Friday came, and Adrian spent the day quietly fretting. He tried reading, doing paperwork, and even swimming to distract himself and avoid Natalie. She went to yoga class, did her own paperwork, and happily chatted on the phone with Julie. At last, Natalie left to get her hair cut, and Adrian could put on his new suit, the silk of his tie sliding easily through his fingers. He left a note in his flawless handwriting telling Natalie when and where to meet him and how to dress, but not why. He then took a cab to the restaurant, not trusting himself to drive in his frazzled state.

When Natalie got home, she read the note with a puzzled grin but took it as an opportunity to wear the pretty new dress she'd been saving. It was perfect for the restaurant Adrian had chosen. It was a spot they had never visited together, but it was said to be fabulous and had a Michelin star to boot. She had an inkling that Adrian was cooking up something romantic to formally present her with her ring, not that their kitchen, Tiffany's, or even an alley in the Castro wouldn't have been just fine.

Natalie got dressed quickly and did her makeup carefully. Her hair looked really great; the new cut that Sabrina, her stylist, had talked her into was soft and somehow made her look younger. It was still shoulder-length, but the layers were less blunt, so the edges fell in soft waves. It was beachy, yet it went elegantly with the dress, too. She thought casual elegance was the correct term. She added the earrings Adrian had given her on a long-ago birthday and the diamond bracelet she'd given herself recently. She picked up her small bag and her keys and went to the garage for her car, where she noted that Adrian's car was still in its spot. He was too nervous to drive, she thought with a nervous smile of her own as she got into her car and went on her way.

The restaurant terrace overlooked the city's twinkling lights across the water. Classical music played in the background, and candles flickered on the few tables scattered on the terrace, giving each table a pool of glowing fire. Soft, ambient light bathed the terrace in a warm glow as Adrian, dressed in his elegant suit, nervously adjusted the placement of a single red rose in a crystal vase on the elegantly set table in the middle of the terrace. The San Francisco skyline stretched out behind him, a breathtaking backdrop to the moment he'd been planning for days. He was too anxious to notice the beauty of the night. He'd bought out the entire terrace for the next few hours. People they loved would fill the tables in a little while.

The navy blue suit he'd purchased two days before fit him impeccably, yet he kept adjusting his tie and shrugging his shoulders with nerves and discomfort. He had asked Natalie to meet him precisely at 7. Adrian nervously paced back and forth, checking his watch every few seconds. He adjusted the rose in the vase again, ensuring it was perfectly centered.

Natalie, looking stunning in a black dress with a silvery overlay that seemed made for her, was led to the terrace by the maitre'd. Her eyes scanned the terrace until they landed on Adrian. She smiled, her heart skipping a beat at the sight of him.

Monk straightened up, trying to hide his nerves as he approached her.

"Hi, handsome. Have you seen my fiancé? " she teased.

Monk took a deep breath, summoning his courage. He extended his hand to Natalie.

"I know I'm not always good with surprises, or anything else, really…but... tonight is different. Tonight, I wanted everything to be perfect. More perfect than usual." He led her to their table, where he pulled out her chair. After she sat down, Monk took the seat opposite her, his eyes never leaving hers. A small, tense smile played on his lips.

Natalie's surety grew, but she couldn't help but smile at Monk's sincerity.

"What's going on, Adrian?"

Monk reached into his pocket and pulled out a familiar, small blue velvet box. Natalie's eyes crinkled with her smile as he opened it to reveal the spectacular ring they'd purchased at Tiffany's just days ago.

"Natalie, I want to give this to you properly. You deserve a proper proposal, all the romance and ambiance. Not a proposal in the kitchen in the middle of an ordinary day. Or in Tiffany's despite its elegance. Sweetheart, you've brought so much light into my life. You've been my rock, my partner, my... everything. Natalie, since I met you, my life has been... brighter. You've brought so much joy and love into my world. I can't imagine my world without you in it. Will you please marry me?"

Tears glistened in Natalie's eyes as she stared at Adrian, overwhelmed with emotion. Behind the restaurant windows, their friends and family watched anxiously, holding their breaths. They didn't know she'd already agreed to his proposal once.

"Yes, Adrian. I'd love nothing so much as to marry you!"

Monk's face broke into a radiant smile as he slipped the ring onto Natalie's finger.

"I wanted us to have a moment. A moment just for us, but I also wanted to share our joy with everyone else we love, so…" Monk's following words were lost as the enormous windows suddenly slid open, revealing their friends' beaming faces. Applause erupted as Monk and Natalie shared a tender kiss, lost in the moment's magic, and their loved ones rushed out onto the terrace, cheering and clapping.

"Congratulations!" everyone yelled.

Monk and Natalie shared another kiss as the city sparkled around them; their friends' faces shined with happiness, and their futures gleamed brighter than ever before.

"Adrian, this is... incredible and beautiful."

Monk smiled; relief washed over him.

Natalie's breath caught in her throat as she looked around her, her heart overflowing with love. The couple were awash in hugs and kisses from Julie, Jason, Molly, Kyle, Beth, Andy, Leland, TK, Randy, and Sharona.

Monk pulled Natalie close, his heart overflowing with love and gratitude as they celebrated their engagement surrounded by the people who meant the most to them. Champagne flowed, plans floated, and laughter and happy tears ruled the evening. Adrian remembered an admonishment of Natalie's from so long ago. "Don't wait for things to get easier, simpler, better. Life will always be complicated. Learn to be happy right now. Otherwise, you'll run out of time."

She had been entirely correct. Later that night, when they had enjoyed their engagement dinner, and Adrian drove them home, he smiled over at the woman he loved and knew their life together would always be warm and loving. As they undressed each other and greedily satisfied their passions, they knew they'd never grow tired of each other or have enough of the other. As they drifted off to sleep, tangled in a mess of limbs and sheets, he thought, oh, to be sleepy and crawl into bed with someone warm and safe and you know will take care of you in all the right ways is just the definition of perfect.

Adrian and Natalie fell asleep secure in their love, secure in their safe nest, secure that their future was just beginning.