Chapter 7 Julie Wants To Talk
Standard disclaimer: I don't own Monk.
Notes: Sorry for the delay folks, but finding Julie's voice required numerous revisions. To that I own grateful thanks to Monkwriter, an intrepid editor who isn't afraid of difficult conversations or situations.
To recap our story, it's still Sunday and Adrian and Natalie have just solved the case. They are headed home to spend some quality time with Julie before she returns to college. – Patience to all those waiting for Adrian and Natalie's next date; first Julie wants to talk~prepare yourself for difficult conversations & adult situations!
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Totally clueless about what they were looking for, Adrian followed Natalie around the video store like a lost puppy. He hadn't realized there were so many movies and he was feeling overwhelmed by all the choices. There were movies he had never heard of and actors he didn't recognize; the graphics on the boxes all demanded his attention while video monitors, scattered through the store, played different movies. It was all too much. Adrian turned to Natalie and admitted defeat. "There's no way I could pick a movie. You'll have to choose."
Natalie winked knowingly at Adrian and rubbed his back. "It would be my pleasure. Don't worry about it. Let's just walk around a bit and see what looks good." She herself felt slightly overwhelmed, but for a different reason. Natalie wanted to find a movie that would be suitable for all three of them to watch together as a family; this meant a movie without an 'R' rating, nudity or swearing. Natalie was sure Adrian's modesty would cause him to faint dead away if subjected to anything racy, especially with Julie in the same room. So this requirement ruled out most of the modern romantic movies. And most of the modern comedies- heck most new movies, period. She was about to give up when she spotted the movie 'Pride and Prejudice'; she had seen it before and had thought it was romantic and sweet. She gleefully showed the selection to Adrian, who by now would have agreed to anything, and they proceeded to the checkout.
When they approached the car, he guided her towards the passenger's side and insisted on driving home. As he opened her door, she couldn't resist teasing him, "I guess watching movies at home could count as a date. We just have to make sure we kiss later on."
After getting in and after scanning the parking lot, he leaned over and gently kissed her. "I'm sure that won't be a problem."
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With music from her iPod playing loudly in her ears, Julie sat at her desk flipping through a magazine. She had already washed her laundry and had lunch and was now back upstairs, relaxing in her room. However, she had spent the better part of the day thinking about her mom and Mr. Monk and was anxious for them to come home. Since their family breakfast had been interrupted, Julie hadn't had a chance to have a thoughtful discussion with Mom about her new relationship. She had also been thinking about Mr. Monk and how he really had become like a father to her. Julie decided that she wanted to call him 'Dad' and was excited to know how he would react. With her back to the open door, Julie jumped from her chair when she felt a hand on her shoulder. "HEY!"
"Sorry, honey. I called you but you didn't answer. Adrian and I are off for the rest of the day and rented a movie. Come downstairs and join us." Natalie sat on Julie's bed and picked up a stuffed bear that was sitting on the pillow.
"Sure, but could we talk first?" Julie turned in her chair and faced her mother. She couldn't believe she was initiating this talk, but was determined to get some questions answered.
"Sure, honey, about what?" Natalie's hands involuntarily squeezed and twisted the stuffed bear, her maternal instinct immediately at the ready to defend her young. If Julie was having either school troubles or boy troubles, Natalie would fix the problem, no matter what.
"Mom, how serious is your relationship with Mr. Monk? Do you love each other?" Julie leaned forward and rescued her stuffed bear from her mother's manhandling.
Natalie sat back on Julie's bed, a smile of relief on her face. She hadn't expected these questions but was relieved her baby wasn't in trouble. Her baby, who was now a young woman going to college -
"Mom! Stop daydreaming. What's the story with you and Mr. Monk?" Julie rose from her chair and sat next to her mother on the bed.
Natalie hugged her daughter tight and sighed with contentment. "The story is, we love each very much. We've been getting closer these past few years and everything sort of happened at once. Those few weeks we were apart made us realize we needed to be together, that we completed each other."
"So when are you going to get married?" Julie leaned away from her mother and made eye contact.
"I don't know, honey. I really haven't thought about it and we haven't talked about it." Natalie pulled Julie back into a hug and rocked her like a baby. She really hadn't given a thought to marriage, and only now, because of Julie's question, wondered if Adrian had considered it. Since Mitch's unexpected death so many years ago, Natalie's self-reliance had kept her from thinking of marriage or fully trusting her heart to another. Until now. All of a sudden the idea of marriage seemed possible. "Why do you ask, Julie? Do you think we should marry?"
"Well, when you guys get married, I could call him 'Dad' and we would be a family." Julie rested her head on her mother's shoulder.
Natalie kissed Julie's head and hugged her tighter. "Honey, you can call him Dad if you want to, he would love it. He adores you. We don't have to be married for him to be your dad or for us to be a family."
Julie was silent for a few moments. A blush colored her cheeks as she thought of another question. An embarrassing question concerning what she had thought her mom and the unknown boyfriend were doing the previous day, when she glimpsed her mom's closed bedroom door and heard the quiet laughter. The idea she had immediately disregarded after finding out Mr. Monk, the most respectful man she knew, was Mom's boyfriend. "Okay, but what about, you know, the other thing?" Julie shyly looked at her mother, only to be met with a look of confusion.
"Mom, I mean, you and Mr. Monk aren't totally ancient. But you're not getting any younger. And you both have been alone for a long time and, you know. How long will you guys date before getting married? I mean, you can't, um, 'Wait for Trudy' forever, right?" Julie noticed her mother stiffen and look away. Disentangling herself from her mother's arm, Julie gasped, "Mom! Have you and he already slept together?"
Natalie blushed and looked at her adult daughter. She wasn't about to lie but was keenly aware that what she was about to tell Julie was a double standard. While wanting Julie to remain pure, she didn't want Julie to think love and sex were bad or to be avoided. Natalie began slowly "Julie, things aren't so simple when you become an adult. You are still young and have your whole life ahead of you-"
"Mom, we're not talking about me. I don't have a boyfriend. But you do! And you said to wait until you're legally marriage."
"Julie, sometimes unexpected things happen in life. I never thought I would find such a complete love again. And when you really, truly, love someone, you want to share everything with them; your heart and mind and body. Making love is a blessing in a relationship. After you know someone for years and years and get closer to them, it's only natural. Notice Julie, I said after years and years!" Natalie playfully mussed Julie's hair. "Do you have any questions or problems with what I just said?"
"No, but does that mean you're saying it's okay to be with a guy and not be married?" Julie smoothed her hair and locked eyes with her mother, causing Natalie to fidget.
Natalie didn't have an easy answer for Julie. She recalled with chagrin all the nights spent with Fireman Joe and other men. She had never expected to marry any of them and, sooner or later, felt a twinge of regret in her heart. She knew those men didn't truly love her. But Adrian was different, his love was pure. She did trust her heart to Adrian, and freely wanted to give herself to him. There was no regret when she thought of their night together. But now, after considering the subject, Natalie admitted a small wish for the romance of a beautiful wedding and to have their relationship blessed.
Natalie tried to express her tangle of thoughts and emotions to Julie "I want to tell you it's never okay, and would like to tell you 'no' is my definite answer. You're a treasure and should wait, you're worth it. You know I've made a lot of mistakes in my life, and I don't want you to do the things I've done. But I don't know when Adrian and I will marry. Right now I'm sure we treasure each other and love each other. Does this make sense to you, honey?" Natalie reached over and held Julie's hand.
"Yeah, I guess, though you'll probably have a lot more advice for me when I get a steady boyfriend!" Julie snickered as she stood up. "Let's go down stairs, I want to see how Mr. Monk feels about being called 'Dad'."
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Adrian stood in front of the fireplace and studied all the pictures on the mantle. Even though he had long ago memorized every photo, today they enthralled him. He was amazed at how quickly Julie had grown into a young woman and spellbound by Natalie's ever-changing beauty. Adrian lost track of the time, bewitched by the Teeger girls. He hadn't noticed how long Natalie had been upstairs and was surprised when Julie suddenly appeared at his side, her face glowing with anticipation.
"Hi!Umm, Mr. Monk? I was wondering something. Since you and Mom are now together, if I could stop calling you Mr. Monk? I mean, I've known you forever and you've always looked out for me. And since my real dad died-" Julie sobbed unexpectedly and tears spilled from her eyes, jolted by the memory of the day a Naval officer came to the house with the terrible news.
Tears filled Adrian's eyes as he tentatively pulled Julie in for a hug. He had suffered the same traumatic loss of his father, because of his abandonment, and was struck to his very core by Julie's sudden outburst. He wanted nothing more than to soothe Julie's broken heart. Adrian's voice was fraught with concern "Julie, what is it? What's wrong?"
Julie stifled her tears and got herself under control. She took a step back from Adrian's hug. "Nothing's wrong! I wanted to ask you if you'd mind if I called you dad." She brushed the tears off her embarrassed face and smiled a lob-sided smile.
Adrian raised his hand to brush a stray tear from Julie's face. A smile broke across his face and he found himself momentarily overcome with emotion. "I'd love that, Julie." He hugged her again and managed to whisper "I love you, Julie."
"Good, I love you too. Dad." Julie mumbled into his shoulder. She then pulled herself from the embrace and sighed with satisfaction. "Wow that was strange, but nice. I'm going to have to practice calling you dad, Dad."
Adrian's eyes crinkled as he smiled "Practice all you want Julie."
After the movie, Julie carried the empty popcorn bowl and drinking glasses into the kitchen. "Don't get up, folks, I'll clean up." She loaded the dishwasher and wiped down the counter and came back to the living room. She approached the couch to hug her parents' goodnight. "I love you Mom. I love you Dad. See you tomorrow!" She then crossed to the stairs and, with a foot on the first step, turned back to Adrian and Natalie and mischievously said "So you know, I go to sleep listening to my iPod, so I can't hear anything! Love you!" She then ran up the stairs, laughing to herself.
"Natalie, what did she mean by that?" Adrian asked as he watched Natalie get up and wandered across the room, turning off lights. Leaving one dim light burning, Natalie returned to the couch and sat down next to him, snuggling under his arm. Feeling her lips on his neck, he quietly asked again "Natalie, what did Julie mean?"
Natalie pulled his face to hers and deeply kissed him, a kiss that engulfed him. She turned her body towards his and leaned backward on the couch, welcoming his weight upon her body. No, she definitely didn't regret this. Natalie ran her hands under his shirt and lightly scratched her nails up his back. Between kisses, she breathed in his ear "Come upstairs with me, Adrian."
As they continued to kiss, he finally realized what Natalie had said and gradually pulled himself off of her. All he wanted to do was follow Natalie up those stairs. But instead, he summoned all his willpower and settled on his side, wedged between Natalie and the back of the couch. As she remained laying on her back, he laid his hand on her stomach and lightly traced circles. "Natalie, I thought we were going to take things slowly."
"That was the plan, but plans can change." Natalie reached up and rubbed the side of his face, enjoying the scruffiness of his five o'clock shadow. A broad smirk formed on her face. "Why couldn't your favorite number be two?"
He chuckled at her "I never mentioned a specific number of dates, Natalie. Ten was your idea. I would love to spend the night with you, here on this couch, talking. But if you don't behave, I'll have to go back to my apartment."
"Don't go, I swear I'll be good-" She raised her hand in oath and teased, "We'll just talk. And maybe kiss a little." Natalie scrunched over towards the edge of the couch, allowing him lay on his back, and then curled up close, resting her head on his chest. The spent the night sharing tender kisses and hushed conversation, falling asleep as a full moon rose in the nighttime sky.