A/N This story was requested by R.C. Babcoc. I hope it is a pleasure to read. I can go on with this, if people are interested. I could make it into a Monkish wedding story.

Surprise!

by Disherona

Standing behind the flowery summer dress, she examined her image in the full length mirror, and a peculiar look crossed her face. A look that conveyed how she felt about herself. Her body wasn't right. The dress wasn't right. She hated the length and color of her hair. She felt her face looked puffy and her eyes looked tired.

But tonight was special. Sharona had gotten a promotion and a raise from the hospital she worked at. She was applying to go back to college to become a nurse practitioner, thinking she could get her degree in a couple of years, but she had but, tonight, she wanted to celebrate by treating her boyfriend to a nice meal at a nice restaurant.

"Ugh! No." she muttered to herself in the mirror, thinking that this might be a good excuse to change up her entire wardrobe. She tossed the dress atop a queen sized bed, which was covered with her most of the contents of her closet.

She could hear Randy Disher in the shower. He was a Lieutenant Detective in the SFPD, and the love of her life. They shared a small house on Potrero Hill, a nice residential neighborhood where they had great views of the city and the bay. They had gotten lucky. Very lucky.

The two story house was cozy and had a spare bedroom for guests, and a small back yard with a garden for Sharona to tend, and a deck for Randy to relax and enjoy the view on. It had everything they wanted and at a good price.

Sharona chose another dress from her closet. The dress was hot pink, with a flouncy bodice, an elastic waistband and a tight short skirt. She wondered what she had been thinking when she bought it on a whim during a short vacation in the Bahamas. She had only ever worn it once. She tossed the dress with the others. She was becoming more desperate as she got closer to the back of the closet.

"Sharona?" Randy came out of the bathroom, wearing a pressed suit, white shirt and holding up two ties.

"Yes, Randy?" She sighed, sounding as annoyed as she felt.

"Which tie?"

"The burgundy one. You can burn the other one." She joked.

"I think it would melt if I burned it." Randy confessed.

"What happened to all my clothes? I can't find anything to wear." She ran a hand through her curls and confessed. "I feel exhausted, and I look awful."

"I think you look wonderful." He said, wrapping his arms around her and kissing her. First deeply, then little kisses. "What about the red dress, with the strappy things. I've always liked that."

"Strappy things?" Sharona echoed, smirking. "I like that one, too, but it's getting," she caught herself in mid sentence. "I think the hem was torn."

"Nice save." Randy muttered, looking into the big vanity which took up most of their tiny bedroom, and arranging his necktie while surreptitiously glancing at Sharona.

"What do you mean by that?" She was rarely offended by what Randy said, but she was tonight.

"Nothing." He began to tighten the tie around his neck, then flipped the collar of his white shirt down. "Look, we don't need to go out to celebrate your promotion." Randy began, wrapping his arms around Sharona's waist. "We can celebrate at home, and we wouldn't have to get dressed."

Sharona's face turned a bright pink, "Gawd, Randy, don't you ever stop?" She asked, enjoying the kisses he trailed along her neckline.

"I meant dressed up." Randy murmured between kisses.

"Randy, I want us to go out" Sharona whispered, not stopping Randy's loving attention. "We have a lot to celebrate."

-R/S-

Sharona managed to scavenge her wardrobe and made an attractive outfit to wear to Bentley's Overlooking the Bay. She had found a black jersey dress, low cut, with long sleeves, and paired it with with a wide belt, worn just below the bust and black heels which killed her feet, but made her long legs look even longer. Her hair was pulled into a loose french braid, and her makeup was eye catchingly bright. She layered a few chains. and they sparkled hypnotically in the subdued lighting.

They ordered their drinks; Sharona opting for a mineral water, and Randy, though he longed for a beer, ordered a glass of wine.

"Have you decided what you want?" Sharona asked.

He gave her a look that told her that what he wanted wasn't something on the menu. When they had both had time to study the menu, Sharona ordered artichoke ravioli, and Randy opted for the hazelnut crusted pork. As they waited for their entrees to arrive, Randy held up his glass, and said, "To you. You are the most amazing woman I have ever known. I love you."

"Oh, Randy. You're so sweet, and I hope you know that I love you, too, and that I am very proud of you."

"I can't imagine why." Randy said, softly.

"Hey, I know you'd rather not be back in this city, doing your old job; but you made sacrifices for me, and for Leland and for Adrian. You always seem to do that, and I love you for that.

"I brought a something for you. A surprise." Sharona pulled a white rectangle of paper from her purse, and pushed it across the table in front of Randy. He turned the card over and saw a grey image, which he let sink in.

"Is that what I think it is?"

"It's our baby." Sharona said, softly.

Randy could only gaze lovingly at the photo.

"Did you know?" Sharona asked.

"Well, I'm not Monk, but I am a detective." He reached out and covered her hand with his. "And, I think I know you pretty well by now. You've been a little more tired than usual. A little bit moody and the morning sickness was pretty hard to miss. Do you know when?"

"Our vacation in the Bahamas, before we returned to San Francisco."

"A couple of margaritas and some tropical weather and you become a wild woman!" Randy laughed, a little too loudly, then looked around the hushed restaurant, seeing that people were staring at him. He didn't even care. WHy should he. He was in love. He was a daddy. He couldn't care less what other people thought at the moment.

"I think tropical drinks and tropical weather got to you, too, wild man." Sharona smiled, remembering the much needed holiday with fondness.

"So, about 10 weeks...I'm already thinking of names!" He said, beaming. Then he looked in her eyes, and saw something, something unsure that he had never seen before in her. "Are you happy? About the baby?"

"Of course." She smiled caressed Randy's cheek, "Of course. I am. I'm thrilled! It was just, kind of… a surprise."

"A nice surprise." Randy smiled. "You know, I have a something for you, too." Randy fished in his jacket pocket for something, and moved out of his chair, and knelt next to Sharona. He opened the little blue box, and showed Sharona the contents: a gold ring with a perfect, though tiny diamond. "I love you, Sharona," As he spoke, he eyes were welling with tears, and his voice was starting to break, so he stopped himself, took a breath. "Would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?"

The Beginning

To Be Continued?
Please review. If not, this will be a one-shot.