A/N: Sorry, it's practically winter solstice in these last few chapters, but this feels like the longest day ever. That therapy session was one-third longer than usual, and the day isn't over yet. Also, the Jonathan erasure in later seasons was unacceptable. He deserves a storyline!

Chapter Twenty-Six: Double Date

Thursday, December 20, 1990

When Tony and Angela left therapy, it was pouring rain. He turned the wipers to max speed and the radio off. She made a mental list, as he concentrated on the road. Her priority should be Jonathan, and she suddenly felt guilty for her recent inconsistency, neglect, and unreliability. Another urgent matter was telling Andy that she wasn't pregnant. He would expect a yes or no answer by Christmas at the latest. She also needed to tell Tony—and Jonathan, she remembered—that she had broken up with Andy. Sam and Mona could only be trusted with the secret for so long.

That night, she retreated to her room right after dinner, making a hollow excuse about wrapping some presents. The truth was that she was exhausted. Soon, she was curled up on the bed in her work clothes, with sleep grabbing at her lids. Tony came in with a cup of decaffeinated holiday spice tea, and she sat up to sip at it. "I just wanted to make sure you were OK," he said, kissing her on the cheek and leaving her to her solitude.

He loves me, she thought again. All of the disgorged pain from therapy was still flowing through her veins, but the words Tony had spoken early that morning were fighting to wash it away. She got up and changed into pajamas, brushed her teeth, and put on a robe. As she opened the door, she could see the kids' rooms were still brightly lit. Sam and Jonathan were sitting on her bed, discussing a potential double date with her roommate's lab partner and his younger sister.

"Sam, honey, do you mind if I steal Jonathan from you?"

"No problem. I was about to kick him out anyway."

"You'd better be nice to me tomorrow night, or Wendall is going to know you're a bitch."

"Jonathan!" Angela cried. "Don't be disrespectful to your s…Sam!"

"It's ok, Angela. Inside joke," Sam said, defending Jonathan with a wink while his mother stared him down.

"You need to be respectful to women," Angela lectured her son.

"But it's not a woman; it's Sam!" he whined. Behind Angela, Sam was pointing and mouthing words in an exaggerated fashion. Finally, Jonathan figured out the message. "Sorry, mom. I'll be more mindful of my language," he said obsequiously.

Jonathan sat up against the headboard of his bed while Angela closed the door to his room. She sat near the foot, facing away from him. "I wanted to talk to you about Andy."

"What about him?" Jonathan asked.

"He asked us to move in with him."

"No. I already told Tony that I'm staying here with him."

Angela turned halfway, making eye contact with Jonathan. "What is your problem with Andy?"

"He doesn't want me around."-

"He's tried to make you feel welcome. When you came over for dinner, he said you could stay over any time you wanted."

"I don't want to stay in his house. I didn't even want to have dinner there."

"He's a good cook, and he has a nice house."

"Sure. It's fine. Dinner was good. But Andy doesn't like me, Mom. He only invited me because of you."

"Well, yeah, that's kind of how things work, Jonathan."

"But Tony actually loves me. He doesn't spend time with me because he's trying to get in your pants."

"Jonathan!"

"I'm sorry, Mom. It's just that I have friends with step-fathers who can hardly stand them. I know that Andy would just tolerate me. Why would I want to be around him, when I could stay with someone who really cares?"

"Tony's not your father. It's not his responsibility to be there for you when he's not working."

"When he's not working? When is that? It's been at least five years since you kept track of his hours. Why don't you call it what it is? He's been a stay-at-home dad, and you wouldn't be where you are without him supporting you behind the scenes."

"You're right."

"Whether it's his responsibility or not, he's been there for me when you haven't. I'm not just talking about work, either. I've spent the last couple of months never knowing when you were coming home next. Even when you were around, it was like you weren't really there. That UConn game and Thanksgiving are the only times I can remember when you actually focused on me, lately."

"I'm sorry. You're absolutely right. I've been a poor excuse for a parent."

"So, can I live with Tony?"

"Don't worry about that. I'm not moving in with Andy, and you're not going to see him at Christmas."

"Really?"

"Yeah. I'm not going to see him anymore." Angela got up and leaned down to hug Jonathan. "Please don't say anything. Not yet."

"I won't," he said into her hair. When they pulled back, both were teary-eyed.

"Thanks for talking with me, Jonathan. I love you," Angela said, opening the door.

"I love you, too, Mom."

Sam's door was closed and her light was off when Angela stepped into the hallway. Tony was going into his room. She waved with just her fingers and whispered "Night," as she crossed to her room.

"Sweet dreams," he answered.

Friday, December 21, 1990

Angela paged Andy at 9am. She knew the question of her potential pregnancy was the only reason he would agree to meet. When he returned her call at 12:45pm, Mona announced "Ex-boyfriend on line one."

"Andy, hi. Thank you for calling me back."

"What do you need, Angela?"

"Can we meet somewhere and talk?"

"Do you know yet?"

"I'd like to discuss this in person. Is that alright?"

"Yeah, how about early tomorrow morning?"

"That works. Bridgeport Flyer Diner at 7am?"

"I'll see you there." Andy hung up without saying goodbye.

That evening, while Angela was changing out of her work clothes, Tony answered the door to Wendall and Sandi. "Come on in. I'm Sam's father, Tony," he said, shaking Wendall's hand firmly and then patting Sandi on the shoulder when she didn't extend her hand to meet his. "Kids, your dates are here!" he yelled up the stairs. "Excuse me," he said, exiting to the kitchen to check on dinner.

Jonathan came running down first, excited to meet his dinner companion. "Hi Sandi. I'm Jonathan. It's nice to meet you," he said. The girl looked down and mumbled a greeting. He turned to the young man and held out his hand. "You must be Wendall. Sam says you're a biology major."

"Yeah, I'm a sophomore at Ridgemont," he said, pumping Jonathan's hand once and letting go. "My sister is a freshman at New Haven Prep," he said, putting a hand on her back.

Sam walked downstairs with her purse in hand. "I'm ready to go!" she said, looking to minimize any interrogations by her dad.

"You look great!" Wendall admired. "This is my sister, Sandi. Sandi, say hello."

"Hello," she said, glancing briefly at Sam.

"She's shy," he explained.

"Jonathan's not exactly a social butterfly, either." Sam held eye contact with Wendall and forgot her rush to escape.

Angela came downstairs wearing matching yellow sweats and greeted the four young people standing in her entryway. "Hello. I'm Angela, Jonathan's mom," she said, slotting herself in between Sam and Jonathan and sliding an arm over each of their shoulders. "You must be Wendall and Sandi. Where are you all off to tonight?"

"The Yellow Submarine."

"Awww, Sam used to waitress there," she said.

"Yeah, she fired me," Tony told the siblings. He gave Jonathan a small shove in Sandi's direction and took Angela's newly available arm, pulling her away from Sam. "Let's let the kids go have fun," he told her, putting an arm around her waist and tugging her close.

"Alright. Enjoy your dinner!"

The double daters filed out the front door and walked toward Wendall's Toyota. "What's the deal with your parents?" he inquired, glancing between Sam and Jonathan.

"Don't ask," they deadpanned together.

Inside, Angela and Tony ate a hearty vegetable beef soup in front of the TV. "They seem like nice kids," she remarked out of nowhere.

"Yeah, they do. Sandi's pretty quiet, but she might be a good match for Jonathan."

"Maybe."

"I'm surprised you're not at Andy's tonight."

"I'm seeing him in the morning."

"Does he know you're not pregnant?"

"Not yet."

"Is he going to be disappointed?"

"I don't think so."

"OK." The two maintained a companionable silence until Sam and Jonathan walked back in, two hours later.

"How was your date?" Tony asked as the kids took off their coats.

"Good," Sam replied. "I think we're going to go out again."

"I really like Sandi," Jonathan said. "She plays oboe in the orchestra. How cool is that?" he asked with a giddy smile.

"She must be really popular," Tony said sarcastically, earning an elbow in the ribs.

"That's really nice, darling. I'm glad you hit it off," Angela told him.

The family of four shared the couch and watched TV for another hour before first Jonathan, then Sam went upstairs to bed. Tony picked up the empty bowls. While he was cleaning up, Angela poked her head into the kitchen and said "I'm off to bed. Early day tomorrow."

"I hope everything goes the way you want it," he responded. "Good night."

"Good night, Tony."