Following the Dream

Summary: Elizabeth harbors a secret that she can't keep anymore. Lizzington.

Authors Note: I know I have a few Blacklist stories that are in the works but this one has been plaquing me for awhile so thought I would just go ahead and post it.

Disclaimer: I do not own the Blacklist or it's characters.

Chapter 1~ The Secret

"I have the same dream every night." She started, sitting uncomfortably on the couch. Her voice comes out more like a whisper, remembering every detail. "We live on the coast, the ocean is in our backyard. The sun is always shining. I can feel the warmth on my face. I feel happy and content. Agnes is running down the trail toward a man. 'Daddy, watch me!' she says and he turns around. There is this smile on his face. I've never seen him so happy."

The woman across from her sits still. Glasses resting on her nose, she watches her client intently. Elizabeth had been to see her before but it had been many months and she could tell the young woman was still a little disturbed.

"It is realatively normal to dream about the future. You miss your husband, you dream of a time you and him can be a happy family and raising your daughter." For a moment there was no sound as Elizabeth looked down at her hands. Finally a sigh escaped her.

"It's not Tom." The memory of her dream comes to mind. He's standing there, arms stretched wide when Agnes jumps into them. Loose tan pants and a button down shirt makes him look relaxed, no hat, no vest, not even shoes. She walked up to them and he puts his free arm around her waist.

"Do you know who the man in your dream is?"

Elizabeth hears her but doesn't respond. She closes her eyes and recounts the rest of the dream.

"He holds us both close. It's so real. I can feel his touch, smell the salt water, hear the waves. Then he kisses me." A small laugh escapes her. "I can feel it. Then I open my eyes, and it's my bedroom. I wake up. Every time."

The psychiatrist tries again. "Who is the man in your dreams?"

She opens her eyes, tears threatening at the corners. "It's Raymond Reddington."

More silence as the doctor writes on her notepad.

"This is the man who you were on the run with a couple years ago. Have you ever had any kind of sexual relationship with him that might make your mind create the scenario that he is your daughters father?"

Elizabeth's palms started to sweat. Could she trust the woman across from her? Trust her with the secret she never told anyone before? No one knows but her, honestly, Elizabeth refused to believe it after awhile.

"Yes."

The word was barely audible. After that night on the ship Elizabeth and Red went about their lives as if nothing had happened between them. Sometimes she wondered if perhaps it didn't happen and it was all a dream. He never made a comment about it, no innuendo, no hints toward it at all. He barely even touched her at all. Then she was nervous. She met with Tom and tried to recreate the feeling. Instead, she ended up pregnant.

"Could Agnes possibly be this other man's daughter?"

"I know she is. She has to be." She said and started to cry. It was the relief of finally telling someone. A weight was lifted and Elizabeth felt like she could breathe again.


"Ah, there you are Tom."

He looked up from his notes to the thin man who tries to make life hell. "What do you want Matias?"

"There have been some rumors lately and, I must ask you. What is with Reddington and the lovely Elizabeth? A couple of the guys and I have been taking bets and I hate to lose."

"What do you mean what is with them? Nothing. I don't know honestly. He hired me years ago to watch her and of course one thing lead to another and we were married. Then he tried breaking us up. For awhile she thought he was her father, obviously he's not. I've known that from the beginning but I think she believed that."

"So, maybe they are a little closer then you think? Maybe all this time you have been gone and when they were on the run; I must say that day in the hanger I thought I was going to finally get him. My intention was to never hurt her. I just wanted him. When you find a mans weakness, you go for the jugular."

Tom leaned forward.

"If you are trying to tell me that he is in love with her you're out of your mind. He doesn't love anyone."

"Are you so sure. You're daughter was conceived not long after they were running from the FBI was she not?" He shrugged when Tom started staring at him. "Just a curious thought. Emotions run high when you are in danger. You look for comfort wherever you can find it. At the end of the day, they are just a man and a woman."

With that he left Tom to his thoughts. He tried to ignore the rage and fear growing in his chest. Picking up his phone he dialed a familiar number.


"This is Aram."

"Aram, hey it's Tom."

"Tom, wow this is a surprise, what can I do for you?"

"It's kind of important. I have a man here who is doing some tests on me and I need a blood relative to help finish the tests. No blood or anything, I just need a DNA test on Agnes. Just confirming she is blood and then I need you to send me a hair sample or cheek cells, whatever. Can you do that for me?"

"Yeah, no problem. I will just give Liz a call and have her bring Agnes."

"No! No, Aram, she would never agree to something like that. You know how she is, so bull headed. Just do it whenever you can okay, no rush."

"Okay, sure Tom. I will call you when I have the results."

"Thanks Aram, you're a real pal."

After the agent hung up the phone he started back to his work, putting the test in the back of his mind.