The Christmas party at Birchwood was in full swing: Bing Crosby crooning over the speakers, Rupert flirting with Francine across the room and Lee in his element, flanked by Lois and Glynnis who were leading him along the buffet table and loading his plate with everything they'd made as he pretended to protest.

Amanda shook her head, smiling quietly to herself. She'd told the Mendleson sisters that people at the Agency were all contributing to the potluck and that they were supposed to just put their feet up and enjoy, but of course they'd ignored her, baking up a storm in the week leading up to the party.

"We're retired and bored ex-intelligence agents, Amada Dear, and we like to keep busy," they'd pointed out with wicked grins. "Would you rather we were sticking our noses into crimes around the neighborhood to pass the time?"

She and Lee had exchanged identical looks of mock horror and rushed to agree that no, the sisters should absolutely keep up with their kitchen activities and stay off the streets.

"I can't believe I'm aiding and abetting you by telling them to stay in the car," she'd confessed to Lee later.

"Better that than aiding and abetting them in taking down the local shoplifting ring," he'd answered.

"Well, they were going to do that anyway," she'd pointed out perfectly reasonably. "That gang never knew what hit them."

"Literally," Lee had agreed. "Who knew a walker could make such a handy weapon?"

"Or a crochet hook?" added Amanda, grinning.

Lee shuddered. "Don't remind me. I don't know if I can ever un-see that."

She turned to look around the room, checking to make sure that everyone had someone to talk to, and a plate of cookies nearby to nibble on. Picking up the coffee carafe, she had begun to circle the room, refilling cups and chatting as she went, when she noticed Billy waving her over to where he was sitting with a resident she hadn't met before.

"Amanda, this is Samuel Wallace. He's just moved into Birchwood and he used to be my equivalent back in the day. Mr. Wallace, this is Amanda King, one of my favorite agents."

Amanda blushed as she reached forward to shake Mr. Wallace's outstretched hand. "Well, it's a pleasure to meet you, Sir. If your agents gave you half the trouble we give Billy, I'm surprised you look as young as you do."

"What a flattering minx, you are! And you can call me Sam because I think we're going to be friends," chuckled the older man, patting the seat beside him, beaming when Amanda sat down with a broad smile. "You know, I've actually heard a lot about you since I got here – Lee and Amanda this and Lee and Amanda that. In fact, at first, I thought you were one person, Leon Amanda, because no one ever says one name without the other."

Billy couldn't restrain the snort he gave off. "You weren't far wrong, Sam. They're quite the team."

"Well, I look forward to meeting your other half," chuckled Sam. "I've only been here a few weeks and I already know those Mendleson sisters are besotted with him."

"Well, I'm sure he's somewhere around here," answered Amanda, craning her neck until she caught Lee's eye across the room and beckoned him over. As he began to work his way toward them, she turned back to Sam. "So are you enjoying living at Birchwood? Everyone making you feel welcome? Not that I really have to ask because I've never met a nicer group of people… Mr. Wallace? Sam? Are you alright?"

Sam, who had been smiling cheerfully seconds before, had suddenly gasped, half-lifting out of his chair before falling back, ashen-faced.

Amanda grabbed his hand, turning it to try and find his pulse. "Sam? Sam? What's wrong?" With relief she saw that Lee had picked up speed as he saw what was happening and was now crouched in front of him, while Billy had started to look for the nurse on duty. "Loosen his tie, Lee," she ordered.

Lee started to do as she'd asked, only to have Sam reach up and grab his wrist with a surprisingly strong grip.

"Oh my God, you're real?" Sam croaked.

Lee and Amanda exchanged a confused look. "Yes Sir," Lee answered him.

Sam gave a shaky laugh and let go of Lee. "Jeez, I thought I was seeing a ghost come to take me home. You look exactly like an agent I lost… wait, did you say Lee?"

"Yes Sir," said Lee, quietly, understanding now. "Lee Stetson. And I'm guessing you knew my father, Matthew."

Sam sank back in his chair, letting Amanda pick up his hand and hold it between hers.

"Knew him? Matt Stetson was like a son to me. I trained him during the war and then when he came home, he brought Jennie with him. Oh, they pretended they'd never met before but I'd never seen two people more in love… They thought they were fooling people, but they never fooled their friends – it was just too obvious." Sam stared at Lee, shaking his head. "I haven't seen you since you were this high." He held his hand up just above his knee. "You had your father's eyes and your mother's dimples."

"Still does," said Amanda, fondly, reaching out to rub Lee's shoulder.

"You knew me?" asked Lee. "When I was little?"

"Of course I did, from the day you were born. You were their pride and joy," replied Sam. "Never a day went by without Matt telling a story or six about what shenanigans you'd been into – just like your parents really," Sam started to chuckle. "If there was trouble, those two would find it."

Billy gave in to one of his deep laughs. "Apple didn't fall far from the tree then. In more than a few ways." He grinned as Lee and Amanda blushed in unison.

"I never believed a word of what people said about them," growled Sam, suddenly. "That wasn't the Matt and Jennie I knew but it was near impossible to get the facts to clear them after they died – every file locked up tight, no one allowed to talk…" He jabbed a finger at Lee. "But they were good people, don't let anyone tell you otherwise!"

"Oh they tried, believe me," replied Lee. "But we got that all straightened out last year."

"Glad to hear it. They deserved better than they were treated. Boy, I could tell you stories," said Sam with a far off look in his eye.

"Could you?" asked Lee. He hadn't meant it to sound so abrupt, and Sam's gaze came back to him sharply. "I- I- I've never met anyone who knew them," he stammered. "Except for my uncle and getting stuff out of him when I was growing up was like pulling hen's teeth."

"I sure could. Pull up a chair," beamed Sam, his smile growing broader as Lee raced to do exactly that. "Let me tell you – I never thought Matt would settle down, he was such a ladies man in his heyday…"

As he began to talk, Lee leaned in, lost in the tales immediately. Amanda stood up and touched his shoulder lightly. "I'll go get you both a drink– storytelling's thirsty work"

"Thanks, Sweetheart," said Lee absently.

Amanda met Billy's eyes over their heads, and knew he wasn't far from laughing out loud again at Lee's slip. He stood up and gave her a wink.

"Not far from the tree at all," he chuckled. "Come on, I'll help you get those drinks."

Lee was quiet on the drive home, deep in thought, until Amanda reached over to rest her hand along the back of his neck and gently scratch his scalp.

"Sam's pretty wonderful," she said quietly. "Those were some great stories."

Lee gave her a quick sideways smile, then returned his attention to the road. "Yeah, he is. And you know, he had names of other people who knew them, said he'd give them a call, ask them if I could visit… ask questions…" He sighed. "I can't believe it never occurred to me there'd still be people around who could tell me about them."

"Well, it makes sense – they'd only have been in their late sixties if they'd lived – we should have expected there would be."

"You're right – I don't know why I didn't think of it."

"Well, you didn't know where to start, and even if you had, you know what the Birchwood gang are like with secrets– some of your parents' old friends might not have wanted to tell you anything in case it was need to know."

"Yeah," Lee sighed again and reached to squeeze her knee. "I'm glad you were there to hear them too. Makes it seem more real."

"I'm glad I was too – they sound wonderful. I mean, I knew they must be to have such a great son, but the way Sam talked about them… they were special."

Lee's happy grin shone on the dim light of the streetlamps they were passing. "They were, weren't they?"

"You know," Amanda went on thoughtfully. "I bet if you asked your uncle for stories about your dad when they were young, he might be more willing to talk. And you know what else? I bet he was given a briefing when you went to live with him and maybe he always thought everything was off-limits to talk about."

"I hadn't thought of that. Maybe I'll call him tomorrow."

"See if he can come for Christmas," Amanda suggested. "Take him to meet Sam – I bet they'd get on like a house on fire."

"Another person for Christmas?" Lee teased her. "Is there any room left at the inn?"

"Oh, I'm sure he'll want to stay at the Officer's Club or your apartment," laughed Amanda. "He won't want to go from solitary silence to noisy house in one leap. But yes, he's family and there's always room for one more at the table. We just need to get a bigger table."

Lee pulled the Corvette over to the curb and turned to face her.

"What's wrong?" she asked in surprise.

"Absolutely nothing," smiled Lee. "I just wanted to do this." He leaned over, pulling her in close to kiss her, firmly. He pulled back just far enough to look into Amanda's eyes, shining with love. "I love you."

"Well, that's good because I love you too, Sweetheart." She pulled him again, kissing with the promise of the possibilities of the evening yet to come.

Lee lost himself in the embrace for a few minutes and then asked softly, lips still against her cheek, "Your place or mine?"

"Oh, your place, I think," she answered demurely. "I'd hate for the special lingerie I'm wearing to go to waste."

Heads along the street turned at the sound of the squealing tires as the Corvette tore up the street and disappeared into the night.