A/N: Here you go - an EXTRA long last chapter before the epilogue - because the muses still had a lot to say - especially Lee.

We stayed up late telling the boys stories about our early cases – the details that weren't classified – and how our working relationship had slowly morphed from friendship to love. At one point, I thought I heard a creaking sound from the front stairs, and I wondered if Mother had finally come out of her room and was sitting on the staircase, listening. I hoped she was – I wanted her to come join us and be a part of this family bonding time, but I didn't get up to see if she was there. Instead, I stayed wrapped in the circle of Lee's arms and tried to keep up with the rapid-fire pace of the boys' questions.

It was after two o'clock in the morning before we put an end to the conversation and ordered the boys upstairs to bed.

"But mom-!"

"No buts! It's way past your bedtime – even for a Saturday night. I only allowed it because this was a special occasion," I shook my finger firmly in their direction. "Now, come give me a kiss good night and scoot."

Jamie and Philip each gave me loud smacking kisses on the cheek and then turned to Lee, who looked a bit uncomfortable, wondering what he should do. So much had been revealed tonight and emotions were running high – but fatherhood was new to him. He had ducked out every night this week before bedtime, so he hadn't been around to say good night and now he looked to me for assistance, wondering what his role was supposed to be. I smiled at him in reassurance as the boys made the first move, both of them tackling him in a giant bear hug.

Lee stood frozen for a moment before he wrapped his arms around them, squeezing tight. "Good night, fellas," he whispered hoarsely.

"Good night, Lee," Jamie whispered back and then dashed up the stairs, not looking at any of us.

Philip grinned. "Good night, Pops."

"Philip!" I exclaimed at the irreverent name for Lee. "I don't think that's appropriate-"

"Why not?" Philip argued. "I can't call Lee 'dad' because I already have one – but he's my stepdad now and I want to call him something other than 'Lee' – so, can I call him 'Pops'?"

I was about to argue, as the name still sounded rather flippant, but I hesitated when I saw the look on Lee's face. His eyes were shining with unshed tears and a slight smile was pulling at his mouth.

I shrugged. "It's up to you, Lee."

Lee ruffled Philip's hair. "I told you we had to get your mom's permission – and it sounds like she just gave it."

Philip gave a whoop of victory and hugged Lee again. "Great – good night, Pops. Thanks, mom." He blew me a kiss as he turned and flew up the stairs.

I stood and wound my arms around my husband's waist. "All right, Stetson, spill it. What exactly did the two of you talk about when you found him in the park tonight?"

Lee turned and wrapped me up tight in his embrace. "Ah, I'm afraid that's classified-"

"Excuse me?"

"Hmm," he nodded slowly, one hand coming up to cup my face. "You know, man to man and all. I can't break his trust in me."

I frowned. "But he's okay?"

Lee kissed me soft and slow before resting his forehead against mine. "He's fine. It's like he told you earlier– he was really embarrassed that his little brother figured out the truth before he did – especially with how much he loves spy stories!"

I grinned. "And now he has two real life spies for parents!"

"But he can't tell anyone-"

I bit my lip. "That bothers him, doesn't it?"

"A bit. He'd like to brag to all his friends about us – but I think I got through to him the importance of keeping our secret."

I slipped out of his embrace and went to sit on the couch, burying my face in my hands. "Did we do the right thing – telling them the truth?"

"It's a bit late to take it back now, Amanda."

"I know that!" My head shot up as I glared at him. "Do you think they can handle it – are you-" I swallowed. "Are you upset with me for telling my – our family the truth?"

He walked around the coffee table and sat down next to me, taking my hands in his. "We can't take it back-"

"You already said that – and it's not an answer, Lee."

"No, it's not." He rubbed the back of one of my hands with his thumb. "I never wanted our marriage to be a secret, you know that. Shortly after we got engaged, both of us agreed that we were doing the best thing to keep our family safe and we went into this with our eyes wide open, trying and make the most of a secret marriage no matter how we really felt about it-"

"So, you are upset with me for outing us-"

"Will you let me finish?"

"Sorry."

Lee took a deep breath. "But I don't think either one of us understood what a toll it would take on us. You were already tired of the secrets and lies of leading the double life of a spy and now you also had to hide a husband. I didn't help your cause any because I was only thinking of myself and how much I missed my wife. I thought that when we were married, things would magically change, and I would see you more – that we'd no longer have a stolen moment here or a moment there. Once you were my wife, we'd naturally be together all the time."

"Oh, Lee," I sniffled, the tears slipping down my cheeks. "You really thought – I still had mother and the boys – I couldn't just leave them – no matter how much I love you and want to be with you every single night-"

He let go of my hands and brushed away my tears. "Don't cry, beautiful. It breaks my heart when you cry."

I gave a soft laugh. "Well, you better find a way to deal with it, mister, because women cry – and your wife is no exception."

He leaned in and kissed me softly – once, twice, three times. When he pulled away after the last kiss, I was smiling, and he grinned back.

"That's better."

"And that's not fair – you can't always kiss it and make it better."

"Says who?"

I shook my head at him. "So, you're not mad that everything's out in the open."

He shook his head back at me. "That's what I was trying to say before your tears distracted me. We'd agreed upon this scenario, and we were stuck. We were miserable and both of us, I think, desperately wanted to find a way out but neither one of us said anything because we each thought the other wanted to keep the secret."

I nodded slowly. "I think you're right about that - so, what changed?"

"Well, for me things started to change the day you got shot. I nearly lost you and I couldn't even tell your mother that I was your husband – that you were my wife!" He shuddered and I closed the distance between us, kissing him fiercely.

After a few moments, he pulled back, but not very far, drawing me to his side as we curled up on the couch. "Then the night you brought over your journals, and we began to read them together - I saw our partnership, our relationship through your eyes for the first time. I saw how much you'd struggled with the secrecy, the lies, and the simple fact that you'd had no one to talk to but me, and in those early years, I treated you like a pariah-"

"Lee," I chastised softly. "You were dealing with your own issues back then – I forgave you for all that a long time ago."

"I don't what I've done to deserve you," he whispered, dropping a kiss onto the top of my head. "But I do love you, Amanda Stetson, so much. And during this last case when you were off on your own at the beginning and I came home to discover you were missing, I made a promise that when I got you back, we'd come clean to your family about everything."

I rolled my head back to look up into his eyes. "You never told me that-"

He chuckled. "We were a bit busy wrapping up the case and then on the flight home from Mexico, you beat me to the punch-"

I blushed. "Sorry-"

He shook his head. "Don't be – you and I were always in sync, thinking alike. What you read as hesitation on my part on the plane was the last faint cry of Bachelor Lee Stetson – but no, I'm not upset with you, and I don't have any regrets that everything is out in the open. I'm ready to be your husband in public and to try to be the stepfather your boys deserve-"

"Our boys," I corrected him softly. "And you already are, Lee Stetson." I kissed him softly. "And you'll be the best son-in-law, too."

"You think so? I don't know if your mother is ever-"

Just then, there was a fast-moving blur of white that came from the left and enveloped both of us in a hug.

"Mother!" I exclaimed.

"Oh, my darlings!" Dotty sniffled, her tears wetting the collar of my shirt. "Can you ever forgive me? I had no idea how much both of you have gone through – I never put myself in your shoes – thought about it from your perspective!"

"Mother, how much did you overhear?"

Dotty sat up with a snort. "Amanda! I don't eavesdrop – well, it isn't eavesdropping if the conversation takes place in your own home and it's out in the open and not behind closed doors, is it?"

I rolled my eyes and looked at Lee who was trying not to laugh.

"Why did you run out on our conversation earlier?"

Dotty scooted back, perching on the end of the coffee table, settling her cotton nightgown around her. "Well, I must say, dear, your news did surprise me. I mean, ever since you were a little girl, you planned things down to the minute. I didn't picture you as the kind of woman who would just run off and elope-"

"We didn't, Dotty," Lee interrupted. "Amanda and I planned our ceremony very carefully. We had to-"

"Yes, yes, yes, I imagine so – to maintain your secret. The illusion of your separate vacations – but I must admit some satisfaction in being right that you went off with Lee despite all your protests to the contrary, Amanda."

"Yes, mother, Lee and I went on vacation together. But why-"

"Did I get so upset? Darling – you cheated me out of a wedding to your soulmate! Of course, I'm upset. Remember I told you that you're lucky if you find your soulmate once – but you've found him twice! I – I just wish I could have been there."

"Oh mother," I sighed as I slid forward and wrapped my arms around her. "I wish you and the boys could have been there as well but at the time, neither of us thought that was possible."

Dotty sniffed as she pulled away from my embrace. "I know – and at least I got to see Lee propose, though I'm sure that was staged for my benefit."

"No, Dotty, it wasn't," Lee was eager to reassure her. "I didn't plan to propose to Amanda in front of the entire family, it just sort of happened."

"And he used the same words as when he proposed the first time," I added, turning to wink at my husband.

"Well, it turned out so well the first time-" Lee grinned. "So, I figured, why mess with success?"

"You know, we could always renew our vows. It would give Mother a chance to throw us a small reception, take pictures-"

"And we'd get that second honeymoon we've been talking about-" Lee waggled his eyebrows and I laughed.

Dotty clapped her hands. "You'd do that for me?"

Lee and I shared a look. "Well, it wouldn't be just for you-" I conceded. "But I have two conditions that are non-negotiable before you get carried away with the planning, Mother. No fancy suits for the boys and Lee's not waiting to move in – we've waited long enough to be together as a family."

Dotty threw her arms around us, laughter bubbling out of her throat. "I can't wait to start making some phone calls! How soon do you want the ceremony to take place?"

"Yesterday," Lee and I said in unison.

The aroma of coffee, bacon, and pancakes woke me hours later.

For a moment I stared at the ceiling, wondering why I had fallen asleep on the couch in the living room instead of my own bed but then I remembered the late-night conversations with the boys and Mother, and I smiled as I snuggled further into my cocoon of blankets. After Mother had gone back upstairs, I insisted that it was too late for Lee to return to his apartment. He retrieved his overnight bag from the 'Vette and then we snuggled on the couch with blankets, wrapped in each other's arms until I drifted off to sleep. I could only assume that he had fallen asleep as well. Judging by the delicious smells coming from the kitchen, I had a strong feeling that Lee was cooking up one of his gourmet feasts for brunch – of which he would only have coffee.

My eyes flew open as the scent of coffee grew very strong and my gaze rested on my handsome husband as he crouched in front of me, holding out a mug of the steaming dark brew.

"Good morning, husband."

"Good afternoon, wife."

I gasped softly and sat up, Lee moving back to avoid my swinging legs. "What time is it?"

"Relax, Amanda. It's just barely after noon – I knocked on the boys' door a few minutes ago and got mumbled replies until I mentioned food – and then Jamie opened the door. I think they'll be down in a few minutes. Dotty has already eaten and has gone shopping – she mentioned something about a special dinner tonight and invitations for our renewal ceremony."

I moaned and sipped the coffee Lee had prepared for me. "Hmm, it's starting already – you sure you don't want to back out now?"

He laughed and slipped onto the couch beside me, wrapping an arm around my shoulders. "Absolutely not, Mrs. Stetson. But since you're awake, there is something I'd like to run by you."

I took another long sip, feeling the caffeine beginning to do its job. "Well, if you want to talk to me alone, you better do it now before the boys come downstairs and Mother gets back from shopping."

"Okay, here goes – I've been thinking about something for a while now – ever since you mentioned going public with our marriage – well, really ever since we got engaged-"

I grinned and laid a hand on his knee. "Lee, you're rambling. Just spit it out."

To my surprise, he pulled free and got up to pace. "I overheard you talking to Joe before we left for Mexico – about how you wanted to build a life with him here, in this house. And as many memories as I've built with you here – I can't forget that this house was bought for the two of you to build a life together." He stopped pacing and locked eyes with me, coming to sit next to me and take my hands in his. "I'm not saying we need to move to Rockport and buy horses – I don't think our incomes could support such a lifestyle anyway – but what would you think about selling this house and buying one for all of us to start over - together?"

"You want to move now, before the school year is over? Lee-"

"I know, I know! I'm a selfish jerk, but hear me out, okay? I don't want to live here in a house that was meant for you and Joe and the boys. I want to find our dream house – one for you and me and our boys and Dotty and – maybe-"he fumbled to a stop and looked at me with wide eyes.

"A baby or two?" I suggested, my heart in my eyes.

He nodded. "If that happens, I'd be the luckiest man in the world – but I want you to know, if it doesn't, if a baby doesn't come – you and the boys are more than I ever thought I'd have –"

I set my mug down on the coffee table with a thud and threw myself at my husband, knocking him backwards with the force of my body, smothering him with my kisses. His arms came around my back, holding me tight, and I felt myself coming alive under his touch. I have no doubt that we would have made love right there in the living room if we hadn't heard the slamming door and running feet in the hallway and down the stairs.

By the time the boys were downstairs with us, Lee was back in the kitchen, and I was calmly sipping my coffee on the couch, perusing the Sunday paper.

"Good morning, Lee, Mom!"

"Hi Mom, hi Pops!"

Jamie shot his brother a strange look but said nothing as they sat down at the island and Lee put two heaping plates of food in front of them.

"Actually, it's afternoon, fellas," Lee grinned. "Eat up – when you're done, you both can come with me to my apartment. I need to get some clothes-"

Philip swallowed his orange juice quickly to ask, "Are you moving in today?"

"Well, that's what we need to talk to you both about," I said as I came into the kitchen and looped my arm around Lee's waist.

Jamie set down his fork. "What's wrong? I mean, you guys are married now so what's the hold up?"

"Nothing's wrong – Lee is going to move in with us," I reassured him as Lee handed me a plate of pancakes. I thanked him with a quick kiss. "But we wanted to get your opinion on something-"

Lee had fixed himself a cup of coffee while I was talking to the boys and he now leaned one hip against the island, cradling the mug in his hands. "Fellas, how would you feel about moving to a new house – not that far from here – you wouldn't have to change schools – but the house would be a bit bigger-"

Jamie brightened. "Would we get our own rooms?"

I smiled. "There's a good possibility."

Lee went on as if Jamie hadn't interrupted. "When Philip and I were walking home last night, we saw that the Harvey house is up for sale-"

"Lee!" I exclaimed. "That house is huge! We don't need that much space."

He winked at me. "Actually, I think it's perfect. Four bedrooms, two and a half baths, and the Harvey's have converted the space above their garage into a small apartment – perfect for a mother-in-law."

My mouth dropped open. "You're serious? You think we can afford it?"

His hand covered mine. "Yes." He looked at Philip and Jamie. "What do you think?"

Philip shrugged. "We'd only be moving a few blocks away, so I'm cool."

Jamie nodded. "And I'd be getting my own room, so I'm definitely in."

"Whoa," I interrupted, putting a temporary damper on their enthusiasm. "We need to talk this over with your grandmother when she gets home. This is a family decision and we're a family now."

Lee squeezed my hand. "Definitely."

I had just settled down to make some to do lists in the event we decided to move when the doorbell rang. I glanced through the peephole and threw open the door with a smile.

"Emily! Meg, Tessa, what a wonderful surprise! Please, come in."

Emily gave me a big hug, but the girls lingered on the doorstep, looking timid and nervous.

"You're sure we're not disturbing you?"

"No, no, no. I'm home alone right now. Mother's off shopping and Lee took the boys to his apartment to help him with phase one of packing up his apartment."

I led them all into the kitchen where we clustered around the island.

Emily's eyebrows rose in surprise as a smile played about her lips. "So, everything's out in the open then?"

I nodded and held up my left hand, showing off my ring finger which held my wedding band as well as my engagement ring.

"Congratulations, my dear."

"We owe so much to you, Emily. More than we can ever repay."

"Oh pooh, we both know you two did all the hard work yourselves." She rubbed her hands together. "Now, I just stopped by for a quick cuppa before I catch my plane back to London – and I happened to meet these two girls climbing out of a taxi outside your door."

I turned my quizzical gaze back to Meg and Tessa. "I hope you both told your families where you were going – I don't want them to be worried about you, not after everything they've been through the past couple of weeks."

Meg was quick to answer. "I told Mimi I was going to visit Tessa and Tessa told her parents she was coming to see me-"

I frowned. "So, no one knows you were coming here? I think I'd better give them a call-"

Tessa grabbed my forearm and held on tight, her fingernails digging into my flesh like talons. "Please, they don't understand – no one does. I can't sleep – I can't eat – everytime I close my eyes, or hear a car backfire, I'm back in Mexico, living the nightmare all over again."

Meg nodded. "For me, it's the darkness. I can't sleep unless it's light outside. I'm fine while it's daylight but as soon as the sun starts to go down, I get jumpy and twitchy. I turn on every light in the house and I won't let Mimi turn them off until the sun comes up." She shuddered. "I know we just met but – when you were talking to us in Mexico and on the plane ride home– it seemed like you understood what we had gone through – like you had been through some scary things yourself."

I held out my free arm and Meg wrapped herself around me. "I do know," I breathed the words into her hair. "I mean, I don't know your exact pain – but I remember the darkness and the fear and the feeling that it was never going to go away."

Tessa shivered and slid her hand down my arm to wrap her fingers around my hand. "How did you get it to go away?"

I squeezed her hand. "I surrounded myself with my family, with the people who loved me – even if they didn't understand – and I couldn't talk to them about it – I knew they loved me and, in the end, that love was what got me through the darkness. Their love and talking to a professional who did understand – someone who works in the field and knew what I went through."

Meg and Tessa exchanged a long look before they nodded and then looked back at me. "Will you be there tomorrow – at our interviews? Can you be there, in the room with us?"

"If you request my presence, I'm sure that something can be worked out."

Tessa wrapped herself around me in a hug. "I'd like you there with me – I know you barely know me – I know it doesn't make sense – but from the minute Meg arrived in Mexico, she told me all about you. Told me that she had met a lady spy who wouldn't give up until she found us and brought us back to the States."

Meg nodded. "I knew you'd come for us, Mrs.-"

"Amanda, please."

The girls nodded.

"I'll do everything I can to be present in your debriefings tomorrow."

"And we can stay in touch? We can call you – to talk about – you know?" Tessa's voice was faint, but I heard her words.

"Yes, anytime."

Emily came forward then and wrapped all three of us in a big hug. "Now, I think what we all need is a nice cup of hot tea, hmm? Let's have a nice girl chat about nothing in particular and then I'll see you both back home before I head to the airport."

June 6, 1987

Two months later

"All right, Mr. and Mrs. Stetson – if you both would please initial here, here, and here-" Mrs. Collins stated as she pointed to places on the document. "And then print, sign, and date at the bottom of the last page, I will take you down to the vault where your box is located."

I passed the paper to Lee after I signed and waited for him to apply his 'chicken scratch' signature. He gave me a wink and whispered, "At least this required less paperwork than closing the deal on the house."

Mrs. Collins cleared her throat to bring our attention back to her. "Did you bring the items you wish to place in your safety deposit box?"

I nodded and held up the small duffel bag I had brought with us. "Right here."

"May I check your bag to make sure it contains no firearms, weapons, or other incendiary devices?"

I passed the bag over and Mrs. Collins unzipped the duffel, taking the barest of glances inside. "Very good. If you will follow me, please, I will take you downstairs now."

Lee shouldered the bag and took my right hand with his free one and our heels clicked on the highly polished floor of the First National Bank of Arlington as we followed a few paces behind the bank manager. Once we reached the stairs, Mrs. Collins gave us the choice of taking the elevator, but we waved her towards the steps, and we continued down the plush carpeting to the lower level. We passed by three or four vault rooms before she stopped and opened one, letting us go first.

"Wait here and I'll get your box."

Mrs. Collins disappeared into an open doorway through which we could see rows and rows of numbered drawers that contained hundreds of personal safety deposit boxes. In just a minute, the bank manager was back with a slender box that was surprisingly deep for its size. She fitted her key into the lock and looked up at Lee.

"Your key now, Mr. Stetson."

Lee inserted his brand-new key into the second lock and the lid popped open. I set the duffel on the table and took out my journals, along with his mother's that we had found at his childhood home and placed them all inside before Lee shut the lid and locked the box. Mrs. Collins picked it up and returned it to the vault.

"Do either of you have any questions?"

I glanced at Lee, shaking my head, but he cleared his throat. "I just want to be sure that we've made it very clear in our paperwork about who has access to the box-"

"You've made it perfectly clear, Mr. Stetson. You and your wife have access to the box during your lifetime and can add or remove contents at will. However, upon your death, in order for any of your children to have access to the box, they will have to provide a copy of your death certificate as well as proof of their identity, such as a birth certificate. Is that satisfactory?"

I nodded and linked my fingers through Lee's once again. "Yes, that sounds just right, Mrs. Collins."

"Then I wish you both a good day and thank you for choosing First National Bank of Arlington for your banking needs."

"Do you feel better now?"

We were racing back home to Mother and the boys in the 'Vette and Lee had been quiet – too quiet. I had finally broken the silence, asking him if he felt better, safer now that all of our family journals were safe and sound in one place.

He took his eyes off the road briefly to grin at me as he turned onto Maplewood Drive. "I suppose you think me paranoid, but yes, I do. I know our new house has extra security and the chances of someone breaking in and stealing the journals are low – but having them under lock and key at a bank removes that danger from our home."

I smiled back and ran a hand down his arm. "I think it was a wise decision – to protect our legacy and put them in a safe place so that one day our children can read our whole story."

"Yeah," he agreed and pressed his foot down on the accelerator, flying the last few blocks to our new house.

The moving van was long gone but the mountain of boxes remained, and there was much work to be done before our household set up would be complete.

Lee turned off the engine and looked across at me. "I don't want to go in – your mother, no doubt, has an endless list of jobs for us."

"Well, we do have quite a few things to do before our vow renewal next weekend-"

"Ah, but then we're off on our second honeymoon - and I promise, this time, no side trips visiting old friends. Just you and me and the sun and the sea in Mexico."

"Sounds perfect."

I climbed out of the 'Vette and Lee hurried around the side to take my hand and lead me up the sidewalk, but he stopped just short of the steps leading up to our front porch.

"I know it's not the first time we've been in the house – but I want to do this now- maybe because part of me was afraid I'd never get to."

I let out a little squeal of surprise as he swept me up in his arms and dashed up the steps, somehow managing to open the front door and carry me over the threshold. He stood there with me in his arms, in our front hall, as we listened to the sounds of our family in different parts of the house.

"I love you, Amanda Stetson."

Before I could return the sentiment, Philip's voice came from the top of the stairs.

"Hey, Pops! Is that you? I can't find my baseball glove! Do you remember which box we packed my sports stuff in?"

Dotty came down the hall from the kitchen. "Oh, there you are, darlings! Amanda, have you seen the box with our cookbooks? I want to try a recipe or two before the big day." She spun on her heel, calling over her shoulder. "Come help me look, won't you?"

I giggled and buried my face in Lee's leather jacket, feeling him clench his jaw.

"A-man-da. What's so funny?"

I lifted my face and kissed his jaw, smiling as he relaxed under my lips. "You thought things would be different after we got married-"

He gently set me on my feet. "They are – I'm with you all the time now."

"Pops!"

"Amanda!"

I lifted my eyebrows and tried not to burst into uncontrollable laughter. "Yes, but the interruptions will be constant now-"

He shrugged. "We'll learn to work around them."

"And we'll never be alone."

"Never?" He repeated the word with skepticism. "That sounds like a challenge to me, Mrs. Stetson."

There was a crash from overhead, followed by a shout:

"Philip! My ant farm!"

"Oh my gosh!" Dotty shrieked. "They're everywhere! Amanda! Lee!"

I looped my arms around his neck.

"Welcome home, Mr. Stetson."

A/N: So, I could end it here - but the epilogue is almost done - do you want it? Drop me a line and leave some love in reviews! SMK 4ever