A/N: It's been too long since I've updated my stories. A lot has happened since then and so now I'm trying to update between my classes and as they all take place on one day it's easy to find way more free time. I still don't own Monk no matter how many times I dream I do.

"Adrian," a gentle voice called out, making him turn his head. He'd know that voice anywhere.

"Trudy?" he called back looking around for the first time. That's odd. He wasn't in the hospital at all. It seemed as though he was at the car park where she'd been killed.

"Trudy?" Monk called out again, hoping to see her.

She appeared from behind him and walked up to him, giving his hand a gentle squeeze. "Adrian, my love," She spoke happily, "why do you do this to yourself?"

"Why do I do what?" Monk asked.

"Keep feeling guilty. I wouldn't be here if you weren't feeling guilty about something, right?"

"Trudy, I, forgive me, but I think I might… like Natalie." He mumbled, looking at his feet, afraid perhaps he'd betrayed their marriage.

"Like Adrian?" she questioned, "Are you in middle school?"

"N-no." Monk said, "I think I might feel… something for Natalie." He said, more confidently this time.

Trudy smiled at her husband. "That's good Adrian. Feeling is a good thing."

"But, but I'm your husband!" he cried, feeling guilty again.

"Till death do us part." She said, "I'm dead Adrian. It's okay now. I've been watching you with Natalie; hoping that you eventually notice it."

"I… I… But I still can't figure out who killed you! How can I move on when I can't figure out who killed my own wife?" he lamented

"You will figure it out, by moving on Adrian. Things won't stay the same forever. Natalie will only wait so long." Trudy said, turning to leave. "Goodbye Adrian."

"Bye." He whispered, trying to ponder what Trudy meant.

The first thing Monk noticed was that he was again not in his bed. He was still lying in the hospital bed of his assistant, Natalie Teeger. He moved away slightly, as far as he could in the small bed. The second thing he noticed was that she wasn't asleep. She was looking at him again, studying him for some unknown reason.

"You okay?" she asked him.

"Yeah, why wouldn't I be?" he replied stiffly, "I'm not the injured one."

"Because you called out for Trudy just a minute ago." Natalie replied, looking slightly hurt by his answer.

Monk nodded, explaining, "I just saw her; in a dream. She told me its okay to move on… That you won't wait forever…"

He put his head in his hands, kneading it with his fingers. He still didn't understand how Trudy thought he could move on without solving her murder. It would haunt him until he solved it; he just knew it. But now, as he was sitting with Natalie there were feelings coming back again. He wanted to protect her and take care of her and also he wanted to, well do things with her. Hold her, kiss her, and hug her. That scared him. He didn't want to feel like he was betraying Trudy. He didn't feel like he was betraying her, either.

"Adrian," Natalie spoke slowly, and touched his arm with fingers, "are you okay?"

"I, I don't know." He said, "But the bigger question here is, how do you feel?"

"I'm okay." She said, trying to move and wincing in the process. He saw this and shook his head. "I'll call the nurse. She can help get you comfortable." Monk turned away, gently trying to get out of the bed. He needed time to think without being so close to Natalie.

"Don't. Please." She asked, pleading with him.

"Natalie," he whined, "I have to go think."

"Think here." She said, "You promised you wouldn't leave."

"I know I said I wouldn't." He sighed, wanting to leave, yet not wanting to make Natalie any more uncomfortable than she was, being that she had her left arm in a cast and was stuck in the hospital bed. The battle over before it even started, Monk scooted closer to her and relaxed. He tensed again as she moved, laying her head on his chest. He lay stiff as a stone for a few minutes, slowly relaxing as he got used to Natalie laying there as Trudy had done many times.

She was sleeping again before Monk really moved. He looked around at the room and realized that it was still night time. He guessed that it was nearly morning by the lightening sky. It was the beginning of a new day, perhaps even a new life for Adrian Monk. Maybe Trudy was right, he thought as he looked down at the sleeping angel before him. Maybe I can move on now. Being slightly exhausted himself he closed his eyes and fell into a relaxing sleep, dreaming pleasant things for once.

They were all sitting there, gathered around a table. Natalie, Julie and two little kids Natalie didn't recognize. 'They look like me and Adrian.' They were all sitting in Natalie's house at the table. It seemed as though they were waiting for someone. Natalie couldn't tell who they were waiting for yet, but obviously it was important as all the kids had anticipatory smiles on their faces. Julie looked as though she knew something quite secret and didn't want to spoil the surprise. The relaxing tones of the Moonlight Sonata came on and then there was someone there. He appeared to Natalie's right and grabbed her hand. It felt familiar, and yet she couldn't see his face. The young children giggled and cried "Daddy!"

Natalie was trying now swaying comfortably with the mysterious man. He twirled her around and as the dance went on, she could see his body come into view. He was wearing a suit, the same kind Adrian wore, and he had his shirt buttoned to the top.

"Adrian!" Natalie cried out. Unexpectedly she was awake. It had been a dream of hers. She and Adrian had children? Now that would be great if she thought Adrian would ever be able and ready to. She felt her cheeks flush and was unexpectedly relieved that he was not in her bed. He would notice and she'd never be able to look him in the eye-

"Natalie," he asked concernedly, "are you okay?" Adrian Monk stood on the other side of the room in what Natalie liked to refer to as his uniform. He had his jacket off and he looked troubled.

"I'm fine. Just in a little pain." Natalie quipped back shortly, turning away from him. She heard Monk sigh and could almost see him shrugging his shoulders and running his finger along his eyebrow.

"Well…. They're letting me go today." He was hesitant in his speech as if there was something weighing on him that he wanted to say but couldn't. "I'll go and-and get the house ready and tomorrow Julie and I will bring you home." He turned away and Natalie watched as he ran a hand through his hair and disheveled it without even bothering to fix it. It bothered her to see him so un-Monklike.

"Adrian? Are you okay?" Natalie asked gently. He turned his head towards her, teary eyed, and replied in a melancholy voice. "I will be Natalie. I will be." He gave her a genuine smile and came near. His stiff posture stated he was uncomfortable as he reached out to take her hand in his.

The house was cleaner than Julie had ever seen it. How had Mr. Monk managed to clean the entire house in the half hour that she had been out to buy food for dinner? That part of him had always been an enigma to Julie. Something was bothering him if he was able to clean this much this face.

"Mr. Monk?" Julie called out. She walked the path from her entry hall into the kitchen and up the stairs to the bedrooms. "Hello? Are you here?" She pushed open every door. He wasn't in the bathroom or her room. Her mom's room was empty as well. That left only one place for him to be; the guest room. Julie opened the door slowly and to her surprise he wasn't in the room. Monk was nowhere in the house.

A/N: Don't kill me. Please review.