The Room, Unslept In

by Ilenerobyn

A/N :: Did you ever wonder what it was like for Angela to return to CT – that first night of coming home? What was she thinking? How would she face the fact that she was going to be alone again? I've provided ruminations from Angela that first night being home. I've added some direct quotes from the show. I do not own these characters, the dialogue, or the original WTB? Series.

2. Chapter 2

The Room, Unslept in

A/N: I want to thank everyone for their comments. I apologize if I haven't written directly to you. I've read each and every comment. Originally, this story was supposed to be a one-off of what it felt like for Angela to come home after being a couple for 18 months after waiting over seven years to get-together. I always wish the show had not rushed that last episode of Savor the Veal. I wanted to know so much more than we were given. Thank you to everyone who encouraged me to take this story further. I have another chapter that I wrote as a one-off, but it fit into this story, so it'll be posted soon, as Chapter 3. Thank you again for everything!

PS – I don't own any of the characters from Who's the Boss? I also don't own the song I use in this story. It surely fit Savor the Veal!

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Chapter 2: Day 1

The noise from the alarm shook Angela awake. The ringing stung her mind, ears, and eyes. She awoke not knowing when she fell asleep – or if she ever fell asleep. She felt like she had been dozing with a ton of bricks on her head. She could hear the rain on the roof ushering in a cold, dark morning. Now she'd have to walk back to the house in the rain. Just what she needed to start her first day back in Fairfield.

The reality of Day 1 hit her, and she struggled to move off the sofa. But she had to get up. She folded the blanket that had covered her during her restless sleep. She needed to get back to the house before Jonathan and Mother woke up. She didn't want questions or analysis or anything else right now. She didn't want them knowing she hadn't slept in her room or the house last night. She was still processing it all herself.

24 hours ago, she was part of a couple – a coupling that had taken over seven years to officially begin. She and Tony were getting ready for the championship baseball game. It was the final game of the Wells College baseball season. She'd seen how much time and effort Tony had put into his "boys," as he liked to call them. 24 hours ago, she was with Tony and Mother and Jonathan and Sam and Hank. Everyone wished him good luck and told him they'd see him after the game. Angela gave Tony a good luck kiss, and then he left for the stadium leaving the rest of them behind. Angela and the gang started to get ready for the after-game party. Angela changed into her orange Wells College sweatshirt and a pair of plaid shorts. She put her hair up into a high pony-tail and put on white ankle socks and sneakers. She looked like a college student herself by the time she finished dressing. Once most of the party was set up, they all left for the game.

It came as no surprise that Tony coached the Wells team to a season championship. Angela felt so proud of Tony for accomplishing so much in such a short time. She always knew he'd do big things. But the big surprise came while everyone was congratulating him. A THREE-YEAR CONTRACT!

It wasn't even 24 hours yet that this had all transpired, and to Angela it felt like a lifetime.

She fluffed the pillows and took the blanket, leaving Sam and Hank's place exactly as she found it.

Angela made her way down the stairs and walked across the drive-way quickly. She was happy to see no one in the kitchen or living room yet. The downstairs was still dark and silent except for the rain falling. She took her blanket and walked up the stairs to her empty, unslept in bedroom. The bed was exactly where Tony had wanted it to be facing the unlit fireplace. She stared at it, and then she put the blanket on the bed and sighed.

Still kind of queasy and nursing a headache, she went into the bathroom and poured bubble bath into the tub and ran the water. She stuck her toe into the water ensuring it wasn't too chilled. Confirming it was the right temperature, Angela put her hair into a high ponytail and stepped into the tub. She slid down until her entire body except for her head was under the hot water and bubbles.

She started to cry thinking again how it wasn't even 24 hours since she uncoupled them. She still didn't believe it, and she felt lost, lonely, and empty and questioned whether it was the right thing to do, knowing at the same time it was what she had to do for him. She sat in the tub, too numb to move. Eventually, the water turned cold, and she had to get up and out of the tub. She dried herself off and moved on to the sink to brush her teeth and put on some light make-up.

She'd left most of her clothes in Connecticut knowing she'd only be in Iowa a few months. She went to her closet and picked out a neutral outfit. She put some shoes on and left her room.

Angela made her way through the living room and pushed the door to the kitchen open. Jonathan and Mother were there, and she was finally forced to face both of them. They were both eating some cereal. Not having been home for several months, she was relieved it wasn't Crunchy Crawlers. They both looked up at Angela, neither one really knowing what to say to her. Well, Mona had an idea of what she wanted to say, and it took biting her cheek to hold her tongue at that moment. She knew what Angela was feeling and empathized with her. But Mona couldn't believe Angela was here alone either. Part of her had wanted to knock some sense into Tony last night. Angela wouldn't have it, telling her exactly what she had told Tony – that he was where he was meant to be, doing what he was meant to do.

Instead, Mona started with a, "Good morning, Angela."

"Good morning, Mother."

"What's on your radar today, Angela?"

"I need to unpack and check in on the office. Also, Mother, can you leave a message with the employment agency and hire us a housekeeper – NO MEN, and NO LIVE-INS, she stressed."

Continuing, Angela added pensively, "I think I'll drive in to the City for a few hours."

"Whatever you think is best, dear," Mona added shaking her head, knowing that Angela was running away into work again.

"I need to check all the accounts and current campaigns."

Their conversation was interrupted by the phone ringing. No one rushed to get up to get it, it rang five times before Angela finally picked it up worried who could be on the other end.

"Hello?" Angela tentatively asked.

It was Samantha letting Angela know that she and Hank would be back tomorrow.

"How is he?" Angela hesitantly asked.

"How are you?" Sam turned the tables on her. Angela knew then not to pursue this any further. Sam's question told her all she needed to know.

"Angela….? Sam asked

"Yes." Angela said trying not to break down into tears.

"I'm not mad at you, Angela." Sam tried to convince her.

"Thank you, Sam. I'm sorry …. I've got to go … see you both tomorrow. They both hung up at the same time.

Angela was relieved she'd get another night to sleep outside the house. She couldn't bring herself to sleep in "their" room. Not yet …

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There wasn't much traffic on a Saturday morning. Angela drove into the City and parked at the back of her office building. For the first time in months, she put her key into The Bower Agency door and walked in. The silence greeted her. Everything was as she left it back in December. She walked around the entire office grateful that everything was as it should be – even Mother's desk was neat and orderly. She picked out some files to review from the cabinet.

She walked into her own office and sat down at her desk. The first thing she noticed were the photos of her and Tony all over her desk. She stared at them, a tear running down her cheek. But she left them where they were. She started to look at the files she had taken with her. She looked up and started to chew on a pencil she had picked up. Her mind wandered absentmindedly. Then she looked at her left hand and realized she was still wearing her engagement ring. She stared at it for a long while. Then she started to slide it up and down her finger a few times. She just wasn't ready to take it off yet.

Then she really did feel sick and rushed to the bathroom.

After rinsing her mouth and putting a cool cloth on her face, Angela picked up a ginger ale from the office refrigerator, again, hoping it would settle her stomach. She walked back to her office to review more of the files she had taken. GuacaMunchies was doing just fine. So was the Prescott account – the account that Mona tried to trick her into believing was getting ready to shop for a new agency. She looked at some storyboards that were scattered around the conference table. She was so grateful she had such an experienced group of people working for her.

After a few hours, she got back into her car and drove back home. Jonathan was in his room studying for upcoming finals and writing his Valedictorian speech. Mother was on the living room couch watching some movie. She greeted Angela with a "What's for dinner?"

"Mother, just call out for a pizza."

Not in any mood to sit with her mother, Angela went upstairs to finally unpack her suitcases.

The pizza showed up around 7, and Jonathan, Mona, and Angela gathered around the kitchen table. Angela picked at her pizza until she excused herself and went back upstairs.

Jonathan felt so bad for his mother and said as much to Mona.

"Grandma, I don't think she's going to get over this. I don't think I'm going to either. We all waited so long for them to get together. I feel like I'm losing another father with Tony not being around anymore."

"I know, Kid, and if you mention that I feel like I've lost a son-in-law to anyone, I'll never speak to you again," Mona said in that way she had after baring her soul to anyone.

They both finished their pizza, threw out the box, and retreated to their rooms.

Angela puttered around her room for a while. While putting away more of her clothes, she opened her dresser drawer and noticed the blue velvet box at the top of her underwear. She took it out and opened it remembering when Tony gave her the engagement ring she still wore. What a romantic night that had been after the weird engagement proposal that had come before it. She was not ready to take off the ring and promptly closed the velvet box and placed it back in her dresser drawer.

She sat at the window seat for a few hours thinking about everything and nothing at the same time until she was sure Jonathan and Mother had gone to sleep. The house was silent again. The loneliness was unbearable.

She changed into pajamas, grabbed her blanket and trekked back to Sam's and Hank's place thankful it wasn't raining anymore.

She turned on the radio and laid down. Unfortunately, the song that started to play brought Angela back to the reality that she was alone and how she wished she weren't. She listened to Cass Elliot singing:

Come,

And talk of all the things we did today

Here,

And laugh about our funny little ways

While we have a few minutes to breathe

And I know that it's time you must leave

But, darling, be home soon

I couldn't bear to wait an extra minute if you dawdled

My darling, be home soon

It's not just these few hours, but I've been waiting since I toddled

For the great relief of having you to talk to

And now

A quarter of my life is almost past

I think I've come to see myself at last

And I see that the time spent confused

Was the time that I spent without you

And I feel myself in bloom

But, darling, be home soon

I couldn't bear to wait an extra minute if you dawdled

My darling, be home soon

It's not just these few hours, but I've been waiting since I toddled

For the great relief of having you to talk to

Go

And beat your crazy head against the sky

Try

And see beyond the houses and your eyes

It's okay to shoot the moon

But, darling oh, yeah my darling, be home soon

I couldn't bear to wait an extra minute if you dawdled

My darling, be home soon

It's not just these few hours, but I've been waiting since I toddled

For the great relief of having you to talk to

After listening to that song, she got up and turned the radio off. She laid back down, and her mind drifted to a time a few weeks after her Jag wound up in the lake.

The End – Chapter 2 of The Room, Unslept In – Day 1

Chapter 3 coming soon….