Three weeks later, Lily took a deep breath, straightened her suit jacket, and prepared to go meet the newest members of her DHS team, Martin included. She'd done it before, twice a year for the past six years, but as she grabbed her coffee, the butterflies in her stomach began twisting her into knots. It was just another team, she told herself as she placed her hand on her office doorknob, but it wasn't just another team. The team sitting in the briefing room contained her fiancé and the knot in the pit of her stomach reminded her of just what was at risk for the six new agents she was about to give orientation to.

Martin watched her walk into the room with an authoritative stride and determined look that he'd never seen before. It looked good on her, but it wasn't what he was used to seeing. Part of him wanted to massage her shoulders, to calm her down, but they'd agreed the night before to keep their relationship professional at the office, though she didn't care who knew they were engaged. It was a far cry from the distance he had to maintain when he and Sam had dated.

"Let's get started, shall we?" She smiled and waited for all the agents to take their seats. "First, let's take care of the introductions. I'm Lillian Anderson, Legal Attaché to the Judicial Subcommittee of the United States Congress. Yes, that does actually fit on my business cards, but no, it doesn't fit so well on my driver's license." She smiled as the agents chuckled. It was her standard line to break the ice, but it worked, so she kept using it. "All that long title means is that I am the lead attorney attached to the subcommittee. I'm the one who works with the senators to choose who has to sit in the hot seat at a hearing and which cases really aren't political hot buttons enough to warrant our time. At least, that's what it says on paper." She put up her PowerPoint presentation on the screen. "The truth behind this office, why you six have been selected, is there are certain cases too politically sensitive to be handed off to typical agents. What we handle are domestic threats and about half of them turn out to be nothing more than reports from paranoid citizens, but there are the ones that require mobilization of taskforces to be taken down." The agents all nodded. "You have all been selected because you possess discretion as well as skill, but this is a voluntary assignment, and it is not what you are used to. Last year, more agents from this team have been killed or injured in the line of duty than any other team in all of your agencies combined. So, if this is not what you thought you were signing up for, then by all means, leave now. Once we leave this orientation and you begin your assignments, there is no backing out." She paused but, as usual, no one stood up. "Good, then we'll move on to chain of command and some of the perks of working for a Senate subcommittee."

The rest of the day was spent listening to introductions, being brought up to speed on cases, and filling out bureaucratic paperwork. It reinforced just how much he detested Washington, but at the end of twelve hours, Martin forgot all of it when Lily walked into his cubicle, briefcase in hand, and smiled at him. "I'm going to have to come in early to finish this paperwork."

"I can attest to the fact that it always remains right where you leave it."

"I'm just worried about my new boss and what she's going to say if it's not sitting on her desk first thing tomorrow morning." He winked at her as he grabbed his suit coat. "I hear she's a real tough cookie."

"I'll put in a good word for you." She laughed and linked her arm with his. "So, how was your first day?"

"Boring, but I'm pretty sure this is the exception rather than the rule."

"After August, yes, but I can't guarantee the action that Missing Persons gave you."

He kissed the top of her head as they stepped into the elevator. "That's OK. I have you at the end of the day. That's all I need."

"You may wish you were back in New York when I tell you where we have to stop before going home."

"You talked to my mother?" His smile was suddenly gone.

"She called you?"

"She wanted to see how everything was going and to invite us for dinner at the club. I told her I had to talk to you. I didn't mean for her to call you."

"Martin, it's probably better that she did because I was able to talk her out of dinner and into cocktails. We should be out of there in an hour."

He laughed. "I knew there was a reason I fell in love with you."

They met his parents at a small table by the bar and his mother had immediately started in with the problems she was having with the guest list and could Lily talk to her mother. By the time they'd finished two bottles of wine, Lily was more than happy to agree to just about anything.

The promise of one hour had turned into two and cocktails had turned into dinner, but Martin still had a smile on his face as he ushered Lily down the hall to her apartment. Her usual graceful glide replaced by a shoeless stumble step. Her designer heels had been kicked off in the ride up from the garage but it didn't help her stay upright. Then again, that was what his arm was around her waist for.

"Why did you let me drink so much? I never drink that much."

"My mother makes people drink like that, Tiger Lily." He laughed as he opened the door to the apartment. "Besides, it was fun to watch."

"I'm glad I could be the evening's entertainment." She laughed, but tripped over her own foot when she walked in, falling right into Martin's arms. "Mmm, thank you." Her eyes locked with his and her laugh faded to a smile. "Do you know just how handsome you are? Have you ever thought about leaving the FBI and modeling?"

He laughed again as he set her on her feet. "I have never seen you like this before."

"Yes you have, Mr. Fitzgerald." There was a look of confusion on his face. "Don't you remember that party senior year, after the homecoming game, at Charles Harper's house?" Martin shook his head. "I know you were there with the Barbie girl of the moment."

"No, Lily, I wasn't there. If you remember Suzy Connors broke up with me right before homecoming senior year. So, I didn't go to homecoming."

"Then how did I get home?"

"Bobby, the butler with a heart." He laughed and wrapped his arms around her waist again, kissing her neck. "That man has adopted you as his own daughter, Tiger Lily."

"Yeah, well, he has been a de facto member of the family since my grandfather hired him." She kissed him. "Unlike you who just breeze in and out when you like."

"Not anymore, Lil. Come May, you won't be able to get rid of me no matter how hard you try." Leaning down, he kissed her again with more passion.

"There are easier ways of taking advantage of me than threatening a good time." She laughed.

"Oh really? Name one."

"All you have to do is smile, Honey."

"I'll have to remember that."

After a nice long shower had sobered her enough that the room had stopped spinning, Lily happily went to Martin's arms as he watched the Nationals game from their bed. Not really having an interest in baseball beyond sheer enjoyment of the skill of the sport, she decided to check the messages left on the voicemail. "Hon," she looked up at him during a commercial break, "someone named Mike called for you. Do you want to listen to the message?"

"No need. He's my NA sponsor. I'll call him once I find a meeting." Kissing her temple, he returned his focus back to the game.

"How does one find a meeting? I wouldn't think that there would be something that would be widely publicized."

"Not in an area like D.C., but I have a list from the website. It'll be fine."

"OK." She smiled and made herself comfortable his shoulder, the cotton of his t-shirt soft against her cheek. The sensation almost made her sigh. Neither of them was running for a train or a plane, they would both still be there in the morning. As much as she hadn't wanted Martin to take the position on Vivian's team, she was grateful he had.