Adrian was sitting at the dining room table drinking coffee, waiting for Molly and Leyla to come for breakfast. It was Christmas and on that occasion he decided to put his melancholy on hold for a while and celebrate the holiday with his dear people. Leyla somehow became a part of his little circle, especially after he saved her life by throwing himself at Lt. Albright. She recently told him that her boss was returning to Italy to continue his work there, and that he had suggested that she go with him. That way she would be closer to her mother, but she admitted that she is somehow used to life in America and that she will miss it all.

He tried not to think about his birthday last year and what he had done, but the thoughts always came back and haunted him, even though so much time had passed. In that crazy attack, he had to kill Steven and thus save his life and the lives of others. Although Leland later told him he should feel proud, he didn't. Especially because of Natalie. He will never forget the look on her face when she realized what had happened. It was too painful for her. That's why she decided to go to Atlanta after all, and he didn't know how he was going to survive without her, and it didn't apply to her job. He remembered their parting and every word and constantly tortured himself thinking about it.

--‐--

He was nervous as he waited for her to come and say goodbye to him. She definitely decided to go and clear her mind, and she also needed recovery after everything. Adrian understood her very well, but despite that, he could not ease the sadness that was tearing his heart. Everything ended worse than he expected. So when he saw her in a black coat and glasses that hid her swollen eyes, he almost cried with anguish. She came up to him and hugged him, and he readily welcomed her into his arms.

"Mr. Monk," she stammered, "thank you for everything."

"You're welcome," he replied, rubbing her back gently. She looked into his eyes and put her hand on his cheek. They had never been closer than then. She even breathed directly into him, but it didn't bother him at all. If he could, he would have stopped time and turned a moment into eternity.

"I'm sorry I didn't believe you," she finally said. "You were right, you're always right..."

"Natalie, don't blame yourself, please. No one could have expected Albright to become such a monster."

"I know, but I still can't believe it happened. He was an honorable man, I don't know when he became so poisoned with malice..."

Adrian didn't answer anything, he just gently stroked her hair and kissed her on the forehead.

"Mr. Monk," she said quietly, moving a little away from him. "I have something to tell you."

"I'm listening to you."

She paused for a moment, thinking about what she was going to say.

"Natalie, is everything okay?"

"Yes, just...Mr. Monk?"

"Yes?"

"I know everything. I know how you feel about me."

He blushed suddenly, and his heart was beating strongly in his chest. How could she know? Did Leyla tell her?

"Natalie, I…"

"Shhh," she covered his lips with her finger. "You don't need to make excuses, it's all right. I admit I was surprised when I realized, but you're just a normal person too, aren't you?"

He nodded his head. "I didn't plan it. It just happened. I realized you meant more than a friend to me and I was sad that you were getting married."

"Perhaps this is not the right moment, but I will take the opportunity to admit something to you, now that the cards are on the table."

"Whatever you want."

"Four years ago I felt the same as you. I was in love with a man who did not return my feelings and I believed that this would never happen. I hid my love, although it was sometimes very difficult for me, especially because I was constantly around him. You were that man."

He looked into her green eyes and a single tear slid down his cheek.

"I know," he replied quietly.

"You know? How?"

"Steven told me, the day he came to threaten me. Natalie, that at least I was less stupid. If only I had recognized your feelings and reciprocated them...God, how hard it was for me when I heard that."

"Mr. Monk, please don't. You couldn't love me back because you suffered and it was only natural. I never blamed you for it, and I won't now."

But Adrian couldn't take it anymore and fell to his knees in front of her, not caring that he would get his pants dirty.

"Natalie, don't go. Stay with me. I swear I'll do everything to make you happy. I love you and will love you for the rest of my life. I'm begging you, don't leave me."

"Mr. Monk," she called, but he didn't raise his head and held her legs tightly. "Adrian," she finally said, making him look at her. The last time she called him by his name was when Sharona was visiting him, three years ago. He didn't like it then, but now it sounded so natural.

"Adrian," she repeated and he stood up. "I have to go. So much has happened that has changed my life completely and I need time to recover from it all. In less than a month I was supposed to marry a man who is now dead and I just don't know how to get over it that. The only way is to run away and I know I'm acting like a coward but I have to. That's the best for everyone."

"But what about Julie? She's studying at Berkeley."

He cared for her, over time he grew to love her like the daughter he never had. He couldn't tell her from Molly now.

"She's grown up. She'll come to visit me. She's very supportive."

He nodded, resigned to her decision. "Just a moment," he said and reached in and took the key out of his pocket. "I want you to take this."

Natalie looked carefully at what he gave her.

"That's the key to your apartment, isn't it?"

"It is. I don't want you to get me wrong, this isn't a way to keep you or bind you to me in any way. It's just...You've always had the key and I want it to stay that way, if you ever want to come."

She could not refuse him and she knew better than anyone that he had no dishonorable intentions. So she kindly thanked him and hugged him once more.