Chapter 37

Thirty minutes later, Amanda, Lee, and the girls were in the car, driving toward the Agency. Traffic was light and they made it in record time. Amanda and Lee quickly decided to carry the girls instead of wrestling the stroller into the building. As they neared the Georgetown entrance, Lee began grinning.

"What's that for?" Amanda eyed her husband warily.

"I'm just thinking how big the girls have gotten since the last time we brought them in. I think everyone's going to be all over them, that's all." Lee shifted DJ a little higher in his arms.

Amanda pressed her hand against Lily's back lovingly. "Let's hope they keep a little distance. It is the start of cold and flu season and I would prefer them to stay as healthy as they can. They're already starting to put everything in their mouths as it is."

Lee sobered slightly, his grin disappearing. "You're right. Poor Charlie was miserable when he had a cold, I don't want them to feel the same way."

"Not that germs aren't a good thing for them to be exposed to either. They have to build their immune systems somehow," Amanda added.

"Let's just get them inside and go from there," Lee announced as he opened the door.

Mrs. Marston's face lit up the second she spotted Lily in Amanda's arms. "Oh my heavens. Look at how big she's gotten." She stopped and covered her mouth with her hands as Lee entered the small lobby behind Amanda, DJ clapping her hands together excitedly. "Bring them to me, Scarecrow. I need to hold them!"

Lee neared the older woman and carefully propped DJ on one leg. He repeated the action with Lily and when both girls were held securely, he stepped back and folded his arms. "They're getting heavy now."

"Oh, you stop that! They're perfect!" Mrs. Marston scolded him as she squeezed them gently.

They sat contently for several minutes until DJ managed to wrap her fingers into the phone cord on the corner of the desk. With a quick jerk, she sent the entire phone careening onto the floor with a loud clatter.

Amanda was the first to move. "Hey, hey, hey. Mrs. Marston still needs to work, so let's keep her desk in one piece." She placed the phone back on the desk and untangled DJ's hand. "Before you get into any more mischief, we should probably head down to see Mr. Melrose."

Mrs. Marston squeezed them gently once more before relinquishing them. "Those precious girls are welcome back anytime. Besides, I'll bet they won't cause as much chaos as their father has over the years." She made eye contact with Lee and winked.

Lee took DJ from Amanda and propped her on his hip. "Not yet anyway, but I'm sure if they had enough time…"

"I'm not so sure, Scarecrow. If half the stories I heard are true…" Mrs. Marston teased with a sly grin and another wink.

Amanda laughed loudly. "It's a good thing those days have passed, Mrs. Marston, because I'm not so sure Lee could keep up with his old reputation anymore."

"Keep up with… Amanda!" Lee's mouth dropped open. On his hip, DJ began wiggling and twisting, trying to reach her sister a few feet away in her mother's arms. She leaned further away from her father until she was off balance. Lee quickly scooped her up with his other arm before she slipped free. "Hey… let's not do that again. Maybe we should keep moving before they really do start causing a ruckus."

In Amanda's arms, Lily began clapping happily as she chanted, "Ga-ga-ga-ga."

"Don't tell me they're already talking?" Mrs. Marston looked on sweetly.

"No, not yet, but they have found a way to communicate already… except they're the only two in on the language," Amanda replied just as DJ started to echo her sister. After a few seconds, the twins' babble morphed into giggles and bounces in their parent's arms.

Mrs. Marston beamed. "I'll let Mr. Melrose know you're on your way down. Oh, and if you see Ms. Desmond, please tell her the courier dropped off the legal documents she asked for."

Amanda and Lee locked eyes briefly before Lee replied, "Will do, Mrs. Marston. We will see you in a bit."

They disappeared into the elevator and the few short minutes inside were spent detangling little hands from hangers and coats. The elevator doors slid open to a mostly empty hallway. The small group approached the guards outside of the bullpen.

"Scarecrow. Mrs. Stetson. Little Stetsons. We have been informed you have full visitor status any time by Mrs. Marston so no need for badges for the young ones. Between you and me, Mrs. Marston is one scary woman," one of the guards stated in a loud whisper.

"Mrs. Marston is very sweet," Amanda remarked.

The other guard nodded. "A sweet woman who can handle an automatic weapon like nobody's business."

Lee laughed loudly, remembering the time a few years back when Mrs. Marston shot up the foyer. "But she can't hit anything she's aiming for."

Amanda pursed her lips tightly and shook her head. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Francine heading in their direction. "Lee, we should pass that message along and see Billy if we're going to have enough time to do some car shopping today."

The two guards opened the doors. "Have a safe day, Stetson family."

"Thanks, fellas." Lee stepped into the bullpen first, shifting DJ a little higher as Francine got closer. "Look who's coming to see you. It's Auntie Francine."

Lily's head twisted to catch sight of Francine. Her little body shook with excitement as soon as Francine reached out for her. "Hi, Lily. Did you miss me?" Francine gathered the baby in her arms and squeezed her gently.

Lily slapped at Francine's shoulders, grabbed her large, clunky necklace, and squawked loudly. "Fa-fa-fa!" Francine bounced her playfully as she asked, "Are you heading to see Mr. Melrose? I just heard he's in a grand old mood today but you might be the best thing for him."

"Oh, no. That doesn't sound good." Amanda sighed and tried to peer into his office but his blinds were closed.

Francine extracted Lily's hand from her necklace and turned her around as they walked. "Beamon left a little while ago. Seems like one of the newbies royally messed up a drop."

They reached his door and Lee knocked loudly. "Then, you're right. A visit from these two might be just what he needs." He heard Billy's voice bark an acknowledgement. "Oh, Mrs. Marston said the courier dropped off the legal forms you asked for."

Francine handed Lily back to Amanda. "I'll get those and I'll be right back down. Don't leave until I get back." Without waiting for a reply, she hurried into the hallway.

"What do you think that's all about?" Lee whispered to Amanda as he pushed the door open slowly.

"I'm sure we'll find out soon enough," Amanda stated. She lifted her chin with a smile. "Look who came to see you!" She stepped into the office and quickly passed Lily over to Billy.

Billy grinned ear-to-ear as he took DJ from Lee also. "Well, this is a nice surprise today for your Uncle Billy." He bounced the girls gently as he rounded his desk and sat down.

Lee winked at Amanda. "Uncle Billy? I was thinking more like Papa Billy. You know, like that show with the little blue people."

"Are you calling me a smurf, Scarecrow?" Billy's deep voice rose slightly.

"Is that what they're called?" Lee joked, laughing loudly.

Billy, realizing quickly Lee was teasing, joined in. The twins slapped the desk and began to giggle along with everyone else.