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Prompt #34: Gift - He felt his apprehension disappear when her expressive face broke into a smile as she looked up from the contents of the box.

Words: 496

This has got to be the worst idea in the history of ideas.

But it's my own damn fault for waiting so damn long to go gift-shopping.

Last Christmas I didn't know her so well.

This Christmas will be different.

I've learned...a little more about Nell this year. Not a lot, but more than before.

This means that I should get her a present. Hetty only gave her a gift because she finally had enough re-gifts for everybody on the team. Crafty woman.

But I'm getting Nell something special. Something that shows how much she's appreciated.

I check the little box again, making sure it was still there. Dumb thought - where else would it be?

I'm freaking out for no reason.

No, actually I have good reason. This will be the first time I give my partner a gift. And I want her to like it.

It's simple, but nice - a silver charm bracelet. The charms on it are a rose (for her red hair) a computer (because she's a geek like me) and a star. I wrapped it in tissue paper and put it in a small box that I found around my house. Probably from another present from another holiday. I even found a red ribbon to tie it up and make it look nice.

Now I just have to give it to her.

It's in my bag, sitting under my desk. Where it's been since I got in this morning. It's now three in the afternoon. We've been working on this case for the last couple hours, and we skipped lunch. Which is why I'm still procrastinating.

Nell taps my shoulder. "What's that?"

Oh, crap. She saw it. I stare at her with the wide eyes of a deer in the headlights. "Um, it's a, uh, um - "

I'm tripping over my words like a nervous teenager. Why does she do this to me?

"What is it?" she asks with a curious smile.

Rather than continue acting like an idiot, I grab the box and hold it out to her. "Merry Christmas," I mumble.

She takes the little box and examines it. "For me?"

"Yeah." My cheeks are burning, which means I'm redder than a tomato with sunburn. I wait as she reverently unties the ribbon, sets it aside, and opens the lid. Then she looks up again, and I know I did the right thing.

Her smile is blinding, like a child's. "Eric, it's...it's beautiful. Thank you."

I release my breath and smile with relief. And to think, I scolded myself, you were so worried earlier.

I really need to stop second-guessing this kind of thing.

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