Chapter 16: A Long Time Coming

"Wait a sec, Captain. Did you just say Adrian Monk is getting married?"

"Yes, I did, Randy," replied Leland.

"Are we talking about the same guy? Black hair, brown eyes, wears a lot of brown clothing?"

"Well...he doesn't wear brown so much anymore, but yes, we're talking about the same guy."

Sharona's voice piped up. "I think you better get ready to pay up, Randy. Hand over the wallet. Who's he marrying, Leland?"

"Hope the bet wasn't too big, Randy. Here's the short version. Monk went to Natalie, and told her he loved her. She dumped the Navy doctor, and now they're engaged. Monk wants to marry her as soon as Julie comes home for the summer."

"Leland! That's three weeks away! I don't know if I can leave the station right now."

"Don't listen to him, Leland. You give us a date, and we'll get on a plane. Adrian's getting married!"

"Pay up, Randy," Leland taunted. "I told Monk years ago that woman would crawl through Hell for him. This is a long time coming."

Meanwhile, back in 2G, Natalie was pacing the floor.

"Adrian, what could they possibly want?"

"I don't know, Natalie. Maybe they just want to come to the wedding."

Natalie put her hand up. "Adrian, my parents don't visit me. I visit them! They summon me to stately Davenport Manor."

Adrian came up behind Natalie and began massaging her shoulders. "Don't worry about this, Natalie. Nothing could possibly be as uncomfortable as the conversation we had with them at Berkeley."

Natalie turned around and just stared. "Adrian Monk, who died and made you an optimist?"

Snaking his arms around her waist, Adrian kissed her on the neck. "No one died, but how can I be pessimistic when you said you would marry me?"

"I can't think straight when you do that!"

"Then don't think at all...let me help you relax." He started to slide his hands underneath her sweater.

"I never thought you would turn out to be such a sex fiend." But she didn't stop the warm hands that began to unclasp her bra.

"Not a sex fiend, per se. Just you...I can't think of even touching another woman, in any manner."

Natalie sighed. "That's one of the sexiest things a man can say to a woman, Adrian. You're the only man I know who would never consider sex without love. That and I think all of you is sexy...the eyes, the jawline, that baritone voice of yours that is just beautiful to listen to, whether you're telling me 'what happened' or talking to me in bed...watching you walk to the shower every morning."

Adrian sat in his chair and pulled Natalie into his lap. "One of these days, I'm going to figure out exactly how you can see me that way. In the meantime, I'm going to make you forget about everything else. We're getting married. Your parents can't do anything to stop it, Natalie. Even I'm secure enough in that knowledge. If there's anything to worry about, you know that I'm more than capable of worrying enough for the both of us." He drew her sweater over her head.

Natalie's hands went to the buttons on his shirt. "Don't you want to go to bed?"

Adrian tilted his head thoughtfully. "Here's the thing- we'll be married soon, I'll be moving out soon enough, and so far, we've only made love in the bedroom and the shower."

Later on that night, they were lying in bed together. Adrian rolled over on his side, slightly leaning over her. Their faces were almost touching as his free hand stroked her cheek. His voice was soft, concerned. "I saw the look on your face when you were holding Amanda. I wanted to tell you something."

Natalie smiled up at him. "She's precious. When you're ready, we can talk..."

"When you're ready, Natalie."

"When I'm ready?"

"I know that we don't have forever to try to conceive. So after we're married, whenever you're ready, I'm ready," he reassured her.

"I'm 43. I don't know how much longer I have, and I don't know how long it will take to get pregnant."

Adrian nuzzled her neck. "Mmm, a younger woman. How did I get so lucky?"

Looking back up at her, he told her the truth. "As much as I would love to have you to myself for a few years, I know our window is limited. Besides, I had no idea how much I wanted to look at you holding our child in your arms until I saw you tonight. The look on Leland's face when he ran into the waiting room...that's a feeling I want for myself."

A wicked smile spread on Natalie's face. "I know one thing, detective. We are going to have a great time trying."

Once again, the Davenports found themselves sitting across from Adrian and Natalie, except this time, their purpose was not to interrogate.

Bobby and Peggy Davenport were in a remarkably chipper mood to be "slumming it" because they were both wearing smiles upon catching sight of Natalie. The light had been gone from Natalie's eyes for so long that they had forgotten what it looked like. They had come to realize that it was because of the man standing next to their daughter, his arm protectively wrapped around her shoulders.

Natalie's eyes widened because she realized her mother was wearing a genuine smile, and not the fake one she usually wore for her so-called friends.

After the big showdown in Berkeley, Bobby and Peggy had come to face some of their episodes of poor judgment...the mess with Jonathan, and ever contemplating that Paul Buchanan would be a good match for their daughter. Adrian Monk had hurried to Natalie's rescue and saved her life. They had also finally determined that they had hurt Natalie and Julie when they had so vehemently disapproved of Mitch Teeger. They had decided it was a mistake they did not wish to risk repeating.

Peggy glanced at Adrian, as though seeing him for the first time. She didn't think he had Steven Albright's stunning good looks, but the dark, handsome detective had an appealing intensity about him, and it was obvious that Natalie was the center of his world. He might not be someone from their circles, but the Davenports had decided there was no shame in having an admittedly brilliant son-in-law that had a renowned reputation for accomplishing the seemingly impossible.

As the Davenport's sat on the sofa in the apartment, Natalie and Adrian sat on the arm of his chair, shoulders touching in solidarity.

Bobby smiled at the couple and said, "I know you're wondering why we're here. Your mother and I have done a lot of thinking and we have decided that when you're ready, we want to have your wedding on our estate."

Natalie and Adrian exchanged shocked glances.

Peggy raised a hand up. "Hear us out, Natalie. We don't have to have anything except a small, intimate wedding with only the people you choose to invite. No long guest list of strangers you've never met and people you don't care about. You tell us when, and we supply the where."

"Mom, we were actually planning to get married the day after Julie comes home for the summer."

"We've already predicted that. We took you at your word, Natalie. You said you weren't waiting."

"Honey, your mother and I have demonstrated some less than exemplary judgment, and we want this to be our wedding gift to you. Invite your friends, we'll arrange the minister and small-scale photography and refreshments, and give me the chance to give my daughter away." Bobby smiled at Natalie.

Natalie looked her mother in the eyes. "No country club friends? I would feel claustrophobic and uncomfortable with 400 strangers around, to say nothing of what it might do to Adrian."

Peggy nodded firmly. "Only the people you want to invite." Then she turned to Adrian. "Mr. Monk, I said some things the other day that I probably should not have said."

"Mrs. Davenport, your daughter is my most beautiful treasure. I understand how it feels to be protective of those you love."

Natalie looked at her fiancé. "Well, what do you think? They've promised us simple, unpretentious, without hundreds of people we don't know witnessing our special day."

"I think we should do it, Natalie. Most of us never get a second chance to have our parents admit to the error of their ways."

"Okay, Mom. As long as you promise, we accept."