A/N: And so this is it. The final chapter. At first I wanted an Epilogue too and part of it is written already, but I won't finish it. So it seems good to end it here. It's a happy ending of course. Thanks again to all who took the time to read this fic.

Chapter fifty

Lizzie and Red were slowly finding their way back to each other. They spent time together, talked, laughed and relaxed together. Red still spent time at Angela and Abby's home but also made sure he spent time with Lizzie. Some nights he spent at Lizzie's home, other nights he went back to his brother's house. Slowly but steadily they were growing closer. Lizzie noticed that she longed for him more and more and it surprised her. His presence calmed her and warmed her heart. She often touched the ring he'd given her and remembered his words, his promise. She realised she wanted more. She wanted all of him. Still she knew she had to make a promise too, knew he needed that. What she didn't know yet was how to do that exactly. What she did know was that she wanted him around every single day and night. She wanted them to live together. Maybe that could be her promise to him? And if that was her promise, could she really ask him that question?

Every evening he spent away from her, Red missed her. He considered himself an old fashioned man when it came to dating. He wanted to woo the woman her loved, wanted her to feel like she was the centre of his world. He and Lizzie seemed to have missed out on the wooing and dating bit. They'd dealt with the bigger issues first, declared their love already, yet hadn't even been on a proper date. Sometimes his deep love for her overwhelmed him. He was grateful that he had another chance at love. He knew she was the one for him. The one who completed him, the one whom he could be vulnerable with, the one who made him a better man. There was nothing he wouldn't do for her. Nothing was going to stop him from spending the rest of his life with her.

She wanted to thank Red for all he had done for her, for his patience as well as his love. She knew he needed a promise from her and she knew what she wanted. Red was spending his day with Abby and Angela but would return home for an evening with her. Home, that was exactly it. She wanted her house to become their home. It was what she was going to ask him. She had been preparing a romantic dinner for them and looking at the time she knew he could be there any moment now. She quickly went to the bathroom to check if she still looked okay. She was wearing her light blue summer dress which she knew he liked and her hair was slightly curly. She heard Jethro running to the back door which meant Red was home. Excited, but nervous she took a couple of deep breaths to relax. He knew her well enough to pick up on her nerves and she didn't want him to worry about her anymore.

Red entered Lizzie's house and smiled at Jethro who greeted him as enthusiastically as he always did'. "Hey, big guy." He greeted the dog and scratched him behind his ears which made the Big Dane lean his weight fully against his legs. He indulged him for a moment before pushing the dog gently away from him. "Let's go find our girl." Standing back up again he didn't have to look for to find her. She was looking at him from the entrance of the kitchen, her soft sweet smile making his heart skip a beat.

"Hi." To have him back with her again warmed her heart. He hadn't been gone long, but she just felt better when he was there with her. "I missed you." She had no trouble saying that anymore, knowing her words were safe with him.

With a few steps he was in front of her and gathered her in his strong arms. "I missed you too, sweetheart." He buried his face in her neck and breathed in her scent.

"Mmm…" Lizzie hummed her delight in being in his loving embrace. She kissed his neck softly before pulling back. Looking in his green eyes she saw nothing but love. Cupping his jaw she kissed him deeply and delighted in his groan.

With a final brush of his lips he reluctantly pulled back from her.

"How are Abby and Angela?" She asked him. She took his hand in hers and let him towards the table she had set for their romantic dinner.

"Good. Abby wanted me to say she was looking forward to our picnic. She's very excited, though I guess she's mostly excited about Jethro. She really loves that dog."

"Who wouldn't? He's the best." The dog in question barked loudly.

It was only then that Red noticed the table. There were candles lit and the table was set. "What's this?" He asked her.

"I made us dinner."

"And…" She'd cooked them dinner before but hadn't set such a romantic mood before. He was usually the one who planned their romantic evenings. It wasn't that Lizzie wasn't romantic, she was.

"I wanted to have a romantic dinner. It's my way to thank you." She shrugged as if her words didn't hold any meaning.

He saw she was a bit uncomfortable so instead of asking her what she was exactly thanking him for her he simple accepted it. She would tell him later. "You're welcome."

He pulled her a little towards him so he could kiss her lightly.

"Sit down." She mumbled against his lips.

"If you insist."

"I insist." She laughed. She pushed him away.

The dinner was delicious and Red made sure Lizzie knew how much he enjoyed it. Their conversation was light and happy. He kept touching her during the meal which wasn't something new and she didn't mind at all. After dessert she got nervous. She knew she had to tell him and it wasn't that she was afraid of what he would say. It was just really important for her to say it right. To really let him know how she felt about him. She turned somewhat quiet and started to clean the table.

He noticed the change in her immediately. Just like that she was nervous and he didn't understand why. He thought back on their conversation during dinner but was sure nothing strange had been said or that she'd reacted to something that had been said. Taking his plate he joined her in the kitchen. Though he knew by now that Lizzie would share her troubles with him and he didn't need to push anymore, he sometimes got a bit impatient. He took a moment to observe her, noticing how tense her shoulders were and how her hands slightly trembled. It had been quite a long time since he'd seen her like this. It really had him worried. Had something happened in his absence?

"What's wrong, Lizzie?"

Okay, this is it she thought to herself. "Will you move in with me?" She blurted out still with her back towards him.

"Sweetheart?" He'd heard her but didn't like that she had her back turned towards him.

She turned around slowly and looked him in the eyes. What she saw there gave her the strength to continue. "I want it all with you. I want to spend every day and night with you. I want to marry you. I want to have your children and watch them grow up. I want to grow old with you." She rushed her words. "I know I've made things tough on you and I haven't always been very forthcoming about how I feel for you. But I am so grateful you didn't give up on me. I love you with whole my heart. Move in with me, Raymond. Be with me forever"

He crushed her to him. "Yes, sweetheart. Yes to everything." He kissed her long, hard and deeply and it took both their breaths away. "I love you, my sweet Lizzie. I love you so much."

The End