Hello all! Thank you for all of the wonderful reviews, and thank you for sticking with me for this long. I was going to make this a short one but... plot bunnies... No sure end in sight... Love you all! Ship Lizzington! And don't sue!

It was strange to be at the Post Office without Ressler there, hovering over Elizabeth and Red, grunting his disbelief at every word that came out of Red's mouth. Red had walked willingly into the blacksite, voicing loudly his opinion that it was folly for them to continue on there while they looked for a new location. Agent Cooper escorted Red in cuffs upstairs to a questioning room, and the anxiety nearly suffocated Elizabeth. The team had not been privy to what would happen to Reddington once he returned to help the FBI, and she feared that they no longer found Red an asset. She need not have worried. Fifteen minutes later Red was strolling down the stairs ahead of Cooper, whistling and rubbing his wrists where the handcuffs had been. He smiled widely at Elizabeth and Agent Malick, who merely smirked in return.

"Well, ladies, I'm off to have my chip replaced. I promise to be more careful with this one. I am really such a klutz sometimes."

Agent Malick sighed and stepped in front of him, a rather bold move for someone that Red had not completely counted out as being the mole.

"I'm very sorry about what happened here. We were fed false intelligence and we followed it to where they wanted to lead us. We were truly trying to keep you safe. You are a valuable informant, you know."

"Yes. I am aware of how valuable I am. Just see that this does not happen again. You've got Agent Cooper's ear. Use that. Get this blacksite moved. Do that for me and I'll give you tips on how to get into Agent Ressler's pants. I think that's an even trade. Don't you?"

Agent Malick pursed her lips and shook her head.

"I don't know what you're talking about. Bedding co-workers was never my thing. Too risky. Besides, I don't like his hair."

Red barked his laughter and ran his hand over his shaved head.

"My hair used to be long and curly. Those things can be changed. I'll tell you what. I'm going to help you whether you want it or not, if only to amuse myself. Get ready for some fun."

Red stepped away from the befuddled agent, and stepped in front of Elizabeth, his expression going from amused to rather somber.

"I believe I will convalesce in the writer's house, as you like to call it. Feel free to drop by and bring goodies. I have some information on the next blacklister, and I think you'll find it very interesting."

Elizabeth had to stop herself from grinning at him.

"I really have to get home at a decent hour tonight. Tonight is home movie night and Tom gets really pissy when I'm late."

Agent Cooper was quick to butt in.

"Agent Keen," he sternly interjected, "Reddington is requesting your assistance in capturing a blacklister. Surely I do not need to remind you of your role in this project. If he requests that you go to him, you go to him."

Elizabeth tried her best to blush and stammer while ignoring Red's pointed smirk. Agent Cooper was practically forcing them to spend time together. Wouldn't he be blindsided if he found out what they were really doing when they were alone? It was too delicious.

"Yes sir. I haven't forgotten how important it is that we keep in contact. I'll go right after I leave here."

Agent Cooper nodded and walked away, leaving Red and Elizabeth to themselves.

"Directly after work, Lizzie. Don't be late."

Elizabeth exaggerated a sigh.

"If I must."

Elizabeth rang Red's doorbell at 3:30, after Agent Cooper insisted she take the rest of the afternoon off, hinting that the sooner she got to Reddington's, the sooner she could leave. She took it to mean that the sooner she could get there, the longer she could stay. Dembe answered the door, grinning at the massive armload of Chinese takeout she was armed with.

"If the two of you can eat all that, more power to you."

Elizabeth smiled and shrugged.

"Actually, I brought some for you too. I hope you like Chinese."

Dembe smiled widely.

"I knew I liked you. Come in."

Dembe took the food from her and motioned down the hallway towards the living room. She walked down the hall, her grin growing wider with every step. Red was onto her before she even stepped into the living room.

"Chinese food and Chanel… it must be my Lizzie."

Elizabeth leaned against the doorway and took in Red's form, lying across the couch facing the door. He had obviously been waiting for her.

"I was just kidding when I told you to bring goodies."

"I know. I wanted to. How are you feeling?"

Red shrugged nonchalantly.

"I've been better. I've been worse. This shoulder will just never be the same."

Elizabeth made her way to the couch, sweeping her hand across his forehead before kissing it, checking for fever or anything that would suggest that his health was less than perfect.

"I like the way you do that. You're very maternal… for an FBI agent."

Elizabeth leaned down and unceremoniously pressed her lips to his, her tongue begging entry to his mouth, deepening the kiss until he started to pull her down on top of him. He made a disgruntled noise as she straightened herself up, smoothing her mussed hair.

"Did that seem maternal to you?"

"Only in my sick little fantasies."

Elizabeth sat at the other end of the couch and placed his feet in her lap.

"You are a twisted man, Reddington."

Red let out an exaggerated moan as she began to knead the sole of his foot.

"Oh Lizzie, you have no idea."

"And that's probably a good thing."

She switched from his right foot to his left, applying pressure where it would do the most good. She smiled when he leaned his head back on the throw pillow and relaxed into the couch. She was almost convinced he was asleep when she heard him grumble from the other end of the couch.

"If you were this attentive to Tom, then he's a fool."

Elizabeth sighed. "Honestly, I wasn't."

Red lifted his head from the pillow and cocked his eyebrow.

"Tom doesn't like people touching his feet. He doesn't do massages."

"Well what do you know… he's still a fool. You give heavenly massages."

"I know."

Her thoughts wandered to movie night with Tom. These nights usually ended with them screwing on the couch, both of them too lazy to get up and go to the bedroom. Of course Red noticed the sudden tension permeating her body.

"What are you thinking, Lizzie?"

She could always count on Red to be direct.

"I'm thinking that the last thing I want to do is go home and cuddle with my scum husband and have 'quality time'. I need to think of a way to get out of it."

"I'm sure you'll think of something."

Red pushed himself up into a seated position and smiled a lazy smile, one that Elizabeth had never seen before. She liked that smile.

"So… this mothering, babying, nurturing thing… does that involve food? If so, I'll take my plate right here, tea on the side. I like lemon and a bit of honey if you can find some."

Elizabeth laughed loudly and she could tell that Red was pleased with himself. She rose to make her way into the kitchen and he started to rise with her. Gently, she placed her hand on his chest and pushed him back down onto the couch.

"No… the invalid gets to sit back and get waited on. I brought Chinese but I'm thinking chicken soup would be better for you to build your strength up."

She could heard him chuckle as she made her way out of the living room. Dembe was already halfway through his food when she entered the kitchen. He rose from his seat when he noticed her, grinning guiltily.

"I like Chinese."

Elizabeth grinned back.

"I'm glad."

"You know," Dembe started as he found plates and silverware for her, "I'm glad you're here. I like it when he's happy, and you make him happy. No matter what you think, Raymond is a good man with a tragic past and he deserves whatever peace he can find."

Elizabeth started the tea and searched for honey, smirking to herself when she finally found it.

"You know I don't know what I'm doing, Dembe. There is no possible way that this can end well, but when I'm with him, I don't think about the end. I think about beginnings. Am I being completely naïve?"

Dembe shook his head slightly.

"Naïve is not the word. I prefer 'enamored'."

The spoon that Elizabeth was swirling in Red's tea stopped abruptly.

"I don't know what's going on, but I am not there yet. A couple of months ago I was completely in love with my husband and totally committed to that relationship. To jump from man to another and call it love…"

"I may be crossing a line, but I've seen you two together… totally in sync. And I know you care very deeply for him, even if you don't realize it yet. If you do not want to call it love so soon, I understand. But I stand by 'enamored' as my word of choice."

Outwardly, Elizabeth shrugged it off. But inwardly, she knew Dembe was right. Enamored was a good word.