When walking in the kitchen, Jonathan is taking the food out of the bags and Samantha is setting the table. They're chatting away, laughing and making jokes.
"They are like brother and sister, aren't they?" Tony feels Angela's hot breath in his ear as she whispers into it. He softly nods. ~Mackerel, Tuna, Herring, Salmon.. Mackerel, Tuna..~ He is still standing in the same spot as Angela quickly passes him by. Her scent teasing his nostrils.
"So Honey how far did Steven and you get on the project?" She quickly kisses his cheek.
"MOM!" Jonathan pipes.
~Lucky kid..~ Tony thinks, still smelling her around him.
"Don't be such a baby." Samantha says as Angela kisses her cheek and hugs her. "Hi Angela." She says with a loving voice.
"Hello sweetheart." Angela cups her cheek with one hand. "How have you been?" Samantha automatically leans her cheek into Angela's hand. Angela always makes her feel so loved.
"I'm good! Classes have been a bit crazy just before the Christmas break, but I'm happy to have these weeks off. I did take a job at the country club, just to make some extra cash. I might stay on after the Christmas break." Samantha smiles at the approval she sees in Angela's eyes.
"Good. Every type of working experience is setting you up for your future. I'm so proud of you. Studying, working and still coming home to us for dinner." With those words, everyone took their seat at the table. Jonathan and Samantha in the middle and Angela and Tony at opposite ends facing each other. The packages of food are being passed around and everyone fills their plate.
"You still haven't answered your mom, Jonathan." Tony matter-of-factly states.
"Oh yeah, sorry mom." Jonathan smiles up. "We are almost done, we are going to try to finish it on Monday. If that is okay with you?" He flashes his best puppy dog eyes at her.
"Of course, school is very important, Honey. I am proud of you for working so hard with Steven."
"Thanks mom." He says before stuffing an eggroll in his mouth.
"Would you guys mind if I stay here tonight?" Samantha blurts. "I've worked today and I am kinda beat. I could of course drive back to campus. But I saw that Rosemary's Baby is on tonight. Thought we might have an old-fashioned family horror night. And seeing Billy isn't here, I could take his room." Samantha smiles.
Tony looks up at Angela, his eyebrows asking 'what do you think?'. Angela's smile says it all to him.
"Yeah.. I'd like that. What about you two?" He nods towards Angela and Jonathan.
"That would be lovely." Angela's voice betraying her enthusiasm for having their family at home.
"Sure, why not." Jonathan says while shrugging.
"What's up extended family?!" Mona says when walking through the door. "Oh Chinese!"
"Grab a plate Mone." Tony says as he gets up to grab a stool and offers Mona his own chair.
"Thanks Tone." She bumps her shoulder to his.
"How was your date last night, mother?" Angela looks at her before taking a bite from her noodles.
"It was fine, dear." The smirk on her face told Angela not to press on.
"So how did the drop-off go?" Mona start digging in.
"It went fine." Angela looks towards Tony. "Mrs. Napoli has asked us to bring Billy up to Brooklyn one weekend a month." Angela grabs a dumpling and puts it on her plate. "Tony and I agreed to take him." She puts the dumpling in her mouth just to not have to speak anymore.
"Yeah." Tony sighs.
Sam looks at her dad. "You okay dad?"
"Yeah, yeah.. I am. It just.. you know.. I don't know." He quickly puts his eggroll in his mouth.
"It feels like the beginning of the end?" Samantha raises her eyebrows.
Tony looks at her and smiles. Jonathan is now looking from Sam to Tony. "It is, isn't it?" He sits back in his seat. "Is Billy leaving us?" he cannot hide the sadness in his voice.
"NO! No!" Angela just spits out. "What Samantha means that it feels like that. And to be honest Mrs. Napoli is his grandmother. She loves him just as much as we do, maybe even more. She misses him. Tony and I can understand that, don't we Tony?"
"Yeah we do, but Sam is right. It feels like the beginning of the end. Ever since he's been here, it feels like he was always meant to be here with us. Our family giving him the stability he needs. With a mom." Tony points at Angela. "A dad" pointing towards himself and "a brother and a sister." He moves his hand between Jonathan and Samantha. Four heads stare at him with an open mouth.
~Did he just call me the mother to our Billy?~ Angela's mind is racing. ~What the hell does he mean by that?~ She feels a slight panic rise. ~Does he want to raise more children with me?~
"I mean.. it felt like we were giving him the package deals of family. Even though, you know biologically were are not." He looks at each face, looking at Angela last he says. "We are family."
Angela's features soften. "Yes, we are family." She softly repeats.
"Oh please.. You two are going to make me throw up my fried rice." Mona rolls her eyes. A roar of laughter lightens the room.
"So Mona.." Samantha looks at her. "We just decided to have a family horror movie night. You down?"
"What movie?" Mona narrows her eyes.
"Rosemary's baby!" Samantha nearly squeals.
"I'm down on one condition.." Mona grins. "Only if your dad makes the popcorn."
"I second that condition!" Jonathan chimes in.
"No problem!" Tony is more than happy to oblige.
"What time does the movie start?" Mona looks at Samantha.
"Little over an hour." She pipes back.
"Good I need a shower first." Mona quickly grabs another eggroll and disappears.
After dinner Angela excuses herself and goes to her study. She sits behind her desk and opens the file. Reading through it and thinking about what Jack and she had discussed. The file is as good as done. Just dotting I's and crossing T's. Within a half hour she is done. She takes off her glasses and turns her chair to face the window.
~I wonder what it all means.~ she starts the internal discussion with herself. ~Are we really going to lose Billy? I mean it's just one weekend a month. And our home situation is so much better. Here he is loves by the five of us. I know mother likes to act tough, but she likes the boy. Why else would she keep on teasing him? And Mrs. Napoli is getting too old to take care of such a young boy. He will take all the energy out of her. On the other hand, having him around might do her good. I mean, when she saw him, she was different. More vibrant. She loves him and who are we to keep him away from her. He is her grandson and not our child.~ She pinches the bridge of her nose. ~Because of him, Tony and I grew a bit closer together. Having Billy around, is a good thing for us. I don't want to think about having to miss him. Either way. We will always have each other.~ A knock on the door startles her.
"Come in!"
"Mom?"
"What is it honey?"
"I'm sorry to bother you in here, but I want to ask you something." Jonathan shambles his way in.
"What is it?" She gives him a warm smile.
"Would you be upset if I asked you if I could spend New Year's Eve at Steven's?" He looks at his feet. Angela feels her chest tighten. She has never been without her son on New Year's Eve. She stares at him, but doesn't say anything. "I promise I'll call to wish you a happy New Year!" He says with a smile. "Steven and his parents are driving up to Vermont tomorrow."
"Oh." Angela says. "And you'd really like to go as well?" Jonathan nods fiercely. Angela musters up a smile. "Well Samantha and Tony will be here, so I won't be alone."
"So I can go?" He asks with a hopeful smile.
"You can go, honey." Angela can't help but smile at her happy son.
"Are you absolutely sure mom?" He feels apprehensive.
~He knows me better than I thought he might.~ She tries to give him a sincere smile. ~He does deserve this, he is a good kid, gets good grades and hardly ever in trouble.~ She smiles when she remembers the only time he ever got in trouble, when he stole the hubcap off of a police car. "Like I said, I will miss you, this house is never the same when you're not here." She gets up and walks towards him, taking his hands into hers. "But you deserve this, you've worked hard all year. You are still getting straight A's. I don't tell you enough how proud I am of you. When will you leave?"
"Thanks mom." He kisses her cheek, knowing how hard this last year has been on her. He looks her in the eyes. "We will leave tomorrow evening. If that's okay with you?"
"It is sweetheart, it is." She smiles and sighs.
"I love you, mom." He matches her smile.
She cups his cheek. ~My little boy isn't so little anymore.~ The realisation hits her hard. "I love you too Jonathan."
"I will go help Tony in the kitchen so you can finish your work." He is about to turn on his heels.
"Hold up Jonathan. I'm finished for today." She turns and closes the file. "Movie time." She happily says while locking her arm in his.
Samantha and Tony put away the leftover Chinese food, rinse all the plates and cutlery.
"Would you please grab the corn kernels for the popcorn?" Tony puts the plates in the dishwasher. Samantha does as her father asks, knowing all he needs to make his popcorn.
"Dad?"
"Hmmm?"
"What are your plans for the New Year's Eve?" She asks.
Without turning he answers. "You know just Angela, Jonathan, you and I."
"Oh."
"Why? Why do you ask?" He turns around and leans into the countertop.
"Well.." she starts as she hands him the kernels. "The girls and I were talking, you know… about celebrating with just us girls this New Year's."
"Oh that is why." Tony tries to smile but feels a little sad.
"I know I'd said I come home, but you know this being my first year away." She looks at her dad with his puppy dog eyes. "I know it's been hard, but.. you know I'd.." She sighs and closes her eyes. "I'd really like to celebrate with the girls and try to get a better bond."
Tony gets the stuff he needs and starts making the popcorn. Not knowing what to do Samantha stares at him for a bit.
"And I know that with Billy and me being gone, it will just leave Angela, Jonathan and you. But I'd really like to take this opportunity to get to know the girls." She doesn't know if she should keep chatting away to convince him or to just give him a moment to think thinks over. She decides on the last one. But after a minute or two she can't handle it anymore. "Dad?" She softly starts.
"I'm think, I'm think." He puts his arm up, but doesn't turn around. When he finishes the popcorn he puts it in the bowl Samantha had set out. He looks at his daughter and folds his arms in front of his chest. "Okay."
"Okay?" She repeats feeling the slight hope rise in her chest, but with her father you never know.
"I don't like that you're not going to be here. But I also know it's a part of growing up.. It's the part I don't like but.." He looks at her. "It is very important to bond with the girls. I get it."
"Angela has taught you well." Samantha smiles at her father. He gives her a shocked look. "Oh don't look so shocked dad. You do know that this is Angela's influence, don't you?"
~Is this Angela's influence?~ He wonders to himself.
"Oh my God you are seriously wondering if this is Angela's influence?" She throws her head back while she laughs. "Remember when you bought my first bra and I asked you if Angela could take me?" Tony nods, remembering the embarrassment at the memory of the 'foundation garment.' "Good, remember when I came back in my new dress and how much I loved that dress." Tony keeps nodding. "I remember too, I remember how you thought Angela had changed me and how this wasn't me."
"You.. uh.. You heard some of the things I said?" He says with slight disappointment.
"Yes dad, I am was a kid, not deaf. You thought I had changed, that Angela had changed me, but she didn't change me, she just showed me the other side of me. I still love sports to this day, but I also love make-up and dresses. Angela didn't change me, but she did influence me, she showed me that it's okay to be a girl and like girly things but also like things that are considered for boys." She looks at her father who feels confused but also slightly proud of both Angela and Samantha. "And Angela made you grow with me. She made you see that I was not just a tomboy, there was also a little girl there. And when you realised that, this got easier. Angela helped us grow as much as we helped Jonathan and her grow. We loosened them up. And Angela taught you to let me find my own way as much as you have taught her to let Jonathan find his own way. You balanced, well actually, still balance each other."
~We balance each other. I like that. Sam has a point here.~ He walks towards the fridge to grab drinks. "Promise me you'll try to call me on January first okay?"
"Okay!" Samantha says with a grin. "Are you really okay with this?"
Tony walks up with the drinks. "Yeah." He kisses the top of her head. "I want you to have the full life experience. I'll still have Angela and Jonathan." He grins.
Angela and Jonathan walk in, Angela's arm is around Jonathan shoulder.
"Popcorn ready?" Angela whiffs. "Smells amazing."
"Can we help?" Jonathan asks, walking towards Tony. Tony puts his hand on Jonathan shoulder.
"We should bring in everything." He smiles down at Jonathan.
Angela automatically puts her arm over Samantha's shoulder and kisses the side of her head while hugging her. Samantha puts both her arms around Angela's waist and squeezes softly. Tony looks at the two of them for a moment, taking it all in. ~Angela loves Sam and Sam loves Angela. What more could I wish for. A woman to love my daughter and for my daughter to love her back.~ Feels the back of his throat clench as he tries to swallow.
Jonathan grabs the drinks and walks into the living room, getting Tony out of his out of his train of thoughts. He still eyes Angela and Sam. Angela whispers something in Sam's ear as Sam starts to giggle. ~Even sharing little secrets.~ One part of him wants to be teasing and asking them what they are whispering about. The other part of him just wants to enjoy the moment.
"Should I tell him?" Sam whispers. Tony overhears.
"Tell me what?" He asks in surprise. Angela supresses a snicker. "What?" He is now looking from Angela to Sam and back. Both start to cry while they're laughing.
"Your.." Sam heaves during laughter. "Your.." Angela doubles over because Sam can't get the words out. Tony watches her stand up straight, her hair falls back as the laughter just keeps coming.
~God, she is gorgeous. And snapping her hair like that with that beautiful, sexy smile.~ He needs to stop himself from looking at and thinking of her, he can't help but feel aroused by her.
"Dad?" Sam gives him a strange look.
"Yeah?"
"Your fly is open." She says before cracking up again, double over. Angela is desperately holding on to the chair while she can't stop laughing. Tony quickly pulls up his fly with a maroon face. Jonathan comes in.
"What is going on here?" He asks. The confused look on his face send both Angela and Samantha over the edge again. Angela steadies her entire body on the chair and Samantha just plops down on the chair with her head in her hands. "What?" Jonathan looks at the read face of Tony.
"My fly was open." He dryly says, making the women laugh even harder. Tony walks towards his daughter and leans in. "It's not that funny Sam!" He says in annoyance. Which isn't helping his case much because both Angela and Sam can't stop laughing.
"I give up!" Tony throws his hands in the air.
Gasping for air, Samantha gets up. "I'm sorry dad, I really am. So is Angela." She looks down at Angela who is still snickering. "I mean I didn't even notice.." Samantha giggles again. "Come on Jonathan. Let's get the rest of the snacks inside." Angela is still trying to catch her breath.
~I can't remember the last time I laughed that much and that loud.~ She thinks to herself while trying to compose herself.
"So tell me Angela.." Tony's voice is clear before he leans over and whispers in her ear. "Why were you staring at my crotch." He says in a husky voice.
Angela immediately sobers up and looks at him. "I.. I.. I wasn't. It just.. you know.." ~Where are the words?~ "It was just obviously noticeable." She says as she turns red.
"Mmhhh." Tony hums as he looks at her trying to avoid his eyes. He leans in again. "It's okay, you can look." Her eyes grew at his statement. They had been flirty before, even tested the waters a couple of times but Tony had never been this direct to her. "Come on.." he stands up straight and extends his hand to her. "Let's get this movie night started."
She squints her eyes and looks at him. He gives her a huge smile. ~That smile.~ she sighs. ~That smile will always melt everything deep inside of me. He is so handsome.~ She closes her eyes for a second and takes his hand. He quickly pulls her up, her body bumping into his.
"Sorry." He murmurs but still not releasing her.
~Are you?~ is what she thinks. ~I'm not.~ "I guess you don't know your own strength." She says through her lashes. He just smiles at her.
~I do.. I do know my own strength and I just needed to feel you against me again. It's been so long. I yearn to hold you and dance with you again. The Starlight seems ages ago.~ "I guess." He smiles and releases her. Both immediately missing the other's closeness. She shyly smiles.
"You ready for Rosemary's baby?" She winks.
"As long as I have my family there.. I am." He smiles.
"Is there some butter brickle left?" Angela gives him a hopeful look.
"I always make sure there is enough in the freezer, you know that by now." He softly shakes his head but smiles at her. "I'll get the ice cream, you get the spoons."
At that moment Mona walks in. "Need me to take anything in?" Before waiting a reply she walks passed them. "Okay then, dibs on the seat nearest to the kitchen." Angela and Tony stare at the swinging door and look at each other with amused faces.
When they walk into the living room Mona sits nearest to the kitchen. Sam has taken the seat nearest to the front door and Jonathan is just coming down, having changed into sweatpants and a sweater and plops down next to his grandmother who is already hogging the popcorn.
"You going to share that?" Jonathan pipes at his grandmother.
"No." She hogs the bowl.
"MOTHER!"
"MONA!"
Both Angela and Tony berate her. Mona rolls her eyes. "Okay."
"Sit down dad!" Samantha pats the spot next to her.
"Yeah mom, take a seat." Jonathan pats the spot next to him.
"I've put the right channel on." Samantha snuggles into the corner she was sitting at.
The movie starts and the family quietly watches. After an hour Jonathan gets up.
"I'm sorry guys, I tried and I know this one is quite the classic, but it's sooooo boring." He stretches his body. "I'm off to bed. Good night everyone."
Angela grabs his hand. "Good night sweetheart." Jonathan smiles down at her.
"The kid is right." Mona gets up. "Popcorn is finished and I think I am going to club." She looks at the three people on the couch. "Later suckers." She chuckles. Everyone laughs.
"I hate to say it, but I used to think this movie was so scary, but Jonathan is right." She looks at her father. "This movie is quite boring to me now. Do you mind if I turn in?"
"Ah but you used to love watching this with me." Tony whines.
"Look at our girl.. uh Sam." Angela's face turns red as Samantha face glows. "Look at her, she has worked to day and she is so tired. You go to bed honey."
Tony throws his hands up in defence. "Okay, okay.." He looks at Sam. "If you're that tired sweetheart, you should go to bed."
"I'll just take this to the kitchen." Sam bends down to grab the bowl and some glasses. Angela puts her hand on Samantha's.
"Your dad and I will clean up okay honey?" Samantha smiles and leans into Angela, softly kissing her cheek.
"Thank you for calling me your girl." Samantha softly whispers in Angela ear. "It means a lot to me."
Angela bites her lower lip not to cry and smiles at Samantha. "Good night honey. Sweet dreams."
"Good night Angela." She smiles, leans down to give her father a kiss. "Be kind and give her time." She whispers in his ear. "Good night dad." She walks towards the stairs.
"Good night sweetheart." Tony looks at her.
Sam turns. "I love you guys."
"We love you too." They say in unison. Samantha just smiles at them before walking upstairs.
"It feels good to have her home, doesn't it?" Angela absentmindedly says as her attention is drawn back to the tv.
Tony side-eyes her and smiles. "Yeah, it does. The family all under one roof again."
"I don't care what the family says, I love this movie." Angela pulls the blanket up to her chin. "Not that it's extremely scary, but.." she turns to faces Tony. "I just have some childhood.. well late teen memories." She laughs.
Tony laughs. "I remember we had to sneak to that movie."
"You did!?" She says in surprise.
"You didn't?" He asks in surprise.
"My father had passed and well you've met my mother." She laughs.
"Let me guess, she went with you?"
Angela shrugs. "She tired, but I told her I wanted to go with my friends. Eventually she respected my choice.. or so I thought. When I went up to use the bathroom, I found her hiding in the backrow." Angela laughs. "I have some mother, but I love her so much. So why did you sneak? You were old enough to go see it."
"An-ge-la! I come from a very Catholic family. You think I was allowed to see a movie where a woman gives birth the baby of S-A-N-T-A."
"Santa?" Angela hollers. "You did that on purpose didn't you."
Tony winks, he did it on purpose to keep the light heartedness going. "For real though.. my parents wouldn't let me see it because of the Satan storyline. May the rest in peace. But we went anyway, I mean everybody was talking about this movie and we just had to go see it."
They turn their attention back to the movie and watch in silence. Tony has a hard time focusing on the movie as Angela's thigh is nearly touching his, he feels the heat radiating from her. ~God I wish I could just put my hand on her gorgeous thigh.~ He thinks when she scoots and her thigh is fulling leaning against his. He feels the heat going to his centre. Her head slowly going down on his shoulder. He is afraid to move until he notices her breathing, which is deep and slow. ~She fell asleep. She is still comfortable enough around me to fall asleep.~ A wave of relief washes over him. He turns his attention back to the tv and notices that the movie has ended and even the credits has ended. He smiles at himself and shakes his head, knowing his thoughts were filled with her. Not wanting to break the contact just yet, he leans back. Her head slowly falling to his chest as he puts his arm around her shoulder. He sighs, wishing he could sleep with her like that every night.