Here's the next chapter! So sorry it's taken me a while to get it out! I have just been so busy! I promise I will get this one done and finished this week and I have another one coming as well!

Hope you enjoy this new chapter - thanks again for reading the mess that's bunched up in my brain!

Happy Reading! Annie

Chapter Twelve - Lee's apartment

Lee tossed Amanda's bag into the passenger seat of her station wagon. He closed the door and walked over to where she was standing. He took her into his arms and gave her a tight hug.

"Amanda…I feel like I already miss you. How is that possible?"

Amanda laughed and sighed. "I know what you mean. I think this week together somehow spoiled us. Now that it's over I don't want it to end."

Lee looked down and smiled at her. He leaned in and gave her a sweet soft kiss. "Well, we will see one another tonight. After all, I am having dinner at your house…with your family."

Amanda hugged him tighter and laid her head on his chest. "You don't know how much it means to me Lee. You are finally coming into the house and meeting Mother and the boys."

Lee chuckled as he held her tighter "I know honey. This is something that maybe we could have done a long time ago. I don't know… I mean Billy has a family. There are lots of agents that are married and have kids. Maybe it could have been easier than having to hide every time they came into the kitchen."

Amanda's heart soared when she heard Lee use the word family. She smiled up at him and said "Well, you know darn well that you weren't ready for any of that Scarecrow. You needed to figure out how you felt about me and what you were going to do. I understand. Really I do" She looked down at the ground and sighed. Lee tapped his finger under her chin to have her look up at him. He smiled at her and again leaned in for a kiss.

"What is going through that logical mind of yours?"

Amanda shrugged "Oh nothing really…just thinking how happy I am right at this moment." She reached up and gave him a small kiss. He tightened his arms around her waist and deepened the kiss. She sighed as they broke apart. "You know if you keep that up I am never going to leave…and I still have to get home, unpack, go to the grocery store and get everything ready for dinner tonight!"

Lee laughed and nodded his head "I know. Well Mrs. King….I thank you for taking care of me this week."

She smiled at him and said "You are very welcome Mr. Stetson. I will see you tonight? Around six thirty okay?" She hugged him tighter as he whispered "I will see you then. I love you." He gave her another searing kiss before she got into her station wagon. She smiled at him and she pulled out of the parking spot. Lee took a deep breath as he watched her drive away. He laughed to himself as he walked back into his building. He opened his apartment door and threw his keys on the bar counter. He quickly poured a glass of brandy and sat down on the couch. He took a sip of the amber colored liquid and sat back. He thought about the past week and how his relationship with Amanda had practically changed overnight. He reached over to pick up his phone and dialed a number. He had some things to do before heading over to Amanda's for dinner.

4247 Maplewood Drive

Amanda walked into her home and called out to her mother. "Mother, I am home!"

"Upstairs darling!" She could hear from her mothers room. Amanda chuckled as she took her bag upstairs. She tossed her bag onto her bed and sighed. Dotty West walked into Amanda's room and said "Hello darling. I am so glad you're home! How was your week with…your co- worker…Mr. Steadman…was it?"

Amanda turned to face her mother. Well here it goes. I sure hope she keeps her questions to a minimum. And I hope she is happy for me. Of course she would be…why am I even worried about this.

"Amanda, darling. Have you heard a word I said?" Dotty looked at her daughter with a smirk. I am sure she enjoyed her week with her boss. You can see it all over her face! Dotty thought to herself. She watched as Amanda blushed and motioned for her to have a seat on the bed.

"Mother, first let me tell you that his name is Stetson. Lee Stetson. He's not really my boss…more like my supervisor. Actually this week I was his boss."

Dotty sat down and smiled at her daughter. "Amanda, what in the world are you talking about? I thought his name was Steadman?"

Amanda shook her head. "No Mother. It's Stetson. Now look, Lee is very important to me and I want you to….well I need you to understand this. Can you please keep an open mind about this?"

Dotty nodded and allowed Amanda to continue. Amanda smiled at her mother and said "Well, as you know I have worked with Lee for a while now and we have gotten to know one another. Since he was hurt and in the hospital we both realized what we meant to one another….."

She was cut off by Dotty interjecting. "You're in love with him. Aren't you?" Amanda smiled as she nodded. Dotty continued. "And I take it by the smile on your face that he's in love with you as well?" Again Amanda nodded. Dotty took her hand and smiled. "Well, then darling. I am sure that the boys and I will love him as well. When will we get to finally meet him?"

Amanda leaned over and gave her mother a kiss on her cheek. "Well, he will be here tonight at six thirty for dinner!"

Dotty stood up and started rambling "Six thirty! Oh heavens! We have to clean up the house and then make something special for dinner! The boys went out to the park but should be home in an hour. We can get the cleaning done and once they come home I can head to the store. What were you thinking about making for dinner?"

Amanda laughed at how Dotty was acting. She didn't even seem phased about Amanda's admittance of a new love interest. "Mother, calm down. We have all day to get things ready. Are you okay with Lee coming over? He really wants to meet you and the boys. I think it will be good for him. He's not used to being around kids." Amanda gave a big sigh. Dotty noticed and said "Oh Amanda. I am sorry if I got a bit carried away. You know how I can be. I am just happy for you. You haven't really dated anyone since Dean. I just want you to be happy." She hooked her finger under Amanda's chin and lifted it so Amanda could look at her. "He makes you happy, doesn't he?"

"I can't tell you how happy, Mother. Lee has become my best friend in the whole world and I love him very much. I want you and the boys to love him too."

Dotty reached down and gave Amanda a kiss on her cheek and said "I am sure that we will. Now let's get your clothes unpacked and you can tell me all about your week! We have things to do Missy before your new man comes over!"

Dotty grabbed Amanda's bag and started emptying the contents out. The only thing Amanda could do at that moment was shake her head and laugh.

Lee's Apartment

Lee came out of his bedroom dressed in his favorite pair of jeans and a plaid button up shirt. He knew that it was one of Amanda's favorites and he wanted to look nice. Casual and nice. That's what Amanda had said on the phone when he called to ask her about dinner. They joked that they were going to have a normal dinner with the family. Lee reached for his jacket and suddenly his phone rang.

"Stetson"

It was Billy Melrose on the other end. He didn't sound happy. "Scarecrow I need you to head to the Agency. We may have something brewing and I need both you and Amanda here."

Lee could feel his anger getting the better of him and he started yelling "NO way Billy. I have some big plans tonight and NOTHING is going to stop me! Can this wait until tomorrow? Come on. Can you get someone else? Please. This means too much to the family and I just can't miss this."

Billy could hardly contain his laughter "Family? What are you talking about? Since when do you have a family Scarecrow?"

Lee sighed and thought to himself. Well now is as good a time as any to tell him about Amanda and I. I wanted to wait till Monday….guess I have to come clean now.

"Well that's what I was going to tell you about on Monday. I am….well that is…" Lee hesitated.

Billy's voice became softer and he said "Lee, just say what you want to say. Sometimes it's best to just get it out fast."

Lee nodded and shook his head. "Well, Billy…I am having dinner with Amanda and her family tonight. I am finally meeting the boys."

Billy Melrose grinned as he sat down in his chair. "Meeting the family? Well, Scarecrow…I can see how this is big news. Anything else you want to tell me?"

Lee closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "Well yeah, Amanda and I are seeing one another…socially that is. We have been for a while. Just taking it slow...but its gotten serious and …. No wait…it's more than that Billy…..I love her. It's taken me too long to finally get my feelings for her wrapped around my brain and if I have to cancel tonight…..I just don't want to mess anything up. She's too important to me…."

Billy grin grew larger as he thought of the lone wolf agent and his housewife partner. He knew putting them together was the best move he had ever made. He was glad the two of them finally realized what they meant to one another. Billy cleared his throat and said "So I take it Amanda feels the same about you?"

" She does and I can't tell you how happy that makes me feel. I mean it Billy. She's become my whole world. I love her and I want to know the boys. I have been hiding in the bushes by her kitchen window long enough. So can you please get someone else tonight?"

Billy chuckled and said "Okay…okay. I will see if I can get Fielder or Duffy on this one. You owe me Stetson. Have a good time tonight and tell Amanda that I really am happy for the both of you. I always knew she was the best thing to happen to you."

"Yeah yeah…that's why they pay you the big bucks. I know." Lee laughed and then continued. "Thanks a lot Billy. I do owe you one. I mean it. Thanks."

Billy told him not to worry about it and said goodbye. Lee hung up the receiver and took another deep breath. He straightened his jacket and grabbed the bag he was taking to Amanda's. He locked up the apartment and headed towards his car looking forward to what the evening would bring.