It was November 18, 2010, and Natalie Monk was just finishing giving eleven-month old Sophia her breakfast of oatmeal and bananas.

"Let's get you cleaned up," Natalie said while the baby reached for her sippy cup. After she had sufficiently cleaned her face and hands, she lifted Sophia out of the highchair. "Are you ready for your big day sweet girl?"

Julie, who had just finished the breakfast dishes, crossed the kitchen and took Sophia from Natalie. "I'll get her dressed so you can finish getting ready."

"Thank you sweetie," Natalie said. "I'm so glad you could be home for this."

"I wouldn't have missed it for anything," said Julie.

Natalie approached her bedroom, but stopped in the doorway when she noticed her husband of nearly three months getting dressed. He had just finished buttoning the top button of his dress shirt and was preparing to put on his tie when he caught sight of his wife in their dresser mirror.

"What are you looking at sweetheart?"

"You," she said as she walked towards him. She picked up the tie from where he had laid it on the bed and put it around his neck, allowing her hands to stay there.

Adrian smiled and asked, "What were you thinking about?"

"Oh, just seeing you with your shirt buttoned all the way up brought back a few memories." She began to tie his tie for him.

"Hmm, I do hope good memories."

"Yes, but I can remember wondering if you'd ever look at me the way you're looking at me now," Natalie said as she finished the knot.

He sighed. "I was a blind fool, but I promise I'll never stop looking at you this way again."

"I know," she said as she folded his collar down and straightened his tie, "and I feel like the luckiest woman alive." Satisfied with her work, she slipped her hands around his neck.

Adrian put his arms around her waist and pulled her closer. "No, I'm the one who's lucky." He bent down to kiss her, and they were quickly lost in each other's embrace.

Julie saw them as she walked past, with Sophia in her arms. She shook her head and smiled. She didn't think her parents would ever come out of the honeymoon phase, but she was incredibly happy for them, even though it meant for an awkward moment now and then.

She cleared her throat. "Um, I hate to interrupt, but it's almost time to go and I can't find Sophia's other shoe."

"Oh!" Natalie said with a start. She ran her fingers through her hair and smoothed her dress. "Here, I'll help you find it. Sophia got into her shoe bin yesterday and pulled them all out."

She followed her daughter out of the room, but not without looking back at her husband with a smile.

An hour later, the family of four walked into the San Francisco Superior Court, and waited outside of the Family Courtroom for their 10:00 am hearing. After a short wait, they were ushered in, and Adrian and Natalie, along with Julie and Sophia, took their seats at the front. Soon after, their friends and family began to arrive, taking their seats in the back. Leland and T.K. came, then Molly with Ambrose, who she had given a ride, then Bobby and Peggy Davenport. Even the newly married Randy and Sharona Disher had flown in for the special occasion. Adrian and Natalie smiled as they looked back at so many who had come to support them and help them celebrate. Adrian rolled his shoulder and straightened his jacket, his nerves beginning to kick in. Natalie put her hand on his knee and whispered, "It's going to be ok. We've got this."

As if sensing that he needed comfort, Sophia reached out and grabbed her father's arm. He gladly took her from Natalie, welcoming a sweet distraction. He looked down at her pink, ruffled dress, matching pink hair bow, and black, patent shoes and kissed her head. His life had changed dramatically in the last six months. He had gone from being a single man, a widower who never dated, to a married father of two beautiful daughters. He silently thanked God for the second chance he had been given.

After what felt like an eternity, Judge Thomas Gallagher came in and took his seat at the front. The Monk's social worker, Laura Phelps also came in and sat at the table next to them. The judge asked each of them their names and occupations, then they were sworn in. After they had all taken their seats, he said, "Thank you all for coming. We are here on this special day to approve the adoption of Sophia Faith Brooks. I have met with Mr. and Mrs. Monk, and I enjoyed hearing their story. I am confident this little girl is well loved. I have also received several letters of recommendation which I thank you all for." He then looked at Miss Phelps, their social worker.

"Miss Phelps, please come forward." The social worker took her place in front of the judge and he asked, "Do you recommend that Adrian and Natalie Monk's petition for adoption be granted?"

"Yes," she said, "It is my pleasure to recommend them, your honor."

"Thank you," said the judge, and she took her seat.

Natalie grabbed Adrian's hand with excitement. Judge Gallagher looked at them and said, "Mr. and Mrs. Monk, please come forward." Natalie and Adrian, with Sophia in Adrian's arms walked to the front. The Judge looked at the three of them and smiled. "I just have a couple of questions I would like to ask of you. First, do you acknowledge that Sophia is now your child, and that you are responsible for her care?"

"Yes, your honor," they both said.

"Do you acknowledge that you are being given the responsibility to love and nurture this child as you would your own child, born to you."

"Yes, your honor."

"Good," he said. "Now we can move to the moment we've been waiting for. "I have reviewed the file per the recommendations of the County of San Francisco, and I have no doubt in my mind that, it is in the best interest of this child, to be able to grant the petition file by Adrian and Natalie Monk, for the adoption of her, whose name will now be, Sophia Faith Monk. Congratulations! You are now her forever family!"

Cheers and applause erupted in the courtroom. Julie quickly joined her parents and sister in a big group hug. There wasn't a dry eye among them. In a moment, the rest of their friends and family came forward to offer hugs and handshakes, as well. The Monk family then posed for pictures to preserve the memory of the special day.

Once the hearing at the courthouse was complete, the Monks, their family and friends went to the Stottlemeyer's house for a party to celebrate the adoption of little Sophia. When they walked in, Sophia excitedly pointed at the brightly colored balloons and streamers that had been used to decorate their home for the happy occasion. There was also a cake that said, "Celebrating the Adoption of Sophia Faith, Forever Ours, 11/18/10. After they walked in, T.K. almost immediately came up to Natalie and took the baby from her.

"Go enjoy yourselves," she said. "I'll watch her."

Adrian, Natalie, and Julie spent the evening eating and talking with their family and friends. Sophia was happily passed from person to person, and they all said how wonderful it was to have her as part of their extended family. After a while, Adrian found a comfortable chair and decided to rest for a while. He sat back, watching and listening, completely content.

"This was quite a day, wasn't it," Leland said as he pulled up a chair next to his friend. "How are you holding up?"

Adrian smiled. "I'm good, really good."

"You've sure got a beautiful family. I'm happy for you, buddy."

"Thank you," Adrian said. "I've been blessed." He had been able to keep his emotions in check since the judges pronouncement at the end of the hearing, but as he watched his wife and two daughters smile and laugh, a tear slid down his cheek. Leland handed him a tissue and patted his arm. No more words were necessary to express the joy in both of their hearts.

That night, Adrian sat in the living room of their home. It was much the same except that Natalie's old furniture had been replaced with most of his. He sat on the leather sofa talking softly to his daughter as her head lay on his chest and he rubbed her back. She was having a hard time sleeping after her big day.

"I love you Sophia Faith Monk. That's a good name, don't you think? Your mommy and sister love you too." He stood and walked around the room, looking at the pictures that hung on the walls, pictures from his and Natalie's wedding, and a new family photo taken recently. Sophia pointed to the picture and babbled something he couldn't quite understand. Then, she looked at him with her big, green eyes and patted his cheek. "Dada?" She asked.

Adrian took her hand and kissed it. "Yes baby girl, I'm Dada." He smiled. This wasn't the first time she had called him that, but it hadn't been long since. The memory of it, something he would never forget, was still fresh in his mind. He kept thinking he couldn't love her more, then something like that would happen and he would realize all over again, the wonder and beauty of fatherhood. "And that's Mama and Julie," he said, pointing at the picture again. "We're your family. Nothing can ever change that."

Natalie had woken and heard Adrian's voice as he talked to the baby. She quietly walked down the stairs, trying not to disturb them. She saw Adrian walking back and forth, and Sophia's eyes were getting droopy, as he sang to her. Natalie gently put her hand on her husband's shoulder and whispered that he should try putting Sophia back in bed. They climbed the stairs to her bedroom together, and laid her in her crib. She quickly fell asleep, but they stayed for a while, holding each other, just watching her as she slept.

"I can't believe she's ours forever, sweetheart," Adrian said, kissing his wife's head.

"It's because of you that she is," Natalie said against his chest. "If you hadn't made a commitment to both of us, I would have had to give her up."

"I love you, Natalie, and I love both of our girls. It amazes me how I can love those two girls as much as I would my own flesh and blood."

"Adoption is a miracle, Adrian."

"It truly is," he said. "I don't think I understood that kind of love before becoming a father. Despite everything that's happened in my life, I am in awe every day of how things turned out." He pulled away to look at her, "I didn't know such happiness was possible," then he bent to kiss her tenderly. As he held her against himself, he said, "Natalie, I want to ask you something. Becoming a father has made me think a lot about my own father. What would you think if we invited him to come for a visit? I want him to meet my family."

She looked up at him and smiled. "I think that's a wonderful idea. Why don't we invite him to come for Sophia's birthday next month, and maybe he could stay with Ambrose and be here for Christmas, too."

"I love you, Mrs. Monk," he said to his ever-supportive and understanding wife.

"I love you too, but we've got to get up early for work tomorrow, so I think you need to come to bed."

"But I'm not tired," he said. "I'm just too excited to sleep."

Natalie whispered in his ear, then winked as she left the room.

Adrian stood in place for a moment, then a big smile slowly spread across his face. He turned and ran, quickly catching up with her. He picked her up and kissed her as he carried her to their bedroom. He put her down and closed the door.

"How did I get so lucky?" he asked, as she pulled him into her loving embrace.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Thank you once again to all of you who have read and followed this story. I want to say a special thank you to MonkNotJunk, KittyKat06, and alex hoodle who have faithfully reviewed each chapter. Thank you also to those who have popped in with occasional reviews and who have private messaged me. I can't begin to express how much your interest and kind reviews have meant to me. I will always be grateful to you for making this such a wonderful experience.

This is an exciting year for Monk fanfiction as there are more stories from other authors in the works. Keep your eyes out next for a new one from MonkNotJunk and alex hoodle at the end of this month or beginning of July, plus more from MonkNotJunk and KittyKat06 following. I also have plans to continue this story of the Monk family with another installment by the end of the year. Please let me know if this is something you would like to see.