DISCLAIMER: I do not own any of The Blacklist characters, however I own some original characters that you'll get to know them one by one.

Here's the second chapter, hope you'll enjoy it ;)

(I've put up a link of the picture of the dress Lily's wearing in this chapter on my profile, check it out!)

Chapter2_A Good Man

"Good morning, and yet we have another disaster on our hands." Lily heard him as she walked in the unit. She groaned and asked: "Did he blurt something out again?" Ressler accompanied her to her desk and answered: "Yeah, an incident is supposed to happen apparently."

Lily took off her coat and sat down and asked: "At where?" Donald took a look at his watch and said: "Decatur industrial park, I have to leave, contact them?" Lily nodded and started working right away.

It was twenty minutes after eleven, that she heard Ressler yell something about clearing the area. He informed her a passenger train derailed and lots of people were dead. Lily contacted Harold and he confronted Reddington about it.

Ressler got there in time to see Reddington walk around and explain the works of The Freelancer; the next name on the blacklist. Cooper finally asked how they could find him and Reddington said he would find the man himself.

Lily watched amused as Ressler tried to joke: "Were you two pen pals? You guys send each other coded e-mails?" Reddington calmly answered that he didn't have an e-mail, a phone or an address. Donald looked at him bitterly and then noticed Lily smirking.

He narrowed his eyes at her and she put a hand on her mouth, trying so hard not to laugh at him and Donald took his eyes off her and concentrated on Reddington again.

There was nothing much for Lily to do that day, though everyone else was quite busy. Reddington and Keen were going to Montreal and Ressler was following them to keep an eye on them in case Reddington tried to flee.

He grabbed anything he needed and was about to leave that he bumped into Lily getting fresh coffee. She said with a smile: "Have a safe flight, agent Ressler." She tried to walk past him but he said: "I honestly don't know how you do it."

She frowned and asked: "Do what?" Ressler shrugged and answered: "Stay positive all the time. Smiling constantly. Even after…" The look on her face made him quiet and he regretted saying anything. Lily tried to look calm when she answered: "After everything that happened to me? It's a gift, I guess."

She finally walked to her desk and left him looking sorry. She tried not to look in his direction until he had left the unit. She put her coffee down and closed her eyes, remembering one of their early fights…

"Where's the boy?" Ressler asked in a rush and Lily said: "I don't think he could talk to you right now." Ressler asked confused: "What are you talking about? That boy saw something, I'm sure."

Lily stood up and tried to reason with him: "With all due respect, sir, you don't understand his situation right now." Ressler wasn't in a mood to argue with her but he was too angry to care: "Why is that?"

Lily's voice went somewhat higher when she said: "His parents just died, while he watched. How could you even ask to speak to him now?" Ressler said bitterly: "I don't have all the time in the world to wait until he's recovered to answer a few fucking questions."

Lily's eyes were on fire as she was glaring at him and made him ask: "Why you care so much? His parents died, not yours." The moment the words came out of his mouth, he finally remembered something.

All the fire in her eyes suddenly extinguished and there was nothing but emptiness in them. Donald opened his mouth to say something but before he could, she stormed off. He went to follow her, but then he remembered the boy so he sighed and went into the opposite direction.

Lily tried not to think about him or the incident but she wasn't successful. She could still remember, standing in her room, hearing her phone ring, answering, hearing a stranger asking her to stay calm, asking her to get herself to the address he was giving, a hospital.

Damn Ressler, he brought everything that she tried to keep hidden in the back of her mind back. The panic, the rush, driving like a mad person, reaching the hospital, running through the crowd, climbing the stairs with a speed that had everyone staring.

And then there was the news…

She noticed work hours were over so she gathered all her power and pushed away the memories and stood up. She grabbed her bag and nodded for a few people still behind their desks and made her way out.

She went straight to the parking lot but before she could open the door of her car, she heard footsteps, like somebody was running towards the entrance. She turned around and saw Ressler, stopping right when he saw her.

She couldn't look at him so she turned around and opened the door so she could get in before they could have any sort of talk. She despised him at that moment, not him maybe, but the thought of him being so cold and emotionless.

She was stopped, though, by him as he reached her and closed the door. She turned to face him and asked coldly: "What do you want, sir?" Ressler's face softened as he said quietly: "I want to let you know I'm sorry."

Lily scoffed and said: "Alright." And went to open the door again but Ressler stopped her, again. He said: "I honestly don't know why I said that. I was being…" Lily offered angrily: "Cruel? Insensitive? Completely oblivious to other people's feelings?"

Donald chuckled a little and answered: "I was gonna say I was being such a dick but those were true as well." Lily felt a little smile forming at the corner of her lips and Ressler saw it and called her on it: "You're smiling!"

Lily frowned and said: "It doesn't mean I forgave you just yet." Donald smiled and said: "I'll make it up to you. How about I buy you dinner tomorrow night?" Lily joked: "Spending a night out with you? Having a meal? Ugh!"

Donald made a face at her and said: "Haha! Very funny. So what do you say?" Lily shrugged and said: "Alright, let me see if you can pick a good place and then I see if I can forgive you…" She finished her sentence with a playful smile and before Donald could stop her again, she got into her car.

She started the car and rolled down the windows, asking: "So did the boy say anything?" Ressler said disappointed: "He did, but nothing important. By the way, I asked a therapist from Bureau to go and see if he needed any kind of help."

Lily was truly impressed and had nothing to say to him. She smiled and got out of her spot but something came to her mind and before she could go for the exit, she said loud so he could hear: "Maybe you don't need to buy me dinner after all…"

Lily shook her head, trying not to think about anything else and focused on her job but she secretly wondered about what he would say to her after he would get back.

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Lily walked in the Post Office, holding her favorite hot chocolate from the café around the corner, and she immediately spotted him. She pretended she didn't notice him though, as she walked to her desk with her eyes glued to her chair.

She saw him walk closer from the corner of her eyes and took a sip of her mug. She heard him ask: "I heart technology?!" That was the logo on her favorite mug that she carried around with her. She chuckled uncontrollably and shrugged.

Lily finally put her mug down, looked at him and said: "You're back. Anything interesting?" He leaned against her desk and answered: "We found the freelancer's next victim: Floriana Campo."

Lily that was taking another sip, almost choked on her hot chocolate and asked horrified: "Floriana Campo? Are you serious?" Ressler looked at her confused and asked: "Yeah, we've just met her. You know her?" She exclaimed: "Of course I know her! Don't you?"

Ressler stuttered: "Yeah, I mean, no. What's the big deal?" Lily looked at him with her raised eyebrows and said: "Google her." Ressler chuckled and said: "Actually, that's what you're about to do now. We're doing a briefing on her in ten minutes."

Lily started working right away and everything that mattered about Floriana was on the big screen in front of agents. Elizabeth who knew a great deal about Floriana herself, started explaining about her and finally about the fundraiser.

She heard later that Reddington rejected Elizabeth and told her he wouldn't cooperate until his deal was accepted. There was nothing left to do, so Cooper finally got him a deal and soon everyone was talking about going to the fundraiser.

Lily sighed, hardly remembering the last time she went to an event like that. Donald was authorizing the agents accompanying them to the fundraiser and after he was done, he noticed Lily was looking at them sadly.

He walked up to her and asked: "Hey, something wrong?" Lily shrugged and said: "I don't know. I just realized it's been a long time since I went to a fundraiser or a party for that matter. For a moment, I wished I was an agent. It's silly really…"

Donald was quiet for a moment and right when Lily started regretting saying anything to him in the first place, he offered: "I think I'm allowed to bring a plus one, if you're interested…"

Lily's eyes sparkled for a quick moment and she gasped: "Really?" Donald chuckled and then said: "You have the new address, it starts at eight." Lily bit her lower lip with excitement and said: "Thank you, Donald."

He nodded and went to talk to other agents. Lily exclaimed quietly: "I can't believe I'll get to see Floriana Campo!"

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

It was already thirty minutes after eight, but Donald noticed she wasn't there yet. Keen was busy with Reddington and Meera was keeping an eye on the balcony. He turned his head to the entrance and he froze right away.

There she was, making her way towards the crowd, looking more beautiful than ever. Donald had never seen her like that and he was finding it hard to take his eyes off her. She was wearing a long black lace dress, with her dark hair loose on her shoulders, and red lipstick.

Donald gulped and realized she spotted him in the crowd and tried to look as normal as possible. She smiled as she walked up to him and before he could stop himself, he said: "You look fantastic…"

Her smile grew wider and she said: "You look good too, as always." Donald smirked and asked: "As always?" She shrugged and said: "Well, you're always in a suit, what can I say?" Before he could laugh off her comment, he was notified by Meera and he left for the balcony.

Lily grabbed a glass of Champagne and started walking around. She only took a sip from her drink and then she heard someone behind her say: "Well, if it isn't the brains of the Post Office joining us tonight!"

Lily turned around and saw Reddington with a charming grin on his face and she smiled politely at him: "Mr. Reddington." He took her hand and put a gentle kiss on it and said: "Needless to say, you look beautiful."

Lily blushed and offered: "Nice bowtie!" Reddington threw his head back and laughed in his own significant way and said: "Thanks sweetheart. You, out of all the people I met at the FBI, are the nicest to me. May I know why?"

He sounded amused and Lily answered playfully: "Maybe I'm that good of a person!" Reddington chuckled and clicked his glass with hers and walked away. Donald reached her before she could move: "What did he want from you?"

Lily explained: "Nothing. Just making small talk, I guess." Before he could ask anything else, a woman started talking about her past and how she was appreciative of Floriana. Floriana gave a speech herself and Donald noticed how hard Lily was clapping for her.

Only a moment later, Elizabeth shouted and started chasing The Freelancer. Donald said in a hurry: "Be careful." And ran towards the stairs, where The Freelancer was running to as well. It all happened so fast, Lily could only wish nothing bad would happen to them.

She noticed Meera moving Floriana to a safe place and looked around to find Reddington in the crowd but he was missing. She turned all the way around and caught a glimpse of his head and followed him on instinct.

Reddington and his friends moved around a lot and they were making it hard for her to follow them. After what seemed like twenty minutes of walking around in corners she noticed Dembe parted ways and went his way. Reddington stayed in the shadows and after minutes, he finally followed Dembe's path.

He was going towards the suit that was meant for Floriana but she didn't know why. Suddenly something clicked in her mind. He wanted this to happen; he wanted to get her alone. Her thoughts made her act clumsily and before she could hide, Reddington turned around and saw her.

The look on his face was unreadable to her and it frightened her. She remembered all the things Donald told her about the man, all the things he was capable of. She held her head up and said: "I'm not gonna let you hurt her."

Reddington laughed out loud and said amused: "I knew there was something different about you…" He signed Dembe and he came towards her. There was no way she could flee so she gave up and let him escort her towards the suit.

Lily noticed the security men were on the floor, apparently unconscious and she asked: "What is going on? Why are you taking me along with you?" Reddington calmly answered: "To open your eyes." Dembe opened the door and Reddington and Lily walked in.

Reddington put his hand on her back and guided her to a much quieter, darker part of the suit. They both sat down and Reddington said: "Soon, she will be here. If you make any sound, I won't have any choice but to hush you myself. Do you understand?"

Lily nodded quietly and before they knew it, the bathroom door opened and Floriana came out with a towel. She didn't notice them at first but when she did, she was more than surprised. Lily watched as Reddington lured her into talking in front of Lily, admitting she was in fact the head of Eberhardt cartel.

Lily couldn't believe her eyes, the woman, one of her idols, the voice of freedom, was a fraud. Before anything else could be revealed, Keen rushed in and stopped in her tracks as she saw Lily there with Reddington.

Elizabeth didn't believe a word Reddington was saying so Lily offered: "It's the truth, Elizabeth." Liz looked at her with her scared eyes, silently begging her to say it was all just a joke. Floriana fell on the floor, apparently dying from the drug.

Lily jumped up and rushed to help Liz; she didn't care if she was a monster, she couldn't let her die. Reddington had the antidote but he wasn't willing to give it up. Floriana finally admitted to Elizabeth that she was in fact who Reddington said she was.

The door got kicked in and Ressler and Malik got inside. Ressler saw Lily, on the floor next to Floriana, with a scared look on her face. He noticed she was in shock, her mouth was wide open; it looked like she couldn't breathe.

He rushed to her and put his hand on her waist and lifted her up. Before she could stop herself, she threw herself in his arms, sobbing. Everyone in the room was looking at them and not Floriana who had finally died.

He noticed everyone was leaving the room quietly. Meera and Liz went outside to alarm more security and an ambulance. Reddington and Dembe also left, but not before Reddington gave Ressler a meaningful look.

Ressler slowly put his hand on her back and held her close as her tears soaked his shirt. She whispered into his chest: "I'm so sorry… I just… All I could see was…"

Ressler shushed her and let his hands squeeze her back as she was letting everything inside of her come out after God only knew how long. He knew it wasn't the right time but he couldn't help it, her smell was driving him crazy.

He knew if she stayed one more minute in his arms, he was going to lose it and it seemed like she had sensed it herself as she pulled herself away and said: "I'm sorry…" Her eyes were red and her tears were still visible on her cheeks but she still managed to look breathtaking.

Donald put his hands on her shoulders and made her look at him: "Hey, look at me… Everything will be alright, I promise." She half-smiled and sniffed before saying: "Great party, eh?"

Donald walked to the table and grabbed a couple of tissues for her and she thanked him with a nod. She wiped away her tears and said quietly: "I think I should go home now." He offered: "Do you want me to drive you?"

She shook her head and said: "I can drive, I'm much better now, thanks to you." He gave her a smile and watched her leave the suit but then she came back and said: "You know what? You can be a dick sometimes, but underneath all that, you're a good man."

With that said, she finally left and missed the look on his face. Meera came in and said: "Reddington gave us an address, he thinks we can find the girls." Donald nodded but didn't move. Meera frowned and asked: "Are you coming?" Donald muttered a quiet 'yeah' and followed her out.

He knew Lily was going to be on his mind for the rest of the night, or maybe more…

What did you think? Leave a review for me so I'll know!

Love,

S