Tony felt a cold shudder go through him as he recalled what had happened. Every word, every look was embedded in his system. He wanted to go after her but for some reason he couldn't. He was in shock. That had to be it. Was this it? Was it really over like she said? *No! This can't be it!* he screamed silently. There had to be something he could say or do. He couldn't lose her like this. She was everything to him. He leaned back against the couch and closed his eyes. *Maybe if I close my eyes this will all go away.* He knew that was futile but he was willing to do anything. Anything to stop this nightmare. "Angela." he mumbled.

He felt a blanket being place on him and soft hands caressing his cheek. He knew those hands. He had held them for various reasons throughout the past 6 years. He opened his eyes and saw her looking at him a concerned expression on her face.

"Tony? Are you okay?"

Okay?" he cried silently. How can you ask that? How can I possibly be okay?

Swallowing hard he croaked out "I'm fine."

"You don't look fine. When I came in just now you were shivering and calling out my name." she said gently.

"Well I," Wait a minute what had she just said? When she came in just now? "Angela? What do you mean by When I came in just now?"

Angela looked at him with a confused expression. "Ummm just like it sounds."

"You mean you just got home?"

"Yeah, a minute ago." She looked at him with concern. "Tony? Are you sure you're okay?"

Tony rubbed his hands over his face. It must have been some horrible nightmare. He felt himself relax a little.

"Tony? I came home early because we need to talk."

He felt himself shiver again.

"Are you cold? Do you need another blanket?" she asked in concern.

"No, I'm fine." Or I will be when you just say what you need to say he added silently preparing himself for the worst.

Angela saw the fear in his eyes and her heart broke. She hated putting him through this. She had to make it up to him. Now. And the only way to do that was to tell him everything.

"There is something you don't know. Nobody does..." she trailed off.

"What is it? Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I am. As well as I can be." she said referring to the mess of the past few months.

He nodded his thoughts mirroring hers.

"Tony, I know the past few weeks haven't been easy for you. And I just wanted to thank you for being patient and for letting me go so I could have time to work things out in my head."

"Well, I did tell you that I would give you the time you need."

"Yes, you did. And like I said I know it wasn't easy."

"No, it wasn't. But, I figured I owed you that much."

" For the past few years I've been seeing a therapist. I started going to her when you saw Frankie at the Street Fair in Brooklyn."

"Why?"

"When you came home after spending the weekend with her and told Mother and me that she had proposed I got so scared. I couldn't understand why. I mean we were friends. But the thought of you marrying her just made me feel so scared."

"So you went to this therapist?"

"Dr Bellows. Yes, she made me realize that the reason I was so scared was because I loved you."

Tony was shocked. She knew she had loved him since then?

"Angela? You knew you loved me since then?"

"Yeah, well actually I didn't realize it until she asked me. She asked me point blank if I loved you. And when I said I did I was so surprised." she laughed softly. "I mean it never even occurred to me. And she told me that I should tell you and I tried to..."

"I remember that day. You came home from work early. I was surprised that you were playing hooky."

"Yeah, and I almost got it out but then Sam came in."

"Talking about Elvis's sister getting food poisoning." he recalled. "The course of true love never did run smooth." he said softly looking into her eyes.

"You said it right this time."

"I've never forgotten it." He paused before he said his next words. "Well I guess I did for a while." he said looking away from her. He was to ashamed to look her in the eyes.

She reached over and intertwined her fingers with his. He looked down at them and then up at her.

"Angela?" his expression and his voice were both laced with surprise.

"I went back to Dr Bellows this morning." she continued. "I needed her help to figure things out."

He waited with bated breath. He didn't know how to feel about what she was going to say. Did this Dr Bellows tell Angela that he wasn't worth it? That she should just tell him that the 2 of them wouldn't ever be together? That he had his chance and that he blew it?

"What did... How did..." at a loss for words he stopped.

"She helped me realize that the reason I have been so reluctant to tell you that I loved you and that I forgive you is that I'm scared."

"Of me?"

"No, not of you. But that if we did get together that it could happen again." she said quietly. She looked away from him.

It took Tony a few moments to understand what she meant. He felt like someone had knifed him in the heart. She was scared that he could/would hurt her again. But, he wouldn't. Never again. He would hurt himself before he would ever even think about betraying her again.

She continued "She told me that I had 2 choices. I could either tell you that we will never be together or I could do something much harder."

"What'?"

"I could trust you. I could trust that you will never hurt me like that again."

"Angela?"I can't take back what I did. And I can't erase all the pain I put you through. But, I can promise you this. I will never hurt you or betray you again. I love you."

He waited for her to say something. He had never been more nervous in his life.

"Tony, I won't lie to you and say that you didn't hurt me and that I wasn't angry with you. But, I also remember what I told you when- that night I found about you and Kathleen."

"What?"

"I said that maybe this was part of our journey. And that we had to go through this to see if we could go any further. And earlier today Mother reminded of that. She said that Andy and Kathleen are both gone." She paused to wipe away the tears that had fallen down her cheeks. "And she said that you were waiting for me."

"I'd wait forever for you."

"I know and I'm sorry I've put you through all this pain these past few weeks and I'm sorry I yelled at you."

"Angela don't!" he said sternly.

She looked at him in surprise.

"I'm sorry I snapped at you. But, please don't apologize for yelling at me. You needed to say all those things and I needed to hear them. I needed to know how much I hurt you. I deserved every angry word and if you say that you don't think we can be together then I deserve that too. I won't lie and say that I'll be happy about it. But, if my punishment is losing you then I'll accept it."

"But, you're not."

"What?"

"You're not losing me. Tony when Dr Bellows told me that I had a choice to make- she was right. These past few months I have been so miserable. I have missed you so much." Tears ran down her face as she struggled to compose herself.

"Me too."

"And I don't want to spend any more time being miserable. I don't want to be without you anymore. " She started crying harder. On instinct he put his arms around her and breathed a silent sigh of relief when she didn't pull away. Once again he waited. He could feel her body shake with sobs and her tears on his shirt. He rested his chin on top of her head and rubbed her back. Finally her tears subsided. She pulled back slightly to look at him.

"I love you Tony. I do. And I want to be with you. I'm going to choose to trust you. "

Tony felt like a weight had been lifted from his shoulders. His heart felt lighter.

"Angela? Baby do you mean it?"

She nodded. "Yes, I do." she wiped her cheeks. "But please promise me something?"

"Anything."

"Promise me that you won't ever hurt me again." she said as fresh tears welled up in her eyes.

He gently wiped her tears away. Taking her hands in his he raised them to his lips and softly kissed them.

"I promise Sweetheart. Never again. I love you."

"I love you too."

They looked at each other. They could feel the electricity between them. He wanted to kiss her. He needed to kiss her. Slowly he leaned forward...