Ah the Kiss. So much promise of missed opportunities and interrupted moments!

The anticipation might have exceeded the actual event, but in the end it was as sweet and beautiful as Lee and Amanda had, each in their own way, hoped it would be.
They held each other for a long time, finally pulling apart to look into each other's eyes. Lee laughed softly. "Well, Mrs. King, where do we go from here?" Amanda shook her head, unable talk just yet.

"I think," he said, stroking her cheek. "We need to be together a lot more." She shivered just a bit at his touch. "Not here in the office, or out in the field, but in our own space and in our own time." Amanda nodded and said hoarsely, "I'd like that." Lee leaned in to kiss her again as the phone rang. He rolled his eyes. "Of course."

Amanda turned to pick up the receiver. Lee kept his arms around her and nuzzled the back of her neck.

"Hello, this is. . ." she cleared her throat and tried to wave Lee back. "This is Amanda. Oh hello sir. No sir, I'm fine." She gently glared at Lee, who grinned. "Yes sir. Lee?" She looked at Lee as he shook his head quickly. "Uh, he just stepped out. He should be back shortly." She listened for a minute. "Yes sir. I'll tell him. Yes sir. Thank you sir. Goodbye sir." She hung up and turned back to Lee. "Mr. Melrose would like to see you as soon as you get back."

He kissed her again. "Okay. But first, tonight." She just looked at him. "If you are available," Lee said, "I'd like you to come for dinner at my place." He moved a stray hair off her forehead, "just us."

"Are you asking me on a date?" she asked. He smiled. "Something like that." She took a deep breath. "I think I can arrange that. The boys have a sleepover and then go to Joe's tomorrow. I just have to be sure Mother can take them to their friend's house before she goes on her date."

"Her date?" He chuckled. "You West women really get around!"

"Go," she said, pushing him toward the door. "I have reports to write."

"Yes you do. You do still work for me, you know." He winked as she stuck her tongue out at him.

After the door closed, she sat down at her desk, turned on her computer and stared at it. "Like I can concentrate," she thought. The phone rang again. She picked up the receiver. "This is Amanda."

"Amanda, it's Lee."

"I know that."

"Billy wants me to go to lunch with him and a meeting with Mr. Smith." Lee's voice faded as he turned his head and said, away from the phone, "I'll be right there, just giving Amanda some instructions."

"Instructions?" Amanda asked. "Really?" with just a hint of sarcasm. "Shhhh," he said in a low voice, "I miss you already." Then in a normal voice, "ok then, see you later, Amanda."

"Wait," she asked, smiling to herself, "can't I tell you what I'm wearing?"

"Uh, right." he swallowed. She could almost see him turning red. "Maybe later," he said and hung up. He shook his head slightly. Adorable, he thought.

His absence, for better or worse, gave Amanda lots of time to think. It was breathtaking to realize her deepest wish was coming true.

But was it? The reality was that she and Lee were two very different people and as close as they had become, the differences remained. She had spent much her adult life as wife and mother in the suburbs. She remembered his total lack of comprehension of the reality of the American dream, despite his vocation to fight for it every day. Not that she understood his life either. It had been hard to watch someone who had so much passion for justice, making the world safer be so cavalier about his personal relationships.

And while Joe wasn't the first man in her life, he had been the only one for a long time. She was relatively certain Lee's social calendar was a lot more active than hers. Since Joe she had dated but nothing like the four little black books Lee had shared during the Wizard of Oz case a few months ago. She knew he was used to sophisticated women whose closets were filled with evening gowns and strappy sandals, who knew their wine, who had travelled, wore make-up to pick up their paper. Women like . . . Francine.

Oh god, Francine. If she had any idea what was going on . . . Amanda knew Francine would either be horrified or think it was hilarious. She'd probably say that Amanda was just another trophy for Lee - a housewife novelty he had conquered. She groaned and put her head on the desk. What if that's all that it was? No, it couldn't be. After all the close calls they had before the consummate kiss, where they just didn't quite get there-surely he would have given up and moved on even if she was just one more-Amanda shuddered. Just another name in a black book. Maybe this was a bad idea after all.

She sighed. Even if it was, she knew she couldn't stop the tidal wave coming toward her- just the thought of not being around Lee left her incredibly empty.

A few hours later Lee returned. He kissed her before perching on the corner of her desk and loosening his tie.

"How did it go?" she asked.

"Quite well," he replied. "We basically closed the Krudioff case. Your name came up quite a few times."

"Why?" she asked warily.

"Because, my love, you were quite brilliant," he said. "Smart, calm, resourceful." She blushed slightly.

"And beautiful. My word, not theirs," he smiled. "Anyway, I convinced Billy to let us knock off early. How about now?"

"I was hoping to be farther along with these reports . . . How about I meet you there in about an hour?"

Lee sighed. "Ok-it will give me a chance to complete my preparations." He grinned.

In truth, Amanda wanted the extra time to look for the lipstick she thought could be buried in her purse and to find one of those perfume insert things that might be in one of the magazines lying around.

And so it was that she found herself an hour later in front of Lee's apartment, heart beating rapidly, excited, and just a little nervous. She raised her fist to knock.

While Amanda was getting ready, Lee was alone with his own thoughts as he absently picked up his apartment and arranged some flowers he had bought on the way home.
Tonight has to go well, he thought. Amanda was different than any woman he had known. He was increasingly impressed with how she handled her double life. When he came home in the evening he had a glass of wine and watched the game. Amanda took on a different role, raising two boys and running a household. At first, he was wary, if not disdainful of her suburban life, but the more he saw the more he realized Amanda was a smart, compassionate, lovely woman who loved her family and worked tirelessly for them. Lately, he started thinking about his own past, wondering how his life might be different if his parents had lived.

Amanda had high standards for her relationships, he was sure, and didn't take them lightly as he had. He cringed when he remember the four little black books he had handed over during the Oz case. She cared deeply for her sons, he knew that. He recalled the look on her face when Philip and Jamie were almost held hostage in their school gym during the Estocian incident a few weeks ago. He remembered how it suddenly become more than taking down the bad guy-he desparately wanted to protect the boys that meant so much to Amanda.

He had to live up to her standards. He had to be worthy of her.

There was a knock on the door. Taking a deep breath he opened the door to welcome Amanda. Kissing her lightly he showed gestured inside. "Make yourself at home." He disappeared toward the bedroom. Amanda walked around the apartment taking it all in. She had been here before, but tonight it felt . . . different.

At the mantle she paused to look at the pieces that represented Lee's travels - an Asian figurine, a miniature African mask, a collection of beads from South America. And his prize possession, the baseball signed by Ty Cobb. She held the ball in her hand, tracing the stitching, wondering about the story of the ball, how it came to the Stetson family.

Lee touched her back. She jumped and dropped the baseball. "Oh gosh Lee! I'm sorry!" she exclaimed. They bumped into each other trying to pick it up. "It's fine," he assured her. "That ball has survived a lot worse." Her hand shook a bit as she placed the ball back on its stand.

Lee took her gently by the shoulders. "Hey- you aren't nervous, are you?"

"What? No. Of course not." She looked down. "Well, maybe a little. Silly, I know."

"Me too." Lee lifted her chin to look in her eyes.

"You? But you . . ." She searched for the right word. "Entertain-like this all the time."

"Amanda. It's been a long time since I 'entertained' anyone. And it's never been as important as it is now. Never mattered as much." He searched her face, looking for some sign that she understood what he was saying.

She closed her eyes, hearing his words, willing her heart to let go of all fear. When she opened them, he was gazing at her.

"Look, he said, "I don't know how this will go and neither do you. But I've never felt like this about anyone." He took a deep breath. "And unless you object, I think we owe it to ourselves to explore where it goes." He looked deep into her eyes. "Will you come with me, Amanda? I can't promise anything but I know I want you with me. Will you come with me? Please say yes."

She nodded, eyes shining, and let herself get wrapped up in his warmth. They sat on the couch, still holding on to each other. Lee kissed her and then kissed her again. And again.

Amanda pulled back. "Golly," was all she could say. Lee smiled. Nobody else could use that word quite the same way as Amanda.

"Hey. It's a long time coming," he said, kissing her nose, "We have a lot of catching up to do." She smiled, "True, Scarecrow." How she said his code name made him feel warm all over. This time, she kissed him.

"Are you hungry?" he asked. "Not really" she said. "Me neither." Another kiss.

"But," she said, looking at her watch. "I need to call the boys. I promised to call them at their friends' house."

He looked at her, ready to object, but saw the expression on her face. "Ok." He pulled away to let her reach for the phone. She dialed and waited for someone to pick up.

"Hello, Jeannie? I just wanted to check in with . . ." She paused. "Wait, what? When?" Her hand flew to her mouth. Lee stood up.

"Oh God. Where is he?! Where's Joe?" She was as white as a sheet. Lee felt a tremor of fear and he didn't know why. Amanda stood up, saying into the phone "Ok, I'll be there as soon as I can. Please tell Joe. And my mother."

She hung up and looked at Lee. "I have to go. Jamie fell out of the treehouse at the Morgan's. He's unconscious and they took him to the hospital."

He had his jacket on and was handing her purse to her. "I'll drive," he said. "Your car. Let's go."

"Oh Lee, you can't! How would you get back?"

"I'll take a cab - now go!"

In the the car they didn't speak except for Amanda giving directions. She gripped the dashboard as he sped over the bridge to Virginia.

As he pulled in front of the hospital, she looked at him, thanking him without words. She jumped out and ran into the ER, where he saw Joe waiting for her. Joe and Amanda hugged before pulling apart. Lee could see Joe talking to Amanda. She nodded and headed for the door into the patient area. Before she turned away she looked toward Lee in the car and spoke to Joe, who nodded and kissed her forehead.

Lee looked away.

When he looked up again, Joe was coming toward the car. Lee got out and held out his hand to greet Joe.

"Hello, Lee - it is Lee, correct?" Joe said.

"Uh, yes, that's right," Lee said. "Good to see you again, Joe. How's Jamie?"

"Oh he should be fine. Got knocked out for a few minutes and broke his arm. They're keeping him overnight for observation. Amanda's going to stay with him. I'll take Philip back to the house with Amanda's mother."

"Oh, good," said Lee, "it's good that she's around - her mother I mean."

"She's a godsend," said Joe. "Do you have kids?"

"Me?! Uh no. No I don't," said Lee.

"Well believe me, they change your perspective on life," Joe mused, looking toward the emergency room entrance. "Teaches you what is important."

"Anyway" Joe smiled, "I wanted to thank you for driving Amanda over here. Even in the best of times she can be a nervous driver." Lee resisted the urge to tell Joe about Amanda's new driving skills after some Agency training and a couple of rather harrowing car chases.

"I was just going to park her car in the visitors' lot for the night. Can I give you a lift somewhere?" Joe asked. "Uh, no. No thanks," What Lee wanted to say was that he was going to sit in the waiting room all night until he saw that Amanda was ok. "I'll grab a cab."

On the way back home Lee reflected on his evening. He was taken aback by how much he wanted Jamie to be ok and Amanda to be relieved. What had Joe said about kids? "They give you a whole new perspective on life." He couldn't remember the last time he had spent any time with children. In his business, when people got married and had kids they usually got a desk job or left the agency all together. It was a choice he respected but didn't necessarily understand.

Amanda was, he thought ruefully, giving him a whole new perspective.