Claire entered through the back door carrying a couple of bags filled with groceries. She began putting them away when Angela entered through the kitchen door.

"Hi Angela."

"Hi Claire."

"Is something wrong?"

"No, why?"

"Well you look like you've been crying."

"Oh? Well. I guess I was."

"Do you want to talk about it?" Angela opened up her mouth but Claire stopped her by holding up her hand. "Actually, never mind, I shouldn't interfere."

"No, it's okay. Really."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah, you're right I was crying."

"Ok, so what about?"

"Well Tony was over earlier.."

"Mona entered at that moment in the uncanny ability she had always had.

"Oh, that's right! So what did he want? Is he going to dump Teresa and get back together with you?" Mona asked excitedly and sat down in one of the chairs.

Angela shook her head and sat down as well. "No, Mother he did not."

Mona sighed. "Okay so then what did he want to talk about? Hopefully it was what he talked about with Jonathan and me about him being like Michael."

"Mother, I told you he is nothing like Michael."

"Yes, he is well at least in this capacity. "

"Mother, we are just going round and round on this."

"I bet I win!"

"Mother, please stop. "

"No, I won't. You may not want to face it but it's true. Look, I love Tony. I do. But, he was wrong for staying in Iowa. He could have come home and looked for a job here."

"Do you remember how much trouble he had trying to find one before Iowa? Do you remember how discouraged and upset he was?"

"Of course."

"And you also remember when he turned down the offer at first?"

Mona nodded. "Yeah, I do. I remember we were all surprised. "

"Well, so was I. And then when we were going through airport security, we discovered that Tony had taken the name plate."

"Yeah? What about it?"

"That was when I knew without a shadow of a doubt that he needed to take the job. When Dr Graham was showing us around I could see that Tony was trying to act uninterested but I could see that he was interested. He couldn't fool me no matter what he said or did."

"Just like I said you couldn't fool me when I tricked you about Prescott threatening to walk."

"That's right. So, I encouraged him to take the job because I loved him. "

"Well that's very noble and everything but we all know it was only supposed to be for one year. That is what you both agreed on."

"You're right. We did but as you know things changed."

"Claire, you want to help me out here?"

"Mona, what do you want me to say?'

"Oh, I don't know. Hey about this; Angela your Mother is right."

"Look, I wasn't around when this all happened."

"Yesterday at the park you agreed with me."

"Well that's….Oh forget it! Look Angela I know I wasn't around when you and Tony were together but if the two of you only agreed on him being in Iowa for a year then I have to agree with Mona."

Mona pumped her fist in the air. "You see Angela! I was right!"

"Well, then Mother you may finally be getting your wish."

"My wish? Hold on Blondie! Have you been messing with me? You and Tony are getting back together aren't you?!"

"No, we are not. But, Tony may be moving back."

"Moving back? What's going on?" Claire asked as she started preparing dinner.

"Yeah, what is this all about?"

'Well, you remember that Tony had lunch today with a couple of his former professors."

"I do. And?"

"Well his one professor is actually the new Dean and he offered Tony a teaching and coaching position at Ridgemont."

Mona got up and started dancing. "Happy Days are here again!..."

"Mother! I didn't say that Tony accepted the job."

Mona stopped dancing and sat back down. "Oh please of course he is going to accept. Sam is here. Nicky is here. And of course you are here. "

"I agree with you about Sam and Nicky. When Tony told me about the offer that was one of the reasons he said he was thinking about taking it. That he would be back with his family."

"And you."

"Mother, what do you think is going to happen? Tony is going to accept the offer and move back here and we're just going to magically get back together?"

"Well yeah. Why not?"

""Teresa." Claire reminded her.

"Exactly. If Tony takes this offer Teresa is still going to be in the picture."

Well, not if she decides that she doesn't want to move here."

"Well whatever she decides or they decide is none of our business. That was why I told Tony he had to go to Sam's and tell Teresa about it."

"Wait a minute! Tony told you before her?"

"Yes, he did. And it was only because I could see that he was distracted. So I asked him if anything was wrong and he told me. That's all it was. It's nothing to make a big deal out of."

"Nothing to make a big deal out of?! Angela, wake up! He confided in you. He discussed this with you before he did with her. Doesn't that tell you something?"

"It tells me that he values my opinion. It tells me that we have always been able to talk to each other and that hopefully in spite of everything we'll be able to again."

'Okay, maybe that is a part of it."

"Okay, I'll bite, what is the other part?"

"The other part is maybe the reason he talked with you before Teresa is that he wanted to see your reaction. He wanted to know if you would be happy if he moved back home because he still loves you and wants to try again. "

Angela stood up. "I'm going to go lie down. Claire, will you call me when dinner is ready?"

"I will.'

Angela left the kitchen and Claire smacked Mona on the arm.

'Hey watch it!"

"Mona! You need to stop."

"Stop? No way. I mean don't you think it is a little odd that Tony would discuss something this huge with his former fiance before his current one?"

Claire sighed. "Okay, you're right. But, I also agree with Angela. This is between Tony and Teresa."

"Fine. I'll stay out of it." Claire shot her an oh please look.

"For now!"

######################################################################

Sam, Hank, and Nicky arrived home a few hours later. Tony was cleaning up the kitchen after he had made himself a sandwich.

"Hi Dad!"

"Hi! How was your dinner?"

"It was good. So where is Teresa?"

"Oh, she went to bed a few hours ago. She had a headache.'

"Oh, well I hope she's okay."

Tony sighed. "Actually she's not." He sat down. "Sam there's something I need to talk to you about."

Sam sat down as well. "Okay, this sounds serious."

"It is."

"Hey Nicky. It's late and you need to get your pj's on and go to bed. Say good night to Grandpa." Hank said.

Nicky went over to Tony. "Good night Grandpa!"

"Good night pal!" They gave each other a hug and then Hank and Nicky left.

"So, what is going on?"

"Well you know that I had lunch today with two of my former professors?"

"Yeah. Did something happen?"

"It did. You see Professor Darnell I mean Elliot is no longer a professor. He is actually the new Dean."

"He is? Okay that's nice for him but what does that have to do with anything?"

"Well he offered me a job."

"He offered you…. Dad! Really that's great! Are you going to take it?!"

"I don't know. When I discussed it with Angela I told her if I did I would be able to live in the same town as my family. But then when I told Teresa.."

Sam cut him off. "Wait a minute Dad. You talked about this with Angela before Teresa?"

"Well yeah. I went over to Angela's after lunch."

"Why?"

"When we all were at the park yesterday I asked Angela if I could come over after I had lunch with Joan and Elliot because I wanted to talk to her about something. But then after Elliot offered me the job I was so surprised and distracted when I got there she noticed and asked me what was wrong. So I told her. And yeah, I should have discussed this with Teresa first but Angela and I have always been able to talk to each other about anything."

"That is true."

"But, when Teresa found out that I talked with Angela first, well let's just say she wasn't too happy."

"I can't say that I blame her. Look Dad, I think it is great that you and Angela are still able to talk considering all you have been through and where you are now but..'

"But, I should have talked it over with Teresa first."

Sam nodded. "But, I guess there isn't anything you can do about it now."

"I guess not."

"So, it seems like you have a big decision to make."

"I do."

Sam stood up. "Well just so you know I will stand by you no matter what." She walked over and gave him a hug.

'I love you Dad."

"I love you too honey."

"Good night."

"Good night."

############################################################################

TONY'S APARTMENT.

Tony and Teresa arrived back at his apartment a couple of days later. The last two days Teresa had barely spoken to him and on the flight out had spent the entire time staring out the window. Tony knew and understood that she was upset with him but he also knew they needed to talk.

"Okay, look I know you're upset. But, we have to talk about this."

Teresa sighed. "Okay you're right we do." She sat down on the couch.

"Okay good." He sat down next to her. "So what do you think? Do you think I should accept the job?"

"No, Tony I don't. I think it would be a bad idea!"