"Don!" Lizzie shouted suddenly as the paramedics loaded her into the ambulance. "Get your butt in here!"

"Ma'am, he can't - "

"Shut up." Lizzie growled at the paramedic before looking back at Don. "Get in here, please." Her voice quickly turned from demanding to pleading. Don smiled sympathetically and climbed in, grabbing Lizzie's hand as he sat next to her.

"Hey you're doing great." He murmured and kissed her forehead as he swept some of her hair from her face. "But let the record show, if you do anything so stupid as to come into the field when you're about to pop, again, I will tie you down." Don growled teasingly.

Lizzie's glare morphed into a grimace as another contraction hit. "Let's get through this one before we start talking about next time, yea?" Lizzie groaned, her grip tightening around his hand.

Don didn't even bother hiding his enormous grin. She said next time.

Remembering what had led to their current predicament, Don's face became stern. "I'm serious Liz." He intoned as he took her hand and squeezed it in his. "I was so scared back there. You shouldn't have been out there and you know it." Don said, his eyes pleading with her.

Lizzie looked away, her face pinched. "I know. I'm sorry." She murmured.

Don nodded, satisfied. There was a moment of calm before Lizzie's eyes widened. "Shit! Where's my phone?" Lizzie panicked. "Don! Where's my phone? You have to get my phone!" Lizzie's eyes widened. "Wait!" She shouted at the paramedic just as they were about to close the door.

"Liz! I've got your stuff right here." Don held up her bag which Samar had grabbed out of the SUV and given to him. "Aren't you a bit busy to be making phone calls?"

Lizzie's attention was drawn to the doors which slammed shut behind the paramedic and Lizzie felt the ambulance quickly lurch into action. Turning back to Don, Lizzie glared at him once more as her other hand rubbed soothing circles over her belly. "I am in no mood for your sass right now, Don." She grumbled. "Nick's pizza. My Dad is under Nick's pizza in my contacts. Call him."

Don's eyes widened and he began to shake his head slowly. "Uh Liz, I don't think that's such a great idea... Here." Don rummaged through Lizzie's bag and pulled out the phone. "Why don't you call him?"

"Call my dad, you ass!" Lizzie shouted as another contraction hit.

/\/\/\/\/\/\

"Lizzie! How's the case-"

"It's not Lizzie uh… sir."

Red chewed the inside of his cheek. "Where is Lizzie, Agent Ressler?" The only answer was silence. "Donald! Where is Lizzie… are those sirens? Why do I hear sirens?" Red's voice deepened to a demanding growl.

"Uh, well um… Creel." Ressler coughed awkwardly.

"Donald, spit it out." Red snapped.

"He just… snatched her. And uh...he had a gun."

As Red stood from his seat, he punched the the interior wall of his plane and a crack reverberated through the cabin. Whether it was his fist or the thick plastic wall, he couldn't be bothered.

"What. Happened. To. My. Daughter." Red growled, beginning to pace.

Distantly he was aware of Dembe heading towards the cockpit.

"She um…"

"Oh my God, Ressler! You're scaring the shit out of him!" As the sound of his Lizzie's voice carried through the phone, angry as it may be, Red collapsed back into his chair in relief, holding his head in his hands.

"Her water broke! We're heading to the hospital now." Ressler spewed the words quickly and Red would have laughed at the clear anxiety and fear that was apparent in the other man's tone as he told his girlfriend's father that she was in labor.

As it stood, Red simply shook his head. "If you ever put me through that again, Agent Ressler, I will make the Spanish Inquisition look like a damn tea party." Red growled. He not-so-secretly enjoyed putting the fear of the Concierge of Crime into the boy. "I'll be there within the hour. Text me which hospital." Red shut his flip phone, hanging up.

Red sat back and crossed his legs. At the sound of a door closing, he looked up to see Dembe walking back from the cockpit. "I'm about to be a grandpa!" He stated excitedly and Dembe returned his enormous grin. Red looked out the small window and watched as the plane turned onto another runway, heading back towards the small airport hangar.

/\/\/\/\/\/\

Lizzie had quickly been given her own room and her legs were currently in the stirrups, a blanket draped over her lap as the doctor did an exam. Lizzie gently squeezed Don's hand, turning her head to look at him when she noticed where his attention was.

"Hey! Eyes up here, Captain America!" She shouted. "The first time you see down there is not going to be when I'm about to push a watermelon out, got it?"

Don snapped to attention, looking away as his cheeks flamed. "Yea uh… sorry." Don stuttered awkwardly. Catching the doctor's surreptitious glance between her and Don, Lizzie had to giggle.

"Sorry, it's just...weird isn't it?"

Don chuckled and brought her hand to his lips. "Yea, a bit. But it's a good weird, I think."

/\/\/\/\/\/\

"Lizzie, Sweetheart!" Red cried, throwing his arms in the air as he walked into her hospital room, Dembe trailing behind him. Red walked over to her bedside and allowed Don to move out of his way before wrapping his arms around his daughter who enthusiastically returned the hug.

"I'm so glad you guys could be here." Lizzie enthused as Dembe took his turn hugging her. As he went to pull away, another contraction hit and Lizzie groaned loudly, her arms seizing around him like a vise as she tried to breathe through the pain, forcing her brother to brace himself with his arms on either side of her or risk crushing her.

Once the pain had subsided, Lizzie allowed him to pull away. "Sorry, Dembe." She murmured embarrassedly.

"Are you alright?"

"Are you okay, Sweetheart?"

Both Don and Red spoke at the same time. Lizzie and Dembe had mirroring amused grins as they glanced at the two men.

"I'm fine guys, just going through labor. No big deal." She teased.

/\/\/\/\/\/\

"Alrighty folks!" The doctor cried as he walked into the room, fitting his hands into his rubber gloves. He was way too chipper for Lizzie's comfort right now. "It's time to rock 'n' roll! Who's staying in the room with Ms. Scott?"

"I am."

"I am."

Both Don and Red spoke at the same time again. Lizzie snorted, unamused. Don and Red turned twin glares on each other.

"She's my daughter!" Red argued.

"She's my girlfriend!" Don countered.

"Well, we can take care of that-"

"Both of you shut the hell up!" Lizzie growled, her stomach tightening as another contraction hit. "Get out! Now!"

Simultaneous dismayed cries of "Lizzie!" followed her order.

"No! Neither of you are staying." They both thought better of arguing at the sight of Lizzie's murderous glare. Their heads down, Red and Don began to walk towards the door, with Dembe following after.

"No. Dembe, you stay." Lizzie ordered, holding out her hand which he quickly grasped in his.

"Well that's not very fair…" Red grumbled.

"Get. Out." Lizzie growled.

/\/\/\/\/\/\

"Ahh!" Lizzie cried as she bore down for the umpteenth time, her hand crushing her brother's as he murmured soft encouragement in her ear. "Is he dead? Is Tom dead? I don't want him to be dead. I want to kill him!"

/\/\/\/\/\/\

Red stood with his back against the wall, staring at Don. His baby girl was in there giving birth and he wasn't there because of this little shit.

"What?" Don cried, standing up. "You've been staring at me for an hour! What do you want?"

Red frowned, disliking Ressler's tone. "We never did have that talk, did we?" He asked, his voice grave.

"What talk?" Don asked, rubbing his hands over his face.

"The one where I tell you that if you hurt her, I'll kill you." Red said darkly. "I've got rather a history of it, actually."

Don did a double take, his adam's apple bobbing as he gulped. "Are we really going to do this now?" He asked softly, hoping his voice didn't quake.

"Yes. We are." Red stated, his words clipped as he slowly stalked toward Don. "Because any time now, my daughter's going to give birth. And it won't just be about her. There will be a new life that I will kill for."

Don sighed, taking a step away from Red. "I would never hurt her." He murmured tiredly though Red could still hear the truth in his words.

"Why?"

The corners of Don's eyes pinched in confusion. "Why what? Why wouldn't I hurt her?" He asked incredulously.

"Why are you here?" Red clarified.

Don's mouth opened as his brow furrowed in shock. "Are you kidding me?"

"It's a perfectly legitimate question." Red stated calmly. "You've dated for a little over a month. Yet here you are, in a hospital waiting room, waiting for your girlfriend to give birth to a baby that isn't yours." Red paused. "Why?"

Don breathed out heavily through his nose, his eyes scorching holes into Red's face. "I don't need to explain myself to you."

Red smiled cheerily at Don. "Oh I think you'll quickly find that you do, Agent Ressler. Now, tell me." Red paused to allow Don to answer. "Now." He barked when no answer was forthcoming.

"Because I love her!" Don shouted, a hand on his hip as the other flew out to point towards the door through which Lizzie was. "Why am I here? What kind of question is that?" Don scoffed as he began to pace like a caged animal. "The same reason I started a relationship with my pregnant best friend. Because I love her, you trumped up piece of shit!"

At this, Red quirked an eyebrow, his lips turning up in amusement.

Don stepped towards Red, pointing his finger at the man's chest. "And before you say anything else, I'm gonna tell you what I told Liz." Don continued. "I'll love him because he is Liz's. As far as I'm concerned, that baby is Liz's. No one else's."

Red stared stoically at the finger Don had pointed to his chest until Don awkwardly furled into a fist and dropped his hand to his side. "That's not exactly true, is it?" He asked gravely.

"What?"

"The baby isn't just Lizzie's. He's yours too. Or rather, you see him as such." Red paused, his gaze bouncing across Don's face. Finding what he was looking for, Red nodded definitively and took a step away from Ressler. "You desperately want to be a part of that little family in there." Red pointed towards the door to the maternity ward. "And as long as that remains the case, Agent Ressler, I believe you and I will get along swimmingly."

/\/\/\/\/\/\

"Family of Elizabeth Scott?" Red and Don's heads whipped towards the sound of the nurse's gentle inquiry. Both stood up quickly from their seats and grinned at the sight of the woman's amused face. No one would be amused if something bad happened, right?

"Ms. Scott is asking for you."

"And the baby?"

"The baby's okay?" Both men spoke at the same time causing the nurse to laugh.

"Yes, he's doing well. Follow me."

/\/\/\/\/\/\

"Oh Lizzie…" Red murmured in wonder as he walked into the room followed closely by a hugely grinning Don. "He's absolutely gorgeous!" Red gushed, his eyes becoming watery as he gazed at the sight of his exhausted daughter holding her little boy - his tiny head covered with a blue hat - his grandson.

"Thanks Dad." Lizzie said, smiling brightly around her tears just as a yawn overtook her.

Dembe stood back so that Red and Don could stand closer and the men took the opportunity to stand on either side of the bed.

"He really is, Liz." Don murmured. "He's beautiful." Don leaned forward and kissed her lightly. Lizzie murmured a dazed thank you, carefully lifting one hand from where she cradled her son - her son - to run her fingers through her sweat soaked hair.

Clearing her throat, Lizzie winced as she tiredly tried to sit a bit higher up in the bed, smiling down at her son as he snuffled, the movement disturbing his sleep.

"Guys," Lizzie started, pulling the swaddling blanket down a little to show off a bit more of the baby's face. "I'd like you to meet Samuel Scott Reddington."

Lizzie looked over at her dad at his sharp inhalation. Tears began to fall anew at the sight of tear tracks on his cheeks. "Lizzie-" Red choked, in obvious turmoil. "Sweetheart, you can't…"

Lizzie smiled tremulously. "I can and I have." She stated. "Now, shut up and hold your grandson." Lizzie leaned forward in preparation of handing little Sammy over.

Red laughed wetly and quickly jumped to take his grandson, his arms coming to wrap around the little being as if he were spun glass. "Oh hello, beautiful boy." He murmured, swaying on his feet to calm the baby as he began to fuss at all the movement.

Watching her dad with Sammy, Lizzie grinned, wiping the tears from her cheeks with one hand. The other hand reached out to grasp Don's, pulling him down beside her to sit on the bed. With a bit of jostling, Don wrapped one arm around her shoulders as the other held hers tightly, one of his legs on the floor to keep balance. Her head nestled in the crook of his neck, Lizzie squeezed his hand as he kissed the top of her head - unable to take her eyes off her son.

"He's amazing, Liz. You're amazing." Don murmured in her ear.

/\/\/\/\/\/\

Red stood in front of the window of Lizzie's hospital room, his grandson nestled in his arms as his daughter slept peacefully in the bed behind him. Swaying on his feet, Red smiled down at the baby as he snuffled, his little fist grazing his own cheek as he fussed before finally settling down into slumber once more.

Red leaned down to kiss Sammy atop his head and sighed. "I have no idea what the world has in store for you, Sammy." He murmured, his voice deep with sleeplessness. "But I promise to do my best protecting you, just as I have your mother." Red shook his head. "Especially if she insists on giving you my last name." He stated woefully, his eyes wandering to look out at the darkened cityscape.

Red let out a large sigh before gazing back at his grandson. "But don't worry, I have every intention of spoiling you rotten as well. It's my duty as your grandpa." Red carefully cradled Sammy in the crook of one arm as he brought the other up to gently caress the baby's cheek with his index finger. That tiny little cheek that was dwarfed by his hand. "And as your grandpa, I promise to tell you how much I love you, every single day." Red whispered gruffly. "Because I do. So very much."

Lizzie had always been Red's light, his sun. But with the birth of his grandson, his sun had grown exponentially bigger.

/\/\/\/\/\/\

He didn't know how long he'd been standing there when he heard the door to the room open slowly and turned from the window. Red smiled tiredly at the sight of Donald peeking his head around the door before walking into the room.

"Hey." Donald said lowly, not wishing to wake Lizzie. "It's my turn. You should rest." Both men had decided to take turns watching over Sammy while his mother got some much needed sleep. Lizzie had argued, said it wasn't necessary. But in the end, the two men had won the argument with the obvious compromise that they'd wake her when Sammy got hungry.

Red was secretly rather pleased that Donald's protective instinct seemed to be as strong as his own. Lizzie and now Sammy were to be protected at all cost – on that they would always agree on.

"As much as I don't want to let go of him, I believe you may be right." Red murmured gruffly as he carefully passed Sammy over to Donald. Red watched as Don walked over to one of the chairs and sat down, not taking his eyes off of the baby in his arms. Walking over to his daughter's bedside, Red leaned down and kissed her brow before leaving without a word. He knew from experience that Don wouldn't hear anyway, too focused on the little life he held.

/\/\/\/\/\

Lizzie woke slowly, surprised to see it was still dark outside as she lay on her side, facing the window. Looking around the room, Lizzie smiled at the sight of Don sitting in the chair, completely unaware of the world around him as he gazed down at Sammy.

"Hey little man." She heard Don whisper gruffly. Coming to a quick decision, Lizzie closed her eyes, feigning sleep.

"You have the most amazing mom in the world, but I'm sure you already know that." Don continued. "She's brilliant, smart, beautiful, and she loves you so much." Don chuckled. "And you also have the scariest man on this planet for a grandpa. Good luck with that one – and don't tell him I said he was scary. I'd never live it down, okay kid?" Don chuckled at his own joke and Lizzie had to will the smile off of her face.

"And then you've got me." Don murmured. "I'm not your dad… but I hope that one day I will be. I love you and your mom so much, little man."

Lizzie couldn't will the sniffled away and she gave up on any pretense of sleeping as tears streamed down her cheeks. Opening her eyes, she found Don staring at her, startled.

"Don." She whispered hoarsely.

Don stood up carefully and made his way over, smiling awkwardly. "How much did you hear?"

Lizzie huffed out a laugh and scooted over on the bed to make room for him. "Enough to know you just told my son that you love me before you even told me." She teased gently. "I call foul."

Don chuckled as he carefully sat down, reclining on the bed next to Lizzie and moving Sammy so that he lay on Don's chest, his little head cradled in the crook of his neck. Don gazed intently at Liz, shuffling closer to her, he kissed her sweetly. Both moaned softly at the feel of their lips gliding against each other.

"Of course I love you, Liz. I've loved you for so long, you were – are my best friend. You, and now Sammy, are everything." Don whispered, his voice deepened with emotion.

A fresh stream of tears fell down Lizzie cheeks as she rested her arm across Don's chest, her hand resting on Sammy's back. "Oh Don." She murmured wetly. "I love you."

/\/\/\/\/\/\

"Shhh I've got you, honey. Be patient with your mama." Lizzie consoled as her son screeched. She sat with her legs folded and lay him down on the bed, making him cry even more passionately. Quickly shrugging one shoulder out of her hospital gown, Lizzie took her son into her arms and laid back. Sammy immediately began nuzzling and snuffling around before finding his target.

Lizzie smiled wetly as she gazed down at her son as he fed. God, it felt like she did nothing but cry lately but she couldn't help it. She would blame the hormones but she knew it was also the existence of this little person who had suddenly become the center of her world – the center of many people's worlds.

Early in her pregnancy, Lizzie had been so afraid. She was going to be a single mom and had never felt so alone. She realized now how stupid she had been. She had three of the best men she'd ever known by her side. She was never alone – a fact which, she was sure was going to annoy the hell out of her sooner rather than later. The fact that Don and Red had begun coordinating their protective efforts filled her with dread.

And then there was Sammy. Gazing wistfully down at her son, Lizzie sighed. "Little boy, you are the best thing that has ever happened to me." She murmured, laughing lightly, in awe, as Sammy opened his bright blue eyes as he continued to nurse. "Oh you're so beautiful. I will give everything for you." She whispered wondrously. "But I think I must warn you – you're in for one hell of a ride. Our family is a bit… complicated." She joked. Her face soon turned serious, however, as a thought crossed her mind, her eyes turning woeful. "We're missing a member though – your namesake, my Pop. He would have loved you." Lizzie choked, letting out a slow breath. "But don't worry. The rest of us love you so much, you'll never feel lonely. And we'll tell you plenty of stories about him." Lizzie's lips quirked in a small smile. "Grandpa may also tell you stories that little boys shouldn't hear. You've got to let me know if he starts telling you about his lady friends, okay? He has terrible taste in women."

/\/\/\/\/\/\

Lizzie had just finished burping Sammy as Red and Dembe walked into the room. Red gave her a big grin as he held up a to-go bag. "Oh thank god, I'm starving!" Lizzie exclaimed.

Red laughed as he walked over, giving both his daughter and grandson a kiss on their heads. "Yes well, I know how much you hate hospital food so I thought I'd bring you some food from that Thai place you love so much." He said jovially as he set the bag on the bed tray and rolled it over so Lizzie could eat.

Lizzie smiled at her dad. "Thank you." She murmured before looking over at her brother.

"Hey big bro, here, hold your nephew while I eat, please." She said and Dembe eagerly walked over, carefully taking Sammy into his arms. Both laughed as the baby began to squirm happily.

"It seems as though I'm the new favorite." Dembe's deep voice resonated through out the room.

Red harrumphed in mock jealousy before sitting down on the chair beside the bed as Lizzie laughed.

"Lizzie, Donald had to go in to work." Red reported. "I'm sure he is currently showing off the million and one photos of little Sammy he thinks none of us saw him take."

Lizzie laughed, nodding in understanding. Her heart warmed at the reminder of how much Don loved Sammy and the image of showing off pictures of Sammy to all their coworkers… just like a new dad.

/\/\/\/\/\/\

Lizzie, Red, and Dembe spoke lowly as Sammy slept peacefully in his hospital cot.

"The sniper – the one that shot Creel. Was it one of my detail?" Lizzie questioned.

Red nodded. "Yes, it was Ezra." He whispered hoarsely, all too aware of how close he'd come to losing both Lizzie and Sammy. He'd placed a rather sizeable bonus in the man's bank account for his part in keeping his light alive.

Lizzie bit her lip in thought before opening her mouth to speak. "Good. When I'm discharged, I want him to meet us at my place, okay?"

Red's brow raised in curiosity though he nodded.

"I'll let him know." Dembe murmured, pulling out his phone to send off a text.

Lizzie smiled at her brother in thanks.

"Now Lizzie, I hate to put a dampener on this wondrous occasion but we really must discuss…why would you…" Red cleared his throat and shifted in his seat. "The name Reddington, Lizzie, it's dangerous…he already has a target on his back. You must know this." He stated hoarsely.

Lizzie glared at her dad. She knew of the danger, but that didn't mean she wanted to be reminded of it. "I know that Dad." She whispered hotly. "But the largest threat to him – to us, is the Cabal. And they already know I'm your daughter."

"And what of the task force?" Red questioned.

Lizzie rolled her eyes at her dad. "Why do you think his middle name is Scott?" Lizzie asked, exasperated. "I'm not completely stupid, Dad. As far as the rest of the world will be concerned, his name will be Samuel Scott. If anyone wants to find out his full name, they'll have to get ahold of his birth certificate."

"Which is now a matter of public record." Red intoned.

"Yes. But the people who are going to care already know who he is to you and aren't going to care what his last name is." Lizzie argued. "And the rest of the criminals in the underworld who want to hurt you… they're going to find out about me before they find out about Sammy."

Red's face pinched and he began to chew the inside of his cheek, the twitch below his right eye going steady as he refused to speak for a moment. "And why do you?"

"Why do I what?" Lizzie questioned.

"Why do you care what his last name is?"

Lizzie shook her head, rolling her eyes again though this time in fond exasperation. "Because you're my dad and Reddington is our family name."

"It's not exactly one to be proud of." Red murmured gruffly, looking away with a wince as if he were physically pained.

"I think it is." Lizzie murmured softly. "And I think that once all of this is over, both you and Sammy will think it's a name to be proud of again."

Red's eye continued to twitch though his gaze softened before he gave a small jerky nod.

/\/\/\/\/\/\

Lizzie reclined on the sofa with a groan. She'd just gotten home from the hospital and she was so incredibly happy to be home and out of that damnable place. Smiling down at her son, she laid him on his belly against her cheek and giggled as he clumsily shuffled his head into the crook of her neck.

Looking up as she heard her front door close with a quiet snick, Lizzie smiled as her dad turned the corner with the overnight bag she'd had at the hospital.

"Thanks for getting my stuff, Dad." She murmured softly, careful not to wake Sammy as he'd just fallen asleep after screaming his head off the whole ride home.

"No problem, Sweetheart." Red replied as he walked into the room to sit on the coffee table beside her.

As her dad's gaze became protracted, a small goofy smile on his face, Lizzie began to squirm under his scrutiny. Once he'd finally noticed her discomfiture, Red shook his head with a small bark of a laugh.

"I am just… so proud of you Lizzie." He murmured. "I am amazed – every day – of everything you've accomplished, everything you've done." Red paused with a sigh and Lizzie took the time to wipe her eyes. "And I am so proud that I get to call you my daughter." Red continued gruffly.

"Dad – " Lizzie choked. She took a breath to continue but Red shook his head, holding up a hand.

"No, I didn't say that to try and get you to reciprocate, I know that you do. And I certainly didn't say it to make you cry. I just… needed to say it."

Lizzie smiled tremulously and nodded her head. "Okay. But I have something that I need to say."

Red looked at her expectantly and Lizzie smiled. "I love you, Dad."

"I love you too, Sweetheart." Red replied hoarsely, looking down and away to hide his misty eyes. Clearing his throat, Red stood up. "Now, Ezra will be here any moment. Will Donald be joining us?"

Lizzie frowned sadly. "No, he had to be at work again." She said with a groan as she sat up carefully, one hand on Sammy's bum to keep him steady. "He couldn't exactly take any paternal leave." Lizzie tried to keep her bitterness out of her voice. She knew it was irrational, he truly had no legal claim to Sammy and so Cooper couldn't have justified giving him leave. She just… wished he were there.

Red smiled sadly at Lizzie but was kept from saying anything further when there was a knock at the door. With a sigh, Red quickly went to answer it, leaving Lizzie to quiet the now squirming baby.

He quickly murmured a greeting to Ezra and directed him into the living room. Red smiled at the sight of his daughter holding a now wide awake Sammy close to her face and giving him kisses, his little fingers blindly grasping at her cheeks and nose.

"Hello!" Lizzie greeted with a laugh, lowering her son so that she could greet her new guest properly, cradling him in the crook of her arm. "You must be Ezra." Lizzie stretched out her hand for a shake, not feeling it necessary to stand. She'd just had a baby, damn it.

Ezra – a rather attractive man with dark curly hair and tanned skin stepped forward, his combat boots heavy against the hardwood. "Yes, nice to uh… meet you ma'am." He murmured, shaking her hand.

Lizzie laughed, shaking her head at her surreal life. They'd never officially met – Lizzie had only met Baz and his second in command and yet he'd been watching over her and saved her life. "Yes, it is a bit…ridiculous isn't it? You know everything about me, all of my habits, yet we'd never actually met face to face." She joked, causing both men in the living room to chuckle. She swung her legs out and stood up next to the man, finally deigning that the future subject matter was worthy of standing.

"I just wanted to thank you, Ezra." Lizzie murmured, quickly growing serious. "You saved both me and my son the other day."

Ezra shifted on his feet, ducking his head. "I was just doing my job, ma'am." The man murmured, his rich southern drawl thickening in his discomfort.

"I know. And you did it brilliantly." Lizzie stepped forward. "Which is why I'm giving you a new one." She stated succinctly, carefully resituating Sammy in her arms and holding him out to the man so he had no choice but to take the baby.

"Lizzie—" Red murmured warningly.

"I don't…I don't understand, ma'am." Ezra stuttered as he awkwardly cradled little Sammy in his arms, staring down at the baby in a mixture of awe and fear.

Ignoring her dad's protests, Lizzie smiled at Ezra. "I know my dad signs your paychecks but I think as his mum, I get to make this decision." Lizzie stated, taking a step back.

"And what decision would that be, Lizzie?" Red growled. He really hated surprises.

Lizzie smiled sweetly at her dad before turning her gaze towards Ezra. "Ezra, meet your new charge." She said grandly, pointing to her son. "Just like you used to do with me, where ever he goes, you go. I want you to be his primary guard."

"Ma'am I couldn't—"

"You can and you will. I'm not asking you to be on duty 24/7. I imagine he and I will be sharing you guys for the most part, as I don't see myself parting from him anytime soon. But I want you, specifically, to be his and his alone. When I do have to start working again, I want you in the shadows, watching over him when I'm not there." Lizzie let out a shaky breath. "Things tend to get a bit… hairy for our family. And I want to know that there will be at least one person on our security detail whose sole goal is to keep my son safe and, if need be, to choose him over me. Do you understand?"

Ezra swallowed loudly and turned his head to gaze at Red. Despite a heavy, unhappy frown marring her dad's face, he gave a quick nod and Ezra turned back to Lizzie. "Yes ma'am." He stated stoically. After a moment, he bounced Sammy in his arms causing the baby to kick his legs. Ezra smiled down at Sammy and looked up, giving Lizzie a small shy smile as well. "I'd be honored."

/\/\/\/\/\

When Don unlocked the door, he was immediately greeted by the shrill cries of a newborn baby. Wincing in sympathy, Don quickly set down his keys and hurried up the stairs to Sammy's nursery.

"Hey." He murmured as he stood in the doorway, watching Lizzie pace the room while bouncing Sammy in her arms. His girlfriend was clearly frazzled – her hair mussed and her cheeks were reddened and from the sound of the screeching, Sammy wasn't doing much better. "Not wanting to sleep?"

Lizzie looked over her shoulder and snorted in contempt. "I don't know what he wants!" She said desperately. "I've fed him, he doesn't need changed, he doesn't have a fever, I've rocked him, I've sung to him, he just won't—"

Don quickly crossed the room and wrapped both Lizzie and Sammy in his arms as she was on the verge of tears. "Hey, it's a learning curve for everyone, yea?" He murmured as he bent his head to kiss her. "It's late, why don't you go lay down while I try to get him settled?"

Lizzie shook her head. "Don, you don't have to—"

"I want to." Don cut in firmly before quirking a smile. "I haven't gotten to see him all day. We need some man-to-man bonding time." He was very satisfied when his little joke brought a smile to Liz's face – a small one, but a smile nonetheless.

/\/\/\/\/\/\

When he walked into the bedroom, Lizzie was laying on her side facing the window, her eyes wide open as she stared, clearly lost in thought. Don padded to the other side of the bed and quickly stripped down to his boxers before climbing into the bed and scooting up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her against him as he played the big spoon.

"Hey, penny for them?" He whispered, kissing her ear.

Lizzie let out a huff of a laugh, shaking her head silently. Just as Don was beginning to think she wasn't going to tell him, Lizzie took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Am I a terrible mother?" She whispered brokenly.

"Liz!" Don uttered, shocked, raising himself up onto his elbow so that he could see her better. "Of course you—"

"I arranged a security detail for my son today, Don." Lizzie interrupted, bitterness causing her words to sharpen. "My world – our world…. how could I be so selfish to bring a baby into it?" Lizzie's breath hitched and Don brought a hand up to wipe away a tear before it had the chance to leave a trace.

"Because you can't imagine a world without him in it." Don whispered fiercely. "It's that simple, Liz. There are so many people whose world got a bit brighter because your son exists." Don drew her closer to him, tightening his hold around her waist. "Sammy is so loved, Liz. By you, me, Reddington, Dembe… the whole task force even. Cooper is demanding we bring him to the Post Office so everyone can see him." At this, Lizzie gave a small choked laugh. Don leaned down to leave a trail of feather light kisses across Lizzie's jaw, slowly making his way to her lips. "You brought him into this world to show him it's worth fighting for – which is exactly what we're going to do." He whispered against her lips.

With a shuddering breath, Lizzie turned onto her back, gazing softly at Don. "Thank you." She murmured as she wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him closer.

Resting his weight on his elbows, Don brought his lips to hers, his tongue begging entry which was quickly, eagerly given. As their lips glided against each other and the kiss deepened, both reveled in the comfort of the other.