On the flight home, Lee and Amanda finagled a seat next to Jaime with empty rows surrounding them. Amanda knew that any Beaman had a thing for blondes. So, when it was the Freshman Agent Beamon seated beside them, she simply pointed out the blonde sitting next to Jaime. She suspected that, while normally Jaime might have enjoyed sitting next to such a pretty woman, women were not on his mind on this trip.

Amanda sighed contently when Jaime agreed to trade seats with him. "Mom, was that your black-belt in confusion working on Beaman?"

Lee laughed, "Where did you hear that term? I haven't heard that said about your mom in years. She's still got it though," he winked at his wife.

Amanda chuckled, "Well you know, somewhere along the way, I learned that it was a gift and I often reminded a certain two teenage boys that I could use that black-belt against them."

"How did you know Beaman likes blondes?" Jaime paused a second and smiled, "Hey, he's the Freshman agent whose dad worked at the agency before moving over to the FBI himself. I met him and his wife, a younger blonde woman, once." He looked from Amanda to Lee and back around again, "ooohhhh," he whispered.

Lee chuckled remembering the days that Amanda responded to revelations about the world behind IFF that way.

"I can neither confirm nor deny your suspicions, but I have my ways," Amanda retorted.

Jaime smiled. He felt warm inside knowing he was sitting next to two people who loved him more than he'd ever known all these years.

Lee laughed as Amanda began to fall fast asleep on his shoulder. "She's gotten really good at sleeping on planes over the years."

"Lee, what was the worst day in the line of duty?"

"There were too many days to count. In the early years before we were married, there were times your mom was kidnapped often to get to me. I always felt like I would crumble but I knew I needed to be strong for her. I shot at her once," he chuckled a little. "I think that was the day I realized how amazing she is in the field, she saved my life that day. It wasn't the first time and it certainly wasn't the last time. That was the case that gave me the most regret. All the other bad stuff that's happened over the year, it wasn't of my own doing. As agents, we really have to work to remember that, especially on the really bad days. But, on that case, my cover was as a drunk, washed up agent. Your mom was always my champion even in the early years when I'd try to push her away from the business or from me. I should have just told her what was going on but back then I thought I could protect her by only telling her what I thought was 'need to know'. Your mom came by the bar," Lee paused. Jaime watched as the memory seemed to wash over Lee. Lee's whole expression changed. "I needed to get her out of there; I wanted to try to keep her safe." Jaime could tell Lee needed to remind himself of that. "I slapped her. I've never regretted anything more in my entire life except for putting you boys in harm's way. The look on your mom's face. . . it haunts me still today. I nearly broke cover right then and there to explain. I did try to apologize then but one of the suspects was still to close. It would have only put your mom in more danger, so I kept up the ruse. I don't guess I've ever forgiven myself for that. But, you know you're mom, she was so quick to forgive me. For me, personally, that was the one of the very worst days in all these years. I had so much to learn about having and being a partner and even more so being a friend. One of our biggest hopes for you is that you would have a partner that was much a friend as a partner, someone that you could really trust and share your life with- even if the two of you didn't go down the aisle."

"I love how you say 'our' like I was your son all along," Jaime smiled. "I hope that Phillip can understand that you never abandoned us, that you love us just as if we'd known you all along."

"I'm sure I'll say this a million times. I think that's been the absolute hardest thing over the years. Not waking up next to my wife all those mornings was hard, but not being there for my stepsons often felt nearly impossible. When you met me officially, we were already engaged and then married. We knew we would be keeping the marriage a secret- at least for the time being, to keep you safe. But, I so wanted to be a part of your lives. Your mom and I decided, wrongly as you soon found out the hard way, that maybe I could at least come by every once in a while. Boy, were we wrong. That's the other thing I don't think I'll ever forgive myself for- putting you, and your brother, in danger like that just because I wanted to be a part of your lives. Hollinsworth tried to use you to get to your mom and I; I can tell you it would have worked had we not gotten around it. I would have given anything to make sure you are safe. It was a long time before I could even look at myself in a mirror after that. As much as I couldn't live without your mom, I also knew I couldn't live with the danger an open relationship, well, or our marriage, would put you in."

"Oh, Lee. Thank you. Thank you for all the sacrifices you and mom made for us."

Amanda gave Lee a light squeeze and he realized she'd heard at least part of their conversation. "Jaime, it was the least I could do. I want you to know that I am so proud of the man that you've become. I know that I deprived you of having a man around the house, clearly you became quite a man without me around, but I was never deprived of watching you boys grow up. But you know, you have every right to be angry at me or your mom. I wouldn't blame you if you hated me."

"What? No way. You kept your secrets with very good reasons. I'll do my best to make sure that Phillip sees that. He'll get it, at least a little, I know, because we've talked about my career and what field work would be like with a family."

"I love you," Lee said.

Jaime thought about it. He barely knew the man sitting by him, but he knew, "I love you too, Dad."

The two sat in companionable silence until they came close to landing. Lee nudged his wife to wake her, "No, Lee, I don't want to go home, hold me longer." He leaned in closer; he couldn't have her spilling everything unknowingly. "Sweetheart, wake up. The plane's getting ready to land. I promise, I'll come home with you tonight."

"Are you going to tap on the kitchen window or come in the back door?" she asked quietly.

"A-man-da," Lee exclaimed exacerbated that she wouldn't wake up yet thankful she'd gotten some sleep.

Hearing her name and the way Lee said it, Amanda woke up. She sat up and then realized Jaime was sitting beside her. "Oh, Jaime, I used that black belt so that we could sit together and talk and then I fell asleep. I'm sorry."

"Mom, it's fine. Lee kept me company and we talked. I'll call Phillip on the way to the office to finish my debriefing report. I guess I could have done my paperwork sometime between the party and landing, but I just did not feel like it. When I get done, I'll come by the house."

"We have to go by the office ourselves. Thankfully, our written reports are done. Laptops have really helped cut the debriefing and paperwork completion time down when a mission is over, but we still have a verbal debriefing, agency policy," Lee said.

"Hah, that's why you kept me around in those early years, you used to hate computers," Amanda retorted.

"That's before they meant more time with my wife and less time in the debriefing room." Lee smiled that dimpled smile that let him get away with getting out of his typing all those years ago.

"But, Jaime, if you get done before we do, you've got a key, go on inside. You be careful and I love you."

"I love you too, Mom".

Amanda and Lee went up to the Q Bureau first when they arrived at the agency. Lee closed the door and locked it. He kissed his wife and smiled at her. They both felt like part of the weight of their secrets had been lifted. Lee looked at Amanda, "okay, so Jaime knows and we'll tell your Mom and Phillip as soon as possible. But, listen, here's what I'm thinking right now. . . . I really want all this madness to end. I can retire anytime now of course; we both can. I'm thinking we get out from under all the secrets, we tell Billy, and I suppose Francine by extension, the truth- that we're married. If they let us stay in the field, we'll figure things out from there. Right now, in this moment, I don't even care. I'd rather be out of the field, even retired, than live with all these secrets. But, I'm not saying right now, this moment either."

Amanda started to speak, "no, don't say anything," Lee interrupted her before she even got a word in. "We don't have to decide right now. Right now, I just want to get this debriefing done and go home. I know we're supposed to tell Billy and Francine about this new development with Jaime but it can wait until after we meet with Phillip and your Mom."

"Can I at least tell you that I love you? And, that I think you're right? I think after we tell Mom and Phillip, Billy and Francine should be next. But, I agree- let's keep this debriefing as short as possible. I want to get home. I want to be there for Jaime. He's been so strong and accommodating in all of this. I really want to be with our boys instead of here at work. Or I should say at home with our boys and you? It sounds like a dream come true!"

Before they left the Q bureau, they went into the vault. Lee helped Amanda remove another small lock box and entered the combination. Amanda removed the letters that were in there and placed them in her purse. Lee and Amanda smiled. They had thought alike. Those old letters just might come in handy.