After putting away the groceries, Sam flew to his apartment to get "essential cooking necessities". Peter waited in the kitchen for Sam to return and thought over the evening. If he was reading everything right, and he hoped he was, Sam was into him too. He just didn't know what to do about it.
He didn't have to wait long. Sam flew in through the window in the living room. "Can I get a hand?"
It looked to Peter as if Sam had brought his whole kitchen with him. Minus the major appliances. Sam put the pots and pans into the cabinets and set up his knifes on the counter.
"Why are you putting them away? You'll just have to take them back out when we're done."
"Yea, as if you're going to learn to cook in just one night." He rolled his eyes. "C'mon, I'm starving."
He led Peter step-by-step through making something called 'Hoisin-Glazed Chicken Meatballs'. It sounded complicated and Peter dragged his heels through the beginning. But Sam managed to make it entertaining, and informative.
"So, did you know that Panko is way different from breadcrumbs? I mean, it is a breadcrumb, but it's totally different. They aren't baked like regular breadcrumbs, they're electrocuted! It's a cool process, totally want to try it one day!"
Peter was fascinated. He could use science...to cook.
"But you want to use Panko for stuff like this so it stays the right texture. Panko really has no crust since it is dried throughout from the whole process. So even after they've been cooked the panko will be crunchy."
He was standing behind Peter while he talked. Peter was doing most of the work, because Sam had insisted it was the only way he would learn.
"Okay, now," Sam reached around Peter and wrapped his hand around the wooden spoon. He grabbed right above where Peter was holding, but their hands still made contact. Peter swallowed and concentrated on listening to Sam's instructions. "You want to turn them, but careful, like this."
Peter watched as Sam guided his wrist through the move. It was simple, but effective.
"If you don't do it like that, you risk smushing the meatballs. This way, they get browned on all sides, and keep their shape." He let go of the spoon. "You try on your own.
Peter was tempted to mess it up on purpose, just so Sam would step closer again. But he executed the step and they continued on.
Sam beamed up at him when the dish was finished. "See, you can cook."
"So, this is ratatouille and your the rat in my hat, right?" Peter handed Sam a plate and their fingers brushed.
"Sounds about right. You are the gangly unskilled cook." He took the offered plate and sat down. "At least your nose isn't as huge as Linguini's." He took a bite, "Mmm, this is good!"
Peter took a bite, "Yea, it is pretty good. Not a good a chicken nuggets, but hey." He nudged Sam's knee with his knee. "And why does my nose matter?"
Sam sputtered, "It-It doesn't. I was just- uh- saying…."
Peter smiled. Sam had his fork halfway to his mouth and was just staring at Peter. He leaned over and put his hand on the fork and lowered it. "You were just saying that you like my nose the way it is?"
"Uh...I mean."
Peter leaned forward and pressed their lips together. He didn't put much pressure into it, he wanted to give Sam an easy way to back out if he had been reading it all wrong. After a few seconds he leaned back again. Sam hadn't reacted at all...he must have read it wrong.
"Sam?"
Sam dropped his fork and it clanged against his plate. "Did you...did you just kiss me?" He blinked at Peter.
Peter turned his head away, "Sorry...I thought-"
"Don't apologize." Sam reached over and covered Peter's hand with his. "Are you...do you…" He shook his head and kissed Peter. It was sweet, the type of kiss Peter had always wanted from past relationships. It wasn't rushed, it wasn't rough; it was Sam. Peter kissed him back, and they both smiled into the kiss.
Sam's 'essential cooking necessities' never left Peter's apartment. It seemed like every week more items would find their way into the kitchen. After two months Peter finally broke down.
Sam flew into the window with some weird looking contraption and Peter had had enough. "Sam!"
He walked up to the shorter man. "Here." He held out his hand.
Sam reach out and Peter dropped something into his palm. "A key?"
"Yea, your whole kitchen is here anyway." Peter shrugged like he didn't care either way. "At least stop using the window."
Sam enveloped him in a hug. "I guess I do spend most of my time here anyway."
Six months after they started dating, they finally got around to telling Aunt May. Peter's excuse was, "Well, you told me not to bring anyone home unless it was serious." Which cause Sam to blush deeper than Peter had ever seen.
Aunt May gushed, "Sam is always welcome here! Dating or not! Come on, I'll make spaghetti." She ushered them inside and demanded their whole story.
Peter and Sam obliged, telling her how they finally got together while she made dinner. Sam kept trying to follow her steps on the sauce, but Aunt May shooed them out of the kitchen.
Dinner was full of lively conversation. Sam promised to join her at her next cooking class, and Peter even agreed to go too.
"I'll help with the dishes Aunt May."
"Always helping. Sam, I have missed you." They went into the kitchen, leaving Peter alone in the living room.
Peter decided to get up to get a soda and walked into the kitchen. Sam and Aunt May had their backs towards him while they washed and dried the dishes.
"I'm sorry Sam, I can't give you the recipe. It's a family secret."
"Can't you give it to Peter?"
"That boy would butcher the poor thing. Sorry Sam."
Sam sighed and focused on the dishes.
Their second Christmas together they spent at Sam's mom's house in Arizona. It was nice to get away from the hustle of New York for a week. The whole town of Carefree was decked out for the season. It wasn't as WOW as New York, but it had a charm you couldn't get in the big city.
Sam led him around the town square on Christmas eve. It was nice to see where Sam grew up. They had visited a few times over the last two years, but they never walked around the town.
Sam leaned up and gave Peter a quick kiss. "So, you like it here?" He shuffled his feet.
It was adorable how much he wanted Peter to like his hometown. "I Love it, Sam." And that was the truth. New York was great, but it was so busy. And loud. Carefree was simple, it was quiet, and everyone knew everyone.
"Yea. It has grown a lot over the years...it's like double the size it was when I left."
Peter wrapped an arm around Sam. "We should visit more often."
"Actually," Sam rubbed his arm, a nervous habit he had picked up from Peter. "I was thinking about moving back here."
Peter gaped at him.
Sam rushed out, "I mean together! Move here together!"
Peter relaxed. "You had me worried for a second there."
"Sorry...I...I just miss it. And I miss my Mom and Kae…"
"I understand." Peter leaned against the wood fencing around the town's Christmas tree. "But what about our jobs. And where would we live?"
"I..hadn't thought that far. It's just been something I've been thinking about for a while now."
Peter pulled Sam to his side. "It would look kinda suspicious if Spider-Man just started turning up in Arizona after we move here. Plus," He looked around, "Carefree is kinda lacking skyscrapers for me to web onto."
"We're not that far from Phoenix."
Peter nuzzled Sam's ear. "You could always open up that restaurant you've been talking about. Real estate has got to be cheaper here than in New York."
Sam looked up at him, "You're seriously considering it?"
Peter nodded and kissed him. "I'd do anything for you, Sam."
Later that night they exchanged gifts. Sam explained that it has always been their tradition to exchange gifts the night before. Then they would sleep in on Christmas and eat food all day. Sam had already baked a few dozen cookies and planned on making a huge spread of french toast, eggs, and bacon for brunch.
Sam and Peter went first and gave Sam's mom a voucher for a massage studio in Phoenix. "Oh, you boys knew just what I need!"
Kae unwrapped her gift, a lovely diamond pendant. "Thank you! I love it!"
Eva gave her son a small box with a bow and Peter one that was identical. They opened them at the same time and pulled out matching bracelets with their initials on it. She handed them a card next with a heartfelt letter and smaller envelope.
They opened the smaller envelope and Sam gasp. "Mom!"
"Oh, I'm allowed to spoil you boys now and again."
"Mrs. Alexander I-"
"Please, Peter. Call me Eva, or Mom." She embraced them both. "You two work so hard, you deserve a vacation."
She gave Kae her gift, which was equally as huge. "Mom!" She held up the keys.
"You need your own car if you're going to be leaving me to go to college!"
After they settled Kae gave Sam and Peter a painting of Carefree she had painted herself. "I don't have much money, so I made you this. I hope you like it."
"Kae, this is great!."
"Sam, We should hang it above the tv in the living room!"
Sam unwrapped his gift from Peter next. It was a leather bound cook book, with removable pages. He leaned over and gave Peter a kiss. "I love it."
Peter unwrapped Sam's gift to him: a new camera bag. "How did you know-"
"MJ told me you'd been eyeing it up."
They sat around drinking cider and telling stories for a few hours afterwards.
Eva yawned, "Well, I'm off to bed."
Sam stretched, "Yea, I've got a lot of cooking ahead of me tomorrow...er today." He glanced at the clock, it was past midnight.
Peter followed him to their bedroom. It was Sam's old room, it still had his old posters on the wall. Peter watched as Sam got ready for bed, enjoying the view.
Sam called over his shoulder, "You going to get ready for bed, or just stare at me?"
"Actually, I have another gift for you." He rummaged around in his bag for a moment and pulled out a piece of paper.
"I swear Peter, if that is another 'good for one blowjob' coupon- actually, I'm out of those, so never mind, no complaints." He grinned at Peter and sat down on the edge of the bed.
Peter sat next to him and held out the paper, which Sam realized was folded over several times. He took it from Peter's shaking hand. "Dude?"
Peter held his breath as Sam unfolded the paper and read over it.
"Peter?"
Peter just smiled at him.
"Peter! Aunt May will kill you! She was very adamant that this recipe stay a family secret! I won't betray Aunt May's trust like this! How did you get it anyway?"
Peter shook his head. "You can be thick sometimes, Sam." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small box. "Sam. I love you, I'd do anything for you." He opened the box, "Sam, will you marry me?"
He married him only for the spaghetti sauce recipe xD j.k he really loves him.
I didn't mean for this to be this long. I needed to write fluff.
Thank you for reading!