Summary/Disclaimer: See Chapter 1

A/N: All of your kinds reviews were so wonderful. You all actually made me have to dig deep and figure out where I was going to take this so I will admit it was a bit of a challenge, and I like challenges, so kudos to all of you. And now for your enjoyment.

18 months later:

Lizzie laid out on the beach in her Red bikini, it was one red had chosen when they were in Italy over a month ago, but since it was raining at the time, she really hadn't had a chance to wear it until now. The hat she had on, did little to shield her from the sun as it sat high, but she was in heaven as she soaked it all in. Currently they were on a nice little private island somewhere in the South Pacific, if it was named she didn't know all she knew is that these past few days were the longest in a while that they had stayed at any destination longer than 2 days. No one could say that her life with Red was dull and boring. Apparently this island had been payment for a job Red had done years ago, and the best part of all it was 100% untraceable back to him or any one that he employed. The weather however did not always make for an ideal stay so they would often times hop around Europe or Australia and Asia, see the sights and then make their way back to the island. The island was home to Lizzie and she wished that they could always remain there.

As she watched the waves splash against the shore, she couldn't help but wonder when did this become her life. Not that she was complaining, she had no family back home after Sam died and after Tom left there was really no one worth talking to. Ressler and Meera had their own families and without Red she was lonely, at least until he had come back into her life. Since then, they had spent almost every moment they could together. On occasion Red would attend to business and she was not allowed to go, he was always afraid someone would see her and then their little life they built would have been ruined. Nothing in the past year and a half had ruined the life that they had been building, it was so wonderful to have designer clothes and stay in the best places that money could offer, but like all things they must come to an end and it was something that Lizzie had been dreading since the moment they left her apartment all those months ago.

Currently she had the beach to herself, Red was in the house reading and Dembe was off getting supplies. Liz couldn't help but wonder if he would pick up the item that she asked for with discretion, Red couldn't find out what had been on her mind these past few days and she wanted to keep it that way until she had answers. She was so lost in thought; she failed to hear Red when he came up to her. L

"Penny for them."

"You know it will cost you more than a penny."

"Good thing I have deep pockets then." Liz was able to get a good look at him now, his white slacks rolled up so they didn't drag the sand, paired with a light blue button up and his standard fedora, this one in white sat atop his head. He looked like heaven to her and she couldn't help but smile at the thought as he sat down next to her. "So what is it?"

"What?"

"Whatever has been on your mind these past few days?"

"I just wish we could stay here forever."

"Me too sweetheart." He said as he took her hand and held it in his. "You won't be happy with me then."

"Why?"

"I have to fly off for some business, I will be back in a few days' time, and in the meantime, you get to stay here. Dembe will be joining me this trip, so you will have the house to yourself. I'm leaving it fully stocked up for you."

"Where are you going?" Lizzie was always curious anytime he went anywhere for business and of late his trips were now becoming more and more frequent.

"I wish I could tell you, but…"

"I know you don't want me to worry about you being in danger." She said as she dropped her head down and began to fiddle with the string on her bottom half.

"Exactly."

"Will you call?"

"Every chance I get, so keep your phone handy."

She smiled her own satellite phone had been a gift one day after she went out alone and he couldn't find her, since then she always had it with her if they were going to be apart. It was the only way to keep him close even though he was so far away. "I will."

"Good. Dembe will be back soon, what would you like for lunch? I will have to leave shortly after I'm afraid."

"I'm not hungry."

"Lizzie, are you feeling well these past few days I can barely get you to eat anything."

"My stomach is just adjusting to the time change again, unlike some of us; I do not have 20 years of playing time-zone hopscotch every few days."

"Very true. Would you like to help me pack then?"

"Of course."

They stood up and walked back to the house hand in hand. She hated that Red had to leave again, of late his trips are sudden and often last minute. He never once tells here where he is going or where he has been, and she accepts that. It is the trust that they have put in one another, as long as they have each other than nothing would harm them. Once they were back in the room, Lizzie pulled a suitcase from the hall closet and went to work packing Red's suits and ties for his trip. It was a very domestic thing that she was doing, but she didn't care, she was in love with the idea of them being a family. In the past year they had been together, not once had either mentioned marriage or anything that would make them appear like a normal couple to others, but they were together and it was how they liked it.

As Liz sat down and watched Red finish packing his shaving kit a sudden wave washed over and she knew that this wasn't just for right now, this was for always. Standing up Liz walked over and wrapped her arms around his waist and placed her head against his back. Red stopped what he was doing so that he could hold her arms closer to him and just relish the feel of having her so close to him.

"What time are you leaving?"

"As soon as Dembe returns, he's going to take me to the main island and I'll catch my plane there."

"So we have some time then?"

"A little while, why what's on your mind?"

"You." She said as she walked around him and pushed him backwards against the bed.

As she slowly climbed up his body leaving warm wet kisses through his shirt, Red couldn't help but notice that over the past week, Lizzie's desire in the bedroom was unmatched to anything in the past few years. She brought his hands up and held them down against his head as she attacked his neck with no mercy, making sure to lavish the puckered skin from where she inserted a ball point pen into it. From there she moved down his neck and began to undo the buttons on his shirt, leaving behind a kiss in the place where his shirt once was. Once she had all the buttons undone, she quickly made work of undoing the snap of his pants and began to push them down.

Leaning back she then straddled his waist and pushed his shirt off to the side allowing her more access to play with the soft hair that was sprinkled across his chest. Deciding that she didn't want to wait any further, Liz reached up and pulled on the strings that held the top of her bikini in place, as it fell down between them, she reached to the sides and pulled each of the strings causing her bottom half to fall open. Not bothering to wait any longer, Red flipped them over pushing his pants and boxers further down as he began to place hot kisses on her breasts. The bottom half of her swimsuit had shifted and it now granted him easy access to her core, placing his hand between them, he noticed she was already dripping for him and it turned him on more than her sudden attack on him had. Not wanting to deny her any further, he plunged deep into her core, noticing how tight she was for him, which he thought odd since they had just been together that morning. Pushing further into after slowly pulling out, he could feel how close she was and started wasting no time in bringing her to completion. As soon as he finished he pulled out and rolled to his back with Lizzie in his arms.

The thin sheets were wrapped haphazardly around them as they we snuggled in close to one another, the cool breeze floated through the open door to the patio and it was calm, cool and quiet as they were silent just listening to the world around them. The ocean hitting the beach was the main sound that could be heard it was so relaxing, Lizzie almost feel asleep in Red's arms. The feel of her naked warm body against him was enough proof for him to know it was real and that he hadn't been dreaming these past years.

"I wish you didn't have to go."

"I know, but one of us needs to do something in order to pay for this lifestyle." He said with a laugh as he rubbed her back slowly. "It's only a few days. It will give you time to rest and start to feel better."

"I know, I just miss not having you around."

Liz played with the hair that dusted his chest as they laid there in silence once again. Off in the distance she could hear the sound of a motor and knew it was Dembe on his way back from the main island. Standing up she made her way to the closet and grabbed a pair of capris and a plain t-shirt to put on before he arrived; she couldn't help but smile at Red as he watched her dress before him while he just laid there in the bed. As the boat got closer, Liz finished and looked to Red with a raised eyebrow; he took the silent comment and began to get dressed himself.

"I'm going to help Dembe put everything away. Come join us when you are finished getting ready."

Liz made sure to close the door on her way out, she didn't want Red to hear anything she needed to ask Dembe; and the last thing she wanted was a conversation in which she fully didn't know all the answers yet.

"Dembe, let me help you."

"I'm fine Elizabeth, I managed to pick up the item you requested and have placed it in your beach bag by the door."

"Thank you Dembe."

"Of course. May I ask, have you mentioned anything to Raymond?"

"No I want answers myself before I say anything, I ask that you not say anything either."

"I will respect your privacy."

"Thank you Dembe."

"You are most welcome."

Red came in a few minutes later, his jacket draped over one arm, he was wearing his brown suit, one of Liz's favorites on him, his matching vest with white shirt made her want to just jump him right there on the counter, she didn't even care if Dembe was in the room or not. After a few moments he came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist.

"You know I hate to leave you."

"I know, just come back as soon as you can."

"I will, I promise, and I'll be safe."

"I know you will, Dembe is with you."

Red smiled at her comment before letting go and making his way to the door and down the path to the waiting boat. Liz watched as the two took off towards the nearby main island. Another boat was docked in case she needed to go somewhere, but she never used it when Red was gone. She stood there just watching the waves come against the shore before turning back towards the house. Once inside she found her beach bag and pulled out what Dembe had picked up for her; as she looked at the box in her hand she knew that going forward her life with Red was going to drastically change.

A/N: Hope you liked and also FYI next chapter is only Red and focuses on where he went. Don't worry it plays nicely into the full outline of the story. Reviews are much welcome, and inspire motivation.