A/N: Who's ready to start getting a little deeper into their developing friendship? *Raises hand* I AM! Buckle up, you guys. We've got some really fun chapters coming in the next few weeks. I want to take a moment and give a moment of recognition to Jami and Eileen for stepping in and being my sounding boards. Stay tuned to the social media pages in the next few days. I've got some behind the scenes videos and stuff that I'll be posting to the Instagram. Can't wait to see you all there.

Oh, you don't ever say too much

And you don't really read into

My melancholia

I've been under scrutiny

You handle it beautifully

All this shit is new to me

- Lavender Haze / Midnights Era / Taylor Swift

The doors were locked. The kids were in bed. The house was quiet and dark. Well, mostly. The only exceptions were the two windows of two rooms illuminated by warm, yellow light. Upstairs, sleep had evaded Angela for yet another night. Things had been simpler when she'd been a vice president for Wallace and McQuade. There was less on the line and the hard decisions fell in Grant's lap. She'd never considered the real challenges of the job before she'd been promoted. She'd known, of course, that it wouldn't be easy but never prepared for the anxiety and sleeplessness that came along with the power and prestige of the role. By 3 am, with the knowledge that she'd be facing the board and her team with no sleep, she'd given up, locked her bedroom door, and had gone into her bathroom to run a bubble bath. She licked her lower lip as she lowered one strap of her nightgown then the other, letting it puddle at her feet as it slid off. The whole commercial had been too easy. Her father had always warned her that anything that comes too easily is often not all it seems to be. That had been the case with Lankershim Cosmetics and their Machismo body wash.

She paused as she caught sight of herself in the mirror behind her sink and tilted her head. Just three short weeks before she'd been caught coming out of the bath tub by Tony. The irony of her then getting to watch him shower almost completely nude and all sudsed up for a few brief hours two days prior hadn't escaped her. It was undeniable that he was a fit for the brand, even though she'd tried to dissuade Mr. Larson to stick with the professional they'd already hired and decided upon. She'd seen Tony shirtless that first night and his tight denim jeans didn't leave much to the imagination on other aspects of his physicality, but nothing could've prepared her for the moment that he'd taken the red terrycloth robe off. Her mother's low whistle had been dulled by the thundering of her heartbeat in her ears. Her hazel eyes had traced over every visible inch of tanned skin as she had looked at him with her slack jaw. Her imagination had simply not done him justice. The man had looked like he was etched out of marble by Michelangelo. There had been so much to take in and then it had hit her like a freight train. She had been behaving worse than he had. His peep show had been cut short when she'd closed her towel, hers had been an extended version; one that she had been paid to watch.

She pinned her hair up in a claw clip, then took a moment to study her reflection. He'd denied seeing anything above her knees and below her headset, but she wasn't naive enough to believe him. She traced her fingertips along her upper chest, her index finger hooking the delicate gold chain that her diamond solitaire pendant was hanging from. She took a moment to study herself in her reflection, and wondered if he'd had the time to take her in, what would he have thought? Aside from the occasional cruel joke made by her mother or Michael, she'd never heard any other complaints from the men she'd been intimate with. Her hips flared only a little from having Jonathan, her breasts were still nice and firm, perky though they were smaller than she'd like. Her legs were long and lean and best utilized in anything with a slit. Her featherlight touches continued along her skin until her palms came to rest on her hips. She wasn't sure why she cared so much what Tony would think. It didn't matter and it never would. She shook her head, pulling herself from her thoughts and headed to her bath, settling into the voluminous bubbles and warmed water with a deep sigh.

One floor below, Tony sat in the kitchen, staring into the mug of tea in front of him and clenching his jaw. He'd screwed it up for her. He'd pressured her into letting him go to the studio that day. If he'd minded his own business, maybe she wouldn't be in the position she was in now. The other guy that they had hired may not have had a reaction. Things would've been great and Angela wouldn't be resigning a 10 million dollar account. The what-if scenarios flooded his mind. He toyed with the tea bag, lifting and dunking it like a yo-yo for several long moments while playing them all out in his head before he pushed the mug away.

It had been fun getting a chance to be in front of the camera. He'd enjoyed the attention. He'd enjoyed coming back yesterday from the set to find a red convertible in the driveway too, but he'd known that she was right. He'd known she was right the minute she'd given into Mona's rare but poignant moment of ethical behavior, and had admitted that the shiny red sports car in the driveway was a bribe just like the dandruff account was. He stood from the table and carried the tea mug to the sink, tossing the bag in the garbage then washing the mug out and leaving it to dry in the dish rack. He couldn't stop himself from staring at the car through the window above the sink. He knew he'd never have another convertible like this. It wasn't in the cards for him. He was doomed to a life of the blue van or some other beat up used car that he'd have to save up for. He hadn't been frivolous with his money from the Cards but he also hadn't made much. He wiped his hands off on a dish towel then grabbed his jacket. If he was going to have to say goodbye, he wanted to do it on his terms and alone. He opened the backdoor and headed out, closing the kitchen door behind him.

The bath water had gone lukewarm and the bubbles had all dissolved into an iridescent sheen on the top of the water. Her fingers trailed along the surface as she sighed and dropped her head back against the edge of the tub and closed her eyes. She'd foregone the headset, deciding that she needed to be able to hear if Jonathan knocked on her bedroom door, and the sound of the car door slamming shut had her lifting her head to see the digital display on her AM/FM Radio that she had on the bathroom counter. "What the…" She pulled the stopper on the tub and quickly climbed out.

She rushed to dry herself and redressed in her night gown. She let her hair down, then pulled her pink robe on and slid her feet into her slippers. Her steps were silent but swift as she descended down the stairs and into the kitchen. She looked around in confusion. Lights were on. There was a mug in the dish rack. She glanced toward the kitchen door and then it all made sense. She grabbed her tweed, black and white chevron overcoat and headed out into the crisp autumn morning. Her heart broke for him as she approached him sitting in the car. "Tony? What are you doing out here? It's 4:00 in the morning."

"It's 4:02 in the morning."

"I stand corrected." She curled into her coat, and as seemed to be happening more and more frequently as the weeks passed, found herself settling into a genuine conversation with him. "You couldn't sleep either, huh?" There had been an unspoken truce struck between them that night at Bongo Burger. Tony had a natural ability to pull information from her. Walls that she had spent years building up to keep people out were torn down effortlessly by this man and his daughter from Brooklyn. She wasn't sure what made her feel so comfortable with him. He was different from the men she encountered in so many ways. Tony's candid, straightforward personality was refreshing and dynamic. She spent her days at work surrounded by men who were calculated, strategic, cut throat and focused on business. Coming home to Jonathan, Samantha and Tony was the complete opposite. It was warm, thoughtful, welcoming. It was exactly what Mona had called it a few weeks ago. It was a family.

As they sat on the hood of the convertible comparing stories of how honest they were, the reality of what a truly decent man Tony Micelli was came to life before her eyes in a new way. He was more than just a talented athlete and good father. He was something even rarer. He was an honest, decent, humble man. She followed him as he whined about wanting the car, like a petulant child. "Closest I ever came was when the top of my old man's car rusted out."

She just barely restrained herself from smiling as she studied him. "You know, Tony, you don't have to take this car back until tomorrow morning."

The gleam in his eye was unmistakable. "You thinking what I'm thinking?"

"They're asleep." She turned to him as they drove along the turnpike and smiled while holding her index finger to her lips, indicating that they'd have to be quiet. "Guess it's just us. Again." She had been concerned about making sure the kids wore hats, gloves, and heavy coats when she'd gotten them up and told them the plans for breakfast. Excitement had been pulsating around them until they had come down to find that Tony had put the roof the convertible up. The kids had been disappointed by the turn of events, but his shy confession of not wanting anyone to catch a cold was endearing to Angela.

The soft strains of the Cars filled the space between them for a minute. The singer's soft melancholy voice sang about feelings of longing and wanting vulnerability from their partner as the synthesized music and the hum of the road beneath them combined into a perfect lullaby to claim their two children in the backseat. Angela leaned back into the headrest of her seat, eyes heavy with the desire to rest, her exhausted mind almost ready to join their children in slumber when he spoke in a low murmur.

"Been a few weeks."

She turned her head on the headrest, staring at his profile as he drove, illuminated only by the gray light of near dawn and the headlights of cars around them. "Huh?"

"It's been a few weeks since we were alone. You know, outside of the house."

"Oh. Yeah…" Her voice was quiet and hushed. "Not since…"

"Bongo Burger and bowling." The corner of his lips tilted up in a half-grin. He darted his eyes to the side, catching her staring at him and then he cleared his throat and adjusted his grip on the wheel. "Lemme ask you something. You and this Grant guy…"

"Mmhmm…"

He licked his lips and shrugged his shoulders. "Look, I know it's none of my business and you can tell me to, you know, screw off if you want. But uh…" He drummed his fingers on the steering wheel. "What's going on there? Are you dating him now that he's not your boss no more?"

She smiled and adjusted herself in the passenger's seat. Ever since she'd followed through on going away with Grant a few weeks after her promotion, she'd been waiting for Tony's curiosity to get the better of him. He'd made it clear that he was not a fan of Grant that first night and he'd appeared to be even less of one by the time she'd returned from her trip upstate. She dropped her eyes to her hands entwined in her lap, her nails picking at the neutral polish on her thumb as she debated how to explain the situation to him. "Uh…No. No. Grant and I are…" She gave a sigh of quiet laughter and tilted her head with a shake. "We are friends who work together and who shared a weekend away together. That's all it is."

"Yeah, right. I got that and I'm familiar with the concept. Did you…" He paused and tightened his grip on the steering wheel briefly, hearing the leather creak beneath his grip before he loosened it. "Did you want it to mean something?"

"Oh, Tony. Please. I'm not naive enough to go into something like that imagining 'happily ever after'." Her quiet chuckle had him turning to her for a moment and he couldn't help but mirror the grin on her lips with one of his own as she continued, "It's challenging for a woman like me to meet men who aren't intimidated by me. So when opportunity presents itself, why not take it? It's not like I… Well, I don't do that with a lot of men. But when I do, I'm smart about it and I'm safe about it. I would never want to introduce anything or anyone into my life that could impact Jonathan or Samantha or mother or…" She felt a blush slowly rising up her neck.

He scoffed as he nodded. "Aye, you've got a lot that can intimidate men. You're smart, work hard, got a great kid, good looking." Even in the low light of dawn there was no mistaking how quickly her head turned to look at him. Shit. Good job, Micelli. Open mouth, insert foot. He stuttered for a moment as he gestured to her with his hand, "I-I-… I mean you know in a friendly way. Uh…you know, you've got a helluva right hook. I bet Theresa's still icing that jaw." He chanced a glance at her and was relieved to see her cheeks turning a soft shade of pink as she rubbed the back of her neck. He took a moment to study her before turning his dark gaze back to the road. She'd taken the opportunity to change when she'd gone back upstairs to wake the kids. He would've been lying to himself if he didn't admit that he'd almost whistled when she'd come out. She was attractive in everything she wore. He'd never seen her not look put together or comfortable in her clothing, but there was something about her in that deep navy shade. He shifted his weight in the seat, trying not to focus too hard on the way her navy silk blouse and navy trousers brought out the blueish edges of her hazel eyes. "So you're not looking for something serious?"

"No. Not really. I haven't really wanted anything serious since Michael and he…" She shook her head. "Being married to him wasn't what I had dreamed of in a marriage. Things were difficult at the end and I just don't think at this point I want to reopen the can of worms that commitment brings to the table." She turned to face him more fully, tucking one leg up under herself. "What about you? Ever think about getting back out there seriously?"

The air between them seemed to shift as the question hung between them. It was easier for her to talk about her mess of a marriage and her romantic life that left so much to be desired. Tony was guarded, cautious, and when he did open up, Angela found that it was usually to share something deep, rather than the superficial bravado that he presented when he was messing around or trying to be silly. "Nah. I had it so good with Marie. I don't think I'll ever find someone who can fit the bill like she did."

She nodded as she slipped her hands into her coat pockets. "Big shoes to fill."

"Yeah. You know, she always supported me when I was in the minors. She gave me Sam. She was my first love. I don't know if I could ever love another woman the way I did her." He wasn't surprised when he felt her hand find his bicep for a brief moment before her body was back to facing the dashboard and she was staring out the passenger window at the scenery passing by.

It was a foreign concept to Angela, being loved that deeply that no one could ever take her place. She supposed some people never feel a love like that. She assumed that was maybe her fate. She'd never be enough for someone. For once, her insatiable urge to talk to fill the silence seemed to be nonexistent. She was content to let the soft music of Lionel Richie's 'Hello' permeate the charged atmosphere of the front seat.

Things had changed so much between them since he'd walked in on her by accident. Jonathan and Sam had run away. Angela had proven that, despite her arguments otherwise, she had it in her to get scrappy and fight with the best of Brooklyn. Mona had dated, gotten pinned by, and later dumped the young Jason. He couldn't deny that he didn't feel a pull to her. He had even before he'd met her, but the more he learned about her and watched her, the more he had to wonder what the hell was wrong with the bozo that had left her. He maybe didn't know everything about her, but he knew enough to be confident in that assessment. There was an undeniable sadness about Angela Bower though. It seemed obvious to him. She was so cerebral and guarded. Moments like the ones they'd shared at Bongo Burger or just now were few and far between.

It was clear he'd hurt her. The big dope was just lucky that he hadn't shown his face at the house while Tony was there. Tony had a few things he wanted to say to the guy and given Mona's few vague comments, he wondered if she didn't have a few things to speak on too. He reached over, nudging Angela's elbow with his own as the radio continued to play quiet, soft pop songs. "Listen, Angela, you know that uh.. Cortisone cream that Mona got me? I can't reach this one spot on my back… You think maybe you could?"

One elegant eyebrow slowly arched up as she turned to look at him, her lips set into a straight frown. "Tony, I don't know. I don't think it's a good idea."

Tony nodded and returned his hand to the wheel. "No sweat. I'll ask Mona."

"Give me the bottle when we get home." It was immediate and sharp but the grin on her face as their eyes met restored equilibrium as he took the exit for the restaurant that they'd driven all that way for.

We're driving down the road, I wonder if you know

I'm trying so hard not to get caught up now

But you're just so cool, run your hands through your hair

- Fearless / Fearless Era / Taylor Swift