As always, all credit goes to the WTB writers, cast, producers and staff. This takes place sometime early in season five for timeframe reference.
Chapter 1…
Angela sat at her desk at work reading and rereading the brochure her clients left her after her earlier morning meeting. The meeting went well and the clients loved her team's ideas for advertising their services. Her team spent the rest of the afternoon going over their plans and fine tuning the drafts of the campaign. Angela was left at the end of the day, alone in her office, until Mona barged into her office to remind Angela they needed to leave soon to make the train home.
"Angela, let's move it. I've got a date tonight and I want to make sure I've got plenty of time to eat Tony's dinner before going out. Angela… Angela!" shouted Mona. "Oh Mother I'm sorry I was just reading this brochure from our newly signed client. Okay I'm ready to go", Angela said as she put the files and brochure in her briefcase and grabbed her coat.
"That must be some new client if you were that absorbed. Who's the client?" questioned Mona.
"It's a fertility company called Hope for All that is trying to boost it's growth and base in the tristate area. They are using state of the art technology to help their clients conceive a baby", said Angela as she stared at the baby picture of Jonathan on her desk.
"It sounds like a wonderful service for those in need, but it doesn't explain why you were lost in thought" said Mona.
"I wasn't lost in thought Mother. I was just trying to understand more about the product I'm trying to sell. Just like bingeing on Guaca-munchies. There's no difference Mother" said Angela, who was still staring at the baby photo. This didn't go unnoticed by Mona, but she knew when to and when not to prod her daughter; she had a feeling this was one of those times to leave her be.
Later on that evening…
Angela and Mona walked through the front door. Tony came through the kitchen door with two dry martinis. Angela grabbed her martini while putting down her briefcase and coat. Mona took her martini and walked to her apartment to get ready for her date.
"Dinner will be ready in fifteen minutes Mona! Don't be late!" shouted Tony. "Wouldn't dream of it Tony. I'll need all the energy I can get for later tonight…" quipped Mona.
"Tony, I'm going to run upstairs and get changed before dinner", said Angela as she made her way up the stairs, leaving her martini on the desk by the door.
"What do I smell or something? I guess I'll just entertain myself for a while, strike up a good conversation. 'So Tony… how was your day?' 'Oh so-so, my statistics class was a real killer but thanks for asking!'
Angela couldn't help but smile overhearing Tony's conversation to himself. He's too cute. Add that to the list of a million reasons why I love him…" Angela thought to herself.
She quickly got changed out of her work clothes and into a pair of jeans and oversized pink sweater. She stopped in front of her dresser to stare at another baby photo of Jonathan. He was dressed in a red and blue pair of overalls with a yellow shirt. Angela couldn't help but tear up looking at the photo, while thinking of her almost thirteen year old son and how there was literally no more baby left in him as he approached his teenaged years.
"I miss this- the angelic face, chubby fingers grabbing onto my hair, the contagious belly laughter, the goofy tooth-less smile. How am I seriously considering doing this all over again? Am I crazy? What would people say? Mother? The kids? Tony?" thought Angela as she put the photo back in it's place.
Angela found herself looking into the mirror, turning to the side for a full profile glance. She took one of her decorative throw pillows from her bed and placed it under her sweater making a makeshift baby belly. She instinctively put her hands on her stomach and caressed them lovingly.
Meanwhile, downstairs Tony finished folding Angela's laundry and decided to bring it up to her room before dinner. Tony bounded up the stairs and was about to knock on her door, when he saw the door was ajar. He went to open the door more to enter when he caught sight of Angela in the mirror. He was frozen in place, mesmerized by the sight of a pregnant-looking Angela.
"Angela pregnant? She can't be pregnant, right? She hasn't gone out with anyone since Geoffrey with a G and that was over a year ago. What is happening here? Why can't I move from this spot? Why am I suddenly wanting to push through the door and have my way with her on the bed? Focus Tony!" he thought as he finally figured out how to move his feet and about faced into his room to drop the laundry basket before running down the stairs.
Angela stopped her daydreaming and headed back downstairs, grabbing her martini once getting to the living room. Tony came back into living room from the kitchen just in time to see Angela sipping from her glass.
"No Angela! That's got alcohol in it!" shouted Tony. "I would hope so Tony. That's usually what's in a martini. Are you feeling alright? Your face is flushed", said Angela.
"Uh umm yeah I'm fine. I… I just wanted to make sure you umm knew that's how I made them" stuttered Tony.
"I think you need some rest Tony. Is dinner ready? I'm starved! Maybe after dinner we can relax with a glass of wine and some popcorn and watch a movie?" said Angela.
"Uh umm yes that sounds like a good plan to me!" Tony said a little too enthusiastically.
The family ate dinner together, each sharing in their day's activities. "Angela landed a new client today. She was so engrossed in her research she nearly missed our train, isn't that right dear?" questioned Mona sarcastically.
Angela shot her mother a cold stare before answering. "Yes we did land a new client today and no I wasn't engrossed in anything, just simply getting started in the research process to give the clients the best ad campaign" said Angela as she continued eating her dinner.
"Congrats Angela! Who or what is the lucky business?" asked Tony.
"It's a fertility clinic called Hope for All. They help their clients have a baby when they can't or haven't been able to do so naturally. They have helped all sorts of people with infertility issues- older couples, couples who can get pregnant but can't stay pregnant, single mothers…" Angela spoke, trailing off quietly after the last part.
Mona suddenly had a realization, like a light bulb went off in her mind. "This is why she was so lost in her thoughts today. She wants another baby! Does she really want one so badly she'd think about going through all that stuff? What about her business? The kids? Tony?" she thought.
Tony was lost in his own thoughts the moment Angela said baby. He couldn't help but picture Angela upstairs, thinking about how she would really look carrying a baby. Not any baby. His baby. "She'd be absolutely beautiful, that pregnancy glow lighting up her beautiful face. I'd make sure she and the baby were taken care of, spoiled rotten. Whatever she needed, whatever cravings she'd have, no matter what time of day I would be there. Wait a minute! What am I saying? She's my boss! I can't have a kid with my boss!" Tony was interrupted by Samantha.
"That sounds like really important work Angela", said Sam.
"It is really important. They are making a lot of people's dreams come true. Many people had already given up on the chance of having children and now they have hope that their dreams might come true" said Angela, trying to hold back the tears that had threatened to fall from her eyes.
Tony cleared his throat and began clearing the table. "Well it's a good thing I made extra triple chocolate brownies today. New clients are definitely reasons to celebrate!" exclaimed Tony. "Jonathan, help me finish clearing the table and then grab the plate of cookies from the counter", said Tony. "Sure thing Tony!" said Jonathan.
After dessert, the family went their separate ways for the night. Mona headed to her apartment to finish getting ready for her date, making a mental note to confront Angela soon about her suspicions. Samantha and Jonathan both went up to their rooms to finish up homework and then head off to sleep.
Angela decided to do some work in her office. She tried concentrating on other client files, but the Hope for All brochure kept calling her name. She reread it again and then pulled out her notes she took during her meeting. The clinic was having an informational session next week for potential new clients to explain their services, what new innovative technologies they utilize and an opportunity for a question and answer section. Angela was contemplating going for business purposes, gather up more information and ideas, maybe even speak to some clients about their experiences for the campaign. Maybe, just maybe, it could serve a duel purpose, meeting both professional and personal needs. She decided she needed to go and cleared her schedule for the following Thursday night.
Just then, a knock came at her door. "Come in", said Angela. "I'm not disturbing you am I Angela?" questioned Tony. "No, not at all. Just finishing up some last minute work before turning in" said Angela.
"Well, I've made some tea if you'd like to join me in the kitchen", said Tony. "I'd love to Tony. I'll be right in" said Angela as she closes up her files.
Tony and Angela sat at the kitchen table, sipping their tea in silence. Both seemed to be stuck deep in their own thoughts until Tony broke the silence.
"So… sounds like this new client has a lot of promise. Such a blessing to bring a child into the world, wouldn't ya say Angela?" Tony said, trying to get a reaction out of her.
"Oh yes, it definitely is a blessing. I remember how special a time it was when I was pregnant with Jonathan. It was the last real part of our marriage that Michael and I were genuinely happy about and on the same page. I could eat what I wanted without worrying about gaining the weight. And then nine months later, there he was- all eight pounds six ounces of him. He was the cutest, chubbiest baby you've ever seen. He was such an easy baby, no feeding issues, no colic. It wasn't until he hit the terrible twos that I ever had any issues with Jonathan. That was the start of Michael's prolonged absence, traveling god knows where for work. By that time, our marriage was pretty much over and it was just Jonathan and I to complete our little family. That is until you and Sam came along…" Angela sighed and smiled as she remember the first day Tony knocked on her door.
"So, umm, have you umm, thought about having anymore kids?" Tony managed to squeak out, almost an octave higher than his normal voice.
"Oh well, I…" Angela stammered. "It's okay Angela. I shouldn't have asked. It's a really personal question and none of my business", Tony answered rather quickly.
"No Tony it's okay. I mean you're my friend… my best friend, right? I mean we sort of started this conversation when we were babysitting Clint a few years ago. My answer is still the same, I'd love to…" Angela said, a soft smile beginning to cross her face. "How about you Tony?"
"I… well I…" Tony stammered. He couldn't get the vision of Angela pregnant with his child out of his mind. "Yes, I'd like to have another baby. Marie and I wanted a large family, a baseball team if things had gone to plan. However, with me being on the road most of the year and then Marie getting sick, that all went out the window. These past four or so years have really made me focus on what's truly important in my life- getting an education, having Samantha grow up in a safe, loving environment and being there for her and for our family", said Tony.
Tears were forming in Angela's eyes. Wiping away the tears, Angela said "Well, it's not too late Tony… for either of us. I mean I have less time than you do, you know being two whole years older than you", laughed Angela.
"Eh oh, oh eh! You still have plenty of time to have a baby Angela!"
"Well, whether I do or I don't, the idea has been on my mind lately. Especially after today's meeting with the doctors of the fertility clinic. I don't know if Mr. Right is years away or right across… I mean around the corner from me, but I don't want to risk waiting for something that may or may not happen, when I know time is of the essence. There's an informational meeting next week at the clinic that I've cleared my schedule to attend. I figure if I can get more information, this might be our… I mean my chance at having another baby" said Angela.
Tony sat there speechless. "Did I just hear her correctly? She's wants to have another baby, but artificially? What about us?"
"Angela is this… I mean this is what you want? I mean how you want it, when you want it… This is a major step in our… I mean your future. Are you sure?" Tony asked.
"Tony, I've been thinking about this for a long time. I don't want to wait until it's too late. It's not a 100% guarantee it would even work, but I want it enough to give it a try. I'm glad we are talking about this Tony because this decision impacts you too. It would mean starting all over with diapers, feedings, colic and the overwhelming exhaustion that comes with that stage, just when you've settled into college. I mean if you couldn't or didn't want to be involved, I would understand and hire a nanny or someone…" Angela started before being interrupted by Tony.
"Angela… I'm in. Whatever you choose, whatever happens, I will be there for you always. This baby will be loved no matter what, that I promise", said Tony.
Again Angela had to wipe tears from her eyes. "Okay, I think we've had enough serious conversations for one evening. Have a good night Tony", Angela said as she placed a gentle kiss on his cheek before walking out of the kitchen. Tony took the two empty cups and placed them into the sink before heading upstairs.