"What are you doing?"

Becker looked up and found Jess watching him intently. She tilted her head to the side, no doubt waiting for the explanation that he had yet to prepare. He couldn't tell her the truth - not now. He didn't want to spoil the surprise. He could talk his way out of this. He thought quickly and came up with a reasonable excuse, which promptly vanished as he opened his mouth.

"Nothing," he replied.

Jess arched an eyebrow. "That nothing doesn't look like nothing," she teased.

So much for talking his way out of this.

For lack of a better plan, Becker scrambled to his feet and stood in front of her as a way of blocking her view of the object in question. "You weren't meant to be home until three," he reminded her. "I didn't think you would come home this early," he added unnecessarily.

She lifted herself onto her toes to try and see over him. When that didn't work, she moved to the right. She frowned as he moved with her, still preventing her from seeing what was behind him. "I finished my shopping - there were no shoes that I liked," she said as she moved to the left. She quirked an eyebrow when he moved too.

"Jessica," he warned.

She took his warning as a challenge and continued to move from side to side, her smile growing as she tried to get around him. After several failed attempts, she gave up and let out a breathless laugh. "Please, tell me what it is!" she exclaimed.

Becker placed his hands on her shoulders. "Close your eyes," he replied apprehensively.

"But I've already seen it."

He pulled a face that could only be described as a pout and it took everything she had not to giggle. She bit her lip and did as she was told. Becker went to stand behind her, gently kissing the back of her head as he wrapped his arms around her waist. "You can open them now," he whispered.

Jess opened her eyes and blinked in confusion. He leant down and rested his chin on her shoulder. "What do you think?" he asked sheepishly. "Do you like it?"

She laughed. "I still don't have a clue what I'm looking at," she replied. "But it seems lovely," she added when he straightened up and let out a heartfelt sigh.

He shouldn't have been surprised. It didn't look like much of anything at the moment - he hadn't even had the time to form an identifiable shape. "You weren't meant to be home until three," he repeated. "It isn't finished yet."

Jess turned in his arms to face him properly. "Well, what's it going to be?" she inquired.

Becker swallowed. He had thought up this amazing speech he was going to give her, but her early arrival had thrown him off completely. She had already seen what he had been working on, so there was no sense in making excuses. He just had to pluck up the courage and ask her.

Easier said than done.

"It's going to be a...well, I was hoping...if you think I'm moving too fast, that's okay..." He huffed and ran a hand through his hair. This wasn't exactly how he had imagined this moment happening. "This is a...um, it's a..." he stammered, only to be cut off by her lips covering his.

She pulled back and gave him a reassuring smile. "You were saying?" she prompted as she traced soothing circles over his chest.

Becker took a breath. "It's going to be a bed," he replied.

Jess frowned. "It's awfully small," she pointed out. "I'm sure it'll be lovely, but I don't think either of us will be able to fit in it."

"I know."

"Why are you making a bed that we won't be able to sleep in?"

"Because it's not meant for us."

Her frown deepened. "Who is it meant for, then?" she asked.

Becker smiled. "Jess," he began. "I would very much like it if we could..." he paused and took her hands in his, kissing the back of each one before giving her a soft kiss on the lips. He rested his forehead against hers. "Get a cat," he finished.

Jess grinned, her eyes dancing merrily. "A cat?" she breathed.

"I know we've only been living together for a few months, so if you think I'm moving too fast - "

"No," she interrupted. "No, it's great. It's better than great, it's - "

"Purrrfect?"

Jess laughed at the bad pun. "Pawsitively purrrfect," she affirmed.

He chuckled as she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him down to her. She kissed him excitedly - so much so that he stumbled backwards. He felt her smile against his lips as she continued her assault. He took her face in his hands and gained control of the kiss, pulling away as she relaxed under his touch. He tenderly gathered her into his arms and rested his chin on her head.

"Chloe."

Becker looked down at Jess with a puzzled expression. "Chloe?" he asked.

"I want her name to be Chloe," she murmured.

He smiled. "Then Chloe it shall be," he replied as he hugged her closer. He moved one arm from her waist and reached into his trouser pocket, taking out an Animal Rescue Center leaflet and holding it in front of her.

Jess gasped. "Oh my god," she cooed as she snatched the leaflet from him. "Let's go right now!"

Becker laughed and barely managed to grab his car keys before Jess pushed him out the door.