It's a short chapter, but the next one will be the wedding. A time of endings and beginnings, for both Adrian and Natalie.

Chapter 19: The Natural Order of Things

It had been awhile, but the sight was all too familiar. Adrian Monk stood at the cemetery, at his late wife's grave.

If one had been able to listen, they would have heard his soft, heartfelt monologue.

"Trudy, years ago, you told me it was time to say goodbye, and time to move forward. I know that you're always watching me, and so you know I'm moving forward. I never thanked you for sending Natalie to me, Trudy. I know now you never wanted me to be alone, and I know you're probably exasperated at me because I was too stubborn to see the miracle before me. I'm getting married tomorrow, and I am excited for my life to begin again. I'll always love you, Trudy, but Leland was right. The best way for me to honor your memory is to love again."

A soft bass drawled behind him. "Taking my name in vain, Monk?"

Adrian jumped slightly. "Leland," he said, turning around to face him. "How did you know I would be here?"

"I didn't. But I probably should have. Natalie said I might find you here. When you weren't at home, I called her and she was already heading out to meet up with Julie at her parents'."

"It was time to really say goodbye. I loved her, Leland."

"I know, buddy." They both started to walk away from the gravesite.

"Occasionally, there's a tiny part of me that feels guilty, though. My life with Natalie is just so...encompassing. My heart is just full of love for her, Leland." Adrian's face started to burn as he lowered his voice. "Natalie's different from Trudy, she's more...intense, and I am just overwhelmed..."

Stottlemeyer's brow started to clear as he realized exactly what his friend was trying to say.

"...by my...passion for her." This was a hard subject for Adrian, even with Leland, but he had to just spit it out. "I don't want Trudy to think..."

"That you didn't love her? No person on the planet thinks that, including Natalie. She knew you would be here, and she understands why. As for giving your heart to Natalie, and the way you feel when you're...alone together, it's only right that you feel that way, Monk. Do you think Trudy would want to see you in a marriage where you felt torn between love for your new wife and her memory?"

"No, of course not. But.."

"No buts, Monk. Do you realize that Natalie has been at your side for over eight years? You'll always love Trudy, Monk. But as your marriage grows and deepens, you'll inevitably feel closer to Natalie. Especially if you wind up having a baby together. I had two children with Karen, and I love my boys, but it just didn't compare to seeing TK carrying my child and then holding our daughter in her arms for the first time. I know that our situations are different. But it's okay for you to love Natalie that much, Monk. It's okay for Natalie to take precedence over Trudy as well." Stottlemeyer paused for a moment, not wishing to be coarse, especially here. "And trust me, Monk. It's okay that you feel this way about Natalie when you're...together. She's going to be your wife now, and it's only the natural order of things."

Adrian looked up at Leland and nodded. "I love Natalie so much, and I feel like she's my partner in a way that no one ever has been. I think I just needed to hear someone tell me it's okay to feel that way."

"You are partners in every way, because you've shared the work all these years; you and Trudy had different career paths. Monk, I think Trudy would tell you that it's okay."

"Thank you, Leland."

Stottlemeyer laughed as he put a hand on Monk's shoulder. "Hey, what is the best man for, Monk? Besides gripping the wedding ring so tightly you can barely pry it out of their hands?"

"Speaking of which, where is the ring, Leland?"

"It's fine, Monk. I assure you, it's in my safe keeping."

"Show it to me..."

"Monk, you're just going to have to trust me on this one..."

Their good-natured argument continued as they walked away from the cemetery.

In an elaborate bedroom that looked as though it hadn't been touched in over 20 years, piles of stuffed animals laid on the floor. Natalie laid on the bed, wide awake. She missed Adrian- she knew she wasn't going to sleep well without him, but it was more than that. She knew that even if she were lying in his arms, she wouldn't be able to sleep. She just couldn't contain her excitement- tomorrow she was getting married! The last few weeks marked both an end and a beginning. It was the beginning of what she was certain was the right thing for her heart, because it was the end of withholding her love back for the most important man in her life. She felt years younger because the burden had been lifted off her shoulders, and she hadn't realized how heavy it was until she stopped having to carry it.

She rolled over and idly checked her phone, and then the time automatically rolled over to 2:00 am. She jumped, and then smiled as it started to ring in her hands.

"You still like nice, round numbers, Mr. Monk."

"And you're still awake."

"So are you, Adrian."

She heard him sigh on the phone, "I slept alone for so long that I didn't remember what it was like not to...and now I just find it harder to sleep without you here with me. I can smell you on our sheets."

"I miss you, too. But there's another reason I can't sleep."

"What's that?"

"I'm just beside myself with excitement! What are you thinking about?"

"Oh, that's easy," he tossed out casually. "You. Here."

Natalie giggled, "You are so very wicked, Mr. Monk."

"I love you, Natalie."

"I love you, too. I forgot something, though."

"What did you forget?"

"I forgot to thank you. When all of this started, you gave me one of your pet phrases- you'll thank me later."

"Natalie?"

"Hmm, baby?"

"I have to thank you...for rescuing me, in more ways than one. I think I would be marrying you even if you walked down the aisle with a pillow underneath your dress."

Natalie laughed. "You rescued me, too. Don't ever forget that, Adrian Monk."