A/N: And here we are with the next chapter. Almost finished with this one. Two more chapters to go. I hope you are still hanging in there.

Chapter forty-seven

Just as they were about to sit down for dinner, Red's phone started ringing. He answered it quickly, but didn't walk away from Lizzie who was putting the salad bowl on the table. He smiled when he heard his niece's excited voice. He put the phone down and turned on the speaker.

"Hi sweetie. I put you on speaker. Aunt Lizzie is here too." He smiled at his girl.

"Hi Abby." Lizzie greeted her. Before sitting down at the table she put her hand briefly on Red's shoulder.

"Aunt Lizzie, when can I come play with Jethro again?"

Lizzie looked at Red. It was his decision to make. "How about Aunt Lizzie and I come pick you up at school tomorrow?"

"Yeah." The little girl cheered. "What about Jethro?"

"You can play with him tomorrow too. Tell me what you did today, Abby." Red asked his niece.

Abby told her aunt and uncle all about her day at school. She ended though with a question for her uncle. "You're not sad anymore uncle Ray?"

He smiled at his niece even if she couldn't see it. "No, I'm not."

"And aunt Lizzie is not making you sad?"

Hearing those words made Lizzie want to give Red a moment for a private talk with his niece. Red grabbed her hand though and pulled her back. ""No. Aunt Lizzie makes me happy."

"Really?"

"Yes, Abby."

"Aunt Lizzie?" Abby apparently still wasn't convinced. "You promise not to make uncle Ray sad?"

"I promise, sweetie."

"Okay. See you tomorrow."

Both Lizzie and Red laughed at the fact that Abby had ended the call without waiting for a goodbye. "Come, let's eat." He didn't want Lizzie to linger on Abby's words.

They ate and talked about nothing special. It was Lizzie though who had something on her mind. She was hesitant about her question. It was a big question especially considering their fragile relationship.

Red, who was very much in tune with Lizzie, knew something was on her mind. He finished his meal and waited patiently for her to collect her thoughts.

"Would you ever consider having kids?" She asked him, her voice small, tentative even.

He was surprised. He hadn't expected this question. He thought they would have this talk some time further in the future. He shook his head. His Lizzie wasn't predictable and he should know that by now. Should have calculated that in already.

Lizzie, who same him shake his head, made the wrong conclusion. "Oow." She said. She'd hoped he would like to have children with her. She'd always wanted children and more importantly she wanted his children.

Red, who realised his mistake, quickly placed his hand on hers on the table. "Yes, Lizzie. I would."

"Really?"

"Yes. I want us to be a family. I want to see you carry our child and see miniature versions of you run around our home." His voice was warm and filled with love. "That's my dream for us."

She smiled at him, a bright smile that showed her relieve and happiness at his words. "Me too." Reassured she grabbed the plates and started to clean up. She had something else on her mind. Something she'd wanted to know for a while now. It was the event that was at the centre of it all.

Together they cleaned the table and the kitchen. With a cup of tea in hand they settled on the couch. Jethro had found his spot on his rug near the fire place. He was snoring softly. "He's got a hard life." Red commented on the dog.

"Yeah, he sure does." She took her hand in his and linked their fingers. "Can you tell me why you did what you did?" She finally asked the question she'd wanted to ask ever since his return.

He squeezed her hand, acknowledging her question, but needing a moment to collect his thoughts. "There was a price on your head. I knew they were closing in on you and knew it was to get to me. It was my fault. To my enemies my weakness had always been a mystery, but they'd found it, because they'd found you. To ensure your safety I had to fake my death."

"You didn't tell Dembe?"

He shook his head. "I couldn't. If too many people knew, your life would still be in danger."

"No one knew?"

"Mr. Kaplan was the only one. I needed her help. We planned it carefully." He placed his cup of tea on the table. He wasn't going to give her the details. "After that shooting I escaped to find the people who threatened you. It wasn't easy. I got misled, but I knew Mr. Kaplan would find their employer, the one who 'd put a price tag on you." He worked his jaw. He still wanted to protect Lizzie from this ugly side that was part of him. The part of him that would kill anybody that would hurt her. "They captured me. Put me in some hell hole and tortured me."

Lizzie grabbed hold of his hand again after he'd let her go. She didn't want him to distance himself from her. "Your scars." She said referring to the scars on his back.

"Yes." He swallowed thickly. "They thought I would eventually cave in and tell them where you were. I couldn't let that happen. I'd rather die then know you got hurt because of me." His voice faltered. He squeezed her hand before letting go again. Standing up he stepped away. "I'd accepted my final day had come. I had faith in Mr. Kaplan, knowing she would finish the job before anyone could get to you. I thought of you. I remembered the times we shared together. Mourned for a life we never got the chance to live. But I had peace of mind. I'd gotten the chance to be a part of your life, however short it was. I'd gotten more than I could ever wish for and the knowledge that you would be safe and would have a chance of a future in any shape or form you wished was enough for me." Tears that he refused to let go filled his eyes. He'd have easily accepted his own death for her.

TBC...