A/N: This is it for now, but there's a sequel to be posted whenever I get the chance.

Disclaimer: So not mine.

Chapter 8

Rain was falling outside in the darkness as Tony and Angela pressed close together, caught up in the images on the screen. Their arms were wrapped tightly about the other and Angela's head nestled against Tony's shoulder. When the movie ended they sat there, not wanting to move, not wanting to give up the intimacy of the embrace. Finally Tony shut off the TV and tilted his head to get a better look at Angela. "Tired?" he asked.

She raised her head up to meet his eyes and with a soft voice replied, "Maybe a little. It's been quite the weekend. She smiled at him sweetly and traced her fingers along his jaw line ever so gently. Their lips descended slowly, finally meeting with tenderness and a dose of passion.

As they parted, Tony's face grew serious. "Angela, I wanted to do this perfect, but I don't want to wait another second. I need to ask you something."

She grinned at his nervous chatter, but encouraged him to go on, asking, "What is it Tony?"

"Do you know how much you've been to me over the years? Do you know how much it's meant to be your friend and take care of your family? I owe you so much." They were facing each other and Tony was grasping her hand tightly.

His words echoed her own thoughts. "Tony, it's me who owes you. I mean, you've done so much. You've helped me with so many..."

"Angela," Tony interrupted. "Please, let me say this."

Swallowing nervously, he began again. "After Marie died, I thought pretty much my heart had died too. I had to go on though – for Sam – and maybe for me too. But the thought of loving and sharing my life with someone, it didn't seem possible. I learned to laugh and joke again... and I dated, but never with the intention of seeing things through. My whole life became about what was best for Sam. So that's what led me here. But what I wasn't counting on, was you. From that first moment seeing you at the door I felt as if I belonged here. I mean, at first I just thought you were pretty and smart and pretty much together – but as I got to know you, I kept discovering things that made me love you. And that scared me 'cause I wasn't meant to love again and you were my boss and we were so different. You were so classy and successful and I was an ex-jock housekeeper from Brooklyn."

Angela made as if to protest.

"Wait," he stopped her. "No interruptions, remember?" After a moment's pause and a nod from her he continued. "But I loved you and it only kept growing deeper. I tried so hard to stop it, to ignore it. And then you told me you loved me and I froze. Even when I admitted how I felt, I was still terrified. I had so many doubts, so many insecurities, that in spite of the joy I felt at finally being allowed to love you – I kept sabotaging it. I think back over the past couple of years and I wonder where my head was at. I pushed you away, I held you too close, and I forgot all you had taught me about yourself over the years. For some reason, things weren't as right as I knew they could be with you. But this, this feels so right. And I was hoping that maybe you'd still..."

"What Tony?" Her voice was heavy with emotion.

"Marry me?"

Angela bit her lip as tears began to form in her eyes. She scanned his face, so filled with hope and fear, and most of all, love. "Oh yes Tony. Yes. I love you and I need you and I never want to chance losing you again." She lost herself in a bone-crushing embrace, giving way, for once, to her heart.

"Really?" He could hardly breathe for the excitement coursing through him.

"Really." She answered with certainty. "You know, that speech you just gave. It was... wonderful. But it hurt me to think that you thought you were anything less than me. It's funny because for the longest time I didn't think I was worthy of you."

"You? Angela?" He couldn't believe it.

"Hey, you had your turn," she teased. "My whole life I've always felt so... imperfect, so flawed. And when I met Michael, I thought for the first time that maybe I was okay. I mean, I had a husband who loved me, and a son I adored, and a job that not only interested and challenged me, but I was good at too. But I wasn't enough for Michael. Not enough to stop him from venturing off to remote places for months at a time. And maybe he wasn't enough for me. So when he left I made up my mind that I would never again need someone else to make me happy. I had a job, and a child, a mother, and my house, and I was going to be happy. Then you showed up on my doorstep – so cute and so earnest. You terrified me because I knew that if I let you into my life that house of straw I had built up would blow away. You and Sam were such a breath of fresh air in my life. You pushed me and challenged me to grow as a person. And your friendship, it seemed an amazing gift. I'd never had as good a friend, never knew anyone remotely like you. You were so brave and fun and so confident. And I, I still felt like fifteen on the inside and not even remotely any of those things. So when I finally realised how much I loved you, I couldn't make the move to change things. Couldn't risk it unless I knew beyond a doubt that you felt the same way. But you see your influence has changed me. I'm no longer that gawky teenager. So I gathered up my courage and told you how I felt, and unfortunately it didn't go as I had hoped. Everything seemed so hard, every step. And then to face the choice of having you or having my career. I took the easy way out, but ultimately the hardest way. You're right. This feels so good. I don't feel afraid or insecure. I just feel... love. So yes, I'll marry you – in a heartbeat."

They fell asleep on the couch wrapped in each other's arms, oblivious to the storm raging outside and the flickering lights and the sound of Jonathan tiptoeing up the stairs after curfew. Morning would come far too soon and Tony would have to leave, but it really didn't matter, because now they knew one thing for certain. They were forever.