Agnes 20

Author's Note: I know we have been waiting for Liz to finally be with Ressler and Agnes and that moment has come…

Let me know what you think.

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Don Ressler sat in the back of the Suzuki holding Liz's hand as they made their way to the hospital. Agnes had stayed back home with Chuck and Reddington while Dembe and Bianca had come with them. Agnes had been thrilled to see her mother after all of these months and Don had quickly kissed her and then left her and Agnes to their own devices until it was time to leave. He knew he would have time with her to himself later, he hoped, and they could speak then.

"Hey, do you have ID that's going to work?" Ressler asked her, Liz's head leaning on his shoulder as they drove.

"Elizabeth Calder," Liz said quietly.

Don nodded. In fake ID they, it seemed, were already married.

"She likes the green cast, as casts go," Liz said in hushed tones.

"She chose it," he said as he fingered the edge of her jacket. "She helped choose all of your clothes too."

Liz chuckled. "I wondered how I got mustard yellow."

"I chose the black pair of tights and let her choose the mustard," Don said as he kissed the top of her head. "The blue jacket was all her doing."

Liz snickered. "And the reindeer long johns?"

"We were both in agreement about those being a good choice," Don chuckled.

Liz snuggled into his frame a little more. "I like the shirts you chose."

"They're technically my shirts," he said. "So, don't get any ideas about swiping any of them."

"They smell like you," she said as she absently kissed his shoulder.

"And when you leave, they'll smell like you," he smirked.

She chuckled.

He sighed. "It's going to be okay, Liz."

There was a long pause.

"Liz?"

"I know," Liz sighed. "I just think my little girl has enough against her already. She didn't need more."

He nodded and kissed the top of her head again.

"How long can you stay?"

"Maybe a week?" Liz said as she shifted to look up at him more.

"I'll take it," he said as he pulled her in a little closer and squeezed her hand with his.

"Oh my god I hope she's okay," Liz sighed.

"She will be," he huffed. "We'll make sure of it."

Liz took comfort in the 'we' of his statement. She could see the easy way Ressler was with Agnes and how close they had become over the last 5 months. It was clear they loved each other a lot.

"I like that," Liz said.

"What?" Ressler asked.

"We," Liz said as she kissed his lips.

"Yeah, we need to do something about that," he smiled down at her.

"Don, I already said…" Liz started.

"And you know what I already said," he added.

She sighed and buried her head back in his shoulder.

"If they don't get anything on my gene panel then she'll have to do a bone biopsy," Liz huffed.

"We have some skin and blood from Tom as well," Dembe said over his shoulder.

"How did you…?" Liz and Ressler asked at once.

"Reddington made arrangements," he said. "It should be delivered to the hospital later today for testing."

"So, we'll know for sure which of us gave it to Agnes," Liz said.

"If they conclude she actually has it," Don clarified.

"And it could also be a mutation and not have to do with either parent," Liz said.

They all had been reading up on the illness.

"Who is Tom?" Ressler asked Dembe.

"James Jacobs," Dembe said. "Her biological father."

Liz and Ressler nodded—the name was fake. The last thing any of them needed was Townsend finding out that they were in Iceland.

They arrived at the hospital and Liz went inside with Don for her testing which involved bloodwork, skin cell extraction, saliva, and urine samples. They would have the results from Liz's panel in a few days. They informed the physician that her former husband's samples were arriving later that day.

Don made them all haddock for dinner while Reddington brought him up to speed on how things were going in the hunt for Townsend and Liz played with Agnes and all of her barbies.

When they sat down to eat Don placed a different plate of food in front of Agnes and she smiled. She was not a fan of fish, so the lamb chop was welcome on her plate.

"Look at you getting your own fancy meal," Liz smiled at her daughter as she leaned in to cut it.

"Daddy said I can use my hands with a lamb chop," Agnes said as she looked at her mom.

"Oh, sure you can," Liz smiled at her.

"Agnes has singularly been keeping the lamb industry in business since we got here," Ressler said.

Agnes giggled and picked up her lamb chop. "I really like lamb, mommy."

"I can see that," Liz chuckled. "And what's this?"

"Pearl couscous," Ressler answered.

"I like swirling them in my mouth and daddy found some in Iceland!" Agnes cheered.

"After going to every grocery store, I found a health food store that carried it," Ressler said.

"Daddy is spoiling you," Liz smiled over at Ressler.

"He said that too," Agnes laughed. "Daddy said I'm easy to spoil."

Everyone at the table laughed.

"I can see that that is very true Agnes," Dembe chuckled.

"So, she's calling you that all the time?" Reddington asked Ressler quietly as he sat down beside him.

"It's easier for her," Ressler explained.

"And you like it," Reddington noted.

Don breathed in and decided to be honest. "I do."

Reddington nodded.

They all enjoyed their fish dinner and some torte for dessert before Liz and Agnes settled into the sofa with some books to read. Moments later Agnes was in the kitchen with Don.

"Where's our Benedict book?" Agnes asked him.

"Uhhh," Ressler said as he threw down his towel and walked into the living room looking with her for the book.

"What's this book?" Liz asked.

"Mysterious Benedict Society," Ressler said as he turned over a pillow. "The bookstore lady recommended it and we're on…book 2?"

Agnes nodded.

Liz got up and looked with them and found it under the coffee table.

"This one?" She asked.

"You found it!" Agnes cheered.

"You'll need to update mummy on the characters and what has happened, or she won't under…"

"You tell her," Agnes said as she grabbed his hand and motioned for him to sit next to her mother. Don chuckled and sat down on the sofa next to Liz who held the book and Agnes crawled in between them, sitting a little on each of their laps.

"Okay, so the idea behind the books…." Ressler chuckled as Agnes settled back into the two of them and listened and Liz's eyes got a little watery. This was what her daughter wanted, and it was also exactly what she wanted too.

They spent the rest of the night together, the three of them. Don thought Agnes wanted time and space alone with her mother, but what she really wanted was both her parents. They got her ready for bed, both climbed in on either side of her to read stories and both kissed her goodnight.

"Are you tired?" Don asked her as they walked down the creaky stairs.

"I'm wound up," Liz said honestly.

"Good," he said. "Because I have a solution for that, but we need to convince our security to let us go somewhere without them."

Liz smiled at him, she liked that they were going to be alone.

"Who is most likely to let you go?" Liz asked.

Ressler thought for a minute. "Bianca. She's got a soft spot for the situation and has been the driver to and from most appointments."

"Where are we going?" Liz asked.

"It's a surprise," Ressler smiled at her.

She smiled back, she liked surprises.

"Tell her your plan and ask her to fake take us there and go get a coffee or…"

"Liz, this is Iceland on a Wednesday, nothing is open late," he said.

"Then ask if she'll sit in the car, somewhere else for…?"

"An hour or so," Ressler supplied.

Liz nodded.

Ressler kissed her quickly. "Bring a toque."

She wrinkled her forehead at his request and nodded.

They parted ways and, after a quick explanation to Bianca, she agreed and told the others she was taking them on her own. Luckily, Reddington was on another call and they got out before he knew what was happening. On the way to their location, Ressler and Liz's phone's kept buzzing and they quickly texted back that all was well and they'd be back later that night.

Bianca dropped them off in, what appeared to be the middle of nowhere, and then left as Ressler was turning on his flashlight and taking her hand.

"Where the hell are we?" Liz asked him as she laughed and scrambled over rocks.

"Iceland if known for their geothermal baths," he said. "Tourists pay a fortune to go to them, locals just go to the municipal swimming pools or these ones that are off the maps. Hopefully no one is here tonight."

"Ressler, I have a suit, but it's in my bags and…"

"We don't need suits," he said as he turned and looked at her with a wolfish grin.

"Well, let's hope no one else is here," Liz chuckled as they made their way down a ridge and she saw steam rising off a pool of water below. "Wow."

"Wait until you get in," Ressler said. "I've been coming here with Chuck and some of the others some nights just to relax. On the weekends there are others but most weeknights it's dead."

"You sure you want to share yours and Chuck's secret spot with me?" Liz laughed quietly.

Ressler stopped walking near the edge of the water and pulled her against him kissing her with clear intent.

"I've had dreams about bringing you here," he whispered to her. "The things we would do…"

Her breath caught in her throat.

"Every time I come with the others it gives me more visuals to work with," he said as he kissed down her neck and she sighed. "I have been fantasizing about bringing you here and I never thought it would happen…"

"Oh god," she moaned.

He pulled back and started to pull off his coat, then hers. They undressed quickly in the cold, and got into the steamy water which only served to further ignite the months of passion and longing they had been holding back. No one else was around and, although their voices may have carried a little, neither held back and both individuals took full advantage of the secluded spot and their mounting desire. When they had satiated themselves, he pulled her back against him, sitting her sweaty and steamy body on his lap and she leaned her head back against his shoulder kissing the underside of his jaw and mewing.

"Marry me?" His sonorous voice asked her.

"Uh huh," Liz nodded and sighed.

"Liz?" He asked her, unsure she knew what he'd even asked.

"I'll marry you right now," Liz smiled up at him and softly kissed his lips. "Name the time and place and I'm there. You are…Don, you're…"

He waited for her to finish and when she didn't, he looked down at her and noted tears running from her eyes.

"Liz…" he said as he kissed her cheek and wiped at her tears.

"I love you so much," she cried as she turned to face him more. "I love how you love me, how you care for and love Agnes, Don…I will never be what you need or…"

"You and Agnes are all I need," he corrected her.

She nodded.

"I just love you more than I knew I could love someone," Liz said. "And I know that sounds trite and like a TV movie, but I love you in my bones…that sounds stupid but…"

"It doesn't," he said with a small smile. "It sounds wonderful, Liz."

She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him softly on the lips. "I just want to stay here, like this, forever."

He gave her a quick kiss and shifted her off him. "Speaking of forever…"

He climbed out of the water.

"Fuck," he said as the cold air his his naked body. "It's cold!"

She laughed as she watched his dark form got to their clothes and return with something in his hand. When he decided on this plan at the hospital today he had unboxed the ring and decided packaging was not needed. She heard him get back in the water and he was pressed up against her as she rubbed her hands up and down his cold arms to warm him up.

"For you," he said as he held out something.

She reached out and took what felt like a ring and smiled up at him.

"I can't really see it, but I know I'll…"

"Agnes and I picked it out," Ressler said as he kissed her and placed it on her finger. It was a little large but not by much. "It's etched like volcanic rock from Iceland, and it's got Agnes' birthstone."

"What?!" Liz asked astounded and happy as she struggled to get a look at it in the moonlight.

"It's not a diamond or…"

"I want what you two picked," Liz interrupted him quickly and kissed him excitedly. "This is exactly what I would want."

Ressler smiled and pulled her against him again. "You sure?"

"About marrying you?" Liz asked. "Absolutely. About the ring? Absolutely. Don…this is perfect. I can';t even see it and I know it's perfect because you're perfect."

He smirked when he heard her excitement in the night air. They sat and talked honestly about their worries about Agnes away from the others before they heard a truck pull up nearby and, reluctantly, got out and quickly got dressed before running for the heat of the truck where Bianca was waiting for them.

Liz turned on the interior light on the way home and saw the ring that she would wear for the rest of her life, chosen by the man she loved and the daughter she loved. It was perfect.

To be continued…