Amanda stood sipping her glass of ginger ale while she watched Nick interact with Sophia at her photo shoot. He was very suave and debonair and of course handsome. Amanda could only imagine what it must have been like when he and Lee were together carousing the night life of Paris or whatever other European city they happened to be visiting. She had heard some of the stories and thought that maybe it was better that she didn't know. Two stunningly handsome young men that both had a way with the ladies? Yup….she was better off not knowing.

Amanda checked her watch….10:00pm. She was getting tired but wasn't ready to head home just yet. Hopefully Lee would come back to the embassy with some answers. Amanda sat down at a vacant table and rested her feet. From here, she could get a good view of the room. Sophia's photo shoot was over and the guests were eating the cake, Leslie was talking to some good looking diplomat, Francine was dancing with Beaman…Amanda stopped to wonder what had gotten into Francine tonight. They weren't best friends by any means, but lately they had actually been getting along pretty well. Amanda really had no idea where Francine's verbal attacks were coming from tonight.

She checked her watch again: 10:20. Where was Lee? Amanda pondered just going up to Nick and asking him point blank if he took the diamonds. She knew that that would not be a good idea, however. What if Nick bolted? What would she do? Chase after him in her evening gown and high heeled shoes? Amanda put her head down on the table using her arms as a pillow.

"Tired, my darling?"

Amanda sat up quickly.

"Mother! You scared the life out of me!"

"Sorry, dear. I needed to sit down and I saw you over here."

Amanda placed her head back own on her arms. Dotty reached over and gave her daughter a light rub across the shoulders.

"I am tired, Mother but I think I should wait here a little while longer to see if Lee and Harry come back. You haven't heard from them, have you?"

"No, not a word! Not one word. But-I HAVE been busy doing other things! I have been on assignment you know!"

Amanda once again sat up. With one eyebrow raised, she looked at Dotty.

"Mother, it wasn't an assignment. Harry just asked you to keep an eye on Sophia so I could talk to Nick."

"Amanda? Am I or am I not helping you and Lee to conduct an investigation of some sort?"

"Well, yes I guess you are."

"Then it was an assignment!"

Amanda looked at her mother, mouth a gape. She suddenly had flash backs to similar conversations that she had with Lee when Mr. Melrose started using her at the agency. He was so awful to her then. It is nothing short of a miracle that they ended up where they are today. Amanda looked at Dotty and smiled.

"Fine, Mother….tell me about your 'assignment'. See anything unusual?"

"Boy, I'll say! You know, Amanda…Sophie is a very nice woman but she is very quirky. She kept going back and forth to check on her cake. Whenever anyone would go near it to look at it, she was back over there making sure that no one touched it."

"Well, she was getting it photographed."

"True, but it was just plain old paranoia. Do you remember when you were little we used to have a neighbor, Mr. Snowden? He used to be so afraid that someone was going to ruin his lawn that he would forever be running in and out of his house whenever someone would walk by?" Dotty said punctuating with her hands stretched out before her. "And if you kids rode by on your bicycles? Oh! Well he just about had a fit!"

"Yes, I remember! All tried to avoid riding in front of his house whenever possible. He was a miserable man."

"Well that is exactly what she has been like tonight! And if that wasn't bad enough, about a half hour before they started taking pictures, she swapped out an entire tier of the cake."

"Why would she do that?"

"She said it was cracked. Looked fine to me. Yup, swapped the whole thing right out. Thankfully, she had another one already made and decorated just like the one that was supposedly cracked. Francine was there and offered to take the cracked one home. Oh! I thought Sophia was going to deck her right there! 'Absolutely not!' she said to Francine."

Amanda chuckled as Dotty tried to imitate Sophia's French accent.

"Well, she probably didn't want anyone to see anything but her best work. That is understandable."

"Understandable…yes. But this was just strange…. Anyway, she did let me help her which was exciting! I can now say that I have worked with Sophia DuBois!"

Dotty smiled from ear to ear as she clasped her hands in front of her.

"Mother! Where did you get that necklace? It is gorgeous!"

Dotty beamed as she gently touched the pendant.

"Harry gave it to me tonight before we left. Isn't it exquisite? Harry called it a bangle! No big deal!"

"No big deal? That has to be a 2-carot diamond. I think that is a pretty big deal! Do you feel comfortable taking it from him?"

"Oddly, yes I do Amanda. I know we haven't been dating for more than a few months, but I feel like I have known him all my life. I know it sounds strange."

Amanda smiled warmly at her mother and embraced her hand. She was happy to see her so happy and content with her life.

"I think it sounds wonderful!"

Just then, Amanda saw Harry crossing the room to their table. Amanda's heart sank. Where was Lee?

SMK SMK SMK SMK SMK SMK SMK SMK SMK SMK

Billy paced back and forth on the carpet of Lee's office. The renovations that were being made to upgrade the bull pen made this place that was once his second home seem foreign to him. He had several phone calls out to all different branches of the spy network. No one had any good news to report. Billy waited anxiously for the phone to ring. Billy walked around to Lee's chair and took a seat behind the big oak desk. He smiled when he saw the picture of Lee and Amanda grinning back at him from behind the picture frame. Billy always had had a soft spot for Lee, even in his surly, arrogant, freshman days. He was happy that Lee had finally wised up after all these years and allowed himself to be loved. Billy silently congratulated himself on the pairing of Scarecrow and Mrs. King. He knew from the moment he met her she was something special. Billy was brought out of his walk down memory lane by the ringing phone.

"Melrose…..yes sir, I have been waiting for your call. What have you got for me?"

Lee got off the elevator pushing the winter coats out of his way. Something was nagging at him. Something at the crime scene was just not right but he couldn't put his finger on it. The answer had to be in the research that he ordered on Nick Grant earlier this afternoon. Lee swung by to see Agent Williams. If Williams knew what was good for him, he will have those reports ready for Lee.

"Williams!" Lee barked, "Where's my report on Nick Grant?"

Williams nearly jumped out of his skin at the sound of Lee's voice. He quickly pushed himself away from the desk and grabbed the report out of the interoffice mail basket.

"Uh, right here, Mr. Stetson. We were as thorough as we could be. There are still a lot of dead ends and fuzzy details."

Lee looked at the portfolio cover, ran his hand through his hair and let out a heavy sigh.

"Ok. Thanks. Let's hope that what you were able to find out offers us some answers to the where abouts of the missing jewels."

Lee got back on the elevator and headed to his office. He checked his watch. It was nearly 11:00pm. Lee wondered if Amanda was home yet.

Billy was just hanging up the phone when Lee entered the office.

"Billy! I didn't expect to see you here. Any news?"

"Scarecrow, you better sit down because you are not going to BELIEVE the news I have to tell you!"

SMK SMK SMK SMK SMK SMK SMK SMK SMK

"Harry? Where's Lee? What happened to Lee?" Amanda said with a very alarmed tone.

"Calm down, Amanda. Lee is fine. He just went over to the agency to gather some more information on Nick. He asked me to come take you both home."

"What about Nick? Who is going to keep an eye on him?"

"Don't worry. There are plenty of agents in here tonight that have their eye on him. He's not going anywhere without us knowing about it. Come on. Let's get you two lovely ladies home. Dotty you can fill me in on your assignment in the car."

Dotty looked over at Amanda with a smirk on her face.

"See? I told you it was an assignment!"

Amanda stood from the table and grabbed her purse. Dotty followed.

"OK fine, Mother. It was an assignment!" Dotty walked over to Harry and gave him a kiss on the cheek. "Mother! What is all over your dress?"

"What? Where?"

"Here! All over the back of you!"

Dotty spun around and tried to get a glimpse of the stain.

"Oh, I think that must be flour. Sophia had it all over her, too. I must have gotten it on me when I was helping her. Can you brush it off?"

"Allow me!" Harry said with a devilish grin. He began brushing the flour off of Dotty's back and behind. Dotty began to giggle. Amanda began to blush.

"Ok you two! Save the heavy petting for later. Let's go!"

SMK SMK SMK SMK SMK SMK SMK SMK SMK

Amanda was resting on the couch when Lee came in through the back door. She quickly ran to embrace him. He held her close and rested his head on her shoulder.

"Lee, I don't think Nick Grant did it. I don't think he took the diamonds. He seems, well, different to me. Hard to explain. Maybe more sincere? More…something."

Lee lifted his head off of Amanda's shoulder and looked into her eyes. His hands wandered to the bump that was his growing child. He stood for a moment rubbing Amanda's stomach before leading her to the couch.

"You're right, Amanda. He didn't do it."

"How do you know that for a fact? I mean, I was going on a hunch but I don't know for sure."

"I know for a fact because about 20 minutes ago, Billy gave me some information that knocked me off my feet!"

The words seemed to get stuck in Lee's throat as he tried to say them.

"What, Lee? What did he tell you?" Amanda pleaded.

"Nick Grant didn't steal the diamonds because Nick Grant is no longer expert thief and con artist. He is Nick Grant, MI5 agent."

Amanda's jaw dropped and her eyes widened as she struggled to regain he breath after the shocking news.

"He's an agent for the UK?...Wow! I don't even know…huh. The influential individuals! It must have been them! Of course. His story makes much more sense now."

"Amanda, what are you talking about?"

"Well when Nick and I were chatting tonight, he said that some rather influential individuals came to bail him out of the Turkish prison and that he had been a very good boy lately because if he wasn't, these individuals would not be happy with him. I thought he was involved in some kind of mob or something. I never would have guessed that he was an agent!"

"Well, that makes two of us, Amanda!"

Lee got up from the couch and made his way over to the kitchen. Opening the door to the fridge, he called to Amanda.

"Do we have anything to eat? I am starved. I didn't get to eat tonight."

Amanda got up and went to the refrigerator.

"Here, let me make you a sandwich. Get a plate out of the dishwasher. I haven't had time to put the dishes away yet."

Amanda began putting together a turkey sandwich for Lee as she marveled over the fact that Nick was an agent. Lee grabbed a plate out of the dishwasher and anxiously awaited his sandwich

"Amanda? What the hell is on this plate? I keep meaning to ask you."

Amanda looked over to see Lee holding Jamie's Hostess Twinkie the Kid plate. She laughed.

"Haha! That is Jamie's Captain Cupcake and Twinkie the Kid plate. It is his favorite. He got it when he was about 5."

"Captain who and Twinkie the what?"

"Captain Cupcake! You know, those chocolate cupcakes with the filling inside? You've had one before? You must have!"

Lee shrugged his shoulders.

"And the Twinkies? It's the sponge cake that they squirt the filling inside? Seems to me that it would be easier to bake it inside, but then again, I am no pastry chef!"

Lee began to eat his sandwich, pacing as he ate.

"Lee! What have you got all over you? All over your back?"

"Huh? Oh some kind of dust. It was at the crime scene. There was some on the safe, too. The boys at the lab are analyzing it."

Amanda let out a heavy sigh.

"Between you and Mother, I can't take either of you….."

Amanda stopped midsentence. Her eyes widened and you could virtually see the light bulb glowing over her head.

"Lee…..ooohhhh Lee! I know who did it! AND I know where the diamonds are! Get your keys! Let's go!"

"What? Who? Where? Wait a minute!"

Amanda was already out the door. Lee ran after her, keys in one hand, sandwich in the other.

SMK SMK SMK SMK SMK SMK SMK SMK SMK

"Sophia, my darling…now that your press conference is over, do you think that you could spend a little time with your boyfriend? I haven't gotten to dance with you nearly enough this evening!"

Nick snuggled in behind Sophia and began to nuzzle her neck.

"Nicky, you know I have been busy! I will pay attention to you now. Just let me do one thing in the kitchen first. Ok?"

"Well why don't I help you? I would love to see what you have baking for me if you know what I mean."

"Actually, Sophia, we all would like to see that." Lee said as he pointed his gun at Sophia.

"Lee! What are you, mad? What the hell are you doing pointing a gun at Sophia? Did she burn your crumpets or something?"

"Why don't we all go take a stroll back into the kitchen and I will explain everything?" Lee demanded.

"Lee? Lee? Hi, it's Leslie!"

Leslie had noticed Lee coming in. She decided now would be a good time to come and say hi. Lee glanced over in the direction of the woman's voice momentarily losing focus on Sophia. Sophia seized the opportunity to make a run for it. She tried to run past Lee but Amanda was hiding just out of sight behind the corner. Amanda stuck out her shapely leg and tripped Sophia sending her flying into Leslie before hitting the ground. Leslie went flying into the remains of Sophia's masterpiece of a cake. Lee quickly cuffed Sophia and pulled her to her feet. Amanda stood back and looked at Leslie sitting on the floor, covered in buttercream icing. Amanda couldn't help but break into a Cheshire cat-like grin.

"Mr. Stetson? We've got the cake you were looking for! Here it is."

"Thanks, Stevenson. Put it over there."

"Amanda…..I hope you're right!"

"Oh….I know I am. Just watch."

Amanda stuck her hand into the middle of the cake. She fished around for a moment and then smiled. Amanda opened her frosting covered hand to reveal a very large diamond and a smaller emerald.

"I am sure the rest is in there." She said proudly.

Lee chuckled and marveled at his wife.

"Stevenson, please take Ms. DuBois here to an agency holding cell. I know Billy has a lot of questions for her."

Nick helped Leslie off the floor. Amanda and Lee examined Leslie from head to toe. Both tried to stifle the boisterous laugh that was building within each of them.

"Oh, Leslie…..Are you ok?" Amanda said barely able to contain herself.

"Do I look ok? No I am not ok! I am covered in cake! All I was trying to do was say hi to you, Lee!"

"Well, Leslie, you look great!" Lee said as he burst out laughing.

Leslie made a very angry grunting noise and stormed off. Nick began to trail after her but not before walking back over to Lee and Amanda and saying..

"By the way, both of you. Emily says hi!"

Nick gave them both a wink as he turned and trotted after Leslie.

Lee and Amanda both looked at each other, shock spread across their faces.

"Emily?" Lee exclaimed.

'Emily!" Amanda answered. "Nick said we had a mutual friend. He never got the chance to tell me who it was. I bet she was involved with helping to train Nick. I sure would like to know why they chose to recruit him of all people!"

"Who knows? I will also be very interested to hear all the details of Nick's life story. And why he doesn't seem too broken up about Sophia. It looks like he may have found someone 'sweeter'!"

Lee smirked at Amanda.

"Lee, Leslie came over to me earlier tonight. It was very awkward. She didn't like hearing it that you and I were married. She kind of stormed off then, too. She told me that she wasnt surprised because when you two were together, you were in love with me. Is that true?"

Lee looked deep into Amanda's eyes.

"Actually...yeah, I think it is true. I think...no I know that I was in love with you for a very, very long time, Amanda. Much longer than I think I even realize. I didn't mean to hurt Lesllie, but C'est la vie!"

"Oh, I've had enough French for the evening! Let's just close the case out."

"Ok, so explain to me how you figured all this out." Lee inquired to Amanda.

"Well, actually I had no idea until I saw your jacket all covered with…well what I think is flour. Mother was covered with flour earlier tonight when she was helping Sophia in the kitchen. She said that Sophia was covered with it. So if she was covered with it tonight, she was probably covered with it yesterday, too. And Mother said that she had to change part of her cake at the last minute and had another one all ready to go. Already decorated and everything….almost like she knew she was going to change it. She was very paranoid about anyone touching the cake. And what better place to hide the jewels than right in plain sight?"

"Ok, but how did you know the jewels were in the cake?"

"Well, when we were talking about Jamie's plate and baking things into the cake…..I don't know. The idea just kind of popped into my head. Who would think to look for precious gems in a cake?"

"Obviously, you would!"

"Yup! Case closed!"

"And since we're here and the party is still going on, I believe I owe my wife a few dances. Interested?"

"I would love to!"

Lee went to grab Amanda's hand when they both realized that she was still covered in cake and frosting.

"Allow me!"

Lee took Amanda's hand and began to lick her fingers clean. Amanda began to giggle.

"Lee! Stop it! I have a towel right here!"

"Aww! You're no fun! Have it your way"

Lee grasped Amanda's now clean hands and led her to the dance floor. The music was mellow, and sweet. He held Amanda tight and breathed in her scent with the extra bonus of buttercream.

"I love you" he whispered in a hushed tone into her ear followed by a gentle kiss on the side of her head. Lee squeezed her tight. Despite the craziness of the evening, this moment in time could not have been more perfect.

"I love you, too, sweetheart" Amanda murmured back.

As the music came to an end with a sweeping crescendo, Lee twirled Amanda and then promptly brought her back into his embrace.

"What do you say we head home, Mr. Astaire? Ginger Rodgers is tired."

"Anything for you, Amanda. Anything for you."

The End.