An Anniversary to Remember
by matahari2
Summary: Just in time for the Stetsons' 15th wedding anniversary, a family member is in danger.
Timeframe: February, 2002
Disclaimer/Notes: See Chapter 1
Chapter 7 – Celebrations
February 13, 2002 - 6:30 p.m. - Stetson Residence
"Lee! Could you help me with this zipper?" Amanda asked as she stepped into black high heel shoes after pulling the royal blue silk gown over her head.
"I'll make you a deal," Lee replied, with a wink and a grin, as he made quick work of helping her with the zipper, caressed her bare shoulders, and started kissing her neck.
"There's time enough for that later, Stetson!" Amanda answered, chuckling in spite of herself.
He shook his head slightly, his smile broadening, and turned her around to face him, saying, "You look beautiful."
"You look handsome," she replied, smiling sweetly.
Their tender moment was interrupted by Jenny's shout from downstairs. "Mom! Dad! Come on! Everybody's gonna give up on us and just go home!"
Amanda quirked an eyebrow in Lee's direction and grinned. "Sound familiar?" she asked jokingly, as they hurried downstairs to rush to the ceremony.
********
Dotty wrung her hands as she paced the foyer of the small Middleburg Chapel. "Where are they? I thought they said they were leaving at 2:30 and their flight would be here in two hours. It's been four hours now, and still they're not here! What's happened now?"
Phillip caught her arm to stop her pacing. "Grandma, please. There's no need to panic just yet. Granted it's a two-hour flight, but they lost an hour when they changed time zones on the way back."
"Right," Jamie said, hoping to help their grandmother calm down. "They wouldn't have arrived at Dulles until 5:30 our time, and it's another 40 minutes from there to the house. They'll be here. Don't worry, okay?"
"You're right, of course," Dotty answered, as she slid her arms around both of the young men's waists. "I love you both," she said, pulling them closer.
"Me, too!" Jenny sang out as she burst in through the front door of the chapel and was immediately swallowed up in hugs from Phillip and Jamie.
"Jennifer Stetson! I'm gonna have to have a little talk with you about keeping your appointments," Dotty lectured, pointing an accusing finger at Jenny and barely keeping her smile hidden. "You're getting to be as bad as your parents," she continued, pulling Jenny into her arms.
"Hello, Mother. I hope you haven't had to wait too long," Amanda said apologetically.
"Oh, no, Darling. I'm just glad you're all here," Dotty replied, smiling at Amanda and Lee in turn.
"All right then, shall we?" Lee asked, offering Amanda his arm.
********
Lee Stetson smiled inwardly, thankful to Amanda for the lifetime they'd shared since their chance meeting at the train station so long ago. He gazed into her sparkling brown eyes, wondering at his good fortune. This 'simple housewife' had turned his life around. His musings were interrupted only when Phillip gently nudged his arm, letting him know that Reverend Mills was trying to get his attention.
"to have and to hold from this day forward...for better or worse...for richer or poorer...in sickness and in health...to love and to cherish...for all the days of our lives." As she listened to her husband's heartfelt promises, Amanda smiled into his loving eyes, recalling how those promises had been tested, and still remained true.
After the ceremony, as the invited guests greeted the happy couple, Dotty, Kurt and the Stetson-King children hurried off to set out the food and decorations for the reception at the Middleburg farmhouse. They had just hung out a huge banner that shouted, "Congratulations, Mom and Dad!" when Lee and Amanda pulled into the driveway. "Would you look at that!" Amanda exclaimed, her eyes twinkling as they climbed the front steps to join in the celebration.
Francine Desmond-Stone was telling Jenny, Phillip and Jamie a story about their parents' so-called secret romance. "I don't know who they thought they were fooling," she began. "There was one time when I was filing something up in their office, and..."
"Now, Francine, you know that one's classified!" Lee teased, as he hugged his old friend.
After most of the guests had departed, Lee and Amanda found themselves standing beside each other in a quiet corner of the living room, and Amanda whispered in Lee's ear, "Fifteen years...can you believe it, Sweetheart?"
"Yes and no, Amanda," he answered. "In a way, it seems like we've always been married, then again, sometimes it seems like just yesterday. But you know what? I think you've succeeded."
"Succeeded at what?" she asked, turning to look up into his handsome face.
"Making me a 'normal' person!" he replied, with his trademark dimpled grin.
"Oh I seriously hope not, Scarecrow!" Amanda teased playfully.
Two hours later, after saying their thank-you's and goodbyes and having one last family group-hug, Lee and Amanda could finally enjoy their own private celebration.
********
Fox and Hounds Inn, 11:00 p.m.
In a husky voice, Lee uttered, "Oh...Amanda! Mmm..."
"Mmm...Lee! Yes...yes...yes!!!"
*** All right. Get your mind out of the g- ...okay...you're right, it's *exactly* what you're thinking! ***
THE END
********
P.S. Why Middleburg, Virginia, you ask? Because people really do keep horses there!
by matahari2
Summary: Just in time for the Stetsons' 15th wedding anniversary, a family member is in danger.
Timeframe: February, 2002
Disclaimer/Notes: See Chapter 1
Chapter 7 – Celebrations
February 13, 2002 - 6:30 p.m. - Stetson Residence
"Lee! Could you help me with this zipper?" Amanda asked as she stepped into black high heel shoes after pulling the royal blue silk gown over her head.
"I'll make you a deal," Lee replied, with a wink and a grin, as he made quick work of helping her with the zipper, caressed her bare shoulders, and started kissing her neck.
"There's time enough for that later, Stetson!" Amanda answered, chuckling in spite of herself.
He shook his head slightly, his smile broadening, and turned her around to face him, saying, "You look beautiful."
"You look handsome," she replied, smiling sweetly.
Their tender moment was interrupted by Jenny's shout from downstairs. "Mom! Dad! Come on! Everybody's gonna give up on us and just go home!"
Amanda quirked an eyebrow in Lee's direction and grinned. "Sound familiar?" she asked jokingly, as they hurried downstairs to rush to the ceremony.
********
Dotty wrung her hands as she paced the foyer of the small Middleburg Chapel. "Where are they? I thought they said they were leaving at 2:30 and their flight would be here in two hours. It's been four hours now, and still they're not here! What's happened now?"
Phillip caught her arm to stop her pacing. "Grandma, please. There's no need to panic just yet. Granted it's a two-hour flight, but they lost an hour when they changed time zones on the way back."
"Right," Jamie said, hoping to help their grandmother calm down. "They wouldn't have arrived at Dulles until 5:30 our time, and it's another 40 minutes from there to the house. They'll be here. Don't worry, okay?"
"You're right, of course," Dotty answered, as she slid her arms around both of the young men's waists. "I love you both," she said, pulling them closer.
"Me, too!" Jenny sang out as she burst in through the front door of the chapel and was immediately swallowed up in hugs from Phillip and Jamie.
"Jennifer Stetson! I'm gonna have to have a little talk with you about keeping your appointments," Dotty lectured, pointing an accusing finger at Jenny and barely keeping her smile hidden. "You're getting to be as bad as your parents," she continued, pulling Jenny into her arms.
"Hello, Mother. I hope you haven't had to wait too long," Amanda said apologetically.
"Oh, no, Darling. I'm just glad you're all here," Dotty replied, smiling at Amanda and Lee in turn.
"All right then, shall we?" Lee asked, offering Amanda his arm.
********
Lee Stetson smiled inwardly, thankful to Amanda for the lifetime they'd shared since their chance meeting at the train station so long ago. He gazed into her sparkling brown eyes, wondering at his good fortune. This 'simple housewife' had turned his life around. His musings were interrupted only when Phillip gently nudged his arm, letting him know that Reverend Mills was trying to get his attention.
"to have and to hold from this day forward...for better or worse...for richer or poorer...in sickness and in health...to love and to cherish...for all the days of our lives." As she listened to her husband's heartfelt promises, Amanda smiled into his loving eyes, recalling how those promises had been tested, and still remained true.
After the ceremony, as the invited guests greeted the happy couple, Dotty, Kurt and the Stetson-King children hurried off to set out the food and decorations for the reception at the Middleburg farmhouse. They had just hung out a huge banner that shouted, "Congratulations, Mom and Dad!" when Lee and Amanda pulled into the driveway. "Would you look at that!" Amanda exclaimed, her eyes twinkling as they climbed the front steps to join in the celebration.
Francine Desmond-Stone was telling Jenny, Phillip and Jamie a story about their parents' so-called secret romance. "I don't know who they thought they were fooling," she began. "There was one time when I was filing something up in their office, and..."
"Now, Francine, you know that one's classified!" Lee teased, as he hugged his old friend.
After most of the guests had departed, Lee and Amanda found themselves standing beside each other in a quiet corner of the living room, and Amanda whispered in Lee's ear, "Fifteen years...can you believe it, Sweetheart?"
"Yes and no, Amanda," he answered. "In a way, it seems like we've always been married, then again, sometimes it seems like just yesterday. But you know what? I think you've succeeded."
"Succeeded at what?" she asked, turning to look up into his handsome face.
"Making me a 'normal' person!" he replied, with his trademark dimpled grin.
"Oh I seriously hope not, Scarecrow!" Amanda teased playfully.
Two hours later, after saying their thank-you's and goodbyes and having one last family group-hug, Lee and Amanda could finally enjoy their own private celebration.
********
Fox and Hounds Inn, 11:00 p.m.
In a husky voice, Lee uttered, "Oh...Amanda! Mmm..."
"Mmm...Lee! Yes...yes...yes!!!"
*** All right. Get your mind out of the g- ...okay...you're right, it's *exactly* what you're thinking! ***
THE END
********
P.S. Why Middleburg, Virginia, you ask? Because people really do keep horses there!