A/N: My first attempt at an AU. Bear with me for a few chapters of exposition.

Chapter One: The Funerals

"Welcome everyone and thank you all for being here today as we remember Tony and Samantha Micelli."

Mrs. Rossini sobbed openly, as did several older women from her neighborhood. The church was mostly full of friends, neighbors, and community members from Brooklyn, but there was a WASP-ier contingent, as well. Tony's fellow Fairfield housekeepers, his friends Lyle and Paul, along with Paul's daughter Marci, and Angela's friends Wendy and Isabel had all come. A couple of Tony's old teammates who lived in the tri-state area stopped in. And there were several of Sam's schoolmates, along with their parents. Her old partner in crime, Charlie, sat in the back with her arms crossed. She refused to cry.

"As you probably know, Tony and Sam were preceded in death by Tony's wife, and Samantha's mother, Marie. We can be comforted by the knowledge that their family has been reunited."

The wailing intensified, drowning out much of the full mass that followed. Afterward, there was a get-together at Marty's. It was the usual crowd, including a few old girlfriends who hadn't felt comfortable going to the church.

"I can't believe they're gone," Isabel said to Wendy as they drove back to Connecticut.

"Right? It's crazy," Wendy responded.

"They were so young," Paul called from the back seat. Marci just looked out the window, embarrassed that her dad had been using such a solemn occasion to try to get closer to this lady.

"Are you ready to go through this again tomorrow?" Wendy asked.

"I guess we have to," Isabel replied.

"I'm going to school tomorrow," Marci told them, ending the conversation.

x

Grant arrived at the Fairfield Country Club a few minutes after the memorial started. He found the banquet room and slid unseen into an empty folding chair in the back. All around, people were ignoring the rather dry service and chatting amongst themselves.

"Those who knew Mona will never forget the way she made people feel. She was vivacious and exuberant, and her biggest joy in life was being with her daughter and grandson."

Two brothers of Sigma Chi debated Mona's bra size.

"Angela was a brilliant executive, a dear friend, and a loving mother to Jonathan."

Jim Peterson bragged to the man sitting next to him that he was going to take over the Presidency at Wallace and McQuade. The man introduced himself as Wally and said that he had dumped both Angela and Mona recently.

"Jonathan was a bright and charming boy who loved creatures of all sorts."

Two of Jonathan's former teachers, who had both retired, shared their disbelief that the boy's father hadn't shown up for the memorial.

"Let's carry their memory with us as we find a way to move forward without them."

Paul was still third-wheeling Isabel and Wendy, though Wendy was starting to feel like she was the odd man out. They retired to the open bar to commiserate.

"I still can't get over the idea that an entire family could be wiped out like that," said Wendy.

"You see it all the time in medicine. Car accidents are the worst," Isabel replied, sipping her wine.

"I disagree. Tony's wife died of cancer. That's far worse than being instantly killed going off a cliff," Paul said, swirling his old fashioned.

"What do you think about what the priest said yesterday? That Tony and Sam are going to be reunited with Marie?" Wendy asked. She was the designated driver, resigned to plain, unsweetened iced tea.

"I don't know if I believe in an afterlife," Isabel demurred.

Paul started in on his third cocktail. "I'm sure Tony loved Marie, but I can't see him living in heavenly bliss without Angela."

"What do you mean?" Wendy asked.

"He was head-over-heels in love with her," he said nonchalantly.

"You're kidding!" Isabel cried. She downed the last of her second glass of wine and signaled the bartender for another pour.

"I'm serious. They got drunk and kissed six months ago, and Tony said it was like a dream come true."

"That poor man, living in unrequited desire," Wendy mused.

"Unrequited?" Isabel asked. "Angela was lovesick over that man."

"It's a shame they never told each other how they felt," Paul said suggestively.

Wendy excused herself to the restroom. When she returned, her companions were hugging and crying. "We've probably done enough damage here," she said, gesturing to the empty glasses.

"Marci is at her mom's tonight. Do you want to come home with me?" Paul asked Isabel boldly.

"Yeah," she replied breathlessly. "Do you mind dropping me off at Paul's, Wendy?"

"Fine with me," she agreed. Who was she to stop two people from getting together? You never know how long you have.

Fifty miles away, two empty caskets were being lowered into fresh graves.