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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.All characters in this story are fictional. 

Author's Note!  This story was one of my original stories and had been previously posted on another website.  It has been re-edited and posted for your convenience on the IFF FILM LIBRARY with the rest of my fanfic.  Your comments, as always, are welcome.  Happy Reading...

Amanda was busy in her kitchen getting dinner ready, but her eyes kept spying the clock on the wall.It was after seven and still no Lee Stetson.Her temper was getting shorter as the minutes ticked by.She must have looked at the clock a dozen times before he finally came in through the back door. 

“Hi!” Lee greeted her as he came in smiling his usual bright smile.

“You’re late!” she snorted, agitated at him glancing at the clock on the wall yet again.

“Oh come on, give me a break.I’m only twenty minutes late.It’s not as if you didn’t know where I was.The debriefing took a little longer than I expected, not to mention the traffic,” he reminded her.“Where is everyone?”

“Joe picked up the boys early and mother’s out for the evening.”Amanda answered with her temper still short.She was still upset with Lee.

“So I’ve got you to myself tonight,” he grinned devilishly as he kissed her on the cheek then rested his chin on her shoulder.“So what’s for dinner?”

“Leftovers,” she answered with an uncharacteristically dismal tone.

“And you’re yelling at me for being late over leftovers?I thought it was Beef Wellington,” he teased, but it did little to help her cross mood.She'd been snapping at him all day, misfiling paperwork, forgetting things and just plain having a bad day.

“What’s wrong with leftovers?This is perfectly good food, first the boys complained about it and now you!You’re lucky I cook for you at all after working all day,” she yelled at him almost in tears.

He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her gently, she was trying to pull away.“No you don’t!”He gripped her tighter. “Nothing’s wrong with leftovers, I was just teasing you.I know you’ve had a lousy day, but leave it at the office, all right?You’ve been tense and snapping at everyone.I really do appreciate you cooking for me, but you know you don’t have to.I’d be happy to take you out for dinner.What I’d really like to know is what’s wrong?”

Amanda sighed heavily, shaking her head and gritting her teeth.She wasn’t sure what was going on inside her.“I’m sorry, I don’t know what’s wrong.I haven’t felt like this since..”she stopped suddenly, her face lost all expression.

“Since?”Lee asked shrugging his shoulders, encouraging her to finish her sentence with a patient smile, but she pulled away from him.

“Oh my gosh!” she murmured uncomfortably walking aimlessly through the kitchen.

“Amanda, what?”Lee asked again, watching her closely.

“Oh no!”She turned away from him walking over to the refrigerator, looking at the calendar.She held her breath for a moment.“I’m going to be sick,” she whispered putting her hand to her mouth as she ran out of the room.

Lee waited for her to return at first, then finally deciding to follow her.He checked her bedroom, but it was empty.Then he walked to the closed bathroom door before he heard the unmistakable sound of his wife heaving.Finally he heard the toilet flush. “Are you all right, Amanda?” Lee called as he knocked gently as he tried to turn the knob, but the door was locked.

In a weak voice she replied.“I’m OK, I’ll be out in just a minute.”

Amanda continued to sit on the floor in the bathroom.A chill running through her body.She finally got up enough strength to pull herself up to the sink.She tossed some cold water over her face and brushed her teeth, but it did little to make her feel better.She looked at the closed bathroom door for a moment before finally unlocking it and heading out to talk to Lee.

He was in the kitchen puttering about uncomfortably.He looked over at her, noticing that she looked tired and pale.“I guess you have a touch of the flu.Why don’t you go lay down and I’ll get you a plate.”

Amanda shook her head.“No, I ah, don’t think it’s the flu.Lee, turn off the stove,” she said reaching out for his hand.“Why don’t we both sit down for a few minutes.”

“Sure, I’m not that hungry anyway.”Lee replied, following her to the couch.He wrapped his arm around her pulling her close, noticing her skin wasn’t warm, but cold and clammy.“You don’t feel like you’re running a temperature,” he said kissing her forehead.“Maybe you need to take it easy for a while.”

She leaned forward rubbing her forehead nervously with her hand.“Lee you know how I’ve been exhausted all week, can’t seem to shake it.My fuse is so short I yelled at Jamie this evening for wearing his old sneakers.”

“Hey, it’s allowed.You’re not feeling well. I’m sure Jamie will understand," he answered, rubbing her back tenderly.

“It’s been a while since I felt like this,” she replied with her voice quivering.

“Amanda, we’ve been working night and day.We need to take a few days off from work.Your mother could watch the boys or Joe could take them.Let’s take some time off and relax.Maybe we should just tell everyone we’re married and quit playing hide and seek.This is obviously taking its toll on you.”

“We might have to,” she started to explain. “I don’t think this is the flu.The last time I felt like this, I was, ah, I was…I was pregnant!” she looked at him blankly.She couldn’t believe the words came from her mouth.She was the mother to two teenage boys.How could this be happening to her now?

Lee stared at her silently, as if he wasn't quite sure he heard her correctly.Slowly a smile crept over his face.“We’re going to have a baby?”

“Maybe, I don’t know.I could be wrong,” she answered, knowing she was in denial.Amanda got up from the couch; the sick feeling in her stomach was starting to return.She knew in her heart that she wasn’t wrong, she remembered this feeling so well.Whenever she was pregnant her emotions were all jumbled.She had little control of them then and she had felt the same way for the last few days.

Lee was beaming.“Can’t you call your doctor, get an appointment tomorrow?Then we’ll know for sure.”

She shook her head.“I’ll make an appointment on Monday, it will take a few days to get in to see the doctor.”

“What about one of those take home tests?They’re accurate aren’t they?” he suggested with enthusiasm.

“Yeah, I guess,” she answered as she wandered through the family room with no specific direction.

“Well let’s go get one.Don’t you want to know?”He got up and walked over to her, reaching out for her.

“To be perfectly honest, no I don’t want to know.Do you realize what this means?My sons are almost grown, Philip is in high school and Jamie will be next year.How would we manage?Nobody knows we’re married, what about my job?I can’t be out in the field chasing after you if I’m pregnant.At the very least I’d have to take time off when the baby comes.This house is too small now, where would we put the baby?Oh my gosh, what a mess!” she exclaimed, too worried about all the details swimming in her head to notice his joy and his bewilderment by her total lack of enthusiasm.

“Amanda, we’re going to have a baby, we’ll figure out the details I promise,” he replied with great delight.“Come on, let’s go and buy one of those home pregnancy kits and maybe a bottle of champagne to celebrate - wait no, if your pregnant you shouldn’t be drinking.Oh come on, we’ll think of something.”He grabbed her arm and hurried her out of the house.

Lee headed to the corner pharmacy, but Amanda insisted on going to the pharmacy across town where nobody would know her.She looked long and hard at the different brands but couldn’t make up her mind.Lee was trying to be calm and patient but he finally just grabbed one of them and took it to the counter and paid for it.He was disappointed when he they got back to his place and found out that they would have to wait until tomorrow morning.

The next morning Amanda was sitting up in bed, dark circles under her eyes and a paleness to her cheeks, but Lee didn’t even notice,“Morning.”He said with a broad smile.

“Yeah.”Amanda replied nervously.

“Well, what are we waiting for," he asked impatiently.

“A miracle,” she replied flatly, not really wanting to confirm what she already knew.She was going to have another baby.That meant morning sickness and bloated feet, sore backs and then trying to lose all the weight after the baby came.Then there were the two o’clock feedings, endless diapers and colic.She shuddered at the thought.

Lee sprung to his feet, got the package and handed it to her.She got out of bed slowly putting on her robe resigned to the fact that taking the test made little difference, she was pregnant she already knew she was.

“All right, I’m going," she grumbled.

Lee gave her a quick peck on the cheek."For luck," he grinned.

She came back into their bedroom a few minutes later and handed Lee the kit.He was dying of curiosity.“Well?Are you?”

“Give it another minute or two and we’ll know.”

“Amanda, I really don’t understand why you’re not excited about this.We could be having a baby - you and me.”Lee looked at her with concern."I thought after a good nights sleep you'd feel differently about the whole idea."

“Lee, it’s been a long time since I had a baby.We never really talked about having our own child.With our jobs you have to admit it's not the best of ideas.There are a lot of things to consider.I’m not sure I’m ready for the challenges of motherhood again," she admitted honestly sitting down on the bed feeling defeated.

Lee put down the kit on the night stand and sat down on the bed next to her.

“First of all, I don’t think I’ve ever met a woman who was more of a natural with children.Secondly, I know this isn’t going to be easy but anything that’s worthwhile never is.We’ll make it work.I’ve always wanted a family you know that, and I love the boys, but I’m not now nor will I ever be their ‘dad’.  I’d like to have that experience and I can’t think of anyone in the world I’d want to share that with other than you.” He held her close in his arms, he felt her warmth, he hugged her tightly.

She had tears in her eyes after he told her that.She never really thought that he wanted to be a father, but why wouldn’t he?He was great with the boys; he spent more time with them than Joe did.This time it was going to be different, she wouldn’t be alone raising a child, Lee would be there with her every step of the way.She smiled at him.“You’re going to make a great father.”

“With your help how could I be anything but?And first thing after breakfast, we start looking for a bigger house.One with a big yard and…”

“We don’t need to go out and buy a big house.”

“Amanda, last night you mentioned your house is too small now, even without a baby - it is.Besides, this house is yours and Joe’s house, not ours.The boys should each have a room of their own with or without a baby on the way.An extra bathroom or two in the morning would be nice.”

She laughed at that.“I can’t argue with you about an extra bathroom.”

“So are you ready to find out yet or not?”He asked again, trying to contain his excitement.

She smiled at him coyly,“Lee, I already know I’m pregnant.I realized it last night when I was cooking dinner.I got the test to satisfy you.”

“Well do you mind if I look at it then?Call me crazy, but I still like the old fashioned, scientific method, not that I don’t trust your instincts.”

She shook her head.He leaned over and reached for the kit for both of them to look at it together.He looked down at the + sign.He reached his other arm around her pulling her close to him and kissing her gently on the cheek.

“Well congratulations, Mr. Stetson, it looks like you’re going to be a dad.”Amanda whispered unsteadily.Her thoughts were racing through her head, as she was sure Lee's were too.Would it be different this time? Would Lee share her pregnancy, childbirth and parenting?She didn't want to have to go it alone once again. Her emotions crashed down upon her once again and she started to cry.

“Amanda, don’t cry.It’s going to be all right.I know the first time you had children it was hard on you, but I’m not Joe.I promise you that I’ll be with you every step of the way,” he whispered sincerely as he wiped her eyes

“I’m sorry, Lee.It’s just a lot to handle all of a sudden.But I know one thing, you’re going to make a wonderful father.”

Lee sat there on the bed, hearing his wife say the word ‘father’.“That’s going to take some getting use to on my part.”

“Well, you have plenty of time to get use to the idea.I think we can whip you into shape by then.”Amanda replied seeing the worry begin to show on his face.She turned to him and kissed him.“Do you have any idea how much I love you?”

Lee chuckled, “I was about to ask you the same thing.But I have a better idea, how about you let me show you.”He reached out for her…

 

*** *** ***

Billy was going over the details of the morning assignment for the umpteenth time.“Lee you will be in the second limousine with the Prince.Francine you will be driving the first limo as a decoy and Amanda you’re driving the last limo.Now we’re continuing to receive threats so let’s not take any chances, the first sign of a problem and you high tail it back to the embassy.Got it?"

The agents nodded.“Got it."

Lee took over the conversation."We’ve got DC police helping us with traffic control and the rest of you at the reception remember - no invitation, no admittance.Look for fake invitations, I’m sure they’re around.Double check the guest list with the invitation. Any questions?”Lee asked, but there were none.They all filed out of the conference room and headed to their respective assignments.

The trip from the embassy to the reception was only a few miles.The DC police had cordoned off most of the streets for the procession.All was going smoothly until they rounded the corner just a few blocks from the reception.A car broke through the police barriers.The car headed for the last limousine, expecting the Prince to be in there.The first two limos sped off to protect the Prince.The last one was hit head on.

Lee watched in horror as the limo Amanda was driving came to a crunching halt.He frantically radioed Billy who was waiting at the reception, yelling into the radio what had happened.His limo sped quickly away from the accident to protect the Prince.His heart sank when the limo he was in turned the corner.His job was to protect the Prince, but he had to leave his pregnant wife behind to do so.

Lee raced to the hospital as soon as the Prince was safely back at the embassy.Billy was waiting for him.

“She’s all right.” Billy Melrose reassured him as Lee raced into the hospital.

Lee let out a sigh of relief.“Are you sure?” he questioned.

“She’s unconscious, seems to have a gash in her forehead, but she was wearing her seat belt.Her vital signs were stable when they brought her in.She’s going to be fine, just wait and see.”

Lee wanted only one thing - to see his wife for himself.He paced the room nervously.The time ticked by slowly.Finally the doctor came out.

“How is she?”Lee blurted out impatiently.

“She has a mild concussion we’re suturing up her forehead now.She’s a little dazed right now, she’s been floating in and out of consciousness.”

Lee looked over at Billy and then back to the doctor, he had to know about the baby.“She’s pregnant, is the baby safe?” 

The doctor cleared his throat.“Yes we know, she was mumbling that when they brought her in.The baby is fine, we’ll keep her overnight to make sure, but I’ve examined her and everything seems fine.”

Lee interrupted, “Can I see her?” 

“Just for a minute, she really needs to rest.”The doctor explained.

To Lee’s dismay, when he went in to see her, she was sleeping.He didn’t want to wake her, he just sat and watched her sleep for a few minutes.Finally he went out to meet with Billy.

“How’s she doing?”Billy asked.

“She was asleep, I didn’t want to wake her.I guess I better call her mother.”Lee replied.

"I'll talk to you later," Billy replied and Lee walked to the nearest pay phone.Not looking forward to the impending conversation.

Dotty got to the hospital within the hour.Lee had tried to convince her that Amanda would be fine, but she insisted on coming down to see for herself.

“Lee, how is she?”Dotty asked.

“They think it’s just a mild concussion. She’s got a nasty cut on her head they sutured and bandaged it.She’s was sleeping when I checked on her.”

The doctor came back out and saw Lee with Dotty.Lee made the introductions.

“Is she going to be all right?”Dotty asked the doctor.

“She’s got a slight concussion.We’ll keep her here for the night, just as a precaution, we want to make sure she and the baby are stable.If all goes well, she can go home tomorrow.”

Dotty was just about to ask the doctor to repeat himself when he was paged, he apologized for the interruption but headed quickly down the hall.So instead of turning to the doctor to ask her next question she turned to Lee.But the look on his face confirmed what she thought she heard.“She’s pregnant?”

Lee swallowed hard.This was not quite the way he wanted Dotty to find out.“Yeah.”He smiled, “we just found out last week.”

“And what do you plan to do about it?”She questioned him with a concerned motherly tone.

Lee looked at Dotty very uncomfortably.He didn’t really know what to say, but his silence wasn’t helping Dotty’s nerves.“We ah, we’ve been talking...”

“You’ve been doing a lot more than talking.”Dotty snapped hotly.“If all you were doing was talking, we wouldn’t be having this conversation now would we?”

“Dotty please keep your voice down, people are staring.”Lee tried to stay calm.

“I don’t care, I don’t know these people.You tell me my daughter’s involved in a minor traffic accident, but I come here to find out she has a concussion and she’s pregnant.So don’t tell me to be quiet.You two have been talking about this long enough.Look where that’s got you.”she yelled.

“We’re making plans to make everything official.We just found out on Saturday.”He replied quietly not wanting to have this discussion alone with Dotty.

“Let me go see her.I’ll be out in a few minutes.”Dotty said shaking her head at Lee.

Dotty went in and talked to Amanda.She was resting with her eyes closed.Her forehead was bandaged.“Amanda, are you awake?” Dotty whispered.

She opened her eyes slowly.“Mother?What are you doing here?”

“Lee called, I came right down.”

“I’m kind of tired, my head hurts, but I’m going to be fine.I need to take it easy for a few days,” Amanda mumbled softly.

“I think you’re going to need to take it easy for longer than that.I understand that you’re expecting.”Dotty replied calmly, raising her eyebrows slightly.

Amanda closed her eyes and laid her head back against the pillow.Her head was splitting and of course the doctor had to go and mention this detail to her mother.“Yes, Mother, I am.But I’m really tired at the moment, I’m sure you wouldn’t mind waiting until tomorrow to discuss this.”

“What’s to discuss?”Dotty shrugged.“I can see you’re tired.I’ll let you sleep.See you tomorrow, dear.”

End Part 1

Part 2

The next morning Lee called the hospital only to find that Amanda had been released.So he called her house, but there was no answer. 

"Dotty must have picked her up," Lee surmised to himself."I'll call her later."

Before lunch, Lee called the house again, this time Dotty answered the phone.“Hi, Dotty, how’s Amanda doing?Can I talk to her?”

“What are you talking about? I thought she was with you!”Dotty answered with a little concern in her voice.

“With me?Dotty, I’m at the office.I called the hospital and they told me she was released this morning; didn’t she come home?”Lee’s heart started to pound, he was getting an odd feeling about this.There was silence on the phone.“Dotty?Are you still there?”

She finally responded.“I thought it was kind of strange.I went to the grocery store this morning to pick up a few things, when I got back there was a note, she said she’d be out of town for a few days.I thought it was unusual, but I figured she’d be on bed rest for a couple of days.”

“Out of town?Where?”Lee’s voice was mired in worry.

“I don’t know.She never tells me where she’s going when she leaves town and frankly most of the time she’s with you.Have you called your apartment?Maybe she went over there.My guess is she’d like to avoid discussing the pregnancy with me.She sometimes acts like she’s a teenager - as if I don’t expect her to have a sex life.”Dotty answered in as calm of voice she could manage.

They both knew this wasn’t like Amanda.She’d been secretive for a while now, but usually that meant she was with Lee and on Agency business.Lee knew for sure she wasn't.

“I’ll call over there.You’re probably right; she probably wants to rest without the boys underfoot.”Lee too was trying to sound reassuring.But ever since Amanda had found out she was pregnant, she'd been acting strangely.

Lee called his apartment, but there was no answer, but thought maybe she was sleeping.He got in his car and hastily drove over to his place.After a quick look in his apartment he started to get really distressed.He drove over to Amanda’s house.He wanted to talk to Dotty and he wanted to see the note.

Lee rang the doorbell.Dotty answered it quickly.“Lee, hi.I didn’t expect to see you here.”

“Amanda’s not at my place and she hasn’t been there either.Where’s that note she left?” He asked he was more than just a little alarmed.

“It’s in the kitchen.”Dotty answered as the two of them walked into the kitchen for the note.

It was written on the note pad she kept on the counter.It simply read, ‘Mother – Sorry I missed you, I’ll be out of town for a few days.Love, Amanda.’

“I really thought she had gone over to your apartment and didn’t want to say anything.I figured she wanted to talk to you about your ‘plans’.”Dotty whispered nervously.

Lee felt his heart sink.Shaking his head, “Dotty she wasn’t thrilled when she found out she was pregnant, she was pretty upset.I thought she was getting used to the idea.I thought she was finally coming
around.But now I’m starting to wonder.”His voice was filled with apprehension.He turned away from her, trying not to show her how upset he was.

Dotty looked over at him, but when it came to Amanda, Lee Stetson couldn't hide his emotions.It was obvious from the strained look on his face that he was deeply trouble about Amanda's disappearance.She took a deep breath and looked at him thoughtfully.Finally she reached over for his arm, to get his full attention.“I think there might be something else bothering her deep down. I want to tell you something that I’ve never told anyone before, not even Joe.”

 

They sat in the family room together.His face was showing signs of strain.She put her hand on his in an attempt to comfort him.“Lee, a few years ago, when Joe was still over in Africa, he’d come home for a few weeks and then be gone for months.Amanda would talk to him on the phone once a week or so, and she wrote him often, sending pictures of the boys.But things weren’t going well for them, their marriage was at the breaking point.”

“We’ve talked about that, Dotty.”Lee confided.

Dotty smiled at Lee.“I’m glad to hear that.But my guess is she never mentioned to you that on Joe’s last visits before she filed for divorce she got pregnant.”

Lee was more than stunned, after a long silence he finally choked out.“Ah, no - um…she never told me.”

“Don’t feel bad, she never told Joe either,” Dotty sighed, hoping that she was doing the right thing by telling him.

“So what happened?Amanda would never have an abortion.”Lee whispered.

“Joe was home for his usual two week appearance, the first few days were always tense, then things got better, the boys would start to warm up to him.Then as usual, things would get strained again just before he would go.This time Amanda threatened him with divorce.The boys were growing fast as children tend to do, he was missing so much.She missed him, too.He agreed that he'd give notice when he got back to Africa and would be home before summer.So she agreed to wait, she wanted them to be a family so badly.”

Lee knew all this, Amanda had told him this years before when Joe came back from Africa.“Dotty, I don’t mean to be rude, but Amanda and I have talked about all this.What about the baby?”

Dotty smiled softly.“Amanda found out she was pregnant after Joe went back to Africa.She was stunned to say the least.Another baby was the last thing that marriage needed and she knew it.But part of her wanted another chance for Joe to share what he had missed with the boys.She tried to get a hold of Joe when she found out.My guess is she expected him to get on a plane and fly home to her.But when she called him in Estoccia he ‘wasn’t available’.It was a week before he called her back and it was pretty clear that he hadn’t given notice.I remember that conversation she had with him on the phone, she was crying and pleading for him to come home like he promised, but ‘something had come up’ was what he told Amanda.”

“So she didn’t tell him she was pregnant.”Lee answered flatly.

Dotty looked at Lee sadly, “No she didn’t, and I can’t say that I blamed her.She knew their marriage was over and she really didn’t know what to do.”

“So what did she do?”Lee asked, still not believing that she would have terminated the pregnancy.

“She never had a chance to do anything.We had a bad ice storm a few days later.It was pretty late in the season, but she walked Phillip to the bus stop that morning, the streets had been sanded but the sidewalks were a mess.On her way back to the house she fell really hard on the sidewalk down the street.She was cramping when she got back to the house, she called the doctor immediately, but there was little he could do, it was over so fast.She swore me to secrecy; she didn’t want Joe to know.Up until today, I never told a soul.She filed for divorce just a few weeks after that but I don’t think she ever dealt with losing that baby.”

Lee sat reflectively on the couch, finally looking at Dotty with tears in his eyes.“No wonder Amanda had such strong emotions about being pregnant again, it brought back a lot of painful memories.I didn’t understand why she wasn’t as excited as I was.”

“That might be why she’s acting so strangely, and the bump on her head probably hasn’t helped, it has her confused.Maybe it would have been better to tell Joe about the miscarriage, maybe that would have changed things.I guess that’s what Amanda has always wondered.She’s trying to deal with the miscarriage she had so many years ago.”

“Somehow I doubt that would have changed a damn thing.”Lee answered angrily.

Dotty patted his arm, she could see he was angry.“I agree with you, but I didn’t tell you to get you all riled up.I told you this to understand what Amanda might be thinking and feeling right now.You need to be patient and understanding.She needs a husband and a father to this baby.”Dotty looked at Lee but didn't say anything more.

Lee put his arm around Dotty and kissed her lightly on her cheek.“Thank you for sharing that with me.And don’t worry; I’m so excited about this baby you’re going to be sick of me talking about it.We’re planning on making things ‘official’ - you know how much I love her, but right now I need to find her.”

Dotty shook her head in agreement, tears were forming in her eyes.Lee saw that and nervously ran his fingers through his hair.“Dotty I’m going to find her, everything is going to be fine.I’ll call you when I find her.Call me if you hear from her OK?”

Dotty nodded her head in agreement. "I will.You'll call me if you hear from her too, promise?"

"I promise," Lee answered as got up and started for the door. They were both worried right now about Amanda.What was she thinking right now?Was she all right?

Just before he left, Dotty gave him a motherly hug for support before he went outside to his car."I'll call you soon, I'm sure."

Lee headed to the office, but his mind was only on Amanda.He made some calls around town, but nobody had seen her.When Billy saw him he looked terrible.He was so worried about him he pulled him from the assignment of guarding the Prince, the charity ball was later that evening.When Billy told Lee of his decision, he didn’t even argue.He knew Billy was right, his mind was on other things.As the day wore on
Lee found himself back in Billy’s office.

“Billy, what am I going to do?I’ve called anyone who knows her and she’s nowhere in sight.” 

“Maybe she needs some time to sort things through.She probably didn’t want everyone to know she was pregnant.Now that the cats out of the bag, she might be a little uncomfortable. She might need some time to sort out what she plans to do,” Billy suggested wisely.

“That damn assignment.Why did I ever suggest she be one of the drivers?”

“Hey, she maneuvered that limo like a professional, giving you enough time to get the hell out of there with the Prince.I saw the wreckage of that limo, she’s lucky she only has a bump on her head and some stitches.”Billy reminded him, he was proud of the way she had handled herself.

“Yeah, she did a great job, but at what cost?Nobody knows where she is.”Lee stated sourly.

“Stop borrowing trouble.”Billy suggested to his agent.

Lee was pacing the room when Francine sashayed into the office, decked out in a low cut burgundy-sequined gown with diamond earrings and matching bracelet.“I look smashing don’t I?”She boasted as she spun around in a circle, not waiting for a reply.“Sorry to hear that Prince Charming won’t be coming to the ball.”She snickered at Lee with little regards to his battered feelings.

Lee turned away from her gritting his teeth, this was one time he wished Francine would just fade away.Billy noticed his anguish and tried to get Francine out of the office before Lee lost his cool.“Francine, don’t you have some place you’re supposed to be?”Billy tried hinting to her, but it fell on deaf ears.

“Actually no.I’m early.”She grinned delightfully.“So how is Cinderella feeling these days, Lee?Has she found her glass slipper or is she still missing?”Francine laughed finding the whole situation funny.

“Can it, Francine!”Lee yelled angrily.“She could be in serious trouble, she had a head injury you know.Some of us are a little concerned about her right now and would like to find her.” 

“Get used to her not being around!Do you really think she’s going to be traipsing after you in the field pregnant?Do you really think Joe’s going to approve of that?”

“What makes you so sure it’s Joe King’s baby?”Lee argued with fire in his eyes.

“Come on, Lee, be serious.She got herself pregnant by her ex-husband.For Gods’ sakes – that’s pitiful, get over her once and for all.”She scoffed, laughingly.

“You’re jealous of her, aren’t you?”Lee snarled with a biting tone.He started towards Francine menacingly.Billy was getting a little uncomfortable with the scene playing out before him.

“Enough, both of you,” Billy yelled, trying to get between the two agents.

Lee didn’t back down.He was at his breaking point and kept coming forward until Billy put his arms out to stop him.Lee in his anguished state still lashed out at Francine.“You’re envious of her.She has managed to balance a family and a career, something that you’ve never…”

Billy finally interrupted, “Scarecrow cool it!Francine, I suggest you get to your assignment while you still can.”He looked back at her, still holding Lee in place.

Francine turned with a “Hmmph!”and headed quickly out of the office, slamming the door behind her.

Billy let go of Lee who started towards the door.“Sit down, Scarecrow!” he roared vehemently, he'd had enough of Lee’s attitude.He was trying to cut him some slack since Amanda was his partner, but enough was enough – he had the Agency to run.

Lee turned and looked at Billy, his temper still not in check.“I’m off duty!” he snarled at Billy his friend and mentor and he continued for the door.

“You walk out that door right now, you can consider yourself on suspension,” Billy retorted, unruffled.

Lee put his hand on the doorknob, but didn’t turn it.He took a deep breath and closed his eyes.His head drifted slowly down, his eyes looking to the floor as he thought to himself ‘What am I doing?’Slowly his hand let go of the doorknob and he turned to look at his boss.

Billy in a much calmer tone repeated his request.“Lee, sit down.”

He acquiesced to Billy’s request and sat down in the black leather chair in front of Billy’s desk.Billy leaned against his desk, only a few feet from Lee.“There’s more going on here than you’ve admitted to isn’t there?” 

Lee looked up at Billy through his deeply troubled eyes.He couldn’t lie to him, he didn’t have the strength.He just nodded his headed.

“So do you want to talk about it?”Billy suggested in a fatherly tone.

“I have a feeling you already know,” Lee replied with some relief.

“I wasn’t sure until tonight although I’ve had my suspicions since yesterday at the hospital.”

Lee stared at Billy with an awkward silence.Not quite sure what to tell him or even how.“We just found out last week.She hasn’t even been to her own doctor yet, she was supposed to make an appointment on Monday, but that was before all of this happened.”

“I see.So I guess congratulations are in order.”Billy offered as he patted Lee gently on the back.

“I wish I could be sure, but she’s still got some baggage to work through…" Lee paused and asked,“Off the record?” 

He nodded, “Off the record.”

“Apparently she had a miscarriage just before she divorced Joe.Her mother thinks she might be having some trouble dealing with that loss.Kind of put it into the back of her head and now this baby made all those feelings surface again.”Lee replied in a somber tone, the agony in his voice was also apparent.

“Give her some time.Sounds like she needs to sort some things out.”

“I’m just worried about her.She was just released from the hospital this morning and nobody has seen her since.”

“Amanda's a smart woman, and she’s not going to do anything to hurt that baby.When she’s ready to talk to you, she’ll find you.”

“I’ve got to keep looking for her.I need to be sure she’s all right.”He got up and walked towards the door.

Billy knew that too.“Call me when you find her.”

“You bet.”Lee remarked as he headed out to find his wife. 

He spent the night going to all the places that he thought she might have gone to, but he couldn’t find her.Nobody had seen her.He thought sadly that he had taught her too well.If she didn’t want to be found, it was going to be very difficult to find her.He finally headed home - it was late - he was both mentally and physically exhausted, hopefully she was safe and sound somewhere – but where?

When he got to his apartment there were several messages on his machine.He hit the button and played them back, the first message was from Dotty, she hadn’t heard from her.Another from a contact he had called earlier in the day, but he hadn’t seen her either.

The last message was from Amanda, it was short and simple.“I’m OK.”

The message gave him some hope, playing it over again and again.Her voice sounded distant, but not overly distressed.She knew he would be worried about her.He headed into the bedroom.Tomorrow he would continue to search for her – whether she wanted him to or not.

 

End Part 2 

Part 3

 

 

The next day brought on more frustration and anxiety for Lee.The call Amanda had made the night before had come from a pay phone near the Jefferson Memorial.Ironic Lee thought, because when they first started working together they would meet there often.He would sit there all day if he thought she’d show up there again, but he knew her well enough that she wouldn’t use that pay phone again.

He spent most of the day lurking around GeorgetownUniversityLawSchool hoping that maybe she was there on campus, but no one had seen Amanda.Lee still hadn’t gotten as much as one false sighting of her.It’s like she had vanished into thin air.Late in the day he headed back to the agency.He found himself once again in Billy’s office.

“How could she just vanish like that?” Lee groaned.He was truly wearing his heart on his sleeve.

“Lee, she’s learned from the best.In this town there’s hundreds of places she could be hiding - quite comfortably I might add.Now my best suggestion is to give her the time and space she needs.You said she called you last night and said she was fine.”Billy was trying to diffuse the situation, but Lee was hard to console.

He ran his hand through his hair.“I’m running out of places to look, people to ask.What else can I do?” he asked in anger and defeat.

“We could send out a low level request to Metro for…”

“No!”Lee yelled and then immediately tried to calm down.“I’m sorry, I know you’re just trying to help.I’m just well, hell you know that’s my baby she’s carrying and I’m way past worried about her.If you send out the Metro somebody might get trigger happy and she could get hurt.”

“Have you talked to her mother today?Maybe she could give you some ideas that you haven’t thought of already?It’s worth a try.”

“You're right, maybe she can shed some light on something.”

“And Lee, try to get some sleep too.”Billy urged as he left his office.

*** *** *** 

Dotty and Lee talked for over an hour that evening.Going over places she might have gone, but the fact remained that she called from the Mall area the previous night, Lee knew she hadn’t gone far.This whole mess involved Joe.He hated to admit that Joe might have the last piece of the puzzle.

The next morning Lee went over to Joe’s office.He waited impatiently for him to finish with his client and then asked for a few moments of his time.Lee was careful not to reveal the secret that Dotty had shared with him.It would serve no useful purpose to tell Joe years after the fact about her miscarriage.He fished around for any clue that might help him find Amanda.Despite how open and candid Joe was he really had nothing to add, he no longer knew his ex-wife’s habits.

Lee headed back to the office.He spent several hours locked up in the Q bureau trying to do some paperwork, but getting little accomplished.In the late afternoon Billy headed up to the Q bureau to check on him.

“So how is it going?”Billy asked, but from the look at Lee and his desk, he already knew the answer.

Lee looked up at Billy.“I’m not giving up.I’m just not looking in the right place.I’ve talked to her mother, Joe, the boys, every contact I have on the street, nobody has seen or heard from her since Monday.”

“Lee, I really think you should give her the space she needs to clear her head.There’s a lot of things she needs to consider, both career wise and personally now that she’s going to have another baby.”

“I know, but I just can’t sit still.What if something happened to her, or the baby?”

“Why don’t you get out of here for a while?A change of scenery might do you some good.Why don’t you go out for dinner or have a drink or two?”

“Normally I don’t mind eating alone, but I don’t think I could stomach it tonight.”

“So then go over to Amanda’s house, I bet her family wouldn’t mind you dropping in.I’m guessing you get along pretty well with her boys by now?Sitting alone up here is driving you crazy.I’d take you out
myself, but The Prince is still in town.” Billy added, he was worried about Amanda, but more so about Lee.

“I’d go over to the house but the boys have a baseball game tonight.”Lee lamented.

“So go to the game.You like baseball don’t you?”Billy suggested lightheartedly.

Lee laughed, that really wasn’t a bad idea after all.“Now why didn’t I think of that.That’s a great idea, I think I will.”Lee grabbed his jacket off his chair and his keys off his desk.“Thanks Billy.”

Billy laughed.“No problem, that’s why I get paid the big bucks.”

****** *** 

Lee drove over to the ballfield. Phillip saw his car and jogged over to see him.

“Hey, Lee!I didn’t think you were coming tonight,” Phillip greeted him with a grin, obviously glad to see him.

Lee couldn’t help but smile, he loved being part of this family so much.He needed a distraction from his fruitless search, even if it was only for an hour or so. The two of them walked back over to the ball field.“So who’s winning?” 

Phillip answered as he kicked some dirt on the ground, “They are; we’re losing five to three, last inning.Man on first and third…”

“How many outs, and who’s up?”Lee asked as they stopped behind the backstop.He was glad to be thinking of someone else’s problems instead of his own, even if it was just a game.

“One out…”He watched as the boy at bat swung wildly at another pitch.“Correction, two outs, and now Jamie’s up.He’ll never get a hit off of Miguel.”

Lee grimaced, he knew Miguel was a pretty good pitcher, but he had been practicing with Jamie in the park for the last few weeks.“Hey don’t count Jamie out.He’s getting a lot better.”

“I know Lee, but this isn’t the park.”Phillip replied as he turned towards the game and watched as his little brother stepped up to the plate.

“Come on Jamie!You can do it,” Lee cheered.

Jamie turned and saw Lee’s friendly face behind the backstop.His grim look turned slightly towards a smile and nodded to Lee.The first pitch was high and Jamie swung, missing it by a mile.He looked at Lee uncomfortably.

“Hey its OK, partner, just wait for your pitch.Take a deep breath and wait for your pitch, don’t swing at junk,” Lee continued to encourage.

The next pitch was a low and outside, he watched it go by.Jamie could hear the whole team cheering and the people in the bleachers, but Lee was right behind him.The third pitch came right down the pipe, and Jamie just watched in dismay as it whizzed on by him; it was strike two.

“Step out of the box, Jamie.Wipe off your palms, calm down.You know the next pitch is yours.It’s just you and me at the park.Block the rest of it out.Just you and me!It’s going down the left field line.You can do it,” Lee coached from behind the backstop.

Jamie did exactly what Lee told him, he got back into the batters box and waited for his pitch.His swing was perfect, just like he had practiced.The crack of the bat got the stands cheering.The ball flew over the third baseman’s head and down the line.Jamie beamed as he raced down the first base line, then over to second.

“That a boy Jamie!”Lee yelled with pride in his voice, clapping his hands.“I knew you could do it.”

Amanda had been watching from across the parking lot.Lee had yet to see her.She was so happy for her son who was proudly standing on second base with a stand up double, both base runners scored, tying the game.But then she looked down at the backstop where she heard that familiar voice cheering her son.Somehow it gave her the strength and security she needed to talk with him.She slowly headed across the busy parking lot towards the backstop.

Lee and Phillip were still behind the backstop.It was the last batter of the order – Leonard.“Oh great, he hasn’t swung the bat all season.”Phillip groaned, “we were so close to winning.There goes our chances at the play offs.”

“Hey, it’s not over yet,” Lee reminded him as he cheered on Leonard.

Leonard looked back at Lee, but it was clear from the panic look on the young boy's face that he was scared to death to move the bat off his shoulder.He looked at the pitcher with fear.

“Come on Leonard, get closer to the place, don’t let him scare you,” Lee encouraged, reading the look on his face.The first pitch was inside, and backed Leonard off the plate.Lee continued to talk to the scared batter.The next pitch came screaming down the plate.Lee knew what the pitcher was doing.Miguel was not only a good pitcher but a smart one, too.If only Leonard would have the courage to get the bat off of his shoulder.

“Swing, Leonard,” Lee yelled as the pitch came down the pipe.To everyone’s amazement including Leonard his bat moved off his shoulder and connected with the ball.But instead of heading out into the field, it headed up and over the backstop straight for the woman walking across the parking lot, the woman who was looking at the traffic and not the baseball coming straight for her.Lee did a double take before he realized who that woman was.

“Amanda, look out!" he shouted anxiously.

She looked up just in time to make a basket catch of the ball.Then tossing it back to Phillip who was now just a few yards away from her.

“Nice catch, Mom,” he grinned as he headed back towards the game.Lee walked towards Amanda.

“Lucky catch,” Lee beamed with relief of seeing her again, “are you all right?”

“You forgot who taught them to play ball in the first place.”She replied as she rubbed her sore red hands together and then laughing at herself with a grimace on her face, “That hurt.”

He finally reached her and wrapped his arms around her and whispered to her, “That wasn’t what I meant and you know it.I’ve been looking all over DC and Arlington for you.”

“I know, you almost ran into me yesterday, but I did call you and told you I was all right.I needed some time to work some things out by myself.” 

“Where the hell have you been?” he asked in a serious tone.“I’m starting to wonder who’s the better agent here if I can’t even find my own wife.”

She winked at him. “I had the best teacher in the world.Besides your car is a dead giveaway.I spotted it and knew you were in the neighborhood.I just kept a low profile until it was gone.I wasn’t ready to… to talk to you yet.”

He looked at her with a stressed glance.“Well I’m not going to let you out of my sight for a long while.”

“Agreed, but I came to watch the game.Tied now isn’t it?” she questioned. 

“Amanda?” Lee groaned.

“After the game we’ll talk, I promise.But not now and not in front of the boys – privately.Please?” she asked in a soft, but determined voice.

They walked to the backstop hand in hand to see another batter up to the plate.They looked over at Phillip who came back to explain.“Leonard got hit by the next pitch.He actually got on base.Now we have a chance to win, top of the batting order - Jose is up.”

With that, they all heard the crack of the bat as Jose hit the ball over the short stops head.Jamie was racing the bases with the crack of the bat.As he rounded third base the coach told him to go for home, he ran as fast as he could, Lee was yelling for him to slide.He slid just ahead of the tag, giving his team the winning run.The team greeted him to cheers and slapping him on the back.His hit started the rally and tied the game and Jamie even scored the winning run.He was grinning from ear to ear, as he looked over towards Lee.Lee grinned back.

They went out for pizza after the game to celebrate.Lee watched the two boys and his wife talk about the game, he was so happy to be part of this family.He thought of the baby Amanda was carrying and smiled even brighter, reaching under the table and squeezing her hand tightly.Amanda just looked over at him, not knowing what he was thinking, but smiled back at him.He couldn’t wait to announce the news.As the evening wound down they finally drove back home.Dotty was more than relieved to see Amanda come home with the boys.

“Amanda King where have you been?”Dotty scolded.

“Mother,” Amanda warned quietly, “not now please.Not in front of the boys.”

Dotty threw up her hands with aggravation at being put off again.“You two are going to drive me crazy.” 

Lee and Amanda both laughed.“Fellas, you need to hit the showers and get to bed.It’s getting pretty late and you have school tomorrow.”

“OK, Mom.Thanks for coming tonight, Lee,” Jamie hollered as he headed up the stairs.

“You should be really proud of yourself tonight, Jamie, you did great.”Lee winked.

“Night mom, night Lee,” Phillip said as he high fived Lee.“Glad you’re home mom, we missed you.” 

“I missed you guys, too!” 

They both watched as the boys went up the stairs.Amanda walked into the kitchen where Dotty was.“Mother, I’m going to spend the night at Lee’s.We’ve got a lot to talk about.I promise you tomorrow we’ll sit down and talk.”

Dotty smiled at Amanda and gave her a tender hug.“Amanda, I’m just glad you’re all right.You had us both pretty worried about you.Are you sure you’re OK?”

Amanda kissed her mother on the cheek and whispered softly.“I’m OK, really.It’s been an emotional few days, but I need to talk to Lee, to try to explain some things.”She turned and headed back into the living room where Lee was comfortably lounging on the sofa.“You ready to go?”She asked.

“Go?Where to?”Lee asked somewhat surprised to be leaving so soon.

“I was thinking your apartment unless you had a better idea, you did want to talk didn’t you?” Amanda questioned him in a soft voice.

Lee got up and hugged Amanda, holding her close and tight.He was so relieved to have her safely in his arms, to hear her heart beat and the sweet sound of her voice, to feel her warm skin next to his own.He whispered huskily to her while still holding her close.“If we go back to my place tonight I can’t guarantee that all we’ll do is talk.” 

She pushed him away in a move that would suggest she was embarrassed by his last remark.She tried but couldn’t help hide the smile that was forming on her face.“I think that’s what probably got us into this predicament in the first place.”

Just then Dotty came into the room.“Are you two still here?With all the talking you two do it’s amazing to me that you found enough time between conversations to conceive a child.”

“Mother!”Amanda groaned as she and grabbed Lee’s hand and quickly raced out the front door.

End Part 3

Part 4

When they arrived at Lee’s apartment, Amanda was more than nervous; she was wringing her hands and pacing the living room.“Lee I don’t know where to start.There has been so much going through my head the last few days.”

“Amanda, you don’t owe me an explanation for anything.I honestly understand.”Lee confided.There was a long pause and then he continued.“Your mother and I talked a lot the last few days, she explained to me about your miscarriage.”

Amanda turned away from him; she couldn’t face him.Her voice trembled as she spoke, “You must think I’m an awful person for not telling my husband that I was pregnant and then cover up a miscarriage.”Her voice was growing hoarse as she spoke.

Lee crossed the room and pulled Amanda into his arms.“Amanda you did what was best for you and the boys at the time.Your husband deserted you, and was living on another continent.As for the miscarriage, it was an accident that happened.You can’t change that, and telling Joe after the fact wouldn’t have changed anything.At best it might have only prolonged the inevitable.”

She bit her lip trying to stop it from quivering.“It was over.I knew it before he went back to Africa, I just couldn’t admit I failed.I just took one look at the boys and felt so hopeless.”Slowly her voice grew stronger.“When I realized I was pregnant I had such mixed emotions - no I was heartsick.Joe and I were through and here I was bringing another innocent child into this sham of a marriage.I tried to reach him in Estoccia, but he wasn’t around, God knows where he was.” Her voice had turned to anger.

She pulled away from Lee and went to the window, looking out into the dark night for answers that weren’t there.He was watching her carefully, not sure how to help her through this, other than to listen.Finally she turned to him and continued.

“Joe finally called, a week or so later, we had this huge fight. He wasn’t coming home, but I already knew that.I was so mad at him I didn’t tell him about the baby.At that point it would have sounded like I was using the baby as a pawn and I wanted him to want to come home. It wouldn’t have worked any other way.”She looked over at Lee hoping he would understand.

“Not that it matters, but I think you did the right thing.”

She smiled at him, appreciating his support and then continued on. “Then we had the ice storm. I was going to let Phillip stay home from school, but he wanted to go.I don’t even remember why.So I walked him to the bus stop.The wind was biting sharply that morning, it was brutally cold and when Phillip got on the bus all I could think of was a hot cup of coffee to warm me up.I hurried back towards the house, but it was so slippery out and the next thing I knew…” She stopped, again biting her lip, it was quivering again, her voice growing hoarse.She closed her eyes in a valiant attempt to hold back her tears but they fell from her eyes anyway, shaking her head she finished.“I should have been more careful, but I was so cold.I went flying on some ice.I hit the ground really hard.I lost the baby, I couldn’t deal with that, I felt so guilty…”

Lee got up from his couch and walked over to the window.His hands taking hers into his and he whispered, “Sweetheart you had nothing to feel guilty about, you didn’t do anything wrong.It was an accident.”

“I know, but it was a child, it was a part of me...” She whispered back.“Last week when I realized I was pregnant, those memories came flooding back, but I thought I could handle it - alone.Then, when I woke up in the hospital, I was afraid it happened all over again.I thought I had lost our baby.I was scared and confused.Lee, I can’t tell you how much it means to me that you’re excited about this baby.It’s the only thing that has gotten me through the last few days,” Amanda admitted to him.

Wrapping his arms around her, he hugged her tightly, “How could I be anything but thrilled?The woman that I love and married is carrying my child.”

She smiled at his admission, then sighed, still not sure she could handle what was to come.“Lee, I’m scared.”

“I’m scared, too – imagine, me a father!” he answered, shaking his head.

 

“A lot of things are going to have to change.I’ve thought about this a lot over the last few days and with a new baby coming we need to tell my family the truth.About everything, starting with ‘us’ and the baby and even about ‘The Agency’.It’s a heck of a bombshell to drop, I know, but I don’t think I can carry this baby and all those secrets.I don’t want to go through this pregnancy alone.I want to raise this baby together with you.I don’t want to be mother and father again.I don’t think I have the strength.”

Lee nodded in agreement; he enveloped her in his arms and whispered back to her.“You’re not going to raise this baby alone, I promise you that.I’m going to be with you - always.It’s time we start being a real family.I’m sure the boys will be shocked, but waiting won’t make that any easier.We’ll tell them tomorrow.”

She looked at him, not quite ready for the inevitable but he nodded.“Tomorrow?”She asked.

He kissed her tenderly on the lips and stated emphatically,“Tomorrow!”

*** *** *** *** 

The morning came quickly and Lee dropped Amanda off at her house before heading into the office.They planned to tell the boys and Dotty at dinner that evening.Amanda told her mother that she would answer all of her questions after dinner.Dotty was frustrated about being put off yet again, but Amanda promised her an answer to every last question she had.That seemed to pacify her for the moment.

Amanda spent the day in the kitchen cooking.She was making lasagna for dinner, one of the boys’ favorites and she knew Lee would enjoy it as well.She kept looking at the clock on the wall; the day seemed to drag by slower than imaginable.Lee promised to be at the house by four, the boys got home as usual and clamored into the kitchen once they caught whiff of the smell.She shoed the boys out of the kitchen telling them dinner would be early and to start their homework.Dotty had been remarkably helpful by going shopping earlier in the day.

She heard the door open, looking up at the clock it was four o’clock sharp.She was relieved that Lee had gotten in as promised, but the voice was her mothers and not her husbands.Sighing deeply she started to set the table, if she could only keep busy until Lee showed up, she might survive this evening after all.Lee finally arrived, again twenty minutes late. 

“Are you all right?” he worried when he walk into the kitchen, she looked nervous.

“I’m scared to death,” she whispered uncomfortably.“You sure you want to do this?”

Lee looked at her with a severe look.“Don’t you go and chicken out on me now.Besides, I was looking forward to spending the night; that’s why I’m late.I packed a couple of bags.They’re in the car.”

Amanda smiled at him, “Let’s hope it goes well enough and you still want to spend the night.”They walked into the dining room with the lasagna tray and Amanda called the boys down for dinner.

The conversation at dinner was still on the ball game from the night before.Lee was actively enjoying the discussion.Dotty smiled over at Amanda who fidgeted most of the meal.The boys were on their second serving of lasagna as was Lee before she even finished her first.When they finished their meal, the boys eagerly cleared the dishes wanting to get at the cake that Amanda baked.

“Boys, you have to wait until later for the cake.That’s for a little celebration.”Amanda nervously started.

“What are we celebrating?”The boys chimed in unison.

“Come back to the table and we’ll tell you,” Amanda called to them as she waited for her sons to sit down.Looking over at Lee who nodded for her to continue.Dotty sat anxiously on the edge of her seat, waiting to hear when the wedding would be.She was so excited, she was grinning from ear to ear.

Amanda started.“Lee and I’ve have been working together for some time and I’m sure you know how we both feel about each other.We decided some time ago that we wanted to get married, but you two fellas really didn’t know Lee very well at the time.We wanted you to feel comfortable with Lee...”

She paused, not able to find the words to explain to her two teenage sons that this man who was sitting at their dinner table was already their stepfather.

“What I’m really trying to tell you is that Lee and I eloped back in February.”

Lee kind of looked stunned that she just blurted it out.Dotty nearly fell out of her chair.The boys were somewhat taken aback.Jamie was the first one to speak.

“You guys got married?”he repeated slowly as a smiled crept over his face.

“Yeah,” Lee grinned brightly at Jamie.

“So why then aren’t you living with us?”Phillip asked, bluntly.

“Well we wanted to talk to you about that, too,” Lee continued not even looking at Amanda.He got her into this mess he should be the one to tell the family.“Your mother and I have known each other a lot longer than you might have thought.I actually met her about five years ago, at the train station…”

Lee quietly explained how they met, about The Agency and the danger of their profession.He also carefully spelled out how important it was that this conversation and the information it contained could never leave the room.The boys were silent throughout as was Dotty.They didn’t make a sound they were so intrigued.Occasionally they took their eyes off of Lee long enough to look over at their mother – it was hard to believe she was a spy.

Lee finally finished and asked.“Any questions?” Almost as if he was in a briefing, not at the dining room table of Amanda’s family – correction his family.

Dotty started to laugh, “Lee, you’ve told me some tall tales in your time but this one really takes the cake.”

Amanda looked over at Lee and then at her mother.“Mother, I told you we’d answer all of your questions tonight.This isn’t a tall tale, this is the truth.We work for Mr. Melrose, you remember him, don't you?Remember that security mix up last year, mother?Did you really think that two people from a film company would cause that much commotion.”Amanda looked over at her mother who was shaking her head.Amanda repeated.“This isn’t a story, this is finally the truth.”

Dotty’s eyes became wide as the truth finally sunk in.“Oh my!”Was all she could say.

“This is sooo cool.”Phillip added with emphasis.

“Phillip, I can stress enough how important this secret is.You can’t share it with your pals or your girlfriend.Your safety and your mother’s not to mention mine depends upon you keeping this quiet.This is why we haven’t told you this before, you were too young, but now, you’re both old enough to understand.Our work brings us into contact with a lot of undesirable people who might try to hurt us through you two.”Lee’s tone was very serious, Phillip’s smile slowly faded as he nodded slightly.

Amanda agreed, “That’s why we never told you about what we really do at IFF.It’s can be dangerous at times and we wanted to protect you boys.”

Dotty was silent, but now Jamie seemed troubled. “So why are you telling us all this now?Are you two in trouble again?”

Amanda got up and went over to Jamie.“Sweetheart, we’re not in any trouble.”Amanda soothed her son.“There’s a couple of reasons why we’re telling you all this.”She said looking at Lee who nodded.“For one thing, Lee and I are expecting a baby.So with time it would be impossible to continue to hide our relationship.”

Lee then interrupted, “But most importantly, I love your mother, and we don’t want to continue living separate lives.I want to be part of this family on a full time basis, not just a couple of hours every other night.I hope that you two can accept me into this family, I think you both know how much I love your mother, and for that matter I love you, too.”

“You’re gonna have a baby?”Jamie whispered, looking at his mom in disbelief.

“Yes, sweetheart, you’re finally going to get your wish to be a big brother.”Amanda smiled, knowing the shock it would be to her youngest son.

That thought made him grin slightly.Amanda and Lee waited impatiently for his response.“OK.So does that mean we can eat the cake now?”

Lee, Amanda and Dotty all laughed.“Go on, get the cake.”Amanda said cheerfully.

They sat in the dining room looking at the half-eaten cake, satiated by a wonderful meal and filling dessert.Lee whispered to Phillip, and nodded to the door.Amanda watched as both boys got up and headed outside.

“Just what are you up to?”Amanda asked.

“I just asked the boys to get my bags that’sall.”Lee replied quickly, and with that the boys came back in with them.“Thanks guys.”

Lee opened the smaller of the two bags and reached in for a tiny familiar blue box.Amanda blushed slightly as she realized what he was doing.Her engagement ring and their wedding bands were safely tucked inside.

Lee cleared his throat came over to the other side of the table and knelt down on his knee with the boys and Dotty watching.Amanda’s cheeks were increasing in color.“Will you do me the honor and wear these rings, now and forever?”

“I will,” she answered as he placed both rings on her finger.Then reaching into the box and taking his wedding band into her hand, holding his she asked.“Will you do me the honor and wear this ring, now and forever?”

“I will,” he whispered, his face now blushing as well.

Dotty clapped her hands in delight, and joined by both boys in unison, “You may kiss the bride.”

Lee and Amanda hadn't waited for their instructions.They were already deeply involved with an intimate kiss.

The end

 

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