Dotty and Amanda walked down the stairs from the Q-Bureau together, Amanda burning with curiosity about the details of her mother's extended lunch with Francine. "So, what exactly did Francine tell you about us?" Amanda asked hoping that Francine hadn't spilled the beans to her mother about her pregnancy. She had agreed not to tell anyone at the agency, but she may have assumed that her mother already knew. She hoped not because that would just be one more thing to keep the two of them from reconnecting as she so desperately wanted to do. Four years of secrets and lies had already done enough damage. She and Lee had wanted to wait to announce the news at home until the entire family could sit down together to discuss it.

"Oh, nothing much. She was just telling me about how the two of you really weren't keeping your relationship a secret around the office as well as you thought you were," Dotty said with a smirk."She said that it was very obvious for a long time that you and Lee were more than partners and that rumors had been flying for years about you."

"You can say that again," Mrs Marston chimed without looking up from her desk as Dotty and Amanda walked by.

"I'm sure you had a bit of a hand in that, Mrs. Marston," Amanda said causing the older woman to glance up with an arched eyebrow.

"Why, Mrs. Stetson, I'm surprised that you would say that about me. You know that I pride myself on being the definition of discretion."

"Uh-huh," Amanda said as she and her mother stepped outside together and walked toward the Wagoneer.

"You know, Darling, I never said anything, but I always had a feeling that you and Lee were more than mere co-workers long before I ever met him," Dotty said.

"Mother, how could you have known that before you even met him?"

"By the way that you used to talk about him. I wasn't really sure of it though until after that time you ran off with him. I knew that you would never take a chance like that for a man that you didn't care about very deeply."

"You're right. Lee and I were already pretty serious then. Do you remember when we first got back from California telling you that it was only a month after he told me he loved me when he asked me to marry him?"

"I remember," she said. "What about it?"

"Well, that was right around that time. We'd been playing phone tag all day because he was afraid that staying on the phone too long would allow him to be traced and on one of the phone calls right before he hung up, instead of saying good-bye, he said I love you."

"Hmm, I'm not sure whether to think that's terribly romantic or terribly rude," Dotty said. "To say something like that and then not give you a chance to respond."

"Oh, I got my chance to respond shortly after that, that same day as a matter of fact. Right after I told you and the boys to be on the lookout for agents coming by, I went upstairs and found him in my bedroom. He told me he was there to say good-bye and that he was going to go underground until he could find a way to clear our names."

"But you refused to let him go alone," Dotty queried.

"Yeah, I'd known for a long time that I loved him. I even knew that he loved me, but was just too scared to say it. That day, hearing him say it, then hearing him repeat when we were face to face made me realize that I had to be with him through the whole ordeal no matter what happened, watching his back just like I always had. I know I had to have worried you to death when I disappeared like that, but I wouldn't go back and change it. If I'd done anything differently, Lee and I might not be alive to tell the tale or we might both be in a federal prison."

"Well, with all that's happened to you, I'd say you and Lee have definitely lived the for better or worse part of your marriage vows."

"Yeah," Amanda concurred. "Long before we ever got married. Listen, Mother, I know there's a lot you and I still need to talk about, but I should get back to work. We'll have most of the day Sunday to hang out and talk some more."

"I'll be looking forward to it," Dotty said giving her daughter a quick kiss on the cheek before she left.

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Lee looked up from his desk at Francine's posture, arms crossed, tapping her toe impatiently. "I don't know what you're talking about, Francine. What is it you think I lied to you about?"

"Don't act like you don't know. Amanda told me the truth," Francine said hotly.

"What truth, Francine? I honestly haven't got a clue what you're talking about," Lee said in confusion.

"About your impending fatherhood. Amanda told me that she's pregnant, a fact that you blatantly denied just five days ago when I point blank asked you about it," Francine said. "I mean, I get it. You didn't want anyone to know that you married Amanda because you knocked her up so you came up with this elaborate back story of a secret engagement so it wouldn't look as bad for you or Amanda. But I've been your friend for years. You could at least have had the decency to give me the real story."

"I did give you the real story, Francine. A story, by the way that was confirmed by that file Dr. Smyth complied on us, a file that you've seen for yourself. In that file is a copy of the receipt from buying Amanda's engagement ring back in September. If she were pregnant then, it would have been obvious by now, don't you think?"

"Ok, I concede that you bought her that ring months ago, but that doesn't mean that you gave it to her right away. Maybe you chickened out, like you've been known to do when it comes to serious relationships and didn't ask her until you had to."

Lee sighed, rose from his desk to walk in front of it to look Francine in the eye."Listen, Francine and listen good, I didn't marry Amanda because she's pregnant. I married her, just like I told you Friday, because I fell in love with her and I wanted to spend the rest of my life with her."

"And I really believed you after I saw you at the house with her and the kids Friday night but that was before I knew you'd been lying to me all along. Makes me wonder what else you're lying to me or worse, to Amanda about," Francine said rolling her eyes. "God, you must think I'm the prize dupe of all time. Here, I have been the most supportive person here at The Agency since I saw you two together at the house and it's all been a lie."

"That's not entirely true, Francine. Billy's been pretty supportive too," Lee pointed out.

"Yes, Billy's happy for you, but when the gossip-mongers have been spewing their crap all over the place, he's just been telling them to shut the hell up where I, on the other hand, I have been actually defending you, especially against Efrain and his damn baby pool.

"Francine, I didn't lie to you!" Lee shouted. Lee paused and took a deep breath trying to calm himself before things got ugly. The more he thought about it, the more he realized that it could look that way to Francine since their conversation about it had only happened a few days before. "Well, in a way, I guess I did, but I didn't know I was lying to you when I said that she wasn't pregnant. We only found out about the baby for sure yesterday. Yes, she was carrying my child the day we got married, but she's not far enough along for us to have known about it on our wedding day. Our baby was conceived only six days before our wedding day."

"Oh," Francine said guiltily. "six days, huh? You're sure about that?"

"Yeah, we're sure," Lee said. "It was the only time before our wedding that we were ever lax about taking precautions and only then because we both thought I might not make it to our wedding day."

"Oh, the PD-2," Francine said.

"Right," Lee confirmed. "As for lying to Amanda, what the hell do you think that I would be lying to her about?"

"I don't know. You tell me. You did just spend a lot of time recently with a woman that you have quite the sordid history with."

"And that is all it is, Francine, history, which I made abundantly clear to Elisa."

"So, she didn't try to rekindle that old flame?" Francine asked suspiciously. She knew all about Elisa Danton and her penchant for getting what she wanted from men.

"Oh, no, she did, many times and I said no just as many times."

"Francine, let it go," Amanda said as she re-entered the room. "If I trust him to be faithful to me, why can't you?" She crossed the room and gave her husband a kick peck on the lips before sliding back behind his desk wo resume working on their reports.

"I'm sorry, Lee," Francine said. "Old habits, I guess."

"Well, habits are made to be broken, Lee said pointedly. "Now, if you don't mind, Amanda and I have a lot of work to do."

"Sure, work," Francine said no quite sure she bought it but left the room just the same.

"Hey, I'm proud of you," Amanda said. "You actually made a little progress on this while I was gone."

"Well, I want to get this done and over with so we can get home at a decent time. I haven't had any sleep and I feel bad that I didn't get to spend any time with the boys yesterday."

"They understood that you had to work," Amanda said soothingly while she continued to work.

"Well, I don't want to make it a habit. I don't want them thinking that I'm anything like their father when it comes to choosing work over them."

"They don't think any such thing, especially since you made an effort to call the house to check on them last night. You weren't there to see how happy that made them, but I was. The one little gesture made a huge difference to them. That's more effort that Joe makes. He's only called once since he brought them home when we got back and even then, he didn't really call to talk to them, just to me to tell me that he wasn't going to be able to take them this weekend. I had to remind him that he should at least make an effort to say hello to them before he took off with his fiancée."

"Maybe we should rethink this night out Friday and stay home with the kids instead," Lee suggested. "It would set a better example if we were stay-at-home parents."

"No, I don't think that's necessary. One night out is not going to make us bad parents to them. I think after the stress of the last month, we could use a little R&R, don't you? Besides, since Joe changed his mind, we'll have the whole weekend with them. We're going to the skate competition with them on Saturday..."

"...Followed by the firing range," Lee reminded her.

"About that..."Amanda said hesitantly not looking up from the computer screen.

"No, no backing out, Amanda," Lee said.

"Well, I was just thinking that with what happened today..."

"No, Amanda, I know shooting McGill bothered you, no matter how many times you try to tell me that you're fine, but that's no reason to quit your training. What if McGill had been attacking me and you'd been farther away, out of your comfortable range, then where would I be?"

"This has nothing to do with McGill," Amanda said.

"The hell is doesn't," Lee argued. "I was there, Amanda, I saw how freaked out you were, the way you dropped your gun as soon as you knew she was dead, the horrified look on your face. You acted like you were afraid to even retrieve your gun after you dropped or did you forget that I had to go get it for you? I know you, Amanda and whether you want to admit it or not, I know this is tearing you up inside."

"All right, it's bothering me, but I can't let it control me. We still have a job to do and I still believe in the work we do even when it gets ugly like it did today."

Lee walked back behind his desk pulling her hands from the keyboard and wrapping his own around them as he knelt beside her forcing her to look at him."Look, I know you said that you wanted to deal with this your own way, but if your own way is to just bury it and try to pretend it didn't happen, that's not going to do you any good. It'll just come back to haunt you. I really think you need to talk to someone about it."

"I couldn't agree more," Dr. Smyth said from the doorway. Lee and Amanda both turned to look at him. "I heard about your little snafu today, Mrs. Stetson, and since I know that this is the first time you've ever had to use deadly force, I made sure you're booked for a two o'clock appointment with Dr. Quidd tomorrow afternoon. Attendance is not optional, k?"

"See?" Lee said as he reached one hand up to gently stroke her face not caring that Dr. Smyth was thee. "I'm not the only one who thinks that. Trust me, it'll do you some good."

"Good, that's all settled then," Smyth said. "Excellent work, by the way, to both of you."

"Thank you, Sir," Amanda said morosely as she turned back to the computer screen to get her mind back on her report.

"Is that the report of today's events you're working on?"

"Yes, Sir. We'll have it done before we leave for the day," Amanda said.

"Scarecrow, I'll need to have you deliver a copy of it to the Pentagon for a review hearing first thing tomorrow morning. They're already screaming bloody murder about us taking out one of theirs. I've sent a team of agents to the hospital to get General Garrett's statement to add to it."

"You got it," Lee said.

"Shouldn't I go with him, Sir, since I'm the one who actually...did the...shooting."

"No, your partner here will be able to be more objective about it under the circumstances, besides, I have an assignment for you of your own."

"An assignment, Sir?" Amanda inquired.

"Yes, I just came from the hospital and Elisa's going to be released later this evening. Someone still needs to conduct one final interview with her regarding these events and since Scarecrow will be tied up and you have better interviewing skills than just about anyone else in The Agency, that assignment falls to you."

"Yes, Sir," she said with a sigh not looking forward to it one bit.

"Cheer up," Smyth said. "From what Elisa said, your impromptu meeting with her yesterday sent her into quite the tizzy. I'm sure you can handle yourself." When Amanda only nodded, he took his leave.

"Listen, Lee, while I'm working on this, why don't you go check with the photo lab and see if they've got the crime scene photos ready yet? That way we'll have them to include in our final report. That'll help us get the done faster."

"Yeah, you're probably right," he said as he drained the last dregs of his coffee and softly kissed his wife before leaving the room.

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Lee and Amanda made it home just as Phillip and Jamie were sitting down to do their homework at the coffee table while Dotty bustled around the kitchen. "Hi, everyone, we're home," Amanda called as they entered the den together.

"You're both home," Phillip said as both boys flew from their places on the floor to hug Lee tightly.

"Yeah, we are," Lee said pleasantly surprised at the greeting as he hugged them back.

"Hey, where's mine? I'm only your mother," Amanda teased. The boys then turned their attention to her and hugged her as well. She kissed both of them then said, "Hey, Fellas, have a seat ok? Mother, can you come in here for a minute? We need to have a family meeting."

"You wanna do this now?" Lee said.

"No time like the present," Amanda said as she took a seat on the couch and gestured for Lee to join her. After the work day they'd had, she felt the need to buffer it with something good.

"Why do I not like the sound of this?" Dotty said as she entered the room drying her hands on a dishtowel which she then slung over her shoulder before taking a seat in the armchair to the left of the couch while the boys went back to where they'd been on the floor. "This isn't bad news, is it?"

"No, Dotty, it's good news," Lee said with a smile as he sat next to his wife and draped his arm across her shoulders.

"Very good news," Amanda said as she reached for her husband's free hand linking her fingers with his. "At least, we think it's good news and we're hoping you'll feel the same way."

"What's going on, Mom?"Jamie asked. Amanda and Lee looked at each other silently trying to figure out who would break the news.

"What is it, Amanda?"Dotty asked.

"Well," Lee said. "We just found out that come October, we're going to have a new member of our family."

"Oh my gosh, you're pregnant!" Dotty squealed in delight as she leapt out of her seat and hugged both her daughter and son-in-law."I'm so happy! I'm going to be a grandmother again!'She gushed as she released them before returning to her seat.

"Yeah, we just got the news yesterday," Amanda said with a smile.

"Is that why you didn't come home last night, Lee?" Phillip asked.

"Lee had to work last night," Amanda said.

"No, of course not," Lee said at the same time. "Why would you think something like that would keep me from coming home?"

"Well, on Grandma's soap operas, guys are always needing time to think when they find out they're going to be a dad," Phillip answered.

"You can't believe everything you see on TV, Phillip," Lee said. "We talked about this the other night, remember?"

"Yeah, I guess, but that was just talking. It wasn't really happening then."

"Actually, it had already happened, we just didn't know it yet," Amanda said.

"And I really did just have to work late last night," Lee said. "That's the only reason I wasn't home last night and I would much rather have been here with you guys and your mom."

"Jamie, you've been awfully quiet," Amanda said. "Are you ok?"

"Yeah," Jamie said. "I think it's great that I'm going to be a big brother, but I was just thinking that means we're gonna have to move, right? I mean, this house isn't big enough for us and a baby."

"Jamie makes a good point," Dotty said looking at Amanda. "Where are you going to put a baby in a house that's already cramped?"

"Mother, I know what you're thinking and we already talked about this," Amanda said.

"Well, it would make it easier for you?" Dotty said. "Then you wouldn't have to uproot Phillip and Jamie."

"Mother, no," Amanda said firmly. "I don't know how you think you moving out would make things any easier. We're going to need a lot of help to get prepared for this baby's arrival."

"Grandma's moving out!?" Jamie said in a panic.

"No, she's not," Amanda said to Jamie before turning back to her mother and saying, "Are you?"

"Did I miss something?" Lee asked in confusion.

"Mother and I had a conversation a few days ago and she told me that Captain Curt has asked her to move in with him."

"Oh?" Lee said with a grin at his mother-in-law.

"And she seemed to think that she should do it to give us our privacy, but I reminded her that that is not a good enough reason to move in with someone if you're not sure that's what you really want."

"All right, Amanda, you win," Dotty said. "But that still doesn't solve your problem. You're living in a three bedroom house already occupied by five people. That math doesn't work and you know it."

"I know and we've talked about looking for a different place, but I'd hate to move the boys before the school year's over."

"Don't we get a say in this," Jamie asked.

"Of course you do, Sweetheart," Amanda said to her son. "but you and your grandmother make a very good point. As much as I love this house, it just isn't big enough for all of us and a baby. The only real solution is finding a house that's got enough room for all of us to share. Now, we don't have to move right away. We were thinking we'd wait and do it this summer after school's out."

"There is another solution," Jamie said a little uncertainly.

"What's that, Jamie," Lee asked. "If you've got another idea, we'd love to hear it."

"Phillip and I could live with Dad. then you could have our room for the baby. It would be better for you and Mom, then you could have your own like with your own family."

"You're our family," Lee said firmly the hurt evident in his eyes that Jamie would even think such a thing.

"Nice job, Stupid!" Phillip said. "I thought you were supposed to be smart. Lee already told us that he would still want us here if he and mom had a baby. Besides, it's not like moving in with Dad is really an option. He never wanted us around like Lee does. He traveled over 3000 miles to get away from us!"

"Now, Phillip, you know that isn't true," Amanda said shocked at Phillip's angry outburst. "Your father loves you very much."

"Then where is he? Why did he bail on us last weekend and again for this weekend?"

"Sweetheart, this weekend wasn't supposed to be his weekend with you."

"No, but he called us last Saturday while you guys were working and asked how we felt about changing weekends, then when he called again the other night, he said he changed his mind because he wanted to be with Carrie instead of us."

Amanda's anger flared at hearing this. She had asked Joe not to say anything to the boys until she'd had a chance to talk the family about it and he'd done it anyway. She tried not to let her feelings show in front of the boys. "Did he actually say that he wanted to be with Carrie instead of you?" She couldn't believe that Joe could have been that callous to his sons.

"Not in those words. He didn't actually tell us why he changed his mind, but it was pretty obvious when you came back into the dining room and said that he and Carrie were going away for the weekend," Phillip said hotly.

"Look, I didn't mean to start anything," Jamie said. "It was just an idea that I thought might make it easier for everyone."

"No, Jamie," Lee said. "It wouldn't make it easier for everyone. Your mother and I would miss you terribly, but it you think that would make you happier..."

"No, it wouldn't," Jamie said.

"Listen, what we were thinking is that when we get ready to go house-shipping, we'd like you guys to come along with us. If you're going to live there too, you should have a say in where we move to," Lee said. "We want you guys to be as comfortable as possible with this."

"And we'd really like to find a place big enough not only for the baby, but for you guys to each have your own room. What do you think?" Amanda and her husband both breathed a sigh of relief when both boys nodded.

"Good, it's all settled then," Dotty said. "Nobody's moving out. Now, let's get started on getting some dinner made."