DISCLAIMER: Scarecrow and Mrs. King are the property of Warner Brothers and Shoot the Moon productions. The author as for pure entertainment purposes copyrights this story.
 

AUTHOR: angelsslave

 

 

RATING: PG

 

TIMELINE: During Season Four's `Do You Take This Spy' written by: Robert W. Gilmer, Tom Chehak, George Geiger and Burt Brinckerhoff. *Dialogue from `The First Time', `All The Worlds A Stage', `Stemwinder part 1', `Night Crawler' and `Do You Take This Spy' with special thanks.

AUTHOR'S NOTES: Like many of you, I jumped for resounding joy the day Lee and Amanda finally said `I Do'. So to this touching episode I have written this story.

SONG: (hehe) as always I guess this is my trait…I have placed a lovely song to go with it. The first time I heard this – the story just clicked in my head, the connection to a ranch and horses – not to mention of course the wonderful Bruce Boxleitner and his love for them. So to me this song fits perfectly.

Bryan Adams – `Here I am'     
Borrowing of these lyrics with special thanks.

SUMMARY: As Amanda and Lee prepare to say their vows and join together as man and wife, our handsome spy reflects over the course of events that have finally led to this day. From the very `first time' at a train station in Arlington…a chance meeting that changed his life…for the better.

 

FLASHBACKS: indicated with *

 

PRESENT DAY: are highlighted in bold text.

FEEDBACK: Yes please.

ARCHIVE: in the usual places, Fan Fiction. Net, The Kruchev List, ScarecrowMrsKing, Smkfanfic, any others please ask.

HERE I AM

PART ONE.

`Here I am – this is me…
There's nowhere else on earth I'd rather be!
Here I am – it's just me and you…
Tonight we'll make our dreams come true…'

He stood opposite the mirror fixing his tie making sure it was straight for about the fifteenth time, not quite recognizing the man staring back at him. Lee Stetson had been through tougher situations, spent his life dodging bullets and hiding out from a nest of villains. But today was different – no bullets, no villains KGB or otherwise! No today was the day that had finally arrived…the day where he would slip a gold band on her finger and recites his vow `to love and cherish to death they part'

Today was the day that he and Amanda King would become Mr. And Mrs. Stetson.

The very sound of it made the Goosebumps rise on his skin, and the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end. He had waited for this for what had felt like eternity probably without even realizing it.  To grab an unsuspecting woman in the middle of a busy train station, to plead for help – to save his skin…throwing all caution and sanity in the wind by getting her involved in `his world'.

That had been the beginning of their relationship – well if you could call the last four years running around in top secrecy, dodging death threats from unsavory characters. Handing over secrets for `pillow talk', with a live in mother and two little boys who didn't suspect a thing. He the top government agent, she the all American housewife…

They had both wanted different things at the beginning – `he didn't want another partner, partners only got killed' Amanda King had craved adventure `she wanted some excitement in her mundane, predictable life'

Putting it all together they were like chalk and cheese, night and day, black and white – complete opposites and yet…

Together they where unstoppable – together they where `Scarecrow and Mrs. King'

Well that was all to change in little over half an hour…as he looked at his reflection one more time, slipping on his jacket as he smiled at himself…showing off the devastating smile that had captured her heart. He and Amanda where to begin a journey that both of them had been waiting for.

***

Lee had often reflected on just what had made him scan the crowd on a busy commuter platform, faces of people whizzing past his eyes as he had kept looking back for the `two muscle' had had followed him. What on earth had possessed him to pick her?

Well it was simple, first impressions last right? She had certainly impressed him, the way she was walking – confidence shone out of her, even thought in retrospect she had lousy taste in men…well, that was back then four years ago.

Four years ago he had been carrying a package with a clue as to who or what had been killing off `top agents' gaining inside knowledge to the agency…the agency he and they worked for.

Funny how he now laughed at how silly he looked in a hired waiter suit, a little frazzled around the edges having spent the entire night trying to loose the goons who had shot and killed his colleague Frank Warner before coming after him. Trying to blend into the crowd had been a bad idea – as he looked a little suspect mixing with the morning crowd trying to get to work – looking for the man he was supposed to give the package to.

Amanda King had been there that morning because her `boyfriend' didn't want to take his car, being a weatherman of course he knew it was going to rain! She had driven him to the station and had walked him to his train bound for New York…if by chance that you meet someone that had no connection to you, but that all of a sudden it was meant to be – then this was the day.

He saw her and he knew he had to get her attention…walking quickly with the crowd as she was passing in the other direction – he made his move and took her arm, steering her with him as he did. He realized very quickly that she wasn't going to go without a fight…

"Whoa…excuse me?"

"Just walk with me!"

"I certainly will not!"

"PLEASE, I'm in trouble!"

She turned, causing him to break his hold on her arm, as she started to walk away from him thinking this was some kind of joke, "NO…I've gotta go?"

But Lee was quick and with lightening reflexes he went after her – grabbing her again to try and stop her from moving away, "Wait? Just one more thing…Please?"

"NO!"

Bringing her round to face him trying to get her to understand he didn't have time to argue or reason with her…"I'm in trouble…Please?"

He looked deep into her eyes, a desperate man in a whole lot of trouble, hoping that somehow he would be able to reach her common faith to help her fellow man. It was there that he realized, right there standing in the middle of the platform that even close up she was a very attractive lady with the biggest brown eyes he had ever seen. Even with the disheveled hair and the tan raincoat…and – was that a nightgown she had underneath that coat?

"PLEASE?"

Amanda had closed her eyes feeling an onslaught of emotions bubble to the surface as she tried so hard to hold them down. A total stranger in the middle of a train station in broad daylight had just manhandled her - in a waiter's outfit no less. This stranger with perfect light brown hair and boyish features, with beautiful, beautiful hazel eyes…wanted her help, needed it!

Taking a deep breath, she made her decision against her better judgment… "What is it you want me to do?"

XXX

Those eight simple words, the short but to the point sentence `what is it you want me to do?' had saved his life – well he did get caught by the goons and had them pummel him into the dirt. But in given her the package and putting her on the train where he was supposed to meet agent Guthrie – bought him enough time to still have his life in one piece. But when Guthrie had turned up dead and the package not on him – well as the saying goes it was the `beginning of a beautiful relationship' off course in his mind then… it was nothing but.

Amanda was the fly in his ointment and Billy Melrose `his boss' thought it a wonderful idea after solving the case and putting the ones responsible behind bars – to team them both up as partners. The civilian agent in training with confidential clearance and an ear that liked being bent, was to be his partner?

He didn't laugh at it at the time…there was one thing he learnt very early on was that if there was any possible way Amanda King could get herself in trouble? Well he could've written a book and it become a bestseller.

She had a knack of being in the wrong place at the wrong time, the four years as agency partners he had pulled her out of more dire situations than he had time to count on all fingers and toes. But it was fair to comment that she had equally pulled him out of more near death experiences, mostly because he had gone into rescue her in the first place.

She had been kidnapped, drugged, accidentally knocked on the head `causing amnesia' mistaken as the wrong person. Traded for a Russian, called a truce on Christmas Eve…posed as `his wife' several memorable times, and all with the flair and grace that was totally her own. And he had watched her from `his' safe distance marveling at her quick thinking that had saved both their necks several times over with the grace and tenacity that was totally her own…

`It's a new world – it's a new start,
It's alive with the beating of young hearts…
It's a new day – it's a new plan,
I've been waiting for you…HERE I AM!'

XXX

In the three years that it took for finally Lee to take off the blindfold that had been covering his eyes, and see the woman that had been there for him all along… three years of pent up frustration, watching various men try and catch her attention and not liking how it made him feel, until enough was enough!

***

Following a case that had involved a particularly nasty Russian, Serge Krutiov – code name `The Puppet Master' amongst other choice names, and a poor unsuspecting writer - the infamous Tony Marchand…who fell foul to the Russian's plot for `world domination in the spy satellites' Lee and Amanda had just finished down in the de-briefing room and had returned upstairs to The Q-Bureau. Lee had been troubled for some time about the way their relationship was heading – he knew…well he hoped he knew of his feelings for her, but knew of nothing about her feelings for him,

I guess it was time to pay the piper and find out!!

Lee watched her walk over to where his desk sat, doing what she normally did when she was feeling nervous by rubbing her hands together…they had spent very little time alone since the beginning of this case, and now finally they where with no other agent or `mother and the boys' in sight!

Closing the door behind him he stood just beside it waiting for her to turn around, "Amanda?"

"Yeah?"

He moved towards her slowly, deliberately slowing his steps as he spoke hoping to covey everything that was on his mind without sounding foolish…stalking her with his deep voice and his movements stealthy like a cat.  "You know…you and I have a lot to talk about?"

"Yeah?"

"Yeah! – We have been getting to know each other for what…um?"

Together they both announced, "Three years!"

Lee smiled usually they always seem to say the wrong things at the same time, particularly when it came to going undercover – but matters of the heart, now that was different!  "Yeah! – I think there is a lot about you that I don't know?"

Taking her hands in his, he looked down at them as if discovering for the very first time – how smooth and delicate they felt in his, and how perfected they fitted into his large male ones – well heck they always did!  "But I'm sure going to enjoy finding out!"

Amanda's eyes where as big as saucers, she couldn't believe in all her wildest dreams what she was hearing, Lee was finally telling her what she had been longing to hear – and as Lee leaned towards her, she knew without a shadow of doubt that they where about to kiss. Her heart filled with joy and panic filled her soul…with just one kiss, the relationship they had formed and founded three years ago – would change forever…

XXX

Just as Lee was about to taste Amanda's sweet lips, the door to the stairs banged shut and the voices of Francine and Billy could be heard outside the Bureau asking if he was still in the building. The sudden realization that they where about to be interrupted YET again, caused Lee to take drastic actions…leaving Amanda's side momentarily…

"Ah, ah…no not this time!"

Switching the lock shut so that the door could not be opened, just as Billy tried the handle…ensuring they would be totally alone!

He returned to her smiling as he took her in his arms, linking his hands at her waist…she had always felt right being there, nestled against him…her slight frame molding perfectly with his. Looking deep into the brown depths of her eyes that he had grown to love, each emotion fluttering across the surface.

She slipped her hands up his chest resting them on his shoulders…feeling the strength that was totally Lee. Touching each muscle and sinew like inspecting a valuable piece of art…feeling him trembling as she did, knowing it was she that was making him that way gave her a sense of power – an emotion of strength.

Lee trembled slightly, his heart racing wildly in his ribcage as he stood there like a nervous teenager on his first date – about to kiss for the very first time…and not a piece of gum or breath mint in sight! He shook his head at that thought – crazy as it sounded this was just like a first date – his and Amanda's.

This was a moment that somehow, crazy as it sounded had always seemed destined…somewhere up there someone saw them as the ideal combination – spy and housewife. She smiled back at him almost laughing hysterically as she too was thinking the same crazy thought – too crazy but oh so right!

"Yes!"

She spoke as if given him permission to take the next step…his cue to kiss her and he didn't need a second one – no undercover assignment – no reason to ad lib there way out of an awkward situation, just the two of them…Lee and Amanda.

XXX

He kissed her tenderly at first, and his heart soared – they melded perfectly together and the same strange sensation gripped him like it did a year ago on a sandy tropical island of Saint Angelo, when they where pronounced man and wife.

Lee had lifted the veil to look into her large brown eyes so full of trust and innocence, having been told by the minister to kiss her, he lowered his lips hoping to give her just a peck to keep their cover from being blown. But instead he got swept up in the emotion of the occasion…loosing all sense of time and sanity – it had left him deeply troubled at the feelings that where left behind after he had kissed her, not once but twice. He knew they where both playing their covers and he knew as a professional this sort of scenario was often played out to the hilt – but kissing her soft lips had been like honey, so sweet so pure and he had wanted more.

Lifting his head he gazed into those same large eyes and saw the same look as she had given him back then, and felt the same déjà vu feeling…only this time there was no turning back.

He kissed her again, giving into the tidal wave of passion that was sweeping them along…deepening the kiss holding her tight as she wound her arms around his neck bringing him even closer until she touched his desk. It was more than his wildest dreams to be kissing like this, it was even wilder to be doing it in his very own office, but Lee was never one to go by the rules…and he only hoped that Billy would not insist on getting his attention as it was otherwise engaged!!

Lee knew now more than ever that no matter what was going to happen in their lives - this moment, this feeling was going to last forever…

XXX

He had seen such love and devotion in the eyes of his parents, through the many photographs that he had scattered around his apartment, and the distant memories of a little boy before they died/taken from him at such an early age had left a young Lee deprived of such the basic emotion as that love. His Uncle `the Colonel' had brought him up the best way he knew how – as an army man he traveled extensively from barrack to barrack with `Skip Stetson' on tow dragging his heels behind him.

Lee had become wise in his young years and had seen many sights around the world that only people dreamed of ever seeing – but love?  That was never something mentioned or said…it was a taboo subject – a subject that he never fully understood until he had met and fell in love with Amanda King.

He saw the same love shinning in Amanda's eyes as he saw in his mothers when she looked adoringly up at her own husband - his father. Felt that same depth of feeling his father would have had watching his wife by his side, counting each day as a blessing for bumping into her one late autumn night in London/England…and having many years later their own son doing the exact same – only on a busy platform at the train station in Arlington/Virginia.

`Here we are – we've just begun,
And after all this time, our time has come.
Yeah here we are – still going strong,
Right here in the place where we belong…'

Checking his watch once again…nervously he licked his dry lips, In a few minutes he would be knocking the door to the room next door, and Amanda would be there waiting for him. Waiting to walk the short distance to the office where they would begin the service that in Lee's mind would prove and show Amanda the depth of love he had for her – and her's for him…

Yes he finally admitted to her that he loved her – took him a while guaranteed, he wasn't totally convinced himself until they were put in a situation of being hunted down by their very own Agency with `treason' as their brand mark. He smiled at the way the situation was handled, no candles and flowers – no wine and soft music to be seen anywhere.

Nope Lee did it over the phone at first, and all because of some crackpot Russian with revenge on his mind, revenge on the agent that had put him in prison for nine years. Plenty of time for Alexi Makarov to plot the fall of the `great Scarecrow' and watch as it almost happened, using his own granddaughter as the bait to wheel Lee in – in a sting operation that had the new director of the Agency order a manhunt against Lee with orders to `shoot to kill'.

***

Amanda was caught in the middle of it, where else would she be? – Lee was on the run; the Agency was on full alert, Stemwinder was in a mess…and the evil finger was being pointed at them for treason.  Following a coded phone message from Lee while she was in Billy's office, with agents frantic to trace his call – Amanda's only link to him was through their dear friend and associate T.P. Percival Aquinas.

Lee had a fair idea what was being done to him, and knew that she would follow his instincts and go to `T.P' where he would contact her again through the `briefcase telephone' that `T.P' kept by his side.  Knowing that he didn't have much time before the network would close in on his whereabouts he told Amanda to get home and stay there…use up the agency's man power that had followed her from she had left, but not to loose them – they were her security.

He knew she was worried, he knew that no matter what was going to happen her safety and the safety of her family was his top priority. He could take care of himself he always had - but things where different now…and that was what kept him going. The words `I love you' came out of his mouth so natural – it was if they had always been there, ending the call had been difficult hearing her sharp intake of breath…but he had run out of time.

Amanda had gone home and quickly rounding up her mother and Jamie explained to them the best way she could the mess that had happened, signaling that federal agents would possibly be calling to speak to them about her `friend' in work. Retiring to the safety of her room – to try and collect her thoughts she found and almost scared Lee, who had crept into her house and had been lying on her bed.

Stopping her from opening her blinds keeping the room dark so as not to draw attention, Lee sat up on the bed and Amanda sat down beside him…glad he was okay but knowing it was not safe for him. As she tried to look at the injuries he had on his face, Lee stopped her taking her hands in his as he tried to tell her the words he never wanted to say…

"Amanda I came to say goodbye!"

"What do you mean goodbye?"

He had been trapped, Alexi had turned the `Agency' against him to the point that he couldn't even go to Billy for help, even when Amanda tried to explain that she was tangled up in all of it Lee didn't relent. While he was out there loose he would be able to do something to clear their names – find Alexi before he disappeared himself.

Lee saw in her eyes the devastation and the hurt, he didn't like to see her in so much pain – but he knew it was the only way she would be safe, the only way he would be able to concentrate on what he had to do. Getting up from the bed the both stood facing each other…Lee taking her by the waist, circling it with his arms.

"Now I may be gone for a while…"

"How long?"

"As long as it takes!"

"Oh!"

"Amanda, I meant what I said on the phone…I just want you to know that before I go. I love you…"

"Ooh!"

Tears brimmed her eyes as she fought the emotions threatening to spill, knowing that the last thing Lee needed was to see her cry. But at that moment in time he didn't care as he could feel his own threatening to release.

"I have for a very, very long time…I just wasn't ready to…you know?"

She nodded as she touched his chest feeling his heart beating, knowing that the words he spoke came from there, "I know!"

XXX

The doorbell rang downstairs and Amanda's mother called her letting her know that the federal agents she had spoken about where here. Lee and Amanda both looked at the bedroom door as if expecting it to come crashing in…they where out of time and he had to go,

"Now they're gonna be up here in a minute…"

But Amanda cut him off; she didn't want to hear anymore of his excuses, "Now wait a minute, you can't just walk into my life hand me a package tell me to give it to the man in a red hat tell me you love me and walk out of my life again?"

Lee shook his shoulders lost - whispering softly, "No!"

He didn't know what else to do – except gather her into his arms and kiss her – hoping that it wouldn't be the last time they would do this. She was the most important thing in his life, and that would keep him going – finding comfort in her arms one last time as he reluctantly let her go,

"I'll get word to you…"

"I'm going with you!"

"NO!"

"YES!"

"No!"

"Yes!"

"NO!"

"YES!"

"Forget IT! – I'm going to a place so deep you may loose you name, you're way EVERYTHING! Now Alexi thought he had me today…"

"I know!"

"He won't miss twice…"

"I know!"

He couldn't risk having Amanda out there with him, while trying to track down Alexi, Lee would be using up valuable time and energy and wouldn't be able to baby her out there.

Seeing no sense in arguing which was the strongest one, Amanda cut him off – she was going to watch his tail just as she always did. It wasn't safe for her to be here for her or her family, and she couldn't rightly do anything for them stuck in an agency holding cell.

"And I love you too!"

Lee was lost; no matter what why he looked at it Amanda was right, of course she always was even in dire situations like this with her back against a wall – she was right! Shaking his head in mock defeat smiling as he felt comfort seeping through his bones for the first time in 24hrs.

"Well I guess it's your tail too…!"

They had escaped through Amanda's window, broke the trellis and lead the feds' around by the nose. Using all the resources they managed to keep their cover long enough to convince Billy that they where indeed innocent, bringing to an end Alexi Makarov's revenge on Lee – clear their names and have Dr. Smith appoint Amanda to work with Lee full time in the Q-Bureau.

XXX

Life at the agency had gotten back to normal, but with that the frustration of not seeing enough of each other niggled at Lee no end. He understood that Amanda had family commitments – she always had.  But keeping the romance a secret was difficult to say the least, one sniff of it and they would be forced to work separately, maybe even be transferred out of Washington to somewhere else.

As the relationship before - it was easy to say goodnight at the end of each day and go home…throw in a little romance and you had a different outlook to life `outside the world of espionage and intrigue' changes where going to have to be made…changes that would effect the `forever bachelor' and the `once married twice shy housewife/spy' for better for worse, for richer for poorer…