many thanks for the reviews and I apologize for not updating in so long but I lost my muse.

I hope you still enjoy the story.

I own nothing.

When he awakes the next morning, her side of the bed is already cold. He cuddles her pillow and sighs satisfied , it smells of her perfume with a hint of sweat and sex.

Last night means everything to him, her hands had been all over him, the imprints of her fingernails and scratches don't hide what they have done and he wouldn't want it any other way. She was, and to a certain degree is, touching him in places he hasn't been touched for so long.

She is in possession of his heart and mind.

He peers further into the room and surveys the damage they have caused. They are scrapes on the wallpaper where her hands had been, their clothing lies scattered on the floor along with some pillows. It is utterly chaotic.

He loves chaos, especially when it comes to sexual activities.

"Good morning, sleepy head!"

Only wearing his shirt she climbs back to bed with her tablet in one hand.

"What are you doing?", he replies a little drowsy.

"Giving Samar an update."

He crocks an eyebrow and watches her profile. She is worrying her bottom lip while she is typing a message. His shirt barely covers her thighs but it reveals her long, silky legs which are currently crossed.

He rolls onto the side to face her. Resting on his elbow, he peeks at the screen but she has put it on standby mode. His irises wander to her face, and for some reason she's regarding him with a cheeky smile.

"An update about what?", he asks amused.

"About our current situation."

"That means you half naked next to me.", he replies sultry, his palm running along her smooth skin.

"Exactly. Samar and I grade all men with whom we spent the night. I gave you a B- by the way.", she remarks with a playful glint.

Her eyes follow the movement of his calloused fingers as he takes the tablet and puts it on the nightstand, his lips curling up. "B-? I was a tad overwhelmed but why don't we postpone breakfast and I show you what I'm capable of?"

"Uh, I'm afraid we have to leave. Samar told me that Ress has a lead on us. We need to change location as soon as possible." She presses a light kiss against his temple and rolls out of bed. She walkes toward the bathroom and throws her head over her shoulder, giving him a pointing look. "I'm having a shower though. So if you're interested...", she winkes at him while shoving off his shirt.

He doesn't have to think twice, licks his lips appreciatively and follows her.

After their romp under the shower, they enjoy a quick breakfast, consisting of Croissants for both of them, tea for him and coffee for Lizzie. He would like to stay just a little longer, leaving their war against the cabal and Ressler's obsessive manhunt behind. He just wants to curl up with Lizzie under the sheets. She dresses in casual attire, black skinny jeans and a blue blouse that emphasizes her breasts. He knows she is doing that for him and not for her.

He carries their luggage to the elevator while she teasingly glides her palm to his butt. Once inside, he leans in and all but growls into her ear, "If I were you I would stop this attempt or I'm going to push the 'Stop' button and take you right here."

She tries to remain unaffected but, god, his voice is making her weak in her knees. Pointing to the camera, she replies in a ironic tone. "If you like to be watched, please go ahead."

"Don't you enjoy a good movie every now and then?"

"You refer to porn as a good movie?"

He huffs a laugh. "A porn of us is more like a 'That's how it's done' video. A lot of men would benefit from your tongue technique. I mean the things you're doing with your sweet mouth... good god!"

She smirks satisfied about his words. Being together with a man of his experience has been something she was afraid of. She was afraid that she would never be enough for him so his statement warms her enormously. Lost in thought, she almost misses how the lights go out. Pushing one button after another, she glances over to Red.

They are trapped and his look of utter horror doesn't make her feel better.

He opens the duffel bag, hands her a gun and a magazine, then reloads his own and opens the trap at the ceiling. "I don't know how many people are waiting for us but I feel like I have to remind you on our little chat after the King auction."

She furrows her brows as she climbs up the wall. "Yeah, I said I care about you and you have to deal with it. The latter one is still true but you should know by now that I love you for god's sake and I sure as hell won't run away when you're about to die. Did I make myself clear?" She's breathing heavily as she crawls back and looks down to him. "I love you, Raymond Reddington whether you want it or not. Now that we've discussed this, come up here!"

He forgets to speak. She loves him. Lizzie loves him. It's actually not that much of a surprise after last night but hearing those special 3 words set something inside of him free. He feels human.

He jumps, gripping the edge of the trap and hoists himself up. How badly he wants to tell her the same but now is hardly the time to do so. When he's going to say those words, he imagines Lizzie in a dress, surrounded by dozens of candles and jazz music.

He's a hopelessly romantic.

They crawl through the hoistway, the darkness and silence terribly disturbing for him. He watches their surroundings. He kicks another trap with the heel of his shoe until it falls to the ground with a muffled thud.

There's no one in the hall except hotel guests who think this must be a simple power blackout. "Red?", he hears her saying from behind him in a tone that makes him cringe. She sounds terrified and even looks more so as he turns around, and she's pointing to an object that is attached to the wall. He knows instantly what it is.

"Run!"

He grabs her hand and pulls her along as fast as he can, the ticking sound coming in closer intervals. Before the bomb goes off, he pushes her to the ground and shields her with his body. The blast is intense as well as the the loud banging noises in their ears. He tightens his grip on her when he feels splinter from the chandeliers and walls flying by.

Then the earth turns black around him.

When he opens his eyes, the first thing he sees is Lizzie above him. She's devastated, her eyes red rimmed from crying and the dust that is floating around. Her lips are moving but he doesn't hear anything she's saying. All he hears is a high pitched 'beep'.

Squinting his eyes shut, he tries to get up. Out, they have to get out is all he thinks. The hall is on fire, luckily it's not the direction they have to go. Lizzie pulls him up, his knee hurting badly.

"Lizzie, are you hurt?" He must have screamed because she is startled as the question leaves his mouth. She nods once and her answer is such a relieve to him. He can't bear the thought of Lizzie being harmed because of him.

She puts an arm around his waist and they stumble to the exit together. His eyes see the light at the end of the tunnel. He groans again but this time it is because of his head.

"You're bleeding!", she says concerned. Well, at least he can hear her this time.

"Just a small cut."

Then their eyes simultaneously fall to a small figure, curled up in fetal position on the ground, sobbing quietly.

A child.

Red is with him first, squating in front of him. He asks the little boy where his parents are but he doesn't understand french, nor english so he tries it in chinese and it seems to work. He looks up to Liz and shakes his head, defeated. "He says his father brought him here before going back to get the mother."

"Where did he go?"

He nods in the other direction which is burning down. There's no chance that his parents could have survived the fire.

She worries her bottom lip with her teeth, considering their options. They can't leave him here. Reds expression is pain stricken, his eyes watering. She understands now how he feels when she gets hurt on his many missions. This time they both are to blame for the death of so many people and for the boys fate.

"Let's take him and leave!"

He picks up the child, carrying him safely outside. They disappear without getting caught by paramedics or the local police. Gladly, none of them is injured badly.

His jet is waiting at a disused airstrip where he can finally tape the wound at his head. He's going to take them to Argentinia until he receives information about those responsible for the attack.

The boy sits safely in Lizzies lap, looking fearful.

"Hey sweetie, what's your name?", he asks in chinese.

"Hui Wang." His voice is shaking and he asks him about his parents again. Deciding to delay this topic he strokes gently over his short black hair, tells Hui his and Lizzies full name.

His tiny fingers wander to Lizzies hand, holding on tight as the jet heads off. He cannot be older than 3. This whole situation must be beyond dreadful. She rocks him gently back and forth, quietly singing the Anniversary Waltz for him while watching Reds fond expression.

"He seems to like your voice.", he whispers while they watch how his head falls back against Lizzies chest.

"He's been through a lot. What are we gonna do with him?"

"Dembes family lives in a small village near Buenos Aires. We're gonna stay there for a while."

"I thought Dembe has no family.", she says a little confused, her knuckles drawing small circles on Huis cheeks.

"He's never told you anything?"

She crocks an eyebrow at him questioningly.

"Dembe is married and father of a one year old."

Of all the things, she couldn't have seen this coming.

TBC...let me know what you think. :)