Chapter 18

Some mild sexual content in the first section. If you are uncomfortable, move to the second section of the chapter.

Later that night, Amanda drove over to Lee's apartment. A fire was roaring and the two naked lovers spent the evening celebrating their official engagement. Instead of intense and fiery love making, this was slow and deliberate. They enjoyed each other's bodies, kissing, caressing and exploring each other. They had changed positions several times and now Amanda straddled Lee's lap, slowing moving with each other.

"I have a suspicion once we're living under the same roof, we're going to be like rabbits," Amanda laughed.

"Nothing wrong with that," Lee smiled. "I can't help it, you are so incredibly sexy."

"Not for long," Amanda smiled. "I'm going to get huge."

"That's going to be even sexier." Lee looked her in the eyes. "Growing our baby in your body." Tears filled his eyes as he continued, "I never thought I'd want this to happen. But now, I feel I'm finally become the man I was always meant to be. "

Lee gently lowered her body down onto the blanket he'd placed on the floor. He leaned over and kissed her belly. "I can't wait to watch this grow." She smiled at him and played with his hair. Lee gently lowered himself over her and they continued to make love.

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After a couple hours, Amanda knew she needed to head back home.

"So," Amanda said. "We talk to Billy tomorrow?"

"Yeah," Lee responded, caressing her face."I ran into him before I left today and arranged to meet with him at 8:30. I think he has a clue as he raised on eyebrow at me."

"He's pretty intuitive," she said. "I'll just be happy to have this out in the open. This whole secret has been exhausting."

"Well," Lee said proudly, "we won't be able to hide it much longer." He said, rubbing her belly.

They walked down to her car together.

"We need to coordinate you moving in," Amanda said. "This may be kind of crowded."

"Yeah," Lee said. "I was thinking about that. I think we may need to find a bigger place."

"Add that to the growing list of things to do," Amanda laughed.

They kissed goodnight and Amanda climbed into her car to head home.

Shortly after she pulled away, Lee noticed a car driving by slowly. It looked familiar to one he saw when he was with Jamie a few days ago. He memorized the license plate and wrote it down when he got back upstairs.

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The next morning, Lee and Amanda met in the Q Bureau at 8:15. She looked down at the engagement ring on her left hand and smiled.

"Listen," Amanda said. "For now, until we've seen my obstetrician to make certain the pregnancy is healthy, I just want to let Billy, Efraim, and probably Francine, and Kristen know about it. I just don't want to jinx anything. I know it's silly."

"It's not silly at all. For now, we'll just make the engagement public knowledge." Lee said staring at her while sitting on the edge of his desk, coffee cup in hand. "Let's go."

They made their way down to Billy's office hand in hand. A few people looked. One agent pointed to Amanda's left hand down by her side and whispered to another. Lee and Amanda walked in to the office and closed the door."

"What a way to make an entrance," Billy said. "Finally coming clean are we?" Billy grinned at them like a proud uncle.

"How did you know?"

"You two came in hand in hand and the room froze." He laughed. "Not very subtle for a room of trained intelligence operatives."

"I guess you're right," Lee said. "But we're tired to keeping this secret. I've asked Amanda to marry me, and she said yes."

"I knew you were ready!" Billy bellowed with joy, "Congratulations, you two."

"Thank you, Sir." Amanda said. "There's actually more news, but for now, I only want you and Efraim and maybe Francine to know about it." She looked at Lee, who nodded for her to keep going. "I'm also pregnant."

"Wow," Billy said. "You two don't do anything halfway, do you?" He laughed. "Well, double congratulations." He hugged both of them.

"It's still very early," Amanda continued. "We don't have our first appointment with the obstetrician for a couple weeks. You have kids, you understand."

"Yes, I do.," Billy said sitting down, thinking over the situation. "That's fine, but I don't want you doing anything that might put your pregnancy in jeopardy."

"I totally agree," Amanda said.

"You both have become pretty close to Kristen Adler." Billy said.

"Yes, we have," said Lee.

"Okay, I'm making a threesome here, if you don't mind her knowing about the pregnancy." Billy said. "Anything that requires any sort of dangerous activity, no matter how little, I want Adler stepping in."

Amanda smiled and looked at Lee. "We were going to tell her anyway."

"I think that's a perfect solution, and good training experience for Kristen" Lee said. "She and Amanda have become pretty close. We also know she can keep a secret.." He laughed.

"She was on to you, huh?" Billy laughed.

"To be honest, Sir," Amanda said. "Jamie told her about us, but she said she had already figured it out anyway,"

"I don't think there's much out there that kid doesn't figure out." Billy laughed. "If you don't mind, I'd like to bring she, Efraim and Francine in here now to talk this through. Given your parade into the bullpen I would not be surprised if Dr. Smyth knows about this already. We need to have a plan in place." He picked up his phone. "Please get The Honey Badger and Beamon into my office."

"I love that code name," Amanda laughed. Lee walked to the door and motioned Francine into the office.

"What's going on?" She asked on the way in. After a couple minutes, Kristen knocked on the door, followed by Efraim.

"Come in," Billy called to them. Lee went to the door. Kristen walked in and grinned ear to ear when she saw Lee and Amanda. She then looked at Billy and her expression changed to all seriousness in a flash. "You needed us, Sir?"

"Well, some news is about to break. Lee and Amanda are engaged."

"Congratulations!" Efraim said brightly. Meanwhile, Kristen hugged Amanda. Francine looked a little shocked, like she did not know what to say.

"There's more," Billy said. "But this piece is not to leave this room yet. Amanda is also expecting."

"Oh why God!" Kristen said, "Congratulations." She hugged Amanda and then hopped over to hug Lee. "I'm so happy for both of you."

"Are you kidding me?" Francine looked at Lee, who had a huge grin on his face.

"Well, more Congratulations," Efraim shook both their hands.

"The reason I've told you is a new contingency plan is in place," Billy continued. "Adler, Part of your assignment is to work with Lee and Amanda. Any field activity that could even potentially put Amanda's pregnancy at risk, I want you to step in and work with Scarecrow."'

"Yes, sir." Kristen said, standing tall. "It would be my pleasure."

"Finally, I expect an invitation to your wedding," Billy said with a huge grin. "Damn, I'm so happy for you two."

"So, why am I here?" Francine said. Amanda smiled and Lee turned to her.

"We couldn't not include you in the secret." he said. "You are one of my best friends." Francine smiled and seemed to resign herself to the fact that Lee, indeed, was taking a new path. Amanda inadvertently lifted her left hand and Billy noticed the sparkling engagement ring.

"Hold up, there" Billy said. "Let me see this."

Amanda held out her hand.'

"Well done, Scarecrow!' Kristen said.

"I think I'm paying you too much," Billy said with a loud, echoing laugh that caused people in the bullpen to look toward the office.

"Wait," Francine said, grabbing her hand. "A Tiffany princess cut two Carat solitaire?"

"Wow, she's good." Lee said.

"I know my diamonds," she replied.

The group walked out of the room together as agents were looking to see what thy could learn. As they walked out, Francine whispered to Lee. "Hold on, did you ask her to marry her because you….impregnated her?" Francine spit out. Amanda, overhearing, burst out laughing.

"No," Lee said, laughing along with his fiancé. "We've been together for a while. I knew I wanted to marry her for some time. In fact, I asked her when we were being held by Birol."

"Oh, well that's romantic," Francine said sarcastically.

"Actually, it was," Amanda replied smiling at Lee.

"So you weren't pregnant when Birol was holding you?" Francine whispered, genuinely concerned.

"No," Lee said, grinning at Amanda, "I think we can pin it down to a post release celebration."

"Celebration?" Francine said cocking her head to the side. "A celebration involves a parade and fireworks."

"Oh there were fireworks," Amanda laughed. "Lots of fireworks."

"Oh, Amanda." Francine said, shaking her head, "I did not need to know that."

Kristen burst out laughing. "Somehow I think there are lots of fireworks with you two."

"Well," Francine said, much louder now. "I can't be angry. Amanda, you are not the same person you were three years ago. You've grown. And Lee, you are definitely not the same person. You two do make each other better. I'm happy for you. Congratulations." Francine hugged them both.

The word spread like wildfire throughout the agency with congratulations coming from all over. The other Freshman Candidates ran up to Amanda, looking at the ring and asking about the engagement.

Leatherneck came bounding up to Lee. "You dog, you!" He bellowed with laughter. "Taking the vows. I knew she'd make an honest man out of you."

Everyone was happy for them, except for a few catty girls in the steno pool who were spreading rumors that Amanda King tricked Lee Stetson into marrying her. However, Kristen, feisty as usual, took care of them with a word of warning that Amanda King, soon to be Stetson, was off limits. They were all afraid of Kristen Adler. She received the code name The Honey Badger for a reason, she took out a terrorist on her first mission and sent Todd Jacobsen to the hospital during training when he made a disparaging remark. Nope, those girls were keeping their comments to themselves.

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Lee returned to the Q Bureau and checked out the license plate of the vehicle from the ice cream shop that drove by his apartment later that week. The vehicle was registered to an Annabeth Carlson, a 78 year-old woman from Bethesda, Maryland. He surmised that the car was likely used by someone else, or that someone had stolen, unbeknownst to her. After doing some research of known family members and associates, of interest was a grandson, Jeremy Lawton, who had a long criminal record including assault, robbery, and an array of drug charges. It appeared he was detained at the same prison as Nathanial Brody and was released just a couple weeks before Brody's escape. Lee didn't like this, but kept it quiet for now. He did not care if they were following him, but the fact that he was being followed when Jamie was there, that was off limits.

Jeremy had been checking in with his parol officer and so far, there was no known criminal activity. But as far as Lee was concerned, that just meant he hadn't been caught yet. Lee knew the sooner he moved into Amanda's house the better so he could keep an eye on the family. As far as he was concerned, Phillip and Jamie were HIS kids now too, dammit. NO ONE was going to touch them.

RING! The phone rang. The night before, Lee had left a message for his uncle, Colonel Robert Clayton, to call him back.

"Stetson," he answered.

"Hey, Skip," The Colonel responded. "You called?"

Lee immediately sat up in his chair.

"Yes, Sir." He said. "Amanda and I have some news. We'd like to meet up with you in person, if you have the time."

"Really?" He said. "I'll be reassigned to Oklahoma in a couple weeks, but I'm available tomorrow evening if you'd like to meet for dinner."

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The next evening, Lee and Amanda met up with Colonel Clayton for dinner.

"Amanda," he greeted her warmly. "It's so good to see you again.:

"You too, Colonel."

"Skip! Looking well." They shook hands and they took their seats. Lee was fidgeting a bit. He was a little hesitant to share their news. Well, the wedding news was fine, but about them expecting. He felt like a teenage boy going home to tell his parents he knocked up his girlfriend.

"It's good to see you as well, Sir." Lee said, looking down at the menu.

Amanda noticed Lee was extremely nervous and despite his 6'3" frame, looked like a toddler sitting in a booster seat.

"So, you have some big news?" The Colonel said. He noticed Amanda's hand. "I think it has something to do with that very important piece of jewelry."

Amanda smiled brightly.

"Yes, it does," she said, looking at Lee.

"You're right." Lee said, finally looking proud. "I asked Amanda to marry me, and she accepted."

"Well, congratulations!:" Robert Clayton bellowed. "This calls for champagne. Three glasses." He called to the waiter.

Amanda looked over at Lee with an are you going to tell him or should I look.

"Actually, Sir," Lee said taking a deep breath for courage. "Make that two glasses."

"What?" Clayton looked a bit take aback. Then the realization hit him. "Is there a little Skip Junior on the way?" He grinned at Amanda.

"Yes, there is," she said. "It's very early, but yes."

He looked back at Lee with a stern look. Lee felt himself sinking back into his chair. The Colonel then burst out laughing. "That'ok." He bellowed. "You're all adults." Laughing out loud. "Bring the lady a glass of milk. She's got someone to take care of here.,"

With that, the tension lifted.

"Now you have two older boys, right?" He asked. "How is Skip with them."

"He's actually wonderful with them. Both my boys adore him." Amanda and the Colonel chatted. How does she do it? Lee thought to himself. The Colonel was like putty in her hands. Lee let them chat while he let out a huge sigh of relief.

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Over the next week, Lee had pretty much become a staple at Amanda's house. It was becoming his home as well, so he was getting comfortable. He'd already done a few pickups of the boys and attended Jamie's soccer game on Saturday. He made certain to attend the game as the token "dad" as Joe had let them know earlier in the week he could not attend as he would be returning from some travel and would not be home in time. At the game Lee was a little taken aback as he unintentionally became like fly paper for all the single moms at the game. For that reason, he made certain to be particularly demonstrative of his affections for Amanda. Jamie had asked Kristen to come to his game and she arrived with her roommate, Tess. They were on their way to a music festival so stopped to cheer on Jamie on their way. Lee had to remind himself that while she acted older than her years at work, Kristen was only 23, so of course she would be going to music festivals.

Jamie's face lit up when he saw Kristen and it seemed to help him turn on the afterburners. In an effort to impress her, in the next few minutes he crashed into a defender, stole the ball and kicked a shot right past the goalie to score.

"Yeah, Jamie!" Kristen shouted. "Woooooo!" Lee, Amanda and Dotty cheered him on, with Kristen and Tess starting a round of cheers, "Jamie! Jamie! Jamie!" The kid initially looked a little embarrassed for all the attention, but soon proud when his friends and teammates noticed the cheers were coming from two pretty twenty-something girls, making Jamie a bit of a legend.

A few minutes later Tess noticed how all the women were staring at Lee. Always the extrovert, she turned to Lee, "I think you are going up on the board as the next treat at the snack bar." She laughed. Dotty, Amanda, and Kristen joined in.

"The single moms are like piranhas at kid's sporting events." Dotty added.

Lee shook his head, clearly embarrassed, which only made the whole situation even funnier. His face turned a special shade of vermillion. It occurred to him a couple years ago, he would have paraded around like a peacock, not that he would have been caught dead at a kids' soccer game, but now he simply found the whole this kind of uncomfortable. As he was trying to disappear, Lee looked up to see in the parking lot that same car driving by. He stepped back so Amanda would not see. Kristen noticed and asked what was going on.

"I'll fill you on Monday," he whispered to Kristen. "That silver car over there driving slowly through the parking lot. It's been hanging around a lot."

"He's not exactly being subtle" Kristen noticed.

"Yeah, I don't like it." He responded. "I don't want to worry Amanda so let's keep this between us."

"Agreed." She said.

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The next day was one they were not particularly looking forward to. Joe was coming by to pick up the boys for a movie. Lee and Amanda decided it was right time to fill him in on their plans. Amanda asked him to arrive a bit early so they could talk. When Joe arrived he had an idea of what was coming, based on Phillip telling him there was big news. They didn't want to have the conversation in front of the boys, so they went into the backyard.

"Phillip said you had some big news. Are congratulations in order?"

"Yes," Lee said. "Amanda and I are getting married."

"That's wonderful, Congratulations." While Joe King's words said he was happy, his face did not. For being an attorney, he did not have the best poker face. Amanda quickly picked up on it.

"Joe," she said, "I know this may be a shock, but we've talked to the boys and we've making certain they are involved in the major family decisions."

Lee then added, "Joe, I promise I will not overstep any boundaries. You are their father, and I will be here if they need me for anything. I really want us all to be partners here."

"One last thing," Amanda looked uncomfortable. "I'm also pregnant."

"Oh?" Joe said. "Is they why you've decided to get married?"

Lee was getting ruffled, but kept his calm.

"No," Amanda said. "We'd been talking about getting married before I learned I was expecting. I'm only a few weeks in at this point."

"Ok," Joe continued. "Well, I really am happy for you both. Are the boys ready?"

They went back into the house where Joe collected the boys and they left for the movie.

"Well, that was awkward," Lee said.

"Oh really?" Dotty looked quizzically at them.

"Yeah," Amanda said. "He said he was happy, but I get the feeling it was lip service."

"Well, Amanda," Dotty said. "I don't think he's ever gotten over losing you. It was his own fault, mind you, but I think he's still carrying a torch."

"Well," Lee said protectively, "He'd better extinguish it."

"Lee," Dotty laughed. "You're adorable." She said, patting him on the check.