The Room, Unslept in

A/N: Time for Chapter 27! A dream of a honeymoon continued – filled with music and love and fun activities. This chapter delves further into The Story of Us, and the reveal of the songs that were selected as a wedding gift to each other. I'm probably going to break this into several chapters so the reveal doesn't go on and on in one chapter.

PS – I don't own any of the characters from Who's the Boss? I also don't own the song(s) I use in this story. I also don't own the dialogue I sometimes use in the chapters. I've tried to pick songs that remind me of Tony & Angela and their relationship. If you'd like to hear them, check out YouTube or Spotify – you can find just about everything there.

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Chapter 27: Once Upon a Honeymoon, IV, The Story of Us, Part 3

Thursday, July 8th, 1993

Their night was exhausting, but exhilarating at the same time. It was full of love, passion, ecstasy, and affirmation. Truth be told, they were both still in awe of each other. No matter how much time they spent together, there was still an unspoken aura of disbelief between them that they were together, together permanently now. And there was a baby coming, too. Their baby! Tony spent plenty of time with his hands on Angela's stomach showing her how excited he was.

This fifth day of their honeymoon started out dreary with rain showers filling the streets below with puddling water. They could hear the cars honking outside despite the heavy downpour. Horns were interrupted by rumbles of thunder every few minutes. They could hear the rain sheeting on the windows across from their bed. They were glad they picked this day to stay inside. The schedule had worked out perfectly. They both looked forward to finally opening their CDs and shared an atmosphere of excitement building. They were currently snuggled together on their bed cozying up close to each other under the blanket and large, print comforter.

"Angela, maybe we should call down to the front desk and ask if we can borrow a CD player. I don't want to wait until we get back home to listen to our CDs," Tony hinted to Angela as they laid entwined together. "Reading the notes for the CD is one thing, and it will be wonderful to hear our thoughts about what we picked out and why, but hearing the songs would make it so much more meaningful." Tony picked up his head off the pillow for a moment to look outside at the rain after a bolt of lightning flashed outside. As he laid back down on the pillow, he moved his arm over to Angela's forehead and moved some hair out of her eyes. She took that opportunity to give his arm a kiss.

"Okay, I want to hear the songs after hearing our words, but let's shower first before our food gets here," Angela suggested.

Needing to save some time, but not really, they showered together. They really couldn't keep their hands off each other. They spent most of the time in the shower in each other's arms never tiring of the closeness. After toweling each other off, they got dressed. They both dressed comfortably knowing they'd be in their room for most of the day. Angela decided that this would be a good day to bring out the bunny slippers. Tony appreciated the cute look of her slippers reminding him of the night he recreated her prom. "Cute, Angela," Tony told her as he pointed to the bunnies. Angela just wanted her feet to be comfortable, but acknowledged Tony's comment with a smile back to him. She decided on a pair of white shorts and a lavender sweater. Afternoon Tea later in the day required them to change into more formal attire, but this would do for most of the day.

Angela went over to the box of hair accessories that Tony had given her the night before and dug through it to pick out just the right one for the day. Tony watched as he dressed in a casual cotton black, button-down shirt and jeans. Then he walked over to Angela and looked in the box noticing her indecision in selecting just the right piece for her hair. Finally, he found a wide lavender headband that he reached in for, lifted out of the box, and handed to her.

Angela took it, put it in her hair, and inspected it in the mirror. Then she put the lid back on the gift box. She asked Tony what he thought.

"Angela, it's perfect. You're perfect to me – always," he reassured joining her in front of the mirror and kissing her neck. Then he kissed her temple as they looked into the mirror giving each other "the look." Then Tony walked over to the phone to ask the Front Desk if the hotel had a CD player they could loan the couple for the day.

As Tony was hanging up the phone, they were interrupted by a knock on the door.

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After breakfast, Tony called Room Service to pick up their breakfast cart and was told someone would be there within the next 30 minutes.

Fifteen minutes later, there was another knock on the door. A hotel associate walked in wheeling in a CD player that he plugged in to the wall socket near the TV outlet. He showed them how to work the player and then demonstrated how to use the remote control.

Tony and Angela sat down on the sofa staring at the CD player across the room holding their respective CDs discussing how they wanted to proceed. As much as they both wanted to tear through the giftwrap and open their packages, they were still savoring the moment, too.

"We can put the CD into the player and let it run and then read the liner notes," Tony suggested.

Then Angela suggested, "Or we can read the liner notes and then let the CD run."

"Or we can each do one song and then switch out the CD and listen to the next one of the other person's songs," Tony added to the choices.

Then Angela came up with the next idea," Tony, why don't we put one CD in, then read the liner notes for the song, play the song, and then use the remote to stop the CD, then read the next liner notes, play the next song until we've gotten to the three songs we decided on together? Then we can put the next CD in and do the same thing again. Then we can listen to the three songs we decided on together and read the liner notes we wrote for each other."

Thinking about this choice for a moment, Tony knew Angela had come up with the best idea and wondered why it took two smart people this long to decide on something so simple. He chuckled at the realization.

"What's so funny, Tony?" Angela wondered.

"Angela, it took two intelligent people way too long to figure out such a simple solution."

Angela started to laugh, too. "So, choice 3, then?"

"Agreed. Do we want anything from Room Service before we start?" Tony inquired wanting to make sure Angela didn't get hungry while they listened to their CDs.

"No, I'm ready to start. We still have the extra pot of hot water from breakfast and the tea basket is still here. We should be fine until we go down to The Palm Court. That was another big breakfast that I'm not used to eating. Besides, I still have those chocolate bars I picked up yesterday in Chinatown," Angela winked at Tony reminding him that she never ate one the night before.

"Ay oh, oh ay, I didn't hear any complaints from you last night about missing that candy."

"And you never will, Tony," Angela confirmed as she gently rubbed his arm.

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The moment they'd been waiting for since Jon and Peter told Angela what they were going to give to them for their wedding gift was finally here. They got off the sofa and walked over to the CD player with Tony holding their wrapped CDs.

They were briefly interrupted by Room Service who came to take away the breakfast cart but left the tea service with them and left. Finally, they were alone again.

"Angela, do you want to go first or do you want me to?"

"Give me a moment to think about it," Angela started overthinking the decision while Tony watched her contemplate the decision.

"Tony, I want to hear what you picked out for me. I can't wait any more to find out."

Remembering how much she loved finding out about gifts, Tony figured she would choose to go first.

Angela took the CD that Tony handed her and carefully took off the wrapping paper to reveal the see-through square. She held up the CD so Tony could see the front cover of the liner notes. It was a beautifully designed heart with their names and wedding date. She unwrapped the tough-to-open plastic and then opened the see-through holder. She took out the liner notes booklet and then handed Tony the CD to put into the player.

They walked over to the couch taking the CD remote control with them. Tony laid along the couch, and Angela squeezed between his legs to lay against his chest. She liked having her legs and feet off the floor so they wouldn't swell. She didn't want anything to disturb them while they shared this special, unique wedding gift.

"Are you ready?" Tony asked her noting what a culminating moment this was for the two of them.

Answering Tony by opening the booklet, she reached over to pick up her glasses, put them on and started reading the introductory message that Jon and Peter asked them both to write along with the reasons for selecting the songs they requested.

"Dear Angela,

Wife! How long I've dreamed of calling you my wife. Our journey to get here has been long, but worth every moment that we've shared together. It wasn't easy picking out these songs because so many songs remind me of you … remind me of us. For you Sweetheart, who made my life a beautiful song,

Love, Tony"

Angela was truly touched by Tony's words and lifted her head to give him a kiss. Angela turned the page to find out what song Tony picked for his first song gift to her. She read out loud:

"You Take My Breath Away by Rex Smith

Angela, I chose You Take My Breath Away because it represents how I felt about you the moment you opened your door to me that late September day. I'd never met anyone like you before. And then finding out we were each other's first kiss, this song meant even more to me. You've been taking my breath away since I was 11 and you were 13. Being with you all these adult years, you still take my breath away."

Tears ran down Angela's face. Anticipating this was going to be very emotional for the both of them, Tony had brought over a box of tissues. He handed one to Angela who blew her nose before hitting "Play" on the remote control. Then there was silence as they could hear the CD spinning in the machine. They laid on the couch holding hands as the first song played. After it ended, Angela clicked the CD player to stop the CD from going on to the next song. Angela sniffed her tears away and conveyed her feelings to Tony. "Tony, you take my breath away, too. I wanted you to know that before we go to the next song. I love your first song choice. Thank you." Tony squeezed her hand echoing her feelings realizing that they'd known each other for 30 years.

Then she turned the page to read the notes for the next song. She started giggling when she saw what it was and saw the notes that went with it.She read out loud Tony's take on what happened that night she had come home early from work.

"You are so Beautiful, by Joe Cocker

Okay, Angela, I admit it … I sa G! How could I not have? You were standing in front of me with your towel behind you. Everything was out in front before you covered back up with that pink towel. You were absolutely gorgeous in that moment, and it took everything in me to look away. I never forgot your beautiful body. Everything about it was perfect then, and it's perfect now. I can't believe it took seven years to see it again. I'm so lucky that I'm the one you've decided to share that stunning body with. Now you're carrying our baby, and you're even more beautiful, if that's even possible."

"Thank you for this beautiful choice, Tony. I figured you weren't telling me the truth right from the start. I could see you had seen everything by the look on your face." Angela had a way of blushing, and this moment was no different. She turned bright red as she had read Tony's note to her about the bubble bath incident that had happened so soon after Tony and Sam had moved in with her and Jonathan. She had never told Tony she knew he was lying to her about what he saw, because she didn't want any further embarrassment. It had been difficult enough to move on from that, especially after her Mother's professor got involved in the incident.

"It's a good thing that Jon and Peter's team signed an NDA for this project. I'd hate for all of this to get out beyond just us. And by the way, Tony, you got to see a lot more than I ever got to see in those seven years. Don't think it wasn't difficult for me with you prancing around in those undershirts and tight sweatpants and jeans all the time," she blurted out to Tony.

It was Tony's turn to laugh at Angela's honest admission. He took her hand and then pressed Play on the remote control so they could listen to Joe Cocker's version of the song. Angela closed her eyes as she listened to the intensity of the song and the deep meaning it held for Tony to "give" her this song. He knew she sometimes lacked self-esteem, and he wanted her to know just how beautiful she was to him, whether she was pregnant or not. She loved him so much for boosting her feelings about her body and herself.

With the song ending, he snapped off the CD player and felt Angela's head on his chest rising and falling. He noticed her closed eyes and wondered aloud if she had fallen asleep.

"No, Tony, I was just taking in the intensity of the song. It means so much to me. Thank you again! We can move along to the next song."

She turned the page of the liner notes to find the message for the third song and read out loud,

"In the Mood, Instrumental version by Glenn Miller

Angela, even though this song has words, I selected the instrumental version. This song was the beginning for me. We danced to this the day after you came to help me clean out my father's apartment. I never asked you to, but you seemed to know without my saying so that I needed help to do this. That's when I learned we both shared a love for this music. The next morning was my first Christmas in our home. In the Mood came on the record player, and that's when I took you in my arms for the first time. I got to hold you in my arms, and you've been the only partner I want to dance with since."

Angela recalled being flipped by Tony for the first time. "It's a good thing I didn't know you were going to flip me that morning. It's going to be awhile before you can flip me again like that," Angela told him casually.

"I know that, and that's what makes this so special, the fact that you didn't know it was coming, and you still didn't fire me for doing it," Tony added with a sigh of relief.

"Tony, if I didn't fire you the first night you were at the house or after seeing me naked, flipping me wasn't going to do it either. I can't wait to see what you picked next, Tony," Angela told him as she turned the liner notes page to the next song.

"You're My Best Friend, by Queen

What can I say, Angela? It popped out while I was under anesthesia. I did want you to take care of Samantha if anything happened to me. After being your housekeeper for two years, I knew you had become my best friend … and I did love you by then. We almost got close enough that night to say more than we had said to each other up 'til then. We came so close at Jonathan's camp, and we came so close again that anniversary dinner night. I don't know what would've happened if my appendix hadn't burst, but I knew you were my best friend by then, and I loved my best friend."

"Tony, I've thought about that night over the years and wondered that myself. I don't know that we were ready for each other then either. I knew after all that we had been through that year with Michael trying to get custody of Jonathan and then Jonathan setting us up on Valentine's Day I knew we were getting closer and closer. I knew you were my best friend by then, too, and I did love you, too, as my best friend, but I didn't realize how much yet, and I certainly didn't admit it to Mother. Let's play this song, and then I'm ready for the next song, Tony, and then I need to take a bathroom break."

"Sure, Ange, we can get up and stretch before we get to the next five songs," Tony told Angela as he played Queen's song. Then Tony paused the CD so Angela could read the next liner note.

"I Like Dreamin' by Kenny Nolan

Angela – we talked about this – about going to the Ferguson wedding and standing at the alter dreaming of our own wedding. I wanted to give this song to you to let you know that I started thinking of us being married and having children of our own. I liked dreaming and thinking about it. It reminded me of walking on the beach after the kids fell asleep when we were in Mexico. It reminded me of the conversation we had when Baby Clint was with us. Because it was a dream, I didn't have to act on it. I couldn't. But I did. I came to your window to tell you not to marry someone else. Then I helped you through your own crisis after you didn't. By the time I moved to Mona's apartment, I was too homesick to be alone there. I spent a lot of time watching TV and dreaming about us. I'm so glad you asked me to move back again."

"Tony, this song makes me so happy to know I wasn't alone thinking about an "us" so long ago. I spent a lot of time watching TV and missing you, too. I gave up and blew out the pilot light so you would have a reason to spend time with me again. I missed my best friend."

"Oooh, and now I really have to go to the bathroom," Angela said as she hurried to get up. Tony helped her by sitting up and pushing her up to help her get off the couch. When they were both off the couch, Tony gave Angela a hug and passionate kiss that almost made her forget why she got off the couch. When she pulled back, she remembered and rushed through the living area to bathroom. Tony stretched while thinking about the impact these songs had on both of them. He went over to pour himself some hot water and put a new tea bag into his cup. He sipped the tea and then walked over to the window to see that it was still pouring rain out. The thunder and lightning had already stopped. He continued to drink the tea as he waited for Angela to return.

The End – Chapter 27 of The Room, Unslept In – Once Upon a Honeymoon, IV, The Story of Us, Part 3

Chapter 28 coming soon … the honeymooners continue their music reveal. Angela finds out the remaining five songs Tony picked out for her CD. Originally, I was going to do each of the 10 songs in one story, but I wrote more than I expected, and I didn't want this to be a marathon chapter, so ….

Author's Note: This was a struggle on how to do this reveal. The conversation that Angela and Tony had to do the song reveal is exactly what I bandied around in my head.

And I can't even begin to write how difficult it was to pick out the songs that wound up on Angela's CD. I wrote a list of songs, checked out Billboard's Top songs over the decades, and then had to decide how I wanted to proceed. The list was way longer than the 10 songs that had to be picked. I used a lot of songs in this story already, and I didn't want to repeat them, so they wound up not being included on the CD, except for a couple of key, critical songs I had to include. The other thing that happened was I thought I had the perfect list of songs, but then another song would come to mind that fit what I was doing better. Come to think of it, their entire story is very musical. Someone should write a jukebox musical and set their story to a Broadway show …