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You’re alive, those words reverberated in Monroe’s head, over and over again along with the look of utter astonishment and happiness on Nick’s face. It was in that moment that he knew, was absolutely sure of it, that Nick was in love with Adalind.
Of course he had long since suspected it, he wasn’t blind or stupid — if anything he was one of the smartest people in any room he walked into, and he was comfortable saying that, even if it was just in his own head — but he was tactful, when he needed to be. He had seen how Nick had reacted when Adalind was forced to leave him, the lost look in his best friend’s face when he showed up on Monroe’s doorstep with the words Adalind left me falling from his mouth with such despair that Monroe almost had to do a double take to make sure he was actually talking to Nick. The way Nick made sure everyone knew that Adalind didn’t have a choice, that had she been able to stay, she would have. The way he got himself arrested after fighting Renard in the middle of the police precinct. And finally, the way Nick had singlehandedly taken on those Black Claw men — even though Monroe had witnessed the aftermath, he still couldn’t believe that Nick had done all that and taken multiple bullets to the chest, then kept on going.
Monroe had witnessed his friend’s singleminded effort into getting Adalind and Kelly back, but he pretended that Nick was only acting this way because of his son. That Nick was just worried about getting Kelly back and that Adalind was just part of a packaged deal.
It hadn’t been hard to forgive Adalind for her past, mostly because she hadn’t really done anything to him — directly anyway, but Monroe figured that if Nick could forgive her, then so could he. And Adalind had made it so easy to be friends with her, she was nice and funny and she knew almost as many random facts as he did. Who knew that he would be able to get along with a Hexenbiest?
In the beginning when no one was sure how this would all work, he and Rosalee had made a wordless agreement to be there for this odd new family — if that meant going over to Nick’s house or inviting Adalind over to the spice shop has often as possible then they would do it. And maybe, but also yes, totally, it was to keep an eye on Adalind and make sure that nothing happened to Nick’s son. Not that they didn’t trust her, but well, they didn’t. And Monroe is sure that if he and Rosalee ever had to tell Nick and Adalind about this wordless agreement, they would understand. Maybe. Mostly, but probably only Nick until he talked it out with Adalind.
Or maybe it was the other way around, Monroe mused. Adalind did seem to be Nick’s impulse control.
That thought made Monroe laugh quietly to himself, maybe I’ll save that one for their wedding speech.
And wasn’t that a thought.
A Grimm and Hexenbiest wedding, what would that even look like?
Monroe wasn’t sure, but he was sure that he would be witnessing one soon.
Because Monroe was sure that Nick would propose to Adalind.
Because he knew that Nick was in love with Adalind. And Monroe was sure that everyone could see it, just like everyone could see that Adalind had changed for the better and that Eve was no longer an emotionless robot or even who Juliette used to be. Just like everyone could see that the sky was blue, everyone could see that Nick Burkhardt had fallen in love with a woman who used to be his mortal enemy.
Well, Monroe hoped everyone could see it, if not they’d be in for a rude awakening.
It did make him wonder, could everyone else see what he was seeing? Or was he the only person who could read Nick, Monroe didn’t think so. Though Monroe believed that he knew Nick pretty well and most of the time it felt like he could just look at Nick and know what he was thinking — there were times when they just felt so in sync that it was scary. The only other person he felt that with was Rosalee.
He remembered their trip to Germany, he had asked Nick if he was in love with Adalind. Monroe hadn’t expected an answer, so Nick’s quiet I don’t know wasn’t very surprising to him. And why should Nick know? He was in a very confusing situation, he should take his time and make sure that any feelings he had for Adalind were real and not just conjured up because of their living situation and the child they share. Or that they weren’t there because they had slept together. Again.
He should also make sure that those feelings don’t change when Adalind turns back into a Hexenbiest, Monroe had thought at the time.
And then Adalind had turned back into a Hexenbiest again, and for a while Nick seemed distressed by that fact, it took Monroe a little while to figure out that Nick was upset that Adalind wasn’t telling him the truth. The Hexenbiest thing was still a problem, but it was one that could be handled, one that Nick planned on handling once Adalind told him about it.
That had given Monroe pause, actually it still gave him pause. Nick was seemingly okay with Adalind’s status has a Hexenbiest, but not Juliette? There was something about the situation that came across as a little hypocritical. Maybe, but also yes, totally. In Monroe’s opinion. One that he would not be sharing with Nick any time soon. Or ever, actually. If he wanted to keep his head, that is.
Not that he thought Nick would kill him for bringing it up, but you never know. Nick had been a little, well, touchy lately. More emotional. More likely to shoot first, ask questions later. And Monroe wasn’t in the mood to get shot, not after he had apparently already died in another dimension. Or reality, or whatever that place that Nick went to was called.
Monroe watched and listened as Nick told the group about what he had seen, what had happened. How they had all died.
And if you asked Monroe, Nick seemed more upset by Adalind’s death than anyone else’s. Which okay, makes sense, because he’s in love with her, but still, ouch, man.
The more Monroe watched Nick, the more he noticed about his best friend. Not once during the retelling of his story did Nick let go of Adalind. He kept at least one hand on her the entire time - holding her hand, his hand gently resting on her thigh or knee, wrapping his arm around her shoulders, his fingers playing with her hair as he described Adalind’s death to the group. He couldn’t, or didn’t want to, stop touching her. Like if he stopped then she would vanish.
Monroe knew that feeling, some days he still felt it.
And that’s how Monroe knew for sure, about Nick’s feelings towards Adalind. Monroe would never claim that their relationship was the same as his and Rosalee’s — far from it! — but there was something similar there. The feeling that if anything happened to the one you cared about, the one you loved, you wouldn’t be the same. Nothing in life would be the same, the colors in your life would be a little less bright, the music a little more flat.
Monroe was grateful he didn’t know what it felt like to watch Rosalee die and not be able to do anything about it. If Monroe knew anything about his friend it was that Nick would carry this knowledge with him for the rest of his life. Nick would spend everyday worrying about Adalind’s safety — more than he already did — wondering if he was doing absolutely everything in his power to keep her, and their children, safe.
No, Monroe definitely did not envy Nick of that. Or anything, really, but especially not that.