**Inspiration for this new story came from episode of Season 6, Episode 1, "In Search of Tony". Angela and Tony are sitting on the bench at the resort in Jamaica when Angela comments she "wouldn't care if you cut lawns in Central Park". So, I ran with this new story idea, and I hope you like it :) Note: Tony doesn't have Sam and Angela doesn't have Jonathan, but Mona is still in this story. If this bothers you, I apologize but this story takes place when Tony & Angela are in their mid-20's. Please leave a review & let me know what you think. Thanks!

Chapter 1 – 3344 Oak Hills Drive

Tony

Growing up, Tony had been taught the value of hard work by his parents from a very young age. Being Italian, he knew a decent day's work was very important to him. He prided himself on his work.

Once Tony graduated from high school, he decided not to go to college but to further his skills and start his own business in Brooklyn, New York. Sure, people made fun of him for his business, but it was something he started himself that he was very proud of. At age 18, straight out of high school, Tony began his own lawn care and landscaping business – MICELLI'S MOWING, LLC. Knowing family was very important, he chose his last name for the business name. Within eight years, his business had taken off and exploded into a large company that had numerous crews. He had decided after a few years to move his company to Fairfield, Connecticut due to the hectic traffic and headaches in Brooklyn. Tony was doing very well for himself as a 26-year-old.

Angela

Being raised by her parents, Angela was an only child and was a go-getter right from the start. She focused on her studies and schooling more than anything and chose to attend college right after high school. Graduating top of her class in college, she received her degree in Advertising and quickly rose the ranks of a prestigious advertising firm in New York City.

Now at 24 years old, Angela was now President of Wallace & McQuade and was working herself up the corporate ladder.

One Early Spring Day…

As Tony met with the guys on his crews and went over the schedules for them for the day, he informed everyone about being safe first and to pay attention to what they were doing. If anyone was found slacking off, messing up equipment or running their mouths, they were reprimanded and would possibly be fired, depending on the situation. Tony knew hiring guys, mostly young college kids, was a stressful situation and most guys lasted a month before they quit.

Tony pulled one of his crew leaders over to speak to him privately before the long work day began.

"Hey, John…"

"Yeah, Tony?"

"Listen, I'll be taking care of the quotes and estimates today that we need to finish up on. That way, you don't have to worry about it, huh?"

"Hey, thanks Tone. I appreciate it."

John went over and picked up the list of remaining quotes and estimates off his desk and handed it to Tony. As Tony scanned over the white paper in his hand, he noticed there were only a few on the list and all were residential.

As the guys loaded up the equipment and headed out shortly after, Tony was left in the garage as the quietness enveloped him. Looking around at the garage and lost deep in thought for a few seconds, he pushed his thoughts out of his mind. Making his way outside the garage to his truck, he got in, started the engine, and began his early morning of quotes and estimates in Fairfield, Connecticut.

As Tony pulled into the driveway of a charming white colonial house with a Jaguar out front, he grabbed his clipboard with the paper attached to it and scanned for the name.

MS. ANGELA BOWER
3344 OAK HILLS DRIVE
FAIRFIELD, CONNECTICUT 06824

As Tony got out of his truck and made his way slowly to the front door, he noticed how large the lawn was and that it needed quite a bit of work. He stopped and made some notes on his paper and continued towards the front door.

He made his way to the front door and rang the doorbell two times before someone answered.

Angela made her way down the steps after hearing the doorbell ring twice. She was already late for work and ran down the steps in her light pink robe with a pink towel around her wet hair from her morning shower.

Throwing open the door, she stood still as a handsome man was standing on the other side.

Tony didn't realize it yet but once that front door opened and he saw the beautiful woman on the other side, his voice quickly caught in his throat, and he was thrown for a loop for a few seconds before he gathered his thoughts and introduced himself.

"Morning."

The woman, unsure of the man standing before her, hesitated before she smiled at him and greeted him.

"Uh, may I help you?"

"Well, if you're Angela Bower, I'm here to help you."

Angela, consumed in her thoughts for a few seconds, faltered about the man standing before her at her front door.

She finally spoke.

"I beg your pardon?"

"I'm Tony Micelli, I'm here about the mowing job."

"Oh, I'm sorry. My mother is screening everyone. Did you meet her?"

"Yeah, yeah, yesterday. You know, she gave me the once over, kicked me in the tires, put me up on a rack..."

Laughing, Angela blushed and then informed Tony that she had already had a few other companies out to give her a quote and told him she was sorry to waste his time.

"Wait a minute, she said that wouldn't be any problem."

"My mother didn't think World War II was a problem."

"Please ma'am, I've already came here, and I feel bad for disrupting your busy morning. I can see you're busy, but it won't take me but a few minutes to look around and give you a quote."

Taking a deep breath, Angela smiled slightly and permitted Tony to give her a quote. She wondered what it could hurt for one more estimate? Not that she wanted rid of the charming man.

"Stop it, Angela! You don't even know anything about him!" She chided herself internally as she allowed Tony to go outside and complete the quote while she finished getting ready for work.

Tony completed the quote ten minutes later and rang the doorbell again, waiting for Ms. Bower to answer the front door.

The front door swung open, and Tony observed she was now fully dressed in business clothing with her damp hair out of her pink towel and makeup now on her face. Again, he was absorbed in his feelings for a few seconds before he spoke to her.

"Uh, Ms. Bower, I finished your quote and wanted to go over a few things with you if you had time?"

Smiling, Angela giggled at him as he called her Ms. Bower.

"Please, call me Angela, Mr. Micelli."

Smiling back at Angela, Tony informed Angela to call him Tony.

"Won't you come in? Can I get you something to drink? Some coffee maybe?"

Tony walked inside and sat down on the large couch in the living room, glancing back at Angela who was still standing in the foyer by the front door.

"Uh, no, thank you. I won't be long."

Angela moved over to the living room and sat down in one of the chairs beside of the couch.

"Okay, what did you need to discuss?"

Tony, staring at Angela and noting her dark brown eyes, Tony broke his distracted gaze and cleared his throat.

"Uh, I a few questions for you regarding your lawn."

"Okay…"

"First, did you want weekly or bi-weekly mowing? And did you need any treatment to your lawn before mowing? Also, any obstacles or things in the yard not to mow or trim around or certain areas of water to watch for?"

Amused at Tony's questions, Angela was uncertain of anything to do with the lawn. When she and Michael had been married for that one year, Michael had taken care of the mowing and the lawn. Being newly divorced, Angela was entirely out of her element when it came to anything to do with yard work. She had told her mother that she would be over the hiring of the lawn care company but evidently Mona had other plans for her daughter.

"Uh, to be honest with you, Mr. Mice…I mean, Tony… I have no idea about the lawn. My ex-husband used to take care of all that when we were married."

Angela let out a uneasy laugh before she continued.

"It's funny, really…I mean, here sits a President of a prestigious advertising agency on Madison Avenue in New York City and I have no idea about anything with my lawn."

Chuckling and looking down at her hands, feeling an instant sense of shyness, Angela peeked up at Tony, who was watching her with a somewhat "knowing" look.

Angela continued her rambling.

"You must think I'm pretty stupid if I don't have a clue about grass or mowing or anything else that comes along with your…business."

Tony gave Angela a quick smirk and shook his head no.

"Actually, you wouldn't believe how many people I run into that have no idea about their lawn. Don't feel bad. And…you aren't stupid."

Tony glimpsed back at her deep brown eyes before he cast his eyes down at his clipboard resting on his lap.

Angela stared at Tony's gaze until he broke it, looking down at his clipboard.

"Well…Thank you, Tony."

Tony nodded but didn't look up at Angela, unsure of what his gaze would depict if he looked at her again too soon.

Tony took the pen off his clipboard and proceeded to write some things down as Angela watched.

"Tell you what, do you have a quick moment to go outside with me and walk around the yard real quick? Or are you needing to leave for work now?"

Angela looked at her watch and gave Tony a quick smile before she stood from the chair.

"No, I have some spare time. Just lead the way."

Tony nodded and stood, walking by Angela as she stood slightly in his way between the chair and the couch.

As he walked by, Tony caught another flash of her brown eyes, as did Angela. She quickly noticed his deep brown eyes and her breath caught in her throat as he walked by, a moment that seemed to happen in slow motion between them both.

Their hearts seemed to skip a beat during this moment and both their pulses quickened, as they were left silently scolding each other since they knew nothing about each other except their names.

Tony walked towards the front door and held it open for Angela as she walked by and out towards the front door.

As Tony led her around the lawn, taking time to ask her questions, Angela could sense her neighbors' eyes on the couple. She knew the neighbors would be gossiping about this in the week to come and she chuckled secretly.

Before both realized it, their time outside together ended much too soon, and Tony was passing her a piece of paper with his business card stapled to the top right corner.

"If you look here, I've wrote out your estimate and included everything we've talked about here today. If you want to look over it, I'd be happy to answer any questions you have."

Stillness fell between them as Angela stared at the piece of paper in her hand, studying Tony's handwriting as he had wrote her name on the top – Ms. Angela Bower.

Breaking her gaze from his handwriting, Angela looked up and gave Tony a quick grin.

"Uh, thank you, Tony. I'll look this over and get back to you on if you have the job or not. I appreciate you coming out today. I know you're busy, so I'll let you go. I need to finish getting ready for work and head to the city."

"Oh, no problem, Angela. Thank you for calling us and again, feel free to let me know if you have any questions. I've included my business card and that has my cell phone or business phone on there."

"Yes, thank you again, Tony. I really appreciate it."

Tony began to walk back towards his truck as Angela stood on the walkway that led to the front door. She waved goodbye to Tony as he began to back up her driveway and head to his next appointment. As he put the truck in drive and turned his gaze back to the front door, he saw Angela waving goodbye and smiling as he headed down the road.

As he drove to the next appointment, he hoped Angela would give him an opportunity. He wanted to see that woman again.

As Angela waved goodbye to Tony, she made her way inside the front door and shut it behind her, leaning up against it as she tried to gather her thoughts and release the deep breath that she didn't realize she was holding. As she looked down at the paper in her hand, she realized she sought to see Tony again, very soon.