A/N: Thanks for all the love and support on Day 22. The AO3 version for Day 22 was posted late last night. Thanks for your patience with this and of course for reading. Hope you enjoy Day 23.
Day 23: December 23
The work day was almost over and Andy hadn't given Sharon her advent calendar gift for the day yet.
Figuring he might wanna give it to her at home, she closed her computer, stuck her laptop in and a few other work things in her new work bag, and went into the murder room to find it had emptied except for Andy, who was writing up a case report.
Sharon came up behind him and gently squeezed his shoulder as she said, "That can wait until tomorrow."
"Really?" asked Andy as he put the report away and stood up and pushed his chair back towards his desk.
"Yeah. Let's go back to my place," said Sharon as she held her hand out for his as they began strolling towards the elevator and he took it in his.
"Okay," replied Andy as they stepped into the empty elevator and the doors closed behind them as they turned around and Sharon pushed the ground level button with her free hand.
About thirty minutes later, they arrived in Sharons' condo building parking garage and Andy pulled into a visitors' space and killed the engine, still holding Sharon's hand over the console.
"So, these have been in my pocket all day, waiting for the right moment to give them to you," Andy told Sharon as he set a small box wrapped in blue wrapping paper with a white bow on top of it on the console of the car.
"And sitting in the parking garage felt like the perfect time?" asked Sharon.
"Well, yeah. I just wanted a moment where it was just the two of us and now seemed as good a time as any," answered Andy.
Sharon smiled at him and said, "Okay."
As she tore open the wrapping paper on the small box, she saw a recognizably blue box with a white ribbon wrapped around it.
"Andy!" exclaimed Sharon.
"What?" asked Andy.
"I told you not to go overboard," said Sharon.
"What? It's not like it's a ring," said Andy.
"Whoa! Who said anything about a ring?" asked Sharon.
"I was just saying that so you wouldn't worry that this was some kind of Christmas Time proposal," replied Andy.
"Let's take a breath. All I was saying is that Tiffany's is a bit much, isn't it?" said Sharon.
"Not for you," Andy told her matter of factly.
Sharon smiled at the sentiment before she said, "Not that I don't appreciate the sentiment, Andy, but whatever this is must've cost you a whole paycheck at least if not more."
"Like I've told you before, you're always worth it," Andy told her as he squeezed her hand.
Sharon smiled at Andy before she said, "Alright. Should I open it now?" asked Sharon.
"I thought you'd never ask," said Andy as he smiled mischievously at her and motioned for her to open the small box on the console.
Sharon let go of Andy's hand and un-tied the white ribbon on the box and set it on the dashboard before she popped the top off of the box.
Inside, was a pair of Tiffany diamond earrings and tears started welling up in Sharon's eyes when she saw them.
"These are breathtaking, Andy," said Sharon as she looked at him.
"Much like someone I know," Andy looked into her eyes and told her.
"They're beautiful. Thank you," said Sharon as she leaned over the console and hugged Andy as she held the small box in her hand.
"You're welcome. I…I wanted to give you something special like this to show that I'm committed to you and only you, especially after all we've gone through this year with my accident and subsequent health problems. It made me realize how much I truly love you and I wanted to symbolize somehow how much you mean to me and how much all of your support has meant to me. From going with me to Nicole's wedding, to agreeing to go to dinner at Serve with me on our first official date, to loving me with your whole heart. I know none of those were easy decisions for you and I …I guess I just wanted to say thank you for letting me into your life this year," Andy told Sharon.
By this point, the tears were streaming down Sharon's face at Andy's speech.
Andy squeezed her free hand while Sharon set the box down on her lap and swiped the tears away with her other hand.
"Sorry," said Sharon.
"No need to apologize, Sharon. This year has been a lot, "Andy told her.
"It really has, but you know what? I wouldn't have it any other way because I get to love and be with you," Sharon told him.
"I love that I get to be with you too," said Andy.
Sharon smiled at that and as she squeezed Andy's hand she said, "Me too. Ready to go up?
Andy smiled at Sharon as he let go of her hand and said, "Yeah. Let's go up. Hopefully, Rusty already ordered in."
"I texted him our order before we left work and told him to order from that little Italian place you love," revealed Sharon.
"God, I love you," Andy told her seriously.
"I love you too, Casanova. Now, let's go eat before the food gets cold," Sharon pointed out.
They got out of the car and locked it and headed towards the bank of elevators hand in hand, off to enjoy their dinner and maybe a bit of each other too.
A/N: Thank you so much for reading Day 23! Only one more chapter to go before the bonus epilogue on Christmas Day is posted. Until tomorrow…