Chapter Nine - Rock Creek Park - Last full day together

Lee and Amanda walked hand in hand as they searched for the perfect spot for their picnic. When they had woken up that morning Lee suggested they spend the day outside starting with a picnic at Rock Creek Park. Amanda spent the morning getting everything ready for their outing. She loved the outdoors and loved the idea of spending the day just soaking up some sun. It was a beautiful sunny warm day for early spring in DC. Amanda looked over at Lee and mentioned it to him.

"It's really nice out today. I think we are going to have a warm spring."

Lee smiled at her and squeezed her hand "That it is Amanda. I think today is going to be a nice day….with it being our last one together. You go home to your family tomorrow. And I go back to work on Monday."

Amanda sighed as she nodded. Lee stopped walking and faced her. "What's with that sigh? Everything okay?"

Amanda smiled at him and said "Everything's fine Lee. It's just…this week…it's been…."

Lee pulled her into a hug. She laid her head on his chest. "I know. It's been really….good for us. I think we can safely say that it helped us move forward in our relationship. Made us face our fears so to speak."

Amanda agreed. "I couldn't agree with you more. I just wish…"

"Just wish what Amanda?"

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath and let it out. "I just wish that Mother and the boys could meet you. Now that we are…."

Lee smirked at her with his dimples poking out "A couple?"

Amanda rolled her eyes at him and finished "Yes. A couple. I know that we are keeping things under wraps at work but you know how much I hate lying to Mother. This just seems like another secret that I have to hide from her."

Lee held her closer. "No it doesn't. I would love to finally meet your Mother and the boys."

Amanda looked up at him. Her eyes were as big as saucers and filled up with happy tears. She could barely get out Lee's name.

Lee knew she needed an explanation. "I am serious Amanda. You are very important in my life. You have somehow become my whole world. Your mother and boys are yours so it's time that I meet them. I have watched them through your kitchen window enough. I want to get to know them. And I would like them to know me. If whatever this is between us is as serious as I hope it will be, then meeting your family….."

Amanda finished his sentence for him "Then I think it's time that Mr. Stetson comes over for dinner tomorrow night?"

Lee beamed at her. He reached up and touched her face. "You really are something special Amanda King. You know that." He leaned down and kissed her. When they broke apart they started walking in search of the perfect spot for lunch.

Rock Creek Park - later that afternoon

Francine Desmond took her heels off and stepped into the cool grass of the park. She squished her toes around and took a deep breath. Normally she wasn't an outdoorsy kind of girl but the past week keeping things together in the Q bureau while Lee and Amanda were off playing patient and nursemaid she had her hands full. Any other Friday afternoon when she didn't have any plans she would stop by the store for some much needed chocolate therapy and a good movie, but today she felt like a nice walk in the park would do her soul some good. Her mother always swore by it when she needed to think and relax so Francine thought she'd give it a try. She aimlessly walked around the sweeping little hills of the park watching families and children playing and walking. She shuddered at the thought of having kids. That wasn't in the cards for her. Nope. She was caviar and champagne…not beer and pizza. She found a bench to sit down on and closed her eyes after she sat down. She took in the crisp spring air and heard giggling from across the way. She looked over and saw a couple sitting under a huge tree. The man was lying in the lap of the woman and she was running her hands through his hair. They were talking and laughing. Whatever the man had said to her caused him to sit up and give her a scorching kiss. Francine smiled. Maybe one day I could find a love like that. That is a couple that's definitely in love. She thought to herself. As she watched the couple break apart something in her clicked. NO! It couldn't be! There is NO way. I am seeing things. She stared at the couple looking for signs that she knew.

Meanwhile, Lee was happy and content laying in Amanda's lap. She was running her hands through his hair telling him stories of the boys when they were little. He laughed as her eyes sparkled with love for her boys. She stopped talking and looked down at him.

"Oh I am sorry Lee. I was rambling again…wasn't I?"

Lee smiled. He reached up and caressed her face. "I love hearing your rambles…especially about the boys."

Amanda laughed "Oh come on Stetson! You tolerate my rambles. Admit it."

Lee searched for her to look at him. He sat up and scooted closer to her. "Amanda….": He couldn't hold it in any longer. He had to tell her how he felt and this was as good a time as any. "Amanda King….I love you."

Amanda could barely breathe "Oh Sweetheart .." Lee's heart swelled at hearing Amanda call him sweetheart. He was someone's sweetheart and it made everything right in the world. No matter what he belonged to her and she to him. He would do whatever he had to make sure they were together. "I mean it Amanda. I have loved you for a very very long time. I just wasn't ready to admit it. I know that I grumbled a lot about having to take off from work for the past week but I am glad I was ordered to. We needed this time together. I needed this time to understand my feelings for you and I know that I can't live without you. I love you very much!"

Amanda beamed at him and she whispered back to him "I love you too Lee."

He reached up and threaded his fingers in her hair. He kissed her with everything in him and she in turn kissed him back. When they broke apart they stared at one another and started laughing. They were too wrapped up in one another and the monumental moment between them that they never heard Francine walking up to their picnic blanket.