4247 Maplewood Drive
December 25,1989
Amanda Stetson quietly slipped out of bed without waking up her husband, Lee. She went into the bathroom and put on her robe. She left the note she had written earlier on her pillow hoping that Lee wouldn't see it until she was downstairs. She smiled as she glanced over at her sleeping husband. Their marriage had been revealed over a year ago and Lee moved in shortly afterwards. The Agency allowed them to continue to work together which was a relief to the both of them. The boys and Amanda's mother, Dotty were thrilled that Lee was indeed a part of their family and their first Christmas together as a family was one of the best memories Amanda held in her heart. This year was different. She promised the boys they could spend the holidays with her ex, Joe, his wife Carrie and their new baby. They would be gone until the 28th. With the boys gone, Dotty made plans with Aunt Lillian and she was in Maine until New Years. So this Christmas it was just the Stetsons.
Amanda made sure that both her and Lee were off the duty roster for the holidays. She wanted some one on one time with her husband. They hadn't had much time alone the past few months. The bad guys always seem to disrupt any plans the couple would try and make. Amanda smiled to herself as she went downstairs and into the kitchen. She started a pot of coffee and went into the den. The Christmas tree lights twinkled and they called to her. She took her mug of coffee and sat down on the couch and watched the lights twinkle. She thought about Christmases from the past...
1981 4247 Maplewood Drive
"Joe, I just don't understand Sweetheart. Why aren't you on the plane? You should be on your way here. It's Christmas Eve." Amanda said with sadness in her voice. He wasn't coming. He really wasn't coming home to be with his family. She didn't know how to talk to him the past few months. He came up with every excuse he could regarding coming back home from Africa. The work he was doing over there with the EAO seemed more important to him than his family. She sighed as she listened to Joe explain his reasoning.
" What am I going to tell the boys? They will be awfully disappointed. Yes...of course. Okay. Please call them tomorrow. Goodbye sweetheart."
Amanda hung up the phone and sighed. She buried her face in her hands and cried. She knew that it was time to make that appointment with a divorce lawyer after the first of the year. She couldn't live like this anymore. Christmas this year was certainly going to be different.
1983 Cabin in Virginia
"It's not much of a Christmas dinner, but it's all we have" Amanda dished out the beans to Rudolph and Dimitri. Lee watched Amanda as she took care of him and Ivan as they were both wounded in the shootout. He just couldn't believe that this housewife from Arlington actually called a truce and the KGB agents went for it. Amanda walked over to Lee and she was holding a plate of beans for him
" Now you have to eat to keep up your strength"
" I hate beans... Amanda, how did you pull all this off?'
" Well, it's Christmas Eve, we just called a truce"
"Heh, come on, Christmas isn't very big in this business"
" Well, it's stopped you from killing each other, hasn't it?"
"Yeah, Look I am sorry I got you mixed up in all this mess"
"Oh that's alright. Look, how often does a suburban lady like me gets to drink vodka with the KGB and eat beans on Christmas?"
Amanda chuckled to herself remembering how Lee hated eating the beans but all was forgotten once they started drinking the vodka. In the end Rudolph was reunited with his daughter and the KGB agents were sent back to Moscow. That was our first Christmas together. Amanda sighed and smiled. She snuggled into the couch and pulled the blanket that was on the back of the couch over her lap. She sipped her coffee and continued to remember.
1986 Titan Toys
"Just another Christmas Eve trapped in a nest of killers. This is getting to be our own little holiday tradition.'
"Look, we are in a jam, but we can't stew about it. We've got to figure a way out."
"I suppose you are going to say we can count on a miracle or two"
" Well, it is the season for them. Three years ago, we were surrounded by a bunch of Russians, we got out of that. There's got to be a way out of this"
4247 Maplewood Drive
" Lillian, they are here! Amanda's boyfriend is here!"
"Sorry about that"
"I see what you mean, Christmases here in the King house are pretty special."
" Your presents at the Q Bureau"
"Oh well mine for you is...well...its at the apartment. But guess what?"
"What?"
"I already got my present"
"Merry Christmas"
Amanda looked at the time. Lee would be waking up soon. She needed to get things ready. She stood up and walked towards the kitchen. She rinsed out her coffee mug and put it in the dish rack. She turned around and there was her husband. He was leaning against the doorway on the landing grinning at her.
" Merry Christmas Mrs. Stetson."
Amanda smiled at him as he walked over to her. He put his arms around her waist and leaned in for a kiss. When they broke apart Amanda said " Merry Christmas, Mr. Stetson. How long were you standing there?'
"Long enough. What were you thinking about?"
Amanda sighed "Just past Christmases. We've had some adventures haven't we?"
Lee leaned in again for a kiss. "Yes, we have. At least this year we aren't trapped in a nest of killers!"
Amanda laughed and kissed him back. " I was just thinking about that one!"
"Oh? Which one? Amanda, we have pretty much spent every Christmas since we met in some sort of nest of intrigue."
Lee walked over to the coffee pot and poured himself a cup. Amanda opened the refrigerator door and got out the cream for him. He added the cream and handed it back to Amanda. As she was putting it back Lee asked. " So Mrs. Stetson, what do we have on tap for today? It's just us, you know?"
Amanda smiled and shooed him out of the kitchen. She followed him into the den and pushed him onto the couch. She reached for the remote and handed it to him.
" Pick a game, Scarecrow"
Lee smirked at his wife and took the controller. She walked back into the kitchen. Lee heard her rustling and she came out with a tray. On it there was a big bowl of guacamole, chips and two champagne flutes along with a bottle of champagne.
"Would that be a bottle of '73?" Lee asked his wife with a twinkle in his eye.
"You know it. I thought since we are alone today we could celebrate Stetson style."
Lee laughed as he helped Amanda get everything situated on the coffee table. He found a football game to watch and he sat back and relaxed. He thought to himself how lucky he was that Amanda came into his life and it couldn't be more perfect. Amanda was standing by the tree and she bent down. She grabbed a small box that was wrapped like it was supposed to be mailed. She walked over to Lee and sat down.
"Sweetheart, Merry Christmas"
Lee sat up and took the package. It reminded him of the package he gave Amanda that day at the train station. He looked at her. " What's this?"
"Oh, just something that I picked up. When I saw it I knew I had to get it for you." Amanda said with a smirk.
Lee opened it and inside was a baby doll. Lee grimaced at his wife. "Baby Teardrops? Really Amanda? What could I possibly do with Baby Teardrops?"
Amanda tried not to laugh out loud. "I think of a few things. It may be a few months before the two of you can play with it but I figured I should go ahead and get it."
Lee looked at the doll and then back at his wife. "Play with it? What?"
"You are living up to your code name again, Scarecrow. Why would I buy a baby doll?"
Lee looked at his wife again and realized what her present meant. Lee swallowed and could barely squeak out "Is this for real? Are you sure?'
Amanda nodded. Lee reached over and hugged her. He pulled her down onto the couch and she ended on top of him. He kissed her passionately and whispered " This is the best Christmas present ever! When will it be?"
Amanda kissed him back and said "July. Can you wait that long?"
Lee snuggled her neck and said " I plan on spoiling you every day! I love you Mrs. Stetson!"
"I love you Mr. Stetson, Merry Christmas!"
Lee leaned towards her and kissed her with all the love he had for her. Amanda returned the kiss and thought that this Christmas moment was by far her favorite.