A/N: This is it. Lots of fluff. I've just been in a fluffy mood lately, though. Thank you for reading this all the way through. I appreciate every second you spend reading my fics. You guys are the best.
I kind of want to give a shout-out to those that take the time to review. I know you all have busy lives, but taking the time to review helps us writers keep going.
Their exit strategy took time to plan. Ecuador would be their resting place for now, but that isn't where they would ultimately end up, according to Red.
He spent the majority of his days on the phone or in meetings. Some days, he would fly to Bogota in the neighboring Columbia for the day to conduct his business with his associates.
He wanted nothing to touch their safe haven so he kept his business far removed from her location.
Mr. Kaplan came to draw her blood, one pint every three days. They hadn't specifically talked about what Red's endgame was, but she had a pretty good idea.
When he came home for the day, talking was the last thing on their minds.
Poor Red had to be exhausted. She was and she lazed around sunbathing, reading, or working out in the home gym all day. She had no empire to run, authorities to dodge.
The FBI was looking for him, she knew that. He was implicated in her disappearance as suspect number one.
He laughed at her concerns. "Sweetheart, what is the FBI going to do, put me on their 'Most Wanted' list? Been there, done that, would have a t-shirt but they were all too tacky."
He mostly kissed her concerns away. He was good at that.
Kisses always led to making love and Liz didn't think she would ever tire of that. He was…magnificent.
There was something to be said about being with an older man. He was not too hurried or consumed with his own pleasure, he had no urge to prove how masculine he was. He knew he was skilled. The way he used those skills though…damn. She had to think of something else, he wouldn't be home for hours yet.
Raymond Reddington could honestly say that other than some twinges of pain in his chest every once in a while, he had never been happier.
Lizzie was a dream, more than he could ever ask for.
He had toiled tirelessly to create a perfect and safe world for them to spend the rest of their lives without worry.
There was just one last task- Lizzie's death.
He hated even thinking about it, but the stage was set and they would have to fly together to Kuwait in order to set the stage.
The flight was uneventful, with Liz cuddling up to him and napping while he read a few newspapers.
Their business wouldn't take long, Lizzie just had to leave as much physical evidence in the apartment he had rented anonymously as possible.
All they had to do was stage the apartment. They packed many of her clothes, toiletries and superficial belongings to take with them.
Everyone wore gloves but Lizzie, who needed to touch as much as possible. Use the bathroom. Brush her teeth in the bathroom,
Various clothing items that she had work were tossed in a laundry basket.
She laid in the bed and rolled around, planted a few hairs by the pillows. Touched every dish in the kitchen.
Her finger prints and epithelial cells were planted everywhere.
The worked quietly, but quickly. When they were finished and leaving, Lizzie surveyed their work and whispered "So this is where I die. Anonymous and alone."
She sounded sad, but it was normal. This was the end of a large chapter in her life. He just hoped that she wouldn't regret her decision.
He would spend the rest of his life making sure that didn't happen.
They had been in Ecuador for two more months following Kuwait, her death was investigated, but it was closed when a man confessed to her murder in a suicide note. Authorities had no evidence to refute it. The fact that the man in question was Tom Connelly was all the rage in recent months.
The investigation into rampant government corruption was ongoing. Red's immunity agreement was considered covered in full.
No one had any doubts that he mourned the loss of Agent Elizabeth Keen when he was pictured at her gravesite, a tear rolling down his cheek.
He was still out of town, tying off loose ends, when she made a request of Mr. Kaplan that would shock the woman speechless.
She had an evening all planned. A private dinner. Dancing under the stars.
It was perfect.
"Lizzie, you are so tense. Why the nervousness? Is something wrong?"
He was holding her in his arms, swaying to Louie Armstrong.
She pulled away just far enough to look into his eyes.
"I love you. I know we talked about a family…"
Her words died off and Red couldn't stand the silence, so he filled it with "If you aren't ready, it is absolutely ok. I don't know what I was thinking. I just want you to be happy. I love you beyond reason, beyond logic. That is my only excuse."
She laughed, then. He made her so deliriously happy with his ramblings. Who would have thought that anything would make Raymond Reddington nervous?
"No, no. I do want a family and I know you said you wanted one soon. I just wanted to tell you that you were successful in your…vigorous endeavors to impregnate me."
Nothing. She imagined if this were a move, there'd be crickets in the background.
Then a whispered "Really?" Then a louder "REALLY?" His smile was so huge, she thought his face had to hurt from the strain.
She was swept into his arms, kissed with a passion that conveyed every single feeling that he couldn't voice.
He broke off their kiss suddenly, dropping to his knees in front of her. "Red, what are you do-"
He hugged her so tightly, she could barely breathe, let alone speak. His face was hugged against her lower stomach, where their child rested.
She held him, softly caressing the back of his head and neck. He was too wonderful for words, really.
When he finally spoke, his voice was low and broken from the tears she could feel seeping through her shirt.
"I'm sorry to get so emotional. You have given me more than I could have ever hoped and dreamed for. I will love you and our children with every breath until the day I die. I am sorry if this wasn't how you imagined I'd react."
She was a crying mess by the time he finished. She sank to her knees in front of him, wordlessly pledging her devotion to him as well.
"No, you have nothing to apologize for. You are amazing…This was perfect."
The End
Note: I hope the ending was satisfying. I have another fic in the works and hope to post it soon since both of mine are finishing up.