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.
14.
Angela closes the office in the days between Christmas and the new year. Many other businesses are closed as well, which is why Angela is surprised to get a phone call from her doctor's office.
"Is this Angela Bower?"
"Yes."
"This is Doctor Adler's office. We have the results of your blood tests, I apologize for the delay, things have been backed up due to the holiday season."
"Oh, that's okay. I'm surprised you're working now."
"Just playing catch up. Your blood test confirms you're low in iron. The doctor recommends starting an iron supplement along with over the counter vitamins."
"Oh. That explains the exhaustion."
"Yes, most likely. The doctor can give you a prescription if you need, but you should be able to find an over the counter iron supplement. Now, these results came in about a week ago but as I said, we've been a bit back logged, so I apologize for the delay. According to this you're approximately nine or ten weeks pregnant."
Angela freezes. She's sure she misheard.
"What?" she says. She doesn't even consider if she's being rude, she just needs to clarify what the nurse said.
"The doctor can give you more information on that."
"What?"
"I'm sorry?"
"Did you say I am ten weeks pregnant?"
"Um, let me check… yes. The report says Angela Bower. You are low in iron, borderline on a few other vitamins and minerals but still in normal range, and he's confirmed you are nine weeks or two months pregnant as of the test date, which I said was about a week or so ago. That is why you got the blood test, correct? To confirm pregnancy? I have a note here from the doctor to ensure that you have stopped taking your birth control pill."
"Oh my god," she whispers. She feels herself sway just a little, and she holds onto the table next to her. "When… um… when can I see the doctor?"
"He won't be back until the new year, I can get you in… January 9th?"
"Anything sooner?"
"No, I'm sorry. That's the earliest available. Shall I book it?"
"Yes, okay."
"Ms Bower, are you alright?"
"Oh, yes. Yes, I'm fine. Thank you. Thank you for calling."
Angela hangs up. She feels as if her world has been turned upside down. Ten weeks pregnant… that would be the second time they slept together, after Wendy's party. She knew she should have gotten on birth control earlier! She should have done it immediately after the first time. She can't believe that she let this happen. How could she be so irresponsible? How could she take such risks? What is she going to do… how is she going to tell Tony? What are they going to tell the children or her mother?
She's furious at herself. And she's absolutely terrified.
Her heart is pounding and she knows that she has to stay calm for the baby. After a few deep breaths, she remembers that she only had coffee for breakfast and she has to eat something. She goes to the kitchen and absently puts two eggs to boil and toasts some bread. She pours herself an orange juice and finishes making her meal. She's on autopilot. Her mind has no more capacity. She doesn't even realize she's almost finished eating when Tony comes home with the kids.
"Oh, Angela! You missed some fun."
"Yeah, mom! I went down the hill and nearly flew over the fence."
"What?" she says, looking to Tony.
"No, no, not to worry. He wasn't airbound for long."
"It was so embarrassing, Angela. I wish you were there. Dad kept trying to talk to me."
"Heaven forbid your own father speak to you in public," Tony grumbles. "You're having breakfast?" he asks, looking at her plate.
"Oh. Oh, I just got hungry."
"Well then after you eat you can come out with me and help me move the snow from the end of the driveway."
"Sure. Oh, no, wait, um, I can't."
"Oh, okay. No problem. Why not?"
"I don't… I don't feel well."
"Didn't you go to the doctor last week?"
"Yeah," she says, looking at her plate. How is she going to tell him?
"And?"
"And…." She shrugs. "I'm not exactly sure."
Tony looks at her like she's lost her mind. She may have. She should know better than to believe she can lie to Tony.
"Oookay…."
"Kids, um, you go on and take off your coats and warm up. I just have to talk to your father - I mean Tony - for a minute."
When the kids leave, Tony looks at her. "What?"
"Um, Tony…." She can't do it. Her stomach rolls and her hands get sweaty and she has to stop.
"Yeah?" he asks, expectantly.
"Um, actually, can we talk tonight? In private?"
"Oh yeah. Yeah, sure. Should I… should I be worried about anything?"
"No. I mean, I don't think so. I don't know."
"Angela, you're acting really weird."
"I'm sorry. I don't mean to."
"You sure nothing's wrong?"
"We'll just talk tonight, okay?"
"Okay…."
"What's for lunch?" she asks, trying to change the subject.
"You're just eating breakfast now, you're already thinking about lunch?"
"Just wondering," she shrugs, feeling awkward and as if her secret is written all over her face.
"I have some leftover steak, maybe I can make something with that."
Angela's stomach rolls again, but this time in aversion to the steak.
"Um, not for me. Maybe I'll have something else."
"Yeah, sure. I can make you whatever you like."
Tony looks at her again and she forces herself to smile at him. She has no idea how she's going to do this. How is she going to tell Tony she's carrying his baby when she can't even talk with him about their romantic relationship - or lack thereof.
Angela slowly finishes her breakfast while Tony chatters away. She remembers that she drank all that mulled wine a few weeks ago. She was pregnant then. She had sex with Tony, she was so careless with her meals, and she was constantly working late.
She's so distracted and she's so nervous she can barely eat, but she forces herself to finish. When she's done, she interrupts Tony's chattering.
"I'm sorry, Tony, I'm going to rest for a bit."
"Oh. Yeah, sure. You okay?"
"Fine."
Angela goes upstairs not knowing what to do and not even truly believing the phone call was real. Maybe she shouldn't tell Tony until she goes in person. Maybe she shouldn't worry until the new year.
But Angela knows it's true. She's counted back the days, she's missed a period. Though she was very sick with Jonathan and she isn't this time, she is unusually tired and she has no appetite, and she typically loves it when Tony makes steak.
She'll never be able to keep this secret from Tony for long. He can read her like a book. He'll know something is wrong.
She closes her bedroom door, lies on her bed, and cries. That's another thing. She's irritatingly overly emotional.
xx
Angela wanders downstairs around lunch time. She has to eat, she knows that.
"Oh, hey! I made you a salad and a cheese sandwich. I wasn't sure what you wanted."
"That sounds great," she says. "Have you eaten?"
"No, got my steak sandwich right here!"
Angela closes her eyes for a moment, bracing herself for the smell that makes her uncomfortable. Thankfully, it's not so awful and she's able to manage it.
She clears her throat. Maybe some fresh air will help her anxiety.
"Want to go for a walk with me this afternoon?" she asks him.
"Yeah sure," he says. She looks at him. He looks so carefree. He manages his work at the house so effortlessly. Sam is growing up and he's become very successful as the Parent-Teachers Association president. How will this news change him? She's not sure she could manage if he wasn't happy about this baby.