An Annulled Annulment

To Love or Not to Love

As the words penetrated his ears, her lips, still lightly pressed against his, Tony froze, his mouth slightly open, his eyes wide as pools, he stared at her as if frozen in time.

"Tony, earth to Tony, are you okay?" She waved her hand in front of his face.

"Ya, I'm, uh, I'm okay," he whispered hesitantly.

Slightly taken aback, Angela took a step away from him, an uncertain look on her face, "Well, not exactly the reaction I expected. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that." She dropped her arms from around him, uncertain what to do or say now, embarrassed by her revelations and his reaction.

"No Angela, I'm sorry," his voice tender but shaky, "I just, I don't know, hearing those words come out of your mouth to me, like this, like here and now, I just, I don't know, I guess I didn't expect it and I guess no matter how much I always hoped to hear them one day, I never let myself truly believe it possible." He stepped back towards her, closing the distance she had created between them, cupping her face in his hand, "I haven't heard those words said to me, like that, since Marie and I never really thought I would ever hear them again, much less hear them from you, awake at least," he chuckled, "I never let myself believe that you could feel like that about me."

"Oh Tony, how could you have not known how I feel about you? So often I thought it was written all over my face, I struggled to hide it, hell I even blurted them out in my sleep." She rolled her eyes, "You obviously remember that, my embarrassing sleep talk for the whole house to hear!" She dropped her eyes nervously.

"Hearing you talk in your sleep and hearing you tell me to, to my face, I just, I just," he stuttered, "It just shocked me, I'm sorry!" He leaned in and captured her lips for a tender kiss.

Breaking apart, he sighed, "I just never thought myself worthy of your love, good enough, I guess to deserve your love," he bit his bottom lip nervously, uncertain what else to say.

"My God Tony, you are the most deserving of all my love." She whispered tenderly. "Tony, look at me," she raised his chin to meet her eyes again, "Tony Micelli, you are the most wonderful, caring, loving man I've ever known. I wish you could see yourself through my eyes Tony, so you could see how I see you- An amazing father, a loyal friend and confidant, a man who puts everyone's needs above of his own, a man who has brought so much love and joy and happiness and stability into mine and my son's life. A man who has raised my son as his own, without reservation or fear. A man who has given me the happiest years of my life, so far. Please Tony, don't ever think yourself unworthy or undeserving of my love or anyone else's." Her words sincere and honest.

"Angela, I just never thought I could feel like this again. I didn't let myself believe that this kind of happiness was possible for me, again. That my heart could hurt so much yet at the same time feel so good and full."

Despite every effort he made, he was still unable to say the three words back to her. The feelings were there, he knew what they meant, but the words weren't coming as easily.

Trying to hide his lingering insecurities, he took Angela in his arms, wrapped her tightly in his embrace, slowly swaying to the music that played in the background of the bubble they created around themselves. Moments turned to minutes, and minutes turned to hours as they continued to sway on the dance floor, oblivious to the occurrences around them. They kissed, caressed their faces against each other's, they twirled and turned, never loosing contact with one another, never saying another word- They let the music speak what their hearts felt.

Still lost in each other, they were startled when a staff member tapped Tony on the shoulder, "I'm sorry sir, ma'am, but we're about to close! Can you please settle your check?"

Shaking his head as if coming out of a trance, Tony offered his apologies and quickly settled the check.

Looking at his watch, he exclaimed, "Wow, it's past 11 o'clock, I guess we should get some sleep, early day tomorrow."

"I guess we should," Angela replied disappointedly.

Taking her hand, he led her to the elevators to return to their rooms.

As they made their way to the 5th floor, Tony walked Angela to her room, "Well, I guess this is good night," he leaned in and captured her lips for a tender, sweet kiss.

"Ya, I guess it is," she fumbled with the room key, "Thank you for tonight Tony," she shyly continued. "I'm glad we finally talked about us and I'm glad we found a new song to dance to." She blushed.

"Me too Angela, me too," he leaned in again, capturing her lips for yet another tender kiss.

Wrapping her arms around him, deepening the kiss," Angela whispered, "I don't want tonight to end, I'm scared to wake up tomorrow and find this was all a dream."

Caressing her cheek with his hand, "It's not a dream Angela, we have a lifetime of new songs to dance to, I promise." He wrapped his arms around her waist for a tight hug. "I promise," he repeated tenderly.

"Good night Tony," she smiled.

"Good night Angela," releasing his arms from her waist.

Angela turned to enter her room as Tony walked the five steps to his adjoin room door. As he opened his door, Angela reappeared from her door, "Tony!"

"Ya, Angela, what's the matter?"

Taking the five steps from her door to his, she met his eyes, "Stay with me Tony, spend the night with me!"