A/N: Here's the next chapter. This is the beginning of a quite a struggle for Liz and Red. I promise you a happy end though(unlike the show at the moment) but it will be a rough road. I hope you will hang in there with me and I hope you enjoy.

Chapter thirty-five

The following days were spent enjoying their time together. Lizzie and Red spent their days in and around the house. They did nothing special, but for both of them, the time they were spending together was special. For Red it showed how a life with Lizzie would be and for Lizzie it felt like she was building a life again. Almost every day Red was away for a couple of hours. He never really said where he went, but she assumed it had something to do with Abby or his brother.

Tonight they were going to Abby and Angela to have dinner. Red wanted her to get to know Angela too. She didn't really know the woman, but she adored Abby and was happy to see the little girl again. She'd missed her.

Lizzie looked at herself in the mirror. She'd decided to go for a light grey skirt and a light blue blouse. She hoped this was okay. Hearing a sound she looked behind her. Her breath caught in her throat. This was the first time she saw Red in a suit again. He was wearing his grey, three piece suit, with a light blue tie. He was wearing his glasses and she noticed he hadn't shaved again. She loved the slightly rougher look on him. He looked absolutely gorgeous.

"Like what you see?" Red smirked as he saw Lizzie look at him.

Lizzie smiled brightly. "I do."

Quickly closing the distance between them, Red pulled her in his arms and kissed her deeply. "You look beautiful." He murmured against her lips.

"We have to go." Red said. He kissed her hair before he let her go. Grabbing her hand Red pulled her along with him. It was time to go to dinner.

A little while later they arrived at the house. For some strange reason Lizzie felt a bit nervous. Helping out of the car, Red sensed her nerves. He tilted his head and looked at her. "What's wrong?" He asked.

"Nothing."

"Lizzie."

She'd hoped he would let it pass, but Red rarely ever did that. "I'm just a bit nervous." She admitted.

He lifted her chin with his finger so she would look in his eyes. "It'll be okay." He reassured her. "Come on, let's go." Just like before he reached for her hand and together they walked up to the house.

The door opened before they could even ring the bell. "Uncle Ray!" Abby almost yelled and threw herself into his arms. "I missed you." The little girl said and threw her arms around his neck.

"I missed you too sweetie."

"Hi aunt Lizzie." Abby kept her arms tightly around Red and looked to the side to greet Lizzie.

"Hi, sweetheart." It was good to see the little girl again. She ran her hand over Abby's hair.

"Hello Raymond." Angela appeared at the doorway and greeted them.

Red put Abby down on the ground again and leaned forward to kiss Angela on the cheek. "Angela."

Angela placed her hand on Red's cheek and kissed his cheek. Leaning back Angela noticed the lipstick marks on his cheek and wiped them away with her thumb. "Left a mark." She whispered. "Elizabeth, welcome." She turned towards the younger woman and shook hands.

"Hi, Angela." Lizzie greeted the woman politely.

Abby grabbed Red's hand, pulled him inside and talked to him about everything she'd experienced today. Angela gestured for Lizzie to go first and the two women followed.

At the dinner table, Angela manoeuvred them in such a way that Lizzie was sitting next to Abby and Red next to Angela. During dinner Angela kept the conversation with Red going by reminiscing about Jarod. This meant that Lizzie couldn't partake in the conversation, but luckily Abby had more than enough to tell her. Lizzie did feel somewhat out of place and it made her feel insecure.

It was well after dinner when Lizzie was sitting in the living room alone. Red was upstairs with Abby, putting her to bed and Angela was preparing drinks in the kitchen. With her hands in her lap, Lizzie looked around the room and kept touching her nails. She wanted to go home. She didn't really understand what was going on. Red seemed different too. He was distant and that was so different from the last couple of days when he kept touching her and was open with her. It made her feel uncomfortable. Hearing footsteps Lizzie looked up and saw Angela walking back into the living room.

"Elizabeth, or should I say aunt Lizzie?" Angela began as she sat across from her on the couch. "So you are Raymond's latest conquest."

Lizzie knew better than to react to that and so she kept quiet. That however didn't bother Angela.

"You are very different from his usual type though." Angela continued. "But then again if someone's desperate enough he clearly won't say no."

Lizzie stood up. "Look, I think it is best I leave." She wasn't going to stand here and listen to Angela's nasty words.

"Sure, go on. Raymond will be staying here though."

This made Lizzie stop dead in her tracks. Surely he would never. Before she could even say something though Angela continued again, knowing she had Lizzie's attention.

"You really think he'll be going home with you?" Angela stood up and walked over to Lizzie. "You've held his interest now for a while, but Raymond will get bored and when he gets bored he will return here."

Lizzie shook her head. She was not going to let that woman get to her. Red wasn't like that. She almost left the living room when Angela's next words stopped her again.

"Where do you think he's been these last couple of days, Elizabeth?" Angela turned to Lizzie. "Are you really that naïve to think that you can keep a man like Raymond entertained? Surely you know better. He will always come back to me darling. You will never be enough." The older woman approached the Lizzie. "Raymond has needs. Needs that you are clearly not fulfilling." For the final blow, Angela leaned in and whispered in her ear. "I know how to fulfil Raymond's needs."

TBC...