"Yeah, ok. Sure," Laura said into the phone as Steve walked into the apartment. She turned and glanced back at him. She smiled softly. "Yeah, that sounds great. Meet me here at six so you can do my hair first, ok?" she paused, waiting for a response. "Thanks, Max. Steve just walked in so I gotta go. I'll see you tomorrow… Ok. Ok, bye," Laura finished as she hung up the phone. She turned back to Steve. "Hi, Baby," she purred.

"Hi, Sweetheart," he cooed, walking up to her with his hands behind his back.

"You're late," she scolded gently, stepping closer to him.

"I know," he pouted, "but I have a very good reason." He pulled a bouquet of roses out from behind his back and smiled as he offered them to her.

Laura gasped and covered her mouth. "Ohh…" she cooed as she reached out to accept them. She took them into her arms and turned to find a vase. "Thank you, Honey. Why did I get such a beautiful gift tonight?"

"To celebrate your last day at Ferguson's tomorrow," he answered simply.

She furrowed her brow and filled the vase. She glanced back at him as she trimmed the ends of the flowers. "That is so incredibly thoughtful. Thank you, Steve," she said seriously. She placed the roses in the vase and turned back to him. She stepped into his arms as he gripped her hips. She pressed her body against him and wrapped her arms around his neck. She pulled his head down to her and kissed him deeply. "Mm," she grunted as she pulled away. "You are the best husband in the world," she said as she stepped out of his arms.

He followed close behind her, not wanting to let her go. As she turned back to the dinner she was preparing, he stepped up behind her and began to kiss her neck. "And you, my sweet, are the best wife in the world," he purred.

She giggled and pushed his head back. "Stop," she scolded. "I'm trying to make dinner." He took the cooking utensils out of her hands and lifted her onto the counter. She gasped. "What are you doing?" she giggled as he climbed on top of her.

"Showing you how proud I am of you," he answered as he began to unbutton her blouse.

"For what?" she laughed.

"For starting your senior year on your pre-law degree. That's incredible, my beautiful, little bookworm."

"Thank you, Steve. That's sweet. I'm proud of you, too, you know?"

"Really?" he asked.

"Yes," she nodded. "You are a serious and hardworking student. I'm very proud of you for how far you've come and how far you plan to go."

He reached out his hand and began to trace the outline of her bra. "How proud are you exactly? Proud enough to put off dinner for a few minutes?" he asked, wiggling his eyebrows playfully.

She giggled and pushed him away. "Not quite. I already have a meatloaf in the oven, and I don't want to get distracted and burn it."

Steve shrugged as he hopped off the counter. He offered her his hand to help her down and watched intently as she began to button her blouse. "Wouldn't be the first time you burned dinner," he teased.

"Hey!" she scowled playfully.

He stuck his tongue out at her and came up behind her again as she chopped vegetables. "I'm sorry, my little cordon bleu," he purred, kissing her cheek. "You know I'm just teasing."

"I know," she agreed.

He wrapped his arms around her waist and continued. "But seriously, my sweet, we should go out to dinner to celebrate tomorrow night. Maybe catch a movie, too?"

"Oh, I'm sorry, Baby. I can't. Tomorrow night's my sorority's first house party of the year. I already made plans to go with Max," she said. "We can go out Saturday night, though."

Steve shrugged. "Hey, no need. Sounds like you have a celebration already planned for us. What should I wear? I've never actually been invited to a sorority party, except for that Geek Party, and I don't think you want me wearing my plaid suit like I wore to that one."

Laura paused and put down her knife. "Um. Oh," she began, turning around to face him. "You wanna go?"

He furrowed his brow. "Of course, I do. Your sorority is throwing a party. If you're going, I should go."

"Oh! Well, Max and I were just kind of planning a Girl's Night thing," she offered hesitantly.

"Oh, I see," he said, his face relaxing as he was no longer confused, though he was certainly hurt. "You don't want me to go." He pursed his lips and nodded as her face fell. "Yeah, I get it. You don't want to introduce your nerdy husband to all your friends."

Laura's jaw dropped. "No, Steve, I didn't say that."

"You didn't have to," he shrugged, he turned slightly and began to walk toward the office to get some space to reflect.

Laura wanted to chase him, but she didn't know what to say. He had become so much more sensitive after everything that went down with his parents at the family reunion. She didn't want to keep saying the wrong thing. She silently watched him step inside and close the door. She paused for only a moment before shaking her head and marching forward. That was ridiculous. Of course, she didn't feel that way. She barged into the office to find him sitting on the futon, his head in his hands. As she walked in, he wiped his eyes, sat up, and looked away from her. Laura sat beside him and sighed deeply. "I never said that," she said finally. "You can't put words in my mouth like that."

He looked at her. "You didn't even think to invite me, Laura?" he asked sadly.

"I didn't think you'd want to go," she explained. "Greek Life parties aren't exactly your thing."

"Because I'm a nerd?"

"No, Steve, because you never drink, and you don't really like that kind of music, and you don't hang out with those kinds of people."

"Laura, the only people I hang out with are you and Eddie. You're in a sorority. Being in a frat was the only thing he liked about college. I do hang out with that kind of person. It's just most of them can't stand me."

Laura paused. He had a point. "Well, um… Ok. Yeah. I'll call Max. She can bring Eddie. We'll make it a double date," she suggested, standing to grab the phone.

"No, Laura, stop. I don't want to go if you don't want me to. I'd rather stay home than… embarrass you," he sighed.

Laura set the phone down and sat immediately in his lap. "You do not embarrass me. Steve, I want you to come with me. Please?"

"Why didn't you invite your sorority sisters to the wedding? Or any friends, really?"

"It would have been too expensive on top of both our families. That's all, Steve. I swear. I'm not hiding you from them."

"You really want me to go?"

"Yes," she insisted. "Please be my date."

He smiled softly. "Laura Winslow… Begging me to be her date to a party…"

She laughed and leaned close to his ear. "I promise I'll make it worth your while," she purred.

"Ok," he agreed finally. "I'll be your date."

"Good," she nodded firmly. She leaned in and kissed him. "Thank you."

"You forgot about the meatloaf, didn't you, Sweetums?" he asked gently.

Her eyes widened. "Oh, no!" she shouted as she jumped up and sprinted toward the kitchen.

NOTE: Maybe this one won't take so long to fully publish? As always, thanks for all the reviews. I so appreciate them!