Thank you to the amazing Meaghan Stewart for being the best beta, sounding board, friend a girl could ask for. I cannot thank you for the endless facebook chats and for being an all-around kickass friend

~*~ TBL ~*~

She waits, not so patiently for the ringing to stop. Would he answer her call? Would he completely ignore her? It had been years since they had seen each other, but she knew he kept this one number for her. In case she needed anything, or needed to run. She remembered the night perfectly; the night she had almost gotten them both killed, and the week that had followed… the week that changed both of their lives.

~*~ 6 Years Previous ~*~

They had been on the run from the Cabal and from Ressler and the FBI. She had one job, to remember her new alias. It hadn't turned out so well. They had to go to a party where Red had a contact waiting; hopefully someone who could help them out of their situation. She hadn't meant to not answer to her new name. Being constantly on the run, however, the names all seemed to blend together. Red's contact had recognized her and knew there was a hefty reward on her head. So he had called in reinforcements which made her and Red have to leave the party in a rush.

She had broken down once they got back to their hotel room, Red fuming in silent fury. Once he had taken a few moments to calm down he turned to look at her and his face and eyes softened at the look of anguish on her face.

"I can't do this anymore," she cried, dropping her face into her hands and letting out a sob. Red takes a few moments before walking across the room and dropping onto the couch next to her. He slowly brought his hand up and placed it onto her back, gently rubbing up and down. She suddenly turned and wrapped her arms around him, bringing her face into his neck before she took a deep breath. "I'm so sorry, Red. I never meant for any of this to happen. I just wish I could have a simple life."

"Say the word sweetheart, and I could set you up with a new name. I'm doing all of this to clear your name so you can go back to D.C. and back to the Post Office."

"I know, Red, I know. But I don't think I could go back now. I always wonder if I could go back to that… Go back to being Elizabeth Keen. I would always wonder if Ressler or Samar or Aram would think differently about me… If they would constantly wonder if I was being truthful with them… If I was somehow lying to them. It didn't take long for them to think that I did what everyone thinks I did. I wonder if they thought that I was capable of that since the very beginning. Ressler at least. He's always been a little suspicious of me, and of you. And of us working together."

He dropped a kiss onto her head. "I know sweetheart."

"Red?" she asked after they both lapsed into silence. He hummed, letting her know to continue on. "If I asked, would you give me a new identity and someplace safe to live?"

"Is that what you want? To live as someone else? Never knowing if you were truly safe; truly exonerated for everything."

She cuddled into him, thinking about his words. "I don't know. You know I didn't have a hand in that bombing and I didn't know about the Senator. But I did shoot Tom Connolly."

"I know, sweetheart."

"He was going to come after you. Threatened Cooper, Ressler, Samar, Aram... He told me he was going to bring you up on charges. Seek the death penalty. I couldn't let that happen. Despite everything, I couldn't let any of it happen."

"Lizzie," he sighed out. "I could have everything done within the day. I know this quaint little town in Ireland. It would be perfect for you."

"Somewhere warm," she whispered. "Australia?" she asked quietly. "I've always wanted to go," she slurred out as she yawned and burrowed deeper into Red. "A house overlooking the water," she mumbled. "Love you." It was so quiet that he wasn't sure he had even heard her. He froze as he felt her go limp in his arms, as she finally fell asleep.

~*~ TBL ~*~

"Are you sure you want to do this?" he asked as he started to gather the papers that were scattered across the coffee table in their hotel room. She nodded silently. "I need to hear the words Elizabeth." She looked up sharply at the use of her full name.

"Yes," she remarked. "Red, I know this is not what you wish, but I cannot keep running. Last night, I was exhausted and with all these new aliases, I cannot keep up. I almost got us killed last night." She crawled around the coffee table and laid her arms over his knees. She rested her chin on her arms and looked up at him. "I almost got you killed last night. I cannot have that on my conscience. I know you want me to keep fighting, but I am just so burnt out that I cannot keep fighting. I'm so sorry, Red," she told him, tears welling up in her eyes.

"Sweetheart, I understand. More than you think." He leaned over and dropped a kiss onto her head.

"I don't know how you did it all those years. You are so much stronger than I am."

"You are so much stronger than I am. You are stronger than you will ever know. I just want you to know that I won't stop fighting them. I won't stop until you are cleared or until my last dying breath. Remember, you are my north star, Elizabeth. You always will be." Lizzie got up onto her knees and leaned towards him. "You don't want this Lizzie," he said once he realized what she intended.

"Yes, I do." She closed the distance between them, capturing his lips with hers. He responded instantly, one hand on the back of her neck, while the other one tangled in her dark blond locks. His hands suddenly let go and before she knew it, he grabbed her waist and pulled her onto his lap. Lizzie groaned as she broke the kiss grasping for breath. She felt his lips travel down her neck. "I… I think… we should take this… into the bedroom," she gasped out as she felt Red start to pull her shirt up. He stopped and leaned forward capturing her lips with his once again.

"Wrap your legs around my waist." She did she as she was told before he pushed himself up from the couch. They made it to the master bedroom having lost a few articles of clothing along the way. Lizzie kicked the door shut once they made it into the bedroom.

~*~ TBL ~*~

A few days later, they made it to Queensland, Australia. Lizzie was glued to the window, watching the scenery flash by. Dembe pulled into the driveway and they all got out. Lizzie looked around with a smile on her face.

"Red, this place is gorgeous," she remarked. She walked around the car and to Red's side. He took her hand in his and guided her towards the house. Lizzie marveled at the house before getting pulled inside by Red. "Wow!" she exclaimed as she walked into the foyer of the house. "When did you get this?" she asked, walking from room to room.

"Oh, I acquired this some years ago. I hardly ever get down here, so, now it's yours sweetheart," he told her. Come," he said, grabbing her hand and pulling her up the stairs. He pulled her towards a pair of double doors before opening them. She gasped as she walked onto the wide-open porch that overlooked the ocean front.

"Oh, Red," she gasped out. "This is amazing. I cannot possibly take this. This is simply too much for just me."

"I want you to have a life here, Lizzie. I want you to find someone. Settle down, maybe get married again. Have the child or children you've always wanted."

"Red," she said, tears once again welling up in her eyes. She wrapped her arms around his neck. "Stay with me… build that life with me. You said that everything was already in 'my name', so why don't you stay with me. We could be Ray and 'Julie', instead of Red and Lizzie."

He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her as close to him as he could. "I wish I could sweetheart. I wish I could, but there are still things to be done. When I clear your name – and that day will come – then I will come home to you. Come, there is more to be seen." He wrapped his arms around her shoulders and guided her back into the house. He showed her each of the five bedrooms, the study, family room, rec room and he then guided her to the back of the house where they walked out through the kitchen and onto the veranda.

"Oh, Red," she remarked. She slipped off her flip-flops before taking a step into the pool. "It's so warm."

"It's heated," he told her. "There is a pool boy that comes once a week to clean the pool. He comes Sunday mornings. There is a ground keeping crew that come about every two weeks to keep up the mowing and things like that. There is also a housekeeper that comes as well. Her name is Marie. Lovely woman. Her husband comes as well. He does basic maintenance. His name is Austin."

"Should I be writing this down?" she asked. She pulled her shirt off and dropped it onto the ground.

"Elizabeth, what are you doing?" he asked, raking his eyes over her body as she started to undo her shorts. She slipped them down her legs and dropped them onto her shirt. She took a deep breath before diving into the pool. Red gulped as he watched her lithe form swim the length of the pool. She popped up right by Red's feet, making him take a step back. "Lizzie, we need to go over a few things."

"I would also like to go over a few things. Why don't you come in and 'discuss' those things?" she asked him. She looked him up and down.

"I don't have a suit," he told her.

"I didn't either," she responded.

He stared at her for a moment. "I will be right back." He turned on his heel and walked back into the house. She pouted for a moment before diving back in. She immediately came back up for air as she heard a splash. She giggled as she feels a pair of hands run up her legs. Red popped up out of the water in front of her. She wrapped her arms around him, bringing her lips to his.

"I don't really want to ask, but I have to: when do you have to leave?"

"I can stay another day or two, just so you can get your bearings here," he told her.

"Well, then I guess we better make the most of it then," she replied before kissing him again.

~*~ TBL ~*~

Lizzie looked on while Red packed his things. He was really leaving… They had a fabulous couple of days exploring the area, taking moonlit walks on the beach, and going for a midnight skinny dip. Lizzie had been surprised to find out that Julie St. Claire also had a psychology degree. So if Lizzie chose to, she could work. But Red set up everything so she wouldn't have to work a day in her life if she chose not to.

"Stay," she told him, getting up and wrapping her arms around him from the back. She laid her head on his shoulder.

"You know I can't," he told her, holding her hands with his. He brought her hand up to his mouth and laid a kiss on her palm.

"I have to do this… for you, for me – hell, for the entire task force. Those were your friends, your family that Tom Connelly threatened."

"He's dead," she said, removing her arms from around him.

"Yeah, and there will be another one to take his place. This has to end Lizzie, for everyone's sake."

She gave him a brief nod before leaving the room. She headed out of the room and down the stairs before making her way towards the kitchen where she found Dembe rooting through the fridge. She knelt down and looked through the wine fridge. She settled on a nice red wine and then started looking through the cabinets looking for a glass. "Dembe, where are the wine glasses?" she asked. He poked his head out of the fridge long enough to round the island and open a cabinet on the other side of the kitchen. he handed her a wine glass with a grin. "Thanks." She filled her glass up before walking out onto the veranda.

She stared out at the water for a few moments before she feels Red's presence behind her. "Elizabeth," he said softly. She didn't say anything, but instead took a sip of her wine. "Lizzie," he said with a sigh. He rounded the chair and knelt down in front of her. He reached up and wiped away a few tears that she didn't know had fallen from her eyes. "Listen, if the Cabal wasn't trying to get us all killed, then I would stay in a heartbeat. But I have to take these people down… for all of our sakes." She nodded her head before leaning forward and giving him a soft kiss. "There is something else. Taped to the inside of your bedside table drawer is a burner phone. It's the only way you will be able to get in touch with me. For emergencies only."

"Okay," she remarked quietly. He got up and held his hand out and she looked up at him for a moment before taking it. He led her through the house and outside to where a blue SUV was parked. "What is that?" she asked.

"Well, you need some way to get around. It's a Volkswagen Touareg. Supposedly it's the best SUV around. Dembe did all the research."

She shook her head at the two men before wrapping her arms around Red once again. "Lizzie, I love you," he said before giving her a kiss.

"I love you too," she remarked, as tears started to run down her cheeks. She let go of Red, and he turned and headed towards the car. She watched as the car backed out of the driveway, leaving her alone.