AN: So I updated this a little sooner than I had planned. Just because I love you! Yes, you. Keep that in mind! Thanks for all the feedback so far. Glad I could make you smile, and cry and give you some feels ;)

Special thanks goes to criminalkeen, of course. Thank you for being a great beta!

Disclaimer: I don't own The Blacklist or Spader... that sucks.

Chp. 4

"I love you, Ray."

His heart stopped beating then. He had this beautiful, truly amazing woman in his arms, who had just declared her love for him. Could life get any better? A smile slowly spread across his face as he squeezed her back. "Oh, Lizzie..." He touched his lips to hers. "I love you. I love you so much." He could feel her ragged breath against his face, before she crushed her lips to his, kissing him passionately.

She wrapped her arms tightly around his neck as she moved her mouth over his, trying to pull herself even closer. He couldn't help but chuckle when he felt her tugging on his shirt.

"Do you need some time alone?" Dembe asked from where he was sitting at the table.

Liz and Red broke apart and the latter started laughing, while Liz hid her face in his chest. "You, my friend, have horrible timing," he told him.

"Well, I wasn't going to wait and see if you were going to take off each other's clothes," came the dry reply.

Red felt lips at his jaw and looked down at Liz. "I'll go wash up." She untangled herself from him and started walking away, but he pulled her back into his chest and kissed her deeply.

"I love you," he whispered against her lips.

"I love you, too," she whispered back and then went to freshen up, leaving Red to watch her walk away.

"You've got it bad, my friend," Dembe said.

"I know..." He sighed, before turning to his bodyguard and longtime friend. "She's..." Red fought to find the right words.

"Everything?" Dembe offered.

A smile graced Reddington's face. "Everything and so much more."

They stayed quiet for a moment. "How are you feeling about this?"

The Concierge of Crime sighed. "I'm... strangely, I feel alright. Now that she's happy. Nothing else matters."

They heard Liz bouncing excitedly down the stairs and shared a smile. The woman wrapped her arms around him from behind and kissed his cheek, nuzzling the side of his face with her nose as Red leaned into her.

"Are you hungry, sweetheart? Dembe cooked. You wouldn't believe his skills in the kitchen."

"Now I'm curious," she said before releasing Red and sitting down next to him.

As Dembe put the dish together, clarity suddenly flooded her mind. Her heart started racing when she noticed just what had been cooked for her. Her dad's recipe. "Ray..." She was already tearing up again.

"I know," he answered, wrapping his arm around her to pull her closer, dropping a kiss to her cheek.

She sniffled a little and tightly grabbed onto his leg, before turning her head and searching out his lips. Red angled her head so he could kiss her the way he wanted to, running his tongue over her bottom lip before slipping it into her welcoming mouth.

"Oh, get a room," Dembe groaned, holding a bowl with mashed potatoes in his hands.

Red chuckled against her mouth, before pulling away with a smile. They ate the wonderfully prepared dinner and had a lighthearted conversation. They were more than stuffed afterwards and Dembe decided to take only four cookies instead of the whole plate up to his room, leaving the two lovers alone.

Red took Liz's hand and pulled her towards the couch. She immediately curled up against him, one of her hands finding its way past his vest and dress shirt, to touch his skin. Her head was neatly tucked under his chin, relishing in his unique scent. "I have something for you," she said and her breath tickled his neck.

"You're already more than I deserve," he replied earnestly.

Liz chose not to respond, he wouldn't argue about this anyway. She stood and went to retrieve the gift and held it out for him to take. It was a small box, maybe as big as a passport is wide with a red bow attached to it.

"Lizzie..." He hesitantly took the offered box. "You didn't have to."

"I wanted to." She nervously bit her bottom lip.

Red opened the box and looked the item before carefully lifting it out from its box. It was a vintage looking pocket watch in bronze. He opened the locket to reveal a black clock face with red hands. It was a beautiful handicraft and weighed heavily in his hands. At second glance he saw that there was a photo attached to the inner side of the locket. It had been taken in Rome, that much was clear from the scenery in the background, but he couldn't remember anyone taking it. It must have been Dembe. The photo showed his Lizzie hugging him from behind and pressing a kiss to his cheek. He had his eyes closed and was leaning his head against her with a smile on his face. On the bottom was a small engraving that read 'Yours'. Red swallowed hard past the lump in his throat.

"Lizzie..." His voice was hoarse and full of emotion.

"Do you like it?" she whispered and he looked up to see her biting her lip again.

His eyes were glazed over and for a moment he let her see just how much this gift meant to him. He cupped her right cheek and pulled her in for another kiss. "Thank you, Lizzie," he said softly against her mouth. They parted and Red pulled her against his side, both now studying the pocket watch. "It's beautiful." He carefully put the watch back in the box and laid it on the coffee table before standing up to walk toward the tree. They would decorate it first thing in the morning. He picked up three of the neatly wrapped presents and handed her two of them, keeping one on his lap.

"Ray, you shouldn't have."

"Oh, shush. Just open it."

She took off the wrapping paper and opened the small jewellery box inside. It held a silver necklace with a heart shaped charm. A small red stone was embedded right in the middle. It was simply beautiful. She leaned over and pressed a kiss to his cheek. "I love it, Ray! Thank you so much. Help me put it on?"

"Of course, sweetheart." He took the necklace from her hands and waited until she had turned around, then lifted her hair. He fastened the silver necklace around her and couldn't resist kissing her exposed neck, making her giggle softly.

"Thank you." She beamed at him and he couldn't help but smile back.

As she turned her attention to the second gift, he could feel his body tensing. He didn't know what her reaction would be. He watched as Liz lifted the leather bound book from the opened box and curiously opened it. He heard her gasp and saw that she was trembling slightly. She didn't say anything, as she touched the photos inside, before turning the page and repeating the action. From where he was quietly sitting on the couch, he could see the tears running down her cheeks.

It had taken some great effort to get the photos and to get them to Lucerne this quickly, but nothing could have stopped him from doing this for his Lizzie. He had bought the leather bound book and had carefully glued the photos inside. It contained pictures of her childhood, her life with her dad, Sam. It was a complete documentation of her first days with Sam up to the moment when she had moved to college and then graduated from the FBI academy. Everything was titled and dated exactly. A loud sob escaped her throat and Red didn't hesitate. He put the box from his lap on the arm of the couch and quickly moved to pull her shaking body against him. He felt one of her arms wrap around him to hug him tightly and he soothingly kissed the crown of her head as she cried. They stayed like that for what seemed like hours, with him holding her close while she wept.

"Thank you," she sobbed.

He didn't respond, couldn't respond, so he held her tighter, nuzzling his nose in her hair and inhaling the sweet scent of her shampoo. "Merry Christmas, Lizzie," he finally whispered softly.

She tightened her arms around him and released a shuddering breath. "Merry Christmas, Ray." Her voice was hoarse and sounded fragile. "Thank you."

A few minutes later, he pulled back to look at her. "You're exhausted, sweetheart," he commented, wiping at some of the tears on her cheeks. "Let's get you to bed."

They stood and collected their gifts and Red led her to their bedroom. He put the pocket watch on his nightstand and sat on the mattress.

"What's that?" She asked, pointing at the unopened box in his lap.

"My gift." He grinned mischievously.

"To yourself?" She asked, tears forgotten, and he nodded. "Now, I'm curious. Open it," Liz said and came to a stop in front of him. He did as he was told, all the while grinning. He took off the lid and then proceeded to take one of the items out of the box. "Oh my god!" Liz laughed. "Are you serious?"