Chapter 33

Cheers

Lee and Amanda arranged to close on the new house right after returning from their honeymoon. As Lee had given up his apartment, they would be okay covering the two mortgages for now. Amanda's dress was altered on time as promised, and as to the blood tests, when Lee came bursting into the lab like a ticked off grizzly bear the normally lackadaisical staff went into a tizzy to find the results. It turned out they simply misfiled them. Lee and Amanda picked up the marriage license and met with the Justice of the Peace. Barring any unforeseen tragedies, they were a Go for Operation: Wedding Day..

Alex had arrived 3 days earlier and Billy and Beamon had given Kristen a few days off to work on arranging the music. Kristen was blown away at how his proficiency had grown in just the months she'd been away. They called their mom a couple times to get some input on the musical arrangements, but by the time Thursday rolled around they agreed they had a solid set. To help his sister, Alex recommended she face him and not the attendees while they played until she felt more confident. This is why Kristen loved her brother so much, he knew her better than anyone and they always looked out for each other.

It would be a simple ceremony with no attendants, so only a quick rehearsal was needed. Dotty and Billy would serve as the witnesses. Lee and Amanda booked the back room at Emilio's for the rehearsal dinner for close family and friends. Dotty had invited Aunt Lillian and Aunt Edna, a couple of her close friends, along with Captain Curt. Billy and Jeannie were there, of course, along with Francine, Kristen, Alex, Leatherneck, Beamon, and of course, Colonel Clayton.

After the rehearsal when Lee and Amanda walked into Emilio's they were greeted with an unexpected surprise. "Lee, Amanda!" Emily Farnsworth walked toward them with outstretched arms.

"Emily!" Amanda squealed as they hugged. She was overjoyed to see her friend. "I'm so happy you came."

Lee hugged her. "I can't believe you're here." For as much trouble as they had getting to this day, seeing Emily was evidence that everything had turned around in their favor.

"Well, I could not very well miss this, could I? This is quite the event."

"Thank you so much for coming," Amanda said.

"I understand that quite another event will be occurring in a few months," she winked. Amanda blushed and placed her hand on her belly.

"Yeah," she said. "We have a little one on the way. We've not really broadcasted it. How did you know?"

"You know I have my ways." Emily grinned. "I'm excited and happy for both of you." Amanda should have known that Emily would figure it out. She hugged her again, so grateful she would be here to share the day with them. Emily greeted Dotty and the boys as they walked into the back room.

People were talking and laughing during dinner. Phillip and Jamie were fascinated with Alex and what it was like to play in a band. Leatherneck joked Alex now had groupies. Kristen was introduced to Emily and the two quickly hit it off with Emily promising to share stories of her assignments and Lee in his early days. Dotty was giving details to the Colonel about Lee's relationship with the boys and all the work they were doing around the house. As the meals were finishing up and dessert was being served, Billy stood to make a toast.

"I've known Lee for over ten years. When I first met him, he was cocky, brash and headstrong. To put it mildly, he was a mess. However, about three and a half years ago I met Amanda. She was level-headed, kind and well, also headstrong." Laughter from the room. "Since Lee met Amanda a slow transformation has taken place. A frat boy became a man and a domesticated woman because a force to be reckoned with. It's not often you actually meet your soulmate, but I think we all can agree it happened here. To the bride and groom."

"To the bride and groom," the rest of the room chimed in and raised a glass.

Lee and Amanda kissed and took a sip, smiling back at Billy.

Kristen with her effervescent personality, stood next. "I think I've known Lee and Amanda the shortest amount of time. However, the impact they have had on me is immeasurable. When I first started, I pretended I had it all figured out, but inside I was a terrified 22 year-old who moved across the country for a job. I was right out of college, missed my family terribly and had no idea what I was doing. However, Lee and Amanda have become my mentors, my friends, and with the addition of Phillip, Jamie and Dotty, have become my second family. I can't tell you how happy I am for the two of you. You both deserve a lifetime of happiness. Nosdravlenia, Congratulations."

"Congratulations!" The room shouted.

After some chatter around the room, Phillip and Jamie stood up. They were having trouble getting everyone's attention, so Kristen wrapped on Phillip's glass. The room quieted as the two quietly argued who would speak first. Finally Jamie spoke up

"Umm, we know that Lee is marrying our mom tomorrow." He shuffled his feet a little. "I, um, didn't like him a lot at first. But one day I called my mom because I needed help. She wasn't in, but Lee came right away and, well, he was actually pretty cool. Plus he makes Mom happy and he likes sports and we have fun watching games with him. So, um.."

"What Jamie is trying to say," Phillip barged in, "we think you're pretty rad and we're excited you're gonna be our step dad. So, welcome to our family."

Lee started to get emotional and walked over to the boys making everyone on the room emotional.

"Here, here!" Dotty said. "I'm so happy to be getting this tall, handsome man as my son-in-law. I love the energy you bring to our house, I love how the boys laugh with you, but most of all, I love how you love my Amanda." Lee wrapped her up in a huge bear hug, clearly too emotional to speak. He never thought he'd been happy in suburbia, but he loved not only Amanda, but that her family was now his family.

The room cheered again. Colonel Clayton stood up.

"Well, Skip!" He said, "I never thought I'd see this from you. I'm proud of you!"

Amanda got up and hugged Colonel Clayton while the room applauded cheered once again.

"Thank you so much, everyone." Amanda said. "We love that you are all here tonight and will join us for our special day tomorrow."

- SMK -

Earlier in the evening, a car drove by as Lee and Amanda entered Emilio's with Dotty and the boys and several friends. The car finally stopped and sat outside of Emilio's as the guests ate dinner. A man got out and walked up to a pay phone.

"Brody?"

"Yes, what do you have for me?" Brody spoke into the phone.

"Guess who's getting married tomorrow?"

"Well, he is becoming quite the family man, isn't he?" Brody responded.

"And get this, I saw his cute little bride. She has two sons, not just one."

"Really? Well this keeps getting better and better." Brody grinned.

"Should we hit him now?"

"No." Brody said. "First of all, there is a room full of agents." This guy was truly an idiot, and a little too trigger happy. Probably time to dispose of this one too. "I'm going to handle this one personally, and I'm in no hurry. It's not a tragic enough time yet. I want him getting settled in to his new life first. Let him get comfortable. For now we'll just keep an eye on him. I'll make his new wife a widow soon enough."