A/N: Welcome back to the "My Secret Life as a Spy" universe! It is inspired by Jamie's comment in the epilogue that (at some point) he was kidnapped. Please remember that the marriage and jobs are public knowledge, family is living together at a bigger house on Maplewood Drive, and Lee and Amanda have identical twin girls, Thea and Jenny.
This story kicks off in 1973, when Joe and Amanda are married. . ..
May 12, 1973
"To LifeSource Chem – may this be just the beginning of great things!"
Clink.
"To the people of Estoccia – they're lucky to have you, Joe!"
Clink.
"To your amazing little boy – and his beautiful mother, Amanda!"
Clink.
Amanda blushed. "Today is about the realization of your dream, something that will one day change the world – like Joe's work in Africa. I'm just a housewife-"
Stacy interrupted her, setting down her wine glass, dropping a hand over hers on the table. "Don't ever sell yourself short, Amanda West King. You are an amazing wife and mother. You are raising an amazing little boy, single handedly – I mean – I'm sorry, Joe-"
Joe waved her apology away as he sipped his wine. "No apologies necessary, Stace. I've been absent for most of Philip's first year of life – something that leaves me with a deep sense of guilt, I can assure you-"
Amanda dropped her eyes to her lap and pulled her hand away from Stacy's only to have it claimed by her husband's as he squeezed it tightly and continued on.
"I never had any intention of being absent from the States for so long – for leaving my family for months on end but when I got over there – I couldn't just leave. Being a lawyer in the diplomatic service attached to the US Embassy – I had no idea how many responsibilities would fall under my job description."
Stacy's husband Stanley chuckled. "Ever make you regret not dropping out of law school with me?"
Joe laughed and shook his head. "Nah, Stan – you always had the business head – which is why I know you and your lovely wife will do amazing things with your brand new company-"
"Hey, all we've done so far is register the name with the US government-" Stacy protested.
"But it's a start," Amanda broke in softly. "And I know that you've got some big ideas-"
"I do," Stacy nodded vigorously. "I want to eliminate crop mites – the little bugs like locusts that eat and destroy crops in third world countries. Those little critters can wipe out entire ecosystems and economies – plunging the country into famine and millions of people die of starvation. If I can target a genetic strain that will – sorry," she blushed, "I promised Stan that I wouldn't bore both of you with my shop talk."
Stan leaned over and kissed Stacy's cheek. "Once a chemist - I do love your passion, honey."
"But a glass beaker doesn't keep you warm at night – or leave much time to start our own family. Joe and Amanda have gotten a jump start on us and they've only been married for-"
"Hey! It's not a competition!" Amanda protested. "Children will come in their own time. Give yourself a bit of a break. Nothing will happen if you stress out about it."
"She's right," Joe agreed. "I mean, I'm hardly here and yet we've managed- ow!"
Amanda withdrew her foot from Joe's shin and shook her head at her clueless husband. "Not helping, Sweetheart."
"Oh! I just meant – my wife's right. Give it a bit of time. There's no rush. Case in point: Amanda and I have decided to wait a bit before trying again – that way she and Philip can join me in Estoccia when he's three, and she's not moving to Africa with another baby."
Stacy and Stan exchanged a long look before meeting their friends' eyes.
"Wow, Amanda," Stacy breathed the words out slowly. "I didn't know that you were thinking about relocation. You'd really take Philip to Estoccia – raise him and possibly another child in Africa? Away from your family and friends and everything that's familiar?"
Amanda swallowed. "We've talked about it-"
Joe's hand covered both of hers on the table. "I know it's scary – but we'd be living on the grounds of the US Embassy – and I know that this separation has been as hard for her as it has been for me. I know that she wants nothing more than for us to be living together again – as a family."
Amanda felt the bile rise in the back of her throat and she knew that the rich, expensive meal she had just consumed was in serious danger of coming up. She pushed her chair back and stood, jerking her hands free from Joe's grasp.
"I'm sorry – will you please excuse me? I need to use the restroom."
"Amanda?" Joe frowned. "Are you all right?"
"I –" she clamped a hand over her mouth and fled in the direction of the ladies' room.
"Are you sure you're all right?"
Amanda's eyes were closed as she gulped in the fresh air flowing through the car window, her head leaning back as Joe drove them back to the house.
House.
Not home.
Joe's home was the US Embassy in Estoccia, while hers was here in Arlington, Virginia. When he had stepped off the plane three months ago on his furlough from the diplomatic service, she had wanted nothing more than to welcome her husband home with open arms – to show him all around 4247 Maplewood Drive, and for him to see that she had made a beautiful home for the three of them.
But after few brief comments about the house and a tearful reunion with his son, all Joe could talk about was Estoccia – the people, his work, the need to return quickly. Amanda began to feel like he regretted the fact that he was required to take a three-month furlough to come home and see his family – that if it was up to him, the amount of time would have been cut in half, so that he could return as soon as possible. She knew Joe loved her, and Philip, but she also knew that half his heart had remained across the Atlantic Ocean in Estoccia.
"Amanda?"
She turned her head to meet Joe's gaze. "I'm fine. It was the rich food – I'm not used to three-star dining, Joe. Mother and I don't eat out often – and when we do, it's more along the line of pizza or burgers."
He lifted her hand and kissed the back of it. "I'm so glad that you've had your mother to lean on this past year."
She blinked back tears. "She's been terrific."
But she's not you.
"I know you'll miss her after you join me in Estoccia-"
"Joe-"
"I know I probably shouldn't have said anything to Stan and Stacy, especially since our move is still a couple of years out, but I'm just so excited! Aren't you-"
"Joe, I'm pregnant."
"What!"
"I said, 'I'm pregnant.'"
Joe pulled the car over and parked alongside the curb, raking a hand through his hair. "You're sure?"
"Yes. I took a home test and two days ago I had a doctor's appointment and had my blood drawn. Both tests were positive."
He groaned and thumped his hands on the steering wheel. "How did this happen?"
"Joe!"
"I didn't mean – I mean, I know how this happened! I meant-" he moaned. "What does this mean for you coming to Estoccia – perhaps you could come now- pack a bag and return with me next week-"
Amanda shrank back from him in alarm. "I'm not moving to Africa with a fourteen-month-old baby, Joe. This is where I put my foot down. I agreed to think about moving only if and when Philip was older, and we had looked into all the education and medical options necessary to keep him happy and safe."
"And now you're pregnant again." He swallowed and looked at her with sad puppy dog eyes. "Where does this leave us?"
"In the same place we've been for over a year – in a holding pattern."
