Author's Note: The dialogue in italics is from the show so of course the credit goes to the writers.
"What a day!" Angela sighed as she leaned back on the couch, her feet propped up on the coffee table.
"What a week!" Tony corrected doing the same.
It was late in the evening and they were enjoying the peace and quiet. The past week had been so stressful. Nick had died and Samantha had acted like it wasn't a big deal. No matter what they said or did they couldn't get her to open up to them. It wasn't until Bruno from Nick's favorite restaurant had asked what happened to Nick did Sam finally let her feelings out.
"He's dead! Okay! Just like my other Grandfather, my Grandmothers, my Mother! Anyone who's ever meant anything to me next it will be.." She turned to look at Tony, her big brown eyes filled with tears.
Tony sighed deeply as he remembered their conversation. She was only fifteen years old and had already lost so much. No wonder she was so worried about him dying. She probably felt so scared and vulnerable. And even though the thought of dying gave him the heebie jeebies he knew that one day it was going to happen and if heaven forbid it happened while Sam was still a minor he wanted her to know that she would always be taken care of.
He remembered when he got his appendix out how he had asked Angela to take of Sam if anything ever happened to him. They had only been living there for two years and he knew in his heart that he could trust Angela to take care of his little girl if he didn't make it through surgery.
So had asked her. It had been one of the easiest and yet hardest question he had ever asked. He knew that she loved Sam like she were her own daughter so in that aspect it was easy to ask her to take care of Sam. But at the same time it was so hard. He had been so scared of going into surgery but the thought of dying and leaving Sam all alone scared him even more. But he knew that she never would be as long as she had Angela.
After Tony had recovered they had gone to Angela's lawyer who had drawn up guardianship papers for Angela to become Sam's legal guardian if Tony passed away before Sam turned eighteen. They had never told her but after everything that had happened he decided that now was a good time.
"Hey Angela, I was thinking maybe we should tell Sam that you're her legal guardian if anything ever happened to me."
"You want to tell her now? Tonight?"
"Yeah, I do. I think it may help.'
"What do you mean?"
"Well earlier Sam said she was worried about me dying since everyone else she loved already did."
Angela shook her head in sympathy. "The poor kid. I mean she lost her Mom and all of her Grandparents. No wonder she has been acting so distant this past week. I mean she's only fifteen and has gone through so much."
"That was my thought exactly. I just want to assure her that if anything ever did happen to me.."
"That I would take care of her?"
"Yeah. So what do you think?"
"I think it's a good idea."
"Okay. Let's go."
They both stood up and walked up the stairs. When they got to Sam's room they gently knocked on her door.
"Sam? Are you awake?" Tony whispered.
""Yeah," she said softly.
Tony opened the door and motioned for Angela to go in first. He shut the door and Angela sat down at the edge of the bed while he remained standing. They both observed Sam, their hearts going out to her. It was obvious that she had been crying. Her eyes were tear filled and her nose red.
"So what's going on?" Sam asked, looking back and forth between them.
"Well we wanted to talk to you about something. Something that I asked Angela a few years ago."
"Oh my God! You're getting married?" Sam squealed.
"What? Oh no! Nothing like that. It has to do with what we were talking about earlier at Brunos."
"Oh what?"
"Well, remember when you said that you were worried about me dying?"
"Dad! You're not sick are you?" Sam asked fearfully.
"Oh no sweetheart I'm as healthy as a horse. It's just I thought that it was time that Angela and I told you that I asked her to be your legal guardian if anything were to ever happen to me."
"You did? When?"
"It was before he was wheeled into surgery when he had his appendix out." Angela told her.
"Yeah, I was so scared that I wasn't going to make it but I was mostly worried about you. So I asked Angela if anything happened to me if she would take care of you."
"And what did you say Angela?" Sam asked, her expression guarded yet hopeful.
"I told him that I would be honored to take care of you." Angela smiled.
"Really" You would?"
"Of course I would. Sam, I love you like a daughter."
Sam got up from under the covers and went and sat down beside Angela. Before Tony and Angela could say another word Sam threw her arms around Angela.
"Thank you Angela." Sam cried. Her body shook as her emotions overtook her.
"Oh honey. You're so welcome." Before she knew it her eyes were teary as well.
After a few minutes Sam pulled back. They wiped their tears away and smiled at each other.
"But, just so you know Angela. I hope that you never have to."
"I do too honey." Angela smiled.
"Yeah, same here!" Tony joked.
They all laughed and Angela and Sam hugged each other once again.
Tony observed the two most important women in his life. He knew now without a doubt that he had made the right choice.
His little girl would always be taken care of.