Chapter one - January 1991

Lee Stetson walked into his office at the Agency. His wife and partner, Amanda, was not there. She had taken the day off to help their friend, Marie Hamilton, set up the surprise party they were having for Marie's daughter, Annie and Amanda's son Phillip. They were turning eighteen years old. Annie and Phillip had been together since they were sophomores in high school. They were now in their freshman year of college at Penn State. The families wanted to throw the young couple a joint surprise birthday party since they wouldn't be coming home for Phillip's birthday which was during Spring Break.

Lee looked at his watch and grumbled. If he didnt get on the road he was going to be late for the party. Amanda wouldn't be happy. Lee was finishing his latest report regarding some arms dealings in the Middle East that he and Amanda had managed to put a stop to when the door to the Q bureau flew open. Francine Desmond, Lee and Amanda's colleague and friend came running in. " Lee! They did it! They started the attack on Kuwait! Turn on the TV!"

Lee looked up at Francine and said " WHAT? When?" He jumped up and ran over to the little TV he had brought from his old apartment during his bachelor days. He flipped it onto the local news and sure enough Francine was right. The United States was involved in an air battle with Iraqi soldiers in Kuwait. Lee and Francine looked at one another with worried looks as they watched and listened to the TV. They were intently listening when the phone rang and Lee went over to pick it up. "Stetson. Yeah, Hi honey. No, Francine just came up here and told me. I don't know. I haven't talked to Billy yet. I know. Well, I am heading to the restaurant. I will be there in 20 minutes. I love you too."

Francine looked at Lee and she knew what Amanda was asking. She knew the minute that the US started this air strike that the Agency would be in full force. Agents would be heading over there, and Amanda wanted to know if Lee would be one of them. Francine looked at her friend and sighed. "Lee, there is no guarantee that Billy will send you. You are a married agent with kids. You know this. Amanda knows this."

Lee ran his fingers through his hair. He knew this as well, but as the Agency's best operative and the knowledge he had regarding intelligence in the Middle East was something the higher powers would consider more valuable and he would be expected to pack his bags. The kind of missions he would be a part of would also be Top Secret and No Contact. He just didn't even want to think about it. Tonight was about Anne Marie and Phillip and their birthday party. He stood up and grabbed his coat. He looked at Francine and said "I am heading to the birthday party. We will see you there, right?' Francine nodded and as Lee walked out the door she turned back to the television and wondered what was happening in the world.

" Mom, where do you want me to hang this?" Jamie King asked. He held up the Happy Birthday Annie and Phillip sign. His mother smiled at him and asked him to put it up against the back wall where everyone would see it. She glanced over at the playpen at her sleeping daughter, Katie. She was cranky all the way to the restaurant and Amanda knew that the baby just wanted a nap. Her thoughts went back to the world events that were splashed all over the news and worry crept into Amanda's thoughts. They couldn't send Lee, could they? No. They know that he has a family and we need him home with us. Stop thinking about it right now, Amanda. We have a party to have. That's what's important right now. Amanda pushed aside her thoughts and went back to setting up the party. Slowly, some of Annie and Phillips' friends started trickling in. Annie's parents, Marie and Tom Hamilton, came in and Marie jumped in to help Amanda. Tom smiled at Amanda and asked where Lee was.

" He said he was leaving work so he should be here shortly."

"He's here. I told you I wouldn't miss this!" They heard coming from behind them. Lee was taking his coat off and after kissing his wife hello and checking on the sleeping Katie, Lee walked over to Tom who was watching the TV. Tom shook Lee's hand and cleared his throat.

" Will they be sending you?"

Lee shook his head. He knew that Tom Hamilton suspected what he and Amanda did for a living. Tom had seen them several times meeting with Lee's old friend, TP. Lee had not had a chance to talk to Tom about everything, but now seemed like a good chance.

" Tom...I don't know. I guess you know that IFF isn't exactly what it says it is."

Tom laughed. "We live in Washington, DC, Lee. How could you not be spies! But you know that your secret is safe with me. And if you need anything, you know just ask. Marie and I are here for you, Amanda and the kids."

Lee smiled at his friend and nodded. "Thanks Tom. I may just take you up on that. I don't know what's going to happen." Before he could say anything else Amanda came running in and said that Annie and Phillip were there. It was party time. Everyone made their way to the front of the doorway and as the young couple walked in everyone shouted " Happy Birthday!"

Amanda Stetson gently laid her baby daughter into her crib and kissed her goodnight. The little girl was the spitting image of her father except for the dark brown hair like her mothers. Kate Stetson was almost a year old and she was a bundle of energy. Once the party had started the little girl had woken up and was the star of the show. She should be exhausted! Amanda thought to herself as she watched her sleeping baby. She was running around that party getting into everything. Let's hope she sleeps all night and doesn't wake up!

Amanda went to the room next to Kate's nursery and checked on her son Jamie. He still had his glasses on and fell asleep reading a book. Amanda took his glasses off and placed them on the table next to his bed. She reached down and kissed his forehead. She closed the door to his room and when she stood outside in the hallway she was greeted by her husband. She could tell by the look on his face that he was about to tell her news that she didn't want to hear.

" Amanda...Billy called."

" How long is it going to be, Lee?" Amanda couldn't even look at her husband. Her stomach was in knots and she wanted to be sick. He was going over there. Without her. For God only knows how long.

Lee ran his fingers through his hair and mumbled "The first mission is only like a month. But then eventually I will have to go to NO contact." Lee took his wife into his arms as she cried. This is the part of this job that I don't like. I can't leave my family. Lee thought as he hugged Amanda tighter.

CHAPTER two - November 1991

Dotty West lifted her granddaughter into the shopping cart and buckled her into the seat. " Oh no young lady! We have lots of things to get for Thanksgiving dinner and I am not going to run after you all over this grocery store!"

Kate Stetson made a grumpy face at her grandmother and then reached to kiss her. Dotty laughed and kissed her back. " Don't you even try to use some of your fathers charms on me, young lady! Grandma is immune to that!"

"You are immune to what, Mother?" Amanda Stetson walked up to her mother and daughter and put a few things into the cart. She looked at her mother and smiled.

" Oh, Katie was just trying to work some of her Stetson charm on me so I would not make her sit in the cart! I am immune. I am going to go get some milk. Be right back!" Dotty took off towards the Dairy section leaving Amanda with the baby. Amanda looked at her daughter and smiled. She wiped the hair off Kate's forehead and kissed the top of her head. She looks so much like her father. Lee. God I miss him. I hope he's okay. This no contact mission is for the birds. Amanda thought about the past 10 months with her husband going back and forth to the Middle East. She tried to push her feelings aside. She missed him so much. Jamie missed him, Kate missed him. Lee was on his third and last mission to Iraq. Billy promised her this would be the last. And of course it was the biggest. This one was the no contact mission. She hadn't seen or talked to her husband in 5 months. He missed Kate's 1st birthday. He missed Jamie winning the photography contest. He missed Phillip's baseball games at college. They promised one another that once he came back he would look at getting a desk job within the Agency. Amanda herself was moving her way to becoming a Senior Analyst in Lee's absence. She still worked in the Q bureau but she knew things would never be like they were before.

Her thoughts were interrupted by Kate hitting her hand that was sitting on the grocery cart. Amanda smiled at her daughter and kissed her head again. "Well, sweetheart… This shopping isn't going to get finished by itself. Ready to help Mommy?" The little girl waved her arms and Amanda laughed as they finished their shopping.

Phillip King pulled into the driveway of 4247 Maplewood Dr. and stopped the car. His stepfather's Corvette was in the driveway as it had been since the day he left. Phillip missed Lee. He had to go to Iraq for work. Phillip never really understood why a documentary film director needed to go over to that awful place. He remembered Lee saying it was a prime opportunity to get some great footage of what was really happening. Phillip knew Lee really didn't want to go. He was glad Annie's parents were right around the corner in case his mother needed anything. He knew his mother missed Lee every day. Jamie would tell him that he could hear Amanda crying every night since Lee left. Phillip was worried about his mother and hoped Lee would make it home soon.

Phillip grabbed his bags and walked into the house. He was home for the week for Thanksgiving break. He had already dropped Annie off at her house and was expecting his family to be there when he got there but he didn't see anyone. He dropped his bag by the stairs and walked into the kitchen. He glanced outside and saw his younger brother, Jamie, sitting on the picnic table. He walked out to the patio and once Jamie saw him the younger boy ran into his brother's arms. Phillip noticed that Jamie had been crying. He returned the hug and said " Yo wormbrain, what gives?"

Jamie King let go of his brother and wiped the tears from his face. He looked at Phillip and tried to speak, but nothing would come out. He took a deep breath and said " Remember that federal agent friend of Pop's?" Phillip nodded. " Mr. Melrose, right?'

Jamie said " Yeah, he just called and wanted to talk to mom, but she's not here. Mom, grandma and Katie went to the grocery store to get stuff for Thursday. He told me…." Jamie stopped and walked away from Phillip. He just couldn't say it. It was too painful.

" He told you what Jamie?"

Jamie turned around and with tears in his eyes said "Pops is missing. His whole production group hasn't been heard from in about 6 weeks. Phillip, how do we tell Mom?"

Amanda Stetson woke up on Thanksgiving morning later than she had planned. Her mother told her to relax and not worry about any of the cooking. The past three days were a blur to Amanda and she finally stopped crying. On Monday after she got back from the grocery store she was greeted with Billy Melrose stopping at the house. He told her that Lee, her husband, was missing and presumed dead. She didn't want to believe it. She couldn't believe it. Her thoughts took her back to a memory years ago when Lee had to fake his death in order to catch the person killing agents. She had only known Lee for a short time then but his 'death' greatly upset her. But this time, this was her husband. The man she loved. She knew from working with the Agency for so long that since Lee's group had not been heard from in 6 weeks it wasn't the news they wanted to hear. It was too much for her. She cried herself to sleep the past few nights and tried to be strong for the kids. Her mother and Aunt Lillian tried to take some of the stress of Thanksgiving off of Amanda. Amanda did overhear her mother talk about that " blasted film company" several times. Amanda tried to be strong, but it was getting harder with each passing day. They were all trying to be strong for her, but she knew they were hurting as well. Lee Stetson made a difference in the King boys' lives and they needed him. They all did. She ran her hands over her face and thru her hair and sighed. It was Thanksgiving and she needed to be around family. They would get through this.

She stood up and put on Lee's robe. She had started wearing it once he left for Iraq and today of all days she wanted to feel him close. She walked by Kate's room and she heard her oldest son, Phillip, talking to his little sister.

" Hey Katie bug...did you wake up? Shhh...it's ok. Bubby is here. I got you. No more crying. We don't want to wake up Mommy now do we? She's had a rough week kiddo and she's missing Daddy." Amanda's heart warmed as she listened to her son take care of his sister "Let's get you changed and ready for the big day! That's right...we are gonna eat lots of turkey, and we are gonna go get our Christmas tree and Annie is coming over too! I know you want to see your Annie...don't you?" Amanda could hear her daughter giggling and jabbering at her older brother like she was carrying on a conversation with him. Amanda quietly walked past the nursery and downstairs. Her mother and Aunt Lillian were in the throes of Thanksgiving meal prep. Amanda said good morning to them as she reached for Lee's coffee cup and poured herself a steaming cup.

" Amanda! You don't need to be up yet darling! Lillian and I have dinner covered. You rest and spend time with the kids. Please Panda. I don't want you to be upset. Go rest."

Amanda hugged her mother and said thank you. " I will Mother, thank you for taking over the cooking duties this year. With... Lee... not being here it's just not in my heart to cook. I think I am going to finish my coffee out on the patio and then get dressed. The boys want to go take Katie to get our Christmas tree today."

Dotty smiled and told Amanda that was a wonderful idea. Amanda stood up and took her coffee out on the patio. She pulled the robe closer to her neck due to the chill in the air. It may be a cold winter this year. Maybe it will snow for Christmas. Katie will love that. Amanda thought. Her thoughts then drifted to her husband and the backyard. She and Lee had spent so many moments out in the gazebo. It was where they fell in love and were married. She always felt closer to him when she was out there. She sat down and sipped her coffee. She put her mug down and started crying. " Oh Lee, I need you to come home. I miss you so much. The kids miss you. Mother misses you. We need you, Stetson. We need you!" Amanda put her head down and started crying again.

A lonely figure came out from the bushes and whispered "Is that invitation you mentioned years ago for Thanksgiving still good?"

Amanda looked up and saw the beautiful hazel green eyes of her husband twinkling back at her. She jumped up and flew into his arms showering him with kisses. She couldn't even breathe. She was yelling and crying. She made so much noise it brought her mother out to the patio. Dotty saw her daughter holding onto Lee Stetson if her life depended on it. Dotty also ran into Lee's arms and Aunt Lillian yelled to the boys and Katie that Lee was home. The family stood in the gazebo and Lee Stetson never felt more loved than he did at that moment. He was home and he was never leaving it again.

CHAPTER three - May 1992

"Well, here we are again, Mrs. Stetson. Another high school graduation." Lee Stetson smiled at his wife as she pulled their almost 2 year old daughter onto her lap. Katie Stetson was a ball of energy with brown curls and the prettiest hazel green eyes. She was a perfect blend of her parents. The terrible twos were upon the Stetson's and Kate was a very unpredictable child. The smallest thing would and could set her off. So far she was in a pleasant mood and Amanda was hoping she'd stay that way for the day.

It was Jamie King's turn to graduate high school. Amanda was still in a bit of denial that both of her sons were growing up. Phillip was a sophomore at Penn State along with his longtime girlfriend, Annie Hamilton. And now Jamie was graduating and heading all the way out to UCLA for college in the fall. Jamie was awarded a journalism and photography scholarship to the school and he couldn't pass up such an opportunity. Amanda wasn't ready to say goodbye to Jamie. Since his father, Joe, died a few years before, she and Jamie became closer. With Phillip off to college it gave Amanda, Lee and Jamie some time to really be a family. Adding little Kate into the mix forged a tight bond with the Stetsons. Her relationship with Phillip was always strong, but she always called him "Lee's son" in her head. If there was an issue or he needed to talk, Phillip went to Lee, not her. She understood and encouraged their relationship. For years before they were married, Lee Stetson, would watch her boys in the shadows of her backyard. Lee never let her down when it came to the safety of their boys.

Kate Stetson was trying to wriggle out of her mothers arms. Amanda held her tighter and whispered " No sweetheart, Mommy needs you to sit here with her and be a big girl. Jamie is going to be out soon and you can see him! Sit still, little one!" Kate wasn't listening to her mother and wriggled out and jumped off her mothers lap. She started running out of the aisle before Lee and Amanda could catch her. Kate smiled and jumped up and down as she realized she was free from her parents. She turned around and ran smack into her older brother, Phillip, who happened to walk in with his girlfriend, Annie, her parents and his grandmother.

" Oh no stinker! You aren't trying to run away from Mommy and Daddy are you?" Phillip scooped his little sister into his arms and showered her with kisses. She squealed with laughter as Phillip swung her over his shoulder.

" NO Pwhillup! Kate down!" She screamed.

Lee Stetson ran up to the group and took his daughter from Phillip. "Thanks Chief, for the save! This little girl is going to give me more grey hair then her mother ever has! She's too much like her mother!" Everyone laughed and they took their seats. Dotty looked at Amanda and mentioned maybe getting the stroller out of the Wagoneer just in case someone had to take Kate for a walk. Lee took that as his cue and went out to the car after depositing Kate back to her mother. Kate reached for Annie and Phillip and the young couple laughed. She sat quietly on Annie's lap for the ceremony and never moved after that. Amanda shrugged her shoulders as Lee came back with the stroller. He rolled his eyes and propped it up by the door ...Just in case he thought to himself as the ceremony began and he returned to his seat next to Amanda.

A few days later, Lee Stetson was in his office at the Agency. Things since his return from Iraq had quieted down for the most part and he was actually able to catch up on paperwork. He hated paperwork and missed his partner… and wife. Amanda wasn't there that morning. While Lee was gone, Amanda went from being a field agent to a Senior Analyst and she was the most sought after analyst within the Agency. Every agent wanted to work with the infamous "Mrs. King". At first Lee was a bit jealous of the attention his wife was getting, but once he saw her in action he knew Billy had made the best decision in promoting her. She deserved the attention and glory. This was something that she earned and Lee wasn't a part of that. Their record of having the most closed cases was still intact. Lee had a sense of pride knowing that Scarecrow and Mrs. King's track record and infamy would live on in the Agency. His thoughts were interrupted by his boss, Billy Melrose, walking into the Q bureau. Billy smiled at his best agent and friend and walked over to Lee's desk. He cleared his throat. Lee looked up and noticed that Billy was grinning from ear to ear.

" What Billy? What brings you up to the Q bureau with that grin all over your face?"

"What grin all over my face? I don't know what you mean, Scarecrow?"

Lee shook his head " Oh no. You are just like Amanda! When you don't want to answer my question, you repeat it. Not buying it. What gives?"

Billy started pacing the floor. He had wonderful news for Lee but didn't know how the younger agent would feel about it all. Billy took a deep breath and said " Well, your name came up in the meeting today...as Deputy Director of Investigative Services…" Billy grinned again towards Lee. Lee sat back in his chair and ran his fingers through his hair. His eyes were wide and a weak smile crept on his face. His dimples were barely showing.

" Deputy Director? Billy? That's your job? What are you saying?"

Billy Melrose sat down on the couch and sighed. He knew that it was time for him to pass the torch and let Lee take over. He was tired. He was ready to spend quality time with Jeannie and his girls. He couldn't think of a better person to follow him. Lee Stetson was the best of the best.

" Lee, it's time for this old spy to retire. I have spent thirty years doing this and I am done. You have earned this position. It's effective as of October 1st if you want it. Everything was approved this morning."

Lee looked at his boss and friend and couldn't find the words. Billy could tell that Lee was struggling on what to say.

" Go home and talk it over with Amanda. You can pick your assistant and there is no rule about spouses working together so Scarecrow and Mrs. King can work together again. Especially the Agency's number one team...and that comes straight from the White House."

Lee cleared his throat and stood up. He walked over to Billy and shook his hand.

"Well, thank you, Billy. For your vote of confidence. And...well...for everything. I wouldn't be the agent...or for that matter the man I am today if it weren't for you." Billy started to protest but Lee continued " No, hear me out, you saw something in both Amanda and I way before we did and it's because of you that I have my family now. You are family too, Billy, and you always will be. Thank you."

Lee pulled the man into a hug and slapped him on the back " Congrats on retiring! I bet Jeannie is thrilled that you are finally saying goodbye!"

Billy laughed and nodded his head. "You have no idea how happy she was when I made the decision. She's already planning a vacation to see the girls."

Lee smiled at his friend" Well, remember our Friday nights at Randy's are always a thing." Billy shook Lee's hand again and said " You're on!"

" AM AN DA! Are you home?" Lee yelled from the bottom of the stairs once he walked into the house. After his meeting with Billy he rushed home to tell her the news of his promotion. He couldn't wait to tell her. He dropped his keys on the table by the front door and walked into the kitchen. No one was there. He yelled for his wife again.

" Amanda? Are you home?"

" Lee, is that you? I am up here. In the bathroom...washing your daughter!"

Lee took the stairs two at a time and walked into the bathroom doorway. There was Amanda kneeling over the bathtub trying to wrestle their daughter, Katie. She was covered with something brown and sticky. Lee couldn't figure out what it was just by looking at it.

"Um...Amanda? What's all over the baby?"

Amanda Stetson sat back on her knees and laughed. Katie saw her mother laughing and she started giggling. Amanda wiped her hair out of her face and said " What that stuff is, Stetson, is pancake syrup. Jamie left the bottle on the counter from breakfast this morning and I didn't notice. Katie made a bee line for it and somehow reached it and dumped the whole bottle on her head!"

Lee Stetson laughed out loud and couldn't stop. He took off his suit coat and tie and hung them on the door frame. He rolled his sleeves up and knelt down next to his wife. He leaned over to her and gave her a kiss. Katie giggled louder when she saw her parents kissing and splashed water all over them. Lee started tickling his daughter as Amanda dumped water on her so she could try and get her clean.

" So why are you home so early? No bad guys trying to take over the world?"

Lee smiled at his wife. She's so beautiful. God, I am so lucky to have this woman in my life. Billy was so right in putting us together. And I was finally smart enough to never let her go. Lee thought. His thoughts were interrupted by Katie splashing him again and he laughed.

" No. No bad guys today. But...I did have a meeting with Billy today. We have a lot to talk about Mrs. Stetson."

Amanda raised an eyebrow at her husband. " Oh really?"

Lee smiled at her and said " Well, Mrs. Stetson, effective October 1st you are looking at the next Deputy Director of the Investigative Services Department!"

Amanda opened her mouth in surprise and threw her arms around Lee splashing all of them with water. " Oh sweetheart! That's wonderful! I am SO happy for you! This is terrific news!"

Lee wiped some soap from his face and said " Well, Mrs. Stetson, are you ready to be my assistant again? You know I can pick my staff."

" Apprentice assistant Stetson" Amanda said with a twinkle in her eyes thinking of a case long ago.

Lee smirked at her " Purist" He was thinking of the same memory. That was when he first kissed her while being undercover as a football player. Lee pulled her close to him. He brought his lips to hers. She returned his kiss as their daughter happily played with her toys in the tub.

CHAPTER four - August 1992

Amanda Stetson stood at the large window looking out at Dulles International Airport. She was watching the planes landing and taking off. She was trying to keep it together and not cry...again. She was there along with her family so they could say goodbye to her youngest son, Jamie. He was leaving to go to UCLA for his freshman year of college. Amanda was so proud of Jamie. He earned a full scholarship to the school. She sighed as she thought about how much her boys have grown in the last few years and how everything was changing. She took her eyes off the window and glanced at her family that was sitting by the gate Jamie would be departing from. Her husband, Lee, was deep in conversation with their 2 year old daughter Katie. She was fascinated with the airplanes and Lee was indulging in her jabbering. Her sons, Phillip and Jamie along with Phillip's girlfriend, Annie, were across from Lee and Katie laughing and talking.

Dotty West, Amanda's mother, walked over to her daughter. " Penny for your thoughts, Panda?" her mother wrapped her arm around Amanda's waist and gave her a tight squeeze.

Amanda smiled at her mother and sighed " Oh, that may take a nickel Mother. I was just thinking about how much our lives have changed. I remember telling Joe years ago that the future was going to be great. And I was right. I hate that he's missing all of this. He would be proud of the boys...wouldn't he?"

Dotty looked towards her family and smiled. " Of course, Joe would be proud of them. They are turning out to be exceptional young men. And I am proud of you young lady. You created this. You and Lee have given these boys a family that they were lacking. And Katie is my biggest joy, you know that. It's times like these that make us remember the past, but our future is just going to get better. Remember that young lady!"

" Oh Mother! You are so right! I love you!' Amanda reached over and hugged her mother. Dotty returned the hug and the two walked over to their family. The loudspeaker was announcing boarding for Jamie's flight. The young man stood up and gathered his carry-on bag. Phillip stood up and was the first to say goodbye.

" Well, Wormbrain. This is it. College man, now. You know if you need anything, just call one day Penn State will play UCLA and we can catch a game?"

" Sounds good Phillip. Take care of yourself...and of Annie. I'll miss you"

With that Jamie hugged his big brother and hugged Annie. She said that she would miss him and he said the same.

Dotty came over to her grandsons and hugged and kissed Jamie. " You take care of yourself out there in California. Be careful and have a wonderful time. I am so so proud of you! I love you!" Jamie started getting choked up saying goodbye to his grandmother and hugged her a bit tighter. " I love you Grandma. Thank you for everything. I will miss you and I promise to call you once I get to my dorm."

Jamie took a few steps over to his parents and little sister. He knelt down to Katie who was strapped into her stroller. She had a tendency to run if prompted. Jamie gave her a sweet kiss on her cheek and told her to rub it in. " Hey Katie Bug. I'm gonna miss you. But remember that your big brother is always here for you. I love you kiddo." Jamie stood up and looked at his stepfather.

Jamie cleared his throat and smiled at Lee. Jamie also had grown taller in the last few years and he was now as tall as his mother. He had darker brown hair than Phillip and brown eyes like his mother. He no longer wore his glasses since getting contacts and his braces were gone. He's so grown up and venturing out on his own. Lee thought to himself. I am so proud of him...but this goodbye is going to be hard. I think for both of us. Lee stepped closer to Jamie and put his arm around Jamie's shoulder.

" Well, Sport, this is it. Um...I really don't know what to say except we….well...I love you very much and am so proud of you. I know that you will do great things at UCLA. If you need anything, please don't hesitate. Your mother and I will be on a plane to California."

Jamie smiled at Lee and said " Thanks. I just wanted to thank you and Mom for everything. I will be fine. Um…." Jamie looked at his stepfather and hugged him. " I love you too Dad". Lee was surprised to hear Jamie call him Dad. He didn't do it very often. He hugged Jamie back and said goodbye to the young man.

Jamie looked over at his mother. She was trying not to cry as she opened her arms to him. He willingly went into her hug and she held on tight. Jamie said " I think I'm gonna miss you the most, Mom. I love you." Jamie hugged her tighter and Amanda started crying.

" Oh Jamie! I am gonna miss you so much! But just like your dad said, we will be on a plane if you need us! Have a wonderful year and we will see you at Christmas! I love you!" She kissed him on his cheek and gave him one more hug. Jamie grabbed his bag and walked towards the plane. He turned one last time and waved goodbye to his family.

Later on that afternoon Phillip and Annie were driving back to their school. They were talking about Jamie heading off to college and how things were changing. They were about to start their junior year of college at Penn State. Annie was going to school for education and Phillip was still up in the air about what he wanted to do. He always wanted to join the military after college and he was nervous about asking Annie how she felt about it. Come on chicken, this is Annie. She's your best friend for heaven's sake. She will follow you anywhere, right? Talk to her. Phillip thought as he drove. Annie was looking out the window when Phillip asked " Annie, what do you think about me joining the Marines?"

Annie looked at her boyfriend and smiled. " Phillip, I know that you have wanted to join the military even before we met. I have no problems with you doing that after school. You know that. Sure, being apart won't be fun especially since we've been together since high school….but I think every couple needs some challenges and I think that having time for you to do your thing and me to do mine will be really great for us. Don't you?"

Phillip took Annie's hand and kissed it. " This is why I love you, Annie Hamilton, you know that? You always know what I want to say. It's just that my mouth just can't seem to catch up!"

Annie and Phillip laughed and Annie reached over to kiss Phillip's cheek. " I said I would walk with you anywhere and everywhere, King. And I mean it."

Phillip kissed Annie's hand again and smiled. He had some plans to take care of. He knew that Dotty would be the one to talk to this time around.