AN: A huge thank you to everyone who reviewed/favorited/messaged me. Your support is highly appreciated. More angst? We'll see. Special thanks to my most favorite Aussie ever for being a great beta!

Disclaimer: check earlier chapters

Chapter 6

Hours later, she was wondering just how much of a cold hearted bitch it took to leave someone you love begging and crying, standing in the driveway of their house.

She was following the rain drops on her window with her finger, thinking about how much they reminded her of Red's tears, when her cell rang. It had been hours since she had left him and her phone hadn't chirped once. Curious to see who it was, she quickly noticed that it was Dembe calling and fear made her stomach churn. What if something had happened to him? The thought of Red being dead made tears sting at the back of her eyes.

"Dembe?" She asked breathlessly.

"Elizabeth, I know you are mad at Raymond," he spoke and she sighed. "But he has been sitting out there ever since you left."

"What? He's outside? It's pouring!"

"I know."

"Dembe, there's a thunderstorm out there! How can you leave him sitting outside all this time?!" She was putting on her shoes without even noticing.

"I know," Dembe said again. "He won't listen to me. He refuses to come inside. I know you are angry, but –"

"I'm already on my way," she interrupted and hung up.

Thankfully his current safehouse wasn't that far away and she reached it within twenty minutes. Just like the bodyguard had said, Red was sitting on the bottom step. His shirt was transparent, soaked from the cold rain, clinging to him like a second skin. He didn't look up when she approached him.

"It's never easy with you, is it?" She hadn't even been outside for a minute and already her hair was plastered to her head. Reaching out, she hoped he would accept her hands. She needed to get him out of the cold. As his fingers curled around hers, she could determine just how true Dembe's words had been. "My god, you're ice cold," she exclaimed and pulled him up.

"Lizzie." His voice was rough and shook slightly. "You shouldn't be out here, you'll get sick."

She shook her head. Honestly, this man and his uncanny ability to care for her but beat on himself. "Come, let's go inside. I don't want you getting sick either."

"You don't?"

"Red," she protested, tearing up again. "Of course I don't. Come now."

She pulled him into the house, nodding at Dembe on their way in, steering them towards the bedroom and adjoining bathroom. She had admired the huge tub earlier, and now they were going to make use of it. Turning on the hot water, she sniffed at some of the fancy soap bottles and poured them in. When she turned back to Red, she saw him still standing where she had left him.

He looked catatonic and it pained her to see him like that. "Let's get you out of these clothes." She pulled the shirt over his head and let it drop to the floor with a wet slap. Just as she reached for his boxers, her knuckles grazed the skin of his stomach. "Oh god, you really are absolutely freezing!" She rubbed her hands over his skin, trying to warm him up and then looped her arms around him to hug him. "Okay, no. Not good enough." Liz made quick work of ridding herself from her clothes and then held him tightly, letting her scar graze over his.

"Lizzie," he breathed, slowly reaching out to hold her against him.

They stayed like that for some moments, until she felt him shiver again. "Alright, let's get rid of these." She pulled at the elastic of his boxers and then turned to check the water temperature. "Ready?" She asked and he looked back at her with an adoring look in his eyes.

She motioned for him to get in first, slipping in behind him, ensuring sure that the hot water would reach him everywhere. She wrapped her arms around him from behind as he leaned against her.

A few silent moments passed, as the water worked warmth back into their bodies.

"Lizzie, I'm so sorry."

"No, I'm sorry," she countered. "I need to learn to listen. I'm too hotheaded and impulsive sometimes. Words just fly out of my mouth unchecked, and.. I'm sorry for those hurtful words I threw at you. I didn't mean them." At this declaration, Lizzie reached for his hand and intertwined their fingers. "It's just… she's been a thorn in my side from the beginning. At least when it comes to you. And I hate to think you would do the same with her like you did with me."

"I wouldn't. Lizzie, I don't want her. I don't. Tell me what to do to make you believe me."

She leaned her head against his and gently scratched over his chest. He was still slightly cool to the touch. "You could tell me you love me, even though I tend to be mentally incompetent at times."

"I love you, Elizabeth. I love you just the way you are. And I don't think you're mentally incompetent at all."

"Let's stick to hotheaded then," she said, placing a kiss on his sideburn. "I'm trying to control it, but it's hard. I really don't like women sniffing around you."

He raised their joined hands and kissed the back of hers. "I need you to trust me when I tell you that I love you. My heart belongs to you, Lizzie, and you alone."

"My jealousy might be a little unhealthy," she said with a laugh. "I really do love you."

Snuggling against her, he hummed. "That's okay. You don't know what possessive means yet, sweetheart."

"I think I have some idea about it."

Leaning in, she kissed a certain spot on his neck. As predicted he let out that little giggle again. It really was the most endearing sound she had ever heard. "As long as I'm allowed to kiss you right there."

He whined and then turned onto his front so that they were face to face again, his belly resting against her thighs and his forehead against her sternum. "I might be persuaded," he said. He started placing little kisses across her chest and down her breasts. "Have you ever made love in a tub, Lizzie?"

Her hands were in his hair, her nails scratching at his scalp and down his neck. "I can't say I have, no."

"It's rather messy," he told her, inching closer as he crawled up her body until they were face to face.

"Yeah?"

"So messy," he whispered. Before she could reply again, he had covered her lips with his, the water splashing around them and over the ring of the tub.

She would love making that mess, he'd make sure of it.