AN: So I have marriage on my mind because my brother got married today, and as a result, my muse was begging me to write this..so here I am again with a new fic. This will also fulfill the tumblr prompt: Red sees Liz's thigh.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything related to the Blacklist.
Set any time after Tom is out of the picture.
OOOOO
"Liz, come on, you have to come! Can't you just tell your boss you have to go out of town for the weekend or something?" Liz's best friend, Jennifer Iverson said over the phone, her voice sounding tinny.
Liz stood up from her chair in her office to close the door, sticking her phone in-between her cheek and her shoulder as she walked, then sighed, "Jen, you know I can't just leave at a moment's notice. I know I promised you months ago that I would come, but a lot of things have happened since then. There isn't any way my boss would let me just leave; we're in the middle of a case." She sat back down in her chair heavily, feeling guilty for reneging on her promise. She had planned on asking Cooper for this weekend off, but completely forgot about it until now.
"I get that you have a hard ass boss, but this is really important to me Liz. Joe and I have been engaged for so long that I didn't think we'd ever get married, and now that we're actually going through with it, you can't even come. You're my maid of honor, what am I supposed to do?" Her voice was near hysterical.
Liz picked up a pen and toyed with it with her fingers, "I'm sorry, Jen, but I really don't know what to tell you. I just hope you can forgive me."
"You're my best friend, of course I can forgive you, but I'm still really upset. Remember when we were little girls and we promised to be at each others weddings? Well that's obviously not going to happen now." She sounded even more upset than before.
Liz threw the pen down on the desk and let out an exasperated breath, "Oh, come on Jen, that's not fair. I would come if I could."
"Yeah, well it doesn't feel like you're trying very hard. Look, we'll talk later, I have to go. Bye."
"Wait, Jen-" She was cut off by the "end call" beep on her cell.
Liz set the phone down on her desk and closed her eyes. She wished that she could go more than anything, but they were in the middle of another blacklist case, and there wasn't a chance that Cooper would let her go, even if it was just for a couple of days.
This was one of those times she felt like cursing Raymond Reddington for ever entering her life.
She leaned forward and put her head in her hands. She felt like crying. It wasn't fair that she was always stuck at work at the beck and call of Red and Cooper. She hadn't had a real day off in months and was exhausted. She'd been divorced for over a year now and she still wasn't used to sleeping alone, and as a result she never did get a good night's sleep; it was beginning to take its toll.
Her office door opened, but she didn't bother to look up; it was probably Ressler or Meera.
"Agent Keen, are you in the habit of sleeping when you're supposed to be working?" It was Cooper. Shit.
Liz shot up and smoothed her hair and clothes quickly, "I wasn't asleep, Sir, just thinking."
He walked in further and stood by Ressler's desk, "Well, you're going to be able to go home and sleep all you want now."
Liz narrowed her eyebrows, "Sir?"
"We caught our blacklister. He happened to walk right into a trap we set, and was easily caught soon after. That's the reason he was so low on Reddington's list; he's an idiot."
Liz gave him a tight smile, "In that case, Sir, I have a favor to ask."
Cooper raised his eyebrows in question, so she continued, "My best friend's getting married in North Carolina tomorrow and I'm supposed to be her maid of honor. Can I take Saturday and Sunday off and go?"
Cooper shrugged his shoulders, "As long as Reddington doesn't bring us another blacklister, I don't see a problem with it." He turned and began walking out of her office, then said over his shoulder, "Have fun, Keen."
"Thank you, Sir, see you Monday." The only sign that he'd heard her was a slight tilt of his head towards her as he walked out of her office and shut the door.
Liz smiled, she couldn't believe her luck. Now she had to call Jen back and hope that she answered her phone.
"Liz, I told you I don't have time to talk." She was definitely still upset.
"So guess who just got the entire weekend off and can come to your wedding now?"
Jen laughed, "Seriously? I thought you were in the middle of a case and couldn't get off?"
"Something unexpected happened, and now I'm free. Do you still want me to be your maid of honor?" Liz began putting things away in her drawers, attempting to tidy up her desk before she left.
"I'm so glad I don't have to find anyone else. You've always been the only one I ever wanted to be my maid of honor."
Liz smiled, "Well I'm glad I can come. I plan on driving down, so I should get there late tonight or early tomorrow morning. The wedding's at 11:00 right?" Finished with her desk, she stood up and began shrugging her red overcoat on.
"Yes, it's at 11:00. You still have the dress I sent you, right? Did it fit?"
Liz began walking out of her office, "It fit perfectly, everything is going to be perfect tomorrow." She locked her door, then waved at Aram as she made her way to the elevator.
Jen sighed happily, "I hope so." She paused, then continued, "Oh, who's going to be your plus one?"
Liz walked in the elevator and pushed the button for the parking garage, not seeing Red standing against the side. That was the worst thing about going to weddings without a significant other. People always asked what was going on in her dating life, or asked if they could set her up; it was awkward, and frankly it made it a lot less fun for her.
She glanced to her right and saw Red leaning against the side of the elevator in his gray suit with his arms crossed, and a smirk on his face. His amber-colored sunglasses and gray fedora were in place, but she could still read his expression just fine. "Just a second, Jen."
She pulled her phone down and whispered, "What are you doing here?"
He pushed away from the side of the elevator and stepped closer to her, "I came to see if I could take you out to dinner, Lizzy, to celebrate yet another blacklist capture." He pulled his sunglasses off and looked at her closely, "But obviously you're busy."
Liz bit her lip, thinking about asking him to do something that she wasn't entirely sure she wanted him to do. Their relationship was a bit complicated, and she didn't really know where she stood with him most of the time. They often went out to dinner and spent a lot of their downtime together, but nothing ever happened beyond that; they hadn't even kissed. She hated the constant mind games, and was close to giving up hope that something would ever happen between them.
She was desperate though, she really didn't want to be set up with Jen's crazy uncle's cousin or nephew. She could hear Jen talking over the phone, "Hello? Liz?"
Liz gave Red a small smile, then put her phone back to her ear, "Hey Jen, I'll call you back."
She heard Jen say a faint "Ok", before she ended the call and pushed the "STOP" button in the elevator, then turned back to Red.
He had his eyebrows raised and his head tilted slightly in question, "What is it, Lizzy?"
Liz winced and looked everywhere but at him, "Look Red, I have a huge favor to ask, and I'll understand if you don't want to do it."
He stepped closer, their bodies inches apart, "Come out with it sweetheart, I don't have all day."
She rolled her eyes but didn't step back, and said quickly, "Ineedyoutopretendtobemyfianceatmyfriendsweddingtomorrow."
He laughed out loud, his laugh warm and deep, "I'm sorry, I'm terribly hard of hearing and didn't understand a word you said." She knew damn well that he'd heard and understood her, but she repeated it anyway, slower this time, "I need you to pretend to be my fiancé at my friend's wedding tomorrow."
He moved away and scratched his head with his free hand, not looking at her as he said, "Whatever for?"
"I'm the maid of honor at my best friend's wedding tomorrow, which by the way I didn't think I was going to be able to go to until just recently, and I don't want people trying to set me up on blind dates, or asking me why I'm single. It would just be easier to bring my "fiancé" so people won't bother me."
Red bit his lip, looking like he was actually considering her request. She didn't say anything as he remained silent for a few more moments.
Before she could process what he was doing, he moved towards her quickly and pushed her body against the side of the elevator. His mouth was on her neck in seconds, leaving hot, open-mouthed kisses as he worked his way up to her ear, then whispered, "If you want me to pretend to be engaged to you, you'll have to be convincing. Do you think you can accomplish that?" He began kissing the shell of her ear before moving his fingers along her collarbone and his mouth down her jaw. She was so lost in the sensation of his mouth on her skin, that she didn't even think to protest. All she could do was nod and whisper a weak, "Yes, I do."
He leaned back and looked at her, their mouths inches apart, his eyes serious, "Then prove it. I don't think you can play the part, because no offense, you're not a very good actress."
Liz shook her head to clear it, then shoved him back, "I don't have to prove anything, Red. If you agree to come, then I'll make sure and play my part. All I ask is that you play yours."
He smirked again, "Oh, Lizzy, that won't be a problem at all." He tilted his head again, then said, "I would love to come with you to the wedding. I didn't have much planned this weekend besides acupuncture, and that can wait."
She shook her head, not even going there with the acupuncture comment, but gave him faint smile, "I really do appreciate it. You'll be saving me from a lot of embarrassing and awkward moments over the next few days."
He slid his sunglasses back on and turned towards the front of the elevator, "Do push the resume button, Lizzy, I'm sure there are people wondering what's going on."
She reached out and slapped the button, not even annoyed with his deflection for once.
The elevator stopped at the parking garage and Liz hurried out, not waiting to see if he would follow. Of course he did, and as soon as she reached her silver Mercedes, she turned to him and said, "I plan on leaving in the next hour or so. It's about a four hour d-"
He cut her off, "Lizzy, we can take my jet, it would far more faster and less expensive for you."
She wanted to drive, it helped to calm her nerves and to focus her mind. "No, I want to drive. You know..it wouldn't kill you if you drove instead of flew."
He moved his mouth as if to say something, then closed it and pursed his lips, "Dembe and I will be-"
Liz cut him off this time, "No Dembe, just you and me. As much as I love the man, a bodyguard at a wedding would look out of place." She saw him open his mouth to argue, but she continued before he could, "Of course he can still come with us to North Carolina, but he has to get there on his own and be discreet."
He clenched his jaw, "Very well." He turned away, obviously annoyed with her, then said over his shoulder, "I'll be at your house in an hour, Lizzy, do try to be ready on time." Then he slid into the backseat of his black Mercedes and shut the door without another word.
She rolled her eyes and slid into her own car. He was going to test her limits this weekend, and she had to be at the top of her game.
She pulled out her phone and called Jen back, "Hey Liz, so what's going on?"
Liz winced, she had to lie to Jen about Red, but she didn't see any other way around it, "I'm bringing my fiancé to the wedding as my plus one. I just thought I would let you know." She braced herself for Jen's response.
"WHAT? You're engaged and you haven't even told me yet?!"
"It's...recent. I was planning on surprising you at the wedding. I'm sorry about not telling you sooner."
Jen laughed, "Don't apologize, I'm happy that you finally found someone. So tell me about him."
Liz smiled, "I'll tell you all about him tomorrow, I'm almost home now and need to pack."
Jen sighed dramatically, "Fineeee..I'll see you later tonight. I can't wait to meet this man of yours!"
They disconnected as Liz parked in front of her house. Things just became ten times more complicated, but in her mind, it was worth every potential complication.
AN: So is this something you guys want to see more of? Red and Liz pretending to be engaged at a wedding..*rubs hands together in hopeful anticipation* Please let me know if you want me to continue, and let me know what you think of this chapter. Feedback is important. Thanks for reading and have a great day. :)