A/N: Thank you so much for the wonderful response to this! I love hearing from you!
Disclaimed: I own nothing and make no money off of this.
Liz thought that she knew Red. She was wrong. From being in such close proximity to the man, she learned so many new things that she never would have known otherwise.
His little laugh when he read something funny. How he would occasionally talk to himself while cooking. The frequency of which that boyish twinkle in his eyes appeared and how she vowed to do whatever it took to keep that twinkle in place.
She loved everything about him. She knew that she loved him when she called him for help all those days ago. She went from loving him as a safe haven in her world of uncertainty, to being so deeply in love with him that she hated the very thought of their past. All those many months of time wasted. How awful she was to him.
Now, she just had to figure out how she would tell him. She knew he cared for her, it was broadcasted in every kiss, every touch of his hands on her body. Maybe she would tell him tonight. Or before if the opportunity struck.
Days after their first encounter on the train, they still couldn't get enough of each other. Her favorite thing to do was show up naked in the room while Red was on a business call. He would pause in whatever he was saying and stare at her, slack-jawed, as if she were the most magnificent woman he's ever laid eyes upon.
It always took him a moment to recover his wits, but she was rewarded with him completing his phone calls with so much heat in his eyes it took her breath away.
After he hung up his phone call, he would take her up against whatever piece of furniture was handy.
They still sparred and practiced defensive moves in the mornings with Red trying to give her as much information on his plans as he felt safe. The trouble was that he wanted to keep her in a bubble of safety.
That bubble was soon to be broken, to judge by the tone of his phone calls. Plans were being made to go to France. She had found an English/French dictionary and was brushing up on her meager French to give her something to do when Red was working or reading.
Red was at the store getting them supplies. They, or rather Red, had agreed that Liz should spend the least amount of time exposed as possible.
She was busying herself with dusting when there was a knock at the door. At first she planned on not answering and waiting the out, but a scrape on the knob alerted her that someone was coming in whether she let them in or not, so she jerked open the door and used the element of surprise to take the lock picker down to the floor and put her knee in his throat.
"Oh my god, Dembe! I so happy to see you!" She quickly took her knee off of his throat, but then wrapped her arms around him to hug him tightly.
He immediately hugged her back "Elizabeth, I am so happy to see you looking so well. Raymond said he would be home at this time and I worried that something could be wrong."
"Nothing is wrong now. Red has missed you so much. He's going to-"
"Be very upset that he worked so hard to get his significant other her favorite chocolate dessert and comes home to find her sprawled on top of his brother."
Oh. Shit. Red. Liz twisted her body around with a smile on her face that died as soon as she saw the look on his face.
He was jealous. Murderously so, if she were to judge by his clenched fist and pinched face.
How dare he believe that they would ever-!
Well, she was on top of Dembe, straddling his body with her arms wrapped around his neck.
Dembe was frowning at Red, seems he took exception to Red's quick judgement of them too. "Well, I did tell Elizabeth that the bed would be much more comfortable, but-"
"Shut up! Are you kidding me?" She smacked Dembe "Red, he's lying. He tried to pick the lock, I disabled him and then hugged him when I noticed it was him. If you don't believe that, you are just as much of a jack ass as he is." With that, she crawled off Dembe and left the room.
Red looked after her and sighed. He held a hand out to help Dembe to his feet. He pulled him into a hug. Dembe hugged him back but said "What was that show for?"
"I could ask you the same. The bed? Really?" Red said with his eyebrows raised.
"Your jealously was showing. What kind of brother would I be if I didn't rub salt in your wounds? Besides, we need to talk. Alone." Red smiled and said loudly "Well since you can't have my Lizzie, you'll have to console yourself with the gelato I just purchased. You can also make yourself useful by helping me carry the groceries in. I don't trust you with my girl."
They walked outside and Dembe said "Everything is arranged. I don't agree with your plan though. We can help you Raymond."
Red stopped Dembe at the vehicle "You are helping me. By keeping her safe. That is what I need. I leave in the morning. I need to know that she'll be taken care of if I don't come back. I love you Dembe. You're the only one that I trust with her. She is everything to me.
Tbc…
A/N: Let me know what you think!