Aaron dropped down onto the sofa, several bags of clothes showering down on top of him as he did so.

Katie tossed her bag beside him and sighed, pulling her hair into a ponytail. “That was exhausting.”

“I’d forgotten how much fun it is to shop with you,” Aaron replied sarcastically, his voice muffled because of the shopping bags.

She leaned down and moved aside one bag so that she could see his face; he smiled brightly at her through the packages.

“You know you love carting bags around and going into every shop imaginable,” she said, leaning forward and kissing him, then replacing the bag over his face. “I’m going to get a drink. Want one?”

“Hey……..baby?”

Katie bounced back into the room, looking confused. “Did you just call me baby?”

“Yeah,” Aaron said, pulling the bags off and setting them on the coffee table. “Too much too soon?”

Shrugging, she laughed and walked back over to him. He pulled her down beside him and gave her a long kiss, glad they were finally back in the apartment and didn’t have to leave until the following evening.

“Can we just order in?” Aaron asked, running a fingertip along her jaw line. “I was going to take you out to a really nice dinner, but I think we’d have more fun if we stayed in.” He wiggled his eyebrows suggestively and swung his arm around her shoulders.

Before she could answer, he was rubbing his thumb across the back of her hand and she thought she might melt into a puddle, or fall off the couch.

“You definitely don’t have to take me out to a nice dinner,” she said after a minute, snuggling into him. “This is really nice, you know.”

“What?” He asked, his voice low.

“Being with you all day.”

“And all last night,” Aaron chuckled, kissing her temple.

She nodded. “Yeah, we should do that again. Let’s order some Chinese.”

“Good idea,” he kissed her again and then released her so she could go grab the menu while he rummaged around in the fridge for something to drink.

*

Some time later, the two of them were cuddled on the couch surrounded by the day’s purchases and cartons of Chinese food while they watched The Bourne Identity (on Aaron’s request). He was lounging around in just a pair of red sweatpants and she was wearing pajama bottoms and a tank top. Despite the cold temperatures outside, they were quite warm.

“Do you realize tomorrow will be our first outing as a couple?” Aaron asked, slurping some lo mein into his mouth.

Katie giggled at him. “Aww, you’re so cute when you eat like a caveman. Also, I didn’t realize we WERE a couple. I thought we were just sleeping together.”

Aaron gasped dramatically and put his food down. “You’re kidding, right?”

“Of course.” She dipped her chopsticks into his container and pulled out some noodles. “It’ll be weird, I think. Going together. As more than just friends.”

“I don’t think so. You’re getting used to everything else we’re doing as more than just friends.”

Katie smirked. “That’s true.”

“Speaking of which,” Aaron reached over and took her container from her, setting it on the table. “I think it’s time for another round.”

She raised an eyebrow. “Really.”

“Yes,” Aaron stated evenly, standing up in front of her, blocking her view of the television.

“I can’t see Matt Damon, Aaron.”

“But you can see me.”

Katie looked up at him. “Yes, I can.”

“So, I guess I have to carry you into the bedroom? Or just pounce on you out here?”

“If you do that, the neighbors across the street will see. The curtains aren’t drawn.”

Aaron leaned down and kissed the tip of her nose. “Let them see, then.”

“I do like those pants,” Katie commented, running her finger along the waistband.

Aaron put his hands on his hips. “Alright, that’s it.”

The only sound in the apartment after that was Katie’s squeal when he landed on her, and the sounds of Matt Damon shooting people on TV.

*

“I probably should have tried that dress on,” Katie commented sleepily, running her fingertips along Aaron’s chest as she laid her head on his shoulder.

“Before,” Aaron finished the sentence, laughing lethargically; his fingers were running idly through her hair. “You tried it on in the store and you looked amazing.”

“Yeah, but I didn’t have the shoes on.”

Aaron shook his head in amusement. “Or the matching bag.”

“All I had for a bag was my messenger bag and that Levis bag which is really not, shall we say, grand enough for a ball of sorts.”

“That was your argument earlier when you said you needed a new bag.”

“Well, you didn’t have to pay for it,” she remarked, smiling. “I offered.”

“Yeah, and I refused to let you because I was being, what’d you call me? Old fashioned and barbaric?”

Katie laughed. “That poor girl at the cash register really got quite a show.”

Aaron nodded, dropping a kiss on the top of her head. “It was our first old married couple fight. I think we did pretty good.”

“Especially since you were trying really hard not to laugh the entire time.”

He laughed then. “It was really hard, since you were getting so falsely heated up.”

“I would have hit you, but I thought that might be going over the top.”

“Just a little,” he agreed, pulling her closer to him and closing his eyes. “I’m making you breakfast tomorrow since I haven’t had the chance yet.”

“Mmmmm,” she muttered sleepily, dragging the covers up over her bare shoulders. “You were out of here really early this morning.”

“I was afraid you might feel like I hit and run.”

Katie laughed tiredly against his chest. “Please don’t say that again.”

“Yes, dear.”

They both laughed, and then drifted slowly off to sleep, feeling and looking extremely content.