I Should Have Kissed You, a monk fanfic

A/N: A story inspired by the song "I should have kissed you" by the group One Direction. The song reminded me of Adrian and Natalie and the episode "Mr. Monk and the Genius"

And thank you GR8Catch. I'm your regular reader. Your short stories inspired me to write something similar myself.

I will return to "Vermont" soon. I had another longer story in my mind, but I'm still in the language learning phase. Until then, enjoy this romantic story. Thank you for reading.

P.S. I hope my English is getting better

Year 2011. Two years have passed since Adrian Monk solved Trudy's case. Thanks to his friends Leland, Randy and her. Mostly her. Monk sighed deeply as he saw her slim figure approaching his house. He saw her blonde hair, deep green eyes and her smile that was enchanting. He only said once that she was beautiful. That was when he painted her picture. That ugly picture that she refused to sell to the swindler Petya Lovak because it meant a lot to her. It was a gift from him. He meant too much to her. He knew that. That's why she didn't leave him, even though he was often mean to her. She stayed by his side when no one else did, even when he didn't pay her. And often he did not pay her. As if she had to work for him. And her daughter also loved him. She hugged him with her little arms when he saved Mr. Henry years ago. He sighed again. Trudy and he had no children because he was afraid of parenthood, but didn't he secretly wish deep down that he had someone to call him dad?

He thought for a long time about his feelings that appeared suddenly. He fought with them but realized that the fight was futile. He had to admit to himself that he had fallen in love with that beautiful woman. Natalie had broken up with Lt. Albright last year and Adrian wondered if she had already found someone or if she was single like him. No, no one is alone like him, he thought sadly. Natalie would surely laugh if he declared his love for her, but is he able to do it? Why would she love him? He is boring, often acts like a small child and needs a babysitter. What could he offer her? Adrian sighed softly, saddened by it all, but smoldering with a small hope that not everything was as it seemed.

Natalie opened the door and it snapped him out of his thoughts. The scent of her sweet perfume invaded Adrian's senses and he shuddered, suddenly feeling the urge to take her in his arms and hug her. But as usual, the lack of self-confidence prevailed. She was wearing a light green sweater that matched her twinkling eyes and black pants. He didn't understand how he hadn't noticed her beauty before. She was holding the phone in her hand. He thought she was talking to Leland.

"No Julie, you can't spend the night at Emily's house. I want you to come home after the concert is over. Is that clear?"

"But mom, I'm nineteen!"

"No argument. Until you get back to Berkley, I'll take care of you."

"As if you don't already do that..."

"And I always will. You are my child. Maybe one day you will understand."

There was a deep sigh from the other side and Natalie rolled her eyes. She knew Julie was at a sensitive age, but she was also very sensitive. Especially when it comes to her daughter. Her Julie.

Natalie ended the call and turned to Adrian.

"Morning, Mr. Monk. Are you ready for new challenges?"

"Uh...maybe." Adrian paused and looked at her. "You're worried about Julie? What kind of concert is it?"

Natalie stared at him in amazement. He was never interested in her life, nor what Julie was doing.

"Hmm...The boy band "One Direction". They're from London. Julie loves them. She's crazy about them." Natalie was sure her boss had never heard of the band before and she didn't want to bore him.

"What kind of music is that?"

"Pop-rock."

Adrian cocked his head thoughtfully. Natalie laughed.

"I know you only listen to Willie Nelson. Relax."

Adrian laughed seeing her smile. She was so beautiful when she laughed.

"Can I hear one of their songs?"

"Really?" Natalie raised an eyebrow.

He nodded his head. Natalie played the YouTube app and soon the lyrics of their popular song were heard:

I keep playing it inside my head

All that you said to me

I lie awake just to convince myself

This wasn't just a dream

'Cause you were right here

And I should've taken the chance

But I got so scared

And I lost the moment again

Oh, you're all that I can think about

Is your heart taken?

Is there somebody else on your mind?

I'm so sorry, I'm so confused

Just tell me, am I out of time?

Is your heart breaking?

How do you feel about me now?

I can't believe I let you walk away

When, when I should have kissed you

I should've, I should've, oh, I should have kissed you

Every morning when I leave my house

I always look for you, yeah

I see you every time I close my eyes

What am I gonna do?

And all my friends say that I'm punching over my weight

But in my eyes I saw how you're looking at me

It's all that I can think about

Oh, you're all that I can think about

Is your heart taken?

Is there somebody else on your mind?

I'm so sorry, I'm so confused

Just tell me, am I out of time?

Is your heart breaking?

How do you feel about me now?

I can't believe I let you walk away

When, when I should have kissed you

I should've, I should've, oh, I should have kissed you

When you stood there, just a heartbeat away

When we were dancing, and you looked up at me

If I had known then that I'd be feeling this way

If I could replay I would never have let you go

No, oh, never have let you go Am I out of time?

Is your heart taken?

Is there somebody else on your mind?

I'm so sorry, I'm so confused

Just tell me, am I out of time?

Is your heart breaking?

How do you feel about me now?

I can't believe I let you walk away

When, when I should have kissed you

I should've, I should've, oh, I should have kissed you

I should have kissed you

That song seems to have been written for them. A cold November breeze was blowing from outside, bringing the chill, but his heart burned with an unquenchable fire. He could never have imagined that he would experience that feeling again.

He looked at Natalie, and the song brought him back to the past, when he was playing "chess" against the experienced Patrick Kloster. He remembered the sentence she said in the car. Since Kloster was coming to meet them, she suggested that they kiss. Then he looked at her with wide eyes, and now his lips formed a sentence by themselves:

"I should have kissed you."

Natalie's smile grew wider as she thought her boss liked the song.

"You like it, don't you?" she teased.

He shook his head and buried his face in his hands. Natalie became worried.

"Are you okay?"

He shook his head again.

"I want to, no, I need to talk to you Natalie."

"What is it about?"

"Please sit down."

She did as he said. He pulled out a chair and sat next to her. Since he was silent, she decided to speak first.

"Mr. Monk?"

"Adrian."

"Excuse me?"

"Call me Adrian. After what I'm about to tell you, you may not want to work for me anymore."

Now she was especially worried. She rubbed his shoulder in gentle circular motions of her hand, as she had done earlier.

"What's going on? Why do you say that?"

He sighed deeply and took her tiny hand in his.

"I…I love you Natalie."

Her heart skipped a beat and she thought she hadn't heard correctly. Adrian Monk never said he loved any other human being than his wife. At least Natalie never heard that.

"How do you mean?"

Adrian was proud of himself for that one sentence because he knew he broke the ice, but he had to continue.

"I love you. I've been in love with you for a long time. I gathered the courage to tell you this because I couldn't hide it anymore. Forgive me for being mean to you. You are one wonderful woman and you deserve love and respect."

Natalie was out of breath and reached for the bottle of water she always carried in her purse. Seeing her in that condition, Adrian immediately stood up and worriedly put his hand on her face.

"Are you okay? Do you want to go outside for some fresh air?"

She shook her head. He held his hand on her right cheek and she leaned against that hand, making his heart beat faster. When she felt that she was better, Natalie stood up and looked straight into his eyes, those warm chestnut eyes that had once captured her heart. She could never have dreamed that her most secret wish would come true.

"Oh, Adrian . . ."

She said it in a soft, loving whisper. "I can't believe you're telling me that."

"Why?" he asked a little worried, thinking he'd misinterpreted her previous reaction. But when she suddenly found herself in his arms and put her arms around his neck, he forgot all his worries.

"I love you, I love you so much!" she repeated, holding him tightly.

Adrian exhaled happily and gently massaged her back, then pulled her back so he could meet her eyes.

"I have loved you for years, but I never could have imagined that you would love me back."

"This is the first time I'm happy to trust my instinct," he said with a smile, then added:

"May I kiss you?"

"You should have long ago," she replied teasingly.

Adrian's smile grew wider. Because of that woman, he could laugh all the time. He bent down and planted a light kiss on her lips. The first was delicate, like a rose petal. When their lips met in a second kiss, they both felt a passion that intoxicated them both. They continued to kiss while their song played in the background. Who would have thought that a cute band, whose posters decorate Julie's room, will bring together two people who have finally found their happiness, their other half of the soul. They both knew it, especially Adrian. When he loves, he loves forever.

That's how it was. Not long after that cold November day, Natalie became Mrs. Monk, and her once boring boss became her protector, her husband, and the father of the child she brought into the world two years later. This is how Adrian's deep longing to have someone to call him "dad" came true. Natalie was able to enjoy the charms of parenthood again, and Julie got the little sister she dreamed of as a child.

One morning, several years later, when their little girl was six months old and sleeping carefree on her father's chest as he held her protectively, Adrian wanted to hear again the band that had brought him and Natalie together. Julie, who still had the posters in her room, laughed softly, still amazed at how a simple song had changed their Mr. Monk's life.

She played the song on YouTube, kissed Adrian and her sister and went to her room. At that moment, Natalie walked into the living room to find her husband swaying to the lines she had memorized well. When he saw her, he smiled his irresistible smile.

"Our daughter seems to like this song."

Natalie laughed, kissed him softly and took Emily from his arms. It was an adorable baby, who irresistibly resembled her mother, but had her father's eyes.

"I like it too," Natalie whispered softly. "I'm so grateful Julie went to the concert that day."

"You were worried about her then."

"I did," she admitted, "but I couldn't have known that her favorite band would bring me love. I love you, sweetheart."

"I love you too," he replied and kissed her, then kissed their little one.

"If I didn't have you, there would be nothing left

The shell of a man who could never be his best

If I didn't have you, I'd never see the sun

You taught me how to be someone"

THE END