A/N: Thanks so much to Ellisaed for being my beta reader for this chapter. Thanks to Lifeisaticket for alerting me to a typo in the last chapter!

Okay, so I goofed a small detail from chapter 8 regarding Tony's family. This goes back to the time when Tony started college at SDSU. I wrote that Tony had been particularly close to his grandparents but that now he was making a conscious choice not to visit Mexico except for Christmas and special occasions. I neglected to clarify that at this point his grandfather had passed away and that only his grandmother was still alive.

On a related note: Let's keep in mind that in that same chapter there is a flashback of the previous summer ( which follows the college scene) where Tony meets Lilia at a plaza in Mexico and she tells him that 'her parents are going to kill her'. Both Tony and Lilia are seventeen. Tony did not turn eighteen until the following summer when he started college.

Luck Had Nothing To Do With It

When Tony and Michelle walked back into the informal breakfast table adjacent to the kitchen, they found his parents and Lilia sitting at the table and engaged in a lively conversation.

"Good Morning," Three polite voices greeted them, almost in unison.

"I hope we didn't keep you waiting long," Michelle said, noting that a hearty breakfast was waiting in various serving bowls all across the long table.

Michelle sat next to Tony and directly across from Dolores, who acknowledged Michelle's presence with a cold greeting.

Michelle watched as the others exchange the customary pleasantries regarding the previous night sleep while Maria went around the table filling up coffee cups.

When it was her turn to answer a direct question, she nodded slightly and replied, "Very well, thank you." She hesitated for a moment since she was not used to these long drawn out conversations about sleep.

There was an awkward silence. Everyone had had finished to serving their food their own plates yet no one had started eating at this point.

Michelle took in the aroma of her coffee and had her first sip. "Hmm…this coffee is excellent," she offered.

Lilia cocked her head and smiled. "Most Americans find our coffee too strong," she peered at Tony's parents with plain affection. "But to us, American coffee is too watered down."

Jose Antonio Almeida returned his relative's affectionate look. There was a part of him that objected to Lilia's statement; even though he now lived in Mexico, he still considered himself an American. "In this family, we like our coffee dark and black three times a day like clockwork," he finally agreed.

Michelle smiled satisfied. "Well, this coffee is just right for me." She turned to look at Tony who returned her smile while stroking her thigh (underneath the table) in a reassuring motion.

The rest of the meal was fairly uneventful, with Lilia initially doing most of the talking and Tony coming in second steering the conversation towards sports and the most part, Michelle pushed her eggs, sausage and a host of other side dishes on her plate, unused to such a large meal for breakfast (normally she had a breakfast bar on the run). Although mostly, it was those overpowering onions that were ruining her appetite.

Breakfast was over in a flash. Before she knew it, Michelle watched as Jose Antonio whisked away his son to discuss an important business matter and she found herself in the company of Dolores and Lilia.

And then, there was talk about lunch.

"I wonder," Lilia started, her eyes moving from Michelle to Dolores and back again, undoubtedly trying to ascertain her next move. "If you will join me in the kitchen." She added looking at both women. "There is a new recipe I'm dying to try out," Lilia said moving closer to Michelle's personal space, her moments smooth and assured. "It will be fun!"

"Sure," Michelle gave Lilia a thin smile. It seemed to Michelle it was too early to be thinking about lunch since they had just had breakfast. It did not take her long to realize that family life in the Hacienda revolved and was primarily centered around meals and meal times. She looked around her, feeling a bit out her element especially when it came to cooking. She would very much rather be out somewhere sightseeing with Tony.

The three women walked over to the kitchen and gathered around the kitchen island which had wooden cabinets underneath and a counter whose red tiles that matched the mission style flooring.

"Vengo a ayudarte a cocinar (I'm here to help you with the cooking), " Lilia said to Maria.

Michelle noticed a question on Maria's face; she realized that the housekeeper was not used to having Lilia helping her in the kitchen.

Dolores turned to Michelle. "So…" One corner of her mouth turned up, but it wasn't quite a smile. "Are you planning on having any children? She asked bluntly, her eyes drilling into her. "After you get married, that is…" she concluded with a sly grin.

Michelle was momentarily taken aback by the question. "Yes, yes…someday."

"Looks like we girls have lots to talk about," Lilia remarked gazing at Michelle, her tone light and with a glint of subtle amusement.

Tony and his dad carried their coffee mugs with them to the study. The 'studio' as it was referred to by all, had originally been a glass enclosed porch, an addition to the mission style home. Tony had always liked the fact that this room was far from the heart of the house -the courtyard with its attractive water fountain- yet still linked to it, an extremity, like a hand from the body itself.

His parents for the most part had insisted on practicing their English at home with each other and with Tony, their only child. All these years later, Tony felt more comfortable speaking to his parents in English.

Your mother…meant no harm" Jose Antonio gave his son a serious eye to eye, man to man look. "She just wanted you to marry Lilia." he added shifting in his seat. This was difficult for him. They normally did not talk about things like this.

"I know, I know. But that was over a long time ago!" Tony leaned back in his chair. "I'm in love with Michelle, dad, and we are right for each other. I have never been more sure of anything in my life!"

Jose Antonio nodded in understanding. "So she's the real thing, huh?" He drained his coffee in two gulps and his eyes adopted a far away look. "I felt the same way about your mother," a distracted smile played upon his father's usually serious expression, "She was the best thing that ever happened to me."

Tony nodded. "I know, I know…you couldn't live without her, followed her all the way to Chicago."

Antonio smiled sheepishly. "Actually, it was all part of plan."

Tony raised his brow at this new piece of information. Apparently, luck had had nothing to do with Antonio Almeida traveling to Chicago and eventually marrying Dolores Sanchez.

"After her parents forbid me to see me any more, your mother continued with life as usual and did not take a stand against her parents." There was this softening of his voice whenever he spoke of his wife that Tony had come to respect. "Rather, she convinced them to let sponsor her studies at Chicago State University. We discussed it and I was to meet her there a few of months later. I used all my savings and worked extra jobs while she was gone to earn extra money. It was not easy for her, you know to go behind her parents back and elope." He stared at Tony in such a way that Tony caught the full extent of his father's devotion…the type of devotion which undoubtedly overtook all common sense and will power.

Tony's dad had been an orphan who had been bounced around among relatives and who had not a dime to his name which had been the reason why his grandparents had disapproved of him as an appropriate suitor for their daughter. This Tony had known for as long as he could remember.

"Still, she's opposed to me marrying Michelle…" Tony remarked, a crease deepening between his brows. "As if she had not experienced first hand what happens when your family doesn't approve of the one you love…" he shook his head a gave his father sort of warning look that clearly said 'don't try to deny it.' It was obvious that he did not have his mother's blessing. By the same token, Tony's maternal grandparents had not only refused to give their blessing but had actually refused to speak to their only daughter for many years as retribution for marrying Jose Antonio Almeida against their wishes. "Although things turned out okay for her…her parents forgave her…" he concluded in an attempt to put an end to this part of their conversation.

"Yes, they did welcome her, welcomed us back …by then, her father was ridden with cancer. We all knew it was a matter of time before he would pass away."

Tony recalled his grandfather's funeral vividly. There had been a wake that had lasted three days. People from all over Mexico came to pay their respects (or so it had seemed to eleven year old Tony).

On the day of Grandpa Luis' passing, all the mirrors at la hacienda- where the wake was held- were covered with a sheet. Back then, Tony had believed that perhaps the covering of mirrors was some sort of tradition designed to make certain that there was no vanity in times of sorrow. But in hindsight, he now believed that the mirrors had been covered to spare mourners from discovering the dreadful look of deep sorrow etched on their faces, which would in turn increase their distress.

There had been prayer, and endless recitation of the rosary. La abuela had presented Tony with his very own rosary that day. It had blue beads, a crucifix on one end and a keyring on the other. Tony had looked at it a bit dumfounded; the rosaries he had seen in the hands of grownups were much longer than this one. He had accepted the gift graciously. He didn't have the heart to mention that he didn't know how to pray the rosary or the fact that as a rule his family only attended church twice a year: Once for Easter Sunday and once again for Christmas Day.

The most shocking thing for him had been watching his mother's reaction: she had wept loudly as dirt was shoveled onto her father's coffin. Prior to that day he had never seen his mother cry, or even become emotional in public.

"So you just want me to be understanding of mom?" Tony asked trying to mask outrage, which showed through as disdain.

"Your mother loves you. She's only trying to do what she thinks is best."

"By inviting Lilia over? Or shall we say…by deliberately failing to mention that Lilia was back in town on the weekend I bring my fiancée for the first time…"Tony questioned, his outrage and resentment clearly showing.

Antonio Almeida rubbed his chin like he always did when he didn't quite know what to say. "Well, you know how your mother is…but never doubt her love … deep down she has the best of intentions."

Tony tried to conjure up loving memories of his mother…of his mother being loving and accepting. Mostly, he remembered her hovering and controlling. Her insistence that their home always looked perfect; that the cushions on the couch be arranged in a certain way as though they were expecting the president of the United States to make an appearance at any given moment.

The appearance of perfection seemed to be the recurring theme associated with his mother.

His gaze fell upon a framed picture on his father's desk which was displayed for others to see and not for his father's own enjoyment when he sat at his desk.

The snapshot was of Tony (about 10 years old) and his parents posing for the camera. "Smile for the camera, mi amor," his mother had whispered to him through smiling teeth while pressing her cheek to his.

At his grandfather's wake, Tony remembered feeling suffocated by the dark suit and tie his mother had insisted he must wear and perspiration soaking through every fiber of his being.

And Lilia telling someone else: "Tony es mi novio y nos vamos a casar (Tony is my boyfriend and one day we'll get married)."

"No way, Jose!" his eleven year old self had retorted back, taking off his tie, a string of laughter trailing behind him as he ran outside to get away from the gloomy funeral- like atmosphere that permeated every corner of la hacienda.

"Oh, yes, Jose… yes, Jose! Lilia chanted back running close behind him. "Claro que si, ya veras que si! (yes, we will!)."

Tony shook his head at the memory. Back then, he would never had imagined that only six short years later he would find himself engaged to her... just like Lilia had predicted.

A/N: Thanks to all who have reviewed; Thanks to all who have favorited, followed and supported this story thus far. As long as there are readers wanting to read TM stories, Tony and Michelle will not be forgotten.

I'm encouraged to see that there are still some TM fans out there!

PLEASE KEEP THOSE REVIEWS COMING! Otherwise, I tend to assume that interest has waned.

BTW, is it just me? I keep expecting to see Tony turn up in LAD...