A/N: For all those who keep hanging in there. Thank you. For me this is the longest fic I have ever written and this was is special to me and I am glad people enjoy it. So thank you! Here's the next chapter. Some happiness for Red and Lizzie.

Chapter twenty-seven

She woke up from the door closing. Immediately she sat up straight in her bed. Looking beside her she saw that once again, Red wasn't next to her and again the spot beside her was cold. She felt a slight panic, but that quickly disappeared when she heard footsteps approaching. A moment later, Red stepped into her bedroom. Seeing her sitting right up in her bed, he saw the slight panic in her eyes. He gave her a pointed look, but didn't say anything about it.

"Good morning." He greeted her. He walked to the window and opened the curtain.

"Where did you go?" She asked from the bed.

"Went for a walk with Jethro." He didn't go to her, but let her be for a while. "I'll make breakfast." With that said he left her alone in her bedroom.

After a nice long shower and getting dressed Lizzie watched Red move around in her kitchen. She let herself admire him for a moment. His strong back, his nice ass and the way he stood there. She enjoyed having him in her house. She was glad she'd asked him to stay. Jethro's bark ended her day dreaming and she quickly sat down at the table. Without a word Red put some food in front of her. In silence they both ate their breakfast. After breakfast Red cleaned up. He saw Lizzie was a bit unsure of how to proceed. He was going to let her follow her routine of the day and would just hang back and relax. He did have to go to his brother's house. Since he planned on staying with her for at least the next few days, he needed to get some more clothes. He watched her walk out of the kitchen with Jethro following behind her.

He joined her outside and waited for het next move. He didn't have to wait long. She turned around so she could look at him. She smiled softly at him. "Thank you for staying."

"You're welcome." He returned her smile.

She was sad. She knew she was lucky he' been able to stay as long as he had with her. He eventually had to go. She shook her head. She wasn't going to go there. She was so lost in her thoughts that she hadn't noticed him approaching her. His finger under her chin made her look up. His nearness surprised her. She got lost in his green eyes for a moment. The way he looked at her made her feel like she was the only one he would ever see. Seeing him smile again she started to feel shy and wanted to turned away from him. However, his hand on the side of her neck stopped her. Slowly, as if he didn't want to spook her, he closed the distance between them. Their breaths mingled and then he touched her lips with his. At first it was a mere brush, but he quickly wanted more. He brushed her lips with his a few more times before he caught her bottom lip softly between his lips. Her subsequent soft groan, urged him on. His other hand entangled in her hair, holding her close. Tilting his head his tongue touched upper lip, begging for entrance which she gladly gave. As their tongues met, even if it was not the first time it felt like it, he got caught up in her. He kept the kiss, slow and sweet, just like he wanted it to be. His tongue stroked hers, explored her mouth and let her explore his. Her sweet whimpers tested his self control. He'd always wanted her, but now that he had a true taste of her, he knew he would never want anyone else. She was his, just like he was hers. Reluctantly he ended the kiss, mostly because air was something he needed if he wanted to kiss her again. Seeing her slight move forward with her eyes still closed after he ended the kiss made him lean in for a mere brush of lips.

"That is how I imagined our first kiss." He whispered in a rough voice.

"Mmm…" Was all Lizzie was able to murmur. His kiss had left her breathless, literally even and unsteady on her feet. She saw him smile and blushed. She enjoyed their kiss quite a lot and it was unexpected even. Unexpected but really not unwelcome. She'd wondered, after that first somewhat forceful kiss, when he would kiss her again. Surely there had been moments when he could have. But he hadn't and it had made her wonder if he was ever going to do it again. That made her think if she maybe had to take initiative, but she'd wanted him to make the first move again.

He smiled at her apparently inability to speak. He liked that he could render her speechless. "That good, huh." He smirked. He really couldn't help himself.

This brought her out of her slight daze. She hit his arm hard. "Don't get ahead of yourself, okay. Takes more to knock me off my feet." She smiled.

"Come here." Red grabbed her hand and pulled her against him. "I'll promise you will be knocked off your feet."

"Promises, promises." Lizzie said against his neck before she placed an open mouth kiss on his neck. "But remember." She whispered in his ear, her lips almost brushing the shell of his ear. "I.." She kissed him just below his ear and felt his arms tighten around her. "give.." She kissed his jaw. "as good as.." She whispered, her lips a whisper away from his. "I get." She pulled back and smiled when he finally opened his eyes. "But I like to keep you on your toes." She leaned up on her toes and kissed his nose.

"And you do." He smiled. He was happy to see some of the old Lizzie returning. He hadn't seen this carefree side of her in a long time. Pulling her back into his arms, he kissed her forehead. "Now, what would you like to do today?"

"I…" She leaned against him, her head on his shoulder. "I don't know. I have some grocery shopping that I have to do. I think I'll go visit the market with Jethro. After that I don't know."

"Mmm… May I accompany you to the market?" He asked.

"Euuhh...Sure, but don't you have to go…home?" She hated that last word, hated that home for him was Angela and Abby and not her.

"No." When he felt her pull back to look at him, he stopped her by wrapping his arms tighter around him. "I'm going to stay here for a couple of days."

"You are?" She couldn't hide the delight in her voice.

"I am." He contemplated his next words. "Last night made me realise that my presence here is needed more than at my brother's house. You're my priority, Lizzie. I want to be here with you. I want to take care of you." This time he pulled back to look at her. He framed her face in his hand. "Is that okay?" Her bright smile was all the answer he needed. "Good." He said. "So, we're going to go grocery shopping then?"

TBC...