107Author's Note:
This story is titled Mr. Monk and the Beginning. Obviously, that is a play off of the last episode of the TV series some 10 years ago, Mr. Monk and the End. Since this is the last story in this particular series I felt like it was appropriate to name it as I did because I look at it as a case of "This is only the Beginning."
This series served to remedy what was my only substantial complaint about an otherwise brilliant television program. In 'The End', we did not get the real happy ending that many of us wanted, bringing Monk and Natalie together as a couple, but got the additions of Molly and Stephen, neither of whom made any real emotional connection with the audience and both of whom were disappointing enough to those who watched that here we are 10 years later rewriting the ending. Now, Adrian and Natalie are together, they are parents, lovers, friends, and partners in every sense and the real fun can begin.
Several people have indicated that they would like me to keep writing these stories. Truthfully, it makes me sad to think about not writing Monk Fanfic. But 10 stories (several of which are novel length) since May, is a lot! I will need a bit of a hiatus, before I launch into what I believe will be another series early next year. Think of it as a season of Monk, only, of course, I have ten episodes and not sixteen.
I've made some good friends along the way and I've truly appreciated all the feedback and encouragement that has come my way. PLEASE continue to review and feel free to private message me as well. It helps me to gauge what is working and what isn't. I may not incorporate everything, but I've shifted gears creatively a few times based upon your feedback - so they truly are OUR stories.
Thank you again for everything! Now, on to our story. The first chapter is rather silly, I will admit, but it helps set the stage for what is to come.
"Adrian, are you coming?" Natalie Monk asked on a bright sunny morning in March 2019.
He did not answer her call, so she walked upstairs to find him where she would often find him ever since a fire destroyed half of their home and it had to be rebuilt.
He was sitting on the floor in the children's playroom wearing blue jeans and a long sleeved collarless shirt, reading to Abby and Lee. He could have sat at several places given the fact that the large room had several seating areas, one in the area for Abigail's music studies and another in Lee's beginner science and math lab; but, Adrian liked to get down at eye level with his children on the scrupulously clean carpet, because he felt that it strengthened their bond with him and helped them to connect happy memories with him as a parent they could love and trust, rather than memories of him as a domineering adult they were to fear - as he had experienced towards his father from a young age.
.
"Adrian! Didn't you hear me calling you? We're going to be late." She said. "Hurry up!"
He stopped reading, held the book with one hand and brushed Abigail's blonde curls away from her blue eyes with his other hand, saying nothing.
"Oh, You're not even dressed!" Natalie said with frustration.
"I don't think I'm going to go." He said, not looking up.
She walked over and took the book right out of his hands. "Yes! You are going to go! These are our friends and it is their daughter's pageant and we already talked about this. Get up and get … oh good grief!" she said, looking at the clock on the wall. "Look at the time! We're going to be late… grab a blazer and let's go!"
"But, I don't wanna go!" he replied, shuffling his feet and putting his hands on his hips as Lee and Abby looked between him and their mother with a look that said 'Daddy's going to be in so much trouble!'
She folded her arms in front of her. "Look at you! You're a grown man and you're acting like a kindergartner! Heck, you're acting like you're Lee and Abby's age, and they are the adults. Are you two? They act older than you! Stop being a bad example and get moving or… you will suffer a punishment that I know you will not be able to bear!" she replied.
"Punishment? Like what?" he said.
"I was thinking about asking Mom to come stay with us a few days to watch the kids while I did some redecorating in the downstairs study." She replied.
He stuck his jaw out. "That's nothing. We've lived with your mother before." He said, remembering their first days at the house in Swampscott, Massachusetts.
"Yeah, well… you were going to get to sleep on the couch for the entire time she was here and the foreseeable future." She replied.
His look of defiance turned to that of a man beaten. He had grown used to sharing a bedroom with Natalie and knew how awful it felt to not have her beside him every night. She knew it too, and indeed felt it too, but she wasn't going to let him know.
"I'll be down in five minutes…" he said softly, then stiffening his spine and throwing out his jaw…"No! Make that ten!"
"Five!" she said, taking her two toddlers by the hands and leading them out of the room. "And change your shoes! Put on something a little dressier."
"Yes Ma'am!" he said, kicking his foot against the carpet and marching off to the bedroom to grab a blazer.
The "Pageant" that they were going to was actually an Einstein Kids convention where children from ages four through ten were able to showcase various talents and skills that they had acquired and have the opportunity to win money that could be applied towards their future education.
Randy and Sharona Disher had entered their daughter Ophelia in the 'beauty pageant' portion of the event, where she would come out on stage in full pageant costume and perform a specific talent. Her talent was a poem recitation. At six years of age, this wasn't the first such event she had been to. In fact, it was becoming a regular pastime for the Disher family who took her competing very seriously.
As close friends, the Monks and Stottlemeyers had attended a few such events in the past, and the Einstein Kids convention was one of the biggest. On the line was a $10,000 award for best in category and a $50,000 award for best of show.
Ophelia, with her long curly blonde locks, took after her mother in both looks and attitude, so she actually seemed to enjoy 'strutting her stuff' before the crowd. She had won a few contests in the past, and rarely took less than second overall. Randy and Sharona were thus proud of their little girl and loved the event. But, Adrian didn't like it since such events tended to put undue pressure on the children involved and the kids in events like Ophie's were often marched out in very heavy makeup which reminded him of some of the seedier aspects of his early police work.
As they entered the building, Monk observed how the hall had been subdivided into various sections marking areas of emphasis. At the end of the hall was the grand stage which would not be used until late in the day. In front of it on the left and right were areas for artistic talent, academic ability, sports, and invention. The area that they were to sit at was in the artistic talent section where Sharona and Randy had gotten tickets for the whole gang in the second row.
As they took their seats, Adrian held Lee and Natalie held Abby as they sat in between the Dishers and the Stottlemeyers.
Sharona leaned over Randy's lap to talk to Natalie and said "I'm glad you made it. I was beginning to get worried."
Natalie replied. "I'm glad we got here too. Someone was dragging his feet on getting ready because he would rather sit in the floor with his kids and read books."
Sharona rolled her eyes. "Some things never change."
Adrian sat to the left of Leland and T.K. who appeared perfectly happy being at the event, but whom Adrian suspected were just patronizing the Dishers and he felt they were.
Leaning over to Leland he said, "Please tell me you don't' enjoy these things."
Leland smirked and gave Monk a side eye. "Why of course I do. Why would you say such a thing?"
T.K laid her head on Leland's shoulder, and he wrapped his arm around her, looking straight ahead. Adrian looked over at T.K. and then at Sharona and Natalie who were discussing the new additions to the Monk house.
"It's a conspiracy of the women!" he said, under his breath.
Hearing him, Natalie didn't skip a beat in her conversation with Sharona, "Of course Adrian is partial to the living room. He just loves that leather couch. Isn't that right, honey?" she said looking over at him.
He twitched his neck and then put on a plastic smile. "Yes, sweetheart. Anything you say."
Just then, the pageant director came on stage to announce that the event would begin.
For the next 45 minutes the couples watched child after child come out on stage performing for and being coached by their rather involved parents. Some of the children were very good at what they were doing, and some were only good in their parents' estimation. Also, one could easily tell which children were new at the effort and which ones had experience. Such was the case of Ophelia who strutted out on stage with confidence and a huge smile that could easily qualify her to be a child model.
"And now, Miss Ophelia Disher is here to perform a short recitation of a composition I'm sure many have heard before. There Was An Old Lady." said contest announcer, Belinda Parsons.
"Oh! Here she is! Come on Ophie! Show 'em whatcha got girl!" Sharona said, bouncing up and down in her seat as Randy beamed with pride at his little girl on the stage.
Natalie sat poised with a smile on her face and Adrian sat up, trying to will himself to 'get' what the big deal was all about.
Ophelia smiled with her hands clasped before her and then became more animated as she spoke, dramatically acting out with hands and gestures the words of the old children's poem.
There was an old lady who swallowed a fly;
I don't know why she swallowed a fly - perhaps she'll die!
There was an old lady who swallowed a spider;
That wriggled and jiggled and tickled inside her!
She swallowed the spider to catch the fly;
I don't know why she swallowed a fly - Perhaps she'll die!
As she began her story, Adrian at first got a disgusted look on his face, but remained still. But, with each new line, he suddenly became more and more uncomfortable, twitching and shifting in his seat as he imagined what it would be like to swallow a fly, a spider, a bird, a dog…
"Why doesn't she have someone tape her mouth shut at night?" he leaned over and whispered to Natalie who shushed him.
He continued to squirm in his seat as he imagined, with Ophelia's animated help, all the germs and filth and just the logistic of actually swallowing something that big, it was almost more than he could stand.
There was an old lady who swallowed a goat;
She just opened her throat and swallowed a goat!
She swallowed the goat to catch the dog,
She swallowed the dog to catch the cat,
She swallowed the cat to catch the bird,
She swallowed the bird to catch the spider;
As Ophelia continued, in the background, he leaned over to Natalie.
"Sweetheart, I think I need to get up and take Lee and Abby for a walk." He said.
"Now?" she whispered with some irritation. "Ophie is almost done. Can't you wait?"
"Well..it's like this…I think maybe this content might be a little too violent for their young ears." He replied.
She turned her eyes towards him and gave him her best and harshest glare him to utterly wilt in her presence.
She swallowed the spider to catch the fly;
I don't know why she swallowed a fly...
"Or maybe not. We can wait." He stated, lowering his head and burying his chin in Baby Leland's curly locks.
.
When at last the hour was up and all of the pageant contestants had gone through their routines, Ms. Parsons came forward to announce the winner.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, Parents. We would like to thank you so much for your participation in this year's show. Your children are all so very precious and rarely has there been such talent assembled on one stage. As far as I'm concerned, they're all winners!" she said.
"We won! We won!" one parent said standing up and grabbing onto her husband, who promptly took her by the arm and jerked her back down into her seat.
"But…we can only have one winner!" Parsons stated, "And that winner will be announced here today. May I have the following children come forward please?"
"Danny Solomon... Brittany Baldridge... Sarah Piedmont…" she said, as Randy and Sharona sat on the edge of their chairs, his arm around her shoulders.
"Ophelia Disher…"
"Oh! Ophie!" they said jumping up and down and pulling in even tighter together.
Sharona sat back and took Randy's left hand with her right, prompting him to look over and take Natalie's left hand with his right. He then nodded at her as if she instructed to carry on the chain and do the same with Adrian. She took Adrian's hand, but rather than take Lelands, he leaned forward looking at Disher holding his wife's hand, and he did NOT like it one bit.
As the announcer went through the remaining names, he had entirely tuned everything else out other than the jealousy that he felt over his wife at that very moment.
Yes, it was true, Randy had Sharona and they were a good couple; but, Monk had always suspected that Randy had a crush on Natalie, ever since the day that Disher suggested out of nowhere that she was 'in love with him'. Adrian and Natalie had come to announce to him that Leland was dating a murderess and Natalie most certainly NOT in love with Randy and got a little offended by the suggestion. Now, years later, the longer they held hands, the more irrational anger Adrian began to feel, and the more he wanted to actually hit Randy right there in the hall.
His thoughts of violent assault were suddenly interrupted when the announcer stated "And the winner of the 2019 Einstein Kids Pageant, $10,000 and a chance to win tonight in our $50,000 dollar contest is…."
Adrian looked blankly at the stage, still holding Natalie's hand but thinking of rearranging Randy's face.
"Ophelia Disher!" the announcer stated causing Randy and Sharona to jump up from their chairs and hug and kiss one another. In quick succession, Randy turned to Natalie, and reached forward to give her a great big hug.
Adrian's eyes narrowed and his nostrils flared as he held firmly to Natalie's hand, drawing her towards himself and then switched places with her.
Confused, Natalie asked "What are you doing?"
He did not answer, but looked Randy eye to eye and spoke in a low and steady tone. "Just go ahead and celebrate with your wife, Randy. I will celebrate with mine!"
Sharona rolled her eyes and grabbed Randy's hand taking him to go see their daughter who had just been crowned.
Adrian turned back to Natalie and looked down at her through the bottoms of his eyes. His face was red and full of suspicion.
She sighed, turned to Leland and asked if he and T.K. could take the babies, and then she grabbed Adrian by the earlobe and pulled him to the side.
"What is wrong with you?" she asked tersely.
"Nothing." He replied, rubbing his ear.
"Don't tell me nothing! You've been acting so weird all afternoon! What's your problem?" She asked.
Adrian kept his mouth clamped shut, but then betrayed himself by looking over at Disher.
Natalie looked at Randy and then at Adrian and began to laugh.
"You're jealous?" she asked.
He said nothing but looked to the side.
She poked him in the rib and repeated. "You're jealous of Randy Disher! I can't believe you! What in the world?"
"He was holding your hand!" Adrian replied.
"Yeah? So? He was excited." She answered.
"He can stay excited with his own wife and leave mine alone." he snapped, and then pouted.
Natalie burst out laughing and then buried her head in Adrian's lapel.
Wrapping her arms around his neck she looked at him with eyes that glistened in love.
"Adrian Monk! I can't believe you! We've been married for how many years and you're going get all jealous on me? Honey. You should know by now that I only have eyes for you." She said, as he continued glaring at Randy and Sharona.
"Adrian. Look at me." She said, grabbing his jaw and causing him to face her. "Honey, Randy is our friend, but frankly…and don't repeat this...he's a bit of a dork. Not at all my type. In fact. You've ruined it for me. I have no type but the man I married." she said, rubbing his arms and drawing her body closely to his. "Darling. You have NOTHING to worry about. Trust me. You're the ONLY man for me and I wouldn't trade you for a zillion Dishers!" she said.
Adrian smiled and then thought through how he had been acting. He bent down and gave her a kiss on the mouth. "I love you."
"And I love you, my handsome prince. I can't believe you'd be jealous of Randy! Good grief!" she said, taking him by the arm and walking him towards the Stottlemeyers. "I feel nothing but friendship for him."
"I believe you." Adrian said. "But just for the record, you sit between me and Leland next time. He doesn't get to hold your hand anymore."
"If it makes you feel better. Okay. I will sit wherever you want." She said.
"How about in the living room at the house?" he asked.
"Except there... Nice try." She replied.