A/N: Once again thanks so much for all of the reviews, favorites and follows! Everytime I check my email and I see the notifications from you guys I get so excited! Y'all are so amazing and I'm so excited about this story and what I have planned for upcoming chapters!

I'm not sure how often I will update, because I'm going to start making the chapters much longer than the usual 2,000-3,000 words because I don't want this story to end up being 1,000 chapters before I even get to Season 2! I don't think you guys will mind, but I'm hoping to get the chapters up to at least 5,000-6,000 words so that I an tie a lot more into one chapter!

Anyway thanks so much to every reviewer, favoriter and follower! You guys rock my socks off!

After walking out of Liz and Ressler's office, Mr. Reddington led me down the stairs to where the Asian woman and African man that I had seen when he entered earlier were waiting.

The man was holding the red suitcase that I use for traveling and the woman was holding matching makeup bag, her face set in a scowl.

"She seems fun." I mumbled under my breath as we approached the two individuals. Mr. Reddington looked back at me and grinned, "She's great fun when it comes to poker, everything else not so much." He laughed at my dumbstruck reaction and continued towards the two.

I sighed and pushed my bag strap further up my shoulder, Mr. Reddington looked back and stopped to wait for me to catch up before taking the bag into his hand placing it over his shoulder and he resumed his steps.

"Mr. Reddington you don't have to..." I protested but he shot me a look and I closed my mouth, silently following behind him.

When we reached the two frightening looking individuals the man took my bag from Mr. Reddington and looked to me expectedly.

I stared at the two of them and cleared my throat.

"Uh, hi. I'm Eleanora Becker, but you can call me Nora if you want. Uh, what are your names if you don't mind me asking?" I stood straight but wrung my hands, a nervous twitch that I had developed to help me deal with talking to new people while at various government functions that I was forced to attend with my dad.

The woman eyed me up and down before smiling at Mr. Reddington expectantly, he returned the smile and turned to me with a small chuckle.

"Ellie dear, meet the two people who will save your life when the time eventually comes," Mr. Reddington raised his arm to the man, "This is my Dembe," he did the same to the woman, "and this is Luli. They're the only two people I trust with my life, and by extension yours! They'll also be staying in our magnificent safe house, Luli makes the most delicious Quiche Lorraine. You'll have to try it one day!" Mr. Reddington clapped me on the back and walked past Luli with Dembe following after, which left Luli still staring at me. God I hate people staring.

I pursed my lips and wrung my hands once more before I smiled at the two exceedingly frightening woman in front of me.

"So. I guess we're going to be seeing a lot of each other. What kind of stuff do you like to do?" She just continued to stare before turning her back and following after Mr. Reddington and Dembe. Did she not like me or something? I'm usually good at making friends, this never happens!

I snapped out of my mental existential crisis and followed Luli to the elevator where Mr. Reddington and Dembe were waiting.

I cautiously entered the elevator and as soon as I was standing beside Mr. Reddington, Dembe pressed the button to close the door and raise the elevator. I licked my lips as I looked at the faces of my companions. Dembe was stoic and intently watching the elevator doors, Luli was engrossed in her nail bed and Mr. Reddington was placing a pair of sunglasses onto his face, his lips slightly pursed.

Nobody said a word the entire elevator ride so I was forced to endure the entire ride to civilization with the only noise provided by the creaking mechanical death trap, this day was doing nothing for my nerves.

As the elevator came to a halt, I let out a long breath that I hadn't even realized I was holding. Mr. Reddington looked over at me as the breath was released.

"Now, don't tell me you're scared of elevators, Ellie?" He teased as we walked past the armed guards and towards a sleek black Mercedes that looked suspiciously like the one that had caused my delay to work this morning.

I looked Mr. Reddington in the eyes, which were partially obstructed from my view because of the sunglasses.

"Well Mr Reddington, if you had spend 7 and a half hours stuck in an elevator in Tokyo with my mother; you would be as well." I smirked and thanked Dembe for opening the back door before sliding in and sitting down on the lush leather seating.

Mr. Reddington slid in to the seat beside me, took off his grey fedora and placed it in the middle seat in between us before turning to me.

"Tell me Ellie, do I make you nervous?" I looked over at him and raised my eyebrow, red lips drawing up into a smile.

"No Mr. Reddington, you don't make me nervous." Dembe was now driving away from The Post Office with Luli in the front seat, looking at her cell phone.

Mr. Reddington paused for a moment and turned to face me before taking off his sunglasses, his light green eyes meeting my honey brown ones.

"Now Ellie dear, you don't have to lie. After all, I did say we were going to be great friends. Friends don't lie." He leaned over closer towards me so that our arms were almost touching, his eyebrow raised in a teasing fashion.

I reached into my purse and pulled out my sunglasses, putting them on before turning back to Mr. Reddington. This guy was a hoot.

"Well Mr. Reddington I can assure you that I'm not nervous about being around you. You haven't done anything to make me fee nervous around you." He laughed and turned back to face the front of the car, I smiled and turned my head to stare out of the window.

The remainder of the ride was silent and before long Dembe pulled the car into the driveway of a large grey brick tudor style mansion, much like the kind of houses that I had grown up attending various embassy parties in Germany.

My eyes grew wide at seeing the pure size of the house, it didn't look like it would ever end.

When Dembe pulled the car to a stop, he hopped out and opened my door before going around to the other side to do the same for Mr. Reddington. By the time I made my way to the other side of the car Mr. Reddington was out and placing his hat on his head while Dembe retrieved my bags from the trunk of the car, I stood beside Mr. Reddington with my mouth slightly parted at the sheer enormity of the house. How the hell did a criminal have such a sweet safe house, I mean I've only seen houses this size in the diplomatic section of Berlin.

He must have sensed my question because he looked over at me as he led me into the house behind Dembe and Luli, who were carrying my bags.

"You didn't expect me to slum it up in some back alley safe house with roaches and mice the size of a chihuahua did you Ellie dear?" I raised my eyebrow as Dembe unlocked the door.

"I prefer to live a luxurious lifestyle my dear. Luxury my dear is the only reason to become a criminal. Remember that." He then proceeded to walk ahead and into the house, leaving me and Luli standing outside one of us with an extremely confused look on our faces.

I looked to Luli with my confused expression, my index finger pointed after the man who had done nothing but leave me speechless all day.

She looked at me and winked before following him inside, me trailing behind her wondering what the hell was going on with the day.

First I'm late to work, then I'm told that some homicidal Russian gangster wants to cut my throat, after which I'm taken into protective custody and told I'm to live with the #4 criminal on the FBI's Most Wanted list.

God this day could honestly not get weirder if Aliens invaded. I'd probably just look out the window and say 'Hm. Would you look at that. The universe is really following the trend of weirdest day ever.'

I shook the thoughts from my head as I entered the ridiculously grand foyer of the mansion, honestly I don't know what I expected.

The floor was a type of marble that was patterned after a Persian rug, the vaulted ceilings went up at least 50 ft at the center of which hung a massive tiered chandelier. The most fantastic object in the entire foyer was the grand staircase which was made out of an off white marble molded with the same tile as the main floor, it curved slightly in the middle and then opened into the upstairs, where Dembe was currently putting my bags.

I just stood rooted in my spot staring at everything in the foyer, how the hell did he even get a safe house like this? I know for a fact that the FBI doesn't have safe houses like this, my dad had taken me to one once in Munich where he had to meet a witness in a diplomats brother's murder and that one was just a hole in the wall 2 bedroom house. This was just plain ridiculous.

I heard footsteps coming from beside me and I turned to see Luli standing in the archway that led to the kitchen, one perfectly sculpted eyebrow raised and a small smirk on her small lips.

"If you're done admiring the architecture would you like to see your room?" I nodded enthusiastically and she walked over to me and began to walk up the stairs, I followed diligently gripping the oak hand rails in fear that I would slip on the marble stairs and kill myself before Petrolvitch had a chance to even lay his eyes on me.

When we reached the top of the stairs I was just as gobsmacked by the architecture and paneling as I had been downstairs. The railing was made into 10 ft oak arches that connected to the white ceiling and walls, the entire house reminded me of the 16th century english manor that my best friend Marianne lived in in Norfolk.

Luli led me through the long hallways past 6 doors, and finally at the end of the hall there was a gorgeous stained glass window and an old large light brown rectangular oval wooden door with a huge handle and knocker. She pulled out a small skeleton key and unlocked the door before pushing it open and heading inside, me following behind her still admiring the stained glass.

When I walked into the room I was once again shocked by the size. It was a large room with a triangular shaped roof that met in the middle, large dark wooden panels covered the room. In the middle of the room sat a golden seat and behind that were two steps which led up to the 4 poster bed.

My bags were already on the bed and once I saw how large the bed was I couldn't resist basically jumping onto it face first, the comforter was goose feather. Holy shit the comforter was goose feather. I've officially died and gone to heaven, maybe that Petrolvitch guy actually killed me and I'm just dreaming all of this stuff. You know what I don't care.

I released a small giggle and rolled over onto my back to see Mr. Reddington and Luli standing in the doorway watching me with amused expressions.

Mr. Reddington had shed his jacket, tie and hat and was in a white button up and a grey vest, the sleeves of the shirt rolled up to his elbows. I jumped off the bed and attempted to walk over to where the two of them were congregated, but once again gravity made me it's bitch.

I sighed as my face made contact with the floor for the second time today, at least the carpet was much softer than the hard floors of Liz and Ressler's office. Life is all about the small blessings.

However the small fountain of blessings ran dry as soon as Mr. Reddington began to laugh as he walked over to me, hand extended downward to give me help off of the floor. I groaned inwardly and pushed myself to my knees before accepting his hand for the second time today, what little dignity that I had when I had woken up this morning was slowly leaving my body.

Mr. Reddington smiled patted my cheek with the hand that he had so graciously used to pull me from the floor, his green eyes alight with amusement.

"Now Ellie I know that I'm a suave and debonair man with many attractive attributes, but this is the second time that you've fallen for me today. At least allow me to take you to dinner first." I stared at him with one eyebrow raised, honestly I can't tell when this man is joking and being serious.

"You're very humble too it appears. I'd be a fool to decline dinner with such a well rounded individual, if it wasn't for the small little blemish on your criminal record you could be a modern day John F. Kennedy." He stared at me, green eyes slightly widening before he broke out into a massive grin and busting into a deep boisterous laugh.

"My my my, you're quite the jokester aren't you Ellie dear?" I smirked at him before deciding to continue our banter.

"I'm just a modern day Lucille Ball. I have the lipstick and everything." I lifted the corner of my mouth into a jeering smirk, my eyebrow mimicking the action.

Luli laughed cheerfully from the doorway before making her way over to us, a smile on her face and arm extended when she saw the gaping expression on Mr. Reddington's face.

"Okay, I officially like you. Come with me, we'll go downstairs and get something to drink. I think we have a lot of talking to do." I smiled at her and took her extended arm, both of us walking out of the room laughing like a bunch of teenagers while Mr. Reddington finally turned around. As we walked out the door I turned my body and waved a teasing wave before Luli dragged me down the stairs towards the kitchen for a few much needed cocktails.

The next morning I awoke in the most comfortable bed on this side of the Atlantic, the most comfortable bed on the other side of the Atlantic being the one that I slept in at my parent's home. I blinked a few dozen times, eyes trying to adjust at the sheer amount of sunlight coming from the before reaching to the bedside table to check my phone. When I realized that my phone wasn't on the bedside table, I rose up and looked over to the dark oak table to see that the only thing lying on the table was "The Merchant of Venice". I sighed and flopped back down onto the mound of white feather pillows, realizing that I wasn't allowed to have my phone. Graciously someone had placed a clock on the bedside table so I rose up once more and saw that it was only a few minutes past 9, not bad considering that Luli and I had been up way past 2 in the morning drinking schnapps and talking about anything and everything. I really had judged her wrong, she was so much fun! We had talked about college, our families and our love lives. Well, we talked about her love life and my lack there of.

Luli was absolutely scandalized when I had told her that I was still a virgin, she even choked on her drink when I mentioned it.

"What do you mean you're still a virgin?! You're 24 Nora! That's not normal!" She had all but yelled when I told her. I just shrugged before taking a sip of my schnapps and telling her that I had never even had a serious relationship, a few dates here and there but nobody that ever really peaked my interest had ever came into my life so here I was a 24 year old virgin and totally okay with it.

I shook my head at the memories from the night before, deciding that I should probably go downstairs and join the land of the lining. I pushed back the white feather comforter and slowly got out of bed, my red silk night gown brushing my pale feet as I stood. I turned to where I had lied the matching red robe and my bra before slipping them on, with big boobs come big sacrifices. The chief sacrifice being comfort, even in my sleepwear I was forced to wear a bra when confronting actual living humans for the fear of injuring them or myself.

Okay maybe that is a little dramatic, but when you lug around 36DDs for a good 10 years you learn that it's better to be safe than sorry.

After my clothing was situated I walked down the 2 shallow steps and across the spacious room out the door and to the bathroom directly beside my room, thankfully I was sober enough the night before to take off my makeup and take out my contacts. Any day when I woke up not looking like a raccoon with a cannibas problem was a good day, I mean my hair still looked like I had gotten into a tussle with a pack of angry pigeons but small blessings I guess.

I stared in the mirror after putting my contacts in and brushing my teeth for my mandatory 5 minute "complain about my features like that's gonna help any" session, it really helps with self confidence.

Pale skin that could really use a tan, freckles sporadically positioned and a new pimple forming on my hairline were the only complaints that I had today, so I was a happy camper when I left the bathroom with my hair now in a messy side braid in an attempt to control the beast.

I walked down the stairs with a skip in my step as I smelled the delicious scent of bacon being cooked, I really do feel bad for vegetarians. I mean I know they supposedly live 9 years longer than normal human beings, but those are 9 depressing baconless, worthless years so is it really worth it? My sister Claire seems to think so, but she's always been a bit strange.

I shook the thoughts of my older sister from my head and smiled as I entered the kitchen to see Dembe at the stove and Luli already dressed in a pair of skinny jeans and a dark green button up shirt, her dark hair perfectly straight and gorgeous. I grumbled under my breath as I walked past her to take a seat across from her at the large island table in the middle of the kitchen.

"What was that Nora?" Luli smirked and looked up from the paper that she was reading her brown eyes, that were a good few shades darker than mine, boring into mine.

I rolled my eyes and answered, "How the hell can you look like you just stepped off of a runway in Milan, while I look like a potato that rolled out of its bag by accident. You drank like 6 glasses more of that schnapps than I did! It's not even fair." I sighed and lied my head down on the black marble table top. I heard a deep laugh and jerked up to see Dembe facing me with a small smile on his face.

"Nora, Luli is incapable of getting a little more than a buzz. It is inhuman really." He then turned back to face the pan of bacon, I stared at him with a perplexed look on my face. Dembe actually spoke, and smiled at me. Holy crap that's a development, yesterday he wouldn't even look at me and now he was joking around with me.

I shrugged and turned back to Luli who was still engrossed in her newspaper, apparently ignoring the entire conversation. I was just about to ask her if she had heard me when I heard the front door close. Dembe and Luli both automatically turned to face the kitchen entrance, hands resting on the guns that rested on their hips. I stopped breathing for a moment as footsteps neared the kitchen, but I soon released it when I saw that it was only Liz.

She was dressed in a pair of black slacks, a burnt orange shirt and a matching black blazer. Standard fed clothes I guess.

I smiled at her and waved and she did the same as she walked over towards me, taking the red messenger bag off of her shoulder and handing it to me.

"Your laptop is now secure, nobody can trace your IP address so you're basically untraceable. Amar, our resident computer wiz, thought it would be a lot better for you to use it if Petrolvitch couldn't trace you." She gave a timid wave to Luli and Dembe, who placed a plate of bacon and eggs in front of me only after asking Liz is she wanted some which she declined.

I stared at the red bag eternally grateful for the small blessing known as Elizabeth Keen.

"Thanks so much Liz, I've been going crazy without technology." I grinned and took out my black laptop, opening it up and getting the wifi password from Luli.

Liz grinned, "No problem! We won't you to be safe, but not completely caught off from the world."

I looked over at her as I pulled up the Internet browser so that I could check my email, "You didn't just come over here to give me my laptop did you Liz?"

She licked her lips and shrugged turning to Luli who answered Liz's silent question.

"He'll be down in a few minutes." Liz nodded.

A thought dawned on me as I signed into my email, "When am I going back to the Post Office? I should probably go and change, I mean I don't need to be walking around a federal facility in this." I motioned to my attire and Liz opened her mouth to speak but was interrupted by a familiar deep voice.

"Now now Ellie let's not be too hasty. You look absolutely ravishing in red if I do say so myself." Mr. Reddington stood in the doorway of the kitchen, looking the picture of sophistication in a an off black 3 piece suit and a violet tie around his neck.

I raised my eyebrow and picked up a piece of bacon, my eyes never leaving him as I chewed the pork.

Once I swallowed and took a drink of the Orange juice that Dembe had set down in front of me, I spoke.

"Red's my color Mr. Reddington, but I would suggest you get your eyes checked before calling me ravishing."

He smirked and walked over to Luli and Dembe, wishing them a good morning before picking up the cup of coffee that sat on the counter.

Liz smirked and turned to answer my earlier question, "That's actually why I'm here. Director Cooper decided that it would probably be better for you to stay here rather than be dragged out and about, you'll be able to contact us anytime you need us and we'll keep you updated on everything." I nodded and moved my eyes back to my laptop screen as Liz and Mr. Reddington began to speak about Petrolvitch and any ways that they could possibly lure him out of hiding.

I began to check my email when one in particular caught my attention, it was from my dad's German diplomat friend Edgar Herzog. I hastily clicked on the message.

"Dear Eleanora, your father mentioned in our last correspondence that you are now working for the Smithsonian! Congratulations on being back in the United States. I'm writing to you to invite you and a plus one to a Diplomatic Ball that will be held on Friday October 7, 2013 at 7 pm at the German Embassy here in DC. I hope that you will consider attending, please write back to me with your answer so that I may put you on the guest list.

Best wishes,

Edgar Herzog"

I stared at my screen for a few moments listening to Liz and Mr. Reddington attempt to figure out a solution.

"Red there's nothing that we can do to lure him out. We've tried everything, he's not dumb." Liz ran a hand through her hair and Mr. Reddington sighed while taking a drink of his coffee.

All of a sudden a thought dawned on me.

"The Ball!" I exclaimed, causing Liz to jump slightly. Mr. Reddington tilted his head and raised an eyebrow.

"What ball Ellie? What do you mean?" I turned my laptop to face him pointed to the email that Mr. Herzog had sent me.

"If he is looking for me then he'll probably assume that I'll be at the ball, I mean my dad is a US Diplomat in Germany so he would know that I would most likely be invited. I can go and lure hi.." I didn't get a chance to finish before Liz interrupted.

"Absolutely not! It's too dangerous for you to walk in there by yourself!" I stared at her for a moment before figuring out a solution.

"I don't have to go in there alone. I know Mr. Herzog very well and if he finds out that I'm in trouble, you guys won't have any trouble getting inside to be on the look out." All 4 of the individuals looked at me with varying expressions. Liz was contemplative, Luli was surprised, Dembe was disapproving and Mr. Reddington was excited.

"I personally think it is a glorious idea. It's been a while since I attended a diplomatic ball, I'll have to get my tux pressed. Those Germans are very serious about their clothes, actually they're very serious about everything now that I think about it." Mr. Reddington was now looking at the corner of the ceiling, head tilted and eyes squinted as if in deep thought.

I looked at him in surprise and confusion. What did he mean he would have to get his suit pressed? Would Liz and the task force really allow him to attend?

Liz eyed him dangerously before speaking.

"Reddington you are NOT going to this ball. You're a fugitive. You can't just waltz into an embassy, it's not happening." She pulled out her phone and called someone, Director Cooper it sounded like, telling him about my idea before sighing and hanging up.

I looked over at her expectedly and she groaned.

"Director Cooper has approved your idea. He's going to get in touch with Ambassador Herzog and tell him what is going on, he's also going to attempt to get Ressler and I invites so that we will be there undercover should anything go wrong."

I grinned nodded, opening my mouth to speak before I was interrupted for what felt like the 56th time today.

"And what did Harold say about my proposition Lizzie? You didn't seem so happy." Mr. Reddington grinned and walked around the table to stand beside Liz who's eye twitched as she looked at him murderously.

"He approved your stupid idea, you will attend the ball with Nora as her plus one."

Mr. Reddington grinned and looked over at me, eyes twinking with amusement.

"Well Ellie dear I hope you know how to waltz. It looks like Jack and Lucy are going to a ball."

Good thing I took dancing lessons when I was little, I would really hate to be gravity's bitch in front of my potential killer.

A/N: So I'm thinking that the length of time between the last chapter and this one will be about the normal wait time from now on! It's just so much easier for me to type a few paragraphs and convos every day, rather than entire chapters in one! Also the length is much longer and I really love longer chapters! This is by far the longest chapter of anything that I've ever written, I just hope it isn't too much happening in one chapter! The next chapter should be the last in the AU timeline, I hope to be be in the official show timeline with "The Stewmaker" by Chapter 6 at the latest, but as of right now that will be Chapter 5!

I hope that you guys enjoyed this chapter! If y'all want to see images for this story then please go to my Pinterest, which is annablackwell16, and follow my board "The Boon"!

Thanks again to everyone who has reviewed, favorited or followed! Y'all seriously make my day!

I would LOVE to to make it to 20 reviews by the time I post Chapter 4, which should be sometime in the early days of next week most likely Tuesday or Wednesday!

I know that seems like a lot, but like I said the more reviews I get the faster I type up these chapters! Y'all's reviewing give me an extra dose of "hurry your ass up" to finish chapters!

I also just want to clarify that this is a Red/OC and the actual romance won't start too soon because I really want to develop these characters and their relationship slowly.

Oh also I have a spotify playlist that I have compiled for the story that I listen to in order to give me inspiration to write! The songs are really amazing and really explain the relationship between Red and Nora that I hope to develop! If you want to follow it here is the link!

user/anna_blackwell/playlist/4U4FlbnSKmJEZfyaH7aBsi

Anyway! I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter! Review Follow and Favorite!

X

Anna