A couple of notes... First is that I know I butchered the timeline of when Tony came to Connecticut, so I apologize in advance for that. It's been difficult working in everything with the murky timeline the show gives us. (I think even they weren't sure how to fit everything given they had Sam moving into the dorm a month after everyone else...) I had to push it earlier or scrap this chapter entirely and I wasn't sure what to put in its place. Second, I'm leaving for vacation in a couple of days and I'm not sure if I'll get the next chapter posted before I leave or not. That one was going to be the final chapter, but SocoMama gave me some ideas for a few more chapters so now I have some reworking and additions to write. Hoping to be back to my regular posting schedule in a week or so!


Summer carried on. By August, everyone was getting used to the curveballs that had come their way a couple of months before. Tony and Angela learned to navigate life under the same room and maintain their separate relationships without causing further damage to their own friendship, and Tony had slowly made peace with Sam's absence (though he still actively counted the days until she returned home). Mona and Jonathan went about their lives, both grateful that the tension had dissipated.

Mostly, at least.

It came and went with the days. There was a multitude of awkward moments: One or the other walking in on an unannounced date or arguing over who got to use the kitchen. Sometimes it was the lingering discomfort of doing something alone together like going to a movie they both wanted to see or grabbing lunch on errand days. There was a banquet one night when Peter was out of town. Angela wanted to invite Tony but didn't dare. Another time, Tony was feeling down and just wanted to spend an evening with a friend, maybe go bowling, and not have to worry about all that came with a new relationship. Familiarity was severely lacking in both of their lives, especially with Samantha gone and writing less and less these days, and Jonathan spending most of his summer out with friends.

There was one familiar celebration coming up on the calendar, at least, and Tony had high hopes for the distraction of a celebration.

For Angela, it was pure dread.

Tony's anniversary.

They always celebrated it, and each year it was a bigger event than the last. But now? She wasn't sure what to do. She would acknowledge it, of course. If not verbally then at least in the bonus she slipped him every year. With so much going on, she hoped this year would go by unnoticed.

She wanted to celebrate. It was a time she looked forward to at the end of each summer. But she wasn't sure if Tony would want so much attention from her right now. Mona liked to skip out on the events, Sam wouldn't be around, and she wasn't sure Jonathan would be, either. Chances were it would be the two of them. They both tended to be sentimental, too, and even if he could handle it, she wasn't sure she could.

The alternative? A party. Other people. Kathleen and Peter. A promise for disaster.

As much as it hurt, she knew it would be better for everyone to keep quiet and hope he would do the same.

. . .

"Good morning, Angela," Tony greeted cheerfully, just about finished cooking the first batch of scrambled eggs.

She smiled. "Morning, Tony."

"You eating breakfast?"

Inhaling the scent of toast, coffee, eggs, and sausage, she caved. "I think I will have a little bit, thank you."

"Coming right up!"

So far, so good… she thought as she took her seat at the table.

A minute later, Tony set a plate in front of her. "It's too bad you weren't down ten minutes ago. Just missed a call from Sam."

"This early? It's five in the morning for her."

"She gets up early for work."

"I'm glad to know she called, anyway. It's been a while."

"Speaking of which, she apologizes for not answering the other day. Says she's been out straight."

"It will be good to have her home next month," Angela said before taking her first bite of sausage.

"Sure will."

He kept eyeing her, wondering if she was going to make mention of the date. Alas, she remained focused on her food and now wished he hadn't distracted her.

"So…" he said, sitting next to her with his own plate. "Where's Jonathan this morning?"

"He spent the night at a friend's house. He called last night. I'm sorry, I forgot to tell you."

"No worries. I'm sure Mona will scarf down the rest of this when she gets in."

Angela laughed.

"So, uh… got any plans today?"

She took her time chewing. His tone gave him away. He wanted her to say 'Happy Anniversary'.

"Oh," she said quietly several seconds later, unable to bring herself to acknowledge it with nothing planned. "Not much. How about you?"

His gaze fell. "Nothing, I guess."

She kept eating to occupy herself. She couldn't stand hurting him.

"It's a nice day. How's your garden doing?"

"Fine," he said. He only had to glance at her to know she was purposely changing the subject. There wasn't the sense that she had a surprise party lined up for him, either. Her face was pale with nerves and he could see her starting to fidget in her seat.

Should've known.

. . .

Tony tried to let the anniversary go. He really tried.

At least Mona had wished him a happy six years. Jonathan, too, when he got home, asking if they were having dinner or anything. Tony had taken it upon himself to prepare a special meal. After the depressing breakfast with Angela, he'd tried to make plans with Kathleen to no avail. He called up his Brooklyn buddies; no answer. Mrs. Rossini; said he should be with his family for his anniversary. Even she acknowledged it. That officially made everyone except Angela. And she was the only one he cared about at this point.

It finally hit him. The gravity of his actions caught up to him with a sucker punch to the gut. He knew he'd hurt Angela. He'd apologized and she seemed to have forgiven him. Now he wasn't so sure. Why else would she have spent the greater portion of her day avoiding him?

It wasn't so much the hurt he'd caused haunting him now. It was the realization of the damage he'd done. The word family had rolled off Mrs. Rossini's tongue without a second thought. They were a family, yes, but aside from the kids, he'd split the other ties the second he first kissed Kathleen. They'd manage to salvage their friendship, but the emotional intimacy they'd once shared was gone. He realized not once since the beginning of the summer had she come to him about a problem with work. Not once had she complained to him that she wasn't feeling well or needed to vent about something. Seldom did she go out of her way to tell him about the book she'd just finished or ask him for anything outside of chores or the children. And he hadn't shared much of himself with her, either.

The only thing keeping them together was the kids. Housekeepers were easy enough to replace. He thought back to when she said that maybe their arrangement wasn't working anymore. Had that been a hint? Until now he thought they were doing all right.

No wonder she didn't want to mention it.

. . .

Angela crept into the house later that night, hoping Tony was upstairs and out of earshot of the door.

The hurt look he wore all day had been too much to bear. Snubbing him hadn't been her intention, but once the lack of acknowledgment had been established, she wasn't sure how to backtrack. It was too late to plan anything, and he'd outdone himself with dinner. Mona and Jonathan didn't say anything either, giving her reason to assume there had been other conversations going on when she wasn't around. Depressing was the only word to describe it, which was a pity with such a delicious meal.

After dessert, she snuck out to get him a card. She'd never forgive herself if she didn't do something now, especially knowing Tony was taking her silence about the day the wrong way. She knew he was thinking it was an act of continued anger or hurt when in truth she was getting past it. Yet, she wasn't quite sure what her avoidance was other than fear. She didn't trust herself in that setting. There were too many memories. She couldn't let them take any more steps backward, but in trying to avoid it, she'd created it.

Setting her purse down, she fished the card out. She'd spent a good half hour in the car formulating the note inside, trying to express her gratitude without getting overly sentimental. It hadn't been easy, and what she wrote down still felt like too little, but she figured that was better than too much. Now she had to figure out where to leave it. It was too late to give to him in person — too embarrassing. She felt like a heel.

"Jonathan, I told you you're not allowed to go out at this hour!"

Tony flipped the light on from the top of the stairs.

"Angela?" he said once he realized she was the one standing by the door. He came down, stopping at the railing. "When did you go out? I didn't hear you."

"About an hour ago," she answered meekly.

"Everything okay?"

"Oh, yes… I, um, had an errand to run." She looked down at the card in her hand. It would be pitiful not to give it to him now. Handing the envelope to him, she said, "This is for you."

He hesitated a second before taking it. "Should I open it now?"

"If you'd like."

Tearing it open, he read the simple 'Happy Anniversary' phrase on the cover, the lettering elegant as always with the cards Angela selected. Inside, his eyes scanned the note.

Tony,

I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for six years of exceptional work. That along with the friendship we've formed over the years has meant a great deal to me. After all this time, I don't need to tell you how much you've meant to all of us, especially Jonathan, and I don't need to tell you how much you and Samantha have meant in return. You've made our house a home.

Happy Anniversary,

Angela

When he looked up, he said, "Thank you, Angela."

"I'm sorry I didn't say it sooner."

"Why didn't you?" he asked before deciding he might not want to know.

"I wasn't sure you'd want me to."

"Of course I did."

"I realized that, then I wasn't sure if I could say it."

"I thought we were getting past that?"

"We are," she said. "It's not us. It's me."

"What do you mean?"

Stepping away with him though she had no particular destination in mind, she shrugged her shoulders. "I wanted to plan something, but I wasn't sure what. We don't spend that much time together anymore, so I wasn't sure if going out to celebrate was a good idea given everyone's track record for skipping out at the last minute. But then a get together here seemed…"

Saving her from her search for the right word, he said, "Uncomfortable?"

She nodded before continuing. "And you know how I get around this time of year. You and I have a lot of summer memories. I didn't want to forget my place and say something we'd both regret."

Tony glanced down at the card again. "I should have known. You always fill both sides of these things."

"I never meant to hurt you."

He waved his hand. "Don't worry about it. I feel kinda dumb for moping around all day."

"I shouldn't have given you a reason to," she said.

Hoping to halt what could easily become a back and forth, he said, "Well, I really appreciate the card. Thank you."

Angela nodded. "You're welcome."

"I have something for you, too."

"You do?"

"Gimme a sec –"

Tony ran upstairs and returned a minute later with a small, wrapped package in his hand.

"Happy Anniversary," he said as he gave it to her.

"Oh, Tony… I feel terrible. I didn't get you anything."

"It's not much. Just a little something."

She tore away the paper, revealing a picture frame. Inside of it was a picture of them at the beach with Jonathan and Samantha during their trip to Los Angeles for Michael's wedding.

"Ooh…"

Tony smiled. "I found it the other day when I was cleaning out the hall closet. Lots of pictures we never put into albums."

The memory brought out her own smile. She remembered posing for the photo. It was their last day in California after Michael's wedding – after Michael conceded his almost-battle for custody over Jonathan. She'd had trouble letting go of him all day. Her arms wound around his little body while Tony had a gentle hand on Samantha's sunburnt shoulder. All of them were smiling, though Jonathan had a plastered look of confusion after a day of smothering while Sam was fighting off the embarrassment of her tan lines.

"That was a great day."

"It was."

When she finally looked up, she revealed tear-filled eyes. "Thank you, Tony. I love it."

"You're welcome."

"Let's keep it downstairs so we all can see it."

"By the couch?" he suggested.

"Perfect."

Tony's hand brushed hers when he reached for the frame, unable to stop his fingertips from lingering over her knuckles. Angela kept her eyes down, wishing she could reach back, but knowing if she did so met his eyes she would crumble.