all. But I look at him and I look at Steven and try to put myself in a girl's shoes. On the one hand, they're both single – which is a good start, but Adrian's a little older and as I recall a bit moody and had a few issues that he was coping with. He's well respected and I think a good solid man who showed a massive amount of devotion to his late wife, which would make me think if he ever were to love again, would make it possible for him to show love to that lady. But, you know…there's a lot of ifs there. He's complicated and a bit of a mess. And I look over at Cartright…"

"Albright." She corrected.

"Yeah, Steve – Albright. Gotta get that right. But, he doesn't look complicated at all. He's well built, chiseled features, polite, smart, gotta good job, good future, seems to be steady tempered, devoted, loyal – really, a sure bet for any woman that might nab him."

Natalie pursed her lips, wondering what he was coming to and steeling herself to be pushed towards Steven. "Your point?" she asked.

Jonathan shrugged. "To me, it's a no brainer as to who I would choose, if…you know, I were a woman… and there should really be nothing to fight over. Unless of course…" he continued, looking down at his sister. "Unless of course, it's not as much of a matter of the brain as it is of the heart."

Looking up at her brother she knew in an instant that he saw straight through her. She sighed. "And, if it is a matter of the heart more than the head? What would you do?"

Jonathan smiled a knowing smile. "Nat, if it's a matter of the heart then I say – follow your heart. Sis, you and Julie have been through so much in your young life and you guys have made it through it all. Life isn't supposed to be easy and uncomplicated. It's supposed to be full of complications and ups and downs and fights and making up and passion and peaceful times and love. If you don't have all of that with your Mr…Albright…there, then my advice to you would be abandon course. Life is too short to spend it with the wrong person."

"And if the right person is never going to be available?" she asked.

"It's still too short." He replied. "But, that's ultimately your decision to make. I can't make it and Bobby and Peggy can't make it. Julie can't even make it. You've got to decide what you want and then don't for a moment let go of that dream. It may happen or it may not, but at least you'll know you gave it your best shot and you can have peace about that."

Natalie hugged her brother closely as the song came to an end, then rejoined Julie and Steven until the party's end. At the end of the day, she cried as she said goodbye – not just because of his going away but because there was someone who really understood her and loved her and to whom she could talk to. He had given her much to consider and while she still struggled with making the next move, she knew she had a choice. Safety and stability, or taking a risk and ending up with nothing in the end. But then again, if she took the latter choice she might just end up with the fulfillment of her heart's desire. It would be another sleepless night as she pondered these things but she knew she must decide soon, for herself as well as for Steven and Adrian.

Monk's blue SUV pulled onto a road so familiar that he had memorized every curve. As he rounded the bend near the old oak tree his vehicle gently came to a stop and he paused for a moment to gaze across the green grass towards the black granite monument that had long been a place of refuge for him but for some reason was no longer calling his name. He observed the stone and then looked up to the sky and then smiled, nodding towards that which was unseen but, he knew instinctively, was watching his every move. He wouldn't visit her today as he so often did. Instead, it was another grave he had come to see.

Moving to the back of the cemetery, Monk pulled his car as close as he could next to the curve and then switched off the ignition after coming to a complete stop. Reaching over to the passenger's seat, he picked up an arrangement of red, white and blue carnations that he had picked up in town a few minutes prior. They were accented by a small American flag and gold-painted floral pick with the word "Fallen Hero" emblazoned at its head. Truthfully, he felt a little strange at carrying flowers to another man, but with what Mitch had sacrificed, figured that it was fitting that he suffer a little discomfort in order to honor a man of such valor as Natalie's husband.

Walking across the field of white marble crosses, each marking the burial place of a member of the United States Military, Monk tried to recall exactly where Mitch's grave stood as it had been years since Natalie had taken him to the spot. His impeccable memory led him straight to the area, to Mitch's cross and to the flat plaque below it that Natalie had purchased. Looking at it now, it seemed an inadequate memorial to the man that was, though he knew it was all that Natalie could afford. Monk stopped in reverence, quietly reading the inscription to himself.

Lieutenant Commander

Mitchell J. Teeger

United States Navy

Husband, Daddy, Friend

Killed in Action

Kosovo, March 24, 1998

"Always in our hearts, Nat and Peanut"

As he read the final words, Monk sniffled then looked beyond the grave across the sea of crosses and stones that stood as memorials to other people's grief. He had been there. He lived there for most of his adult life and he knew the tears that others had shed. How many of them had spouses waiting for them at home, but they never came? How many had children who grew up without their father or mother? How many of them now rested in the ground and were all but forgotten?

Looking back at Mitch's stone, Monk determined that it would not happen to him. Bending down, he sat the flower arrangement in front of the cross and squatted for a moment, momentarily wiping his eyes and swiping the back of his hand below his nose as he considered the words he would say to a man he wasn't even sure would hear him, but whom he felt compelled to address. After gathering his thoughts for a few moments, he began to utter what was on his mind.

"Hello, Mitch. Um…you don't know me…or maybe you do. But, my name is Adrian. Adrian…Monk." He paused and looked around and then back down at his hands, not quite sure why he felt so emotional in that moment, only knowing that he did. "I…I am Natalie's boss and her friend and…I've been looking into the circumstances surrounding your death for her as well. She doesn't know I'm doing this because, well…at first, I wasn't sure what I was going to find. But, as I have gotten into the data and into your letters I really see clearly that you are not at all the man that they accused you of being. You were a good man. An honorable man. A man who loved his family…and his country – and a hero. So, first, I want to thank you for being who you were. Heaven knows that we need more like you. But second, I wanted to tell you that I'm going to work as hard as I can to see that others know who you were too – who you really were, and see that your accusers are brought to justice." He shrugged and looked back down at the stone. "That's what I do. I'm a detective and I'm good at it. And it's my vow that I won't stop until I see it is done. You can count on that.

Now, you might wonder why it is that this guy you never met would do this thing and…well, I'll tell you, but I think you already know.

Mitch, I am that man in your letter. I am the man whose purpose it was to love your Natalie and see to it that Julie had a father while growing up. I didn't know it at the time and I'm sure Natalie didn't either, but you died…what?...four months after my Trudy? I can't help but believe that she was looking down and seeing that I needed someone to heal my broken heart and imagine her maybe looking over and seeing you watching Natalie needing the same. It may sound crazy, and maybe it is, but I like to think that maybe you two concocted a plan the pulled us two together…at least that's how I would like to imagine it.

Regardless, it's been eleven years since I first met your precious wife and, well…I've finally awakened to who she is, and…I love her. I love her with everything I have, more than life itself. And so, given the fact that I've already wasted so much time getting to this point, I don't really want to delay things any more by being afraid to act…I'm prone to doing that, but the stakes are too high right now and so I want to be brave. And so, if it's okay with you…I would like to ask your Natalie to be my Natalie so that I can take care of her and love her exactly like you hoped for her all along.

I…I want to marry her and be there for her and grow old with her and make her happy the rest of my days…if that is okay.

Now, if you need references…my Trudy is up there with you somewhere, as you know, and she can vouch for my character. Julie likes me, I believe…and well, we have sorta been a makeshift nuclear family for years anyway…without…you know, being married or living together or actually being a family. But, I want to change that now – and even though your old friend Steven Albright is on the scene and staking his claim, I believe I love her more and want her happiness even more than my own and hope that somehow…someway…you…"

Suddenly, Monk's attention was diverted as a large shadow glided over the ground in front of the stone and over himself, landing in a nearby tree. Looking up, he spotted what had caused the movement – a bald eagle – not unheard of in the San Francisco Bay area but still a sight that Adrian had never seen in his fifty-three years. He looked at him in awe as the majestic animal gripped the tree branch and surveyed the cemetery's landscape. Then, in a moment, it looked at him -eye to eye, face to face, and Monk would have sworn it nodded before extending its nearly eight-foot wing span and then soaring away into the deep blue sky. Needless to say, he was speechless, staying crouched in his position for the longest time, pondering what had transpired. Finally, he looked back over at the gravesite which seemed to him as vacant as Trudy's and smiled.

"Thank you, Lieutenant Commander." He said softly. "I'll take care of her, I promise. Please say hi to Trudy and tell her I love her. Thank her as well. I've finally begun to live again. That would please her."

Standing up, Monk returned to his car checking his watch as he walked quickly away. He still had time for one more stop if he hurried.

Driving to the center of town Adrian parked his car and made his way across the busy city street to a series of shops – passing the florist he had visited earlier in the day. At the end of the row was a place he went to twice a year to have all of his time pieces recalibrated, Betz's Jewelers. Given that he had already been there in January for the first stop in his biannual adjustments, he knew that the owners would be surprised to see him and maybe a little disturbed. For some reason they always seemed anxious when he would walk through the door, he never knew why.

But, this trip was not to recalibrate any watch. It was to recalibrate his life. He was going to look for a ring for his Natalie and was not going to leave until he found the perfect one. No more fooling around or procrastinating. He knew he loved her and wanted to spend the rest of his life with her and, despite not knowing what she would say, felt it was worth the risk to offer his heart to her for always, if only she would say yes.