AN: I would like to thank everyone who sent me a message asking about this fic. I know it's been forever- I started this at the end of season 1 after all- but I hope some of you are still following this story. This is the last chapter, however, there might be an epilogue (which will be posted much faster than this chapter). Thanks for sticking around- this fic is dear to my heart and your support has been incredible. Enjoy and let me know your thoughts!

Lyrics: Only Love by Mumford & Sons

She was perfectly still.

Eyes wide open, muscles tensed, breathing steadily, in and out, in and out, one, two.

There was something cold in her right hand, cold and metallic and heavy, she was clinging to it, perhaps just a bit too much, her white knuckles in pale contrast to its black shell, and she could hear a voice, someone was shouting her name in the distance and she, well, tried to move, but couldn't.

She was perfectly still.

And Tom Keen's dead body was lying right in front of her.

I hunger and I thirst
For some shiver

-Earlier-

She felt cold.

It was dark still, early before sunrise, and she turned to look for him, to look at him, but nothing. The bed was empty.

She didn't want to finish her thought, she didn't want to believe any of the insidious suspicions her mind could produce, because he wouldn't have left without her, he had made a promise and she had to hold on to these small truths. If she closed her eyes just for a moment surely she would wake up to his arm around her waist, and then she heard it, footsteps coming closer, the door opening slowly, and she breathed a sigh of relief.

He moved over to the bed as quietly as he could manage and as he noticed her stare at him he kissed her and pulled the duvet over the two of them.

"Go back to sleep, Lizzie."

"Are you alright?"

"I just needed a glass of water. I'm fine."

"And you wouldn't leave without me, right?"

"No Lizzie, I promise. Now go back to sleep."

For some whispered words
And the promise to come

They would leave at dawn.

Their strategy was mapped out in full detail, everyone's roles clearly defined. Surround the warehouse, close off all escape routes, ambush. Extract Tom Keen, demand answers. Show no mercy. They had gone over it multiple times because they knew they would only get one shot at this, and Red was still clinging to the idea that Tom hadn't shot Daniel after all. That it had been a trap, a cruel maneuver. He had to believe in it. He had to believe in something.

And then Lizzie. Her willingness to accompany him, regardless of dangers or trauma. Her willingness to fight by his side. He worried constantly, wished she had changed her mind, but the bigger part of him was in awe of her, completely and utterly in awe of her strength, her resilience. Her love for him. He wished for it all to be over. He wanted to lead her away from this life before it could break her. He longed for some kind of normalcy and ordinariness where there had never been any. He wanted to impress her, to cherish her, to watch her wake up next to him every morning. He wanted the luxury to stay in bed when she asked him to. He wanted to make himself believe that he was deserving of her company and that maybe, just maybe, she needed him as much as he needed her. Now, as they were both sitting in the backseat of an inconspicuous white van headed for the 295 freeway, he didn't know how to let go of her hand. He just hoped that they would be able to sleep in peace tonight.

And you saw me low
Alone again

The warehouse looked as generic as any. Dembe had parked the van around the corner and brought himself into position; meanwhile Red and Liz slowly approached the gate they had identified from Mr. Kaplan's surveillance. The street was completely deserted and scantily lit, granting them some safety. As Red pulled out his tools to pick the lock he noticed that there was no need- the door was already ajar. With his gun drawn he carefully pushed it open while Liz followed closely behind him, flashlight tightly grasped and guiding them through the darkness.

The room was bigger than they had expected, certainly bigger than one would have assumed by looking at the run-down exterior, but still easy to take in with a single glance. Liz found a light switch on the wall and suddenly they were drenched in a fluorescent glimmer, the ceiling abuzz with neon tubes.

He wasn't here. Tom wasn't here.

What caught their attention instead was the sight in front of them. Photos, memos, graphs, maps- all creating an intricate display, an outline of his research, a grand scheme.

"I'll get Dembe so he can help us take it all down," she told him as she stepped away from it, he couldn't even stop her, she was out of the door before he could tell her to be careful.

And as he turned back towards the wall, as he tried to make sense of it, he heard someone enter behind him and he knew then in that very instant that something was terribly, terribly wrong.

"Reddington, what a pleasure."

Tom's voice was cold and calculated and full of malice. "Drop the gun and turn around."

And I rage and I rage
But perhaps I will come of age

She heard someone talk and almost stopped breathing.

He had Red. He had Red.

She had told Dembe to secure the area and then come into the warehouse to gather their evidence, and now, as he was walking towards her, towards her spot near the door, she put her hand up and he stopped. For the first time she witnessed fear flicker across his face. He understood.

Focus. She needed to focus. She needed to act.

How is this all gonna end?

She still had her weapon.

This is an end.

She knew what to do.

And then something new will begin.

Carefully she leaned in closer, her back flush against the wall, her mind intent on trying to picture what was happening inside.

She listened to him. She listened to every word. How he had been fully aware of the cameras they had installed, the wiretaps, how it had allowed him to appear as inconspicuous as possible, calculate what he wanted them to see, take his time and wait for a reaction. How he had found Daniel, how he had used him as bait to get to Red. How it had worked because Red was a man who valued loyalty above all else. How he had finally realized that the best way to destroy her was through him. Through capturing him. Through hurting him.

And then something inside her went numb. Whatever she had once felt for him, whatever compassion there was left, it all turned black. She would not let him speak for another second, she would not let him kill the man she loved. The man who had saved her over and over again. It was her turn now.

With a determination she had never experienced before, something deep, something resolute, a gun in her hand, she stepped into the room, watched Tom turn quickly at the noise, saw his shocked expression, how he opened his mouth to explain, to apologize, to beg, but it didn't matter, he didn't matter, he had shot her and he would do it again, she was sure of that, he had wanted her dead and had almost gotten his wish, and now Red, but not tonight, not this time, she was in control, she could put an end to all of this.

I'm not gonna let anything happen to you.

And then she pulled the trigger.

Didn't they say that only love
will win in the end

Something soft was covering her. Something warm.

Something was tickling her hair. Slow, steady breaths. When she opened her eyes she found his sleeping form next to her on top of the blankets, suit still in place, only his shoes discarded.

They were back at the safe house, that's the one thing she was sure of. But the rest was a blur. A brightly lit room, pictures, notes, that's all she remembered, and then voices, yes, that too.

And then…

Oh.

The tickling had stopped. Instead she felt him starring.

"You saved my life."

His tone was indecipherable and she was at a loss for words. She wasn't sure if he expected a response from her. If there was a right or a wrong answer.

She shifted her body to get a better look at him.

"What happened afterwards?"

He moved a bit closer, barely any space between them now.

"I took you home."

"And?"

"And I called Mr. Kaplan so she and Dembe could take care of everything else. Including Daniel."

"He's okay?"

"He will be. Before you shot him, Tom was so kind to let me know his location. He was convinced I would never make it out of that warehouse alive, so telling me wouldn't hurt. Bring the emotional abuse to its limit, if you will."

"And he's gone? This is over?"

"Yes, Lizzie. It's all over."

He kissed her gently. "Thanks to you, it's all over."

"Then what's wrong, Red?"

She knew him too well. He had been trying so hard to control his emotions, it's what he was familiar with, it's what he was used to. But never with her. He could never lie to her. And he sounded so broken.

"Why did you do it, Lizzie?"

"Do what?"

"Why did you risk your life to save mine?"

He still didn't understand. He still couldn't accept it.

"Because you once told me that I deserved the best in life."

His heart was racing and she paused, smiled at him.

"You are my best thing, Red. My very best thing." Her lips were so soft against his. "Now I just need you to believe it. I didn't save you. We save each other, okay? We always save each other. We'll be alright."

"Lizzie."

That was all he managed. A declaration. Her name, her beautiful, beautiful name, a promise, something pure, something sublime. He pulled her towards him, breathed her in, kissed her again and again. Redemption and its sweet taste, her skin, a silent pact to never let go.

This, this was extraordinary.

This was intimacy and trust.

This was love.

This was peace.