Chapter 12 The Women
Standard Disclaimer: I don't own Monk.
Notes: Poor Natalie- today is just one big emotional rollercoaster!
Sorry about the delay- FF has been goofy and I couldn't upload this chapter for some reason. ~Thanks for R/R!
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It was Sunday afternoon and Natalie was on her hands and knees, scrubbing her bathroom floor. Well, not the floor per-se, but the grout between the tiles. Using the smallest of brushes, she attacked each grout line and diligently scrubbed at the smallest stain. But this wasn't a chore to her; Natalie was actually enjoying herself. She had wanted to take her mind off of tonight and it just seemed appropriate to do some cleaning. And, big deal if she was being a little obsessive while she did her cleaning. She was amazed when she realized how comforting it was to be so focused in on such a small inconsequential chore. However, she was so focused she didn't hear the first time the doorbell rang. Or the next few times it rang.
But she did hear her phone ring and immediately went to answer it, a skip in her step. She wasn't going to see Adrian until tonight but hoped he was calling with a change of plans. After all, tonight was to be date number ten. Maybe he couldn't wait, either? Had he already finished cleaning everything, including all the grout, at his apartment? She caught her reflection in the mirror and panicked; she looked a mess and wasn't ready to see him! Natalie's pulse quickened as she reached to pick up the phone. Checking the caller id before pressing the answer button, Natalie was crestfallen and answered with a small sigh "Hi TK, what's up?"
"Natalie, are you okay? We've been ringing your front doorbell for the past ten minutes." The worry in TK's voice was evident and Natalie was touched by her concern.
"I'm fine. Hang up your phone, I'm coming to let you in right now." Natalie disconnected the call and padded down the staircase. TK had said 'we' and Natalie was curious to know who else was out on her front porch. She strode to the front door and, after flipping the deadbolt, pulled the door open. Happily spying a second familiar face, she greeted the pair with hugs as she ushered them inside. "Sharona! TK, come on in!"
Natalie followed the two into the living room, curious about why they were here and why they were together. "Please sit down, girls. Now, I have to ask what's going on. TK, I thought you were away on your birthday weekend? By the way, happy birthday! And Sharona, I thought you were flying in next week. What happened?"
Sharona and TK both started to talk, shared an apologetic look, and laughed. They motioned for the other to begin, insisting the other speak first. However, Sharona was a little more insistent. "Please, TK, you're the birthday girl, so you go first."
TK smiled at Sharona and then looked to Natalie, unmindfully playing with her necklace. "Thank you both. Well, the short version of the story is- Leland spirited me away to a B&B up the coast on Friday, we spent all day Saturday, umm, sightseeing, and we just returned this morning." She once again touched her necklace, this time on purpose. Her face was aglow "And he gave me this! He really surprised me!"
Natalie and Sharona leaned forward to inspect her jewelry, admiring its beauty. Sharona let out a low whistle "Boy, the Captain did a nice job of picking that out! I'm impressed."
"Yeah, he impresses me quite a bit!" TK smirked, unable to keep a straight face. She then motioned for Sharona to speak "Okay, your turn."
"Well, my story is not as romantic, unfortunately. They messed up my schedule at the hospital and so my vacation started five days earlier. Luckily I was able to trade in my plane tickets for an earlier trip. So I flew in on Friday and-" she threw her hands in the air "I spent the last two days with Randy."
Hearing that, Natalie and TK exchanged a look and burst out giggling. Natalie playfully teased "That sounds a little romantic, Sharona!"
Sharona felt a slight blush color her cheeks and let out a squeal. "Okay, so it was a little romantic. I swear, Randy is so sweet. He met me at the airport with flowers – and not the flowers you buy from those cult members! He did have to go to work yesterday, but we had a nice dinner last night and, you know." Sharona laughed and she turned to meet Natalie's smile. With a glance over Natalie's shoulder, Sharona noticed the mantle full of pictures. She got up and motioned towards the fireplace "Do you mind if I look?"
Natalie waved her over "Please, help yourself. So can I get either of you anything? It's a little early for a glass of wine, but I could be persuaded to open a bottle. " She rose and started towards the kitchen. When they both declined her offer, she stopped and returned to her seat, tucking her feet beneath her. Noting that they were similarly dressed in jeans and sneakers, Natalie wondered about their plans "So what are you girls up to today?"
"We are going on a 'triple date'! It's all Randy's idea-" TK replied, good-naturedly rolling her eyes "– he and Leland are going over to Adrian's as we speak. They dropped us off and went to kidnap Adrian then they're come back here. We're going somewhere together as a group but that's all they told us."
"Yep, they're being very secretive!" Sharona added, a note of exasperation in her voice. She then returned her attention to the mantle and softly smiled. She was pleased to see than, scattered among the many picture of Natalie and Julie, there were several pictures of Adrian. She lifted a picture from the center of the mantle and brushed a tiny fleck of dust off the glass. "Oh my God, Natalie- you have a picture of Adrian in uniform? This must have been taken, what, twenty years ago? He looks so young!" TK got up and went to look at the picture. Standing next to Sharona, she let out an approving 'hmmmmm' as she inspected the photo.
Now it was Natalie's turn to blush, her secret 'men-in-uniform' fetish seemingly not so secret. She untangled her legs and rose from the chair, shrugging her shoulders innocently. "What? I just wanted some, you know, pictures of him and that was buried in one of his old albums." She approached the pair and removed the picture from Sharona's hand. Unwilling to elaborate on how she had practically begged Adrian for this picture. She cleared her throat "Anyway, what did you say the plan was? A triple date? But when? Because I, I mean, Adrian and I have plans for later today." Biting her bottom lip, she quickly studied the picture before placing it back on the mantle.
"The plan is-we're going on a mystery date as soon as the boys get here, Natalie." TK answered brightly, touching Natalie on the arm. "Don't worry; we won't be out all night- you and Adrian can still keep your plans for later."
"By the way, how are things between you two?" Seeing Natalie's blush, Sharona continued to jokingly quiz Natalie. Sharona was still a little doubtful over Adrian being in a relationship with Natalie. She was happy for them but worried about Adrian and wondered how he managed the physical aspect of dating, considering all his issues and phobias. She hoped that Natalie wasn't pushing him into situations he wasn't ready for. "What did you guys do on your last date? Anything that didn't involve cleaning? You get to first base yet, Natalie?"
Perceiving a hint of mockery in Sharona's questions, Natalie felt a sudden swell of protectiveness for Adrian and a jolt of anger towards Sharona. Cleaning indeed! Like that's the only thing Adrian ever wanted to do?! Sharona might have first known Adrian when he was completely helpless and severely OCD, but Sharona also knew from her last visit and through phone calls that he had changed and grown. Adrian had become more confident and sanguine and, Natalie wanted to proudly boast, he was a damn good lover. How dare Sharona make silly jokes questioning his manhood! Quelling the urge to disclose the most intimate of details, she shot Sharona a look and bragged "Well yesterday, after spending the day together, he took me to the beach and we walked along the surf just as the sun was setting. I thought it was very romantic."
"What?" Sharona was dumfounded and grabbed Natalie's wrist. "Spill the beans, woman! Adrian willingly went to the beach? Did he keep his shoes on? Were you guys holding hands? He's not afraid of your germs?"
TK fought to keep a smirk off her face as she remembered the list Leland had written out for Adrian. It wasn't the moonlit walk he had suggested but, a sunset walk on the beach was also romantic. But she didn't understand Sharona's astonishment. Leland had shared a few stories about Adrian's past, but TK didn't completely grasp how truly phobic Adrian had been. TK gently asked Natalie to elaborate "Tell us more about your date, Natalie, and don't leave out any of the romantic parts."
Natalie motioned them back to their seats and slid onto her chair, pulling a pillow onto her lap. A mischievous grin crossed her face. She would tell them about the romance of the evening, but maybe she would also give them a few of the juicy details.
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With the same mischievous grin still on her face, Natalie dressed quickly; she was already in her sexiest jeans and was now buttoning the cutest little top. She had quickly showered and was now almost ready for the upcoming 'triple date'. She had left the girls downstairs in the living room, waiting patiently. And in shock. Natalie knew, but didn't care, that right now Sharona and TK were downstairs gossiping in amazement.
Natalie realized she had over reacted to Sharona; Sharona really did love Adrian and her teasing was harmless and not mean spirited. But it had caused Natalie to be a little indiscreet. Natalie tried to scold herself for bragging about Adrian, but instead she kept grinning like a fool. She was madly in love with him and wanted Sharona and TK to share in her happiness. So she talked.
While Sharona and TK sat in rapt attention, Natalie recounted details of their walk on the beach, laughing over how the night had started. How, yes, with some gentle prodding, she had gotten him to go barefoot. And that no, he wasn't afraid of her germs; that when they weren't holding hands, they had their arms draped around each other. And then later, when the temperature dropped, he had put his jacket around her and held her tight, warming her with his embrace and tender kisses.
But Natalie did resist telling them about how the night ended. How, when saying goodnight, he had cradled her face in his hand and swore his love before ardently kissing her. And then finally, as they were parting, how they held each other with a complete yearning that made her dizzy. When Natalie grew silent, the glimmer in her eye and enigmatic smile told TK and Sharona that she hadn't shared every detail.
Natalie was glad she had stopped herself before revealing anything else to Sharona and TK; the girls truly didn't need to know why she was so looking forward to tonight's date with Adrian. She appreciated that some moments were personal and should remain private and her heart told her that Adrian would also hold sacred these intimate details of their relationship. And tonight held the promised of a shared intimacy that would continue without limits.
Natalie checked her reflection in the mirror and held her hand to her burning cheek. Tonight would be here soon enough. Quickly descending the stairs, Natalie joined Sharona and TK in the living room. The women continued to laugh and share stories as they waited for the men to arrive.
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End Notes: So let's plan on two more chapters (we can't end on 13!) but they're not written yet and I'm still not sure how steamy things may get. Unless Randy's triple date turns disastrous (which is still a possibility), consider this a pre-alert alert for future chapter content!