AN: This is the final chapter. I wanted to get this fic done before S2 starts and I bet you're all just as excited as I am. I'd like to thank all of you for taking the time to read and review. I'm happy you liked this fic and I'm very grateful for all that great feedback. Once more I would like to thank criminalkeen for beta-ing this. Thanks for the plot bunny, Ash, I hope you enjoyed this fic, even though it probably wasn't as angsty as you would've liked.

Disclaimer: I do not own The Blacklist

Chp. 14

Red woke a couple of hours later, which was surprising, because he didn't even remember going to sleep. Not that he did that much lately anyway. The past day's events came back to him and he could feel the panic setting in when he noticed the lack of her presence. He got up and hastily made his way through the house, all the while whispering a mantra to himself.

'Not again. Not again. Not again.'

He was ready to scream when he noticed soft light coming from under the door of the office. He slowly pushed it open and sighed in relief when he saw her standing in front of his desk, shoulders slightly hunched. He walked up to her, careful as to not to disturb her and looked over her shoulder to see that it was the letter he had written all those weeks ago.

The piece of paper was crinkled. He had carried it around with him for two months now. The ink was blurry and smudged and he remembered actually crying while writing it. But he could also see new drops of wetness on the paper. Her shoulders were shaking as she tried not to make any noise, while crying softly. Red hesitantly put his hands on her waist and she willingly leaned back against him. He hooked his chin over her shoulder and turned his head to whisper into her ear.

"I'm sorry, Lizzie. I'm so sorry."

She nodded and a small sob escaped her throat, making him tighten his grip on her. "Me too."

Red huffed a humorless laugh. "You didn't do anything wrong. It's all on me. I ruined it. Ruined the best thing that happened to me in over two decades. I'm so sorry. You don't know how sorry I am. I meant it then, I mean it now, you are my life, my everything and I can't live without you. I don't know how I'll ever be able to make it up to you, but if you'll let me, I'll spend the rest of my life trying." He felt her body trembling against his, but he wasn't much better off. If she told him 'no' now, he was sure he would die, right on the spot. He felt her move and his heart beat wildly in his chest; he was afraid he might pass out.

Liz turned and put her hands against his chest, feeling the thump of his heart against her palm. "I love you, too," she said simply. He released a long, shuddering breath in relief and shook with tremors as the adrenaline left his body.

Red gently cupped her face in his hands, letting his thumbs caress her cheekbones. "Thank you," he whispered. "Thank you for -"

"Ray?" She interrupted.

"Yes?"

"Shut up and kiss me."

Red chuckled and then complied, slowly lowering his lips onto hers. They moaned in unison at that first touch and then the dam broke. Their hands roamed over each other's body, touching, pulling, tugging, feeling like that wasn't nearly enough. Their lips moved against each other's before one of them finally opened their mouth and their tongues met. It was desperate, but so very beautiful. When they finally parted, they didn't pull away. They leaned their foreheads against each other, their noses touching, their arms wrapped tightly around one another. She was leaning heavily against him and he could see that she was exhausted, emotionally drained. He pursed his lips to place a kiss under her eye.

"Let's get you into bed." She didn't protest and let herself be led towards the bedroom. He sat her on the mattress and pulled some clothes for her to sleep in from the closet, putting them in her lap, then tucking some hair behind her ear. "If you need anything, I'll be in the living room," he said softly and pressed a kiss to her forehead.

Before he could leave, she grabbed his hand, preventing him from going. "Don't be ridiculous, Ray," she said, giving him a smile, as she tugged his dress shirt out of his pants. "I want to sleep in your arms. I want to feel safe again."

Red swallowed hard. He wasn't sure how to respond. How could she feel safe with him after everything that had happened?

"Ray." She tugged on his shirt again.

He smiled, before bending down to kiss her soft lips. "I'd love nothing more than to hold you while you sleep."

Liz gave him a tired, but still just as big grin. "We both know that's not true." She stood and there was barely enough space to put a sheet of paper between them and leaned in to place a kiss to the corner of his lips.

"You're a tease," he murmured.

She patted his chest on her way to the adjoining bathroom. "Lose the shirt, Ray."

He chuckled and did as he was told, also taking off the rest of his clothes, leaving his boxer shorts on. He got into his side of the bed; he hadn't slept on her side for years.

He put his arms under his head and waited for his Lizzie to emerge from the bathroom. His heart was racing again. He couldn't believe how lucky he was. She had every right to hate him, yet she didn't. He smiled at her when she walked around the bed and got under the covers.

"You've always worn them better," Red said, referring to his clothes on her body.

"Flattery will get you nowhere," Liz replied with a wink.

He stretched out his left arm, inviting her into his side. "Well, it got you into my bed."

"Cheeky," Liz said, as she moved in and laid her head where it belonged. On his chest. His arms encircled her small frame, pulling her closer and she let her fingers rake through the soft curls on his chest with a content smile. They lay in silence, both lost in their own thoughts, just happy to be back in each other's arms.

"Marry me."

'What?' Liz lifted her head from his chest. "Technically, you're wearing my ring," she said, fingering the piece of jewellery around his neck.

"No. Marry me."

She looked curiously at him then. "I thought we couldn't."

"I don't care. Marry me. Be my wife."

'Elizabeth Reddington does have a nice ring to it.' She thought. He was serious; she could see it in his eyes, could feel it from the way his heart was practically banging against his ribcage. She loved him. So very much and she couldn't imagine spending her life without him again.

"Yes."

~fin~