Finally going to try my hand at a multichapter WTB story. I've been mulling over the idea for a couple of months now but I'm not 100% sure how it's going to play out. It will depend on inspiration.

I'm still not clear on the exact timeline for 'Savor the Veal', I know Angela lives with him for at least a month going by the timestamps in the episode, but it's not clear to me how much more time (if any) has passed between that and the visit from the family. For the sake of this story, she'll be in Iowa for a few months and this will be a collection of different moments during that time. Thoughts, ideas, and feedback are greatly appreciated!

Angela couldn't believe she was heading into the same bedroom as Tony. Sure, it'd happened before - just last night he'd carried her inside, granted, slipping unconscious as soon as she hit the pillow didn't leave room for much awareness. But now it was different. Tonight, her head still aching from what had to have been a potentially lethal dose of medication and alcohol, she didn't see much celebration going on, which somehow made things feel even more real.

Back in Connecticut, they'd made it a point to sleep apart. A great deal of this was for Jonathan's sake as well as Sam's once she and Hank moved in, but also because Tony wanted to keep from crossing too far over the delicate line of 'living together'. Deep-seated guilt ran rampant since the start of their relationship though he'd never put it into those words. She found it endearing, even if he did get on her nerves now and then.

Things changed immensely with the move to Iowa. Sometimes she didn't recognize him. Of course he had changed. He had a new career now along with new friends and new surroundings. He was away from all ties of his past and the people who would reinforce his ideals. While he seemed happier than she'd seen him in years, she couldn't ignore the profound difference in him that she wasn't sure she liked. That, and it hurt not being a part of that happiness. He just wasn't her Tony.

Aside from missing him, all of that was the determining factor in her decision to move to Iowa with him. Maybe this strange semblance of himself was the result of being away. Maybe he was nervous or overzealous when she came to town. She didn't know. She only knew that she didn't want to be left behind. She'd been there through his entire college journey and now she wanted to share with him the pride he felt in his new career.

Ideally, she would have liked to have gone through with the wedding as planned. Postponing had been the only option with a move halfway across the country. In any case, neither of them wanted to start their married life apart. They made the right choice for the moment, but now it almost felt strange to be living-living with him before a ceremony. And though she wouldn't admit it, she liked the thought of the security that would come with marriage.

She could survive a year. Less than a year, really. All the better. That's what she kept reminding herself whenever she started to doubt. Leaving Jonathan and her work behind was the most difficult piece. Judging from her visits out to see Tony, she couldn't imagine what she'd do to fill her days. Mere weekends were hard to fill when they wanted to recreate. She wasn't accustomed to eating at the same restaurant repeatedly nor did she find the same romance of the cornfields as Tony seemed to. Then she'd remind herself that was something to worry about later. After all the stress of the past few months, she was actually looking forward to some rest.

"What do you think, Angela?" Tony asked, excitement bursting out of him as he held out his arms showcasing the room.

She looked around, wondering if she'd missed something new in her hungover state this morning. "What is it?" she replied when she couldn't come up with anything.

"This whole place. It's ours now. Look-" he opened two of the dresser drawers, then moved to the closet. "Space for your clothes. And over here," he walked over to the bedside table, "a drawer here as well. I'm working on a bookshelf in the living room and a couple other spaces between there and the kitchen."

Angela smiled, walking over to him, and lightly brushing his arm. "I appreciate it, especially the closet space, but don't trouble yourself too much. I packed lightly. Necessities, you know? Mother and Jonathan can mail anything else I might decide I need."

"Believe me, you'll want the space. You're gonna want some new clothes and maybe some books. You didn't hear it from me, but some of the women here are putting together a cookbook for you and want to teach you some of the dishes."

Dropping her hand and stepping back, she questioned, "They are?"

"As a welcome gift," he nearly giggled. "Isn't it great? Nothing like Connecticut neighbors!"

"Very thoughtful... I just hope they're okay with wasting their time."

"No waste."

"Tony, you know cooking isn't my strength."

"Ah," he said with a wave of his hand, "you'll be a pro in no time. You just didn't have the time to practice before."

She wasn't sure but rolled with it anyway. Stepping closer to him again, she said in a low voice, "I wish you were the one coaching me."

"I'll tutor you on the weekends."

She slid her hands up to his shoulders. "You're all mine on the weekends. It's probably for the better you're not around for cooking lessons. It's bound to get ugly."

"It'd be worth the risk."

She leaned in for a quick kiss. "I wish I wasn't so tired..."

"Aye oh." He pulled back on her hips when she started to move away. "We've got nothing but time now. No kids, mothers, in-laws..."

Angela shuddered at the thought. "We should have thought of this months ago."

Letting go, he said, "To tell you the truth, I sometimes thought about what it might be like if you moved here with me."

"Oh?"

"I never would have asked you. I know how much the agency means to you. Being near the city, too. That's why I was so touched when you suggested it."

She smiled at the memory. He'd nearly cried when he realized she hadn't been joking when all this was decided. "I couldn't stand being apart anymore."

"Me, too. I've made lots of friends here and all, but none of them filled the void."

Another smile. "I love you so much."

"I love you, too."

With one more tug on her hips, Tony enfolded her in his arms. Angela clung to him, for the first time since he'd moved feeling at ease with him. Gone was the mental hourglass keeping track of the time they had remaining and gone were the distractions of being needed elsewhere. Right here was where she needed to be, safe in his arms and knowing he'd still be there in the morning.