This story is broken into parts of present and past. I had actually written a Monk mpreg way back in 2006, however, was subsequently deleted a few months after posting. Reviews much appreciated. This is a very long one-shot, taking a glimpse into what it might've been like if Monk (of course, living in a biologically reverse world) going through an IVF procedure using the last surviving embryo of his and Trudy's. Reviews much appreciated. Thank you for reading!
June 6th, 2006
It marked nearly 9 years since Trudy's passing. Adrian Monk was still attending sessions with Dr. Kroger, still with the department, and Natalie still on his payroll. As meager as it was. Everything was more or less the same as it had always been. Except for one little, or in Monk's case, big thing. He was 9 months pregnant with a daughter, the one thing he never knew he was missing from his life.
His fanatical, obsessive compulsive tendencies. Trying to fill the voids with cleaning and burying himself into his work. He made the ultimate and monumental decision. A year before her death, and long before Monk's debilitating OCD. The couple had landed on a decision to have at least 10 embryos frozen, with the intention of starting a family sometime the following year. By an odd happenchance, the fertility contacted Monk in mid 2005. There was a freak electric short, resulting in the cryogenic storage units to malfunction and essentially render the embryos nonviable. All except one.
The procedure was to be relatively quick, with minimal side effects. He had until September 20th of that year to make a decision. This involved extra sessions with his therapist. Just to make absolute certainty that what he was doing was right. Even though Natalie was relatively new at the time with being his replacement assistant, he even asked her what he should do. Both answers from each person were the same, "follow your heart".
It wasn't going to be easy, and he knew he certainty wouldn't enjoy a single moment of it. But, then came that little voice inside his head. If he didn't take the leap, he would regret it for the rest of his life. His wife may be gone. But this way, the former Detective would still always have that part of Trudy with him.
The procedure was roughly an hour. That didn't take into account the full hour before he was finally anesthetized, touching everything and asking multiple times if the room was sterile enough. He was then sent home with medication he had to take over the next month to ensure a successful and safe pregnancy. Then, that one memory that would always stay with him. It was 4pm on a Sunday in October. A month since the embryo transfer, seeing as Monk was naturally utterly appalled at the thought of having to use a pregnancy test. He double gloved his hands and quickly as possible, finished his business.
Laying the test atop neatly organized garbage in the open waste basket, he set a timer for 3 minutes. His nerves flared up, deciding to distract himself by bleaching underneath the fridge for the second time that day. Before he knew it, he heard the timer go off. Making somewhat of a power walk back to the bathroom. A nervous tic took over and he scrunched his right eye when glancing down at the results. Immediately phoning Natalie.
"Mr. Monk, did you get the results?"
The inflection in her voice was somewhat giddy, though she attempted not to go too overboard with her excitement on the off chance the outcome was in the negative. She heard him make an odd noise, almost like a disgusted scoff.
"It..it's two lines, they're..pink"
Natalie's eyes almost bulged from her skull. This was his one and only shot, and she couldn't be happier with the news. Whether he was able to handle it or not remained indeterminable. As she began to speak, all that could be heard was a sharp gasp.
"Tha..that's wonderful, Mr. Monk! It means the procedure was a success! You're gonna be a daddy. I remember when Mitch first showed m-"
"Natalie, we're talking about me, here"
He shamelessly interjects. Natalie bit her tongue. She knew it wasn't to be deliberately rude, but at the same time, she felt she could benefit from having more of a backbone with him.
"Yes, of course (sarcasm dripping in the statement) the two pink lines..it means you're pregnant"
The line immediately went dead silent. She began to think perhaps the revelation was a bit too much for him to handle.
"Mr. Monk...Mr. Monk, are you okay?"
She heard an odd, almost hoarse-like weak voice respond.
"I..I'm going to be a daddy"
The passing months he was plagued by morning sickness, more often than not, preferring death rather than getting sick at least twice a day. It was any wonder how Natalie hung in there. But she knew deep down, how much this meant to him. It was especially poignant seeing as this baby was the last physical tie to Trudy. He hated being sick, absolutely despised it.
It was any wonder how San Fransisco, or the state of California itself, hadn't been completely depleted of hand wipes. The former Detective continued assisting with cases. Much to everyone's astonishment. Perhaps it was a way to channel his anxiety elsewhere. Stottlemeyer and Randy were filled in on Monk's condition the moment the test revealed a positive result. Both had their doubts, of course. Monk was rather neurotic at times, obsessive to the nine. But one thing was for certain, when it came down to it, they knew in their heart of hearts, he would make a wonderful father.
"Monk, I was goin' through some crap in the garage and found Max's old crib from when he was a baby. I want you to have it"
He turned to Adrian with an almost father figure-like smile. It was a long shot, no doubt about that. Chances are he'd turn it down in favor of a brand new crib. However, when the dollar signs started to climb. The offer of one for free was almost too tempting to pass over. Especially considering it was comparable to 2 months rent in his case.
"Uh, thanks Captain but-"
"Don't worry, it's been sanitized down to the wood grain"
He chuckled. Still, however feeling apprehensive about it, but then Natalie cuts in.
"That's very sweet. But I think we're going a different route. Right, Mr. Monk?"
He anxiously, but lightly nods his head. He was thankful to have his assistant there to answer the difficult things he could not. Not that they were particularly onerous from the start, unlike his keen observational skills, one the former Detective lacked greatly was the art of tactfulness.
"Suit yourself. I think Randy has somethin' for ya"
The young, awkward Lieutenant retrieves a pack from a brown paper bag at the foot of his desk.
"They're ah, they're diapers"
He smiled and handed it to Monk. Of course accepting it with a hand wipe-covered palm. The Captain eyed the pack of disposables with a look of amusement and simply at a loss for words.
"Randy, did you check the labeling on that before you bought it?"
Disher appeared perplexed. Almost as though at that very moment, he was questioning his very existence.
"Well, obviously...See? Right on the packaging. "Diapers" "
"Lieutenant, those are dog diapers"
As Monk became further along, the department was rather dubious he could handle the caseloads. Not to mention his incessant whining about every damn thing under the sun. His feet hurt, his back hurt, he was tired.
"Monk, back when I was pregnant I don't think I bitched half as much as you. And I have two"
The Captain stated in an annoyed capacity. Even though you could clearly make out the tiny semblance of a curved corner of his lips into a smirk.
"Well, you did it twice. This' only once"
Natalie was right by his side, like some sort of well trained Labrador Retriever.
"It's okay, Mr. Monk. Just focus on this case, alright?"
The Case in question was an apparent double homicide More than likely an affair gone South. The OCD Investigator was now 6 months along, much to the trials and tribulations of the sonogram tech during one of his regular appointments in his 20th week. It was revealed he was expecting a baby girl. Although, it seemed she inherited more of her mother's attributes than her father's.
Actually trying to focus was easier said than done, it felt as though she were practicing Taekwondo. He snapped his eyes shut. Hand hovering slightly above his rounded abdomen. Feeling every kick and jab, she certainly made it difficult to put his cursed gift into action.
"Nat..Natalie, she's doing it again"
Natalie chuckles, physically able to see movement beneath the Investigator's button-down dress shirt. Of course, still accompanied by his stone grey suit coat. In a bold move, had left open. There was simply no point in buttoning it, nor could he at this stage.
"Ha, Mr. Monk that's completely normal. It means she's healthy"
He could hardly believe where he was. Her due date only mere days away, but given his age, possibly even sooner. He loathed the pains, especially the sickness. Half a dozen times he contemplated completely replacing his toilet, but somehow, he survived. A small smile pulled at the corners of his mouth. Watching in awe as her tiny foot lashed across his stomach. He gently pushed the raised area back down to regain its symmetric sphericity.
"You know daddy loves you, but don't make everything uneven"
Hearing his voice, he felt her give a small nudge. There were even times he read to her, hoping he could finally break some barriers and form a solid bond. Something he and his brother, Ambrose, never experienced with their own parents. He smiles once more, giving a heavy sigh before deciding to rearrange the spice rack for at least the second time in 2 hours.
Her room was unlike other newborn baby girls. Naturally, everything had to be perfect and even. The small study was transformed into a nursery. Her crib perfectly aligned with the tiny window. The walls such a subtle shade of pink, they almost appeared white. No mobile above her crib, it was simply an disorderly mess. However, a framed photo of Trudy was placed neatly above it. He had never felt anything like this before. For once in his life he felt...excited.
To love again, almost like life was anew. He couldn't wait to meet his daughter. As often as he complained, deep down, he knew, somewhere within the far recesses of his brain. He actually loved every minute of it. To experience something so surreal, knowing this tiny life depended on him for survival. Oftentimes he was selfish, putting his needs and wants above everyone else around him.
Once finished, he grabbed himself a light snack of dried fruit. Minimal cleanup and virtually no crumbs, settling down to watch some television. Just as he turned to the local San Fransisco station, he felt an odd and alarming twinge. "It's nothing" Monk told himself, several minutes pass, and the twinge returns. This time more severe than the last. He could now physically feel his abdominal muscles contracting and waning.
His eyes nearly bulge from his skull, his mind a whirlwind of chaos. Natalie tried pounding it into his head to keep the phone nearby, as much as his eccentricities hated it, he had the phone conveniently on the coffee table. Then realizing at that moment, how thankful he had listened for once and put his obsessive compulsion on the back-burner.
"Na..Natalie..are you there?"
Nothing but silence for the first couple seconds. His heart froze.
"Mr. Monk? Are you okay? Do you need to go to the hospital?"
Her panicked voice finally came within range. He silently nods his head, gritting his teeth as the twinges were now full blown contractions. Nothing more needed to be said, as his assistant was now in complete concentration mode.
The events proceeding were a blur. The former Detective slowly awakens in a stark white hospital room of the paternity wing. The smell of bleach awakened the happy sensors of his brain, looking around at the familiar faces surrounding him.
"Heeey, there he is"
Stottlemeyer chuckled, the lines at the corners of his eyes deepening. Randy quickly returned his cell to his pants pocket. Eyes quickly darting about to make sure he didn't inadvertently break some sort of hospital ordinance concerning cellphones. A small smile also adorning his face.
"Monk, would you like to meet your daughter?"
He could feel the emotions getting caught in his throat. His eyes gleaming with tears just about to break the surface. The staff had performed a cesarean as scheduled, making sure the repair was the pinnacle of orderly, every stitch an even number and in place. He was sore, but coherent, again silently nodding his head. Cue Natalie, carefully entering the modest recovery room with a tiny pink bundle in her arms.
"Congratulations, Mr. Monk. She's absolutely beautiful. She looks just like Trudy"
Beaming as she gingerly lowered the sweet little girl into her daddy's awaiting arms. Not a single fleeting thought of wipes or sanitizer. Attempting to speak, but found himself getting choked up. She fussed quietly, gorgeous wisps of sandy blonde hair, her little cheeks flushed a cherry red. Natalie was right, she was the spitting image of Trudy, some of his features, like mouth and perhaps ears were fairly evident. She finally opened her eyes, a sky blue that would render one awestruck.
Ever so gently, Monk places a kiss on her forehead.
"Sh..she's the most beautiful thing I've seen in 9 years" he choked.
Natalie appeared as though she were about to cry. The Captain cleared his throat.
"Congrats again, Monk. I think she has you wrapped around her tiny finger"
He peered lovingly down at his daughter, once more. An index finger delicately tracing the curve of her adorable cherubic cheek.
"Does she have a name?"
Randy asks suddenly. The baby girl resumes her light fussing until Monk softly shushes her. He nods his head with a weary, but heartfelt smile. Since day one, he knew he wanted to pay homage to his dearly departed wife. But their daughter was her own individual. Those stunning blue eyes trapped his attention once more. Trudy always said her favorite flowers were lilies. He was then struck with the perfect balance.
"Lily Anne Monk"
~ END~