Disclaimer: I don't own the situations or characters portrayed herein. I'm just playing with them for a while.


Do You Take This Spy? Part 3

He was glad that the shine of marriage had not been tarnished by the events of the last two days. He had witnessed a man being abusive to his wife, in front of strangers, no less. He had seen that same man shot dead, and discovered that it was the wife that had done it. He had seen the woman step out of her marriage vows with as little compunction as most people had at sampling a different brand of cereal. He had rarely seen a marriage break down that badly or to that extreme.

But his marriage would be different. He was marrying Amanda King, a woman who completely changed his life for the better, while leaving his sense of self intact.

Speaking of Amanda, where was she?

He had been pacing up and down in the hall outside the Ladies' Room, trying and failing to be patient as Amanda changed into "a nice suit". He knew it was important to her to look nice for their wedding, but she could be wearing a potato sack and he wouldn't care. He just wanted to be married.

"Amanda!" he called, unable to wait any longer. "Amanda, come on! He's gonna go home!"

He could not bear it if they had to postpone, yet again. But Amanda slipped out, just a few seconds after he knocked, and he couldn't breathe for a moment as he swept his eyes over her and just took her in for a moment.

She was radiant, smiling widely, and the love and trust shining in her eyes made his heart ache.

"You look beautiful," he said, and he wasn't impatient or nervous anymore.

"You look handsome," she replied, and he suddenly felt ten feet tall.


He wondered if this would hurt Amanda, saying these lifelong promises for the second time. But her eyes were clear behind the tears shimmering in them, and he pushed Joe out of his thoughts. There was no room for him here.

The Justice of the Peace was speaking.

"Do you, Lee, take Amanda to be your wife?"

He looked at her, and could not imagine life without her. "I do."

He had said this before, on that island on the Orlando Graves case, and it had made him feel sick. But this time was real, and it made him choke up a little.

"Do you, Amanda, take Lee to be your husband?"

Her voice held no uncertainty. "I do."

"Join hands," said Mr. Tagsworth, and at last they could hold hands in front of someone. "Repeat after me, Lee."


Amanda

She barely heard the Justice of the Peace through her hammering heart. She could not believe that this was real — not when she had dreamed of this day for so long.

But he took a deep breath, and he repeated the words, and even if she couldn't hear Mr. Tagsworth, she was definitely able to hear Lee.

I, Lee, take thee, Amanda, to be my lawful wedded wife...

She had gone from being a stranger to a burden, then from a friend to a partner, from a date to a fiancée, and finally a wife. His wife!

...to have and to hold, from this day forward...

They had had each other's backs for years. He had held her hand, held her close, carried her, lifted her. Mr. Tagsworth would be shocked to find out how long they had been keeping these vows already.

...for better or for worse...

He had always been there, when cases went well, or she got mixed up in some organized crime incident.

... for richer or for poorer...

He had co-signed on a loan to let her keep her house. He had negotiated a raise. He had paid for so many things.

...in sickness and in health...

He had been there for her when she lost her memory. He had taken her to the hospital to make sure Redding's gas had not harmed her.

... to love and to cherish...

The caress in his voice almost made her cry. She knew he loved her. He wouldn't have proposed if he didn't. He wouldn't marry her if he didn't. She had never been cherished like this before him.

... for all the days of our lives.

And when Lee made a promise, he kept it.


Lee

"Repeat after me, Amanda," said Mr. Tagsworth, and suddenly he could barely hear the Justice of the Peace over his rapidly beating heart and the lump rising in his throat. He could not believe that this was real — not some fever dream conjured up in the moments before waking or, worse, dying.

But then she spoke, and he could hear again.

I, Amanda, take thee, Lee, to be my lawful wedded husband...

Her eyes were shining, clear and sure, and he had never felt more loved in his entire life.

...to have and to hold, from this day forward...

She had held him together for so long. She had been there at his side for so much.

...for better or worse...

Relaxing on the couch and eating popcorn together, or running off with him during the Stemwinder case, or snuggling in a swamp.

... for rich or poorer...

Buying argyle socks for him when she had no money, just because she cared.

...in sickness and in heath...

Staying the night at the hospital. Nursing him back to health with homemade soup.

... to love and to cherish...

She had taught him everything he knew about real love.

... for all the days of our lives.

He could not think of anything in that moment, except a prayer. Please, God, let that be decades.

Tagsworth handed him Amanda's ring, and said, "Now, put this ring on her finger."

The delicate gold band slid on easily, and all he could think about was the fact that this was his ring for her, not anyone else's. It felt so right that it almost felt wrong.

"Say these words. This ring I give thee..."

He turned back toward his bride, and the anticipation of a life spent together almost choked him.

"This ring I give thee..."

Her eyes were shining.

"... in token and pledge..."

And he always would keep his promises to her. He had not broken one yet.

"... of my constant faith and devotion."

The Lee Stetson he had been four years ago would be appalled. Promising one woman that there would be no casual dalliances? Tied to the same woman for life?

But the Lee Stetson he had grown into was thrilled, covered in goosebumps, ready to promise this, and ready to follow through.

The Justice of the Peace turned to Amanda. "Now, give him your ring, saying, this ring I give thee..."

She slid the ring onto his finger, and he could not stop from shivering a little. No one had ever put a ring on him. He had always put it on himself, all those times they played a married couple.

"This ring I give thee..." she said, a little breathlessly, looking up at his eyes, "... in token and pledge..."

He didn't need a ring to know that she meant it.

"... of my constant faith and devotion."

It was nothing less than what she had always shown him.

They turned toward the Justice of the Peace, eagerly waiting to hear the sentence that would cement them together as family.

"By the authority vested in me by the statutes of the Commonwealth of Virginia, Lee Stetson and Amanda King, I am pleased to pronounce you man and wife."

Amanda's breath came out in what could really only be described as a happy hiccup.

"You kiss now," interjected the clerk, and he didn't have to be told twice.