"Shit."

Liz clamped her eyes shut after the blinding sun woke her from her restless sleep. Her throat felt scratchy and her head was pounding. She reached across to her nightstand in search of a glass of water, but instead, in her drowsiness she knocked the glass soaking the contents on her nightstand and smashing it on the floor. A great start to the day. She rolled out of bed and stomped her way over to her bathroom but when she looked into the mirror, her day got worse. The dark circles under her eyes had never been more pronounced, her hair was in disarray and last night's make up was caked on her face.

"Jesus." She washed her face vigorously and jumped into the shower. She emerged fifteen minutes later refreshed and after wrapping herself in the hotel's luxurious bath towel made her way back into her bedroom. The evidence of an apparently raucous night was overwhelming; vodka bottles, beer bottles, smashed glasses, glasses intact and her bed sheets were twisted and turned proving the restlessness brought on by excessive alcohol. Scrunching her damp hair with a towel, she began to tidy; starting with the empty bottles which she collected and piled into a trash can ensuring that her nose was as far away from any odour threatening to ignite an emission of last night's pick-me-up's. She threw her clothes into a laundry bag and wiped down the sticky surfaces and water rings hoping that the hotel would not charge for the extra cleaning costs. Then she made her way to her bed after covering herself in the hotel's complimentary bathrobe. She reached for the jumbled sheet, shook it and attempted to lay it back over her mattress; however, the appearance of a peculiar object stopped her in her tracks- a bow tie fell from the depths of her bedding. She picked it up in curiosity but before she could ponder its owner the deafening tone of her mobile implying a text message erupted.

"Good Morning Lizzie. I hope the affects of last night are not too dismal for you today. Orange soda and two aspirin should do the trick- Raymond"

"Ws I rlly bad?-Keen"

"Please don't abbreviate text language; you know how I cannot stand that.-Raymond."

"Hw did I get hme lst nite?" she replied ignoring his request. When she received no reply, she gave in and decided to spell it out properly.

"What exactly happened?-Lizzie."

*The Night Before*

"And then we did the cha cha until dawn. "

Laughter erupted at the conclusion of Red's story, and even Liz felt a slight titter release from her lips. The usual suspects were all gathered around the finest table Liz had ever eaten at, the ballroom surrounding them was empty yet ornate; the band was playing music that was atmospheric and lively and the food was exquisite. A true Reddington affair.

His birthday was always an occasion to be celebrated he had told her when she received the invite the week before, he explained that from one year to the next he never knew if he would reach his birthday without being either incarcerated or dead. She had to admire his tenacity.

"And how ironic, that for the past twenty five years I've eluded any run ins with the FBI and now here they are, making up 90% of the guest list. Life is a fickle mistress, isn't she?"

Liz assumed that it was a rhetorical question as he followed up by simply leaving her office; she looked at Ressler who also held an invite- "We HAVE to go."

And a week later there they were, sat in a ballroom, sipping Moet and dressed to the nines. Red was as expected at the head of the table, to his right sat Dembe and to his left sat Lizzie. They got through each course very civilised but once desert was finished, the drinks began to really flow.

"How was the fish?" Red leaned over and asked quietly.

"Delicious, everything was divine."

"Yes, the chef was flown in from the palace in Uruguay." Red said as if that offered Lizzie an explanation.

Ressler eyed the whisperings between his co-worker and the fugitive and couldn't help but feel a stab of resentment. He had spent his entire life fighting off the bad guys, abiding by the law and upholding the morals that made America the country that he loved and here he was rubbing elbows with a walking contradiction.

"Jealous?" he heard from the side of him.

He was pulled from his thoughts to a smirking Samar.

"What?"

"You can stop staring at her whenever you're ready."

"I wasn't staring."

"Mmhmm."

"Ladies and Gentlemen, the cocktail bar is now open and the entertainment will begin momentarily."

At this announcement from the waiter a full complement of staff appeared from the shadows and cleared the table. All of the guests were ushered into a boudoir style bar, burlesque dancers filled the stage while scantily dressed waitresses handed out the drinks.

Liz walked into the scene and pondered at the extravagance, she shouldn't really have been surprised- since meeting Raymond Reddington she had been introduced into a world where no expense was ever spared, why be frugal when you didn't know what was waiting for you around the corner? Caution was not a practice frequently employed in this circle of people.

"Doesn't do things by halves, does he?" Ressler commented as he handed her a tumbler filled with an amber liquid.

"Never."

He was affected by her tone of wonder towards the criminal but was interrupted by Aram's appearance.

"This is amazing! I feel like I'm in a Baz Luhrmann movie! Have you seen the ice sculpture?"

"Funny story Aram," Red had appeared behind him and took him by the shoulder to share his tale of the ice sculpture. Lizzie always thought it funny when Red paid attention to him, it was like seeing a child meeting Santa Clause for the first time.

She wandered into the party slowly taking in her surroundings, more guests seemed to be arriving and it turned into a real celebration. She felt the effects of the drinks and began to loosen up. She took a seat at the bar and Dembe approached her.

"Evening Miss Keen."

"Please Dembe, call me Liz."

"Liz- can I get you a drink?"

"Isn't it an open bar?"

He chuckled as he signalled for the barman and two cocktails appeared before them.

"He's very happy you came tonight."

"Of course, why wouldn't I?"

"Well, the nature of your relationship sort of...blurs the lines. It is the only time I have seen him mix business with pleasure."

"Really?" she thought back to the many women Red had worked with, some she was convinced he was on intimate terms with. "Why me then?"

All Dembe could do was shrug. He had no idea.

"Lizzie, would you care to dance?" Reddington had suddenly appeared and took her into his arms and began to lead the way. Liz wasn't a skilled dancer so she just followed his steps.

"I hope that you are enjoying yourself" he asked once they had settled into a comfortable silence.

"I am, it's a beautiful party."

"Yes, well. The finer things in life should always be enjoyed, one never knows when it all could be taken away." He looked deep into her eyes and held her gaze. His unblinking stare caught her off guard and her breath hitched in her throat. It must be the champagne, she thought.

"Any news about The General? Ressler says he has a lead on a new location-"

"No shop talk tonight Lizzie." He said as he took her by the hand, casually grabbed a bottle of champagne from a nearby ice bucket and led her out of the room.

"Where are we going?" she couldn't resist asking.

They walked up a flight of stairs and came out onto the building's rooftop, there were lanterns to light the way and they were treated to a view of the city's skyline.

"A place for the more...exclusive guests." He announced as he popped the cork.

"But I'm the only one here."

"Exactly." He poured out the drink and they clinked glasses, "to us...and the finer things" he proposed and to his surprise she did not protest. They sipped their bubbles and a comfortable silence fell upon them as they pondered the taste.

"What are you after Reddington?" she couldn't stop herself.

"Can't you just enjoy the moment Lizzie? Always so suspicious- You need to relax and take it all in."

"But-"

"There is a brilliant Autogenics technique I employ when it all gets too much-"

"Red I-"

"I was taught by a very skilled practitioner-"

"Red-"

"I'll arrange for you to meet, she did me a world of good-"

"Raymond!"

He was finally silenced and forced to face her question.

"Honestly Lizzie?"

"Yes."

"You. I want you. Just you."

A moment of surprised was shared between them and Liz felt an unexplainable desire to be near him, she looked into his face and couldn't help but feel a wave of admiration wash over her body.

"Just me?" She whispered in question as their bodies magnetised together, their breathing grew heavier and eyes widened with lust.

"Lizzie" Red exhaled as their lips neared-

"Keen!" Their attention was diverted when a dishevelled Ressler appeared at the door. "Whareyodoing?!"