Title: At Long Last - A Wedding Bells Alternate
Category: Who's the Boss
Summary: What happens when you mix too much wine and a secret love?
Rating:NC-17, NSFW, M
Spoilers: Wedding Bells
Disclaimer: I don't own these characters.
This story contains content for mature audiences only - please be warned. If people want, I can try to mark the sections so you can skip those parts if you prefer not to read them but still want the rest of the story. If enough people ask I can try!
This story is complete (I think) but it has multiple chapters. I'll upload them as fast as I can. I kept them to 1200-1500 words for the most part because I think that's manageable to read without having to binge the whole thing!
I wrote most of these a long time ago. I apologize for any mistakes, but I will try to edit as I go!
I'm moving my Who's the Boss fics from various other sites to here. Feedback welcome - good or bad - and appreciated :) Enjoy.
12.
Morning seems to come quickly. Angela opens her eyes and it doesn't take long before she realizes where she is - and to realize that she's alone. She lays on her back and stretches, lazily waking up. She can hardly believe she came to Tony's room last night. She doesn't know what got into her - she's usually not so forward - but, god, she wanted him so badly last night. She's just glad that he welcomed her so eagerly.
She's still insecure enough to wonder why he isn't in bed with her. Was this a bit too awkward when they had no alcohol to blame their actions on? They were both stone cold sober by the time they got into bed together.
Angela checks the time and is shocked to see it's already 9:30. She slept in that much? She quickly gets up, puts on her clothes, and carefully opens the door and rushes to her own room finding the hallway clear.
Thirty minutes later and Angela is downstairs. The family is in the kitchen, chatting away and finishing breakfast.
"Well, well, well," Mona says, "she's arrived."
"Good morning, mother."
"All these wild nights catching up with you?" Mona asks, sliding the orange juice her way.
"I didn't have a wild night, mother. Just a little too much wine."
"Mom, Tony said we can all go find a Christmas tree together," Jonathan says.
"That sounds great."
"We'll leave right after your mother finishes breakfast," Tony says, grabbing a plate.
"Oh, no, that's okay, you guys go. I'm actually a bit tired. I think I'll just stay home and rest."
"Tired?" Tony says, hiding a smile. Angela ignores him.
"It's cold out anyway. You have fun. I'll keep the fire going."
"I think I'll stay home too," Mona says. "I'll help Angela finish up decorating here."
"You sure?" Tony says, putting breakfast in front of Angela. She pushes it away slightly. She's never been one for breakfast and these days the idea of eggs and bacon turns her off.
"I'm sure," Angela says, smiling at him.
"Alright. Come on, kids. We're going to pick a big one!"
After they leave, Mona looks at Angela.
"What?"
"Did anything happen between you two yesterday?"
"No!"
"Are you sure?"
"Yes." Angela tries to lie but she's never been good at it, especially with her mother. Her mother has this way of being silent and waiting for the answer to spill out. "Okay fine!" Angela says. "We kissed under the mistletoe."
"Oh yeah?"
"Yeah. Mother, please stop looking at me like that."
"Angela, you are my daughter. I love you, and I know you. You're bound to mess this up. Now, you've slept together. You have feelings for him, he has feelings for you. What is the problem?"
"It's not that simple."
"It is very simple! You say, 'Tony, I'd like to start a romantic relationship with you.' And he'll say, 'Angela, that's a great idea.' And then you tell the rest of us and nothing would really change - you'd both live in this house, you'd both continue to raise your children together, just you'll be less frustrated and less annoying."
"I'm not annoying!"
"Mmm, that's what you think."
"It's not so easy. We've tried to find some quality time alone but we can't even manage that. And you know, mother, what if… well what if the pressure of a relationship causes us to fight?"
"You two fight already."
"What if we break up? We have children to think about, mother."
Mona shrugs. "What if you don't? What if he's the love of your life and you get married and live happily ever after?"
Angela doesn't say anything. She dare not, actually, because suddenly she's flooded with emotions and she feels like she'll burst into tears at any moment. Even imagining being married to someone as wonderful as Tony seems too good to be true - especially for someone as unlucky in love like her.
"I'm tired," she says.
"Oh, come on, Angela. Let's go hang the stockings, okay? Just think about it."
Angela agrees, and while Mona sticks up the stockings, Angela sits on the couch working on Christmas cards, except she's so exhausted she sits back and closes her eyes. When she wakes next, Tony is talking loudly with the kids, bringing in the tree.
She joins in on the excitement, surprised that she fell asleep, but feeling better.
Tony brings so much joy to the house. Angela has a lot of good memories in this home: when they got the keys and Michael carried her over the threshold, when they brought Jonathan home as a baby. The joy that Tony brings is just as great as that. Jonathan has become more open, Sam has blossomed, and Mona… well, she's almost found a partner in crime. She loves Tony like a second child.
For Angela, Tony is a friend, a confidant, a co-parent… he makes her laugh, he supports her, he instills confidence in her. He makes her feel beautiful and desirable. He makes butterflies flutter in her stomach. He's what she wished her husband was.
"Hey, Angela!" he says, stirring her from her thoughts.
"Yes?"
"You're a million miles away! What do you want - coloured lights, or white lights?"
"Oh, um… how about white lights? Then we can put on all the ornaments and tinsel - it'll glow."
"White it is," he says, opening a box and unravelling the well organized string of lights. Angela joins in on the decoration. These are one of the joyous moments that's made better by Tony and his exuberance.
Three days later and Angela is still looking for a gift for Tony.
"Angela, look, I love shopping with you, I really do -"
"Of course you do, mother, you always end up with something for yourself."
"But come on. It's not so difficult to find something for Tony. If you want to buy him something more intimate, go for it! Don't be shy! It's not like you haven't seen it all before. Maybe a pair of tear off boxers?"
"Mother!"
"Okay, okay… tear away pants?"
"I should know better than to go shopping with you."
"Just trying to help, dear. Okay, tell me this, what would you like to communicate with this gift?"
"What do you mean?"
"You said you want something that will express your feelings. What feelings are you trying to communicate?"
"I don't know. That I care for him, I suppose. That he's not just a friend…."
"He's a….?"
"I don't know, mother."
"A lover? The tear off underwear will communicate that well."
"Mother, just go. Enjoy your purchases in your apartment."
"Think about it! I can take you to some of my favourite stores if you like."
"No, thank you. Besides, I'm exhausted."
"You're always tired lately. Must not be getting enough sleep. Something keeping you up at night?" Mona winks.
"Goodbye, mother!" Angela says, plopping onto the couch. It's driving her crazy that she can't think of something for Tony. She wants him to know how special he is to her, but she also doesn't want to scare him with something too intimate. They haven't even declared themselves a romantic couple yet.
Angela closes her eyes to think. What would Tony want? What could she give him that's important and meaningful and lets him know how much she cares….
xx
"Angela."
Angela is startled awake. Tony is sitting next to her on the couch, shaking her shoulder lightly.
"Hey," he says, "what are you doing napping at this hour?"
"Oh, Tony… did I fall asleep?"
"I guess so. You were sleeping when we came in. You okay? You're not sick or anything, are you?"
"Oh, I hope not. Now is not the time." She sits up carefully. "How'd you make out?"
"Great. Got some good deals. You sure you're okay?"
"Yeah. Fine, just tired."
"Alright. Well, rest up, I'm going to start dinner."
Angela lies down again. Her mind races with the things she wants to do - she wants to find something perfect for Tony for Christmas. She wants to talk to him about their relationship before then… or at least before the new year. She wants to kiss him on New Year's Eve.
She suddenly starts to feel anxious and a little warm. She sits up. Maybe she is coming down with something. Maybe this thing with Tony is causing her too much stress. She makes a note to call her doctor tomorrow.