Sometime, Someyear. Mike and Steph meet at a company convention. Steph has no memory of him. Mike says she was hiding from him because he was “just another customer”. Steph hotly denies this.
Sometime, Someotheryear. Mike is hired to work for the same company Steph works at. They strike up a friendship based on mutual love for MMOs and Strunk & White.
New Year’s, 2007. Mike asks Steph out. Whether this was a real date is a matter of debate, as they spent most of the “date” negotiating how they were going to date. Because they were coworkers who spent a great amount of time together in meetings and design discussions, it was paramount that they kept a professional relationship separate from their personal one. The one thing they both agreed on was that if it didn’t pan out they’d stay friends and remain civil to one another.
New Year’s Day, 2007. Mike and Steph go to see No Country for Old Men. Based on their viewing, the movie receives the Motion Picture of the Year.
One weekend later. Steph made dinner for Mike.
February, 2008. Some coworkers have begun to figure out that something is up with Mike and Steph, even though they’ve been keeping their relationship a secret.
March, 2008. The couple discovers the Hermann Sausage Festival. On Mike’s birthday, no less.
November, 2008. Mike moves in to Steph’s house. Most coworkers, by now, have it figured out.
February, 2009. Mike and Steph go to Mexico. It’s overcast, but they spend time holding hands and playing in the surf anyway.
August, 2009. Steph accepts a job in California. The couple spend many long nights in WoW playing together, proving that even when you’re apart, you can still be together as a Tauren Druid and Blood Elf Hunter.
February, 2010. Mike’s awesome employer makes arrangements to allow him to work as a remote employee. Subsequently, Mike moves to California to be with Steph.
March, 2010. Mike proposes to Steph.
September, 2010. They set a date and a honeymoon location. Wedding planning has already been underway well in advance because Steph’s Like That.
October, 2010. Mike gets a new job in San Diego County, and they move into a new place in San Clemente to help reduce commute time for him. Coincidentally, San Clemente is where Steph lived from 6th to 12th grade. In fact, their home is about 1/4 mile from the house she spent her teenage years in.
December, 2010. Steph writes this timeline. Because bullet points are fun!