AN: once again this is a scene between Adrian and Natalie who are in a committed relationship. It could fit into my other story somewhere but you don't need to have read that to read this.

Chapter 3: A poisoned tree

"Hi honey, sorry I'm late," Natalie called as she entered the house. "It was just one of those days where everything took longer and everything went wrong," Natalie spoke as she put away her purse and keys and took off her heels before finally finding him in the living room. "Adrian?" Natalie was instantly on alert when she saw his face, she had seen a lot of different expressions on Adrian's face over the last six years ranging from horror to complete bliss, but this look was a new one. "Honey are you okay?"

"Yeah of course," Adrian said but his tight voice implied that it wasn't true.

"Okay," Natalie ventured while she sat next to him on the couch. "Tell me about your day?"

"Something interesting did happen," Adrian volunteered, "I found out that I have an aunt."

"Really?" Natalie asked, "that's big news, I know you always wanted more family."

"Yeah, well Ambrose found her," Adrian said, "you know that he is on the world wide web," Adrian's continued use of the phrase made Natalie smile despite his tone. "He started to do research on our family tree and found that Jack has a half-sister. She is a local artist in Santa Fe."

"That's neat, maybe that's where you get your artistic talent," Natalie smirked trying to keep it light. "I know you are great at drawing straight lines." Despite his mood, this made Adrian smile.

"I don't know, but Ambrose found some of her paintings and one of them was a family tree." Monk's tone went from being completely flat to carrying a slight tremble.

"Is it any good," Natalie asked, she wanted to delay whatever negative thing was coming, but she also wanted Adrian to share his pain with her so she could help.

"It is good, as much as I can tell anyway," Adrian sounded so small, Natalie wanted to take him in her arms, but she knew he needed to talk first. "Ambrose was really upset though because we aren't on it."

"What?" Natalie hoped Adrian wasn't saying what it sounded like he was saying.

"We aren't on the family tree. It is just Jack and Jack Jr. So not only did we not know that we have an aunt, she either doesn't know that we exist or doesn't acknowledge us. Either way, it isn't good right?" Adrian looked up at Natalie with the eyes of a hurt child. Natalie knew that feeling. When it comes to our parents we are all just children and the hurt they cause is unlike any other.

Natalie didn't know what to say at first, what can one say to comfort this pain. Natalie had issues with her own parent's but at least they always acknowledged her as their child. Natalie let her instincts guide her actions and pulled Adrian in close to her chest rocking his body slightly. She ran a soothing hand over his hair repeatedly and pressed kisses to his brow.

After a minute or two, the tears started and Natalie whispered soothing words of love as she continued to rock back and forth gently. Eventually, the tears stopped and Adrian came back to his senses. "I'm sorry Natalie, I know this shouldn't affect me so much I'm a grown man."

"Adrian, it's okay, it should affect you like this. It's your father, and our parents should never hurt us like this. You would never hurt Molly like this, and she is a grown woman."

"I should be stronger than this," Adrian shook his head, "and Molly is just a girl."

Natalie smiled at that, "Adrian I don't know what to tell you to make this better or to convince you that you are ten times the man your father will ever be. But I can tell you that even if he doesn't acknowledge you as family, Molly, Julie, Ambrose, Leland, TK, Sharona, Randy and I are all your family."

"And each of you is ten times the person that Jack is."

"That's right," Natalie said with a nod.

"Speaking of TK and Leland, we are supposed to go to dinner with them tonight."

"Why don't I call them and tell them that I am not feeling well and you and I can spend the night together here."

"I would like that," Adrian said with a hopeful look. "Thank you." Natalie smiled and nodded at Adrian, she was about to get up and go make the phone call when Adrian pulled her back down next to him on the couch. "I love you, Natalie."

"And I love you, Adrian, so much."

AN: So, this is somewhat based on my life. My father and I didn't speak for about ten years when I was in my teens and into my twenties because I didn't want that negativity in my life. But during that time his sister who is an artist made a painting of a family tree and while she included my other siblings she didn't include me in it. This was the reaction I wish I had gotten from my husband (his reaction was more like suck it up.) The reason I am telling you this is because if this seems at all out of character for them or rambling I just couldn't seem to help it this time. Sorry. -Maggy