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.

15.

Tony is nervous. His stomach is in knots and he pushes back the walk with Angela as much as he can. He has a horrible feeling. She's been moody lately, she's been avoiding him on the pretense of needing to sleep early. They've had sex three times but never managed to spend quality time together as they promised they would. Maybe she's not happy. Tony is happy. He's happier than he's been in a long, long time. He knows they should find time for dates and to explore their relationship, but he's happy stealing private moments with her when they can. He's happy to build this family with her.

He puts on his jacket and helps her on with hers and they go outside, keeping a respectful distance apart.

Based on her behaviour today, he knows this isn't going to be good.

"Angela… I feel like… I feel like you're gonna break up with me or something. I know things aren't going exactly like we expected but… are you regretting the stuff we did?"

"No," she says quickly. "No, it's not that. But you're right. I guess this isn't going as we thought it would. I thought we would spend time alone, maybe try to go out for a date or something. "

"I guess we haven't found the time. Or made the time. I don't regret anything we did. But I'm willing to talk now, or whenever you want. I won't even touch you again until we find time to work on our relationship, if that's what you want."

She doesn't respond, so he's quick to fill the silence.

"You know, I always thought that if we did this, we'd be married first."

"Married?"

"Yeah. Well. You know, Angela, I know I've had my fair share of women, and I don't have to be alone on a Saturday night if I don't want to, but there are some women you don't just fool around with. There are some women that are important, that you really respect and care for. Women who deserve everything in the world and you want to be the man to give them that. Those are the women you marry as soon as you can. You're that woman for me. I'm not fooling around."

"I'm not fooling around either," she says, tears forming in her eyes.

"I'm not saying we gotta get married or anything, we've already done it now, but I just thought you should know that."

"Thank you," she says, wiping her eye.

"And I know I kissed you in the kitchen on Christmas day and maybe I wasn't supposed to do that but I just… I felt like we were really close in that moment, you know? But if you don't want to do stuff like that so openly until we find time to date then I won't do it again."

"It's okay. I did kiss you back."

"Yeah, you did," Tony grins.

"Do you think we should keep doing what we're doing?"

Tony's heart sinks. He's got to say something to convince her they can make this work. He can't have her end this. He can't go back to what they were before. He's too far gone. He's too deeply in love.

"I think we should make us a priority in the new year," he says, cautiously. "I think we can make it work. And hey - things don't have to be perfect. I can… I can pull back on some responsibilities, maybe you can try to come home earlier from the office every now and then. I'm prepared to put you first."

"Maybe you're right," Angela smiles at him. He practically sighs in relief.

"Let's give it a chance. The kids are getting older and more independent. We don't have to worry about them. We can find time for ourselves," Tony tells her.

Angela shivers suddenly.

"Hey, it's getting chilly, why don't we head back?"

Angela nods. She wraps her arms around her middle and Tony thinks she must be cold. He comes closer and puts his arm around her, rubbing her arm vigorously to warm her up.

"This afternoon, let's make it just you and me, huh? I can make us hot chocolate, we can watch a movie… the kids are tired of us anyway. I'll send them outside."

"That sounds wonderful," she says.

xx

They watch Operation Petticoat which happens to be on television. It's lighthearted enough that Angela forgets her worries and laughs along with Tony. As the movie comes to an end, Mona comes over looking for food.

"We're having leftovers," Tony announces.

"We had leftovers for lunch!" Mona complains.

"Well we're having them again. We've gotta clean out the fridge, we've been eating too good."

"So now we have to suffer?"

"No, you don't have to suffer," Tony says. "But we're not starting the new year with leftovers in our fridge.

"Tony's right, mother, he worked so hard on those meals, we can't let them go to waste."

"Wouldn't it be great if we had a nice, hot lasagna? Or any pasta, really."

"You're in luck! We have half a bowl of pasta ail e olio just for you! The garlic has had time to seep in, too. Hey, Angela, I think I have some clams left if you want me to add them in?"

"Thank you, Tony, but I don't have much of an appetite. I'll just have something small."

"I thought you loved clam sauce?"

"I do."

"She's probably starting her diet early. Good for you, dear," Mona says. "You can add the clams to my plate."

Tony knows better. Something is very wrong, something she isn't telling him. He's sure the worst is about to happen and he feels like he's going to be sick.