A/N: Thank you for the reviews and follows. Here is the next chapter. It is more or less a filler chapter. Red and Lizzie connect by spending some time together. I hope you like it. Reviews are always appreciated.

Chapter eight

Their long walk was a pleasant one. Nothing truly significant was talked about but they started to reconnect again. Red, always a good story teller, told her what he knew about their surroundings and the times he'd spent there. Apparently he hadn't spend as much time at the cabin as he'd wanted. Work always kept him busy. But now, for the first time in months, he was able to spend time here and that he was happy to share his refuge with her. Lizzie shared stories about the holidays she had with Sam and how much she still missed her father. Back at the cabin, Red told Lizzie they needed some more supplies and asked if she wanted to join him to the small town nearby.

They drove into the village in relative silence. The only comments were made about the scenery that Lizzie watched closely. Though she'd slept well she still felt tired. Red had told her he wanted to get groceries for the next couple of days so they wouldn't have to leave the cabin. Red parked the car at the village centre and got out to open the door for Lizzie. She smiled her thanks. She waited for Red to lead the way which he did so immediately but not before he took her hand in his. He smiled at her surprised look. He gently pulled on her hand to get her to follow him. Lizzie observed him as he made his way to the baker and the butcher. He talked with the baker and the butcher who both pulled him in a quick hug. As he talked to them Lizzie wandered through the adjoined shops and made her way outside where she waited for him. Red joined her outside with a bag in each hand. He led her to the green grocer for the next purchases. As she watched she wondered if he was expecting company. There was no way they could eat all that with just the two of them. The thought of having company didn't sit well with her. She didn't feel like socialising. She just wanted it to be her and Red, just the two of them. When he joined her again Red sensed her discomfort. With his hands full he couldn't take hold of her hand. Walking back to the car he asked her about it.

"What's wrong?"

She shrugged and watched him put the groceries away. She didn't want to seem too clingy. She didn't want to destroy their fragile balance.

He was disappointed that she seemed unwilling to share her thoughts. He moved closer to her until her back hit the closed car door. She couldn't get away now and that suited him just fine. He put his hands on the door, next to her shoulders, boxing her in. He lowered his head to try and catch her eyes. "Sweetheart." He said softly.

She looked at him. This was the first time since a few days that he called her sweetheart. It immediately warmed her. "You called me sweetheart." She looked away for a moment. "You haven't called me that in a few days."

It occurred to him that she was right. He hadn't called her that ever since they'd arrived at the cabin. He'd been so angry with her that he'd refused to call her sweetheart. But she always was and would be his sweetheart. "Is that okay?" He asked.

She smiled at him. "I like it when you call me sweetheart." She blushed.

"And I like calling you sweetheart." He leaned closer to her. "Want to tell me now what made you uncomfortable?"

"Are you expecting company?"

He didn't understand where that question was coming from. "Why do you think so?"

"Because you bought so many groceries."

"It's for us, for the next couple of days. I don't want to go into town every other day." He tilted his head to the side. He had another question for her. "Why does the thought of company make you so uncomfortable?"

"I just want to be alone with you." She muttered softly.

He smiled at her. She seemed to feel embarrassed by her words, but they warmed him. She wanted it just to be the two of them and that's what he wanted too. "I don't want any company either."

"Good." She smiled, glad to be on the same page with him.

"Now we need to buy you some clothes. You didn't pack enough clothes to spend some time here. You need warm and comfortable clothes."

She was going shopping with Red. It seemed a bit odd. He was right. She did need more clothes and especially warm clothes. She wondered what shopping with Red would be like. He probably only went to his personal tailor.

"I know a great boutique for you."

She let him lead the way and hoped the boutique wasn't too expensive. She couldn't afford to spend as much on clothes as he did. She also didn't want him to buy her clothes. He already did so much for her. "I don't have the same budget as you for clothes." She said when they stopped in front of the boutique. Though it didn't look too expensive, she still wondered if she could afford it.

He looked at her and saw that familiar stubborn look in her eyes. "I know." He reassured her. He knew she wouldn't like it if he would suggest to pay for everything. She was too independent for that and he wouldn't want her any other way. "It'll be okay." He said as he opened the door for her. In the store he remained a bit on the background, not wanting to crowd her and let her wander through the different racks of clothes. He knew that when she would see the kind of clothes they had here and the prices she would feel more willing to hear his suggestions.

She looked at some of the clothes that caught her eyes and saw that she could indeed afford them. It settled her mind. Relaxed now she enjoyed the search for new clothes. She looked at Red for a moment and saw him watching her closely. He nodded at her. With a nod of her head she gestured him to come closer. "I kind of expected you to play a more active part. You've always been quite vocal about the fact that you didn't agree with my choices."

He looked apologetic at her. He hoped his remarks about her choice of clothes hadn't hurt her. That never was his intention. "I'm certain you can manage. However if you need a hand changing I am always willing and ready to help."

She laughed at him. "I'm sure you are." She watched him take a seat near the dressing rooms and continued her search for new clothes.

TBC...