So I forgot to put a disclaimer in the first chapter, so here it is. I don't own the Blacklist or it's characters. Thanks!
Chapter 3 ~ Business as Usual
Red didn't meet Elizabeth for lunch, his meeting lasting longer then planned. She left the house and went back down to the beach. Her emotions ranged from disappointment to anger. He would put her through this emotional turmoil just to leave her alone. She could feel a presence following her since she left the house. Glancing to her left she saw Dembe out of the corner of her eye. So she was going to be followed by her own secret service. Looking out to the infinite ocean she wondered if she would ever be free again.
He kept his distance and Elizabeth looked down at her ring. For better or for worse. It had been three hours since they were married and he was already keeping her at a distance. Kicking off her shoes she stepped into the water. It was cold and made her shiver. In the beginning of June it wasn't exactly warm in Rhode Island but the thought of being alone, being free made her dive right in.
Elizabeth swam out into the ocean only looking back to see if Dembe had dived in after her. With no sight of him she laid back and floated, watching the fish swim beneath her. Before the cold rendered her mind useless she made her way back to the beach where she was surprised to find Red waiting for her.
"What is wrong with you?" He asked, his voice steady and even. She didn't look at him but allowed him to wrap a towel around her.
"I wanted to go swimming." She said, a lame excuse but an excuse no less.
When she looked up at his face she was upset with herself that she had made him worry. His jaw was clenched and his eyes were angry.
"In fifty five degree temperature? That's if your lucky. You want to freeze to death?"
"No." She said, feeling two feet tall. She pulled the towel closer and walked toward the house. He didn't understand her and sure it wasn't the smartest thing but he could have been more gentle.
"I had business to attend to, it's something you are going to have to get used to. I won't be able to be by your side twenty-four seven." He said and as they reached the house Abigail stood there, waiting for them.
"But you can spend time with her!" She accused, pointing towards the other woman. "I'm your wife now and I should be involved in your 'business' meetings. Or would they be to hard on my psyche?"
Red went to follow her as she went towards her room but stopped, maybe she just needed time. Besides, he didn't have time to deal with her yo-yoing emotions. She would get over it in time.
"Dembe, stay outside her room. Try to make sure she doesn't do anything stupid, again."
He nodded and followed Elizabeth to her room. Red and Abigail were left alone.
"Raymond! You brought her into this, you need to properly explain what is going on!"
"It's harder than it seems." He said going back into the study and pouring himself a glass.
"It's not hard for someone with social skills. Not only that, she obviously sees me as some sort of threat! I don't want that on my shoulders, you explain or I will."
He looked at her and took a drink. "No. I will explain everything in time and until then she will just have to trust me. Don't tell her anything. This could be fun."
Abby crossed her arms and rolled her eyes. Of course he would find pleasure out of someone elses misery.
Red seemed to read her mind and shook his head.
"She has been rather hard to deal with lately. I understand she is having a hard time adjusting to a new life as anyone would. She needs to trust me. She never has fully, and I can't say I blame her. It's just ironic, a woman who gave herself to the law is signing her life away to a criminal."
The two were quiet, the reality of Elizabeth's situation settling like a light dusting. It was accepted and acknowledged. Red's face became unreadable and his eyes went from twinkling mischief to dark pools of emptiness.
"Perhaps you're right. She should know the ins and outs, the nature of our relationship. She can be a pistol though." He laughed and looked up, reminiscing, "I remember a time she had asked me to follow her down the hall. I lead the way so she took the stairs, forgoing the elevator. If she's not the one in control, she is defiant. I like that in her."
Abby smiled and gave him a look.
"So, are you going to go to your wife?"
His smile faded, but only slightly.
"My wife. It's real, isn't it? She's in this tangled web of lies, death, evil. What is there she can hold on to? She will hate me in the morning when her mind has had time to relax."
"So maybe you should go to her now. She may be in a weakened state, but she is more likely to listen to you. You are her only ally here, no matter what you may think, she trusts you."
Red thought about it, swirling the amber liquid in the tumbler. He didn't even realize he had poured himself a glass. Maybe that was a signal of a drinking problem. He shrugged to himself. If it's not one thing it's another.
The bubbles started to tickle her nose as she sunk into the bath. The water may have been a tad too hot but her body needed it. The salt water dried out her skin and she was feeling rather hypothermic. Not the best idea she ever had but now that she was feeling more in control she tried to rationalize her thoughts and actions of the day up to this point.
She had married Raymond Reddington, that was a complete lack of judgment. She then walked with him and listened as he tried to explain himself. After being so upset with her situation she took a swim in a rather cold ocean, in her very expensive wedding dress that was now most likely ruined. The worst part of it all was her feelings of jealousy towards Abby. She had no reason to be jealous and she couldn't believe her mind would betray her like that. Being jealous meant she had to have deeper feelings for Red.
She closed her eyes and sunk all the way down in the huge bath, letting the water cover her face. She just needed a good night sleep, wake up in the morning and act like the woman she now was, a rich, powerful woman.
The next morning Red sat at the table eating a delightful breakfast and reading the newspaper. Government conspiracies were all the rage now and he was quite pleased with himself. Those journalists knew the consequences and still they risked their lives for the truth. Not that he cared so much about the truth, just about what it would mean for him and Elizabeth.
"Good morning everyone."
Eyebrows raised, Red looked over his shoulder at a rather perky woman.
Elizabeth entered the kitchen with a smile on her face, dressed in a light blue sun dress and matching sandals. She bent down and kissed his cheek, her perfume assaulting his sense of smell. It was a delicious combination of wild flowers and honey. He met her gaze and smiled at her.
"Well, good morning darling. I hope you slept well?"
"Very well, thank you." She said and sat.
Abby and Red looked at each other then back to the rather happy woman.
"Elizabeth, would you like some breakfast? I have plenty of bacon here that needs to be used."
"Just some orange juice please. I have some shopping I need to do today and I don't want a full stomach," she said, rubbing her midsection. "If that's okay with you, sweetheart."
Red looked over his mug and narrowed his eyes at her in suspicion.
"What is with the total change of heart, Elizabeth? Just yesterday you hated the thought of this being your life. Don't get me wrong, I'm pleasantly surprised but curious as well."
She shrugged and took the tall glass of juice from her husbands ex-lover. She would be next on her agenda, getting her out of the house anyway.
"I guess I need to get used to it. I don't see life changing back to the way it was ever. Why not make the best of it."
He watched her take a drink, their eyes at a stalemate. She was challenging him, what the challenge was he wasn't sure.
"I suppose you are right. Abby can go with you. I suppose you would want another woman's opinion as you shop."
"I will take Dembe if it's all the same to you."
He shrugged and sat back, taking his last bite of the breakfast Abby made for him.
"Whatever you like. Try not to be too long though please, I have a meeting this afternoon and would like Dembe's presence."
Taking another drink of her juice Elizabeth nodded and stood.
"Thank you." She said and bent down to kiss him goodbye. If he was surprised he didn't show it as she pressed her lips to his.
Her hand went to his thigh to keep her upright and a pulse went through his body. He pressed harder into the kiss, willing her to deepen it. Instead she pulled away, a smug grin on her face.
"I will see you later." She said and left the kitchen.
"Well, I wonder what has gotten into her?" Abby said, turning back toward the table.
"She's just jealous." He said, pulling the paper back up in front of his face. The words ended up being one big black blur as he tried to read it. If his cousin being around was going to help Elizabeth's transition to being Mrs. Reddington, he was going to have her stay around a lot longer.