Chapter 33

Andrea walked through to the living room the next morning to see Kate putting on her long coat, before grabbing her purse.

"Hey, where are you off too so early?"

Kate turned around to see Andrea smiling at her, walking over to the younger woman before placing a warm kiss to her lips.

"I'm just going out for a little walk, I won't be long dearie."

"A walk where?"

"Okay, if you must know…I'm going to see Tom."

"Liz' Tom?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"I want to try and convince him to allow Elizabeth to come with us…to Italy."

"Should you really be getting involved, it's between them."

"Elizabeth has tried and tried to talk to him about it but he won't budge. I know it's because of Raymond, it's common knowledge that he doesn't like him much. He already blames Raymond for breaking him and Elizabeth up."

"Mmmmm, nothing to do at all with the other woman." Andrea replied sarcastically.

"Anyway, I just thought I'd try and talk to him. Try to explain the situation a little better, Tom and I always got a long well…he might just listen to me."

"Don't hold you breath on that one."

"I have to at least try dearie."

"I know how much you want Red there with you when the baby comes, but you still have me, even if he were unable to be."

"I know you will, I hope you don't think I'm offending you because I want him there. It's just, he's been in my life for so long, a lot longer than anyone else, I trust him, I love him and this is an important moment in my life, in both our lives and I just don't want him to miss out on it."

"I do understand, just be careful okay. Do you want me to drive you?"

"I'm not incapable of driving myself just yet."

"I know , I didn't mean…"

"It's all right dearie, I know you're only looking out for us, but we'll be okay."

"Off you go then, I love you."

"And I love you, I won't be long."

"Call when you're heading back, I'll make us something to eat."

Kate gave her one last kiss before leaving the apartment and heading over to Tom's.

Raymond looked to his right when he opened his eyes to see Elizabeth sleeping peacefully beside him, he smiled before sitting up a little and leaning over to kiss her cheek. She stirred when she felt the kiss, opening her eyes to see him watching her closely.

"Morning." She smiled.

"Hello…when did you get in, you should have woken me up."

"You looked that peaceful when I came in, I thought I'd let you sleep."

"If I'd know you were coming over, I'd have stayed up."

Elizabeth sat up, leaning over to kiss him before she tucked her hair behind her ear.

"I wanted to surprise you."

"Well you certainly did that, so…how did it go yesterday with Andrea?"

"Yeah, it went great. I had a great time with her."

"What were you two up too?"

"I'm not sure I should tell you, Kate and Andrea will want to tell you themselves."

"They're okay aren't they?"

Elizabeth heard the worry in his voice before taking hold of his hand.

"Don't worry, they're both fine. Okay look, if I tell you, you have to act surprised when they tell you, Andrea would kill me if she knew I'd told you."

"I'll act surprised, you have my word."

Elizabeth was in two minds whether to say anything or not but gave in when she saw the pleading look Red was giving her.

"Andrea was going to propose to Kate last night." She smiled.

"As in getting married?"

"Well of course you idiot." She laughed.

"Oh my, that I wasn't expecting."

"Hey, what's wrong?"

"Nothing."

"Red?"

"I am happy for them, of course I am."

"You don't sound it."

"It's just a surprise, I honestly didn't think Kate would ever marry. Having said that, after Annie died, I didn't think she's ever love anyone again, and then Andrea came along."

"They're happy, Andrea loves Kate more than anything, you know that. She'd never hurt her if that's what you were worrying about."

"I'm worried Lizzie, it's nice to see things going Kate's way at last. God knows she deserves it after all she's been through."

"So do you."

"Considering I caused all of this, I'm not sure."

Elizabeth moved closer, her hand going to his face, forcing him to look at her before she kissed him.

"You deserve a second chance too, I don't agree with a lot of the things you've done in your life, not you or Kate but you've both proved in the last few months that you can both change and I'm proud of you for that. Kate's right, this move is right for everyone. This life here has been nothing but trouble for all of us, we need this move."

"If Tom allows you."

"I'm hopeful that he'll come around, he came around the other night to collect Elizabeth and we had a really good chat. We admitted we were both at fault for the things that happened in our relationship and while he's still not your biggest fan, I know he does like Kate, and he knows how important this move is for her, I'm hoping that will help his decision in the end."

"All we can do is hope."

"Come on, why don't I make us some breakfast, no doubt Dembe will be by soon."

"That's sounds wonderful."

"Good, you get dressed and I'll go make a start." She smiled as she got out of bed and made her way through to the kitchen.

Kate knocked lightly on the apartment door as she waited for Tom to answer, a few moments later the door opened, Tom appearing with Agnes in his arms. He offered Kate a smile as Agnes wriggled in his arms, as the young girl tried to get to Kate.

"Well someone's happy to see you." he stated.

Kate smiled as she held out her arms, Tom passing Agnes to her before the little girl made a small squeal before tucking her head in to Kate's neck.

"Come on through, I made some tea."

"That's very kind of you dearie, thank you."

"Take a seat."

Kate sat down on the chair as Agnes settles on her knee, her attentions going to Kate's strap on her bag, that she decided to play with.

"What can I do for you Mr Kaplan, your text wasn't very clear, just that you wanted to talk."

"Yes well, what I wanted to discuss with was Elizabeth and Raymond."

"You mean this crazy move to Italy?"

"I know it's asking a lot from you to allow Elizabeth to take your daughter out of the country and I know that fact that she'd be going with Raymond isn't helping your decision."

"It's the thought of not seeing her everyday you know, she's my little and I'm gonna be missing out on so much of her growing up. There's no telling how often Liz will manage to get back here with her and in all honesty, I can't afford all that travelling back and forth."

"You don't have to worry about the money Tom, Raymond is willing to pay for you to come over, whenever you want, every weekend it you want too and if you wish to stay for holidays then of course you'd be more than welcome, you're Agnes's father and nothing will ever change that."

"I know having him there with you is important to you, when you have that baby, Liz explained all of that."

"I know you probably think I'm a crazy old woman, I know you don't like him but he's been in my life for so long, he's my family and the idea of him not being there when she's born, it sounds foolish but I can't imagine him missing out on this moment."

"So you're here pleading with me?"

"I suppose I am dearie, yes."

"You don't make it easy for a guy do you?"

"I know I have no right to ask this of you, you don't owe me a thing."

"Out of everyone I've met since Reddington came in to Liz's life, you are one of the decent ones Mr Kaplan, god knows you didn't deserve a lot of the stuff that's happened to you because of him. As I said to Liz, I am thinking hard about this, as much as I hate Reddington, I'll always love Liz and I do want her to be happy and you're a good woman Mr Kaplan and I want you to be happy too. I just need a little more time to think things through."

"Of course dearie, I understand."

Kate offered a warm smile as Agnes looked up at her, Kate placing a small kiss to the girls head.

To Be Continued…