Images of the two of them over the years swirled around the room. He saw the 1st day when he applied for the housekeeping job, the kiss on her birthday, the time she made the speech about how he was the best thing that had ever happened to her when he was running for PTA President, the time when they were stranded at the crappy motel at the Camp when they discovered that they had shared their 1st kiss together, their trip to Mexico, their "2nd Anniversary" when he had developed appendicitis. Feeling a lump in his throat he continued watching the memories. He saw the two of them dancing in the living room after he had decorated it so that she could finally have her prom. He saw the 2 of them atop the billboard, the 2 of them in jail, the cute look on her face when she tricked him into buying her last two tee-shirts, their 1st yet disastrous date at the comedy club, the time that she talked in her sleep, their trip to Jamaica where they had shared a emotional and passionate kiss and the conversation that followed.

Suddenly the room became dark when he realized that he was now watching the two of them in the kitchen and in the study after the night he had spent with Kathleen. The tears in her eyes and the despondent look on her face made him shiver with remorse.

"Marie? I don't have to see this part do I?"

"Yes, you do. You have to see it all."

Sighing he looked again at the images of that fateful day. The lump in his throat grew bigger and bigger as he watched the two of them trying desperately to talk to each other and at the same time trying to maintain their friendship despite his betrayal. The images faded and he breathed a temporary sigh of relief until he saw what came next. There he was making a complete fool of himself following Angela on her date with Christopher. He had tried to convince himself that he was only looking out for his best friend whom he was afraid was moving way to fast. He just couldn't admit what it really was. What he was really feeling. Doing so would have meant opening up his heart. He wasn't ready for that, not at the time. It was much easier to date another woman. A woman that he knew deep down he would never love. That way he could protect his heart.

The images changed again and he saw the two of them in New Mexico sitting in Matt's porch swing. Equal looks of frustration were present on both their faces. They were at a loss on how how to get through to Sam. Suddenly Angela had noticed the breathtaking sunset and for a moment he too was completely mesmerized. Gazing at the image now before him Tony recalled the mixture of feelings that had been coursing through him at the moment. Worry and frustration over Sam, happiness that the whole family was together, guilt that he still felt whenever he looked into her eyes, and peace just sitting there with her watching the sunset.

Once again the scene changed before him and he saw Angela on stage at the Down Beat. His shy, reserved best friend was suddenly anything but. He had been shocked and yet completely mesmerized. He saw himself pulling her into the alley where the 2 of them had talked about Angela's complete 360 degree turnaround.

"You're either in 1st or 5th and there are a lot of great gears in between." Tony smiled as he recalled what he had said to her.

The images swirled around him from their very 1st day to more recent times. Tears welled in his eyes and a soft smile lit up his face at the various memories.

"I can't believe that I..."

"You can't believe what?"

Startled Tony realized that Angela was talking to him. He quickly glanced around the room and noticed that the images were now gone. He was back in the room with Angela looking at him with love and a little confusion.

"I uh, I can't believe that I'm here."

"Well I would hope you'd be here." she giggled. "After all I wouldn't want to be at my 25th Anniversary with another man."

"No, I guess that wouldn't be right would it?" he asked laughing with her.

"You know you do have a good point. It's hard to believe that we have been married for 25 years. Sometimes it seems like I just opened my front door and there you were."

"Oh yeah and you were as beautiful as always."

"Beautiful?" she laughed. "Tony, I was in my bathrobe, no make up, and my hair was up in a towel."

"Well that is true but you were still beautiful." he said softly caressing her cheek.

"You are always so sweet you know that?" she said shyly.

"Well I try."

Putting her head on his shoulder they continued dancing lost in their own world.

"I still remember what you said to me on our honeymoon."

"Well, I'm sure I said a lot of things. You know me and how I love to talk." he said chuckling breathing in the strawberry scent of her hair.

"There was one part in particular."

"Really? What was it?"

"It was when we were walking down the beach. I remember we stopped to watch the sun set. You took my hand in yours and said that you loved me. You told me that you never wanted me to..... " Unable to go on he finished for her.

"I said never doubt it. Never question it. And always remember that I love you."

"You remember." she said taking her head off his shoulder and smiling softly.

"Of course I do. And I meant every word I said. I still do."

"I love you Tony.'

"I love you too Angela."

"Angela?! Angela?!"

The room was now empty except for Marie and him.

"Marie? What happened?"

"You saw all you needed to see. Now the rest is up to you." Taking his hand in hers she asked gently "Do you know what you're going to do?"

"Yeah, I do. I need to make things right. I need..."

"Yes?" she urged him to continue.

"I need to tell Angela that I love her because I do." he smiled.

Marie smiled. "I'm happy for you Tony. The 2 of you deserve to be happy."

"But what if it's to late?"

"Tony, it will only be to late if you don't say anything."

"You always were wise you know that?' he said smiling at her.

"I know." she smiled.

"Marie?"

"Yes?"

"How did I know what I said to her on our honeymoon? I mean I know that I was there. But technically it was "future Tony."

"It's simple Tony. You knew the words because they came from your heart."

Tony smiled at her and said "Yeah, I bet that's it."

Well, it's time for me to go."

"Thank you Marie. For everything. I love you."

"I love you too Tony."

Tony gently kissed Marie. It was a sweet kiss of first love.

"Good bye Marie."

"Good bye Tony."

He watched as she walked away disappearing in a soft mist.

Tony found himself back in his room. Everything was now crystal clear. His confusion was gone. He now knew what he needed to do.
He had to make things right. He climbed back into bed but found himself unable to sleep. He climbed back out and put on his robe. Quietly opening his door he slipped downstairs in search of something to drink. He went into the kitchen and poured himself a glass of lemonade taking it with him into the living room.
Setting it down on the coffee table he went and got out the family photo albums. He sat down with the albums and got lost in the memories as he flipped through the pages. Pictures of Sam and Jonathon when they were younger, Birthdays, Christmas, Vacations. There were 2 pictures though that he particularly loved.
The 1st one was of Jonathon and him. It was their 2nd Christmas together. Jonathon had wanted to put the star on top but of course was to short. So Tony had put him on his shoulders so he could reach it. Angela had snapped the picture saying that the 2 of them looked so cute. The 2nd one was of Angela and Sam after her prom with Jesse. They had stayed up all night waiting for her and when Sam had come home she had been slightly annoyed but secretly touched that they had cared enough to wait up for her. She and Angela had been sitting on the couch Angela's arms around her as they talked about the prom. The sight before him had been so loving that he just couldn't resist taking a picture.
Flipping towards the back page he noticed the last two pictures. They had been taken in New Mexico. The first one was of the five of them. Mona had complained that they hadn't had a family picture taken for a long time. So Sam had asked Matt to take their picture. There the five of them stood. All smiling at the camera, their arms wrapped around each other. The next picture was of Angela and him. The two of them hadn't even noticed that the rest of the family had quietly slipped away so that only the two of them were left. Taking the camera from Matt Mona had smiled and snapped their picture. And there the two of them were. Their arms around each other smiling into the camera albeit a little softly and shyly. Taking the picture out of the album he gently traced Angela's face.
How could any woman look so beautiful in a pair of jeans, a pink blouse, with her hair in a pony tail? But Angela did. She always did. Tony smiled at Angela's image, slipped the picture back in the album, put the albums away and went back upstairs hoping to catch a few ZZZZZ's before morning came.