Author's Note: A little something that came to me the other day. It is another story as part of my alternate universe. Enjoy! Happy holiday and be safe. Thanks to the beta team once again.

He had to be the most handsome man there but then again she was biased. Amanda thought as she glanced back towards Lee who was sitting at the bar watching her dance another round. This time she was dancing with one of the junior agents from the bullpen. It was New Year's Eve and Billy had managed to surprise them with a party at the Cumberland.

This was the first time in years she was able to honestly tell her mother not only where she was going, but with whom and why without any remorse. She was the happiest she'd been in the longest of times too. What could be more exciting than being out past midnight with the man she loved? But truth be told, she'd rather be held in Lee's arms than dancing with one co-worker after another.

She was surprised Lee was taking her dancing with so many of the eligible men so lightly. She remembered all the times Lee was upset if he saw her with any man when they went out to business functions and that was all before they were involved. Tonight had started innocently enough, though. Lee had gone to the men's room and left her at the bar and when he came back, Billy had asked her to dance. That was understandable but after that, nearly every man in the place seemed to want to dance with her. Okay, she was exaggerating but Fred Fielder now made number six or seven she was sure of it.

She was beginning to wonder rather or not Lee was angry with her but each time she glanced his way, he smiled and saluted her with his glass of cognac and surprisingly enough, appeared to be only his second one. She didn't mean to complain but she thought that this would be an evening with her and Lee dancing for a change.

Grateful that her dance with Fred was coming to an end as he excused himself to get a drink; her mind wandered to other times when she and Lee were out-like at the embassy, Amanda would wind up alone and as soon as a man approached her to dance, Lee would pop in speaking some language she didn't even know and whisking her away. Amanda was headed towards Lee when Beaman pulled her into his arms. Before she could say no, they were already moving on the dance floor, a little bit out of beat to the fast tempo; Beaman having had a few too many drinks it would seem. She would dance with him but then that was it. She wanted to dance with Lee. Looking back at Lee, again he seemed quite content still. That was when it hit her, she knew exactly what he was doing.

***SMK***

From Lee's stance at the bar, Amanda was the prettiest woman in the room. She was wearing her hair pinned up and she was dressed in a midnight blue shimmering dress that came just below Amanda's knees but for Amanda's height, it looked amazing on her. She wore heels that made her appear even taller than she already was which was saying something. Her make-up though flawless, it was her lips that his eyes kept swaying to, lips that were just waiting to be kissed; her lipstick a nice shade of burgundy.

"Lee, what are you up to?" Billy asked as he walked up and sat next to Lee.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, why are you here when Amanda's over there dancing with another person from the bullpen?" Billy reached down and rubbed the back of his ankle. At Lee's look, Billy said, "These damn new shoes."

"I'm just watching Amanda dance. That's all."

"And with Beaman of all people!" Billy said noticing Beaman's less than ungraceful moves.

"He is harmless."

Billy looked at Lee disbelievingly, now knowing that this wasn't Lee but he said instead, "Well, I would think now that the two of you have come clean about your relationship that you'd be on the dance floor with her every chance you could get instead of watching her."

"Oh, I'm gonna dance with her alright. I'm just waiting for the right moment."

"Well, Scarecrow, don't wait too long. I'm sure Amanda wants to dance with you tonight also. I'll be back." Billy said as he walked off.

Lee had to admit, he normally wasn't a jealous man but he was always jealous when it came to Amanda when they were out. Even before they began "having a thing" as Amanda used to be fond of saying. But now, he didn't feel jealous at all. He supposed the fact that everyone now knew they were together as a couple was one of the reasons and well if he admitted it, the engagement ring on her left hand wasn't hurting things either. Lee thought to himself, a smile appearing upon his face. Amanda could dance with as many of the men as she wanted; he knew at the end of the night it would be him that was taking her back to his apartment where they'd have a special dance all of their own. How in the hell she'd put up with him in the early years he'd never know. He silently sent up a prayer of thanks as he nursed his drink.

Just thinking about him and Amanda together made him want to tap Efraim on the shoulder and relieve Amanda of him. Billy was probably right, Lee had only danced with her a few times since they'd been there tonight. He'd let Beaman and Amanda finish off this dance then he'd step up and tap him on the shoulders. Lee was downing the remaining contents of his drink when he noticed a rather tall and muscular young man close to his late 20's early 30's walked up and tapped Beaman on the shoulder. "Who the hell is that?" Lee asked not realizing he said it out loud until he heard Francine who had been sitting there next to him for the last few moments chatting with Jeannie. He hadn't even noticed that they were there.

"Oh, that's the new guy. Rather handsome isn't he, tall, muscular, mustache, dark dreamy eyes."

"Yes, very handsome indeed," Jeanie said just before Billy and Leatherneck returned from getting some more appetizers for the ladies.

"I think now might be the right time," Billy added, slapping Lee on the back.

"Yeah, I would say so, Scarecrow," Leatherneck agreed.

Lee placed down his drink and walked over to the dance floor and tapped the new man on the back. "Excuse me, but may I cut in?"

He looked from Amanda to Lee shrugged his shoulders and then moved on.

"What took you so long?" Amanda asked as Lee pulled her into his arms. "What happened to the old Lee who would cut in anytime a man even looked at me?"

"That is exactly why I thought I'd give you a chance to dance with a few of the other men," Lee stammered.

"Here I was beginning to wonder if you knew how to show a girl a good time or not."

Lee smiled and said, "I've always pulled you away from these events without you getting to dance when we've gone out for work and I wanted to make it up to you; that's all."

"Oh, I see," Amanda said quietly. "You know there's only one person I ever wanted to dance with when we went out."

Lee looked expectantly. "You," Amanda looked up to see Lee's smiling face. He kissed her softly on the lips then pulled her closer to him and relished the feel of her being in his arms.

They remained on the dance floor the next hour until the New Year countdown began.

"Ten, nine, eight, seven, six—" everyone chimed in until the count was at one. Then everyone including Lee and Amanda shouted "Happy New Year!"

"Happy New Year, Amanda!

"Happy New Year, Lee!"

Lee and Amanda shared a kiss.

"You don't know how good it feels to do that in public," Lee said.

"Oh, yes, I do," Amanda agreed with a smile.

"But shall we get out of here?" Lee asked looking around.

"I thought you'd never ask," Amanda answered back.

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