Angela slowly opened her eyes when she felt a presence in her room.

"Oh Angela, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to wake you."

"Claire?" Angela asked groggily as the remnants of sleep drifted away.

"Yeah, it's me. I was getting your tray from lunch." She picked it up.

Angela yawned and rubbed her eyes and sat up.

"How long have I been asleep?"

"A while."

Angela glanced at the clock on her nightstand. She had been sleeping for nearly half an hour.

"Wow. I guess that shower must have tired me out."

Claire smiled. "I guess so. And also you're still healing."

"Yeah, I'm supposed to take it easy for a while."

"And we're all going to make sure you do just that."

Angela laughed. "Yeah, I know that. I mean Tony and Mother barely let me do anything by myself."

Claire sat down at the end of the bed. "The same goes for me. We were all so worried about you."

"I know. I'm sorry."

Claire waved off her apology . "There's nothing to be sorry about. It was an accident. A horrible accident but it's over. You're going to be fine. I can't.. I won't.." she trailed off.

"You can't or won't what?"

Claire sighed. "I never told you how my husband died did I?"

Angela shook her head. "No, you just told me that he had and that you wanted something to do to get out of your house a few days a week. It was the perfect arrangement as far as I was concerned. I didn't need a full time housekeeper and you didn't want a full time job so it all worked out."

"It did."

"So then how did he die?"

Claire took a deep breath. "In a car accident "

"Oh Claire. I'm so sorry. My accident must have brought up some painful memories."

"Yes, it did. But, I knew that at the time I couldn't dwell on it. Tony, Mona, Sam, and Jonathan all needed me."

"You have become very special to us."

"And you to me. But now that you're okay the memories are flooding back."

"I can imagine."

"Angela, it's my fault my husband is dead." Claire wiped away the tears that were falling down her cheeks. Angela grabbed the box of kleenex on her nightstand and handed it to her.

"Thanks." She took a few and wiped her eyes. Angela waited a few moments until she got herself under control.

"Claire, what do you mean it was your fault?"

"We had this huge fight. I don't even remember what it was about. All I remember is us yelling at each other and him storming out. That was the last I saw of him. A couple of hours later I got a call from the hospital. And well.." she trailed off.

"Claire, I am so sorry."

"Me too. It just pains me that the last words we spoke to each other were in anger. We loved each other. We did."

"Claire, you can't and shouldn't blame herself. Couples have fights all the time. My ex-husband Michael and I had some real doozies. And Tony and me? Well as much as we love one another it doesn't mean our relationship was always roses and sunshine. "

"I know you're right. But there is always going to be that part of me that is going to feel guilty."

Angela nodded.

"And that is why I am so happy for you that Tony is back and is moving in."

Angela smiled. "I am too."

"Not too many of us get a second chance at love."

"Well, with Tony and me it's maybe our third or fourth." Angela chuckled.

Claire laughed and stood up. "Is there anything I can get for you?"

Angela shook her head. "No. I'm fine. Thank you."

Claire nodded and walked over to the door. She turned back around.

"Angela?"

"Yeah?"

"Thank you for listening."

"You're welcome."

Claire exited out the door and walked down the stairs. She had just gotten to the button step when the front door opened and Tony,Sam, and Nicky walked in carrying suitcases.

"Hi Auntie Claire!"

"Hey Nicky! Are you here to see your Grandma?"

"YEAH!" Nicky said, jumping up and down.

"Well I was just up there and I know she would love to see you."

"Okay!" Nicky started running up the steps.

"Whoa! Nicky honey slow down." Sam said, shaking her head. Tony and Sam followed him up the stairs. They arrived at the door and Tony pushed it open.

"Well here he is! The love of your life!" Tony smirked.

"Grandma!"

"Nicky! Come here honey. Grandma needs a big hug from her favorite guy!"

Nicky ran towards the bed and climbed up on it and sat beside her.

"Nicky, buddy, remember what I told you. You have to be very careful with Grandma."

"I know Grandpa." He leaned over and gave Angela a gentle hug.

"Is that the best you can do?" Angela smiled and winked at him.

"I don't want to hurt you Grandma."

"Oh sweetheart, you could never hurt me. Now what do you have there?" she asked, referring to the papers in his hand.

"I made these pictures for you when you were in the hospital.."

"Well, let's take a look at them."

Tony and Sam watched while Angela and Nicky pored over his pictures.

"This picture is of you and me, Grandma. We're in the park on the swing set. And this picture is of you and mommy. And here's me and Uncle Jonathan. And here's you and Grandpa getting married. And here's…'

"Nicky? What was that last picture again?" Sam asked, coming over and sitting on the bed.

"Grandpa and Grandma getting married. See? Grandpa is wearing a suit and Grandma is wearing a pretty dress."

Sam picked the picture up. "Yes, they both look very nice. But, honey. Grandpa and Grandma just got back together. "

"Then it's time they got married!"

"Nicholas!"

"Well that's what Nana Mona would say."

"He has a point Sam." Angela shrugged her shoulders.

"See Mommy? So Grandpa, are you going to marry Grandma?' Nicky asked, looking at Tony, his little face full of anticipation.

"Well that is something your Grandma and I need to discuss. Hey, I have a great idea. Why don't we go down and make Grandma some chocolate chip cookies with walnuts and let Grandma and Mommy talk?"

"Okay!" He leaned over and kissed Angela on the cheek. "You hear that Grandma? I'm going to help Grandpa make you your favorite cookies!"

"And I bet they will be the best cookies in the whole world!"

"Okay buddy let's go."

Nicky climbed off the bed and ran over to Tony. "Come on Grandpa!"

"Nicky! Don't you dare run down those stairs!" Sam warned him.

"I won't Mommy." Nicky promised and grabbed Tony's hand.

Angela and Sam watched as they left the room.

Sam shook her head. "Angela, I am so sorry about that."

"About what?" Angela asked in confusion.

"Nicky putting you and Dad on the spot like that."

"Oh honey, he didn't."

"I mean it's not like we don't want the two of you to get married. But, it was like I said. You just got back together."

"That's true."

"Yeah and Dad was well you know."

"Engaged to another woman?"

Sam sighed. "Yeah. And even though as I told you I did like Teresa I love you. And if they had gotten married you would always be my bonus Mom." Sam said, her eyes filling with tears.

"Oh honey come here." Angela held her arms out and Sam laid her head on her shoulder.

"Angela?"

"Yeah honey?"

"I'm so glad you're okay. I don't know what I would have done if I had lost you too."

Angela nodded and stroked her hair. 'I know sweetheart. Losing a parent when you're young is so hard and unfair."

'It is. But then Dad and I moved in here and the rest is history!" Sam chuckled.

"Yes it is. A bizarre and loving history." Angela said, chuckling as well.

Sam got up and wiped her eyes.

"Thanks Angela."

"You're welcome. But for what exactly?"

"For being you. For just being you."

LATER THAT NIGHT:

Well, I got to tell you making cookies with a three year old isn't easy. I think he got more sugar and flour on himself than in the bowl." Tony laughed coming out of the shower with a towel wrapped around his waist. He shook his head remembering the terrible time Claire and him had cleaning up the kitchen and Nicky.

Angela laughed as well. "But, I was right. They were the best cookies in the world."

"Yeah, I figured since you ate how many? 6? 8? 10?"

Angela shrugged. "Maybe."

Tony shook his head as he finished getting ready for bed. He grabbed a pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt and went back into the bathroom and threw the towel into the hamper. He dressed, combed his hair, and brushed his teeth.

All the while his nerves were all over the place. He knew it was ridiculous. He knew he was being ridiculous. But, he couldn't help it. He felt like this was their first time. Not that they were going to do anything. He had made a vow to himself earlier. No matter how much he wanted her-wanted to make love to her and he did. He just couldn't and wouldn't jeopardize her recovery.

He just hoped she would be okay with it.

While Tony was in the bathroom with his own musings Angela was in bed with hers. For some reason she felt completely nervous. It was stupid. Incredibly stupid but she couldn't help it. This would be their first time together in this room since the renovation. She shook her head and leaned back against her pillow. So much had happened since then. Tony graduated, got a job in Iowa, moved away, she moved to be with him, they broke up, he got engaged.. 'Stop it Angela! That is all in the past. He's home and you're finally back together.'

Tony turned the bathroom light off and walked back into the bedroom.

"Well here we are." He said, looking at the bed.

"Yes, here we are."

Tony continued standing there.

"Tony? Are you just going to stand there all night?!"

"What? Oh. No. No. I just..'

"TONY MICELLI GET IN THIS BED!"

Tony leapt into the bed like he did on the train to Washington D.C.

"See that wasn't so hard was it?"

"Angela? Honey, do me a favor and don't say hard okay?"

"Oh, right. Sorry."

"No, I'm sorry. Look Angela, believe me there is nothing I would rather do than make love to you. But, you're still healing and until the doctor says you are 100% okay I just can't take that chance."

Angela nodded. "Tony, I understand you're just being careful and cautious. And a part of me understands and loves the fact that you are so worried about me."

"And the other part?"

"The other part wants to jump your bones." Angela smirked giving him her infamous sultry stare.

Tony swallowed hard. "Angela, don't look at me like that."

"You give me fever."

"Angela!"

"Fever all through the night!"

"Angela!"

"Fever when you touch me!"

"Angela!"

Angela laughed. "Okay, I'll stop. But, will you at least hold me?"

"With pleasure. Come here." Angela smiled and laid her head on his chest and he wrapped his arms around her.

"Tony?'

"Yeah?"

"I love you."

"I love you too beautiful. He heard and felt her sigh and he kissed her on the top of her head.

"Sweet dreams beautiful"

"Tony you.."

"I know I said it twice. I always say it twice."

The next few weeks flew by. Angela slowly but surely recovered and was allowed under strict Dr's orders to resume working from home. Jack and Mona were still managing the office. Tony himself got familiarized with his new office and classroom at Ridgemont.

Everything was going well.

It was early in the evening and Tony was sitting in the park. He looked at his watch. 'Where is she? I hope she gets here soon. Angela is probably wondering where I am.' He had told her that he had to go to Ridgemont and check on a couple of things.

But he had lied to her. He wasn't at Ridgemont. He was at the park waiting for another woman. After a few minutes he saw her walking towards him.

"Hi! I'm so sorry I'm late. Work was a bear tonight!"

'Hey, that's okay." He stood up and he gave her a hug. He pulled back and smiled at her.

"It's so good to see you sweetheart."