AN: Wow... I'm amazed. You guys are truly amazing. I don't think I've ever gotten that many reviews for a story. And it's not even finished yet. You really make me happy. And I'm glad you like it that much, because I really wasn't sure about this one. Must be because of my wonderful beta, criminalkeen, doing her magic! I'll just continue with this one and let the other one be, seeing that In Over Her Head isn't loved that much xD

Disclaimer: Nothing is mine... *sigh*

Chp. 7

As the years came and went, Liz grew more and more accustomed to the constant moving, going from a villa to a cave-like surrounding, before moving on to a nice hotel suite. It wasn't a lifestyle she would've ever chosen if not for him. Every morning he woke up and saw her lying next to him, making his eyes light up in a way she hadn't seen before they had become intimate. He loved her, she knew he did, but he could be so damn annoying at times. This was Raymond Reddington after all; the man was infuriating. They fought, not often, but they did fight from time to time and it would make Dembe sneak from the house as if he was a kid who couldn't bear hearing his parents fight.

She wasn't even sure anymore what had gotten them into this fight, but she was mad. She could feel it deep inside her body.

"Why do you have to be such a damn bastard?!" She yelled at him from the other side of the kitchen island.

He was nonchalantly cutting a tomato, as if they hadn't been arguing for the past twenty minutes. "Well, you knew this before. Maybe you shouldn't have come with me then." He had a feeling those words shouldn't have left his mouth as he looked up to see her staring at him.

"Maybe I shouldn't have," she said in a cold voice, before grabbing her jacket and leaving the warmth of the house for the cold and wet weather in Southend-On-Sea, which is located only two hours from London.

Red dropped the cutting knife and let his head hang. He hated fighting with her. He knew that she was only worried about his safety, but there was not much he could do about it. He was the Concierge of Crime after all. Red washed and dried his hands, when he heard the front door open an hour later. Had she already forgiven him, or was she going to ram another pen into his neck?

"Lizzie, I'm - Dembe," He stopped in his tracks.

The other man gave him a once over. "I take it she has left the house?"

Red sighed. "Trace the GPS in her cell, will you? I need to talk to her."

"I don't think that will be of help," Dembe said as he leaned over and took the black device from a sideboard.

"Damn it!" Red swore. He took his jacket and fedora off the rack and put them on. "I have a good idea where she might be."

He decided to drive the car himself for the 15 minute long ride. He knew her well enough to believe he was right about her whereabouts. He parked the car on the side of the abandoned road and made the last hundred yards over the jetty on foot. It was getting darker already, but he could make her out just fine where she was sitting on the wooden planks. He gracefully sat down next to her. He hadn't brought anything with him, remembering how she had told him not to buy her expensive gifts, but to show her he loved her instead. He loved her even more for that, if that was possible.

"You're right. I'm a bastard, a selfish bastard for doing this to you. As much as I want you, as much as I want you to want me, I should've given this thing more thought. Lizzie, if you don't want this anymore, you're free to go, of course. I wouldn't want you to -"

"Go where, Raymond? And do what exactly? I've been on the run with you for five years now. You think I could just go back to my old life? I'm as much a fugitive as you are."

"Mr. Kaplan could make it look like I kidnapped y -" Before he could even finish the sentence, he felt her hand connect with his cheek with a loud smack. The burning sensation told him that his cheek would be bright red now.

"How can you say that, Ray? How can you even think it?! I'm head over heels in love with you, even though you piss me off more than I could've ever imagined, you thick-headed idiot!"

Red only hesitated a second before sealing her mouth with his, pressing her down on the wood beneath them. His fedora was knocked off his head and fell down somewhere next to her. He felt her arms come around his body as they continued kissing passionately. He pulled back and took her face in his hands. "I'm sorry, Lizzie."

She stroked over the red skin of his cheek. "So am I. I just worry so much about you. I can't lose you."

"You won't," he told her firmly. "Lizzie, I will always do everything in my power to come back to you. I love you."

"I love you, too." He shot her a smile and started kissing down her neck, taking off his jacket and putting it on the wooden planks. Liz pulled back. "Ray?"

"I've dreamed about this. Making love to you by the water."

She moaned at his words, but the noise was swallowed by his firm but soft lips on hers.