Chapter 19

Thanksgiving Dinner with a Side of Daddy Drama

Author's Note: This story contains an Easter Egg for a future FF which will be a crazy cross-over between SMK and the Marvel Universe.

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Thanksgiving arrived at the King/West/Stetson home. Kristen picked a couple bottles of wine and some sparking apple cider for Amanda and the boys, and of course, vodka. She was very curious as she heard that the boys' father was coming by as well. She'd never met him, but from what she heard, the reviews were mixed. She arrived around 11 am to a bustling household. Warm mouth-watering smells were filling the house as she walked in with Phillip after he answered the door.

"Wow, it smells so good in here, " Kristen said.

"Hi, Kristen," Jamie yelled from the family room.

"Jamie," Dotty said. "This is not a locker room. You can get up and go say hello."

"Ah, he's eleven. It comes with the territory." Kristen said walking into the kitchen and giving Dotty a peck on the cheek. "As you know, I don't cook, so I brought booze." She laughed. "And sparkling cider for the boys and Amanda. Where is she anyway?"

"Morning sickness.," Dotty answered. "The first trimester always hits her hard."

"Oh no," Kristen said. "Do you mind if I put the vodka in the freezer?"

"Freezer?" Dotty asked.

"Yeah," Kristen said. "It's a traditional Russian thing for my family does for holidays. We toast with ice cold vodka at the start of the holiday meal. Don't worry, I got the good stuff, my grandparents taught me right. Can I help with anything?"

Dotty set her up with some vegetables to chop as Lee entered the kitchen.

"Well that was unpleasant," Lee said. "My poor wife-to-be lost everything she tried to eat this morning." Lee sighed. "Hey, Kristen."

"Hi, Lee." She greeted him. "That's pretty rough. You getting moved in okay?"

"Starting to," he said. "I think I'll keep the apartment for a while until we decide where to put everything, and if and when we're moving."

"I think a new home would be marvelous," Dotty said. "Four people in this house is crowded, five is a frat house. Six, with all the baby necessities, is impossible."

Amanda came back downstairs. "Well, eggs for breakfast are out," she said.

"Dear," Dotty told her, "you went through the same thing with Jamie. Just give it a few weeks."

"So," Kristen said, "on to happier topics, have you decided on a wedding date?"

"Well, we are waiting until after the holidays. That's just too soon." Lee said, "We were considering something around Valentine's Day."

"Oh, that would be sweet."

"Yeah, but Valentine's Day is on a Saturday, so everything is booked." Amanda added, "We really like this little chapel in the court house in Marion. We're considering Friday night".

"Lee, Amanda," Dotty stopped and looked at them, "you know that's Friday the thirteenth, right?"

"Oh," Kristen smiled, "now I like it even more."

"Yeah," Phillip joined in. "That would be so cool."

Kristen couldn't resist egging on the boys. "We can all wear hockey masks, and instead of the wedding march, we can play 'oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh, ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah." The boys roared with laughter. "We can serve Jason Voorhees favorite dessert, I-Scream." Which resulted in groans. Lee just rolled his eyes and smirked. "Seriously though," Kristen said, "I think it's a great idea. You are taking something considered unlucky and turning into something beautiful. It's perfect for you two."

Lee and Amanda looked at each other and nodded.

"Hmm," Dotty said. "I hadn't thought of it like that. I kind of like it."

"Can we at least have some fake blood on the walls at the reception?" Phillip laughed.

Lee stood back and watched his new family. Thanksgiving used to be just another day and he never took part in any celebrations. Growing up on military bases, they would get turkey, stuffing and mashed potatoes and he would see the servicemen looking sad because they were away from their families. He never understood it. But here, watching everyone talking, laughing and enjoying each other's company it dawned on him that at thirty-six years old he was finally appreciating it..

A short while later, Joe King arrived at the house. Lee visibly tensed up a bit. He was not crazy about seeing the man who was still harboring feelings for his fiancé. Amanda, put a hand on his shoulder, "Lee, it will be alright." She whispered. "Remember he is here for the boys, and I love you, not him."

As Joe entered, he greeted Lee, then saw Kristen and walked over to greet her..

"You must be the Spanish tutor who has turned Phillip's grades around." He shook her hand.

"Well, I'm trying," she said. "Kristen Alder. I work with Lee and Amanda."

"Joe King" he replied with a look of concern on his face. Did he know what Amanda and Lee did for a living? Kristen thought.

As they were getting ready to sit down to the meal, Kristen asked if it was ok to get our the vodka for the adults and cider for kids and Amanda and do a traditional Russian toast like her grandparents do every holiday.

"Oh that would be wonderful," Dotty said. "I love seeing other family's traditions." She pulled out some small toasting glasses and poured out the cold vodka and cider.

As they sat down, after grace, everyone raised their glasses.

"Say 'Boomdym zdarovy' It means To Our Health."

Everyone tried to say the cheer, but no one except Kristen and Lee said it right. It resulted in everyone trying to pronounce it and then descending into laughter with the continued failed attempts.

"Weren't you learning some Russian for a while, Amanda." Dotty asked.

"Only a little," she said. "I kind of gave it up."

"So," Joe asked, "you speak fluent Russian?"

"Yes," Kristen responded, "my grandparents immigrated here after World War II. They only spoke English outside the home, so they wanted us to speak only Russian in their house. They wanted us to maintain the history and traditions."

"So," Jamie said, "you can say anything in Russian?"

"Pretty much."

"How do you say pass me the potatoes in Russian?" Kristen rattled off the phrase and Jamie looked impressed.

Next Phillip chimed in, "how do you say 'I'd like some more turkey, please'?" To which Kristen said the phrase in Russian. The boys threw out several more phases which Kristen translated. Then Phillip asked, "say ''I have explosive diarrhea" which, to his amazement, she translated. This sent the boys into raucous laughter. Lee, hearing the phrase in Russian, could not contain himself, and fell nearly choked before descending into uncontrolled laughter when he thought of the reaction Amanda might get using this random phrase on an unsuspecting Russian adversary in her capacity as a champion level confuser. Lee's laughter had a ripple effect around the table.

Amanda trying to control her own laughter, said, "Ok fellas, stop being gross. We are at the dinner table.".But, she couldn't remove the smirk from her face. "Lee, you're not helping" she said to him trying her hardest not to laugh.

"Sorry, I can't help it, I didn't think she would translate that." Lee was trying to control himself, but kept giggling. Even Joe and Dotty were snickering, more from Lee's reaction than the joke.

"Well," Kristen explained, "technically I said I'm having severe gastrointestinal distress." Trying to control her own laughter.

"A Russian speaking California girl," Dotty said, still grinning and trying to change the subject, "You never know who's going to enter your life."

"You grew up in California?" Joe asked.

"Yes, Orange County."

"She worked at Disneyland," Jamie spouted excitedly.

"My claim to fame, I guess." Kristen grinned.

The rest of the meal they talked of traditions and families. Not to mention, the boys trying to get Kristen to say other random gross phrases in Russian. Lee mentioned he grew up on military bases and around the world, so this was new for him. The boys found it fascinating and were looking forward to breaking him in on their family traditions.

The meal wrapped up and Dotty, Lee, Amanda, and Kristen helped clear the table and wash the dishes. Joe was hanging out in the backyard with the boys. It had been about 15 minutes and Amanda noticed that Jamie was looking upset again.

"Oh no you don't," she said as the dropped the dish towel and marched outside.

Uh-oh, here comes the floor show thought Kristen.

A minute later the boys came back inside with Jamie visibly upset. Lee's blood started boiling. "It's okay, Jamie." He tried to comfort the boy while watching outside. What did Joe do to him again? He considered if he should go outside or leave it with Amanda. He turned to Dotty. "Should I go out there?" He asked.

"Give it a minute," Dotty said. "They used to get along fine, but in the last few months something has changed." Lee remembered it was shortly after Stemwinder that things had taken a turn. It was almost like Joe was taking things out on Jamie to get at Amanda. Lee figured it had more to do with her dating, and now marrying him, that made Joe upset.

Meanwhile, while Lee was trying to surveil the scene in the backyard, Kristen and Dotty tried to comfort Jamie.

"Are you ok?" Kristen asked. Jamie did not say anything. Phillip spoke up for him.

"Dad's mad that he dropped AP Physics and that he's too smart to be taking the regular class."

"It's ok," Kristen said. "Your mom and dad are working it out. You're ok," said Kristen.

"Mom's crying now," Phillip said.

"Not for long," Lee said stepping outside.

"Amanda? Are you okay?" Lee asked.

"This doesn't concern you," Joe said.

"If you are making my future wife cry, then yes it does." Lee said sternly.

"So, is he living here now?" Joe asked. "Before you two get married?"

"Joe," Amanda barked. "That is none of your business."

"Yes it is, when my boys are involved."

"The same one you just made cry?" Lee barked. "For your information, the boys are happy when we are all here together. They are excited for us, glad to be a our new family."

"So, you're playing family now? Getting my wife pregnant while my boys are in the house."

"Woah!" Amanda asserted herself, holding up a hand to keep Lee at bay. "Your wife? I am no longer your wife!"

"I didn't mean it." Joe backpedaled.

"Oh, I think you did. Deep down, you don't see me as your ex-wife. I've moved on, I'm happy and Lee and I are building a life together. The boys are happy. In fact, the only time they are not is when you are running down Jamie because he can't pass an advanced level class he never wanted to take in the first place." Amanda let loose.

"He's an A student, he should be pushed to meet his full potential." Joe argued.

"He doesn't even like Physics." Lee argued.

"Really? How do you know that?"

"Because he told me when I picked him up because he was too afraid to call you." Lee shouted back. "He enjoys photography and he's good at it."

"I thought you said you would not overstep."

"I also said I would be there for them. Something you should be doing!" Lee snapped, but immediately regretted his words. He knew that he had now overstepped. Amanda stepped in.

"Hold it, both of you!" She demanded, getting between then and clearly taking charge, "It is true, Lee picked him up while I was out on an assignment for work. He left a message for me and I met him. Jamie was afraid to call you because he said you would be mad at him."

"I'm sorry," Lee said. "I shouldn't have said that. I'm just getting to know the boys really well and I care about them a lot. He was upset, so I did my best to make him feel better. During that time he mentioned he liked photography. I let him borrow my camera and he's really enjoying it. He's pretty good at it too."

"I'm sorry too," Joe said. "I was uncomfortable with you two in a relationship after you were accused of treason and were essentially fugitives for two days."

"I can understand that," Lee said. He thought if he were in Joe's shoes, he might feel the same way. "But trust me, I want nothing but the best for this family."

"Joe, we truly love each other," Amanda said. "We want a new start for us. However, you will always be Phillip and Jamie's father, and you will always be welcome." Joe looked down, shifting his feet uncomfortably.

"When I saw you with Lee when I first came back from Estonia," Joe explained, "I realized you had moved on. I wasn't ready for that. I'm sorry. I've behaved badly."

"It's okay." Amanda said. "But for your information, I did NOT get pregnant in this house and even when we are intimate, we are very discrete."

"Understood," Joe said. "Lee, I owe you an apology. I saw you as a threat, but my boys have really taken to you."

"They are great boys," Lee said smiling.

"Can you have Jamie come out? I need to apologize to him."

Joe and Jamie talked outside, after which they hugged.

"Hey, there's football on TV," Kristen said trying to lighten the mood.

"You watch football?" Phillip asked.

"Ah, yeah. Of course I do. Mostly college; Go Bruins! But I like the NFL too. Let's go boo the Cowboys."

"I like the Cowboys," Jamie said as he came back in the room.

"Are you kidding me?" Lee said. "They are a division rival of the Redskins!"

When Amanda came back in, Kristen went over to see if she was ok.

Joe came over and talked to Kristen, Amanda and Dotty.

"I'm so sorry," He said. "This was a really nice day and I ruined it."

"It's okay, Joe." Amanda said. "It all worked out in the end." Lee walked up and hugged Amanda from behind.

"I'm glad we cleared the air," Lee said.

"I'm sorry to you too, Kristen. You've done so much for my boys."

"It's okay," said Kristen. "It's usually my drunk uncle falling down the stairs that ruins Thanksgiving. This was a nice change."

Joe burst out laughing along with Amanda, Lee and Dotty.

"She's hilarious." Joe said, still laughing.

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That night, Lee and Amanda were getting ready for bed. He had moved in a few of his things, but most everything else he owned remained at his apartment.

"You know," Lee said, sitting down on the bed. "I think in the next few weeks we need to start looking at real estate. We need to find a place big enough for all of us. Something with at least four bedrooms. What do you think?"

"Probably a good idea," Amanda said. "Even with you just staying here a few nights a week, it's getting crowded."

"Yeah, this little squirt here is going to throw it over the edge." Lee said softly rolling his hand over her belly as she stood in front of him. Amanda ran her fingers through his hair and bent over slightly to kiss him. The kiss deepened while Lee reached under her nightgown and Amanda leaned into him. Her breasts had grown larger and he gently massaged them.

BANG!

"Phillip, knock it off!" Jamie's voice could be heard.

"Yeah," Amanda stood up, clearly exasperated. "We need a bigger place."

She grabbed her robe and marched down the hall toward the boys. "Boys! What are you doing?"

Lee shook his head. This was his new life. Counter intelligence has nothing on teenage boys. He laughed to himself.

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The next day, the beeper went off for Kristen. She headed into the agency to find an update on the surveillance ordered for Jeremy Lawton, the grandson of the woman whose car had been following Lee. He had been shot in the head, execution style. She looked over Lee's notes that he had been released from prison only a short time before Nathanial Brody. Kristen pulled the case file for Nathaniel Brody, who has been deemed "The Death Broker." It was Lee who sent him to prison.

It did not seem a coincidence, so she looked up to see any other recent execution style murders. There were four. All of them had been incarcerated for low level crimes and all had done their prison time in the same place and time as Brody.

She called Lee who was at Amanda's house.

"Are you free to talk?" Kristen asked.

"Not really," Lee said. "Are you at the office?"

"Yeah," she said. "I was beeped this morning. There are some interesting coincidences with the recent project we were talking about at the game."

"Okay," he said. "Give me a few minutes and I'll be over there."

Amanda had been out shopping early this morning and had stopped home briefly with Dotty. Joe had taken the boys for the day, so he let Amanda know he was heading into the agency for a few minutes.

Kristen explained her findings. Lee agreed it had all the markings of Brody and he was up to something. "It looks like these are just minor thugs he's finding to do some work. The thing is with Brody, he always uses a middle man. If he keeps one alive long enough we may be able to track them to Brody.. Good work today."

"Thanks," Kristen said. "What is Amanda up to today? I hope she wasn't upset I pulled you away."

"No," Lee said. "She's going back out shopping with her mother today. That's a big No, thank you for me." He laughed. "Go ahead, take off and enjoy the rest of your day." He noted another report on the desk. "Hey what's thing?"

"Something from IFF in New York. Some weirdo in Queens dressed like a spider is going around saving people from thugs. They are looking for some help getting an ID on him. I was about to work on it."

"Don't worry," Lee said. "I'll take care of it. See you Monday."

"Thanks!." Kristen grinned. "Cute CIA guy asked me out. I need to go brave the stores on Black Friday to find something perfect to wear for the date."

"Well, good luck," Lee said. "On both fronts."