Knowing What They Know

The living room was a glow with the twinkle of the light from the roaring fire. The snow outside had settled, and the house had been cleaned of all its mess from the Christmas morning festivities. Sensing their need to be alone and enjoy the early hours of their engagement, Mona offered to take the Sam and Jonathan to the movies, making the excuse that she was tired of being cooped up in the house but didn't want to venture out alone in the snow. Eager to get away from all the family togetherness that Tony pushed on them every year, the kids readily agreed and off they went to the theater.

Tony and Angela smuggled on the couch, reminiscing the day's events while she steadily gazed at her left hand and ring finger.

"It's absolutely beautiful Tony," she gushed. "I just can't believe we're engaged and this ring Tony, I just- "her voice cracked.

Nothing could have prepared her for Tony's words, "It's my mother's." She was already drowning with emotions at his proposal after so many years of waiting and wanting and longing and hoping and it had been perfect. A proposal she could only have dreamed of; the look in his eyes, the tenderness of his words, the feel of his lips when she said "Yes, a thousand times yes." She had waited so long for his proposal and had imagined the moment so many times over the years but never in her dreams had she ever envisioned him giving her his mother's ring.

As those words left his mouth, she was overcome with so many emotions she stood unable to process the magnitude of what that moment meant, it was nearly a blur to her as the words rang in her ears over and over, "It's my mothers, it's my mothers." She could remember the feel of swallowing her heartbeat trying to contain the waterworks that threaten to overcome her composure, as she stared at her hand,

"You don't like it," Tony's words dejected and sorrowful.

Lifting her face to meet his crestfallen eyes, the flood gates opened, and she began to cry uncontrollably. "It's the most beautiful," she gasped for air, "The most incredible," another gasp, "Most special and wonderful ring I've ever seen," she gushed trying to gain her composure.

"So, you do like it?" He asked with excited uncertainty.

"I love it Tony, I love it more than I can ever say," she threw her arms around him, kissing all over his face, "I love it and I love you and yes, yes, yes I'll marry you, Tony." Tears of joy covering her face.

"Oh good," Tony smiled, his own eyes moist with relief, "You worried me there for me minute." He smiled.

"Finally," "It's about time," "Congratulations," Mona, Jonathan and Samantha had cheered behind them, running up to give them each a hug.

"I just can't believe this is really happening!" Angela's thoughts returned to the present. "We're engaged." She leaned in and kissed Tony's cheek.

"Yes, yes we are," he took her hand, "Second thoughts?"

"Not in this lifetime," she wrapped her arms around him, kissing him passionately.

"It's been a pretty amazing day, huh?" he half stated, half questioned as they leaned back into the couch enjoying their time together.

"It was the most perfect Christmas, Tony, thank you!" She snuggled in closer, wrapping her arms around his.

Sitting in comfortable silence, listening to the crack of the logs in the fire, Tony smiled as he recalled the events of the day, her gift to him, validating his importance to her not only at home but in her business, holding her in his arms as they once again dance the Lindy, something they hadn't done since their first Christmas together, Mrs. Rossini's excitement when they called her to tell her they were engaged and her sobs of happiness, he swore she was wetting his ear with them through the phone, and of course the relief he felt hearing those four little words, "Yes, I'll marry you." There wasn't a doubt in his mind he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her, but the insecurities he had about being to provide an equal partnership in their marriage still haunted his soul.

He took a deep breath, closing his eyes, trying to push the insecurities out of his mind. Feeling his body stiffen with his breath, Angela rose her head from his shoulder, "You okay Tony?"

"Ya, fine, fine," he pulled her head to him and kissed her forehead.

"Are you sure?" She could sense the hesitancy in his voice. "Talk to me Tony." She caressed his cheek with the palm of her hand.

Sighing, he looked down, "I just want to make you proud of me Angela, be everything you deserve and more, an equal partner in this marriage," his voice shaky.

"Look at me Tony," her tone direct and sure as she raised his chin to meet her eyes, "I love you Tony Micelli and I am so proud of you," she leaned in and kissed his lips softly. "I want you to be proud of yourself, Tony. Look what you've done with your life Tony, yes, you're still "my housekeeper," she rolled her eyes, "more like incredibly sexy, feather duster flipper," she tried to lighten the mood, "Emphasis on sexy," she winked. "But Tony, you've raised a beautiful daughter, you're about to graduate college, start a whole new amazing and exciting career that who knows where it'll take you. Maybe one day, who knows, we'll be calling you Dean Micelli," her eyes lit up.

"Oh, come on Angela, I'll be lucky to get a job as a drivers ed instructor." His tone cynical and sarcastic.

"Tony Micelli," she sat up, slapping arm, "You stop that, and you stop it now!" She exclaimed forcefully. "I won't have it! And you know what, even if that's all you get, even if you have to take some teacher assistant job, be a hall monitor until someone notices what an extraordinary man and teacher you are then so be it because like I told you before, I wouldn't care if you mowed lawns in Central Park, I'm crazy about you and I'll be proud to be Mrs. Anthony Micelli no matter what you do." She leaned back into his arms and captured his lips.

"How do you always know exactly what to say," He humbly replied. "You've always believed in me and supported me and had faith in me." He smiled warmly, his love for her radiating from his eyes.

"Because I'm crazy about you." She caressed his cheek, rubbing her thumb over his lips, sensually. "Stay right here," she got up quickly.

"Where you going?" he whined.

"Hold on," she went to the stereo and started fumbling through CD's. "There!" She exclaimed pushing the play button.

"What are you doing," his curious activated.

A light, familiar piano medley began to play, Tony looked to Angela slightly confused. Walking back to him at the couch, she extended her hand, "Dance with me?" She smiled.

"You're asking me to dance?" His tone chipper and excited.

"My favorite partner," she took his hand and lead him in front of the fireplace.

As the words began to play, Tony wrapped her tightly in his arms, her head leaning on his shoulder, his cheek pressed against her hair,

"…..there are no words to say
What I feel in my heart
You, you're on my mind night and day
And it hurts me when we're apart
When you're not here by my side
There is nothing in this world for me…..."

Her mouth found it's way to his ear and she sang along with the song,

"I guess I'm crazy
Crazy for you can't you see
Although you may think it's crazy
Here it's where I want to be
I will always need your love."

Her lips began to trail his neck as the music played.

"Well now, I can see every dream
When I look in your eyes
And though, things never are what they seem
There is one thing that I realize
That there's no doubt in my mind
We can make this love go on forever.

I guess I'm crazy
Crazy for you can't you see
Although you may think it's crazy
Here it's where I'll always be
And I need you with me"

Rounding his jaw, reaching his lips, she paused, hovering over them, locking her eyes with his, she whispered, "You are my dream come true." The space between their lips disappeared.

"Cos you are the dream
That finally came true in me
In all my life there'll be no one else
If I looked all my life
There could be no one else
And for the rest of my life
All I need is you."

"How long before your mother and the kids are back," Tony panted, engulfing her face with his lips, unable to restrain his desire for her.

"Long enough," she caught his mouth for a deep, yearning kiss.

Without another thought, he lifted her up and carried her up the stairs to her room determined to prove that all he needed was her.

They consummated their engagement three times over the course of an hour, each time exploring yet a new discovery about each other's most intimate secrets. Snuggled tightly, in the afterglow of their lovemaking, they were lost in tender conversation when the sudden sound of the door closing beneath them brought them out of their slumber an into a fierce panic.

"Oh my God they're home," Angela yelled in a loud whisper.

"Shhhhhh," Tony threw his finger to his lips, "I've gotta get out of here, quick, where are my pants?" He jumped out of the bed, his feet landing heavy on the ground.

"Shhhhh," Angela motioned to his feet, "There, there's your pants," she pointed to the chair at her vanity.

Collecting his clothes and throwing his jeans and shirt on, he leaped to the door, his ear pressed up to the crack, trying to listen for sound of footsteps or voices,

"Okay, I think they're still downstairs, I'll run into my room, and they'll just think we went to bed." He looked at her, fear written on his face.

"It's okay Tony, just be quiet, tip toe." Angela demonstrated with her index and middle finger.

Rolling his eyes at her, "Yes Angela, I know." He cracked the door open and peaked out the hallway.

"I love you," she whispered.

"Shhhhh," his index finger back at his lips, "I love you," he mouthed, making his escape, closing the door behind him a little louder than he had cared to.

Making his way back to his room, his heart racing, he stood by the door for a few minutes listening for the sound of the kids going to their room. A few minutes passed and nothing, he cracked the door to get a better listen, "I know they're home," he said to himself. Hearing the roar of laughter, he made his way towards the end of the hallway, peaking around the corner to get a better listen at what they were laughing about.

"Whatcha doing," Angela whispered behind him, peaking over his shoulder.

Jumping, he turned into her, "Jesus Angela, you scared the shit out of me, what are you doing out here?"

"Shhhh," she shushed him, "I'm seeing what you're doing, why are you ease dropping on them?"

"I'm not," he returned defensively.

"Then what are you doing?"

"Listening, shhhhhh." He turned back towards the landing.

"I really don't know who they are trying to fool running all around up there," Jonathan's voice penetrated the room.

"Oh, it's cute," Sam gushed, "Sneaking around like teenagers in love!"

"Teenagers my foot," Mona interjected, "More like elephants on the run." She laughed.

"It's sweet," Sam affirmed.

"It's hilariously disgusting," Jonathan spat, "You don't live here anymore, I do."

"Oh, come on Jonathan, you're the one that wanted them to have sex when you were what, six, you got your wish?"

Tony gasped, turning to face Angela, the tips of his ears flaming, his eyes bulging.

"Ya, I was six, I didn't know any better and it doesn't mean that I want to know any more about it now, they're old for heaven sakes!" He crowed.

"Hold it," Mona interjected, "What do you mean old, buster, that's my daughter and what exactly do you two know or think you know?" Mona's curiosity now peaked knowing that Tony and Angela had been trying to be discreet.

"Come on grandma, you of all people know that mom and Tony are, you know," a disgusted look plastered on his face.

"Ya Mona, since when do you find so many reasons to get us out of the house, make excuses for them being gone for weekend trips, not to mention, you haven't been ragging them about their relationship since," she pondered a minute, "Oh my God, that weekend that we all went away, and Angela was sick. That's it, isn't it, that's the weekend it all started?"

Tony stood at the landing, unable to move, he just stared at Angela, her cheeks crimson.

"No way," Jonathan interjected, that's the weekend I got poison ivy and mom was beside herself because she was so sick."

Mona held back her laughter, her eyes divulging the truth if they paid attention to look at her.

"Come on Jonathan, it all makes sense, dad sending you off on that camping trip, I was away with Bonnie, Mona was in New York, it was their perfect opportunity for some alone time and smooch, smooch, smooch," she made kissing noises.

"Grose Sam, thanks for the visual!" Jonathan looked as if he was about to vomit.

Busting at the seams to spill the beans, Mona stayed remarkably composed knowing how Tony felt about their relationship being public and she didn't want to add anymore fuel to the flames of his insecurities, especially now that they had just gotten engaged. "Listen kids, Tony and Angela's relationship is none of our business so lets just let them work out their own affairs," damn, didn't mean to use that word, she thought.

"Mona, since when do you not meddle in dad and Angela's relationship?" Sam queried.

"Ya, Grandma, you've been in the middle of their relationship before they had a relationship."

"I'll kill her," Tony whispered to Angela in haste.

Grabbing his arm, "Shhhh, she's trying to cover." She motioned for him to keep listening.

"Look kids, you've wanted your parents together for a longtime, heck, we all have and we've waited and waited and waited some more," sarcasm spuing from her mouth, "And now they finally are together, heck, their engaged and I'll have you know, I thought for sure it would be another eight years before we saw that happen," she rolled her eyes. "Let's let them figure out the rest on their own, ay, give them a little privacy and time to navigate this whole thing. We know neither of them is great at this relationship thing," she chuckled.

"What I don't get," Sam questioned, "Is if they are, you know," she tilted her head from side to side, a grin on her lips," Why the secrecy and running around? It's not like Jonathan and I are kids anymore."

"Sam, you know your father better than anyone and you know how he thinks, he's going to do whatever he can, always, to set a good example for the two of you." Mom consoled.

"So, mom and Tony aren't having sex because they want to be a good example to us about what? Not having sex when you get old?"

"Watch that old thing again buster," Mom reprimanded.

"Sorry, sorry, ok, forget old, mature." Jonathan clarified.

"Jonathan, you know Tony's hang up about still working for Angela and them being together and the fact that they aren't married yet, Tony is, well, Tony is Tony,' she deliberated her thoughts.

"Well, I don't know what kind of example they are trying to set but after eight years, I worry more about them not having sex than I would if they did," Sam notated.

"Ya," Jonathan interjected, "It's not like it's something we wouldn't expect after eight years of them dancing around their feelings. I mean, okay, it's gross, our parents, I don't want to know about it, hear it, see it or anything else for that matter," his face covered in pure disgust, "But they love each other, they're adults, it's natural. They do know that we live in the twentieth century, don't they?" He concluded.

"Well kids, it's their business and we're going to leave it their business. Now if you don't mind, I've had enough talk about other people's sex life, or lack thereof," she covered, "So it's time I go work on my own and see if I can finish this day with a very Merry Christmas. Good night kids!" She turned and walked out the back door.

Sam and Jonathan stared at each other in silence for a moment.

Tony and Angela stared at each other in shock, not knowing where to go or what to do. After all their efforts and best laid out plans, they hadn't been as discrete as they gave themselves credit for.

Sam- "So, did you buy all that crap Mona was trying to shovel us?"

Jonathan- "Nope, I know better, and we both know grandma knows everything there is to know about everyone's sex life so this passive, give them a pass is crap."

"How do you feel about it if they are?" Sam inquired sincerely.

"Well the question of are they or aren't they isn't a question because I know for a fact they are, remember, I live here," he chuckled, "And as far as how I feel about it, I'm not a kid anymore Sam, I'm almost seventeen, I know about the birds and the bees, heck, Tony's the one that had that conversation with me," he smiled recalling Tony's nervousness at broaching the subject with him. "Sam, Tony's like a father to me, I want him and mom to be happy, just as much as you and grandma do. I don't understand what took them so long but I'm just glad they're finally together. You know as well as I do, you and I have wanted this since we were kids and now it's just like all the pieces of the puzzle are finally fitting together like they belong."

Jonathan's candor and openness was a side of him Sam had never seen before. In her eyes, he was the annoying, nerdy, closed off, little brother like kid that annoyed her and aggravated her but that she loved in her own special way. Through their history together, when push came to shove, they stuck together and had each other's back. No matter their differences, the one thing they always had in common was their love for their parents and their desire to see their parents together. She began to tear up, "Wow Jonathan, that was pretty sweet, so unlike you," she broke a smile, "You know I love Angela like she was my mom? I don't know of any other family that I would have loved more to have grown up with than yours."

Unwilling to get to tied down the emotional path, Jonathan broke with, "Don't get any ideas about claiming the business or the house," his tone playful.

"Oh, trust me, I wouldn't, punk." She teased.

Back on the landing, Tony and Angela's faces were ashen with emotional drainage. Listening to their children's discussion about their relationship and the confirmation of their extracurricular activities sucked the life out of them while filling their hearts with an immeasurable amount of love and gratitude. Despite the craziness and the unconventional path their journey had taken them on, it had all led to a house full of love and commitment and an unbreakable bond.

Motioning to Angela to return to her room, Tony tried to contain his emotions as he followed her and closed the door behind him. His voice, a trembling low whisper, he sighed, "They know Angela, they know!' His hands at his temples, shaking his head in frustration.

Caressing his arm tenderly, Angela tried to console him, "Tony, honey, it's okay, it'll all be okay. You heard them, they are fine with the thought of us being together, so why are we killing ourselves trying to sneak around?"

"Because Angela, it's still not the example I want to set for them," his tone firm and direct. "We're not married, you're still my boss and I don't want people talking crap about us!" He spat through clinched teeth.

"And we're engaged Tony, and we're adults, and who gives a shit what people say, hell, they've been talking about us since the day you moved in here, what's to stop them now? I'm sure they'll still talk about us after we're married and have grandkids," Her frustration evident.

"But Angela- "

"But what Tony, enough, you heard the kids. We're making fools of ourselves and we're driving ourselves miserable in the process. Samantha is nineteen, Jonathan's almost seventeen, Tony, they're not babies anymore," she shook head, "They'll always be our babies and we're always going to try to protect them and set good examples but them knowing we're," she rolled her eyes, "you know, intimate," she whispered, "Isn't going to make or break their moral compass." She rubbed her hand tenderly on his arm, "What's better, two parents that love each other and aren't afraid to show it, or two people sneaking around, acting a fool, lying and deceiving them?" Her words earnest and heartfelt.

Processing her words, Tony's face suddenly went pale, he gasped and raised his hand to his mouth, "Oh my God Angela, Jonathan basically told me he knew, and I didn't catch it."

A confused look on her face, "Jonathan told you he knew about us? How, when?"

Trying to remember Jonathan's words, he rubbed his head in frustration, "This weekend, I, I," he stumbled, "I came up to talk to him, to ask his permission to marry you,"

"Awwww Tony, that's so special, so sweet," she gushed, interrupting his story.

"Anyway," he rolled his eyes, slightly embarrassed by the sentiment he had just divulged, "We were talking about that Valentine's date he set us up on,"

"Ohhhh, I remember that Shay Renee," she interjected with a smile.

"Ya, well remember what happened when we got home, and we found out that it was him that set us up?"

"Of course, I do, he didn't want to lose you, so he thought if we fell in love and got married, you'd never leave."

"Ya that and about us just going ahead and having sex?"

"Oh my," she gasped her hand covering her mouth, "I almost forgot about that," she giggled. "But what does that have to do with your conversation about asking me to marry you?"

"Well, after reminding me that he had wanted us to get married since then and giving me his blessing, he suddenly blurted out, "Maybe now you and mom can have sex!" His face crimson at the memory.

"No, he didn't," she chuckled.

"Yes, he did!" His teeth clenched.

"What did you say?" Her amusement evident.

"I panicked, got up and basically ran out the room."

Almost in near hysterics, "Oh like that wouldn't make anything obvious Tony!" She shook her head in disbelief.

"It's not funny Angela, I seriously wanted to crawl into a hole in that moment and never come out."

"Oh honey, come here," she wrapped her arms around him, "You see, that was his way of telling you it was okay, that he was okay with us being like this. Hell, I guess he's wanted it longer than we have," she giggled.

"And you're okay with this?" He questioned.

Shrugging her shoulders, she looked at him, "Like I said, it's better than lying and deceiving them."

Tony took a deep breath, trying to gather his feeling, absorbing all she had said, "I just want everything to be perfect Angela," a calm, solemn peace in his voice.

"We can't control everything honey, nothing will ever be as perfect as we may want it to be but what we can control is showing those kids what love really is, what happiness looks like, what real life is all about; the insecurities, the ups and downs, the happy and sad moments and joys and sorrows that life presents. We can't shelter them forever." She wrapped her arm into his, snuggling his neck with her nose.

Relaxing into her, "You're always the voice of reason, aren't you, Angela?" He kissed her head, "I don't know what I'd ever do without you!" He turned, wrapping his arms around her tightly.

Having made their way upstairs, Sam and Jonathan had stopped short of Angela's door, hearing their parent's discussion about their earlier discussion,

"They heard us!" Sam mouthed to Jonathan. Shooing him back towards the landing Sam gestured for him to stay quite as she whispered softly, "They're arguing because they now know we know that they've been heing and sheing," her face panicked, "This is disastrous!"

"No, it's ok," Jonathan whispered, "Let's just pretend that we don't know anything, mom will calm Tony down and then hopefully, they'll end this charade they've been putting on," stopping for a beat he had a sudden thought, "God I hope they don't decide to want to talk to me about this!" His face scrunched up at the thought.

"I better make myself scarce if that happens," Sam giggled, "Good luck with that little brother," she punched his shoulder.

"Thanks Sam, I can always count on you for support," he retorted.

An amused look on her face she directed, "Ok, let's make some noise like we're coming upstairs so they'll stop arguing and we just go to our rooms and see what happens tomorrow. We don't need to ruin this perfect day for them."

Stomping their feet up the stairs, in boisterous conversation, they noted the silence that had fallen in Angela's room as they passed by, each headed towards their respective rooms closing the door behind them.

Hearing the commotion, Tony broke from their embrace, still jumpy at the notion of them being caught together, "So now what?" He inquired.

"Well, now we decide if we wake tomorrow, together in bed or if you go back to your room and we keep up this ridiculous charade."

"Don't you think we should at least talk to them first? You know make sure they know that we know that they know that we're sleeping together and that they're okay with it?" His mind was a mess of confusion and insecurity.

"Tony, we're not going to confront our children about whether or not they know we're sleeping together and we're sure as hell not going to ask their permission. We know that they know, and we know that they are fine with it. The last thing they are going to want is to know that we know that they know and make it all awkward because we know." She scratched her head, not knowing if she knew about, what she was even supposed to know."

"I'm so confused!" Tony rubbed the back of his head.

"We're just going to act normal, two people in love that just got engaged and now have a wedding to plan, okay?" She stepped towards him, "And by acting normal," she looked at his lips then back into his eyes, "I mean waking up together tomorrow, like two people that just celebrated their engagement the right way," she licked her lips sensually, "together, if you catch my drift?" She pressed her body up against his, leaving little space between them.

His heart racing, he grabbed her arms and pulled her closer into him, "Together like this?" He crashed his lips upon hers, separating them with his tongue, engulfing her mouth with passion.

"Uhhh huh," she moaned as they fell onto the bed, bringing their Christmas Day celebrations to a close, together!

/GaxAR2eEjBw