A/N. First of all I am so sorry for not updating this story for a while. I've been struggling with the flu, kids, a job, birthday and holidays! But! Finally the next chapter is here, I hope you'll enjoy my little Christmas gift to you all. Merry Christmas my WtB friends!
After their bath they quickly dry themselves, Angela moisturizes her body while wrapped up in a towel. Tony can't help but enjoy the sight through the mirror. "Would you like some lotion Tony?" Her words snap him out of his revery. As he nervously chuckles. "Because you're free to take some." She offers him the bottle, knowing damn well the reason he was eyeing her. Tony takes the bottle and squirts some lotion on his hands, rubbing his hands together he moisturizes his arms and his chest. Now Angela can't help but look at his shiny body. "You want to help?" Tony smirks. Angela looks at him, he sees the shock in her eyes but then she puts lotion on her hands, rubs her hands together and starts moisturizing his back. "Don't mind if I do." She hooks a finger in the towel, ripping it off and then massages his behind. Tony eyes shoot up at the mirror as he looks at her through the mirror, their eyes lock immediately. She is staring at him with a smirk. Tony loves this side of her, the flirting, the banter and the physicality. ~She is the love of my life.~ It's like he realising this for the first time. ~She IS the love of my life!~
"Angela.. you threading on dangerous territory here." He warns.
"I am?" She innocently says.
"Ange.." His voice warning. "You know damn well what you're doing."
"I am moisturizing your dry back." Her voice sweet and warm.
Tony turns and grabs her wrists. "An-ge-la.." He looks down, her eyes following his. She sucks in her lower lip and bites on it. "Angela.. dinner reservations." Her eyes meet his. "Right." She smiles. "Dinner reservations."
"You know what.. I will go change in my old room, because if we stay like this near each other, we will never get dressed or get out of this house." He lets her go, quickly kisses her lips and leaves the bathroom, picking up his new clothes along the way out of the door. Angela looks at herself, smiles and then looks at the rings on her hand. ~I can't believe we're engaged again.~ Her heart flutters with that thought. ~I don't think I've ever been this happy with any man. We will make it work this time, I am not losing him again. EVER!~ she promised herself. She walks back into her bedroom, goes to her drawer and grabs a red lacey set, the colour matches the dress she's bought. She stands at the stockings drawer, first pulling out a pair of pantyhose. "No this will not work with that dress." She says to herself while going through the drawer. She grabs a package containing a fresh pair of hold-up stockings. She bought them when she arrived home from Iowa, in hope Tony would fly after her. After a couple of weeks, as her hope disappeared so did the stockings to the bottom of her drawer. ~Tony is going to love these.~ She thinks to herself. She opens the package and puts on the stockings and slips into her dress, finishing the look off with matching heels. ~Advantage of having a lot of shoes, I always have a colour to match my outfits.~ She giggles at her thought. Sitting down at her vanity, she wonders what she should do with her hair, she knows Tony likes it up. She takes her hair and is about to put it in a simple updo when she thinks the better of it. She brushes her hair and leaves it loose around her shoulders. Make-up was always quickly done, she hardly ever used a lot of it. She doesn't like the unnatural look make-up gives her. She gets up and takes a look in the mirror, happy with what she sees.
Tony quickly closes the door of his old room behind him. Dropping the bags as he leans back against the door. ~Angela, Angela, Angela.. what do you do to me?~ He wonders looking down at his arousal. He leans his head back, closes his eyes and smiles. ~You drive me insane woman… and I like it. I've missed it, I've missed you so much. Why did I ever let you go?~ He shakes his head getting rid of those thoughts. ~All I know is, I will prove to you that you are the one and only I love and will ever love. I can't wait to grow old with you.~ He knows there will never be anyone else for him, ever again. He quickly gets dressed. Angela had chosen a dark grey suit with a slightly off white dress shirt. She had told him that he shouldn't wear a tie, it was actually fashionable to not wear it. He leaves the top buttons open as she told him to do. He looks around his old room and smiles. ~Wonder what we will do to this room now that her old bedroom is now ours. Maybe we could make it into an office for me.~ He knows he will find another job either at a high school or maybe a college nearby. All he knows, he wants a job near Fairfield. He also promises himself not to be without a job, even if he had to flip burgers or mow lawns, he will earn his keep! He put on his jacket and looked at himself. ~Angela has made the right decision with this suit.~ He thinks, remembering the dress she had decided on that afternoon. He feels his hands become clammy just thinking of Angela in that dress with the deep V-neck line. He opens the door and walks back to their room. He is about to open it, when he thinks the better of it and softly knocks.
Angela hears the small knock at first quite surprised but then knows exactly what Tony is doing. She makes her way to the door and opens it. "Hi." She softly says. Tony's eyes are about to pop out. "You look handsome." Angela smiles at him, he reminds her of one of those cartoon characters Jonathan used to watch, his eyes popping out, tongue out of his mouth and whistling.
"Angela.. you look.. wow.." He looks her up and down, down and up. "breath-taking." Angela's skin slowly turns pink as she blushes at his words.
"Thank you." Is all she says.
"I can't wait to show you around." He smiles. "How did I get this lucky?" He wonders aloud.
"Because you are the kindest, sweetest, sexiest and most wonderful man I've ever met. I feel just as lucky that I've scored my handsome Italian." She winks. He smiles at her. Words aren't needed, they both know.
Angela quickly grabs a matching wrap. When she comes back, Tony offers his arm and she takes it.
"I'll drive." Angela says. "I know where the restaurant is."
"Sure." Tony says as he puts his hand on the small of her back when they leave the house.
Arriving at the restaurant, they are greeted by the hostess who introduces herself as Nalini.
"Please follow me, Miss, Sir." As she walks out in front of them. "I spoke to you this afternoon Miss. You were very lucky that this table came available 2 minutes before you called."
Angela smiles. "I am.." she looks at Tony. "Very lucky." They both know she isn't talking about the table. Even Nalini notices the interaction between the couple.
"This is your table." She offers the table as she signals the waitress. "This is Maya, she will be your waitress for the evening. If you need anything, she will cater to you." Angela and Tony shared a loving look before turning to the 2 young women. "Hello Maya, thank you Nalini." Tony is always impressed by how she hears and remembers everything. Nalini notices the looks Tony gives Angela as Angela replies to her. She can't help but like this couple that is obviously very much in love.
"Good evening." The young woman says. "Here are your menus. What can I offer you to drink?"
"This is my fiancé's and my first time here. Is there something you'd recommend?" Tony took the lead, Angela's heart swells when he calls her his fiancé.
"Well if you'd like an alcoholic beverage, I'd like to recommend the Toddy. Which is a coconut wine, it is very popular. But if you'd like a non-alcoholic drink I'd recommend Aam Panna, which is a spicy mango drink or Nimbu Pani, which is Indian Lemonade. Which is a mixture of sweet and salty." Maya gives them a huge grin. "It all depends on your preference of course."
Angela smiles at the youthful enthusiasm of the young waitress. "What do you think beautiful? What would you like?" Tony asks.
"Well maybe we can start with one of the non-alcoholic beverages and then have the.. Toddy?" Angela looks at Maya who nods. "The Toddy when the main course comes. Is that possible?"
"Of course Miss. Do you have a drink of preference?"
"I'd like the mango drink, I am sorry the name escaped me." Angela apologizes.
"I'd like the lemonade." Tony grins. "Please."
"Coming right up." Maya nods and turns on her heels.
Tony and Angela move closer to each other, their hands finding each other as their fingers intertwine. Tony brings their hands to his mouth and softly kisses the back of her hand. "This does seem like a lovely place. And it's packed so the food must be good."
"Speaking of food.." Angela gives him a warm smile. "Maybe we should pick some for ourselves. So we can at least ask for an appetizer." Both have already opened the menu, both unwilling to break the eye contact. Angela still feels that if she blinks, Tony will disappear and she will wake to find it was just a dream. The reoccurring dream she had been having ever since she left Iowa. Tony couldn't believe she still wants him, that she has accepted his proposal and she would finally become his wife. ~Mrs. Micelli.~ He smiles at his thoughts.
"Tony?" Angela softly squeezes his hand, he smiles at her. "Penny for your thought? And food?" She felt her stomach growl. "I mean we had a lot of exercise today." She whispers. Tony's smile turns into a grin. "We sure did." He wishes he could see his mark on her body as he looks down her V-neckline. "Thoughts.. you.." Angela mouths 'me?' at him. "You've been preoccupying my mind for years now, you must know that. I can't wait to slip the wedding band on your finger.. and you finally become Mrs. Micelli." He cups her face with his free hand. "And yes food! I need food.. I need meat. Need to get that energy back.. I mean we still have the night ahead." He wiggles his eyebrows. Angela laughs at his words and simultaneously feels the heat rising in her cheeks.
Angela settles on the Tamarind Eggplant and Tony on the Keema Samosa, a crisp pastry filled with lamb as an appetizer. For the main course Angela decides to go with Magalorian shrimp, a semi spicy dish with coconut. Tony really feels like meat so he settles on the chicken tikka Saag. "That garlic Naan bread sounds good. Shall we order that on the side?" Tony asks.
"Oh that sounds great, let's order that with the appetizers and then the Biryani rice with the main." Angela excitingly says.
Tony looks at her, he loves how excited Angela gets about food. She is a great person to cook for, she loves food and always shows her appreciation. Angela's eyes are still scanning the menu in her hands. "Oh it all looks so good!" She says without looking up.
Maya quickly walks up to them, hands them their drinks and takes their order. Angela asks if she can hold on to the menu to scan through the desserts.
"Do you see all these desserts?" She looks up, her eyes glistening with excitement over all the sweets. Tony gives her a loving smile. "What?" She asks in her excitement. "Do I have something on my face?"
"No, but you might tonight!" Tony teases.
"To-ny! There might be people we know here!" she says in shock.
"There is nothing on your face, sweetheart. I just love how excited you get over food.." he leans on his elbow and looks her deep in her eyes. "I just love you so much."
Angela's first shock disappears from her face as she looks at him in awe. She cups his face with one hand. "Still feels surreal to be here together, doesn't it?" Her features are soft but her words clear.
"Not really." Tony gazes into her deep brown pools. "I think these last couple of months have been surreal. Every happy moment, I wanted to pick up the phone and celebrate with you . Every sad or difficult moment I wanted to pick up the phone and talk to you to ground me, heck even level with me. Somehow every moment I experienced in Iowa, I thought about you, desperately wanting to share it with you. But.." His voice trails. "Not tonight. Tonight is about you and me, us and our love." As quickly as the sadness appeared, it disappears just as fast.
"And our engagement." Angela looks at her rings and then back at him. "But you do have a point." Her eyes piercing through his. "Every time there was something going on at home, the agency and even when I just felt so alone, I wanted to pick up the phone. Hear your voice. Get your advice." A small smile cracks. "Ay oh, oh ay Angela.." She badly mimics his voice. "It's going to be okay.. you'll get the next account, this client is just crazy for skipping the best. Jonathan is just going to be fine, it's just puberty. And don't mind your mother, you know how she is. Samantha doesn't mind that you mother or maybe smother her.. she loves you like a mother." Angela's cheeks were rosy and the smile grew while she spoke. Tony smiles and shakes his head.
"Seems like you don't need me, you've got my role covered. " He grins at her. "But you do have one point though." Angela cocks her head and looks at him in curiosity but doesn't speak. "Sam.. Sam loves you like a mother and why wouldn't she?" Tony looks saddened. "I mean she's known you longer than she did her mother. God rest her soul. I'd like to believe that Marie send us your way. Like she had a hand in it all. She knew you'd make a great mother for Sam, in a lot of ways Marie and you are so much alike. Both intelligent, beautiful, calm, level-headed.. which we all know I truly need the last two. And not to forget.. you're sexy as hell." He grins. "I know Marie made sure we'd make our way to you. That you'd compliment my personality perfectly. Not only that.. she made sure you are hot too." Tony grins from ear to ear.
Angela gets really quiet and looks at him. "You think she'd approve?"
"Approve? Who? Marie? You?" Tony is in utter confusion.
"Well yes.. I'm not an Italian, Catholic, darkhaired woman from Brooklyn." Her insecurity is taking over. "I mean.. I have loved raising Samantha and Jonathan with you. But would Marie approve of an WASP raising her baby girl?"
"All Marie would care about is that you love Sam…" He takes her hand. "And the three of us know you love Sam."
Angela gives him a shy smile. "I love her as much as I love my own child. She feels like my own child, even though I didn't give birth to her myself. But would she also approve of.." she falls still as she looks at the table cloth and moves her hand between the two of them.
"Us? You want to know if Marie would approve of you being with me?" He waits for her reply but she stays silent and slowly starts nodding. "Oh Sweetheart." He wants to take her hand, but she pulls it off of the table, nervously playing with her hands.
"Would she?" her voice a mere whisper.
"You make me happy, that's all she would want for me. Why do you doubt your equality to Marie?" He swallows, reaches over and grabs her hand. "Angela? Why do you doubt your equality to Marie?"
Angela looks up, her eyes filled with tears. "I.. I don't.. well I do.. but." She sighs and closes her eyes to ground herself. "Because she is your first love, she was all the woman you wanted and needed. She was a good housewife, a great cook and she gave birth to your only child."
Tony's jaw drops, he moves his chair so he faces her. "Sweetheart, I am not going to lie Marie was the perfect woman for me.." He sees a tear drop. "when I was younger, in that part of my life." He wipes the tear away with his thumb. "But you.. my gorgeous fiancé.. you are the perfect woman for me in this part of my life. If I wanted a woman like Marie, I would be with a woman like Marie. But I don't want a replacement. Angela, like I said, I think Marie send us your way because she knew I needed you, you needed me and our kids needed the both of us. I definitely think she approves of you. Remember Thanksgiving at Mrs. Rossini's?"
"How could I forget?" She cynically replies and looks him in his eyes. "Gina was all but handfeeding you. And you.." She looks down again. "seemed to enjoy every minute of it."
"We've had that conversation." She hears the warmth and smile in his voice and knows he is right. "That is not what this is all about. Even then I realised I wanted more from a woman, a partner. I don't want a handmaid. I want an equal partner. Remember that conversation?" He smiles.
She looks up and smiles back. "Yeah someone like Meryl Streep."
"Yeah.. but I think you and I both knew I wasn't talking about Meryl Streep. I knew right then and there that I wanted a woman like you. I wasn't ready to admit to myself that I actually wanted you.. because 'you'd never catch me doing something dumb like sleeping with my employer'" He grins and winks at her. "Although I'm glad I eventually did."
"Then why not Frankie? I mean she is the Italian definition of a successful woman. She has everything I have, just with the same background like Marie and you. Brooklyn born and raised."
Tony sits back in his chair and stares at her for a moment. She gives him a questioning look. "I am still so surprised that a woman like you. Who seems to have it all, success in her career, her own property, a great kid, a Jag.. is so insecure about me and my past. I've tried to convince you that there is no one else for me BUT you. And I know you believe it. So you know I am all yours.. why still this doubt about women from my past?" he shakes his head. "I don't get it. I don't want Frankie Angela, ever since I've seen you naked coming out of that tub… you've filled my mind, YOU were the one I fantasized about.. I was just too stubborn to admit it. So why this doubt and insecurity?"
"Because.." ~dammit why is this so hard to say?~ she suppresses the tears she feels well.
"No more secrets Angela, no matter what it is. I am not going anywhere. I'm in this for the long haul. I know what it feels like to lose you and I don't EVER want to feel that way again."
"Because I don't want you to wake up one day realising you should have gone with one of the Brooklyn women and not this stuck up, high end, tight business woman." The words fall from her mouth like a waterfall.
Tony is shocked but smiles at her. "Oh Sweetheart, I love every inch of you. And I'm not talking about your body. I love my uptight business woman, because I know what she turns into once she is at home. This sweet, caring and loving woman. And I also know what she turns into in the privacy of our own bedroom." He wiggles his eyebrows, making her laugh as she blushes. "Has this been the thing that's been holding you back for all this time?" She nods. "I wish you would have told me sooner." He cups her face with both hands. "I wish I told you sooner what I felt for you. I could have saved you from so much pain. I was stupid to be so afraid." He smiles a sad smile. "Loving you is so easy. You are absolutely wonderful and perfect for me. When you left me Iowa I was so hurt at first, then I got so angry at you for leaving me. The funny thing is.. Sam made me realise that you didn't leave me because you didn't love me, you left me because you did."
"Samantha made you realise that?" She asks in surprise.
"Yeah.. we've raised a smart young woman." He looks at her. "I was so wrapped up in my hurt and anger that I didn't realise why you left me. And before that I was so wrapped up in my happiness and my success that I didn't realise how miserable you were. I had my head up my.." Angela holds up her hand and smiles.
"When did Samantha made you realise that though?"
"I stayed in contact with the family as you probably know." He looks up but she doesn't say or do anything. "One day.. about a month after you left, my team was doing great and I was talking to Sam about it and that I just felt so alone out there. I was complaining about how alone I felt and Sam just set me straight. She said that I wanted to be there, I needed to be there and that I had let the love of my life walk out without a fight. Of course I told her that I wasn't the one who left. Her voice changed when she told me that's not what she said. She said that I let you walk out of my life, that I was too blind to see how miserable you were because I was living my dream and that you let me go to pursue my dream but that lifestyle wasn't yours, it was consuming you that you were just a mere shell of your former self. Can't lie, those words hit me hard. And then she added 'She left you because she loves you, because she doesn't want to stand in the way of your dream. She couldn't stay because was losing herself.'" Tony sighs at the memory of that conversation.
"We did raise a smart young woman." Angela smiles.
"Pretty amazing, considering she has such a dense father." His joke lightened the mood. "Ange.. sweetheart.. I am so sorry I didn't see it. And thank you for giving me the opportunity to live, what U thought was, my dream for a little while. But without you, it wasn't my dream. It was just a great job. Which means nothing if you can't share the amazing moments with the woman you love the most." Angela smiles at his words and sips her drink. "I don't think you were dense. You were happy, basically on a happy high." She grins. "And honestly I held up afront that I was just as happy as you were, while I really wasn't."
"Ange.. you were making Afghans and paintings in an alarming rate." He sarcastically says. "I knew it, I saw it.. I just didn't want to know or see it. And I'm sorry."
Angela closes her eyes then looks at him directly. "No more apologies Tony. I just want to enjoy this evening, celebrating our re-engagement and just being here with you. I just know one good thing that came from this entire ordeal."
"Which is what?" he asks.
"I don't ever want to be without you.. ever again." She bites her lower lip contemplating the words she is about to say to him. "I love you more than I ever thought I was ever capable of loving a man, besides my son of course."
"Of course." He smiles.
"I thought I loved Michael, no I know I loved Michael. But my love for him never came near how I feel for you. Those months being away from me.. it felt like my oxygen had been taken away from me. I can't explain it any better than that. The fact that you came back for me, for us.. made me realise that you are my forever person." She leans in and pecks him on the lips.
"I'm sorry, excuse me." Maya came up with the plates of food and puts it in front of them. "Hope the drinks are to your liking?" Both Angela and Tony confirm. "Great! I hope you'll enjoy the food as well." Maya smiles at them before leaving.
"Enjoy your meal, beautiful." Tony says.
"You too, my love." Angela digs in. "Oh my.. this eggplant is divine."
Tony watches her enjoy every bite she takes, while eating his pastry.
"Oh Tony you have to try this." She holds out her fork for him. He takes the bite. "Isn't it amazing?"
Tony nods. "It is. Do you want a bite of my lamb pastry?" He already holds out his fork for her.
She looks at him and slowly takes the offered bite, never breaking eye contact with him. He swallows. "I think this will be an interesting night." He smirks.
She slowly chews and smiles at him. "You bet your life it will."