Authors note: So I think this might become a habit of mine, to rewrite what really should have taken place every episode. Sort of a sequel to "You have me now". Don't worry I haven't forgotten about my other stories I promise. Prompts are still and always welcome.
"I don't even know why I'm here"
They sat in silence, each sipping their drink, never looking at each other. It wasn't an awkward silence, or even an uncomfortable one. Though her face had been streaked with tears when she entered the room Elizabeth refused to cry in front of him. She knew the walls around her heart were slowly breaking. The comfort, the safety, the truth that he gave her had been gradually tearing down her defenses. Never the less she couldn't give him her tears. Not yet she thought, and that she could even make that statement as if there would be a future time she could, still scared her.
The lies that surrounded her life were being ripped apart, revealing truths that she couldn't handle and she felt lost and vulnerable. The only constant she had left was him. She knew nothing of the man sitting next to her on the couch. Sure she had read files and reports, but who exactly was Raymond Reddington? He was a stranger. But now so was her husband. It made her stomach twist in knots to know that if given the pick of trusting these two men she would have to actually think about her decision. Before she would have always chosen Tom, but now…
"Lizzie, I know it's hard. If you face Tom and turn in your own husband then the FBI will no doubt question you more than they already do. And we both know your marriage will never be the same." Reddington had at last broken the silence and she had finally gotten the courage and control on her emotions to look him in the eye. It surprised her, the softness in his eyes. He never looked at anyone else that way; it was reserved for only her.
She placed her long forgotten drink on the table and cleared her throat, scooting slightly more towards him as she got comfortable and simply attempted to relax on the furniture. Her fidgeting gave her a minute to think of her response, and she could feel that his eyes never left her as she re-positioned herself.
"Regardless...I know I have to talk to him...and then depending on the answers I receive...I will be calling Cooper." She barely got the words out as tears threatened to appear once again.
Suddenly, as if sensing her distress, Reddingtons hand was on hers; he gave a small squeeze in reassures and began to retreat just as quickly. However she found herself not being able to handle the empty feeling she knew would come back when he released her hand; she instantly latched to his hand and entwined their fingers. Despite everything she was still married, but she hadn't received honest affection in so long, and the straightforward gesture made her priorities cave. Her heart seemed to be clinging on one simple fact: That throughout all of this and even after it was over, Reddington would still be by her side.
A glance at his face showed Elizabeth the slightly surprised look that adorned his face before he slipped back on his neutral expression.
"It will get easier Lizzie. I know now it seems like your losing everything, your life, and the people who care about you. You feel like Tom was all you had."
As she listened to his words she realized he was wrong though. Even if her job went south and they no longer trusted her when they found out she was hiding the suspicions about her husband for so long, even if she uncovered more horrors about her husband and lost him forever, and even if she never had the chance to be the mother to a child she wanted so dearly, that wasn't all she had. Finally giving into the pressure of unshed emotions the dam finally broke.
Looking into his eyes as the tears fell from hers she said softly. "I have you."