Disclaimer: This story is based on characters copyrighted by Warner Brothers and Shoot the Moon Production Company. It is meant for enjoyment purposes only, I retain the right to the plot and not the characters. Do not distribute or copy this story in part or full without the express written consent of the author.

Set in the summer 1987…

*** ***

Lee carried their bags up the walk but stopped just before he got to the door. He looked at what was now his home. "Home sweet home," he remarked as he nodded towards the door, his raised eyebrows betraying a hint of anxiety.

Amanda looked at her husband's face and replied sympathetically. "It's natural to be a little nervous."

He put down the bags, lifted her chin and kissed her delicately. His smile grew even as their lips parted. His voice was quiet, but the words were from the heart. "To tell you the truth, I've been looking forward to coming home. It's been a long time since I was part of a family."

"I really enjoyed our 'second' honeymoon," Amanda answered with a relaxed sigh, trailing her hand over his cheek tenderly. "But to be honest, I'm glad to be home, too. I miss the boys and Mother. Even if their timing can be annoying."

"Yes, they have impeccable timing, but I think the perks will far outweigh any disadvantages," he answered back with a quick wink.

His thoughts flashed back to the last few months when stolen nights that were to be spent as husband and wife had been interrupted. Sometimes it had been the Agency that interfered with their limited private time. But more often than not, the boys' hectic schedules changed their plans, often on a moment's notice. It was one of the deciding factors to end the 'mystery marriage' and attempt a real marriage.

She nodded towards the door. "You ready?"

He nodded back and without further hesitation, Amanda opened it.

"Amanda, Lee," Dotty called out with surprise as they walked in the house. "You're early!"

"The flight had a good tail wind," Lee explained as he dropped the luggage near the stairs.

"Where are the boys?" Amanda asked as she looked around the unusually quiet house.

"Joe and Carrie picked them up earlier, her father's birthday or something. They'll be back in a little while. I didn't expect you home until later this afternoon," Dotty said apologetically as she saw the disappointment on her daughter's face.

"Well that's all right. It'll give us some time to unpack. Lee needs to run back to his apartment and grab some things," Amanda explained.

As if on cue, Lee gave his wife a quick kiss. "I'll be back before you know it!"

"Oh, Lee, I talked with your uncle. He said that he needed to speak to you immediately; that it was urgent," Dotty advised.

Lee tried to hide his displeasure. He'd been relieved when his uncle didn't make it to the wedding. They hadn't given anybody much notice and with his uncle being overseas, he couldn't make the trip. "Did you get a number where he can be reached?"

"He's staying at your apartment," Dotty said nonchalantly, then added. "I gave him the spare key you left me; I didn't think you'd mind."

"The Colonel's here?" Lee replied loudly, his voice a mixture of surprise and annoyance.

"Yes, he arrived a few days after you two left for Hawaii. He's such a nice man; the boys just love him. He took them down to the air force base last weekend and…." Dotty began to ramble on.

"I guess he felt bad for missing the wedding," Amanda surmised as she glanced at a disgruntled Lee.

"He's never been big on weddings; couldn't he have just sent a card?" Lee mumbled unhappily.

"Lee," she rebutted. "He's your Uncle and part of this family!"

"Yeah, yeah," he groaned, then kissed his wife goodbye again. "I better go see what he wants. I'll be back as soon as I can."

Amanda shook her head and laughed as he closed the door. She looked over at her mother and shrugged.

"He seemed like a very nice man to me, darling. Quite handsome in that uniform," Dotty commented with a flirtatious grin.

"Oh, Mother," Amanda complained, rolling her eyes. Then she tugged on her suitcase. "I'm going to unpack."

"All right, sweetheart, but when you're done, you're going to tell me what you saw while you were in Hawaii. I hope you didn't have bad weather while you were there, you're not very tanned. Your father and I had such a lovely trip there years ago," she called out to Amanda as she disappeared up the stairs.

Amanda chuckled softly as she went into their bedroom and lifted her suitcase onto the bed. Then she mumbled a reply, certain her mother couldn't hear. "We barely left the hotel room long enough to sight-see, Mother, let alone get a tan…."

*** *** ***

Lee drove back to his old apartment. He chuckled realizing that he already thought of it as his 'old apartment'. He really was looking forward to being part of the family. But he wasn't looking forward to seeing his uncle. They would exchange pleasantries and then, within a few minutes they'd be butting heads just like they did when Lee was a boy. He took the elevator up to his apartment but stopped just before he got to the door. He sighed heavily, trying to relax and then opened the door with his key.

"Colonel?" Lee called out as he entered.

"Lee, my boy," the Colonel answered from the bedroom. Moments later he appeared and looked around the apartment quickly. "Where's Amanda?"

"She's back at the house," he responded nervously.

"Well, get her over here. I wanted to see you both!" he ordered sharply.

"Sir, we just got back a little while ago. She's at home unpacking. She hasn't seen her sons in almost two weeks and…"

"I haven't seen your bride in what, three years? I told you back then she was a nice gal, didn't I?" Colonel Clayton reminded him.

"Yeah, I think you did," he mumbled, then, hoping to avoid an argument he tried to change the subject. "Maybe we could go out to dinner tomorrow night. You're welcome to stay at my apartment as long as you'd like."

"Lee, I want to talk to you and Amanda together - now!" he demanded as he picked up the phone and held it out to him. "It will only take a few minutes."

Lee was trying not to get angry. It was useless to argue with his uncle. He never won. Lee took the phone from him and begrudgingly dialed the familiar number.

"Hello," she answered pleasantly.

"Amanda, it's me."

"You miss me already, huh?" she teased with a smile in her voice.

"Yeah, more than you know," he replied taking a deep breath. "Listen, my uncle wanted to see us both - together."

"Well, why don't you invite him over for dinner then?" she suggested.

"Hang on," he said as he turned to Colonel Clayton. "Amanda asked if you'd come to dinner tonight."

"Lee, I need to talk to you two privately. Have her come over here. I promise it won't take long," the Colonel reiterated.

"Can you come over here, now?" he suggested.

"Lee, the boys just walked in the door a few minutes ago. I haven't seen them in over a week. Can't he…"

Lee interrupted; his voice sounding distressed. "Amanda, please?"

She could hear the strain in his voice and relented. "OK, just let me give the boys another quick hug and kiss and I'll be there within a half hour. You two can survive together that long, can't you?" she said only half jokingly.

"I'll try; see you soon. Love you," Lee answered before he hung up the phone.

"She's coming?" the Colonel badgered.

"She'll be here in a little while," Lee replied and looked around the apartment nervously; suddenly he didn't feel very much at home. "Can I get you a drink or something?"

"No, I'm fine. I've gotten to know my way around your apartment quite well," the Colonel reminded him.

"Yeah, right," Lee answered anxiously, knowing the next half-hour would drag on by. "Would you mind if I grabbed a few things to take back to Amanda's?"

"Go right ahead," his uncle replied as Lee headed into his bedroom to pack some of his more personal belongings.

Lee looked at his watch a dozen times. It had only taken him a few minutes to pack his necessities, but he was trying not to have to spend time with the Colonel. Finally running out of space in his remaining suitcase, he closed it up and carried it to the front door.

"She'll be here shortly," Lee reminded his uncle who was sitting comfortably in his living room.

"Did you have a good weather?" the Colonel asked.

"Weather?"

"On your honeymoon?" his uncle prodded.

"Yeah, it was very nice. We went to Hawaii," Lee answered.

"Yes, Dotty told me. She's a very nice woman. The boys are very well behaved. I took them down to Andrew's you know," he explained.

"Yes, Dotty mentioned that," Lee replied again looking at his watch. "I think I'll pour myself a drink. You sure you wouldn't care for one?"

"No, thank you," he answered.

Lee went into his kitchen and dawdled about. He made himself a drink, downing it quickly. Finally there was a quick knock on his door and Amanda came in, smiling brightly.

"Colonel Clayton, how nice it is to see you again," Amanda greeted him cheerfully. "I'm so sorry you didn't make it to the wedding."

"Please, call me Robert," the Colonel replied as he hugged her warmly. "I'm sorry I didn't make the wedding either. I got on the first plane back to DC, but I missed it by a few days."

"We can bore you with the pictures, anytime," Amanda forewarned him as she returned his warm embrace.

Lee joined them in the living room, greeting his wife with a relieved kiss. "Yes, we'll have to show you the pictures some time." Then he turned to his wife and asked. "Would you like a drink?"

"No, I'm fine. Besides, I've got to get back home and start dinner. The boys are eager to see us," she explained as she looked first at Lee then at the Colonel. She wasn't sure what was so urgent that they had to meet with him this afternoon.

"Amanda, I do apologize for cutting into your family reunion, but it was imperative that I see you both. I have to get back to England day after tomorrow."

"That soon?" she asked.

"Yes, I'm afraid so. Please sit down. I promised I'd only take a few minutes of your time," he answered as he ushered them both to the sofa. He waited a few seconds while the newlywed couple got comfortable then he began. "I knew the first time I met you, Amanda, that you were very special. I don't think Lee knew what he had found yet."

"No, I hadn't," Lee confirmed as he smiled at his wife.

The Colonel nodded authoritatively, and stood directly in front of them, looking rather serious. He cleared his throat and then continued.

"I must say that I'm very pleased that you two married. I have to admit that there were times, my boy, that I thought you'd never settle down and get married. You're lucky she didn't get away," he observed.

Lee was beginning to get anxious on the sofa. He wasn't in the mood for one of his uncle's lectures. Lee felt Amanda's grip tighten on his arm, trying to keep him calm.

"Amanda, you're a beautiful, smart, yet sensible woman. I've had the pleasure over the last few days to spend some time with your family and must say, those two boys are well behaved, good, All-American boys," the Colonel stated proudly.

"Why, thank you, Robert, I'm very proud of my sons," she answered.

"As a parent, you should be," he replied as he began to pace in front of the sofa.

Amanda smiled, but was sure that the Colonel didn't request her presence to compliment her on her parenting skills. She glanced at Lee who sat impatiently at her side and shrugged.

Lee was clearly edgy on the sofa. He wanted to get this interrogation or whatever it was over with. "Sir," he encouraged his uncle to continue. "You were saying?"

"Yes," he swallowed hard and then took a deep breath. He could easily handle a troop of soldiers and plan an air attack, but a conversation with his nephew was not a skill he had ever handled well.

"Lee, I want you to know, that I'm certain your parents would have been very pleased by your choice of a wife."

Lee smiled, first at his wife and then at the Colonel. His Uncle was giving them his blessing, not a lecture. Relieved and hoping the discussion was soon to be over, Lee patted his hand on his wife's knee. "I'd have to agree with you, Colonel."

The Colonel paused for a moment, but continued on. "I don't have to tell you how much your parents loved you or how much of a tragedy it was for you to lose them so young in life. There was nothing I could do for you in the early years to replace what you had lost. I tried my best, but I was a career Air Force officer. Raising children was not my strong suit. I didn't make a lot of money and I didn't have a lot of money to raise you on, just a small allowance."

"I understood that, sir," Lee replied. "The money was saved so I could go to college."

"Well, that's not entirely true," he answered quietly. He saw a bewildered look on his nephew's face. "Your parents were very astute. They planned for your future with the knowledge that they might not always be there for you."

"I’m sorry, Sir, but I'm not following you," Lee interrupted.

"I'm getting to that, Lee," he answered impatiently. "Your parents left you sole heir to their estate. It wasn't much, the house and their life insurance policies. They'd left strict instructions that if anything happened to them, a small portion of the money would be utilize for your upkeep until you went to college. Once tuition was paid for, the remainder to be given to you upon marriage."

Lee stared at his uncle with wide eyes. He was shocked. "Why didn't you tell me this before?"

His uncle answered quickly. "The will stipulated that you were NOT to be told about the trust fund until AFTER you were married. Your parents didn't want you to marry just to get at the money. In case you didn't marry, the money was to be transferred to you upon retirement."

"I never gave it any thought," Lee uttered, stunned by the revelation. He never really thought about the insurance money his parents had left. He'd always assumed it had gone to his uncle in order to raise him and send him to college.

"I wish I could say I was a shrewd investor," his uncle stated dourly.

"I'm sure you did the best you could," Lee encouraged looking up at his uncle, then over at his wife.

"Well, on the advice of a very good friend of mine, I had the money invested for you by a stock broker," he stated as he removed a check from his shirt pocket. He looked at it one more time before he handed it over to Lee and Amanda.

"OH MY GOSH!" Amanda exclaimed. Lee just whistled as he looked at the check.

"Is this for real?" he finally asked, his mouth parched with disbelief.

The Colonel grinned. "Have you ever heard of the time value of money, my boy?"

Lee just nodded silently. Amanda's eyes stayed focused on the Colonel.

"Like I said before, I never expected you to wait until you were 37 to get married. But since you did, it's quite a sizable estate."

"I'll say!" Lee concurred, "this will not only make one hell of a down payment on a new house, but will make sure that the boys go to the colleges of their choice!"

The Colonel beamed with pride. "An excellent use of the money - on the next generation. Matthew and Jennifer would be very proud."

Amanda got up and hugged and kissed the Colonel. "I think Matthew and Jennifer would have been very pleased with you as well, Robert."

The Colonel blushed, then cleared his throat. "He turned out to be a fine man, I must admit."

Amanda looked at the Colonel and then down at Lee on the sofa. "He's a wonderful man, and a loving husband."

"And perhaps a good father one day?" the Colonel prodded.

Lee looked up at his uncle, surprised by his boldness.

Amanda broke the awkward silence. "We'll have to think about that one. But for now, he'll be a remarkable stepfather to my boys. He's really been there for my sons the last year. And speaking of my sons… They're at home waiting for dinner."

"Yes, I almost forgot. I do thank you for coming by, Amanda. It was good to see you again, Lee," the Colonel answered.

"Now wait a minute," Amanda scolded. "You're coming to dinner, too."

"No, I couldn't possibly," he stammered. "I really don't want to intrude."

"No, sir," Lee quickly added. "Tonight's family night, and you, Uncle, are part of the family.

Amanda smiled over at Lee, pleased that her husband was allowing his uncle back in his life.

"Shall we, Robert, Mr. Stetson?" Amanda asked as she reached one hand over to the Colonel and the other down to Lee.

"Let's go home, Mrs. Stetson," Lee answered with a bright smile as he carefully tucked the check into his pocket and stood up.

"Lee, would you mind if I rode with Amanda over to the house?" his uncle asked.

Lee shook his head. "No, go ahead. I'll just lock up here and I'll be right behind you."

Lee kissed his wife quickly and winked.

Amanda suppressed a laugh. She wasn't sure who was more relieved, her husband or the Colonel. She was finding out quickly, they both had much in common.

"We'll see you back at the house," she answered and they headed out the door.

Lee reached down and grabbed his suitcase and took one last look around his old apartment. His bachelor days were now a distant memory. He had been a lone wolf long enough. He was a family man now, with a loving wife and two boys on the verge of adulthood. Responsibilities he once would have shunned at all cost, he now relished.

He turned out the light, closed and locked the door and walked down the hallway. He pushed the button to the elevator and in a few seconds it opened. He stood inside, alone as the doors closed. However, he smelled a familiar scent. At first he concluded it was a trace of Amanda's perfume. Then a warm tingling sensation encompassed him. It wasn't his wife's perfume, he was certain of that. It was a distinct scent from days long past. It was the familiar scent that belonged to his mother...

The end

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