The Room, Unslept in
A/N: Time for Chapter 34! What happens when Tony brings Angela back to the Brooklyn Carnival on their ninth anniversary as a family?
PSS – 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 – you can find just about everything there.
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Chapter 34: You Really Did Want to Make a Change!
August 1993
The month after they returned from their honeymoon went by quickly. Their family welcomed them home from their week-long honeymoon. Mona was full of questions making sure the newlywed couple had spent most of their time doing what she would do. After their faces returned back to their original shade, Tony and Angela assured her they had spent the week engrossed in each other. That was enough for Jonathan to say, "yuck," and head back to his room.
Samantha had cooked them a feast fit for a king and queen, which everyone enjoyed in their dining room catching up with what had been happening the week they were in the city.
Angela and Tony spent as much time with each other as they could. She focused on getting her business ready for her eventual year leave, and Tony spent his time away from Angela looking for a new job.
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As Angela came in the back door from the city, she stopped by the refrigerator and smiled as she looked at the ultrasound photo of their baby hanging up with a little diaper-shaped magnet. She was five months pregnant and was really starting to feel it. The nausea had long gone so she took a moment to check out what was baking in the oven and cooking on the stove. She couldn't wait for dinner after seeing what Tony had planned for them.
They were so lucky to have found out that their baby was as healthy as it could be with Angela being a high-risk pregnancy. Dr. Nicholas had talked to the both of them advising that Angela should continue working as long as she felt like it, but also noted that she might have to be put on bed rest if any complications arose. They both breathed a sigh of relief and agreed to follow whatever the doctor told them.
She pushed the kitchen door open and walked through the living room. Not finding Tony there, she called up to their bedroom. Tony answered that he was finishing up some letters for some teaching jobs he had found in the newspaper and would be right down.
She pushed her shoes off and sat down on their couch putting an extra pillow behind her back. She turned and reached for her copy of What to Expect When You're Expecting. She didn't have this book when she was pregnant with Jonathan, so she appreciated having it to refer to during this pregnancy. It was considered an expectant mother's bible and answered questions about everything. Angela read passages of the book to Tony as they laid in bed before going to sleep each night.
When Tony made it down to the living room, Angela told him about the request Mr. Ping from Ping Rice Cakes had made to her. "He wanted me to fly out to San Franciso to meet him, but I convinced him to fly to New York instead."
"You've got him wrapped around your finger, don't you, Angela?" He asked her proudly. He knew how Mr. Ping had figured into the success of The Bower Agency after Jim Peterson tried to swipe him as a new client when Angela first opened her Agency.
"I have those rice cakes being eaten all across the country now," she proudly answered back. She had done her homework by the time Mona had kidnapped him via their new limousine and delivered him to Angela. "I had already done all the segmentation research and presupposed that if he put the money into a great advertising campaign, he'd grow the company the way he dreamed of. We advised him to add different flavors of rice cakes that would be familiar to consumers in different markets of the US. That did the trick."
Then Angela added, "I told him the doctor told me not to fly so far into the pregnancy. I also told him we were getting Jonathan ready to move into NYU, so he got all of that. He'll be here on Monday for a few days. I'll have him meet with the rest of the team so he'll be comfortable while I'm on maternity leave."
"Great plan, Angela," Tony praised her business acumen.
Tony had dinner ready for the family an hour later, and as everyone dispersed to their evening activities, Tony and Angela spent the rest of the evening cuddled on the couch in front of the TV. They watched the news until Angela fell asleep on Tony's shoulder. He nudged her awake, turned off the TV, and went upstairs in each other's arms.
September 20, 1993
It was a different anniversary to celebrate on this date. Tonight was going to be very different than the one two years ago. Two years ago, it was their 7th anniversary as a family, and Angela had been a nervous wreck knowing the gift she had bought for Tony was going to change their relationship – finally moving them forward - she hoped.
Two years ago, she and Tony were scheduled to go into the city for very different reasons. Tony wanted to go back to his regular barber for a haircut; she wanted to go to a jewelry store to get Tony something special for their anniversary. They'd had a difficult summer bringing Billy back to Mrs. Napoli after their Washington, D.C. trip. Somehow, they had managed to get much closer that summer. Angela felt that their relationship was evolving and something was finally going to happen between them.
She had selected a rose-covered, off-the-shoulder dress for the day. It was unusually warm for a late September day in New England. She wondered if Tony would take note of the dress design. He knew how much she loved pink roses. She had found a vase full of pink roses on the table near their sofa when she walked downstairs that morning. She knew they were for her for their anniversary, but she didn't push it and thanked him for buying the roses for "the house."
They didn't talk much on the ride into Manhattan, both seemingly lost in their own thoughts. Soon she was being dropped off at Feldman's Jewelry Store while Tony went to his barber shop.
After much contemplation, she settled on a watch where she literally had her love for Tony engraved directly into the watch for posterity. He came looking for her all riled up for being double-parked and revealed a horrible haircut that she had a hard time believing she was looking at. It took all the willpower she could muster to keep from laughing. She had to cover her mouth from the shock. She'd never seen Tony with so little hair on his head.
Things went further south after that. Finding out he wanted to take her to a carnival in Brooklyn didn't sit well with her. It didn't sit well with her mother either after seeing the watch Angela had purchased and finding out that no one told her that they were going to a carnival that night because they were afraid she'd blab about it. Then Samantha walked in with that weirdo Fred. It was just too much for her on what was supposed to be a significant night in their relationship. But only she knew it was supposed to be significant (well, maybe her mother had an inclination after seeing the watch). She hadn't told Tony it was supposed to be a different kind of anniversary celebration …. She was still nervous about saying those three little words out loud to him even though they were going to be staring him in the face once she handed him the gift.
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Today was different, Angela thought, leaving her memories of that anniversary behind. Now, she and Tony had been happily married for over two months and she was six months pregnant with their baby. Of course, she knew she'd feel this pregnancy differently than when she was pregnant with Jonathan, she thought to herself. It had been over 17 years since the last time she was expecting a baby.
"Angela, are you ready to leave? Everyone's in the car already," Tony called up to her, interrupting her thoughts.
Angela called back down to Tony telling him she'd be down in a few minutes. She went to the bathroom, grabbed her anniversary gift for him, and hurried down the stairs. She grabbed her white shawl hanging on the mirror wall hook.
There was little to no traffic for their ride into Brooklyn. Although reluctant to go to the carnival two years before, Angela held no reservations about going this night. She was looking forward to it. She knew she wouldn't have to worry about going on the Ferris wheel or any roller coasters this time. She was glad no one was going to bother her to go on the rides she didn't like.
They all walked around together as a family. Jonathan met them after taking the train from NYC earlier in the evening. He caught everyone up on how school was going and how he was adjusting to living in the dorms at NYU. They stopped at the Milk Bottle Toss, The Water Gun game, and the shooting range attractions. Tony won everyone stuffed toys again, getting Angela another ladybug since she had left the first one from two years behind in the Fortune Teller's tent.
Samantha and Hank shared cotton candy. Mona and Jonathan had corndogs. Angela skipped the taffy this time not wanting to get any stuck in her teeth. She and Tony opted for hot dogs and water. Eventually, the family veered off to different attractions leaving Tony and Angela to celebrate their "anniversary" alone. Tony stopped at the High Striker and used the mallet to ring the bell three times. Angela applauded knowing how heavy the mallet was.
They made their way around the carnival, avoiding the man on stilts as he walked towards them. Angela still felt guilty for knocking him over that night, but she had been on a mission to get away from Tony as fast as her legs would take her. The man on the stilts had been in her way that night and became a victim of Angela's flight away from Tony. Tonight, they were enjoying the kids running to get to their favorite rides or arcade games. Popcorn and hot dog smells filled the night air.
They finally reached Madame Alexandra's tent. They heard another couple in the tent with her and waited outside the tent until they exited. Then they walked into the tent glad the Seer wasn't having any sinus issues this time. She was in the midst of putting away some money so she didn't notice the two familiar faces approaching her table and chairs.
When the two of them reached the table and pulled out their chairs, Madame Alexandra looked back towards them and gasped loudly when she saw who was in her tent. She had always wondered what happened to them after Angela left disgusted and Tony had run after her. She had even stuck her head out of the tent to see if she could see them anywhere at the carnival.
Madame Alexandra welcomed them back to her tent and then couldn't hide her surprise looking at a very pregnant Angela. "You really did want to make a change, and not just your barber!" she exclaimed looking directly at Tony.
"More than you'll ever know … or should I say more than you ever predicted," Tony acknowledged and turned and winked at Angela.
Once they were seated, Madame Alexandra reached for Angela's hands first since she never got to hear her future the last time they were in her tent. Before they got started though, Angela told her not to tell them the sex of the baby if she saw that when reading her hands.
If Madam Alexandra noticed anything with her "seeing," she did not mention it to the couple in front of her. But she had "seen" something and smiled towards them, but she kept what she had "seen" to herself. She focused on Angela's business life and told her that she'd win two more accounts before giving birth, which made Angela very happy.
Then it was Tony's turn. "Anthony Morton Micelli, let me have your hands," Madame Alexandra requested.
"How did you remember that?" Tony asked, surprised as Angela giggled at hearing his middle name again knowing how sensitive he was about it.
"It stuck in my mind after our conversation. I don't get too many people with that name, and I could tell how frustrated the two of you were, so it stuck in my mind. It also reminded me of the steakhouse," she added nonchalantly.
Tony rolled his eyes and turned his hands over to the woman in front of him waiting with her outstretched hands.
Madame Alexandra closed her eyes as she touched Tony's hands as Angela looked on. "I see you going off to work."
"Yeah? Tony asked anxious to hear more.
"I see lots of kids sitting at desks," she continued to talk.
Tony turned to Angela who was looking on with interest and enthusiasm.
"Are they big kids or little kids?" Tony asked curiously.
"I can't see that. Only that there's a lot of them. I see you smiling at them. Maybe it's your dream job."
That stopped Tony in his tracks; Angela, too.
"Tony, you'll have another dream job," Angela told him confidently looking into his eyes with care and concern knowing what they had been through the past year.
"Yes, yes I will," Tony told her confidently not wanting her to have any guilt. There were constant reminders of their talk on the beach before their wedding, and this was one those times they'd have to move on from.
Madam Alexandra let go of Tony's hands, completing her look into their future. Satisfied, Angela got up first thanking her for the interesting look into their future. Tony got up as well and asked Madam Alexendra how much they owed her for reading their future. This time Angela remembered to pick up her ladybug.
As Tony was reaching into his pocket to pay Madam Alexandra, she told him, "As a congratulations for your new baby, this one's on me."
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They decided that they had to end their night at the Carnival the same way it concluded two years before. This time both Tony and Angela walked over to The Tunnel of Love holding hands. He made sure that he and the carnival worker held the swan against the track so as not to have Angela slip getting in.
He held her arm and the ladybug as she took her seat. Once Angela was safely seated in the swan, Tony joined her and then he sat down and they were on their way listening to the same music as they had the last time they were in the swan. They were both in a much better mood this time around and sat close together as they made their way by the mermaid and turned the corner further into The Tunnel of Love. They held hands, and Angela put her head on Tony's shoulder. "This is a charming ride," she mentioned, noticing the seahorse and treasure box filled with gold. "I didn't get the chance to notice anything the last time we were on it."
"Yeah, Ange, I know. I'm still sorry I screamed 'I Love You' like that.
"And I'm sorry I never said it back to you after you had. I was in shock. I wasn't expecting to hear you say that in the moment we were in."
"It changed everything that night," Tony told her as he happily pecked her lips as she lifted her head to look in his eyes.
Tony put his arm around her and held her close as they made their way through the rest of the Tunnel of Love. Angela returned her head to Tony's shoulder. Since Tony had redirected their swan that night from the official track, they never did get to see the rest of the ride. When they were finally found by the carnival workers, they had been pulled to the walkway and helped out of the swan to exit the ride the back way.
On this special night riding through the rest of the ride, the both of them sat in silence as they contemplated how far they'd come in these two years. Along with the Tunnel of Love music, Tony and Angela could hear a radio in the background playing a Chicago song, One Good Woman:
"I am so in love with you
I just can't deny it
Everybody knows I can't deny it
Everybody knows
You can read me like a book
Just like a fortune teller
Everybody needs a fortune teller
Telling you the very truth
You bring me feelin'
You bring me fire
You give me a love that's taking me higher
It just goes to prove
What one good woman can do
You bring out the best in me
With love and understanding
Anytime I need some understanding
You are always there
And if I ever lose my way
You're always there to guide me
Anyone can see you're here inside me
Anyone can see it
You bring me feelin'
You bring me fire
You give me a love that's taking me higher
It just goes to prove
What one good woman can do
You fill me with hope
With love and devotion
You taught me how to show my emotion
It just goes to prove
What one good woman can do
This is our time, we have it all
We have a way of knowing if we're heading for a fall
We'll work it out and get it right
And when I get home to you
You're such a sight for my poor eyes
This is our time, we have it all
When I come home at night
You're such a sight for my poor eyes
You bring me feelin'
You bring me fire
You give me a love that's taking me higher
It just goes to prove
What one good woman can do
You fill me with hope
With love and devotion
You taught me how to show my emotion
It just goes to prove
What one good woman can do
You bring me feelin'
You bring me fire
You give me a love that's taking me higher
It just goes to prove
What one good woman can do
You fill me with hope
With love and devotion
You taught me how to show my emotion
It just goes to prove
What one good woman can do"
Tony was humming along with the song.
"Tony, that's a beautiful song," Angela turned to kiss Tony on his cheek.
"it's the truth, Angela, you bring me everything I need," Tony emphasized his feelings to the beautiful woman he was sitting with. "I'm so grateful for you, and I love you so much. You're even more beautiful with the pregnancy glow you have," he told her kissing her lips. Angela returned her head to Tony's shoulder as they continued sitting in the swan.
Eventually, the swan returned to the end of the ride and Tony and the carnival worker helped Angela out of the swan. They caught up with the rest of the family who were still munching on carnival snacks. Once everyone was ready to leave, they hugged Jonathan good-bye while making plans for his next visit to Connecticut. Then they went to the car. They were all exhausted but talked about the fun they had at the carnival. "Happy Family Anniversary Everyone," they said enthusiastically to each other. Then they all retreated into their own thoughts or fell asleep for the ride back to Connecticut.
Angela and Tony enjoyed the ride home lost in thought. More than once they briefly turned their heads to smirk at each other. They were both very glad they didn't have to return to separate bedrooms like they had two years prior. Their smirks said it without words. Tony took Angela's hand and brought it up to his lips to kiss.
End Chapter 34: The Room, Unslept In: You Really Did Want to Make a Change!
Coming Soon, Chapter 35
Author Notes: The more I write into this story, the more I know the writers really left so much on the table. They had so much content to pull into and give us a 9th season with. There were so many opportunities not taken. It's been a journey for myself writing this story. Thank you for continuing to follow along. More to come. Unlike the writers, I'm not leaving anything on the table (at least I hope I'm not).