AN: You don't know how glad I am to see how much you're enjoying this. I've recevied the most wonderful messages and reviews. You guys are amazing. This is chapter 9 and 10. Chapter 10 is actually what jackandsamforever wanted to read... so if you want to blame someone, blame her! I'm so sorry. So, so, so sorry. Sarah? Beware! Thank you criminalkeen for being a great beta!

Disclaimer: I do not own The Blacklist

Chp. 9

"Be mine?"

Realizing that she had probably let him suffer for too long already she pulled her head from under his chin and crushed her lips to his. He responded immediately. Pulling her close, while still awkwardly holding the ring in his hand. By now she was straddling him, not caring if anyone would see them, kissing him with everything she had. Red could feel a wetness against his lips, before tasting saltiness on hers and he pulled back, cupping her cheek in one hand and smiling gently at her, with unshed tears in his eyes.

"Is that a yes?" He asked, his voice as soft as she'd never heard before.

"Yes, god, yes!" She exclaimed and kissed him again, almost knocking them both from the chair.

He huffed a laugh against her mouth and soon both were grinning too wide to continue kissing. Red took her left hand in his and gently slid the ring onto her finger, all the time holding her eyes. "I love you, Elizabeth."

She blushed at his words and put her hands against his cheeks, the platinum cool on his heated skin. "I love you, too, Raymond," she said before kissing him again.

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The drive to the villa took too long according to both Red and Liz and they couldn't stop making out in the backseat, much to the distress of Dembe, who kept begging them to stop, but was simply ignored. They had barely left their bed in the next couple of days, and they knew that nothing would ever be the same again.

They didn't know just how right they were.

THEBLACKLIST THEBLACKLIST THEBLACKLIST

Chp. 10

"How far is it?" She asked again.

He smiled gently at her and took her hand in his. "Just a couple of more minutes, sweetheart." He loved her enthusiasm.

"Well, the last time around you didn't show me the Colosseum, Mr."

Red chuckled. "I was a little pre-occupied discovering the beauty of your body." There was a moan coming from the front seat. "Something on your mind, my friend?" Red asked with a grin.

"I am deciding where to get rid of you, so I can finally live in peace again," the man answered, his voice sounded uninterested.

"We need to find Dembe a girl," Liz said.

Red leaned forward and clapped his friend on the shoulder. "That's a fabulous idea! Isn't there a women's prison around here?" He asked with a laugh.

"Oh, shut up," Dembe grumbled.

They pulled up next to the Colosseum and went inside. Red had arranged for them to be the only ones around, so he could show his Lizzie everything in private.

"It's huge!" She exclaimed, turning around to get a glimpse at the surrounding masonry.

The Concierge of Crime held out his left hand, his own ring shining in the dim light. She smiled at him, before grabbing the offered hand. She remembered when she had seen him put on his ring after they had gotten to the villa that one night. Liz had asked him about wearing a ring and he had only answered, that of course he would be wearing a ring, how else would people know that he was hers and she was his.

Red pulled her out of her thoughts, when he gently touched his lips to hers. "Ready?"

"Yep."

He showed her around the fighting arena, telling her a story about gladiators and lions, when he noticed Dembe looking around.

"Dembe?" He chose to address the man.

"Something feels off," the tall man answered, looking quite serious. "We should leave."

"Ray?" Liz looked at him, her eyes widening.

"Let's go," the man in question said, gently pushing her forward. "Call Kaplan."

Just as he had finished those words, the first shot rang through the ruins, making them break into a run. They rounded a corner and ran down a couple of steps with a gate at the end. Red pushed and pulled, rattling the frame of the iron gate, but it wouldn't budge. They had to move and fast. He pushed Liz into Dembe's side, when the latter had hung up his phone. "Take her to the side access under the emperor's podium."

"Ray!" She grabbed his arm.

"Not now, Lizzie. Dembe, give me your back up."

"Ray..." She was scared, scared for him. She tried hard not to panic, but she could already feel tears pricking at her eyes. Everything had been going more than great, why was this happening now?

"Make sure she's safe," Red told his friend, checking the clip of the gun.

"Ray -"

He kissed her firmly to shut her up. "Lizzie, I love you! But if you don't leave now, I'll have Dembe carry you."

"Kaplan is already on her way. They should be here shortly," the bodyguard said.

Liz leaned in once more and kissed him softly. "I love you, Ray. Be safe." She then let Dembe pull her along with one last glance over her shoulder.

Red started sweeping the area, hoping to distract them from where Dembe was taking Lizzie. He silently approached one of the men clad in black and whacked him with the butt of the gun, knocking him out cold. It seemed like hell had broken loose then. He heard, then felt the gunshot, as the bullet flew past his head and hit the wall. He ducked to the side, then returned fire, before quickly making his way into one of the tunnels to meet with Dembe and Lizzie. Kaplan would be there soon as well and they would be fine.

The soles of his dress shoes echoed loudly off the walls. He ripped open one of the doors and released a shuddering breath of relief when he saw his two partners in crime making their way further through the tunnel, heading for some place safe. His relief was short lived, when he saw the blood on both of them. He broke into a run. "Lizzie!"

The two turned and relief shone in Dembe's dark eyes, before the man fell to his knees, almost taking Liz with him. "Dembe!" Red dashed forward and went to his knees beside his friend, taking in the bullet holes in his chest.

"He-he threw himself in front of me. I..." Liz was covered in blood and shivering heavily.

Red cradled Dembe's head and pulled him tightly into his chest, so he wouldn't choke on his own blood, while pressing his hand against one of the wounds. "You'll be fine. Kaplan and the boys will be here soon," Red told his friend. "Are you hurt, Lizzie?"

"No..." she whispered.

Red didn't look away from his friend. "Find something to lock the doors with." She nodded and went to look around.

"Raymond..." Dembe put his hand to Red's face. "It is alright, my brother."

"Shut up," Red told him softly, pressing down harder, when blood started oozing through his fingers.

"Thank you, Raymond. I can't thank you enough."

Red held him tighter. "Just hold on."

Dembe coughed and blood ran down his face. "Raymond... I will say it... again." He wheezed. By now Liz had returned and sat on the floor next to them, close enough so Dembe could see her, but not close enough to disturb them. "Ours is a friendship forged once..." He coughed again and Red swallowed hard. "in this life and... again... in the next."

"Don't you dare." Red's voice broke. They could hear yelling outside, along with heavy gunfire. "Don't do this to me."

"Raymond... don't grieve. I love you, my brother."

Liz witnessed a couple of tears drop from Red's eyes as he sat there, holding his dying friend. "I love you, brother."

A soft smile came to Dembe's face as his eyes closed and his hand dropped.

Liz breathed through her open mouth as tears streamed down her face. Her heart hurt so much at the sight of the man she had come to think of as a friend lying dead in front of her, cradled in the arms of the man she loved. Raymond was hurting badly. She could see the tears continuing to flow freely down his face as he tugged his friend closer, before burying his face in the dead man's chest.

"Raymond!" They heard Kaplan's voice from outside.

Liz got up and quickly opened the door to reveal Red's men. Kaplan took one look at her before her eyes moved to where Red was holding his friend.

"Dear Lord..." The small woman quickly made her way towards the pair and kneeled down. "Oh, Dembe..." She reached over and touched Dembe's head. "I will take care of everything. Don't you worry, dearie," she said with a touch to Red's shoulder, before she stood and walked over to Liz, who was soaked in blood. "Let's go, dear."

"B-but Ray."

"There's nothing you can do now." Kaplan quickly ushered her out of the room.

Red continued sitting on the cold floor for hours, holding his friend. There was blood everywhere. How Dembe had even survived that long was a mystery, but the second he had seen Red, the second he knew that he had kept his promise, had kept Liz safe, the second he knew that she would be cared for, he had dropped to his knees, giving in to the injuries.

"I will get them, brother. Your death will be avenged, I promise you that," he finally whispered, pressing a kiss to the man's forehead. "I love you." He motioned over some of his men, who more than carefully lifted the dead body of their friend off of their employer. They wouldn't need instructions as to how to handle this.

Red was covered in blood. It was everywhere. He would burn his clothes, that much was clear. The hole in his heart, the empty feeling inside... it almost broke him right then and there.

Nothing would ever be the same again.