I think the site has resolved the issues with reviews and email alerts. Let's hope so. In the meantime, a new case, a harbinger of things to come, and unabashed fluff and happiness for our favorite couple. If you want an approximate timeline- Natalie and Adrian have been married for about four months.

Chapter 3: Not Just the Really, Really Dead Guy

Adrian and Natalie arrived at the morgue, where a perplexed Captain Stottlemeyer was waiting for them.

"I can't even label this one, Monk. I'm just going to have to give you the specifics. It was about seven years ago, when the mayor dragged in those jerks from the FBI."

Monk nodded, "The 'so called' Six Way Killer case."

Before Stottlemeyer could respond further, Deputy Commissioner Kelsey walked up to Stottlemeyer and shook his hand.

"Thanks for coming, Monk," greeted Kelsey. He was tall, rather plain-featured and wore glasses, but his eyes lit on Natalie with a genuine smile. "Of course I remember Ms. Teeger."

"Monk." The clipped inflection in Adrian's voice startled Kelsey.

A wry smirk formed on Stottlemeyer's face as he had seen and recognized that brief flash in Monk's eyes.

Kelsey turned around, "I'm sorry?"

Adrian tilted his head and directed his stare at Kelsey. "My wife, Natalie. We were married in the late spring."

"Ah, well- congratulations to you both," replied Kelsey, rather flustered. He quickly changed the subject, "We called you in because of this strange case. We can't be so precipitous as to label it just yet, but it bears a striking resemblance to the Leven case several years ago. Follow me inside."

As they walked towards the morgue to meet with the medical examiner, Natalie threw her arm out in front of her husband to halt his progress. Once Kelsey was out of earshot, she hissed in her husband's ear, "Really, Adrian- as if I would give him the time of day!"

Natalie shook her head in mirth as they headed inside.

History repeated itself as the medical examiner stood over the body repeating the same list of circumstances as in the Leven case, "Blunt force trauma to the back of the cranium, injected with poison, suffocation, four stab wounds, two gunshot wounds to the chest, and tire tracks across the upper torso."

Stottlemeyer shook his head. "Even I remember all the gory details of this one. The body was found in the exact same place. What do you think, Monk?"

Monk circled the body, studying it. His eyes narrowed. "I don't know, Captain. It's no coincidence that the circumstances are exactly the same. Is the note there?"

"It's funny you should ask. There is no note. No warning of an impending murder."

Natalie peered at the dead man's fingers. "He's a musician, just as the original victim was, Adrian."

Monk looked at the body and suddenly he had a strange feeling. There was just something not right. He couldn't quite put his finger on it, but before he could ponder things further, his wife spoke up.

"Adrian, I'll be right back. I'll only be a minute."

Immediately catching Natalie's meaning, he made a face. "Do you really have to do that?"

She rolled her eyes and dashed out of the room.

Kelsey snorted, "You don't want her out of your sight long enough to go to the ladies' room?"

Adrian's eyes shot up from the body on the autopsy table and glared at Kelsey. "Public restrooms...cesspools of germs and bacteria." He shuddered.

Stottlemeyer chuckled, "Kelsey, I think you've forgotten what makes Monk so indispensible- and you have to take the rest of it along with him."

Adrian swiveled his head again, directing his eyes back on the body. "I don't even want to say what I'm thinking."

Leland looked at his friend. "Monk, the reason we call you is because we need your input."

"Here's the thing, Leland. Either way, it's bad news. Someone is either making an attempt to copy this particular murder scenario."

Stottlemeyer waved his hand impatiently. "Or?"

"Or the murderer has a particular interest in my case files." With that preternatural certainty that only Adrian Monk possessed, he felt as though the latter scenario was the most likely answer. He flinched, barely collecting himself before Natalie walked back into the room. Her eyes met his and she gave him a shy smile.

"Leland, I need all of the pertinent information- forensic reports and photographs of the crime scene."

"You got it. Do you need the Leven files?"

Monk just tapped the side of his head. "I don't need them. I need to get Natalie home. I think we're done here for now."

Kelsey shook his head after they left. "Leland, what just happened? Did his wife just look at him and he instinctively knew she wanted to go home?"

"Kelsey, you ask too many damned questions. I saw that business outside and I have a piece of advice for you, my friend. Don't dick around with Monk where his wife is concerned. I know you probably didn't mean any harm. God help the person who did, because they would be facing a man with murder in his eyes."

As soon as they were by the car, Monk stopped Natalie. "What's the matter? Something is wrong. I can tell."

Natalie smiled that same smile she had given him in the morgue. "I don't think anything is wrong, Adrian. I promise."

Adrian touched his wife's forehead. "You're pale and you're clammy." He held out his hand. "Give me the keys."

"Adrian," she protested, "I'm fine. I just need to go home." Natalie's world started to spin and then grew fuzzy as her legs buckled.

Lightning fast, Adrian caught his wife before she could hit the pavement. "Natalie!"

Natalie's eyes flew back open and met her husband's worried ones. She weakly shook her head, "Just take me home. Please...I just felt a little dizzy, like I can't breathe. Don't overreact- just trust me. Take me home."

It was all Natalie could do to convince Adrian that he didn't need to carry her from the car to their bedroom. So she settled for his arm wrapped around her. He laid her down on the bed and went to the bureau, pulling out some pajamas for her. Adrian started to deftly undress his wife. "You need to lie down and get some rest. No wonder you can't breathe. This bra is too small." He gestured at her breasts. "I knew they seemed big...ger." He trailed off abruptly, and locked eyes with Natalie.

Natalie held up her hand. "What I need for you to do is go to the kitchen and get two Ziploc bags and one of those disposable plastic cups. At his puzzled look, she waved him off. "No questions. Just get them and hurry back.

When he returned she had donned the sleep shorts and camisole he had retrieved for her. She took the requested items from him. "I promise, you don't want to follow for this part."

Adrian sat down on their bed, unable to stop himself from twitching worriedly. It seemed like forever before Natalie opened the door. Tears were streaming down her face. Her voice was broken as she beckoned her husband to the bathroom. "Come here."

On the bathroom counter laid two pregnancy tests. Natalie had bagged them so her husband wouldn't freak out. Both of them had positive signs in the left window. Natalie would never forget his face as long as she lived.

Adrian stared in wonder from the tests and then back to Natalie. Then again. "A baby?"

"A baby," she smiled.

He sank to to his knees, heedless of the fact that he was on the bathroom floor. Adrian pulled down slightly on the waist of her shorts, baring her skin to his lips as he laid feathery kisses on her belly. Natalie gently ran her fingers through his hair and Adrian looked up at his wife's face. The tender intimacy of the moment overwhelmed them both and there were tears in his eyes when he looked up at his wife.

"What are you looking at, Adrian?"

"The most beautiful woman I've ever seen." Adrian rose to his feet and cradled her face in his hands. "I wish I could find the words to tell you how I feel right now."

Of all the times he had looked at her with love, desire, tenderness, even lust- there was nothing that could have prepared her for the way he looked at her now. Or the words he would say next. He kissed her eyelids and cheeks and then Adrian gazed at her again, his eyes never leaving hers.

"Natalie, I have never been happier in my entire life."

No more words were spoken as he drew her in a tight embrace, and they seemed to rock together to a lullaby that only they could hear.