A/N: Boy, this has been a long week! Before we get to T&A's (unwritten) date, they need to get through their first full weekend in the new house.

Chapter Fourteen: One Week In

With their date on the horizon, Tony and Angela were warmer and easier around each other. There was a refreshing sense of anticipation during the day, and they kept their physical contact to a minimum. Friday night, they gazed at each other from adjoining pillows. She was obviously waiting and wondering about a good night kiss. "Just us now," he said, watching her lick her teeth. He picked up his head and moved toward her.

"Just us," she exhaled. She met him with a soft kiss, then dropped away. It took a great deal of restraint not to keep going, but he had to leave her wanting more. By morning, they were spooning again. He pulled his hips away and kept his hands from roaming. When he showered, he left the door ajar and she came in for a minute, applying sunblock—Jess didn't wear much makeup—and glancing at him in the mirror, through the glass shower door.

Saturday was devoted to the kids. They joined the neighbors for an afternoon barbeque, finally meeting Patrick, a six-foot-tall high school junior with an after-school fast food job and a VW bug. While Danny and Bobby drank beers and minded the grill, Linda showed Jess her succulents. Natalie had planted a collection of small, oddly shaped cacti in a dish, as well, and she named every species for Jen and their moms. As Linda and Natalie peeled off to get some lemonade from the house, Tony looked up to see Patrick staring in his daughter's direction. His blood pressure began to rise, and he walked over to the boy, intending to remind him that Jen was only thirteen. But when she ran toward the house to get a drink, Tony saw that Patrick was still ogling Jess.

"She's twice your age," he said, slapping the boy on the back. "And married. To me."

"Sorry, sir," Patrick replied, turning red. "I wasn't…I didn't mean to be disrespectful."

"Good, then it won't happen again."

"No, sir." The boy hung his head and went to his father's side.

Tony borrowed a couple of sleeping bags, a flashlight, binoculars, and a thermos from Danny before they went home. He had a book from the library showing maps of the stars, planets, and constellations, as well as a local trail map. The neighbor had recommended Canyon Lake as an easy drive away from the city, where they would be able to see the night sky.

Saturday night, Mona dressed up for her date and took the keys to the Mustang. She had decided that the car was hers, except when she was on duty with the kids. Only then would she allow her daughter to borrow it. Angela visibly tensed up, and Tony took her aside while the kids were watching a movie. They went to the front parlor that nobody ever used and sat in the near dark. The blinds were tilted open, letting in light from the quiet street.

"She always gets whatever she wants," Angela complained. Tears dropped into her lap.

"Hey, it might look that way, but it's not. This isn't where she wanted to be, either," Tony said softly.

"She's right back to being wined and dined by wealthy men, letting other people pick up after her, and using my things whenever she finds it convenient."

"Yeah, and she's going to be stuck with the kids and the station wagon a week from now. Let her enjoy this."

"I just want to go to a restaurant!" she whined. It was immature and unattractive, she knew, but she had been accommodating everyone and everything for nearly a month.

"And I want to take you out. We can't afford it right now." Tony put his arm over the back of the couch, letting her sink into the comfort of his embrace on her own time. "Aren't you looking forward to going out with me tomorrow night?" he asked.

"I am," she conceded. "Do you think I'm spoiled?" Angela whispered.

"I think you're accustomed to a certain lifestyle," he answered. She finally leaned back and rested her head on his shoulder. "I'm going to do my best to provide for you and our kids."

She looked up at him. "I do appreciate that. I'm just used to being in control. This isn't easy."

Tony was overwhelmed with gratitude for Angela's sacrifice. He put his hand on her knee and shifted his body, slowly leaning in to kiss her. She put a hand on his chest and looked up, parting her lips in an instinctive call to action. They met in what felt like slow motion, rediscovering the tender resilience of each other's lips. She took his bottom lip between her teeth and pulled gently away. The sensation broke his resolve, and he pinned her against the seat, tongue delving in while she gripped his back beneath his sweatshirt. Time dissolved while they kissed and kissed.

"Can somebody read to me?" Jonathan asked from the hall. Tony sat up and straightened his clothing, with Angela following suit.

"Sure, sweetheart," she said, getting up and escorting her son to his room. Sam was still zoned out in front of the TV. After a few minutes, Tony joined her on the sectional.

"Did you have a good time at the barbeque?" he asked his daughter.

"Yep."

"What do you think of Patrick?" he inquired nervously.

"He's ok."

No interest on either side. That was a good sign, as far as Tony was concerned. "How's the movie?"

"Meh. It's almost over."

He sat back and zoned out, tired of contemplating the changes in his life. Meanwhile, Angela was having a sensitive conversation upstairs.

"Did you and Dad like-like each other before we moved?" Jonathan asked his mother.

"Why are you asking?"

"Because I never saw you kissing like that before. I know you like-like each other now. I was just curious when it happened."

"Oh, honey. We kissed before. We were just more careful about people seeing it."

"And now you want them to know you're in love?" he confirmed.

"Something like that. I hope that's ok."

"I just want you to stay together always," he said. "It's hard for kids when their parents get divorced," he added, doing his best to speak in code.

"I know, honey. It's not easy when you lose a parent, no matter how it happens," she replied, hoping that he would consider Sam's loss, and perhaps feel some affiliation with the three members of his immediate family whose parents had passed away much too soon.

"Yeah," he agreed. "I'm glad we're here, Mom," he volunteered abruptly. "I really like Seth and I like having you home all the time."

"Sweetheart, I'm going back to work next week. You and your sister will be with your grandma after school."

"Yeah, but you're going to come home after work, right? We'll have dinner together?"

"That's right. But Dad's schedule is going to be different. We might not see him every night."

"Oh." Jonathan looked down and picked at his blanket. "Can he come and say goodnight to me if he gets home late?"

"Yeah, I'm sure he'd love to." Just then, Sam barged up the stairs, with Tony on her heels. She stopped in the hallway and kissed him goodnight, then poked her head into Jonathan's room.

"Night, shrimp. Night, Mom." The door to her room closed softly.

Tony padded into Jonathan's room. Angela repeated her promise. "I was just telling Chris that you would love to come in and say goodnight to him if you get home from work late."

"Of course, son. Hopefully, I'll be home for dinner most nights, but if not, I'll always come and see you."

"Mmm-kay," Jonathan mumbled, closing his eyes. Angela kissed him on the forehead and stood up to allow Tony to do the same.

The two got ready for bed, not bothering with modesty as they changed into shorts and t-shirts. Tony missed Angela's nightgowns and pajamas. Jess' ordinary nightclothes were cute in a different way. They stood side-by-side, brushing their teeth and spitting into the double sinks, then washing their faces. At the near side of the bed, she turned to him, one hand on his strong chest. "Downstairs, that was us, right?" she asked.

He wondered if his strategy was working. He had avoided calling her Jess, even during the neighbors' barbeque, for a full day. Their heart-to-heart downstairs had felt real, too. He put his hands on her waist and felt her slide her free hand around the nape of his neck. "It was me," he answered, "and I think it was you. In fact, I know it was you."

"Good," she answered, pulling him into a kiss. It was romantic, nothing like their frenzied Christmas Day tryst. He pulled one arm around her waist and palmed her ass with the other hand. "Don't get too frisky," she warned him, extricating herself from the embrace and going around to her side of the bed. As soon as they got into bed, they were kissing again. She was the one who couldn't stop this time, digging her hands under his waistband and groping his butt as he squeezed her breast delicately.

"Let's save something for tomorrow," he said, at last. When their heart rates had come down, she put her head on his shoulder and fell asleep. Tony's final thought of the night was that he was an even luckier man than Bobby Moretti.