AN: It has taken me years to put a story in public view. I am finally taking that leap so that I can mark one more item off of my bucket list. Please note that I find Liz and Red to be two of the most fascinating characters I have ever had the pleasure of viewing on the small screen. I'm most definitely not profiting from this story except to air my view of these two unique personalities.

Chapter 1 Awakening Reality

The real voyage of discovery comes not in seeking new landscapes,

but in having new eyes. Marcel Proust

The private jet sat on the secluded runway in the middle of the overgrown, weed infested pasture. A fuel truck was just pulling away from the nondescript plane as Dembe angled the black luxury sedan as close as possible to the temporary stairs that rose to the door of the aircraft. Red exited the backseat of the car, placed his ever present fedora on his head and then offered his hand to Liz who had a large leather drawstring bag looped over her arm. Liz extended her shapely right leg out of the car then placed her ankle boot clad foot on the runway as she turned in the seat to carefully place her other foot on the level surface.

Red, never one to willingly miss the opportunity to observe a beautiful woman, especially Lizzie, stood in admiration as Liz rose to her full height and said, "Reddington, couldn't you have found a runway that is not covered in weeds and most likely not used by drug runners?"

Red grinned as he retorted, "My dear, we shall be lucky if we get airborne before we hit a steaming pile of cow patties and slide off the end of this god forsaken airstrip."

Liz chuckled to herself. "Thanks for planting that sensory bomb in my mind! Good thing the scent of the clover will disguise the smell."

Dembe had just opened the trunk of the car as a second vehicle pulled abreast of the black sedan, out rolled three burly men whom Liz recognized as three of the crew who had helped her search for Red following the Garrick debacle. She paused to greet Richard and the other two men when her mouth suddenly dropped open as yet another person climbed from the SUV.

"Aram! What a surprise! What are you doing here?"

Just as Aram was about to explain, Red interrupted with his deep commanding voice, "That can wait. We need to get everything loaded in the cargo hold and get in the air before the next thunderstorm arrives."

The private jet could easily handle the long range transatlantic flight. Red had explained it was necessary to travel undetected by the adversary; therefore he had rented the larger jet, filed the flight plan under an assumed name and would depart from this privately owned airstrip in order to confuse any surveillance they might encounter. It was Red's hope that he and Liz could leave the country and return before anyone would notice they had been away.

The area around the aircraft suddenly began to buzz with activity. The items that were to be placed in the belly of the plane were unloaded; the vehicles were driven to an abandoned, ramshackle barn and parked inside while the pilots were performing their preflight check of the aircraft. As the turbines of the jet engines began to whine, Liz ascended the stairs, followed by Red, then Aram. The sound of the cargo hold being secured could be heard; soon Dembe and the rest of the security team boarded the plane with their carryon items. The driver of the flight service truck stopped to remove the flight of stairs that had been placed at the entrance of the jet and to remove the chocks that had been wedged before the wheels. When all was complete it was time to depart.

The sound of the plane's door being secured assailed Lizzie's ears. The giant raised its head as the thought hit—everyone in this metal tube is a captive here. Is it too late for me to bail? I'm just along for the ride. I feel like a third wheel, superfluous.

Liz immediately sat down on one end of the supple leather divan as Red stopped to enter the cockpit where he could discuss flight plans with the pilots. Aram occupied the bench across the aisle from Liz while the security detail continued to move to the rear of the cabin. After the carryon bags were safely stowed away for takeoff, Red reentered the cabin of the plane staking claim to the other end of the long divan that Liz was perched on.

Liz looked up at Red with irritation gleaming in her eyes as she flashed him a questioning smirk. "Do you think this seat is big enough to tame two huge egos?"

"Only if you're willing to deflate yours a little bit, sweetheart," Red exclaimed as he flipped his fedora onto the table at the end of the leather bench. Touche! Aram looked over at Liz and flashed a smile as if to say, "You asked for it."

The pilot asked everyone to buckle their seatbelts when the loud, insistent, throbbing whine produced by the jet engines invaded the aircraft cabin signaling the imminent takeoff. Red glanced over at Liz and noticed that she had begun to tense up in anticipation of the bumpy ride down the runway. As she began to absentmindedly rub the scar on her hand, he reached over and entwined his fingers with her left hand while the plane galloped down the runway and hurdled into the sky. Then as the airborne vessel struggled to gain altitude, the pilot banked the plane to the right and flew out over the rural area below just as the sun began to set beneath the gray clouds on the horizon.

Red quipped, "Well, I guess those cow patties can't stop a moving behemoth after all. It's time to relax and enjoy the flight." Liz just closed her eyes and shook her head.

While the plane continued to climb to its cruising altitude, she once again asked Aram why he was going on this trip. He timidly replied, "Mr. Reddington asked me to go as his assistant. I will help him with financial transfers and provide technical assistance as needed. I guess I'm temporarily filling Luli's position until someone more qualified can be vetted." Liz knew that Red had overheard Aram's explanation and waited for him to add something to the conversation, but Red just cast his eyes down as if he were indeed studying his paperwork and said nothing.

Liz thought about Aram and wondered why he would take such a risky job. Red must have something on Aram that he didn't want to become common knowledge. She knew that the FBI task force was enduring a temporary slowdown putting its members in limbo. She also realized that Red had been marshalling his forces before he entered the fray with his adversary, whether that adversary was Berlin or some other unknown person. He had already courted the favor of Harold Cooper when he saved him from electrocution and he snared Don Ressler's loyalty when he saved his life with a blood transfusion from Red's own body. Of course, Red had gained the loyalty of Dembe, Mr. Kaplan and the group of mercenaries long ago. Liz was certain that Raymond 'Red' Reddington had many persons who owed him their allegiance. She was also equally certain Red Reddington was engaged in gathering and testing the loyalty of his troops.

Red had been very preoccupied on the way to the airstrip and seemed to be unusually restless. He was now fully engaged in completing his detailed plans for the upcoming business meeting. Once the jet had reached cruising altitude, Dembe handed Red a tumbler of scotch and a briefcase full of files.

He soon reached over and gave a large file to Aram. "It's time to familiarize yourself with the information in this file young man. The success of our trip may depend on it." Aram began to look a little disconcerted so Liz glanced over and gave him a reassuring smile.

Even though Liz and Red were at a very precarious point in their relationship they had agreed to continue working together as partners, however, lately the nomadic lifestyle they had been leading was beginning to wear thin. Liz had been struggling to restructure her life following the realization that her marriage to Tom was built on lies. She also continued to struggle with her entrenched anger towards Red and the devastating knowledge that she had shot her own husband figuratively putting his blood on her hands. Without doubt the most disturbing issue she was trying to come to grips with was the dawning awareness that she needed and depended on the criminal, Red Reddington. He had become her protector, her mentor, her confidant, her anchor. Could she continue to trust him or would he also use and abandon her?

Liz was feeling dejected and disrespected by now. Red certainly was NOT treating her as an equal partner. Once again he had taken away her choices. She had not been included in the planning, details or assignments of this business trip. He had not yet even told her where they were going; he had simply informed her that she needed to pack a swimsuit and a little black dress. She was TIRED of being given only a smidgen of the truth. Liz understood the reason he wanted her near; after all, how could he personally protect her if she was not with him? Following the encounter with Berlin no one was sure who the enemy was; Red was keeping Liz closer than he normally would. She felt she deserved to be in the know, viewed as an equal partner.

Damn it! If she was not to be included in the business details, it suddenly became important for Liz to know exactly where they were going. She removed her boots, tucked one leg up under herself, called Red's name and reached out to tap him on his arm. Red ignored the first tap so Liz called his name again a little louder; she tapped again using a little more force. This time he glanced over at her with a frustrated look in his eye. He let out an exasperated sigh, grabbed her foot and shockingly… began to tickle.

It took a moment for the surprise to register…tickle; he had never done anything like that! She gulped for air and then she replied with a muffled guffaw. Soon she let out a louder shriek as he continued to tickle her mercilessly. "Red… Stop! Red, please stop! Red…" Now she was gasping for air. By this time everyone on the plane had stopped to stare at them. Liz had almost fallen out of her seat trying to free her foot from this ogre. While tears of anger glinted in her eyes, Red finally relented, allowing her to come up for air.

He spoke in an irate voice, "Lizzie, do you want to try that again? You demanded my undivided attention so I gave it to you. Can't you see that I'm busy?" He continued, "It's not always all about you!"

His words felt like a harsh slap in the face. Tom had once said that same thing to her. How could he possibly think she thought this was all about her? In her eyes none of it was about her. She had become the invisible partner.

She drew in another gulp of air, paused to couch her words; with a shaking voice but firm resolve replied, "No fair Red. You know I'm ticklish. That was NOT the kind of attention I wanted. Can't you show me a little more respect; include me in your plans?"

"When you can show me respect I will do the same for you." He looked at her with anger snapping in his eyes. "Do NOT poke me with your finger again."

She paused, glanced at him with tears still brimming in her eyes, willing them not to fall and continued in a wavering voice, "I simply wanted to get your attention and ask you a question."

"Oh you, of the thousand questions; what did you want to ask me?"

"I shouldn't have touched you; I really didn't mean to poke you. I just wanted to know where we're going. Where will we be by this time tomorrow?" One lone tear escaped and ran down her cheek.

Realization dawned. He had hurt her; he had overreacted and flung some pretty harsh words at her. He reached over to put his hand on her knee. The irritation left his voice as he said, "Sweetheart, I'm sorry. The behemoth in me spoke harshly. We're headed to Tuscany and the beautiful Renaissance city of Firenze. I hope you will enjoy the culture and the beauty you will find there. There's a peace beyond understanding that you will find among the rolling landscapes and the old beloved masterworks of art."

Lizzie's eyes still flashed with residual anger, but her face began to brighten somewhat as a shy gentle hint of a smile spread cautiously across her face like a bud opening to reveal its immature beauty. She wiped the remnants of the tears from her cheeks. Soon her eyebrows knit together, as she began to imagine what this trip could hold in store. Yes, she knew this was to be a business trip, but she was sure they would have some time for a little sightseeing; after all, Florence seemed to be one of Red's favorite places.

Quickly Liz bent over and picked up her leather bag. She pulled out a copy of Dan Brown's mystery thriller, Inferno. Liz had begun reading the story two weeks ago and knew part of the novel's setting was in Florence. Covering herself with the blanket she found on the shelf beside her seat and placing her head on a small pillow, she suddenly immersed herself in the pages of the book hoping that she could learn more about the medieval city that Red had often spoken of.

Red stopped to gaze at Lizzie as she anxiously began to read. The excitement she was now feeling did not escape his notice as she lost herself amid the words on the page. He only wished that he too could be filled with the same excitement.

"Lizzie, that book you're reading can never do justice to reality. It will never be the same as actually experiencing the culture and art that is Firenze. You're about to partake of a sensual feast."

Liz looked up at Red with her big blue eyes full of expectation. He hoped that he would have some time to introduce Lizzie to the thrill of Florence. As Red returned to his files, Liz was suddenly jolted by a thought that struck like a bolt of lightning…

Florence was the same city where Madeline Pratt was waiting!