A/N: A lot of you wanted to know why Angie was avoiding Tank, and if they were ever going to talk. I thought I'd toss it out there.

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I was so glad I sent Lester for coffee. He brought me back one of those 64 ounce monster size soda cups full of cappuccino. He was doing it to be a smart ass since I asked for the biggest he could find, but today having that much coffee was a godsend.

I spend most of the morning prepping for this evenings meal. I had to stop at noon when the party rental place delivered the dishes, linens and the table. I managed to get that taken care of pretty easily, but when I went to put the linens on the table I noticed that they really needed to be washed again. I put Bobby on Laundry duty. He was in charge of washing drying and ironing all the linens for tonight. I had Lester working on the lobster that Ella had dropped off at about ten this morning. I had only planned on serving the tails tonight, so I used a good portion of the lobster meat to make the four of us a lobster salad for lunch, and after lunch I started on making the berry ice cream for dessert. Tank's freezer was packed. I had to juggle glasses and frozen berries to get the tub of ice cream in the freezer to set.

Having extra help really made today much easier and before I knew it, it was nearly 4 o'clock. I ran out into the dining room to check on how things were going in there, and Bobby was just finishing the table with the help of Cici.

"Bobby, when you are done there why don't you and Lester head out. You need time to get ready for your dates. And I need a favor." I handed him a sheet of paper with a wine list on it. "I need you to grab these for me please."

Bobby looked at the list and then looked at me unsure. "Angie I don't know if …"

"Please Bobby. I'm not drinking it, I'm just serving it. I know you guys are worried about me, but I've been in recovery for five years now." I knew I was begging, and I didn't care. The wines tied everything together, one wine for each course.

"Ok, I'll do it, but you owe me." he said with a smile as he finished smoothing out the napkins.

"No problem. I'll cook a romantic dinner for two you can pop in the oven and impress a girl next time you have a date." I told him, happy he wasn't going to put up much of a fight on this for me.

I turned and dashed back into the kitchen just in time to see Lester finishing with the last lobster. I gave him my thanks, and told him to go help Bobby and Cici so they could get out of here faster and get ready to get their dates.

I peeked my head out into the dining room once again. "Miss Cici? If you don't mind I'm going to run upstairs to shower and change in a minute."

Cici stopped and turned to me. "Go ahead. The guest bathroom is a mess, use the one in Pierre's bathroom if you don't mind."

"Not a problem. Thank you for all your help today." Cici had been a huge help, even with the breaks we made her take. That woman was a force of nature, when she saw something needed to be done, it got done and in a hurry. I popped back into the kitchen only long enough to grab my cigarettes and head out to the garage. I was going to need a smoke to get me through tonight.

I leaned against the SUV and lit a cigarette I was just getting relaxed when Lester poked his head out the garage door. "Angie. Steph wants to talk to you." He held his cell phone out to me.

I sighed softly as I walked over to grab the phone from him. "Thanks Les." I forced a smile on my face as I answered the phone.

"This is Angie."

"Hey. It's Steph. I just wanted to check in and make sure everything was on schedule."

I fought the urge to loose my temper, this was the tenth phone call I'd had from Steph today. "Everything is right on time Steph. I promise to call if that changes."

"Ok. Can I ask what you are going to wear?"

I rolled my eyes at Lester who stood waiting patiently for his phone before I answered Steph. "I'm going to wear black dress pants and a white shirt." it was the uniform of every chef and 90% of wait staff everywhere, so I figured it would work for me tonight

"Oh Angie! You should dress up a little more. I'll bring something for you. I'm going to be heading that way in just a few minutes. I'm going to grab a few things and then I'll be on my way."

"Ok Steph, I'll see you soon." I hung up the phone and handed it to Lester before resuming my perch against the SUV.

"Is everything ok?" he asked me as he took a step closer.

"Yeah, Steph is just driving me crazy, apparently my wardrobe choice for tonight needs to be dressed up a bit, and she is on her way." I said with my eyes widening to show that I was not overly excited about this latest development. "I'm going to need a meeting by the end of the night."

Les leaned against the truck next to me. "We might not be able to get you to a meeting, but if you need to talk, you know you can always come to any of us."

"Thanks Les. I appreciate it, but I'm ok. Just a little edgy, Steph is driving me nuts."

Just then Lester's phone rang and he showed me the caller ID it was Steph. He answered the phone and listened for just a minute before disconnecting.

"Steph is leaving the office now, and she said I'm supposed to tell you that tonight is all about a promise you made to her."

I sighed and quickly lit another cigarette off the first and took a long drag. "That little… She… I can't believe… UGH!" I finally just yelled in frustration.

Lester looked at me and raised an eyebrow. "You going to be ok there Angie?"

I nodded. "Yeah, but she manipulated me! I had just thought Steph had forgotten that little conversation in all of the excitement, but come to find out all this excitement was BECAUSE of that little conversation."

"I see… So you going to tell me what that promise was?" he nudged my arm gently with his elbow.

"Nope." I grinned at him before putting out my smoke. "I got to shower before Steph gets here." I told him before blowing him a kiss and hurrying inside.

I took the fastest shower on record. I needed to be done and ready when Steph showed up in case she had any last minute changes or details to be worked out. I pulled on my clothes, I had decided to wear a white tank top while cooking and just put on my dress shirt when I went out to serve dinner. I dug around in my bag and found the patch I had gotten from Zero. I had asked him one day how he managed to go so long between cigarettes while at work, and he told me he wore a nicotine patch. So when Steph told me about her plans for tonight, I begged a patch off him. I ripped open the package and slapped the patch on my upper arm. I ran a brush through my hair. I had thought about braiding it, but I was running short on time, so I pulled out my baggie full of hair bands and put my hair up in a ponytail and then added a band every couple of inches all the way down to keep my hair out of the way and under control. I knew Steph wanted me to wear at least a little makeup tonight so I grabbed my mineral foundation and quickly swirled the brush over my face, and put on a little lipstick. I always wore very natural neutral tones, so when I realized I had forgotten my eye shadow I just put a little lipstick on my finger and smudged it on my eyelids. I threw everything back in my bag and hurried back down stairs.

I was just putting my apron on over my head when I heard the doorbell ring. I heard Cici get it, and then I heard Stephanie's voice. I heard the two of them chatting as they walked back towards the kitchen. I couldn't hear what they were talking about, but with those two anything was possible. Steph came into the kitchen and stood near the island.

I glanced up from my work changing the cool water over the veggies and gave her a smile. "Hey Steph. Everything is really coming together. You did a great job."

She just laughed and shook her head. "I just came up with the idea's you've been doing all the work. I brought you something to wear tonight."

I stopped what I was doing and turned around to look. She was holding up a beautiful dress in a deep hunter green, and high heels that I would likely break a leg in. I took a deep breath. I was going to tell her I couldn't wear it. I really was, but the look on her face… I just couldn't do it. I dried my hands and walked over to her.

"It is beautiful Steph, but I happen to know that I don't own anything even close to that dress."

She laughed and handed me the dress and shoes. "I know, but I still had your size from when I went shopping for you before. Go upstairs and try it on."

I just shook my head and pulled over one of the bar stools from the island and draped the dress over it. I had done a lot of theater when I was younger, so I was a master at the quick wardrobe change. I just pulled off my tank top and laughed quietly when Steph blushed and turned her head. I pulled the dress over my head, and once it was settled I unbuttoned my pants and stepped out of them. I gave a quick twirl and looked at Steph. "Is this ok?"

She turned back to me and gestured for me to spin around again before handing me a package of panty hose. "You'll need these, but other than that it's perfect."

I took the panty hose with a sigh and sat down on the bar stool to put them on. I hated panty hose, and once you got to be my size they really only came in control top, so they were a real bitch to put on. I managed to get the panty hose on and hopped off the stool and stepped back into my pants.

"Steph, I promise to wear the dress when I come out of the kitchen, but I really can't cook in that. Ok?"

Steph looked a little disappointed, but she seemed to accept the compromise. "Ok. Oh I forgot to tell you Ranger and the guest of honor will be here in about half an hour, but everyone else is coming in about an hour."

Cici came over and lightly hugged my shoulders. "Take a few minutes to calm down. Everything is ready to go. You haven't sat down at all today. If you don't sit you won't make it through the evening."

I leaned a little into the hug and gave her a smile. "Yes Ma'am."

When she let me go I went over to pour some of my gallon of coffee into a mug and heat it in the microwave. As soon as it was warm I double checked the temp on the oven, and the controls on the built in grill that resided in the island before taking a seat. "So tonight we have Pierre, Miss Cici, Ranger, you Steph, Bobby, Lester their dates, and I think there was one more couple you were inviting?" I asked.

"It's not a couple exactly. Cal and Hal will be here tonight because you know the guys, they aren't happy unless the number of weapons in a room outnumbers the amount of civilians, and since I limited them to ONE each, they decided to add a couple more guys. I noticed there was one place absent Angie. I really wanted you to join us."

I had to smile a little at that. I knew how the guys were with their guns. "Can't blame them though. They spend so much time being paranoid, they can't relax unless they are armed." I had to think for a minute on how I was going to respond to her request that I join them.

Cici excused herself to go upstairs and get herself ready, and Steph took the stool next to mine. I decided I better give her my reasons now. "Steph, I know you wanted me to join you, but I can't. Having a nice relaxing dinner together was something we used to do, and I'm not ready to go out there and pretend everything is ok, when it isn't. I miss him Steph. More than I should. I found a brown wash cloth in the bathroom cabinet the other day and had a break down. Over a wash cloth of all things. But it made me think of him not being there because the brown towels match his décor in the house."

Steph awkwardly patted my shoulder. She was not a very touchy feely kind of person, but she was trying. "I know Angie. Ranger and I could see it. Bobby and Lester too. You thought you were hiding it, but you never were the same. Remember when you promised me you'd talk to him tonight? That's why I made such a big deal out of this whole thing, and getting the right setting for that kind of talk, just wasn't happening at the office. I knew you'd be on board with this party if you thought it was important to me."

I took a sip of my coffee and looked at her trying not to sigh. "Steph, I don't know if tonight is the best time."

Steph looked at me seriously. "You made a promise."

Damn! She had me there. I just took another sip of my coffee and nodded. "Ok. I'll talk to him. Just promise me I can stay in the kitchen and focus on getting through dinner."

Just as I answered her I could hear Ranger and Tank walking in the front door. Steph just grinned. "I'll send him in!" She said brightly as she hopped off the stool and hurried out of the kitchen. I took a deep breath and let it out slowly before finishing off my coffee. I went to refill my cup and put it in the microwave when I heard the kitchen door open. The sight that greeted my eyes was amazing. Tank was in black dress pants and a beautiful deep blue silk shirt and a black tie. He looked amazing.

"Steph said you wanted to talk to me." He said as he walked into the kitchen.

I nodded and tried to make my tongue work. "I thought tonight was supposed to be a surprise."

Tank walked across the kitchen to stand next to me. "Ranger gave me the heads up, so I grabbed some dress clothes before I left for work this morning."

I grabbed my coffee from the microwave and grinned. "Just don't tell Stephanie. She's worked really hard on tonight."

"So Ranger tells me."

I walked over to the island and looked at him again. I noticed his tie was a little crooked. I set down my coffee. "Come here and sit down so I can fix your tie."

He walked over and took a seat on the stool next to me. I turned to him and straightened his tie, and then smoothed down his collar.

"So you wanted to talk?" he prompted.

I took a deep breath and picked off a tiny piece of lint from his shirt. This was hard, I didn't know what to say. I finally decided to just go for it. "I miss you Tank. I want you to come home." I lowered my head and lightly brushed my lips across his in a soft kiss. "Please." I whispered.