After that first week, stopping by Peter's apartment after a long day at the precinct soon became a habit. Being a police officer wasn't the easiest thing, and he was thankful for Peter's patience. He would often come over after work and pass out, often while using Peter as a pillow.

The hours he worked meant they didn't get to see each other much beyond eating and sleeping for the first month they were dating. Peter was patient with him, and they made the most of the little time they did have together. Sam did manage to scrounge up time for an actual date after a little over a month of dating. They went to the cute little french cafe Peter had mentioned the first time they met, and saw a movie after.

It had been a long four months, but he finally had a whole weekend off. And Sam was giddy with excitement. He was going to shower Peter with love and affection.

Earlier that week, when he first found out he had the weekend off, he enlisted Luke's help. Luke was more than happy to help, and agreed to lure Peter out of his apartment long enough for Sam to cook a surprise dinner.

Peter had given him a key to his apartment after just their first month of dating, which surprised Sam. For all of his initial shyness, Peter took no time opening up. Peter had handed him the key nonchalantly with a "Well, you are always here anyways" thrown in. It did make it easier to stop by right after work. Instead of going home after work until Peter got home, then trudging back across town, he could just nap on Peter's couch- or bed.

Sam laid out the ingredients he needed and set to work on their meal. In the four months they had been dating, this would be the first time Sam had cooked for Peter. He was already looking forward to doing so again. He was officially off rookie training and would have more time off.

Sam was finishing setting the table when Peter came home. He dropped a fork on the floor, and Peter heard it from the living room.

"Sam? Are you here?" He could hear Peter moving slowly through the apartment. "Who ever is here...I'm warning you. My boyfriend is a cop and he will mess you up."

Sam poked his head out of the dining room. "Hey babe." He watched Peter visibly relax. "You use the 'my boyfriend is a cop' line often?"

Peter rolled his eyes and walked into the kitchen. He eyed the table, "I thought you said you had to work all weekend?"

Sam grinned and gave him a quick kiss. "It was a ruse so I could surprise you."

With a chuckle, Peter pulled him into a hug. "You didn't have to…"

"You've been feeding ME for four months straight. This," he waved his arm at the food, "is the least I could do."

They made light conversation while they ate, occasionally brushing their knees together. Sam couldn't believe how easy it was with Peter. They occasionally had a disagreement, but they talked it out. It was new for Sam to be in a relationship where they respected each other enough to talk…instead of yell. And, while Peter had not opened up about his previous relationships, Sam suspected he had similar experiences.

"That was really good, Sam. Where did you learn to cook?"

It was Sam's turn to wash the dishes while Peter dried. He passed Peter a plate. "My mom. She always took the time to show me how she made dinner. She said it was too important a skill to ignore."

Peter laughed. "She sounds great. I'd love to meet her."

Sam stopped washing the dish in his hand and looked over to Peter. It had been years since he had introduced someone to his family, there hadn't been a reason to. "I'd love you to meet her too."

They continued washing the dishes in mostly silence, each lost in their own thoughts. When they were done Sam noticed the trash was full. He grabbed a new bag from under the sink and walked over to lift the full bag from the can.

"Sam, what are you doing?"

"Uh," Sam looked at the bag in his hand, "Taking out the trash." He gave Peter an 'isn't it obvious look'.

"Isn't it my turn?" Peter stared at Sam with an amused expression.

"What's so funny?"

"We have a chore schedule."

Sam blinked, "So?"

Peter gave him a kiss on his forehead and laughed into his hair. "You don't even live here. And we have a chore schedule."

"So?" Sam didn't see the problem. He made just as much mess as Peter given the amount of time he spent there. Why shouldn't he help out? He was about to give an indigent reply when Peter kissed him.

Peter was beaming when he pulled away from the kiss. "Move in."

Sam dropped the trash bag back into the bin. "What?"

"Move in with me." As he said it he wrapped his arms around Sam's shoulders.

Sam was frozen. Nerdy, shy, handsome, amazing, Peter Parker wanted him to move in? His heart fluttered in his chest.

"Sam? Love? Are you okay?"

Sam rested his head on Peter's chest. "Yes. Yes." And he couldn't stop his mind from imagining him saying yes to a completely different question. He briefly registered that he thought something similar on their first date about Peter saying yes; he found he didn't care which end of that he would be on. He loved this man.