Last chapter! This one is very long but I wanted to end on an even number and a multiple of ten, as is befitting a Monk story. Thanks for reading, and thanks for all the great reviews/feedback!


Natalie stood straight and still as a statue, her eyes closed, while Julie slowly and carefully buttoned each of the thirty lace-covered buttons at her back. "Now can I look?" she asked when her daughter was finished.

"Not yet," Julie replied. She motioned for T.K. to hand her the veil and gently fastened its nearly invisible loops to the nearly invisible hooks attached to the headband nestled in Natalie's hair.

"Now?"

"Not yet," Julie repeated, motioning for Sharona to hand her the bridal bouquet. "You need to see the whole picture." She took her mother's hands and guided them to the stem of the bouquet, positioning them so she'd have a firm but comfortable grip. She stepped back, satisfied, and said, excitement tinging her voice, "Okay, now you can look."

Natalie opened her eyes.

Her blond hair was sleek and shining with just a hint of curl, and held away from her face by a sparkling rhinestone headband that complemented the decorative rhinestone accent band on the high empire waist of her dress. Sheer white floral lace covered her back and shoulders, forming short cap sleeves and then dipping to the point of the sweetheart bodice to form a V-shaped neckline before spreading to flow smoothly over the rest of the white silk dress. The dress was floor length, but she had opted for no train so the silk and lace hem just barely brushed the floor and the tips of her white heels. Behind her, the white tulle veil, trimmed with the same dainty floral lace on her dress, floated down her back.

Diamond drop earrings, on loan from her mother, were sparkling at her ears, and the diamond pendant Adrian had given her for Christmas shimmered at her throat. She held a bridal bouquet profuse with tumbling white lilies, blue orchids, and green ivy.

She looked like a bride. She was a bride.

Natalie was so dazzled – both by her reflection and her realization – that she couldn't speak.

And she was utterly shocked when her mother, who rarely lost control, and seldom displayed anything but a calm, unruffled demeanor, burst into tears.

"Mom?" she said, a little panicked, laying a hand on her mother's arm. "Are you okay?"

"I can't help it," Peggy sobbed, covering her face with her hands. "You look so beautiful. My baby girl."

Marcia gathered the weeping Peggy into her arms. "She's just having a mother-of-the-bride moment," she told Natalie as she patted Peggy's back. "It happened to me, too."

"You look seriously gorgeous," Sharona told her, joining her in front of the mirror.

"Like a princess," T.K. agreed.

"Adrian's going to trip over his own tongue when he gets a load of you," Julie predicted, and that comment made them all laugh, even Peggy.

Cassandra slipped in at that moment, and her smile bloomed when she saw Natalie. "You look spectacular," she declared. "Absolutely spectacular."

"Is everything set downstairs?" Natalie asked, her stomach churning with a combination of anticipation and nerves.

"The staff just finished with the setup and the decorations. The terrace and ballroom look perfect," Cassandra assured her. "And I happened to see a very handsome groom going into the ballroom with his groomsmen as I was leaving to come up here."

"Adrian's here?" Her face lit with a delighted smile. It wasn't that she'd been concerned that he wouldn't show up, but it was a relief that he'd made it in without incident. She had been half-afraid he'd stumble upon a dead body between Ambrose's house and the hotel. He seemed to have a knack for discovering corpses at the most inopportune times and places.

"I think if she gets any happier she's going to float away," Sharona murmured to T.K., as Cassandra slipped away to don her bridesmaid dress. "Maybe we should tie weights to her shoes."

T.K. giggled. "So, do you have everything from the rhyme?" she asked Natalie.

Natalie blinked. "The rhyme?"

"You know… 'something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue.'"

"Oh," Natalie said, her brow furrowing. She'd forgotten about that old tradition. "Well… my dress and shoes and veil are new. I borrowed the earrings from my mother. And some of the flowers in my bouquet are blue. But something old…" She bit her lower lip. "I guess not."

T.K., who was now wishing she hadn't said anything, patted her arm. "That's all right. It's just a silly rhyme anyway."

"Maybe your necklace counts?" Julie offered. "It's not new, and Adrian originally bought it over twelve years ago."

"Maybe," Natalie agreed, but her tone was doubtful. Twelve years wasn't exactly "old," and at any rate it was still fairly new to her, since she'd only owned it around five months.

"I have just the thing," Marcia declared, digging in her evening bag. She pulled out a square-shaped wad of tissue paper, which she carefully unfolded to reveal a delicate white muslin handkerchief trimmed with white lace. It had faded with age but had been carefully preserved.

"I carried this handkerchief on my wedding day, which definitely makes it old. Trudy carried it on her wedding day, too." Marcia carefully folded it around the stem of Natalie's bouquet and secured it with a small rubber band she had likewise dug out of her purse. "She had it wrapped around her bouquet just like this."

"Marcia, are you sure?" Natalie breathed, delighted but apprehensive. "This is a family heirloom."

"Of course I'm sure," Marcia replied, hugging her carefully so as not to crush her dress or her veil. "You're family, too."

Natalie smiled and had to blink back tears. "I'll be careful with it," she promised. "And I'll make sure you get it back after the ceremony."

Marcia patted her arm. "There's no rush. I only brought it because I thought it'd be nice to have something from Trudy's wedding with me today. But, given the circumstances, I think she'd prefer that you carry it."

"Thank you," Natalie murmured, reverently fingering the delicate lace of the handkerchief. She, too, liked the idea of having something from Adrian's first wedding with her today. And if Adrian kept the watch she'd given him in his pocket during the ceremony, as she suspected he would, he'd have something that Mitch had carried at her first wedding. There was a nice symmetry to that – a bridging of their old lives with the new.

"You're a beautiful bride," Marcia said, so softly that Natalie could barely hear her. "And I wish you and Adrian a very long, very happy life together." She squeezed Natalie's arm and slipped away.

"Well, looks like you're all set," Julie said cheerfully. "Now we just need to wait until it's time to go downstairs."

Cassandra, now dressed in her bridesmaid's dress and wearing the pearl set Natalie had given her, came over and gently guided Natalie away from the mirror and into a chair. "Rest for now," she told her. "You're going to be on your feet for quite a while tonight, so it's best to sit when and where you can while you have the chance."

"And you need to hydrate," Sharona added, handing her a water bottle with a straw sticking out of the top.

Natalie rolled her eyes but sipped the water anyway. She was thankful she'd only had a small salad for lunch, as her stomach was flipping wildly due to anxiety and anticipation. The cool water helped, and she made herself breathe deeply and evenly as the minutes ticked by.

Her bridesmaids chatted amongst themselves, but she remained silent. She found she didn't want to talk — she wanted to spend her last minutes as Natalie Teeger, as a single woman, in quiet reflection.

It had been a long, difficult journey since losing Mitch, but life had taken a decidedly interesting turn once she had met Adrian Monk. Until him, she'd concentrated solely on providing a stable home for her daughter, with her own ambitions and interests taking a backseat. He had given her life real purpose for the first time in a long time. Solving crimes alongside him had been an incredible education, and an adventure. He'd driven her absolutely crazy, but somehow along the way she'd fallen for him.

Even now, she couldn't pinpoint exactly when. But Julie had been right — when she'd thought she'd lost him, it had almost been like losing Mitch all over again. It had almost been worse since it had seemed so senseless and pointless, and because it had (allegedly) happened at the hand of his best friend. And when she'd found him again — even now, the memory of seeing him, alive, trying to hide amid those silly barrels, made her throat tight and her eyes burn with the effort of holding back tears. It'd been one of the happiest moments of her life.

Incongruously, she suddenly thought about the first time they'd — almost — kissed. She'd been so drowsy at the time that she'd almost thought she'd dreamed it. But he'd definitely tried to kiss her, and he probably would have succeeded if Leland hadn't called. Afterwards, he'd kept his arm around her as they watched movies, and she'd happily snuggled against him. It had felt so right. Like she'd been searching for something for a long time and had finally found it.

That feeling had only intensified during their first actual kiss on New Year's Eve. He had been shy, and sweet, and hesitant — at first. It had taken him a remarkably short time to relax and start enjoying himself, and in short order they'd both gotten rather carried away. The intensity that had developed between them had been disconcerting — yet it had been thrilling, too. He'd made her feel young and vivacious again, like a teenager on prom night.

She thought ahead to their upcoming wedding night, and she trembled slightly in anticipation. If their wedding night was going to be anything like their engagement night, then Cassandra was absolutely right — she did need to rest while she could. But this night would be different than any of the others they'd spent together. Not only would they be married, they'd be… open. Open to whatever might happen in the future. Open to the possibility of new life.

Natalie found herself daydreaming about a chubby, red-cheeked baby with curly black hair and dark eyes, and she was so engrossed in the fantasy that her mother had to call her name twice to get her attention.

"What?" she said, blinking to reorient herself to the here and now.

"It's time to go downstairs, dear," her mother said, quite gently for her. "Your father's waiting outside the suite."

"Oh!" Putting her water bottle aside — she'd been absently sipping it while lost in thought, so it was almost empty — she carefully rose to her feet, smoothing her dress down as she stood. "What time is it?"

"Quarter to five," Cassandra answered. "Are you ready?"

"More than ready," Natalie said, squaring her shoulders. She flashed a smile at Julie. "How about you?"

"Let's get this show on the road," Julie said, picking up her bouquet.

With Cassandra holding the door for her, Natalie stepped into the hallway outside the suite, where her father was waiting. He looked handsome, almost regal, in the classy tuxedo, and she smiled happily, thinking for a moment that if her father looked that good, Adrian must look incredible.

Bobby, who'd been pacing the floor much as he had the day she'd been born, turned to face her when he heard the door open. When he saw her, his jaw dropped. His eyes, wide with admiration, traveled from the tip of the glittering headband in her hair to the tips of her white heels peeping out from under her dress.

"You look… extraordinary," he said, and his face contorted with emotion as tears sprang to his eyes.

"Oh, no, don't start," Natalie begged, struggling to hold back her own tears. "If you start crying, then I'm going to start crying, and once I start I'm not going to be able to stop."

"I'll try to restrain myself," he said, his voice cracking. "But you're not making it easy, you know. I'm so proud of you. You've worked so hard to get to this day."

Her father didn't know the half of it, Natalie thought. But she knew he was referring to her recuperation from the injuries she'd received in the accident. "Thank you, Daddy," she said, giving him a warm hug. "For everything. This whole wedding wouldn't have been possible without you."

"I'm sure you and Adrian would have managed to plan a charming wedding on your own," he said, easing her back and smiling. "But I'm glad I could help make today extra special for you."

He offered her his arm, and she took it. Then, the bridesmaids and Peggy trailing after them, they started towards the elevator.

It was time to get married.


Adrian was so keyed up he felt as though he was about to crawl out of his own skin. Time seemed to have slowed to a snail's pace. He twitched slightly as he fingered the watch in his pocket for the millionth time and listened to the soft piano music in the background — Clair de Lune from Debussy's Suite Bergamasque — as more guests were seated. He could hear the murmuring of conversation, the rustling of cloth and faint scraping of chairs as people sat, muffled sounds of traffic from the streets below. He resisted the impulse to pull out the watch and check the time again.

"Nervous?" Ambrose murmured from beside him.

"Impatient," Adrian replied. He turned his head slightly to glance at Ambrose, who stood beside him as they waited for their signal to walk out to their assigned places on the terrace.

Ambrose cleaned up nicely in his sleek black tuxedo, with the small lily-and-orchid boutonniere pinned to his lapel and the glossy silk vest and tie underneath the jacket. He'd never worn a tux before, Adrian suddenly realized, but despite that he wore it well. "How are you doing?" he asked quietly.

"I'm all right," Ambrose said, apparently sincere. His face was placid, and, unlike Adrian, he stood calm and composed as they waited. "Were you this on edge before your first wedding?"

He thought back. "I was worse," he confessed with a chuckle. "I think Leland was tempted to sedate me."

Ambrose smiled at that. Then, unexpectedly, he placed a hand on Adrian's shoulder. "I'm sorry I wasn't there."

Touched, Adrian turned to fully face him. "I understood your reasons," he said softly. "You don't have to apologize."

"Yes, I do," Ambrose said, a trifle stubbornly. "I should have been there, and I wasn't. Just like I should have been there after Trudy died, and I wasn't."

"Ambrose — "

"Let me finish," Ambrose insisted. "I just wanted to say… I'm here for you now. And I'm going to be here for you — for both of you — from now on, no matter what happens. That's all."

"Thank you," Adrian said, his throat so tight he could barely manage the words. "That means a lot."

Ambrose nodded self-consciously, his hand dropping to his side. "Do you think Natalie's as jittery as you are?"

Adrian laughed. "Maybe. Probably." He fingered the watch in his pocket again as he thought of the note she'd written. I can't wait to marry you.

At this time tomorrow, he mused, they'd be on their honeymoon. The last few days and weeks had been such a whirl of preparation that he could hardly believe they were about to have an entire week all to themselves. He let himself dream about it briefly, let himself dream about the quiet and the tranquility. And Natalie.

He was so lost in daydreams that he jerked in surprise when Dr. Bell entered the room. The psychiatrist wore a black suit and, instead of a tie, a dapper black-and-silver paisley ascot. The boutonniere on his lapel matched Ambrose's, and he carried a slim black leather binder in his hands.

"Hello, Adrian, Ambrose," he said, smiling easily.

Adrian straightened. "Is it time?"

"Just about." Dr. Bell eyed his patient, unable to suppress a smile. He'd never seen Adrian look so excited, or so tense. "Are you ready?"

"More than ready," Adrian said emphatically, unable to stop his shoulders from twitching.

"Take a deep breath," Dr. Bell urged. "Then let it out, slowly."

Adrian obeyed, and felt some of his tension fade away. There was plenty more where that came from, but it was a small improvement, at least.

"Good. Just keep doing that for a while – it'll help." Dr. Bell studied him for a moment, then nodded in satisfaction as he checked his watch. It was very nearly five o'clock. "All right. Here we go."

With Dr. Bell in the lead, the three men filed out of the small room and made their way to the terrace. There was a hum of quiet anticipation among the assembled guests as the men took their respective places near the wrought-iron arch that was swathed with delicate white tulle and bedecked with flowers.

Adrian stood, his hands clasped behind his back, his outward tranquility belying his inner agitation. His eyes swept over the crowd – every single seat was filled – and he marveled, again, that so many of their friends and acquaintances had made the effort to attend. He saw Harold Krenshaw staring at Dr. Bell in slack-jawed disbelief and had to quickly look away, his lips twitching. He caught Joe Christie's eye and couldn't suppress a smile when his former partner gave him an enthusiastic thumbs up. He gave a slight nod to the mayor – the mayor! – the district attorney, and the police commissioner, who were all sitting together, along with their wives. He was going to have to speak to them at some point after the ceremony and personally thank them for coming – perhaps during the reception.

His eyes drifted to the front row. Dwight and Marcia were sitting next to Jack, in the place reserved for the groom's parents – Adrian had requested this. Dwight winked at him while Marcia smiled, and Adrian grinned in return. He continued looking down the row to the other side of the aisle, where Peggy was sitting, having been escorted there by Jonathan just a few minutes earlier. There was an empty seat next to her where Bobby would sit after he'd walked Natalie down the aisle. His eyes met Peggy's, just for an instant, and he noted with some surprise that her eyes were already swimming with tears. He hastily averted his gaze before her tears instigated some of his own.

The music changed, grabbing his attention. The Four Seasons' pianist began playing what he recognized as the opening bars of the wedding party processional – a simple solo piano version of Pachelbel's Canon in D.

It was really happening, Adrian realized. He was about to get married. Again.

He clenched and unclenched his fists, breathing deeply as Dr. Bell had instructed, and watched as Jonathan escorted Cassandra down the short aisle.

He hadn't seen the bridesmaids' dresses until now, and he thought they were beautiful. For their main wedding color, Natalie had chosen a particular shade called "Pacific blue," a deep shade of blue-green that mimicked the color of the ocean on a cloudless summer day.

The sleeveless chiffon dress Cassandra wore as she and Jonathan slowly walked down the aisle was in the deep Pacific blue color, with a shimmery band in a slightly deeper shade accenting its empire waist. From there, the skirt fell in soft pleats to her shimmering blue shoes. The V-shaped neckline showed off her pearl necklace nicely.

Adrian noted with some amusement that Jonathan kept stealing glances at Cassandra as they walked. Come to think of it, they'd seemed to get along extremely well at the rehearsal dinner, too. It seemed that Natalie hadn't been too far off the mark there.

When the two reached the end of the aisle, both of them flashed a smile at Adrian and split off to take their assigned places. As they did so, Randy and Sharona began their walk, followed by the Stottlemeyers.

Then Julie walked down the aisle solo. Adrian felt a swell of what could only be described as fatherly pride as he watched her. She was lovely in her blue gown. The front of her hair was swept up in a pearl comb, and the rest of her rich golden-brown hair fell in thick curls down her back. Trudy's pearls gleamed at her throat. She was, indeed, the spitting image of her father, and Adrian hoped that Mitch was as proud of her as he was today.

When she reached the end the aisle, she gave Adrian a wide grin and a wink before she stepped into her assigned place.

The last notes of the wedding party processional faded away, and there was a long moment of expectant silence. Adrian strained to catch a glimpse of Natalie, but she and her father were still hidden from view. Then the pianist, after a nod from Cassandra, began playing the opening notes of Wagner's "Bridal Chorus."

At the time they'd chosen the music, Adrian had been rather surprised – yet pleased – that Natalie had opted to go with such a traditional song for her entrance. It was the same one Trudy had chosen. He'd mentioned as much, and Natalie had merely said in reply, "I think almost every girl dreams of walking down the aisle to 'Here Comes the Bride.'"

The assembled guests rose to their feet as the music began, and as they did so Bobby Davenport came into view, with Natalie on his arm.

Adrian could only stare at her in unequivocal awe. He took in every detail – the sweeping lace of her dress, the misty veil at her back, the sparkling rhinestones on the high waist of the dress and in her hair, the glitter of diamonds at her ears and on her throat – and he felt amazed and incredulous and thankful all at once.

She was breathtaking. Exquisite. Magnificent. There weren't enough words in the English language to describe her beauty. And yet she wanted to marry him. If this was a dream, he never wanted to wake up. He wanted to freeze this moment in time and spend the rest of his life just gazing at her surpassing gorgeousness.

For her part, Natalie could barely feel her feet touching the ground as she walked down the aisle with Bobby Davenport, who was fairly strutting with pride, while she struggled to keep the tears at bay. Adrian's face – oh God, his face. He stood there, still as a statue, tall and incredibly handsome in the black tuxedo with the deep blue vest and bow tie, looking at her as if he couldn't believe she was real. She knew exactly how he felt. She was having some trouble believing it, too.

It was really happening. She was about to get married. Again.

She and her father reached end of the aisle, and Bobby locked her in a crushing embrace. Natalie hugged him back, hard, as he whispered in her ear, "That was wonderful. Thank you for making your father so happy." He kissed her cheek as he drew back, and then he gently placed her hand into Adrian's.

Their eyes met as she stepped forward to stand beside him. For a single instant the entire world disappeared, and it was just the two of them standing there, gazing at one another in speechless joy and wonder.

Dr. Bell quietly cleared his throat and opened his binder as the last notes of the processional faded away, bringing them back to the here and now.

"Please be seated," he said, and the assembled guests obeyed.

"We have gathered today in the love of friendship and family to celebrate the blending together of two lives," Dr. Bell began, his gaze directed toward the guests. "While Adrian and Natalie come before you today as two, they will leave this place as one, united in marriage. As family and friends, each of you has played some part in bringing them to this moment and, in various ways, you all will continue to support and contribute to their relationship. We solemnize this unique time in their lives and make it meaningful by entering into it in an attitude of respect for their deep commitment to each other."

His attention shifted to the bride and groom standing before him, and his tone became a little slower, a little more solemn.

"Adrian and Natalie, you realize that in a greater sense no other person or officiant can truly marry you. Only you can marry yourselves. By your commitment to love each other, to work with all your hearts toward creating an atmosphere of care and respect, and by your willingness to face together the fears and uncertainty that underlie human life, you marry yourselves more surely than any document we will put our signatures on today. Your love for one another, and your willingness to accept each other's strengths and weaknesses with understanding and consideration, will cement the firm foundation of your life together."

Adrian squeezed Natalie's hand. She'd certainly gone above and beyond when it came to accepting his weaknesses with understanding and consideration.

"Today," Dr. Bell continued, "you commit yourselves to honoring and protecting one another above your separate selves, and to valuing your union above your own interests. In so doing, you will find a wealth of love and peace not otherwise attainable. But with this joy comes a profound responsibility to protect the bond you share. For it is only with continual care that your love is truly secure in the face of life's inevitable tests."

This time, Natalie squeezed Adrian's hand. They'd already endured several difficult tests together, and come out stronger for it. She had no qualms about their ability to weather the storms of life.

"You must regard each other with the deepest respect. You must appreciate each other's talents, foster each other's dreams, and be ever mindful of the many gifts the other offers you. You must inspire and encourage one another. For by strengthening your partner, you strengthen your marriage."

Dr. Bell paused for a moment to let this sink in, then said in a calm, measured voice, "Bring out the very best in each other. Be sparing in criticism and generous in praise for things well done. In communication, be honest and open, for the heart that communicates truth without hesitation earns trust and builds a secure home. Without truth there is no respect, and without respect there is no love. Accept your marriage as a work-in-progress that will hereafter consume your attention, yet never be completed, because a lifelong love requires a lifetime of hard work." He smiled, and for the briefest moment his eyes met those of Dr. Hector, who was sitting in the second row just a few feet away. "But it is a joyous labor, and its fruits are the very richest."

He squared his shoulders slightly and lifted his chin, looking from Adrian to Natalie as he continued the service. "A vast, unknown future stretches out before you. That future, with its hopes and its disappointments, its joys and its sorrows, is hidden from your eyes. But it is a great tribute to your belief in each other that you are willing to face those uncertainties together. May the love with which you join hearts and hands today never fail, but grow deeper and surer with every year you spend together."

He smiled at them and instructed, "Please join hands and face one another."

Natalie handed her bouquet to Julie, and then she and Adrian clasped hands. The pure, unadulterated love that shone on their faces as they gazed at one another had more than one guest wiping away tears.

"Adrian, repeat after me," Dr. Bell said.

Adrian's voice was low and shaking with emotion, but he managed to repeat the words without faltering. "I, Adrian, take you, Natalie, to be my wife; to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse; for richer, for poorer; in sickness and in health; to love and to cherish; until we are parted by death." His voice cracked slightly on the last phrase and he couldn't prevent the slight hitch in his tone. In the audience, Marcia Ellison dabbed her eyes with a tissue as Dwight clutched her hand.

"Natalie, repeat after me," Dr. Bell said this time.

Natalie spoke softly but firmly, her words clear and distinct. "I, Natalie, take you, Adrian, to be my husband; to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse; for richer, for poorer; in sickness and in health — " here her smile trembled slightly, "— to love and to cherish; until we are parted by death." Like him, at the last phrase her voice shook. Behind her, Julie sniffed and blinked back tears.

"May I please have the rings?" Dr. Bell asked. Ambrose fished in his pocket and handed a small, simple white-gold band to him, while Julie gave him a larger, wider band the same style and color.

Dr. Bell accepted both rings and said, "Since ancient times, the ring has been a symbol of the unbroken circle of love, with no beginning and no end. Love given freely has no giver and no receiver, for each is the giver and each is the receiver. May these rings always remind you of the freedom and power of this commitment you have made here today."

He gave the smaller band to Adrian.

"Adrian, place the ring on Natalie's finger and repeat after me."

Adrian did so as he slid the ring onto her finger. "Natalie, I give you this ring as a sign of my vow to love, honor, and cherish you always."

"And Natalie, place the ring on Adrian's finger, and repeat after me," Dr. Bell said, handing her the larger ring.

"Adrian," she said, sliding the ring onto the finger that had worn the ring Trudy had given him for so long, and would now forever after wear the one she gave him, "I give you this ring as a sign of my vow to love, honor, and cherish you always."

The two of them squeezed hands, their eyes shining, as Dr. Bell said, looking out toward the assembled guests, "Today, Adrian and Natalie, you have honored all of us with your invitation to be present with you for this ceremony. And so, this day, you have declared before all of us that you shall live together in marriage. In the traditional way, you have entered into their marriage with the joining of hands, the making of vows and promises, and the giving and receiving of rings, an outward symbol of your voluntary commitment to one another."

He cleared his throat, and continued in a sonorous tone, "Therefore, by the power vested in me by the State of California, it is my great privilege to pronounce you husband and wife."

Smiling broadly, Dr. Bell closed his binder. "Adrian, you may now kiss your bride."

"With pleasure," Adrian said under his breath as he leaned down to do just that. Natalie laughed and threw her arms around his neck as his lips met hers. The enthusiasm of their embrace caused a ripple of laughter among the crowd.

When they finally broke apart, smiling at one another, Dr. Bell intoned, "Ladies and gentlemen, I'm honored to present to you, for the first time, Mr. and Mrs. Adrian Monk."

Mr. and Mrs. Adrian Monk. Their faces reflected their stunned joy as they turned to face their guests, who rose to their feet, applauding enthusiastically as the first bars of Mendelssohn's Wedding March rang out in exultation. Julie gave her mother's bouquet back to her, and then, arm-in-arm, the newlyweds sailed back up the aisle on feet nearly as light as their hearts.

When they reached the back edge of the terrace near the ballroom doors, where Cassandra had instructed them to stand for the receiving line, they hugged jubilantly. "We did it!" Natalie cheered, clutching both him and her bouquet tightly as he lifted her off the ground and spun them both around in a quick circle.

"Congratulations, Mrs. Monk," Adrian said, grinning, as he set her down.

"Right back at you, Mr. Monk," she said, her eyes dancing with merriment as she eased back to smile up at him.

Julie and Ambrose, who had followed them up the aisle, joined them a few moments later. "Way to go!" Julie squealed, throwing her arms around them both. She gave Natalie a quick smack on the cheek and relieved her of her bouquet. "I'll keep this for you until you're done."

"Thanks, hon," Natalie said gratefully, threading her arm through Adrian's.

Ambrose murmured quiet congratulations and shyly kissed her cheek. He shook Adrian's hand next, his dark eyes bright with emotion, and then he slipped away to find a quiet corner until it was time for the pictures.

"Are you ready for this?" Natalie asked Adrian as they took their places by the terrace doors.

"Damn the torpedoes," he said cheerfully. He was so giddy with joy that Natalie could have asked him to bathe in a dumpster full of garbage and he would have happily complied.

They stood in the receiving line for what seemed like hours (but was really only about twenty minutes), accepting congratulations, compliments, and praise. "It was such a beautiful ceremony," they heard more than once. Adrian shook hands with gusto, too exhilarated to even think about needing a wipe.

Once that happy ordeal was over, and Cassandra had deftly marshaled the last of the stragglers into the ballroom, they joined the rest of the wedding party for pictures. The photographer, who'd been unobtrusively taking pictures through the ceremony, was brisk and proficient. She was well acquainted with the setup and layout of the terrace, having worked many weddings in that location, and between her and Cassandra they managed to get everyone arranged and organized for various shots with practiced efficiency.

At one point, while they were waiting for the photographer to set up some equipment between shots, Adrian plunked down on one of the guest chairs in the front row and pulled Natalie down onto his lap, grinning at her mischievously.

She supposed she should object, given that they were surrounded by people, but she didn't. After all, if they couldn't engage in ostentatious public displays of affection on their wedding day, when could they? She slid one hand around his neck while holding her bouquet on her lap with her other hand, being careful not to crush the delicate flowers.

It was then that Adrian noticed the handkerchief wrapped around the stem of Natalie's bouquet. "What's this?" he asked, touching it lightly.

Natalie could see the spark of recognition on his face. "It's Marcia's," she said. "You know that rhyme — 'something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue'? Well, I needed something old, and Marcia let me use her handkerchief. She carried it on her wedding day."

"So did Trudy," he said, looking at her with inscrutable eyes.

Natalie nodded. "I know; Marcia told me. Do you have the watch with you?"

He didn't seem nonplussed by the change in topic. "It's in my pocket."

She smiled. "Mitch had it with him when we were married."

He smiled, too, and they gazed at one another until a series of soft clicks interrupted their absorption. They both turned their heads in the direction of the sound, only to see their photographer down on one knee, lowering her camera from her eye and grinning in satisfaction as she checked the digital display. "Great shot, you two. Thanks."

Natalie laughed as Adrian rolled his eyes. "Can't we just go upstairs and start the wedding night early?" he muttered.

"No, we can't," Natalie said, stroking the back of his neck with her finger. "I'm hungry."

"So am I," he said, his fingers tightening around her waist. He gave her a look that fairly sizzled.

She shivered a little in response. Suddenly it was rather tempting to start the wedding night early, but she pushed the impulse aside. She was looking forward to the reception and the dance. "Good things come to those who wait, Adrian," she said, her voice a low, teasing purr.

His expression was pained. "Keep talking to me like that and I can promise that we won't make it to the reception."

"Up and at 'em, lovebirds," Cassandra commanded from across the aisle, laughing. "We have pictures to finish."

Adrian stifled a groan. By his calculations, there were approximately six more hours to go until they could escape to their room. Six long, endless hours of socializing. The things he did for love.

Heaving a sigh, he gently slid Natalie off his lap and stood up himself. The sooner they got the pictures over with, the sooner they could get to the reception, and then they'd be that much closer to the end of the evening.

The pictures were completed at six forty-five, pleasing Cassandra by finishing five minutes ahead of schedule. While the rest of the wedding party headed into the ballroom to take their places at the head table, Adrian and Natalie lingered behind. Now that the pictures were over, Natalie, with Adrian's help, unhooked her veil from her headband and laid it aside.

She carefully removed Marcia's handkerchief from her bouquet so she could return it to her; meanwhile, the flowers and her veil were going to be stored elsewhere by the Four Seasons staff so that she wasn't encumbered with them for the remainder of the evening.

"Want me to keep that for you, Mrs. Monk?" Adrian asked.

Natalie smiled and handed him the handkerchief, which he carefully put in his pocket. "Are you going to call me Mrs. Monk all night?"

"I'm going to call you Mrs. Monk for the rest of our lives," he replied, taking her hand in his.

She laughed. "Well, I certainly hope you don't expect me to call you Mr. Monk."

He tucked her hand in the crook of his arm as they made their way toward the ballroom. "Absolutely not. I think five years of that was enough."

"More than enough," she agreed.

"It's funny how it felt wrong for you to call me Adrian for such a long time," he remarked. "And then, all of a sudden, it felt right."

"I think — " she hesitated for a moment, then continued, "I think calling you by your first name when I was just your assistant felt strange because it seemed so… well… intimate."

"Sharona called me Adrian," he mused.

"She was your nurse before she was your assistant," Natalie pointed out. "That's a very personal relationship." She grinned. "Believe me, I should know. She was my nurse too, remember?"

"No, I don't want to remember," he said quietly as they reached the closed ballroom doors.

She turned to face him. "It's over," she reminded him, enfolding him in a reassuring hug. "I'm completely healed. And now we're married, and we have our whole lives ahead of us."

Instead of replying, he leaned down and kissed her tenderly.

When Cassandra found them, they were still wrapped around each other, completely oblivious to everyone and everything around them.

"Excuse me, Mr. and Mrs. Monk," she said, smiling indulgently.

The newlyweds reluctantly separated. Adrian gave the wedding coordinator a slightly exasperated look as Natalie flushed.

"I have your room keys," Cassandra continued, as if she hadn't noticed a thing. She passed two key cards to Adrian. "Room 1010."

His hand paused halfway toward his pocket. "You're kidding."

Cassandra shook her head, her eyes twinkling in amusement. "We managed to shift some reservations around to make the room available. Your overnight bags have already been brought up."

"Remind me to give you a bonus," Natalie said, grinning at Adrian as he slipped the key cards safely into his pocket.

Cassandra laughed. "You two wait here. I'm going to go tell the emcee that it's time for your entrance."

"Thank goodness," Natalie muttered as Cassandra hurried away. "I'm starving."

"Better eat hearty," Adrian advised. "You're going to need all your strength later tonight."

She raised an eyebrow at him.

"I meant for the dancing," he said, but he winked at her.

"Sure you did," she said, amused.

From inside the ballroom, they heard the sonorous voice of the emcee formally welcoming the guests to the wedding reception and dance. "And now, ladies and gentlemen, let's welcome your host and hostess, the newlyweds, Mr. and Mrs. Adrian Monk!"

Together, they pushed open the ballroom doors, and walked hand-in-hand into the ballroom to the loud applause and enthusiastic cheering of their family and friends.