A/N: Love all your reviews! Sometimes I can't continue writing until I get feedback. For those concerned about Angela's sacrifices, remember how she happily moved to Iowa, then faked contentment for Tony. They've been in Arizona for less than a week so far. The real angst will come for everyone after the holidays.

Chapter Nine: Electricity

Sam ran to her room and slammed the door. "I'll talk to her," Angela offered. Tony was in no condition to interact with his daughter.

"Jen? Can I come in?"

"Go away, Mom," Sam yelled in a mocking tone.

"I'm sorry you saw that."

The door opened and Sam stood in the middle of the space with her arms crossed while Angela closed it behind her. "What are you and Dad doing?" she asked.

"That was a private moment, and we should have made sure we were in a private place."

"I didn't think you were…you know…doing it." She furrowed her brow and stared out the window as she launched the accusation.

"You have no reason to be concerned about that."

"So you are doing it?" Sam asked, looking at Angela with a disgusted expression.

"I didn't say that. Couples go through different phases in a marriage."

"I thought you came with us because you wanted Chris and me to have two parents at home."

"I do want to keep our family together. And part of that is the connection between your dad and me. I'm not going to explain or apologize for my physical relationship with him."

"Eww. I don't want to talk about this."

"Jen…."

"Get out. Natalie is going to be coming over soon, and I need to change."

"OK, fine. I'm going."

Angela found Tony stepping out of their bathroom with wet hair and a towel around his waist. "How did it go?" he asked.

"I think what she's going through is pretty normal. Everyone is disturbed by the idea of their parents having sex."

Tony laughed, and his towel loosened almost imperceptibly in Angela's peripheral vision. "We're not."

"We almost did twice just today, and I'm not about to give her an update when it happens."

He had a sudden realization. "That's not it. Damn it. I have to talk to her."

"She's leaving to play tennis with Natalie in about five minutes,"

Tony tossed the towel on the bed and pulled a pair of boxers out of his top drawer. He dressed quickly, right in front of a shocked Angela, and ran out to his daughter's room wearing jeans and a fresh sweatshirt.

"Honey, I need to talk to you," he said after knocking.

Sam came to the door and ushered him in with an eye roll. "Mom already explained to me. It's a private part of your marriage and I shouldn't be concerned."

"Did you think we were just going to be roommates?" he asked. He thought she had figured out the burgeoning romantic connection months earlier, by the time they attended Michael's second wedding at the latest.

"I thought you were staying together for the children," she said sarcastically. "Do you love her?"

"My feelings for her don't erase the way I feel about anyone else," Tony explained. "What came before was a blessing, and I'm not going to forget that time in my life."

A tear came to Sam's eye, but she shut down her emotions. "I have to go," she said, running to the front door even before the bell chimed.

Angela tried to listen when Tony explained, in coded terms, that Sam's issue was with her real mother being replaced. She was still reeling from having seen him naked for the first time, but she nodded and agreed to his plan for the evening.

When Sam walked back into the house a little after five, Mona, Angela, and Jonathan were sitting on the couch threading popcorn and cranberries on a line. "Your dad's making dinner," Angela told her, and for a second, it felt like they were back in Connecticut.

She went into the kitchen. "Do you need any help, Dad?"

"Oh, could you tear up some lettuce for the salad?" he asked. Sam nodded and went to the fridge for a head of romaine. "How was tennis?"

"Good. I met a couple of Nat's friends. They seem cool. The courts are pretty nice."

"That's great, baby."

"I'm sorry I freaked out before. I'm just not used to walking in on something like that."

"And you shouldn't have to. We'll be more careful where we express our affection in the future," he said carefully. Sam still scrunched up her face like she smelled something foul.

"I was thinking we could talk about Ohio over dinner. Maybe I could share some stories about your godmother," he said, looking at her to make sure she understood that he was referring to Marie. "I know you miss her, and so do I."

"Sounds good," she said, ripping the last of the leaves into the bowl.

"Thanks, Jen. We've got another forty minutes until dinner. Why don't you go rinse off?"

"OK." She went into the living room and greeted the rest of the family. "Mom, can we talk in my room real quick?" she asked. Angela hopped up, abandoning her post on the assembly line.

Once her bedroom door had been closed, Sam threw her arms around Angela. "I'm sorry. It's not your fault we had to leave Ohio; it's mine."

"No, it's not, honey. It's nobody's fault," Angela said, rubbing her back. She could see the girl's logic. Nick was in their house to see her when he was shot.

"If being with Dad makes you happy, that's fine with me," she said, looking up.

"Thank you, sweetheart. Did your dad tell you our plan?"

"We're going to talk about her. Is that alright with you?" Angela had never displayed any jealousy over Marie, but Sam would understand if the topic made her uncomfortable.

"Absolutely. I want to hear your stories. Just be careful."

"I will," Sam promised finally stepping back.

Jonathan put the handmade garland on the tree, and then plugged in the string of lights. The family ate dinner and lingered in the dining room for over two hours, sharing veiled memories of their loved ones and special places. It was healing, and everyone's mood lightened by the time they were finished. Angela and Mona cleared the table while Tony went to watch TV with the kids.

"So, Jess, are you and Bobby having some good kiss and cuddle time, now that you've got your own bedroom?"

"It's nice to have our own room," Angela said, turning pink.

"You haven't done the deed." Mona determined.

"I'm not talking to you about this, Mom."

"Maybe we could harness the electricity you two are generating to run the air conditioner this summer."

"I'd rather clean up by myself than be subjected to this."

"There's a ring on your finger, baby girl. Just let it happen." Angela flashed back through the day's highlights: Tony in bed with her, on top of her, kissing her, holding her hand, shirtless and sweaty, wearing just a towel, then nothing at all. The last image was burned into her retinas. Now that she had seen his equipment, it was difficult to avoid considering what he could do with it. She wondered if that was how he felt after he walked in on her after her bath a year earlier.

"I can see you're thinking about it. May I suggest less thought and more action?"