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Author: Bridget Frawley

Rating: PG

Summary: Amanda's and Lee's thoughts right before their wedding.

Disclaimer: This story is based on characters that are copywrighted by Warner Brothers and Shoot The Moon Productions. It is meant for enjoyment purposes. I retain the rights to the plot and not the characters.

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Chapter 1

Amanda glanced into the mirror one last time and straightened out her white suit nervously. She decided that she could spare a few seconds to freshen her lipstick. After all, this was her wedding day and she wanted everything to be perfect. Suddenly the reality of the situation sank in and she got a little light-headed. She slowly sat down and put a shaking hand to her forehead. This time it was real. She and Lee were getting married. She'd been too busy with this case and trying to somehow manage to get all the details taken care that it hadn't sank in until now.

She remembered all the adjustments she made the first time she'd gotten married. This would be different -- they couldn't even acknowledge their marriage in public. Lying always made her uncomfortable, although she reluctantly admitted that she was getting better at it than she was four years ago. Still-to lie about something so important seemed so -- wrong.

'What am I doing?' she thought to herself in panic. Up until now it had all seemed unreal. 'What if it doesn't work this time?' She couldn't bear it if things didn't work out between them. This was a huge commitment. Would she be able to deal with the fact that their marriage wasn't full time...a life of stolen moments? It almost sounded like something out of one of her mother's hokey romance novels. And the boys! How would they be able to deal with the fact that Lee was a very important part of her life now, even if they were only aware of it peripherally.

There was still time! She could always say that she changed her mind. They'd waited this long. Surely they could wait a little longer. They'd only gotten engaged three months ago. Lee would understand.

'No, Lee would definitely NOT understand,' she corrected herself pointedly. Too many people had left him already. This would destroy him. She loved Lee more than she ever thought possible. Suddenly she chuckled. If she were a nervous wreck what must he be going through?

There was a sharp knock on the door. "Amanda??"

She jumped, startled out of her reverie.

"Amanda, come on, will ya?!" Lee called out to her anxiously. "He's going to go home!"

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, willing her heart to stop pounding while she pondering this turn of events. She should be the calm one. After all, she'd been married before and had a general idea of just what kind of changes their living together, even on a semi-regular basis, would entail. This would be a bigger adjustment for him than it would be for her. He was going from being a dedicated bachelor to becoming a husband and father in one fell swoop, even if Philip and Jamie didn't know what Lee's role in their life was he certainly did. And Lee Stetson took his obligations very seriously. He didn't sound nervous at all. In fact he seemed eager to get on with it.

She stood up, her cold feet forgotten. This was the man she wanted to spend her life with. After all, they both loved each other. Sure it would be hard, but it would be worth it. Better a part-time Lee Stetson than no Lee at all. She smiled, suddenly picturing waking up in the morning, Lee beside her -- sharing intimate secrets, planning a future. She glanced in the mirror once more, fluffed her hair and then walked outside.

Lee had been pacing back and forth when he'd heard the door open. He spun around and saw her standing there.

She self-consciously closed the door behind her and glanced at him wide-eyed.

"You look beautiful," he admitted tenderly.

"Oh, you look handsome," she confessed shakily.

"Lee and Amanda!" Mrs. Bowman called out.

Chapter 2

Lee Stetson had already finished changing his clothes and went outside to the foyer. When Amanda wasn't out yet he hurried over to the flower shop he'd passed in the lobby and picked out a nice bouquet of flowers. After all, a bride needed flowers, he reasoned logically. After paying he hurried back to the foyer, afraid that she'd be waiting for him. When he got there he discovered that she still hadn't come out yet, so he decided to wait for her. 'Just relax,' he reassured himself. 'She'll be out in a minute.' If anyone had told him four years ago that things would have turned out this way he would have laughed in their faces. Not only was he getting married but he was getting a ready-made family at the same time. He could hardly believe it himself. He still couldn't figure out how she managed to sneak up on him. Somebody had definitely been looking down on him that day at the train station. He loved Amanda more than he ever thought possible.

Sure, their marriage has to be a secret for now but that's only temporary. Actually he was a little relieved. This would give him time to get to know Dotty and the boys better without them knowing just what his relationship in their lives actually was. It would take time for them all to be comfortable with each other but it would work out in the end.

Philip and Jamie were great kids. He was looking forward to doing things with them that he'd always wanted to do at their age -- camping, hiking -- all the things his uncle never seemed to have time for. He still got a little queasy thinking of himself as being a fill-in dad. Being their friend he could handle. They were at the age to be dating as well. They'd certainly need a man's advice on how to romance a woman, and that's one thing he knew how to do very well.

It's funny. He'd had more than his fair share of women in his life, and it's what he always thought he'd wanted from life. He never realized just how empty that life was before he met Amanda. She'd taught him the difference between romance and sex.

'I can't wait to see the look on Francine's face when she finds out the truth,' he grinned. 'I could always drop a few hints here and there...maybe mail her an anonymous copy of our wedding license,' he mused, strolling casually down the corridor. After a few seconds he reluctantly stopped his fantasizing. 'We can't risk the lives of her -- OUR -- ' he corrected himself, spirits rising again, 'family just for a few minutes of fun, no matter how enjoyable that might be.' Besides, it would be all over the Agency in minutes and Amanda would kill him. He straightened his tie self-consciously.

Amanda! His attention snapped back to the present with a thud. He glanced at his watch, and noticed the time in alarm. What was taking her so long?! "Amanda!" He exclaimed anxiously, hurrying over to the ladies room. "Amanda, come on, will ya? He's going to go home!" He knocked anxiously and started pacing back and forth.

This was it. It took them four years to get to this point and he wasn't about to wait another minute longer than necessary. He glanced over at the judges chambers sharply, reassuring himself that the justice of the peace hadn't indeed left.

He began mentally preparing what arguments he could use in case the situation came to that when he heard the bathroom door open. He spun around and saw her standing there, his breath momentarily taken away by the sight of her. She looked so radiant.

She self-consciously closed the door behind her and glanced at him wide-eyed.

"You look beautiful," he admitted tenderly.

"Oh, you look handsome," she confessed shakily.

"Lee and Amanda!" Mrs. Bowman called out.

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