Authors note: Thank you all so very much for your replies. They really keep a writer going! I'm really glad that you like the story and I hope you enjoy this one as well…

Michelle stood in silence.
"Ok, this is the part where you say something" Tony said more nervous than ever.

"Oh my God, yes yes!" Michelle quickly said, hating that she hesitated.

Tony immediately stood up, scooping Michelle in his arms on the way. He held her there for just a moment, then pulled back to kiss her. A few minutes later, Michelle broke the kiss.

"Tony, the party"

"Yeah"

"Well ya see you have to be present to host a party"

He playfully replied "5 more minutes!"

Michelle quickly complied "what can I say, you're in command"

Warm in each others arms they kissed again. Tony pulled back and in the ideal tony voice whispered "I love you, Michelle."
"Love doesn't begin to cover it, Tony"

They kissed briefly one more time…
"Tony, seriously, the party"
"whatever, c'mon" Tony said turning to head into CTU
"Hey, I think you forgot something"

Tony looked confused. Michelle pointed her eyes to his hand still holding the ring.
"Oh my God, why didn't you tell me!" Tony said, playfully upset that he forgot such an important detail.
"I just did, now give it!"
Tony slid the round-cut diamond mounted on a silver band onto Michelle's left ring finger.
"it's official, we're getting married. Oh my God, we're getting married" Michelle stopped to ponder on this striking revelation for a minute.

Tony kissed her one last time as they turned towards the door, arm in arm.

As they walked in Michelle, now filled with spirit cheered to the guard "Merry Christmas!"
Tony, delighted in and mimicking her glee responded "and a happy new year!"
Michelle laughed. As they walked down the stairs into the main unit they talked.
"Ok, so who all knows about this?" Michelle asked
"I called Jessica to get an opinion on the ring. And, in case you were worried; we have your mom and Danny's blessing"
"Aww. You called them"
"Well I went and talked to them"

"I love you, Tony Almeida"
"Well that's good cuz we're getting hitched"

They reached the ground doors of CTU.
"Let's go spread the word" Tony said with a smile.

Tony and Michelle's relationship had always been low-key. They didn't keep it a secret and they certainly weren't ones to have sex in Tony's office during lunch break (though there were days when it crossed their minds :)

They both knew that work was work and they remained professional at CTU (with the exception, of course, of the longing looks, smiles, and they small kiss here and there). This was due not only to Tony's history, but also to keep their individual identity; it wasn't always Tony-n-Michelle. This way people didn't have a problem with them at work and led to no complaints filed in the 5 years they worked together.
For this reason, neither one of them were set on making any big announcements in the party. They didn't need to either; their demeanor said it all.

Jack was there, with Kate. Tensions were becoming high between the two of them because of Jack's first major "mission" since returning to CTU as the head of field ops. Kate understood what the job meant, but the prospect of Jack leaving and being unreachable for months, maybe even years, was unbearable. But for some reason Jack needed to do something big again, to really get back in the game. Tony, Michelle, Jack, Chapelle, Hammond and other major leaders from CTU and Division had been putting together the operation for 2 months now; it was almost time.

Kate had already said that she would have to break things off if Jack went, not to try and keep him there, just telling him like it was.
It was hard for Jack to handle so he just spent every waking hour with Kate assuring her of his love; sometimes just pretending nothing was wrong.

Tony sympathized with Jack as they prepared for the mission and the bond between the two of them because of their experience at CTU deepened. Jack's situation brought to life how crucial it was for he and Michelle to communicate, support, and balance each other in their relationship.

With his arm around her Tony opened the main door of CTU. He was shocked at the sight of Jack, Kate, Kim, Gael, Adam, and others in the office raising glasses to the two as they entered.
"Congratulations!" they all cheered.

"I thought we were clear on the whole honesty in the relationship thing, Tony" Michelle whispered as they walked in. "You said 3 people knew"

"I had nothing to do with this, I promise"

"It's true, he had no idea" Jack said, bringing them glasses of champagne. "I just saw the two of you leave, I knew Tony had a ring picked out. We're all smart people"
Michelle kicked into sweet, soft, quiet mode, embarrassed by the attention she was receiving.

"Hey Almeida, the invitation promised a Santa Clause here tonight." Chapelle said with his own hint of humor.
"I'm looking at him, there's a suit in the locker room waiting for you" Tony said with a smile
"You didn't"
"Hurry up now, the kids are getting impatient" Tony said with a laugh.
"I'm not doing it"
"What and ruin the spirit of Christmas, do you really want to carry that burden?"
Chapelle pretended to turn away, playfully unamused.
The thought of Chapelle in a Santa suit was enough to get the crowd laughing.

The rest of the night was a blur as they both made the rounds, talking to these people and those people, being social. By 11:30 they party had died down and they said their goodbyes.

Jack came up to Tony and said "you stole the thunder of the night, man"
"Well what can I say?" Tony said boastfully
"Seriously Tony, you deserve this. Congratulations"
"Congratulate me later, I haven't made it to the alter yet." Tony smirked.

With that Tony turned with his fiancée and left. The CTU ball was an affair to remember but Tony had one more thing in mind for the night.