"Dad, that dinner was one of the best that you've made recently!" Hank exclaimed as everyone began cleaning up their plates to make room for the dessert that Angela and Samantha were putting together in the kitchen.

"Thank you, son," Tony replied. "That's certainly high praise coming from you. Sam told me that you're becoming quite the cook yourself.

"It's been fun cooking with her. Though I think that baking is more her forte. I can't wait to see what she made for tonight!"

"You mean that you don't know?" Mona queried.

"Nope, not at all, Mona. I'm sure that it'll be delicious though!"

"Is everyone ready?" Angela asked as she held the dining room door open for Sam.

"Yes!" was the simultaneous reply from both Jonathan and Hank.

"Here we go!" Sam answered as she set the dessert in the middle of the table. A three layer carrot cake with cream cheese frosting and walnuts covering it.

"Honey, you made this?" Tony exclaimed. "It looks like a professional baker made it!"

"Yes, Dad. Everything from scratch, including the carrots from my garden. I figured since the former owners left the garden intact, I may as well use the vegetables from there. We think they may have had rabbits as there are a LOT of carrots in there!"

"Ah, so that's where that row of carrots went! I was thinking that we had a gopher or something that had dug them up," Hank said. Everyone laughed.

"Now Mom, I know it isn't chocolate fudge cake or double chocolate brownies or triple chocolate cookies," Sam teased, "but I'd really like for you to try the first piece."

"Yes, I have an affinity to chocolate," Angela gushed. "I would be honored Samantha." She took a bite as Tony and Sam handed out slices of cake to the rest of the family. "Oh my, this is delicious! You all have to take a bite! This is the BEST non-chocolate dessert I've had in a long time!"

"Mmmm...this is really great Sam!" Jonathan said.

"Perfect honey!" was Hank's response.

"Absolutely tasty!" Tony exclaimed.

"This is wonderful, Sam!" stated Mona.

"Samantha, did you really do this for the first time?" Nana asked. "Because honestly this tastes better than some I've had from bakeries in Paris."

"Oh wow everyone! Now I need to try some myself," Sam replied and then took a bite. "It IS good! And yes, Nana, it was my first time making it."

"You may need to rethink your career aspirations, sis," Jonathan stated.

"Yeah, maybe. Or maybe it'll be something to do as a hobby, something to do besides my journalism job too."

"Good thinking, sweetheart. And I'll be your taste-tester anytime," Angela proudly exclaimed.

"Thanks, Mom."
-

The next month was pretty chaotic with the construction being completed at both the Manhattan and Waukesha offices, as well as interviews happening for staff in Wisconsin and for daycare staff in New York. Tony started his new job the second week of August, with classes to begin after Labor Day. Unfortunately that meant that he wouldn't be able to join Angela for the grand opening of the Waukesha office on September 13th. She would be flying out the Saturday before, and returning the Friday after. As she would still be breast-feeding the twins, it was decided that Jonathan would go with her to help with the babies. The flexibility of his school program definitely was helping with being able to assist with everything. Sam's internship was set to begin on September 7th, so Fran came to help Hank and Sam with Marie for a few days a week. Joe was busy with a new project in Maine, but came to visit when he could. The Thompolouses really fit in well with their family after all.

The morning of September 11th, Tony took his family to the airport. "I'll miss you all," he wistfully said. "Jonathan, make sure that your mom eats and gets rest too."

"You got it, Dad," Jonathan replied.

"Tony, I'm the parent, remember?" Angela interjected.

"Yeah, Mom, you are. But Dad is right, you don't always take the best care of yourself when you have something big happening or when you are busy." Jonathan said. "Plus, I am here to help both you and the babies."

"I know, sweetie, but I'm just reminding you both," she said looking between both her husband and son "that I'M the parent of all three of you coming with me."

"I love you, mi amore," Tony said as he gave his wife a quick peck on the lips. "Bye, my Bella! Bye, Matty! Bye, Jonathan! I love you all!"

"We love you too Dad. See you on Friday!"

"Goodbye, my love. I love you, Tony."

On the plane, Jonathan held Bella while Angela held Matty. Many people didn't even realize that there was one baby on the flight, let alone two, they were so good. Jonathan was truly happy that his parents were together and provided a connection to him and Sam in their baby brother and sister. He was really proud of his big sister too. He and Sam had felt like siblings for years, but now their parents' marriage solidified that. Some of his friends thought that it was weird that he had baby siblings, but to him and Sam it was really great. They'd talked about it a lot over the years, that they'd hoped his mom and her dad would REALLY get together, so it didn't bother him in the least. And yes, his niece and baby siblings now shared a birthday, but he was cool with that too.

"Hey, Mom, can I ask you something?" Jonathan said.

"Of course honey. What is it?" Angela replied.

"Does it ever bother you when people talk about the big age gap between Sam and me, and Bella and Matty? Sam and I have talked, and it doesn't bother us. But I was just wondering if it bothered you and Dad."

"No, it doesn't bother us. We've dealt with so many comments, looks, and whispers over the years, that we decided at some point that our household, our relationship, heck our family as a whole was our business and no one else's. Yes, we do have our champions such as Wendy and Isabelle and of course Mrs. Rossini. But we don't care what the gossips such as Diane Willmington or Joanne Parker think. Does that make sense, and answer your question?"

"I know that you've both gone through the wringer over the years, Sam and I are both really happy that are family is truly were both pretty worried with that whole Kathleen ordeal. But when you didn't kick Dad out and he didn't leave, we figured that you were good."

"Yes, honey, that was certainly a difficult time for our whole family. But as I told Tony at the time, it was a part of our journey."

"Gaagaa, gaagaa," the babies both said.

"Guess it must be time for their lunch. Mom, can you hold them while I grab down their bottles?"

"Come here baby girl," Angela said as he handed Bella over to her.