V. Corniche of Monaco

Lee leaned back against the stone railing of the bridge, pulling the woman in his arms more closely against him. "Now, see," he murmured as he tilted his head forward to nuzzle her neck. "Isn't this beautiful?" He couldn't tell if Amanda's answering sigh was from the sight before them or his lips on her neck. From the way she leaned her head back to expose more of her neck, he suspected it was the latter.

The view before them really was superb. They stood just off a narrow little path overlooking the ocean, with the city of Monaco barely visible in the background. Off to their left, the sun was just starting to set, turning the sea to silver. The green curve of the hillside around them contrasted with the pale brown ribbon of road. The ocean beneath them reflected slivers of the sunset as passing sailboats rippled the surface of the water.

Yes, this is what he had had in mind. After turning in Andreyev's file to the Paris station, they'd been unexpectedly told that their assignment for the evening had been canceled. When Amanda brought up the incident at the museum, concerned that they needed to do something more, the station chief had echoed Lee's view that since Andreyev had seen her, it was up to someone else to find him. So with no obligations until the flight back to Washington tomorrow, it was finally time to do something just for the two of them.

Lee lifted his head and leaned his cheek against Amanda's hair. "Worth the trip?"

"I still can't believe I agreed to fly all the way to Monaco with you just for the evening." She shook her head gently against his. "It's not like there wasn't a still lot of Paris to see, and our flight back to the States leaves tomorrow afternoon, and "

"It was only an hour's flight, and I told you, that pilot friend owed me a favor. We'll be back in Paris in plenty of time. I just wanted to share Monaco with you, and we had the evening free."

"See, there you go again. 'We have the evening free, so let's go to Monaco.' Lee, I can't just pick up and take off to another country like that."

"Why not? You came to Paris on a few days's notice, and last year you came to Europe a couple of times without advance warning."

She shook her head again. "That's different. That was for work."

"Well, maybe you should be a little more spontaneous, let go a little bit."

He was surprised when she gently pulled herself out of his arms and moved a step away to look out over the ocean. "Amanda?"

She was staring off into the distance, where the city stood outlined against the fading light. "It's like a fairy tale," she said softly.

He leaned his elbows on the railing next to her. "It is, isn't it? Did you know that . . . "

She cut him off with a hand on his upper arm. "Not the view, Lee. This. Us." He tilted his head, confused, as she went on, "Look, the last few days have been, gosh, just wonderful. I've really been enjoying being with you and not have to hide what I feel around you. But," she held up a hand as he tried to speak, "tomorrow we're going to get on a plane, and go back to Washington, and back to the Agency. And I guess this just reminds me of one of my biggest reasons for not getting involved with you."

"What do you mean?" he asked, still confused.

She sighed. "Look, I compulsively plan every step of a vacation, from what to pack to how far we're driving and where we're staying every night. A vacation to me is King's Mountain with the boys, or camping at a state park. Maybe going down to Richmond, because Philip and Jamie should see the state capital and where the governor lives." Lee was raising his eyebrows higher as she went on and on, and she cut herself off. "It's not flying to Monaco for the evening. That's just not me."

"I know that." He laid a reassuring hand on her back. "I know that we're different, and . . . " he trailed off in sudden understanding. "Is that what's bothering you?"

She stayed silent for a moment, biting her lip. "What if we're too different?"

"Hey, now," he said. "Look at me." She did so with apparent reluctance, and he moved to place his hands at her waist. Taking a deep breath, he forced himself to voice his thoughts, something he wasn't used to doing. "I've thought about that too, you know. I'm not exactly the ideal match for you, either. You probably want someone with a more stable job, who's not in danger all of the time, who has at least a clue of how to act around teenage boys, who hasn't spent the best years of his life being a ladies' man." He shrugged a shoulder and quirked the corner of his mouth. "I'm afraid you've got me instead." When she gave a faint smile in reply, he went on, "Where did all of this insecurity come from, anyway? You're usually the most self-confident woman I know."

"Oh, I don't know." She leaned her cheek against his chest, staring out over the water. "Maybe it's being here in Europe. This is all so new and exotic to me, but it's probably as familiar to you as Washington. And I know I should't be jealous of the other women you've known here, and of how you know where all of the most romantic restaurants and the wonderful views are, but . . . " She sighed.

"You know what?" he asked quietly, lifting a hand to gently turn her face towards his. When her eyes queried his, he went on, "That's why I wanted to come to Monaco."

"Because you know where the romantic spots are?"

"No, because I've never been here before." Amanda's eyebrows raised, and he hurried on. "Well, I've driven in the Grand Prix, but that was down in the city, and there was hardly time for sightseeing. I've been to Paris a lot of times, though it was never with someone as special to me as you are. I just thought it would be nice to come to a new place, make some new memories, without any ghosts hanging around in the background. My pilot friend said this was a good place to watch the sunset, and I think he was right."

"Lee, that's wonderful." Amanda reached up to touch his face. "I guess you do know me pretty well."

"Not as well as I'd like to," he replied with a leer. His humor worked, and she broke into a smile, swatting his shoulder. "Yeah, I guess I do," he replied more seriously, stroking her cheek with his thumb. "And I'm in love with you."

He was pleased to see she recognized the words she'd used just last week, standing inside the gazebo in her backyard. And just like then, their lips met in a sweet kiss that left neither of them in any doubt where they stood with each other.

They broke apart, staring happily at each other. After another kiss, they turned in mutual agreement to watch the last of the sun's glow fade from view. It really was almost like a fairy tale, he thought. Except here it had been the fair maiden rescuing the handsome prince in distress. He smiled and pulled Amanda a little closer to him. Yeah, definitely a fairy tale. For the first time in his life, he believed in "happily ever after."

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"Masterpiece" by Atlantic Starr

The simple touch of your hand, and everything is right.
The gentle way you look at me when we kiss goodnight.
You've given me the freedom no other love has known
And now I thank you girl , thank you girl

The countless ways you've touched my heart is more than I can say
The beauty that you've shown to me takes my breath away
A picture perfect painting, that's what our love is
And yes I need you so, and now I know

Chorus:
ooooh
I've found a masterpiece in you, a work of art it's true
And I treasure you my love
I've found a masterpiece in you, a work of art it's true
And I treasure you

Sometimes I wonder what I'd be had I not found you
A least and lonely soul this world could show me nothing new
But now my life's a canvas painted with your love
And it will always be, and now I see

[. . .]

When I'm lost and insecure
you build me up and make me sure
that everything will turn out right
My love

This fairy tale we're sharing
is real inside our hearts
Let it be forever
never let it end