How Deep Are Your Pockets?

The New Year brought with it a sense of hectic calm as Tony and Angela tried to navigate through the early months of being engaged, planning a graduation and wedding as well as adjusting to the new norm of their not so private relationship. Although unspoken, everyone was aware that Tony and Angela were in fact sharing a bed and respected their privacy by not making it the focal point of their relationship, even Mona had returned to her normal battering and ribbing about how boring they were. Still uncomfortable about the whole situation, Tony insisted on keeping his bedroom as it was, not officially sharing a room or moving into her space until after they were married.

Their first New Year celebration as a couple had been relatively quiet and subdued. A romantic dinner at home, a little dancing, some fire-front cuddling, and a New Year kiss filled with a million hopes and dreams for what life had in store for them in the years to come.

A wedding date was set, May 14th, and planning began quickly. With the wedding being two weeks after Tony's graduation, they split responsibilities with Tony taking charge of wedding plans and Angela taking over graduation plans. The decision for a big grandiose wedding, like Tony wanted, opposed to a small, intimate wedding like Angela wanted would be a point of contention between the two of them as the planning got underway but nothing could have prepared them for the discussion regarding a pre-nuptial agreement.

Angela's very wealthy, very opinionated and quite snobbish grandmother had decided to pay a visit, from London, to meet Angela's new fiancé and wasn't quite pleased to learn she was marring her housekeeper. After Tony's attempted to earn her approval and trust fell short, he agreed to sign a pre-nup, at her suggestion, to prove that he wasn't after Angela's money.

During the course of discussion over asset distribution and personal property ownership, a heated argument erupted and their pending union nearly dissolved. Thanks to Mona's interference and standing up to her own mother on their behalf, Tony and Angela admitted that neither wanted any such agreement knowing that Tony wasn't after anything of hers and that their love was the only assurance they needed in their marriage.

Curious as to Angela's exact worth after Nana announced she was cutting her out of the five-million-dollar worth of inheritance, Tony struggled to find a way to broach the subject without once again fueling his own insecurities about their financial status difference. While laying in bed early one evening after Nana had made her departure Tony decided to bite the bullet and ask the question, he dreaded the answer to.

"So," he hesitated, "That was some visit from your nana huh?"

Emersed in a novel she had been reading, she replied simply, "It sure was, glad that's over with."

Pondering his words, Tony pressed, "Ya, so, uh, any regrets about being cut out of a five-million-dollar inheritance?" He nearly choked at the words.

"Nope, it is what it is," she replied casually.

"But Angela, it's FIVE-MILLION-DOLLARS!" He emphasized.

Putting her book down, sensing there was more to this casual conversation than she was paying attention to, she took her glass off and looked at Tony, "Yes, yes, it is and?"

"Oh nothing, I've just never known anyone with a five-million-dollar inheritance, much less someone that walk away from it for me." His tone cocky yet reserved.

"Well, I don't need her money nor want her money under her terms," she returned.

"Oh, so it was more about her terms and not me?" He pushed.

Uncertain as to where he was going with the conversation, Angela decided to tread lightly, not wanting to assume anything, "Well no, it was about my knowing what's best for me and not letting her interfere with our relationship."

"So, it was for me?" He grinned.

"Yes Tony, it was all for you," she leaned in kissing his cheek slightly patronizing. "I walked away from five-million-dollars for you."

"That's a lot of money," he continued to press.

"I don't need her money, Tony!" Angela's patience with his questioning running thin knowing there was more to his inquisition then he was letting on.

"I guess I just hadn't ever realized exactly how well off your family was." His tone somber and subdued.

Sitting up to face him, "Tony, what's this all about?"

"I don't know Angela, I guess I just never realized how deep your pockets ran!" The words out before he knew he said them.

Irritated by his statement, recalling the argument they had the last time he used those words, she spat, "Are we really going to start this again Tony? I thought we were past this whole money thing. I'm sorry I can't change the fact that my family has money and that I've worked my ass off to build a successful career and I'm not going to keep apologizing for it or downplaying it."

Knowing he struck a nerve but still ate up with insecurity he returned, "I'm not asking you to apologize for it or downplay it Angela, I'm just trying to find my footing in all this. Come on Angela, a five-million-dollar inheritance, that's more money than I could ever dream of in twenty lifetimes. Even when I was playing ball, I couldn't come close to that. I mean what could I ever give you that you couldn't get for yourself? You don't need me, Angela!" He regretted the comment as soon as it escaped his lips.

Furious at his remarks, Angela stormed off the bed, standing at the foot of it, "You're right Tony, I don't NEED you," she emphasized, "And yes, I can buy anything I want for myself. But what your pigheaded self keeps failing to realize is that although I might not need you, I want YOU because you know what money can't buy, LOVE!" She took a breath, her emotions threatening to get the best of her. "What I can't buy is the feeling I have when I'm in your arms." She chocked back her tears, "You know what you give me Tony that money can't buy- A home to come back to versus a house to just live in, a son that's growing into a fine man because of the influence you've had on him, a young woman who if it weren't for the difference in our DNA, would be my daughter, a support system that allows be to do something I love and build a business I'm proud of. So, you want to worry about money and the difference in our bank accounts Tony? Why don't you get off your high, egotistical, macho horse and trust that our love is enough, that your enough, that we're enough! Hell Tony, I just walked away from a five-million- dollar inheritance for you, so if that's not enough, I don't know what is!" She grabbed her robe and walked out the door.

Stunned and speechless, Tony sat on the bed, staring at the wall, tears swelling in his eyes. "Good going Micelli, a world class asshole," he scolded himself.

Letting a few minutes go by, collecting his composure and trying to find the right words to tell her what a jerk he was, Tony made his way down the stairs and into the kitchen knowing she was probably keeping company with a pint of ice cream. Slowly pushing the door open, he peaked in, "Angela, can we talk?" He pushed through the door.

"Why bother Tony, I still make the same amount of money as I did ten minutes ago," she hissed.

"Ya, well about that," he made his way to the table and took a seat. "I'm sorry," he stated remorsefully, "I really don't know what to say except, I love you and I'm sorry!" His voiced trembled.

Putting the spoon in the ice cream carton, she reached for his hand, "I love you Tony and I wish it was enough for you to accept and let go of this hang up you have about our bank accounts!"

"I know and I promise, I'm trying, it's just hard when I want to give you so much and can't. Even your ring," he shook his head in frustration.

"What about my ring?" she looked down at it.

"Nothing, never mind." He wanted desperately to close the door he just opened.

"No Tony, what about my ring?" Angela pressed.

"Can we please drop it?" Tony spat.

"No, we can't, what aren't you not telling me Tony," she demanded. Her thoughts went to the painting he'd bought her that he couldn't afford and suddenly thought that perhaps the ring wasn't in fact his mother's.

"Fine Angela, fact of the matter is that when I decided I wanted to ask you to marry me, I tried to buy you this beautiful ring I'd seen at Tiffany's on Black Friday, but I couldn't afford it, just like I can't and probably won't ever be able to afford to buy you nice stuff like that. So, after my pity party with Mona, I decided to give you my mother's ring."

"You had a pity party with my mother, and she knew you were going to propose and didn't say anything to me?" She was shocked at her mother's ability to keep that secret.

"Ya, shocker huh? And yes, I was about to give up on the whole notion of us getting married till she reminded me that it wasn't about the ring but about the sentiment of what the ring meant so I went and got my mother's ring and well there you have it, the consolation prize to my inability to buy you your own ring."

Uncertain if she wanted to cry at the sentiment or punch him for his shallowness, Angela took a deep breath, "I'd rather have your mother's ring Tony, then the biggest diamond found on earth!" She took another breath, "And the fact that you can't realize that this ring and the meaning behind it means more to me than anything money can buy really worries me." She hesitated for a beat.

"I know Angela," he interjected before she could continue, "And I'm sorry and I do realize it. I wanted you to have it because it represented everything beautiful and perfect about love and marriage, about my parents and the strength of their love through all the difficult times." He choked back his tears.

"That's about absolutely beautiful Tony," she squeezed his hand. "I wish you would have told me that before. I love this ring so much and now; I love it even more." She gushed.

"I'm sorry for being such an egotistical macho jerk," he lowed his head, "Thank you for needing me and wanting me even when I'm not very lovable or likeable." His puppy dog brown eyes looked up at her in remorse.

Smiling, she rose from her chair, making her way to his lap, sat and wrapped her arms around him, "I love you Tony Micelli and I'll have you know I'd give it all up for you if I had too!" She kissed his lips softly.

"Really?" he pouched his lips.

"Yes, really but don't go getting any ideas," she ribbed, nuzzling into him.

"Hey Angela?"

"Hey Tony!" She mimicked

"Since we're on the subject,"

"I was hoping we could get off this subject and on to another one," she kissed his neck.

Moaning with the feel of her lips trailing his neck, "I was just wondering,"

"Ya Tony, what are you wondering?" she whispered, nibbling his ear.

"Exactly how deep do your pockets run?" He turned his head so now his lips were trailing her neck.

Sighing, she coyly replied, "Deep enough that it wouldn't matter if you mowed the lawn in Central Park," she sighed again, "But shallow enough that I want you to give me everything I ever wanted and more!" She crashed her lips onto his as her hands found their way under his shirt and his through her robe.

"I think we need to discuss this further in bed," he moaned into her mouth.

"I think this conversation is over!" She straddled him as he lifted them out of the seat and proceeded up the stairs, her mouth engulfed in his.