An Anniversary to Remember
by matahari2
Summary: * COMPLETE * Just in time for the Stetsons' 15th wedding anniversary, a family member is in danger. This is a completely re-written version of the original story—hope you like it!
Timeframe: February, 2002
Disclaimer: These great characters are the property of Warner Brothers and Shoot the Moon Productions, they don't belong to me, nor will I get one dime for writing this story. The story, however, is mine. Please don't archive without my permission.
Rating: PG
Feedback: Please. Read and review.
Author's Notes: This story is based on the assumption that Lee and Amanda's mystery marriage's cover was blown within six months, and that everyone knows about the secret wedding that took place on February 13, 1987. Please note: Author comments / asides to the reader are marked with three asterisks, before and after the comment. ( *** comment *** )
Additional Author's Note: Many, many thanks Dix (the beta queen) and Elaine (black-belt encourager), who helped me so much in adding realism and emotional impact to this story.
Yet another author's note (sorry!): There is one element of the story that calls for a suspension of disbelief on the reader's part. One observant reader commented on the involvement of the FBI, that knowing what the story reveals, they would have wrapped up the case very quickly. True enough, but why have a Scarecrow and Mrs. King story that doesn't involve Lee and Amanda in the chase? So, as my husband often bluffs, "let's not cloud the issue with facts!" Therefore, "other than that, Mrs. Lincoln...", I hope you enjoy this tale.
Chapter One – Morning at the Stetsons'
February 12, 2002
Lee Stetson was in ecstasy. "Oh...Amanda! Mmm...oh, yeah...a little lower, ah... perfect."
"Feels good, hmm?" Amanda asked, smiling down at her handsome husband.
*** All right. Get your mind out of the gutter, would ya? It's not what you're thinking. ***
"Yeah, much better. What would I do without you, Amanda?" Lee said, as he rolled over and sat up on the edge of the bed.
As she stood, fluffing his pillow and putting it back in place by the headboard, Amanda chuckled and replied, "Well...I guess you'd still have a pretty sore back, wouldn't you? What were you thinking, anyway, sliding into second base like that? You're lucky you didn't break something."
"I know, I know." He tilted his head slightly, held up his hand and continued, "And no, you don't have to remind me, I'm fifty-one years" he hesitated, a wry smile on his face, ". . .old. I guess I'd just rather be 'out there' playing the game than sitting on the sidelines," Lee answered as he pulled on his dark blue tee shirt and padded across their bedroom toward the window.
"I understand, Sweetheart, really," she said, crossing the room to stand beside him, smiling into his hazel eyes and brushing back a lock of his silvering light brown hair. "Somehow I get the feeling you're talking about more than a softball game with the kids."
"Yeah. . .I suppose I am. I mean, I was sure it was the right thing to do, coming out of the field when we did, when Jenny was born. I'm still sure it's right, for our family's sake. . ." Lee started.
"But. . ." Amanda continued for him.
"I just get a little bored sometimes, sitting in the office," Lee finished, looking out the window into the distance.
"I know, Lee, but what you're doing is valuable work. As the Field Section Chief, you're responsible for all the agents working out of DC, and with all your field experience, you're a great mentor to many of them," she said, reaching around to stroke his back gently. "I'm really proud of you for that."
"Thanks, Amanda," he said with a small smile, turning to face her. "That's the rewarding part of the job. It's all the 'adminis-trivia' and politics that gets the best of me sometimes."
"Yeah, I guess 'kissing up' was never your strong suit, right?" Amanda said with a slight twinkle in her eyes. She gazed down as she lightly dusted her hands across his chest to his shoulders. Then with a quick glance at her watch, she continued, "Well, we're not going to solve this problem in the next 30 minutes, are we? Why don't you go ahead and take your shower, and I'll get Jenny up and start the coffee."
"Okay. . .I'll be down in a little while. Have I told you lately. . ." he began, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her close. "I love you, Mrs. Stetson" he said, giving her a quick kiss on the lips.
"Love you too, Sweetheart," she said, slipping out of his embrace and giving his hand a little squeeze before heading out of their room.
"Jenny!" Amanda called to their sandy-haired twelve-year-old daughter. "Time to get up, Honey! "
Jenny stretched her arms out over her head, but her eyes were shut tight as she said, "Awww, Mom!"
'She is her father's daughter, definitely not a morning person!', Amanda mused. She gave Jenny's bed a little shake, saying, "Come on, young lady, it's 6:45 already, and you have to be at school by 7:30 today... for your field trip, remember?"
The young girl opened her hazel and gave in. "Oh...okay," she said, shuffling into her robe and slippers, and walking, zombie-like, to the hall bath.
Amanda went downstairs and set about making Jenny's lunch and starting the coffee. As she put out glasses of orange juice and bowls of cereal for Jenny and herself, Amanda smiled, reflecting on her husband's breakfast habits. After all these years, he still didn't often have more than coffee, unless there happened to be some day-old doughnuts or Danish lying around. Amanda was still determined to teach their daughter that it was important to have a good breakfast--'the most important meal of the day'. Goodness knows she'd heard that enough from her own mother.
"Okay, your turn, Amanda," Lee said, reaching around her to open the cabinet and pull out his travel mug and fill it with coffee. "Jenny's still up in her room, but she ought to be down in a minute. Do you need me to take her today?"
"No, I can handle it," Amanda replied. "I have that new class of recruits starting at Station One today, but the opening session doesn't start until 9:30, so I'll have time to get Jenny to school and get over there in plenty of time."
"All right," Lee said, smiling to himself as he poured the cream into his coffee.
Amanda had caught his smile as she'd put her own mug on the counter. She smiled in his direction and asked, "What are you so happy about?"
"Oh...", he grinned, "I'm just enjoying our 'normal' life. I really want to thank you for that."
"Well, you'll get your chance tomorrow night, won't you?"
He made a show of flipping his day planner open, saying, "Tomorrow? Hmm, let's see...oh yeah, it looks like I've 'penciled you in' here...some kind of anniversary party..."
As Amanda grabbed the planner out of his hand and slapped his arm with it, she shouted in mock indignation, "Well! You'd better remember, and you'd better be there, too, or Mother will definitely kill you! She and the kids have been planning our 15th anniversary celebration for weeks!" She dropped the day planner and folded her arms, saying," 'Pencilied me in!' Cute, Scarecrow!"
"So you still think I'm cute?" he said, giving her his best dimpled grin.
She placed her index finger on her lips and looked up toward the ceiling, as if to say, 'I'm thinking, I'm thinking', but she couldn't hold that pose for long. She couldn't stop the chuckle that was threatening to burst out in laughter.
Lee chuckled a little himself as he picked up the planner and mug. "Well, I'll see you later. Love you!" he said, kissing her on the cheek and hurrying out the back door to start his one-hour commute from Middleburg, Virginia to DC. He hadn't even heard his daughter's "Bye, Daddy!" since he was already out the door when she reached the bottom of the stairs and came into the kitchen.
Jenny dutifully ate her breakfast, while Amanda showered and dressed for work. Fifteen minutes later, they were on their way to the Nathan Hale Middle School.
"So you're going to the National Archives today, right?" Amanda asked.
"Yeah, Mom," Jenny answered. "See, our social studies class just finished a unit on the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, and our teacher wanted to give us a chance to see the real things."
"That'll be great, Jenny. It's a good thing we live close enough to do things like this, isn't it?" Amanda commented. As she pulled up in front of the school, she placed a hand on Jenny's arm and said, "Now. . .you have your math homework, and your lunch, and. . ." Amanda started.
Jenny broke in, "Yes, Mother, it's all right here in my bag. Mrs. Jamieson said we oughta be back between 4:30 and 5:00."
"All right. Grandma will be here to pick you up."
"Okay, Mom. Love you," Jenny said, stepping down out of the Explorer.
"Love you, Jen. . ." Amanda trailed off, realizing that her daughter was already halfway up the sidewalk to the school. 'They grow up so fast,' she thought, as she pulled out and drove to the Agency's training camp.
TO BE CONTINUED
by matahari2
Summary: * COMPLETE * Just in time for the Stetsons' 15th wedding anniversary, a family member is in danger. This is a completely re-written version of the original story—hope you like it!
Timeframe: February, 2002
Disclaimer: These great characters are the property of Warner Brothers and Shoot the Moon Productions, they don't belong to me, nor will I get one dime for writing this story. The story, however, is mine. Please don't archive without my permission.
Rating: PG
Feedback: Please. Read and review.
Author's Notes: This story is based on the assumption that Lee and Amanda's mystery marriage's cover was blown within six months, and that everyone knows about the secret wedding that took place on February 13, 1987. Please note: Author comments / asides to the reader are marked with three asterisks, before and after the comment. ( *** comment *** )
Additional Author's Note: Many, many thanks Dix (the beta queen) and Elaine (black-belt encourager), who helped me so much in adding realism and emotional impact to this story.
Yet another author's note (sorry!): There is one element of the story that calls for a suspension of disbelief on the reader's part. One observant reader commented on the involvement of the FBI, that knowing what the story reveals, they would have wrapped up the case very quickly. True enough, but why have a Scarecrow and Mrs. King story that doesn't involve Lee and Amanda in the chase? So, as my husband often bluffs, "let's not cloud the issue with facts!" Therefore, "other than that, Mrs. Lincoln...", I hope you enjoy this tale.
Chapter One – Morning at the Stetsons'
February 12, 2002
Lee Stetson was in ecstasy. "Oh...Amanda! Mmm...oh, yeah...a little lower, ah... perfect."
"Feels good, hmm?" Amanda asked, smiling down at her handsome husband.
*** All right. Get your mind out of the gutter, would ya? It's not what you're thinking. ***
"Yeah, much better. What would I do without you, Amanda?" Lee said, as he rolled over and sat up on the edge of the bed.
As she stood, fluffing his pillow and putting it back in place by the headboard, Amanda chuckled and replied, "Well...I guess you'd still have a pretty sore back, wouldn't you? What were you thinking, anyway, sliding into second base like that? You're lucky you didn't break something."
"I know, I know." He tilted his head slightly, held up his hand and continued, "And no, you don't have to remind me, I'm fifty-one years" he hesitated, a wry smile on his face, ". . .old. I guess I'd just rather be 'out there' playing the game than sitting on the sidelines," Lee answered as he pulled on his dark blue tee shirt and padded across their bedroom toward the window.
"I understand, Sweetheart, really," she said, crossing the room to stand beside him, smiling into his hazel eyes and brushing back a lock of his silvering light brown hair. "Somehow I get the feeling you're talking about more than a softball game with the kids."
"Yeah. . .I suppose I am. I mean, I was sure it was the right thing to do, coming out of the field when we did, when Jenny was born. I'm still sure it's right, for our family's sake. . ." Lee started.
"But. . ." Amanda continued for him.
"I just get a little bored sometimes, sitting in the office," Lee finished, looking out the window into the distance.
"I know, Lee, but what you're doing is valuable work. As the Field Section Chief, you're responsible for all the agents working out of DC, and with all your field experience, you're a great mentor to many of them," she said, reaching around to stroke his back gently. "I'm really proud of you for that."
"Thanks, Amanda," he said with a small smile, turning to face her. "That's the rewarding part of the job. It's all the 'adminis-trivia' and politics that gets the best of me sometimes."
"Yeah, I guess 'kissing up' was never your strong suit, right?" Amanda said with a slight twinkle in her eyes. She gazed down as she lightly dusted her hands across his chest to his shoulders. Then with a quick glance at her watch, she continued, "Well, we're not going to solve this problem in the next 30 minutes, are we? Why don't you go ahead and take your shower, and I'll get Jenny up and start the coffee."
"Okay. . .I'll be down in a little while. Have I told you lately. . ." he began, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her close. "I love you, Mrs. Stetson" he said, giving her a quick kiss on the lips.
"Love you too, Sweetheart," she said, slipping out of his embrace and giving his hand a little squeeze before heading out of their room.
"Jenny!" Amanda called to their sandy-haired twelve-year-old daughter. "Time to get up, Honey! "
Jenny stretched her arms out over her head, but her eyes were shut tight as she said, "Awww, Mom!"
'She is her father's daughter, definitely not a morning person!', Amanda mused. She gave Jenny's bed a little shake, saying, "Come on, young lady, it's 6:45 already, and you have to be at school by 7:30 today... for your field trip, remember?"
The young girl opened her hazel and gave in. "Oh...okay," she said, shuffling into her robe and slippers, and walking, zombie-like, to the hall bath.
Amanda went downstairs and set about making Jenny's lunch and starting the coffee. As she put out glasses of orange juice and bowls of cereal for Jenny and herself, Amanda smiled, reflecting on her husband's breakfast habits. After all these years, he still didn't often have more than coffee, unless there happened to be some day-old doughnuts or Danish lying around. Amanda was still determined to teach their daughter that it was important to have a good breakfast--'the most important meal of the day'. Goodness knows she'd heard that enough from her own mother.
"Okay, your turn, Amanda," Lee said, reaching around her to open the cabinet and pull out his travel mug and fill it with coffee. "Jenny's still up in her room, but she ought to be down in a minute. Do you need me to take her today?"
"No, I can handle it," Amanda replied. "I have that new class of recruits starting at Station One today, but the opening session doesn't start until 9:30, so I'll have time to get Jenny to school and get over there in plenty of time."
"All right," Lee said, smiling to himself as he poured the cream into his coffee.
Amanda had caught his smile as she'd put her own mug on the counter. She smiled in his direction and asked, "What are you so happy about?"
"Oh...", he grinned, "I'm just enjoying our 'normal' life. I really want to thank you for that."
"Well, you'll get your chance tomorrow night, won't you?"
He made a show of flipping his day planner open, saying, "Tomorrow? Hmm, let's see...oh yeah, it looks like I've 'penciled you in' here...some kind of anniversary party..."
As Amanda grabbed the planner out of his hand and slapped his arm with it, she shouted in mock indignation, "Well! You'd better remember, and you'd better be there, too, or Mother will definitely kill you! She and the kids have been planning our 15th anniversary celebration for weeks!" She dropped the day planner and folded her arms, saying," 'Pencilied me in!' Cute, Scarecrow!"
"So you still think I'm cute?" he said, giving her his best dimpled grin.
She placed her index finger on her lips and looked up toward the ceiling, as if to say, 'I'm thinking, I'm thinking', but she couldn't hold that pose for long. She couldn't stop the chuckle that was threatening to burst out in laughter.
Lee chuckled a little himself as he picked up the planner and mug. "Well, I'll see you later. Love you!" he said, kissing her on the cheek and hurrying out the back door to start his one-hour commute from Middleburg, Virginia to DC. He hadn't even heard his daughter's "Bye, Daddy!" since he was already out the door when she reached the bottom of the stairs and came into the kitchen.
Jenny dutifully ate her breakfast, while Amanda showered and dressed for work. Fifteen minutes later, they were on their way to the Nathan Hale Middle School.
"So you're going to the National Archives today, right?" Amanda asked.
"Yeah, Mom," Jenny answered. "See, our social studies class just finished a unit on the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, and our teacher wanted to give us a chance to see the real things."
"That'll be great, Jenny. It's a good thing we live close enough to do things like this, isn't it?" Amanda commented. As she pulled up in front of the school, she placed a hand on Jenny's arm and said, "Now. . .you have your math homework, and your lunch, and. . ." Amanda started.
Jenny broke in, "Yes, Mother, it's all right here in my bag. Mrs. Jamieson said we oughta be back between 4:30 and 5:00."
"All right. Grandma will be here to pick you up."
"Okay, Mom. Love you," Jenny said, stepping down out of the Explorer.
"Love you, Jen. . ." Amanda trailed off, realizing that her daughter was already halfway up the sidewalk to the school. 'They grow up so fast,' she thought, as she pulled out and drove to the Agency's training camp.
TO BE CONTINUED