Eli parked the car in front of a building, and got out of the car. Red got down and walked to her to hold her elbow and walk with her into the building, "I hope you don't feel tired after driving for that long."

She patted his hand, "I'll be fine. Besides, our dear Dembe will join us soon. So it won't be a problem."

He frowned, "You insisted to drive, sweetheart. I could have done it."

She twisted her mouth, "I'm fine, Raymond."

He nodded as they approached a particular apartment, and he rang the doorbell. Aram opened the door surprised to see them, but let them get in. He showed them the photo of Susan Hargrave, and Red recognized her immediately. He told Aram about her, and left with Eli. He drove this time to their safe house. He called Baz to tell him about Hargrave to collect information about her current operations.

When they reached their destination, Dembe met them at the front door. He hugged Red patting his back, "Welcome back, my brother."

He then turn to Eli and kissed her cheek, "How are you, my dear?"

She hugged him firmly, that Red raised an eyebrow amazed, "Missed you so much, my big brother."

He caressed her hair, "I missed you too, sis."

Red sighed and asked with non patience, "Shall we get in and finish that warm scene inside?"

They smiled and Eli held Red's hand getting into the house with them.

Red went to have a shower first, and Eli sat in the kitchen with Dembe, who was making them something to eat. He held her hand firmly, when she tried to help, "Don't. I'll do it alone. I know you're tired. You just eat and go to bed."

She sighed and rested her forehead to her hand, "Those were horrible days, Dembe. I never saw him that weak. And it scared me so much... Being responsible for him, and he always was the one who cared about me. I was afraid I fail."

He nodded, "I get what you mean, Eloise. But it seems you made a great job taking care of our man."

She shrugged and smiled sarcastically, "Did I have a choice?"

He scanned her sad face as he chopped the tomatoes, dropped them into the pot over the cooker, then walked to embrace her, "Talk to me, Eloise. What happened?"

She clenched her fists into his back tightly and tried to hold her tears, "Seeing him that lost, Dembe. It scared me. It broke my heart. I had to be strong for him."

He rubbed her back kindly and she sobbed, "I was fighting him. I was fighting his darkest face. I should have won, for him, and for me."

He kissed her hair softly, "I know, my dear. And you've won, for all of us."

She pulled back and looked into his eyes, "Thank you, Dembe. For your support. "

He smiled and wiped her tears with his thumb, "No, Eloise. Thank YOU."

She faked a chuckle, "Come on, let's check the food. You're not going to feed as burnt food, are you?"

He smiled, and walked to check the pot. She brought two strips of her bag and got a glass of water to take her medication. He watched her then held the strips, "How do you feel now?"

She smiled, "I'm fine."

He checked one of them, "This one doesn't look like a medicine used to regulate your cycle, Eloise. Or even stop bleeding. What is it for, Eloise?"

She swallowed, "It's, it's part of the treatment... I didn't ask the doctor what is it for."

He watched her embarrassed face and nodded silently, before the phone rings. He answered it and she walked to the room to get a shower herself too.

After they finish their dinner, Red looked at them, "I think we have a few hours to get some sleep, before we go to attack Susan's team. Eloise, I want you away from that. I would be appreciative, if you go to spend some time with Kate."

She looked at them confused, "I don't want to leave you, Raymond. I'll go to Kate tomorrow, I need to go to the doctor, I'll take her with me."

He frowned, "Why do you need to see the doctor?"

She tried to smile, "Nothing. It's just for follow up. I'm fine. I swear."

He moved his tongue over his teeth not convinced, but nodded and walked to their room, "Good night, Dembe."

Dembe looked at her in suspension, "Good night, Raymond."

She sighed and followed Red to their room.

""""""""""""""""""""

Eli got up almost at noon, to find herself alone in the house. Of course Red and Dembe had left very early. She found a note Red has left for her on the dresser, telling her he told Mr. Kaplan about their visit to the hospital and wishing her good luck with a promise to keep in touch.

She smiled and called Kate to tell her she would be ready in thirty minutes.

In the hospital, Kate asked as they sat together, "Why are we here, my young lady? If you are not bleeding anymore and you haven't finished your medication course yet!"

Eli avoided her eyes, "I'm here to get a massage setting."

Kate looked at her amazed, then shook her head, "Excuse me, my young lady, but we get massage in health club or a spa. Not in a hospital."

Eli swallowed, "It's a massage therapy, Kate. A treatment for my condition."

Kate frowned, "Which condition exactly, Eloise?"

Eli turned her face to her and nodded silently. Kate pursed her lips and held Eli's hand firmly, "Does Raymond know about that?"

Eli shook her head, "No."

Kate patted her hand, "You should talk about it with him."

Eli swallowed, "I will. I just don't know how or when."

Kate sighed, "You know it will be painful,the massage."

She nodded, "I know. The doctor told me. This is why I asked you to come with me. I might be in pain when I finish the session."

Kate patted her shoulder, "I'll be here for you, my child."

Eli smiled at her grateful, and got up when she heard the nurse calling her name. Kate gave her an encouraging smile and she walked into the room.

""""""""""""""""""""""

When they went back to the safe house, Kate wanted to stay with Eli till Red is back, but Eli told her she would be fine. Kate insisted on making dinner for them before leaving, so Eli doesn't have to cook.

Eli stayed the rest of the day watching TV or working on her laptop. When Red and Dembe didn't call, she had her dinner and medication and laid down on the couch.

She fell asleep after a few minutes, till she heard the door opening, she opened her eyes and got up fast. She relaxed when she saw Red and Dembe. Red took off his fedora, "Hello, sweetheart. Sorry for startling you. You should have sleep in your bed, not on the couch."

She sighed, "Don't worry, sir. I wouldn't ruin your lovely couch."

He chuckled and walked to her. She got up asking, "Did you get your woman?"

Dembe looked at her annoyed, and Red embraced her with one arm, tugging her firmly to him, "I only have one woman, and she's in my arms right now."

He felt her body getting tense and saw the flinch in her left eye, so he paused and watched her face concerned, "Something wrong? Are you in pain?"

She shook her head, and pulled her belly a little backwards to avoid grinding onto his firm body, "No, I'm fine."

He cocked his head and murmured, "How was your visit to the doctor?"

She raised a hand to his cheek, "Everything is going as it was planned."

He frowned and didn't respond, so she asked again caressing his cheek and lips with her fingers, "You didn't tell me, did you get Hargrave?"

He sighed and moved with her to sit on the couch, while Dembe moved to the kitchen to get them dinner. Red talked as he watched her unexplained tired face, "I'm still trying to meet her. I sent her two invitations, but got nothing. I believe the third one will bring her on knees."

She smiled and pressed a soft kiss to his pursed lips.

She sat with them to the dining table, as the two ate. Dembe chewed his food and smiled, "Your cooking had improved so much, Eloise. It's delicious. Although I'll miss your pasta."

She laughed and Red chuckled, "Oh,man. She didn't cook that. It must have been our dear Kate."

He stared at them then shook his head, "I don't care. It's still delicious. " He took another bite of the grilled chicken and ignored their laughing.

Dembe washed the dishes after he's finished his dinner with Red. Eli touched Red's back as he poured himself some red wine. He smiled at her and offered her the glass, but she shook her head, "I guess I need to start eating and drinking healthy. The doctor gave me that advice, and I'm trying to comply."

He nodded and sipped his wine, "It would be my first time to see you doing this, Miss Stubborn."

She laughed and rubbed his arm, "Will you join me in bed tonight?"

He swallowed the wine and shook his head, "I'm sorry, sweetheart. I'm waiting for a call from Cooper, to inform me if our plan had gone well."

She nodded and whispered, "Will you sit with me, at least, till I fall asleep?"

He grinned and pressed a fast kiss to her lips, "Definitely, my love."

He moved to their bedroom embracing her waist with his arm and pulling her gently with him. He sat on the edge of the bed watching her changing her clothes.

She put on a black tank top, and kept only her red lace panties on her lower body. He licked his lower lip scanning her ivory skin beneath the dark colors.

She lied down in bed, next to him and covered her body only to her waist with the bed sheets. She looked at him and he cocked his head to watch her pretty smile. She traced circles with her finger on his thigh, "Is she pretty?"

He frowned, "I should assume you're talking about Scotti... You already saw her pictures, my dear."

She moved her fingers up and down his thigh slowly and seductively, "Photos can lie."

He shrugged, "I've known much prettier women through my life."

She scratched inside his thigh, and he bit inside his cheek feeling the blood rushing to his groin. She asked with lower voice, "Did you two... did you...?"

She didn't know how to phrase it, so he held her hand to stop it, and replied with firm voice, "She's married, Eli. Her husband was an associate of mine."

She bit inside her lip avoiding his eyes, and gazing the bulge forming in his pants, "So what? She's a criminal. Cheating on her husband won't be much for her."

He held her chin to make her look at him, "I'm a criminal, and never cheated on you, Eloise. You on the other hand..."

She cut him off with her hand pressed against his mouth, as she jumped to sit up, "Don't. Don't you ever say that again. Or even think about it. You know well what were my intentions."

He bit his lower lip and nodded silently, so she moved her hand back to rest it on his thigh looking away, "besides, I'm not your wife, and will never be."

He cocked his head shaking it, "What is that all about, Eli? Really."

He was surprised, when she raised glowing red eyes to him, and when he heard her husky voice, "I want to have a baby, Raymond."

He ceased breathing, as she went on, "When I held Agnes, I felt I want to have one. For the first time, I really wanted to be a mum. When I touched her warm skin, I felt safe, complete. I want to feel that again, Raymond."

He swallowed the lump that suddenly formed in his throat and watched the tears rolling on her soft cheeks, he shook his head, "Oh, Eli. I wish I can do anything about that for you, sweetheart. If you want to adopt..."

He stopped when she shook her head violently, "No, Raymond. I'm talking about a baby from the man I love. A part of him growing and moving inside me. A holy and permanent link that bonds us forever, whatever happened."

He flinched in pain and whispered, "Eli, I wish I could help you, my love. But even if we get married, I can't guarantee that. You know that, my love."

She frowned and asked him sarcastically,"Are you serious, Red? If you know I can get pregnant, will you really marry me?"

He had a deep breath and rested his head to the pillow behind him, "I don't know, Eloise. I've... I've asked myself about it many times. How will this over?"

She pointed to her chest and whispered, "With this, you mean us?"

He turned his face to her and looked into her blue eyes shaking his head, "You're so young, Eli. You're younger than my daughter. You deserve better than this."

She flinched, "Better than us? Than you and me? You think I can find someone who loves me more than you? Someone who cares about me more than you?"

Her voice faded as she said, "You think I can love another man more than you, want him more as I want you?"

He sighed and pulled her to his chest, "No one will ever love or care of you as I do, Eloise."

She rested her cheek to his chest and closed her eyes, listening to his heart beats, "Don't you want to be a father again?"

He shook his head, "That would be great, Eloise, but technically,..."

She pulled away from him and pegged, "I want to have a husband and a baby, Raymond. Is that too much?"

He raised his eyebrows and his voice choke, "Please, don't."

She shook her head and whispered with hoarsy voice, "Don't what? You don't want me to even dream?"

He shook his head and his eyes glowed, "Don't talk like her."

She whimpered and buried her face into her hands. He had a deep breath and pulled her to his chest rubbing her back gently. She raised her her red eyes to him, "Make love to me, Raymond, please."

And he took her, burying all his sadness, anger and all his fears inside her, with his seed.