relationship upgrade

Moving your relationship to the "next" (higher) level: from friends to "friends with benefits" or dating; from dating to exclusive, from exclusive to moving in, etc. Sometimes the relationship upgrade requires considerable work from one partner to overcome the fears, worries, or hesitance of the other partner.

Person 1: I'm tired of being just friends with benefits. We need a relationship upgrade!
Person 2: What you want from me bro? I don't wanna be monogamous yet.
Person 1: Let's just date - some romance with our sex.
Person 2: Ok. I guess that's a cool relationship upgrade.