****I do not own rights to the dialogue and scenes that came direct from the show****
The plane door slammed shut and Angela's breath caught as the flight attendant came over the P.A., "Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome aboard United Airlines for your non-stop flight to Chicago, continuing on to Bradford, Iowa." As the word "Iowa" escaped the flight attendants' lips, Angela took a deep breath and began bouncing her leg up and down nervously.
"Oh my God, what am I doing?" Angela's mind began to race. "Iowa, what the hell am I going to do in Idaho, damn, Iowa! She shook her head.
"Please securely fasten your seatbelts and prepare for departure," the flight attendant's instructions broke her train of thought.
"I can do this," she uttered aloud.
"Pardon me," a husky voice responded?
Startled by the intrusion of her utterance, Angela turned towards the gray-haired man in the adjacent seat, "What?" Her tone slightly more combative than intended.
"I'm sorry, I thought you said something."
"Oh, no, I'm sorry," her tone much calmer and apologetic. "I may have, I'm sorry, I'm a little nervous!"
"Not a frequent flyer?" He questioned.
"No, actually I fly quite often, not that I like it all that much, this flight is just a little more life changing."
"Oh, how so if you don't mind my asking?" The man inquired.
"I'm moving to Iowa to support my housekee, my fiancé," she shook her head at the near Freudian slip," He's got an incredible career opportunity so I'm moving out there for a year so we can be together and start our life together."
"That's wonderful, congratulations, how long have the two of you been together?"
"Ha," she chuckled, "Do you want the abridged version or the whole story, how long have you got?" She looked at her watch.
"Well, from the length of this flight, I guess we have about two and a half hours, ready, set go!" He chuckled.
With a smile, Angela began, "Well you see, it all started in September of 1984."
As the flight reached cruising altitude, Angela was so immersed in her storytelling that she had barely noticed they had taken off and were soaring across the plains heading west. An hour and a half into the flight and eight years of storytelling later, Angela sighed, "And so now, I'm going out there so he can pursue his dreams, what do you think?"
"That's quite some story!" The older gentlemen exclaimed. "So, you're giving up your career, leaving your son and family in Connecticut so you can be with your housekeeper, I'm sorry, I mean your fiancé and support him through his new career? That's quite remarkable and a hell of a romantic story!" He smiled. 'But is this what you really want?" He questioned.
Taking a deep breathe, Angela looked up pensively, her head ready to explode from all the thoughts and emotions circling with-in, "We've spent too much time apart for me to let him go, I want to be with him and if this is what I have to do, I'm willing to do it for him, for us! I can do anything for a year and it's not like I'm giving up my career, it's my business and it's in good hands, my son on the other hand, I'm not so sure of," she chuckled, trying to lighten the mood, "You haven't met my mother, that scares me more than my business," she laughed.
"Well then, if you're sure, I'd like to buy you a drink to toast to your new beginning and your happily ever after." He suggested.
"Thank you, I would like that, I think it'll help my nerves some also," she smirked.
The flight attendant handed them each a small plastic tumbler with wine and as they clinked them together in a toast, the plane suddenly jerked, nearly sending her cup flying into the man's lap.
The seatbelt sign came on and the flight attendant announced over the speaker, "Ladies and Gentlemen, the Captain has turned on the fasten seat belt sign as we are experiencing some turbulence due to weather, please return to your seats, with your belts fastened."
"Oh my God," Angela's grip on the console tightened, "I hate flying!" She exclaimed as she downed her wine in one gulp.
"It's okay, it's just a little turbulence, we'll be fine!" The man tried to ease her nerves, his own drink disappearing from his cup quickly.
"Oh Miss," Angela raised her index finger in the air as the flight attendant walked by, "Can we get another one please."
The flight continued with moderate to excessive turbulence, the seatbelt sign remaining ON the duration of the flight to Chicago. Upon landing in Chicago, Angela bid her travel companion goodbye as he deboarded and the flight prepared to continue on to Bradford, IA.
Upon take off, Angela called for the attendant, asking for another cup of wine. Her nerves were taking over between the stress and anxiety of the move and the horrific turbulence she had just endured for nearly an hour and the next hour didn't promise to be any better given the weather.
Angela leaned her head back on the seat, staring out the window as she sipped her wine. Flashbacks of her and Tony's life together ran through her mind, the ups and downs, all the wasted opportunities, their final declaration of love for each other and then, the job offer that was going to change every sense of security they always help in each other. "A brand-new life- Iowa style," she thought as she closed her eyes, letting the wine and valium ease her nerves, "I sure do love that man and there really isn't anything more in this world I want then to be with him," her thoughts continue. "I just hope I can get through this year with my sanity, Idaho, cornfields and cows." She sighed! "Tony and long nights wrapped in each other arms," she smiled.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, please return all tray tables and seats to their upright positions, stow any bags or luggage in the overhead compartments or under your seat, fasten your seatbelts and prepare for landing," the flight attendant instructed. "We'll be arriving in Bradford, Iowa in ten minutes."
"Shit, Iowa, Iowa, Iowa! Not Idaho!" She scolded herself, sitting up and securing her seatbelt.
As the plane descended, Angela's head began to spin. The change in cabin pressure, the valium and three cups of wine had now taken complete control of her senses. Laughing uncontrollably as the plane bounced on the tarmac upon landing, Angela exclaimed loudly, "That was a hell of a ride you all, let's do it again!"
Not receiving any words of encouragement from the other passengers, she huffed, "Well aren't you all a bunch of bores! I hope the rest of you Idahoans aren't' this blahhhhh," she stuck her tongue out in disgust. "Iowa!" A group of annoyed passengers hollers.
"Well, how rude!" Angela replied, "Yes, I know it's Iowa, I was just seeing if you were paying attention," she mocked.
Arriving at the baggage claim, Angela spotted the carrousel and immediately headed towards it with glee in her eyes, "Now that's a ride," she exclaimed as she hopped over the conveyer wall, mounted the baggage carrousel, and hollered, "Weeeeeeeeeee," straddling a large black suitcase.
"Angela, Angela," a distant voice caught her attention, "Angela, what are you doing?" The familiar voice was suddenly closer.
"Awwww, Candy, how ya doing? Come have a ride with me!" Angela excitedly gestured towards the carrousel.
"No, Angela, get off of that right now, are you drunk?" Candy accused.
"No, I'm not drunk!" Angela defensively exclaimed, "I'm free spiriting, preparing for my new life in Idaho," she continued sarcastically, ripping off a red sticker off a piece of luggage that read, "Open other end," and securing it to her business suit.
"Angela, come on, we've got to go, where's your luggage?" Candy inquired hastily.
'I don't know," she looked around then proceeded to exclaim, "Weeeeeee," again as the baggage carousel passed over a small bump.
"You're the best-looking luggage I've ever seen," a deep raspy voice commented over Candy's shoulder, "I'll claim that lost luggage any day," he smirked.
"Move on bub, this luggage is already claimed, now beat it!" Candy commanded with firmness.
Extending her hand to Angela, "Come on Angela, get off of there! We've got to go!"
Taking her hand, Angela looked around, "Where's Tony, why isn't he here? Does he not want me here, he doesn't love me," she cried!
"Angela, get ahold of yourself, of course he loves you," she consoled, "He's got a surprise for you and sent me, come on now, let's get out of here, people are staring at you!"
Candy quickly collected Angela's luggage, the only matching luggage left on the conveyer, as Angela wondered about greeting strangers, "Heelllloooo, I'm Angela Bower, so nice to make your acquaintance here in Idaho. Heelllooooo, I'm Angela Bower, Tony Micelli's fiancéeee, so nice to meet you. Hiiiiiii, I'm Angela Bower, from New York, what a wonderful little town you have here in Idaho, oops, I mean Iowa," she giggled, "Shhhh don't tell Tony I said that again,' extending her pinky out for a pinky promise.
"This way Angela," Candy grabbed her arm, escorting her out of the airport.
Arriving at Tony's apartment, Angela's grand entrance was marked with a loud, "Where's the can, I gotta take a whiz?" Exiting the restroom and seeing the party guest begin to leave, Angela cried, "Where is everybody going, I thought this was a party for me?" Walking towards Tony, "And now everyone is leaving, this is just like my eight-birthday party," she fell into Tony's arms sobbing as guest looked on.
Not finding any humor in the current situation with his fiancé's appearance and a room full of his new friends and his boss, Tony quickly tried to take control of the situation to no avail. After Angela called his boss, "Dr. Graham Cracker", his patience reached their max. Throwing her over his shoulder to cart her off to bed, Tony was mortified by her excitement to be taken to bed by him in front of all the guest.
As Candy helped clear the apartment out of Tony's friends and colleagues, Tony tried to get a now lifeless Angela into bed. "Marone a mi, at least last time I had to do this, you were conscience!" He grumbled. "Wake up Angela, we gotta get you changed," Tony pleaded. "I swear, you're gonna get it when you wake up!" He continued annoyed.
Sliding her jacket off, he threw it to the side then proceeded to remove her shoes. As he began to unfasten her pants, she suddenly sat up and wrapper her arms about his neck, "Oh Tony, I love you so much,' she began kissing his cheeks, running her finger through his hair as she made her way towards his lips, I want you so bad," she moaned as she made contact with his mouth, "Make love to me Tony." She began to unbutton his shirt.
Trying to pull her arms off from around his neck, "Angela," he broke their kiss, "Angela, you're drunk and need to go to sleep, come on now, let's get you changed."
"I don't want to change, I want to make love to my fiancé, but if you want me to change, how about a little strip tease?" She jumped up and started swaying her hips seductively as she removed her shirt and swung it over her head, throwing it towards Tony, landing on his head.
"Angela, very cute but no, you need to get some sleep!" Tony pointed towards the bed.
"But Tony, why don't you want to make love to me, don't you love me?" She pouted her lips.
"Come on Angela, you know I love you, but you've had too much to drink and way too much excitement for one night, now, let's get you to bed."
Throwing her arms around him again, she exclaimed, "That's what I'm trying to do Tony, get you into bed," she began nuzzling his ear.
"Angela!" His voice now stern and commanding, "Not tonight," he pulled her arms off him again, "I love you but not tonight, now stand here while I get your pajamas." Tony turned toward the dresser, gathering her pajamas from the top drawer. "Here you go, now put these on," he turned back towards her to find her passed-out body now sprawled across the bed, her legs dangling off the side, arms spread wide open and a bit of drool escaping the side of her lip.
Finally getting her lifeless body into her pajamas, Tony, gathered his pillow and a blanket and decided to stretch out on the couch since she had taken over most all of their bed.
Awakened by the loud crow of the neighborhood rooster, Angela jumped out of bed, clutching her pounding head, trying to gather her senses as to where she was and how she had gotten there. Looking around the bedroom, with no visible sign of Tony, she grabbed her robe and made her way towards the living room. Still unable to find Tony, she made her way towards the kitchen as the obnoxiously loud rooster crowed once again.
Swinging the door open, with her hands up to her head, she exclaimed, "What the hell was that noise," as she caught sight of Tony at the kitchen table drinking his coffee.
"It's a rooster Angela," Tony replied sarcastically.
"Kill him!" She demanded.
"I can't, he's the only one in town still speaking to us," venom spewing from Tony's lips.
Walking towards him, Angela remorsefully questioned, 'Did I do something bad last night?"
"Read all about it," Tony handed her the local newspaper. "Iowa, you made the paper."
Initially insulted by the headline title, "Worlds' Biggest Sow," Angela was mortified to find that her airport escapades had made the local news, "Fiancé of Wells Professor, Tony Micelli causes a disturbance at the Bradford Airport yesterday by riding the baggage carrousel. When questioned by authorities, she said, "Weeeeee!"
Apologizing profusely to Tony for her behavior, she explained what a rough flight it had been and how she had been nervous and anxious about the move. Concerned that she might be having second thoughts, Tony inquiries about how everything was back home and with the agency and asks if she's truly happy with her decision to move to Iowa. Reassured that she was in fact happy and excited to be there with him, Tony began to relax and enjoy their first morning together.
After a brief interruption by Ned and corny joke about offering to take Angela to an AA meeting, Tony decides to make the entire day about Angela, hoping to easy any left-over doubts about the move she might have.
A picnic by the lake, a countryside drive, a sunset dinner, a day dedicated to welcoming Angela to Iowa.
As they lay on a blanket, watching the glistening water before them in a remote area along the Iowa River, Tony leans over to Angela, kisses her forehead and smiles, "Thank you for being here with me!"
Looking up at him, "There's no place else I'd rather be," she caresses his cheek.
"Do you really mean that Angela, I mean no regrets?"
Sitting up to face him, Angela takes his hands, "I told you sweetheart, I want to be here for you, I want to be with you, no regrets." She leans in, capturing his lips with a deep, passionate kiss.
Breaking their kiss, Tony pushes, "I just want to make sure you're okay, we're, okay?"
"I'm okay," she leans in for another tender kiss to his lips, "We're okay," she kisses his neck, "It's all going to be okay," she nuzzles his ear, "Do I need to show you how okay everything is?" She pounces her lips upon his, not allowing his reply.
Consumed in each other's arms, immersed in their kiss, Angela glides her lips across his cheek to his ear, and whispers, "Make love to me!"
Swallowing hard, Tony's eyes nearly bulge out of their socket, "Angela, we're at a lake, we're in Iowa, I don't think they do these things in Iowa."
"Well maybe it's time they start," she begins to unbutton his pants. "There's nobody around and we're far enough away from Bradford that nobody knows us,"
"Nine miles Angela, only nine miles," Tony interjects.
"Yes, nine miles of cows and corn and annoying roosters, I don't think any of them will care or say anything." She starts to nuzzle his neck again pulling herself up to straddle him, wrapping her long legs about his torso.
"Angela," he moans.
"Ah huh," she replies, continuing with her mission.
"Angela," he tries again, "We can't do this, not here, not now." His arms wrapped around her, trying more to convince himself not to stop than her.
"Forgive me for not believing you, but your lips say one thing, while your," she looks down at the bugle protruding through his pants, pushing against her inner thigh, "Says something else." She smirks, capturing his lips again deeply.
Unable to resist her persuasions any longer, Tony flips her onto her back, now straddling her, and rips off his t-shirt. "How did I ever get so lucky?" He proclaims as he leans down to plant a sultry, seductive kiss at the base of her neck.
Catching a quick breath, she moans, "You hijacked my swan!"
Throwing her arms around him forcefully, crashing him down upon her, their bodies intertwined with each other, as they spent the next few hours, publicly expressing their love for each other and privately beginning their brand-new life!