Chuck tossed his keys down on the entryway table and shut the door behind him. He stopped uncertainly as an unfamiliar scent pervaded the room. "Ang?"

"In the Kitchen!"

"In the kitchen? Now I know something's up."

He entered the small kitchen and peered around the corner curiously. Angelica looked up from the stove and smiled. She was wearing a polka dotted apron over her blue cotton dress and stirring something in a large pot.

"There's my working man! Just thought I'd have a little something waiting for you when you got home." She set the spoon down on a folded square of paper towel on the counter top and approached him. She wrapped her arms around his neck and gave him a lingering kiss.

"Umm..."

"How was your first day, you sexy working man? I've just been waiting here for you to bring home the bacon."

Chuck gave her a perplexed look. He felt like he was in some weird, alternate universe.

"Well, first of all, it's just an internship. I'm not actually making any money-"

"But after you graduate, you're as good as in! Everyone will soon realize how talented you are-"

"And, secondly, are you cooking?"

She shrugged and returned to the stove. "I thought, what the hell? Since I stayed home all day while you worked, we might as well continue to reinforce gender stereotypes."

Chuck peeled off his coat and threw it on the back of the nearest chair. He loosened his tie.

"Yeah, since you mentioned it, I thought you weren't feeling well?"

"I'm feeling better now. I think I'm just stressing myself out too much, with work and planning the wedding and all...I used to just smoke when I was stressed." She sighed wistfully. Chuck came up behind her at the stove and buried his face in her golden hair. He inhaled her scent and kissed her neck. "You know, every time you want to smoke, we can have sex. Just saying, it's for your own good. You need a new addiction."

She laughed. "Ok, Carrot Top, Thanks for making the sacrifice." She turned around and offered him the spoon. "Taste."

He eyed the spoon warily.

"Chuck! I'm offended!"

"Since when do you cook?"

"When she was here the other day, Susie gave me a little lesson."

Now Chuck was really surprised. "Really? You let someone teach you something?"

She shoved the spoon in his mouth.

His eyed widened. "Oh my God. Ang, this is actually pretty good!"

She rolled her eyes. "You sound so surprised. It's just spaghetti. One step at a time."

He grabbed the spoon and dipped it in the red, bubbling mixture in the pot. He blew on it, then brought it to his mouth again. He closed his eyes in contentment. "But this is really amazing spaghetti! What's in this?"

She pulled the spoon from his hand and put it down on the counter. She ran her fingers through his hair and kissed his cheek. "Tomato paste." She kissed his jawline. "Whole tomatoes. Garlic." Her mouth trailed to his ear. "Oregano. Basil."

"Well, it's delicious." he said quietly.

"And the secret ingredient," she whispered into his ear, "Is just a little bit of sugar."

He grinned and pulled away to get a good look at her. His soon to be wife.

"I love this apron." He said, fingering the ruffles.

She laughed. "Aunt Miriam gave it to me. I thought you'd get a kick out of it."

He grinned. "It's incredibly sexy."

She pushed him. "Shut up."

"But I'd be better if you weren't wearing anything underneath it."

"Well, I can arrange that."

He pulled her into his arms. "Come on. I know a way to overcome your nicotine cravings and alleviate stress."

"But," she whispered between kisses, "My spaghetti will burn!" He reached over and turned the burner on low. "It'll be fine."