A/N: Okay the S4 final ruined it all for this ship and I hate it because I loved this ship and though I encourage people to keep writing and reading, I cannot write this ship anymore. I thought about abandoning this fic right away, but it seems unfair to those who were with me during this long road. This fic was always special to me and it is the longest fic I've ever written. So for the followers, the reviewers here are the final chapters of this fic. Thank you for hanging in there with me. Thank you for your follows and reviews. I am grateful for each and everyone.

Chapter forty-nine

The following day Red and Lizzie were waiting for Abby at her school. Abby was attending summer school due to the time she missed earlier that year. She didn't seem to mind. Abby enjoyed school.

"Aunt Lizzie." The little girl yelled and ran as fast as she could to the woman she'd considered her aunt.

Lizzie laughed at the enthusiasm. She crouched down and opened her arms. Abby immediately threw herself in Lizzie's arms. "I missed you." The girl wrapped her arms tightly around her aunt's neck.

"I missed you too, honey." Lizzie kissed her cheek and hugged her just as tight.

Red watched the two with a big smile on his face. He was always happy to see his niece smile, but seeing his Lizzie smile just as brightly at his niece, made him realise that all might end well. Something he hadn't dared to hope for.

"Uncle Ray?" Abby looked up from Lizzie's shoulder to look at her uncle.

"Yes?"

Abby gestured her uncle to come closer and he did. "Big hug." She smiled.

Red wrapped his arms about both girls. Abby kissed his cheek. "Hi sweetie." Red said softly. "Ready to go?" He asked after Lizzie had put Abby back on the ground again.

"Yeah." She grabbed his hand. "Can we go see Jethro?"

"Of course."

On the way back to Lizzie's house Abby talked all about her day at school. After parking the car, Lizzie opened the door for Abby, who immediately jumped out and ran to the door. "Jethro!" She yelled through the door and her answer was a loud bark.

"Slow down, Abby. Jethro's a big dog. He can get a bit wild. I don't want you to get hurt." Red warned his niece. He watched Abby and Lizzie walk into the house together. He felt happy again. He knew that with Lizzie he would finally have the life he'd longed for. Everything they'd gone through, it was all well worth it.

Later that day, after bringing Abby back home to her mother, Lizzie and Red were alone again. Sitting on the couch together, with Lizzie leaning against Red side, her head on his shoulder and Red's arm wrapped around her.

"I'm sorry I hurt Abby." She apologised. She'd once again had to promise the little girl she wouldn't make her uncle sad anymore. Abby had also told her she'd been afraid that Lizzie would never return again, reminding her of her promise to never leave. She should have known better. After the loss of her father, Abby would have a difficult time dealing with another loss. She'd also seen her uncle hurt and clearly that had made quite an impact too. Her fight with Red had caused more pain than just their own. She'd been selfish and had refused to consider what her departure would mean to others. She felt ashamed. "I never wanted to hurt her. She's such a terrific, resilient girl, but I know I scared her."

Red, who was listening intently, softly ran his hand through her hair. At a certain point that afternoon Lizzie and Abby had gone to the beach, leaving him alone at the house. After their return he'd immediately seen a sadness in Lizzie's eyes and it hadn't left her yet. He was glad though that he didn't have to ask her what had happened.

"I was selfish." She disentangled herself Red's arms and stood up. "I'm mad at myself for hurting her. I promised her, you know."

"Promised her what?" From the couch he watched Lizzie closely. Her shoulders were tense, her arms and hands moving nervously. Her head hung low causing her hair to fall in front of her face making it impossible for him to see her eyes.

"I promised her not to leave."

"When?"

"One of those days we spend on the beach." She turned her back to him. "I broke my promise. She's already gone through so much and here I am making promises I can't keep." She traced the mantelpiece with her fingers. "I'm a selfish person. I don't take other people into consideration. Not only did I hurt you, I hurt Abby too. Maybe you shouldn't have introduced me in her life."

"Maybe I shouldn't have." Red replied, seeing her turn around immediately. Her eyes wide that he agreed with her. "But if I hadn't, we wouldn't be here, Lizzie." He said before she could have interrupted him. "I knew when I introduced you to Abby she could get attached to you and you might only be in her life for a short time. But what I hoped for and what happened is that you two clearly hit it off. Abby adores you."

"She's such a wonderful little girl."

Red nodded. "She is." Standing up, Red walked to Lizzie and took her hand in his. He led her back to the couch and they sat back down again. "What did Abby say to you?"

"I had to promise her I wouldn't make you sad anymore."

"What else?"

"That you and I would never leave her. I think the thought terrifies her." Leaning her head against the back of the couch, Lizzie looked at the ceiling.

"I know it does. I had to promise her too that I would never leave her." He looked at her profile. He was sure something else was on her mind.

Abby had shared with her that she missed her uncle terribly when he wasn't with her. She'd told her she was afraid that when her uncle would forget about her when he was with Lizzie every day. That last thing she would ever want was to keep Abby away from her uncle. But she wanted to move forward with Red too. She did feel like what she wanted was less important then what Abby needed. She reached for Red's hand while she kept her eyes on the ceiling. "She misses you when you're not there. She's afraid that you will forget about her when you're here with me, especially when we spend a lot of time together."

"And you don't want to stand in the way of that." He concluded. He knew her well enough to know what worried her. He gently pulled on her hand until she was leaning against his side again. He wrapped his arm around her waist and slowly manoeuvred them to lay down on the couch. Lizzie snuggled against his side, her back against the couch. "What do you want to do?" He asked her while rubbing her back softly.

"I don't want to hurt her. But…" She hesitated.

"But what?" He asked when she stayed quiet for a moment.

"But I want a life with you." Lizzie pressed her forehead against his chest and wrapped her arm tightly around him.

He smiled even though she couldn't see it. He tightened his hold on her for a moment. He placed a soft kiss on her hair. "And I want a life with you. Abby will be okay. She will know that we will always be there for her no matter where we are."

TBC...