Amanda took a deep breath and called, "In the kitchen, Sweetheart!"

Lee entered the room to find his wife at the kitchen counter chopping veggies for a salad. He slipped her arms around her waist from behind and softly nuzzled her neck. "Hi," he said.

"Hi, yourself," she replied turning in his arms to kiss him. Lee slid one hand to the back of her neck to deepen their kiss, tangling his fingers in her chestnut curls. When they pulled apart, Amanda said, "Wow, what was that for?"

"I just missed you," He said with a smile. "You never came back to the office today."

"Lee, I've been off work for over two months now. Surely, you can handle one more day without me," she said as she turned back to her dinner preparations.

"I know you have been and our office has been damn lonely without you in it."

"You've had Francine to keep you company," she reminded him.

"Yeah, but it's not as fun locking the door with her in the office," Lee said with a rakish grin he said as he grabbed her by the waist again.

"Stop it!"Amanda squealed, playfully slapping at his hands. "You just behave yourself."

"I couldn't agree more," Dotty said with a mirthful grin as she entered the room with baby Jennie in her arms. "Seeing as how I have two new grandchildren, I'd say you two have had just about enough of that."

"Never!" Lee and Amanda said simultaneously then looked at each other and laughed. Amanda turned back to her task as Lee turned his attention to his mother-in-law and the tiny bundle in her arms.

Jennifer had been watching this scene unfold with a silent smile at the playful interaction between husband and wife. My boy's in love, she thought. She glanced down at her tiny grandson in her arms and smiled her mind reflecting back to when she'd held her own son just like that.

"At least I know one girl in this family who doesn't mind me giving her attention," Lee said with a smile as he scooped his daughter up from his mother-in-law's arms. "How's Daddy's girl," he cooed to his infant daughter as he cradled her to him.

"Oh, so, you can just replace me, just like that," Amanda teased.

"Uh-uh," he said as he planted a quick kiss to her lips. "You, my Amanda, are irreplaceable."

"Good, you better remember that, Scarecrow," she said. "Now, go on and let me work or you won't be getting any dinner tonight."

"Maybe we should just skip dinner and go straight to dessert," He murmured against her ear with a mischievous grin.

"Then who would feed the boys? Growing teenagers, remember? Now, go," she said as she playfully swatted him on the butt.

"Ok, ok, I'm going," Lee pouted as he turned his back on his wife and toward the two older women. "Who's your friend?" he said to Dotty with a nod toward the darker-haired of the two who was holding his son.

"Oh, she's not my friend," Dotty answered hesitantly unsure of what to say. "Here, let me take them. You two need to talk," she said as she took both babies and exited the room with one grandchild in each arm.

"What was that all about," Lee said with a shake of his head. He then glanced at his wife. "Does our mystery guest here have something to do with that "special" assignment Billy sent you on today?"

"Actually, yes," Amanda said with a pointed look at her mother-in-law. Jennifer looked warily at Amanda who nodded encouragingly.

"Hello, Mr. Stetson, Jenna Davis" Jennie said and at seeing Amanda roll her eyes and give her a reproachful look cringed guiltily. "Your lovely wife has been of great help to me today..."

Lee's eyes widened in shock: then closed tightly as memories of his childhood assaulted his mind.

September 16, 1955

Five-year-old Lee Stetson had gotten out of bed awakened by a bad dream and had crept down the stairs to hear his parents arguing.

"Jennie, My Love, I understand where you're going with this, but I don't trust the man!"Matt was saying

"Trust or not, he could be of great help to us in nailing Blackthorne once and for all."

"No, it's too risky," he argued with his wife.

"Matthew Davis Stetson, you are not going to win this argument. If you weren't so damned stubborn, you'd see that D'Angelo's the only option we've got!"

At the mention of the name, D'Angelo, Lee's mind snapped back to the present and realized that she was still talking.

"...she was kind enough to invite me to join your family for dinner."

"Well, I'm un-inviting you," Lee growled. "Get out!"

"Lee!" Amanda scolded.

"Did you think I wouldn't figure it out just because your looks have changed? The second I heard your voice I knew! I've heard your voice so...so many times in my dreams since I was a kid, I'd know it anywhere. How...? His voice broke and he could no longer continue as he fought back tears.

"Lee, Sweetheart," Amanda said as she wrapped her arms around him. So much for breaking the news gently, she thought in dismay.

Lee shook her off. "Don't, Amanda," he choked out. "I don't need your mothering right now." He ran his finger through his hair as he often did when he was angry or frustrated. "That's my whole problem, isn't it? That's what Pfaff keeps saying, that I've had a lack of mothering in my life." He turned his attention back to his mother and spat out. "When all this time, you've been alive. I could have had what I've been missing and now you just turn up here in my home...We named our daughter after you as a tribute to the sacrifice you made for this country, but you didn't really sacrifice anything, did you?" Before giving Jennie a chance to respond, he turned his anger and hurt on Amanda. "You knew, didn't you?"

"Lee, stop, I know you're angry and upset, but please give her a chance to explain what's she's been through. There's a perfectly logical explanation for all of this, one that I'm sure you'll understand if you give her a chance."

"Angry, Amanda," He said incredulously. "That's the understatement of the century. Angry doesn't begin to cover it! As for what she's been through, I don't give a damn! She certainly didn't give a damn about what I went through growing up without a mother!"

"Lee, I know this is difficult for you," Amanda said soothingly.

"What the hell would you know about it? You grew up with a normal family with a mother and a father! You don't have one dame clue what it's like not to have that!"

"No, I don't," she admitted his anger not diminishing her calm tone. "But I do know you and I know the pain this has caused you and I want to help you get through this, help you and your mother reconnect."

"Amanda Stetson, the eternal optimist," he ground out through clenched teeth. "If you think that's ever going to happen, that's more than just your typical optimism, that's downright insane! I want her out of here! I don't need someone in my life who abandoned me!" Lee shouted as he stormed out of the room.