Chapter 9

Walking into the kitchen, Kate was greeted by her father. "Morning, Pumpkin." Pulling Kate into his arms, he hugged her and dropped a kiss to her head.

"Good morning, Daddy." Returning his hug, Kate stayed in his arms for a few more seconds. If there was once place on earth that Kate felt safe, it was with her father...even more so when he hugged her.

Pulling back, Red looked at his daughter. He knew that they needed to have a talk about Lizzie. He wanted them both to meet, he just never imagined that it would happen this quickly. "I wanted to talk to you about Lizzie." Getting Kate a glass of apple juice, he continued, "I know we've already talked about what you did at the park." At that, Kate gave her dad a sheepish smile. "But it's happened, you've met her, and I can't change that. But now that Lizzie knows who you really are, you can't be seen out in public with her." Seeing her smile drop, Red quickly added, "Not all the time, anyway. People would start asking questions and I don't want Lizzie to have to lie for us."

"I understand Dad, I really do. But I like Liz. I see the way you are around her and it's different." Seeing her father's look, she clarified, "A good difference...a great difference. You're happy when you're with her and you're more relaxed."

"I'm like that with you." Red didn't think he was ready for this conversation with his daughter

"That's different. I'm your daughter. But when you're with Liz, it's like you're a different person and I think it's great. I think you two would be perfect together."

"Kate."

Ignoring the warning in his voice, Kate continued with her explanation. "You flirt with her and you always try to touch her, and you also make sure you're as close to her as you can be, without making it obvious...which is very cute by the way."

"How do you know this?" Red asked, a faint blush on his face.

"I'm 28, Dad, I know what to look for. Plus...I saw it myself last night. Also, Dembe and Luli love to talk." Smiling, Kate decided to go easy on her dad, even if she thought his blush was cute. "Don't worry, Liz is the same with you. She's always looking at your lips when she talks to you. She flirts with you."

Red didn't know what to say to any of what his daughter had just told him. Could it be true? Does Lizzie flirt with me? He knew that she always looked at his lips when he spoke, but he never noticed the other things. When he looked back at Kate, she was smiling at him.

"I want you to be happy, Dad. I want you to think of a future where it isn't just me and you. With Liz you could be happy and have a future with her." When Kate finished speaking, she got up and went to give her father a hug. "I'm starving...what's for breakfast?"

With the abrupt change of subject, Red laughed and started tickling his daughter until she was crying with laughter.

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Liz woke to the sound of laughter, something that never happened unless she'd fallen asleep with the TV on. Turning to look at the clock on the bedside table, she inhaled Red's scent...it was all over the bed. She loved the smell of him. Looking at the clock, she noticed that it was just after 8am. She also noticed that Hudson wasn't in the room with her anymore. Deciding it was time to get up, she headed to the bathroom first and took care of her business, and while washing her hands she noticed the state of her hair. She looked around and didn't find anything, so she took the bobble off her wrist and finger combed her hair. Looking some what decent, she left the bathroom and the bedroom still wearing Red's clothes. She didn't want to take them off...they smelled like him and it comforted her. The sound of laughter led her to the kitchen.

"Good morning, Lizzie." Liz didn't think she'd ever heard Red sound this happy, and she was so shocked to see Red dressed in jeans and a jumper that it took her a while to reply.

"Good morning Red, Kate." Giving them both a smile she made her way to the coffe, but Red handed her a cup and led her to the table. Kate seeing this as the perfect chance to start the progress of getting her dad and Lizzie together spoke

"Morning, Liz," she said, shooting Liz her best smile. "Do you mind, when you're with me, calling Dad Raymond or Ray? I'm not really fond of that nickname, plus Red the dog would get confused." Red shot his daughter a discreet look, knowing what she was trying to do, but this was one thing he didn't mind her doing. He wanted Lizzie, and if his daughter was going to help him, it meant she liked her.

"Uh sure...it might take me a while to get use to it though." Giving Kate a hesitant smile, Liz thought it would definitely take her a while to get use to it. Deciding to change the subject before it got uncomfortable, Red spoke. "How about omletes for breakfast?"

"Yes, please Dad," Kate replied as she got up to get a drink of apple juice.

"That would be great. Thanks Re.. Ray." Liz couldn't help thinking how weird that felt.

Red loved the sound of his name coming from Lizzie. Seeing his daughter smirk as she walked past him, he nudged her back to her seat.

"Have you taken your pills this morning, Pumpkin?" Seeing her guilty look, Red sighed and went to the cabinet to get them. Looking to Liz, Kate saw her confused look and explained.

"Ever since this," she pointed to her scar, "I get migraines. Taking these help...I normally only get mild headaches with them." Taking the pills off her dad, she took them. Kate spoke in a detached voice, just like Red had last night, but Liz could tell that even the mild headaches hurt her. "Can I have extra cheese in mine, Dad?" Kate sounded happier when she spoke now.

"Sure thing, Pumpkin. What about you, Lizzie...what fillings do you want?"

"Anything but peppers please, Ray."

Nodding, Red turned back to preparing breakfast. Liz noticed the pleased smile on Red's face when she called him Ray, and she decided she liked saying it too.

Noticing that Hudson wasn't circling her feet, Liz turned to Kate. "Where are the dogs?"

"They're in my room. Dembe and I are gonna take them to the park after breakfast. Dembe's been training Red, so I thought it'd be fun for Hudson to do it too. Plus he'd be able to protect you if anything was to happen," Kate responded with a smile.

Liz was going to protest, but seeing that smile and the one Red gave Kate stopped her. Liz thought about it and decided that it would be good to have more security at home.

"Here we go ladies." Red served breakfast with a flourish. "Enjoy."

While eating breakfast, Red continued a conversation with Kate about where to go for their next vacation. They both involved Liz in the conversation, and Liz couldn't remember the last time she had fun eating breakfast. When breakfast was done and Red got up to do the dishes, Liz joined him, ignoring his protests that she was a guest, and started to clear the table. Kate called for Dembe, who arrived a few seconds later with both dogs following.

"Are you ready, Miss Kate?"

Liz loved what Dembe called Kate, it showed politeness and his love for her.

"Nearly." Saying that, Kate twirled her finger and Dembe laughed and turned around, waiting for Kate to jump on his back. Once she was settled, Dembe turned to face Red and Liz.

"See ya later Dad. Bye Liz!" Kate said with a huge smile on her face, then she and Dembe left the room with the dogs following.

Shaking his head and chuckling, Red went back to the dishes. "Kate has everyone in this family wrapped around her finger. Be careful Lizzie, you'll be next"

"I don't mind." Smiling and getting back to the dishes, Liz thought it'd be nice to have someone need her. Red, seeing that she meant what she said, gave her a smile. After the dishes were done, Red made himself some tea and a coffee for Liz and lead her to the lounge. Sitting down, he turned to Liz and asked the question that would change their happy mood.

"Have you decided what you're going to do,Lizzie?"

Liz was going to ask what he was talking about, but then she remembered. Tom. The smile left her face. Liz had forgotten all about Tom. She felt so comfortable with Red and his daughter that she had forgotten about her troubles.

Red, seeing her reaction to his question, spoke again. "You know you're more than welcome to stay with me and Kate for however long you want, Lizzie." Red added a wistful forever in his head.

"I know...and thank you, Red, it's nice to know I can go somewhere and just be myself without any worries. But I think I need to go home. I need to know what's going on with Tom, and then maybe I'll start making some decisions."

Once Kate and Dembe returned home an hour later, Liz had already showered and changed and was ready to leave, even if her heart was telling her to stay. Taking Hudson off of Kate, Liz gave her a hug and with a smile to Red, she left.

Watching Lizzie leave, Red lost his smile. He thought about everything that had happened that day. It was one of best days Red had had in a long time. Even waking up on the couch with backache didn't bother him, especially after peeking his head in his room and seeing Lizzie fast asleep in his bed. Her interaction with Kate had been great too. Seeing them get along was one thing that Red had always wanted and what he always worried about before they had met. Seeing Kate talking and laughing with a woman who wasn't her grandmother or Luli made Red happy. He'd always worried that his need to protect and keep Kate a secret would hold her back, but he never really had to worry about his little girl. She was his star and she always shined. Hoping Liz would be okay once she got back home, Red got up to check on his daughter and to see what they could have for dinner.

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On her drive home, Liz prepared herself mentally for another showdown with Tom. Her heart had gone silent when it came to Tom now, and her mind was telling her she didn't trust him...that he was hiding something from her. She also couldn't decide if she was going to mention the box, but then she thought about asking Red if he could get her the information she needed. What he'd get wouldn't be classified. She decided that that was what she'd do. She wouldn't mention the box and see if Red could get her the evidence she needed. Pulling up to her house, Liz breathed a sigh of relief when she noticed all the lights were off. She turned to Hudson and smiled. "Alright buddy, it's just you and me. How about some take away and Netflix?" Hudson just tilted his head. "Yeah I think it's a great idea too." Nodding and taking a deep breath, Liz got out of the car and headed to the house.

After watching Criminal Minds for a few hours, (which reminded Liz of Kate) and being stuffed with chinese food, Liz and Hudson were both napping on the couch when the front door was slammed shut. Jumping, Liz reached for her gun and Hudson started to bark. Tom stumbled through the doorway and stopped when he saw the gun.

"You gonna shoot me, Liz?" He slurred his words and Liz realised he'd been drinking. She watched as Tom walked further into the room and braced himself on a chair.

"Are you drunk?" As she spoke, she put her gun in the back of her pants. Looking at her watch, Liz noticed it was just after 1am.

"Well done. Let's give the profiler a prize." Tom was clapping as he spoke.

"Tom wha..."

Tom cut her off. "So have you made your decision, Liz?" When Liz just looked at him, he spoke again. "What's it gonna be, me or the FBI?"

"Can we just talk about this when you're sober? We can discuss it and figure it out like adults." Again, before Liz could finish, Tom cut her off. Liz was starting to get pissed as Tom continued to interrupt and mock her.

"There shouldn't be anything to talk about. It's a simple question, there should be a simple answer." Tom raised his voice towards the end and took a few steps towards her. Liz felt herself go stiff, ready to grab her gun if she had to, but she tried to reason with him

"If we could discuss this...I shouldn't need to make a decision, Tom!"

"You know what...forget it." Turning around, Tom walked upstairs and slammed their bedroom door shut.

Sitting back down on the couch, Liz stared at her hands and realized that they were shaking. Whether it was in shock or anger she didn't know. Slumping her shoulders and leaning back against the couch, she pulled Hudson to her and whispered. "I guess it really is just you and me."

A/N Sorry for the delay in updating.

A big thank you to jadenanne7 for being my wonderful beta and a huge thanks to everyone reading and/or reviewing!