The Heart of Life

CHAPTER 14: "Meet The Reddingtons"

A few hours later, Dembe came back to pick up Liz from the office "hey..." She said with a big smile "hello, Liz..." He greeted in kind "where's Ray? Is everything alright?" She asked and Dembe smiled noting the concern in her eyes "everything's fine I promise. Now c'mon lets go home, I've started dinner...Raymond will be there, or sadly I'll have to pick him up after dropping you off.." Liz smiled with a furrowed brow and shook her head "you are one busy fella my friend..." She said opening her door to the front passenger side and slipping in "you can say that again..." Dembe said with humor making her laugh.
Just as she is seated she took out her phone and sent a message to him:
"On my way home... Looking forward to seeing you tonight. I miss you. ... Love you! :) xoxo"
Then she hit send just as Dembe climbed back into the drivers side his phone vibrated "no need to pick us up, Alan will drive us there." The message read, he looked at Liz and smiled "i guess it's time for us to go home..." He said with a smile. Liz smiled back and took out her vibrating phone.
"Okay, take care... I'm on my way there... Miss and love you too sweetheart"
The message read and she couldn't help but to smile.

When they got home, Liz couldn't help but to smile even more as her nose was filled with the wonderful smell from the kitchen "hmmm that smells so good... What are you cooking?" She asked Dembe while making s beeline towards the kitchen. Dembe just smiled and took her by the shoulders to make a detour towards the kitchen. "Top secret..." He said with a very jovial voice "go ahead, and relax I'll take care of this..."
Liz huffed another laugh; " you and Ray are so spoiling me rotten.." She called out into the empty hallway "no, we're not!" Came the reply from the other end of the hall. She laughed some more, and went to the bathroom, to run herself a bath. A few minutes later she heard the door open and knew it was him; "hey..." His voice said filling the room "hey, sweetie!!" She replied from the bathroom. A few seconds left after, she heard his heavy footfalls and the door opening in a slight crack. She looked up and saw him smiling down at her, his clothes almost divested away. His tie was lose, the vest was gone, and the shirt was folded up to his elbows. "Hello, you..." He greeted falling to his knees and kissing her soundly; she smiled in his kiss and scratched the back of his neck. She hummed in delight as the kiss ended "that was nice..." She said giving him one more peck. "How was your day..." She asked tentatively, if he didn't want to answer it was fine, she wouldn't push him. She knew he would tell her when he's ready.
He smiled at her, and placed another kiss to her lips; "I think I just completed my little family..." He said with a smile that was so contagious she couldn't help but to smile back. She sat upright and pulled him in for another kiss; "I'm happy for you... Are you happy?" She asked and he chuckled a hearty laughter "yes, sweetheart I am.. And as soon as you're done, I would like you to meet him." She smiled a thousand watt smile, glad that he was happy. "I'd love to.." She said back, and he gave her his signature smile as well, "good! I'll be outside helping Dembe with dinner..." He said stepping away from the bathroom and back to the kitchen.

A few more mites later, she dressed in her favourite clothes which composed of her denim shorts, and one of Red's shirt. She had chosen the Crimson one. It was her favorite, and his favorite on hers. "That shirt looks a lot better on you than on me..." She giggled at the memory. She had stolen a couple of his shirts, and she thought he didn't mind, truth be told he really didn't. He always thought she looked sexy in them.

She entered the kitchen in a very happy mood "okay guys, what can I help?" She asked the three gentlemen inside the kitchen she approached Red and gave him another kiss "Alan..." Red said in a very happy voice: "this is my lovely lovely lady Elizabeth..." Alan smiled brightly at her "it's very nice to meet you..." Lizzie said with a thousand watt smile that made Red's heart melt and Alan's to finally accept her in his brother's life. Red placed another kiss on her temple "And Lizzie, this is my younger brother, Alan Shore." Alan smiled back at her." I'm glad to have met you... I'm sorry we didn't have the chance to talk this morning. I wasn't planned on seeing Raymond after all these years..." He said, she grabbed glasses and filled it with wine, well at least three since Dembe passed on with his. "Can I help?" Lizzie asked them "I'm done but I think Alan needs some help there." Red chuckled as Alan methodically cut away through the vegetables
They went on like they have met before. Alan was so much like Red, them being brothers and all; he looked, talked, and even acted like Red. Their only difference was that Alan has a wonderful blonde mane, and a fuller face. But if you'd have to trim Alan off his blonde locks, you wouldn't know the difference. A few more minutes later, Red had to get out of the kitchen to answer a call, two minutes after he retuned he bound Liz and Alan chatting like they had been buddies for ages, laughing and teasing, and he couldn't help but smile. "Are you married Alan?" Liz asked as they took their seats on the table. "Yes..." He said curtly but with a mischievous grin. "I didn't know that...thought you said Diane's death..."Red said finally making his presence known and filling his glass with wine but cutting himself off seeing the grimace on his brother's face at the mention of his dead wife. "What's her name?" Liz asked leading the conversation further away from the other name sensing that there was trouble there that she didn't want to open up another can of worms. Liz could see from Alan's face that he was sending her a grateful look, maybe she just imagined it but she could see the loving look as a sign of his eternal gratitude. She's sure it's hard for him. "Denny Crane. And it's HIS name..." He grinned when seed and Lizzie stared at him in disbelief. Liz almost choked on her wine while Red stopped halfway from putting the fork in his mouth. "It's not based on a romantic relationship, he has Alzheimer's and it'll be easier to take care of him when he will be unable to do it..."
"So you two don't...you know..." Red said gesturing with his hands, slowly not sure if he wanted to know the truth. It wasn't like he had problems with hose but it was hard to believe that his womanizer of a brother much like himself was gay. Alan huffed a laughter that sounded so much like his. "No, we don't. We're both straight. Like I said it will be easier in the future."
She knew what he was referring to so she didn't ask any further. "Next time you could bring him too. I'd like to meet him. On thanksgiving maybe?" She smiled and from the corner of eye she saw Red nod his approval. While they were eating together Red's wonderful steak, Dembe's hearty roasted vegetables, and Alan's incredible mashed potatoes and gravy, they talked and laughed. And Liz happy noted that Red and Alan acted so naturally with each other. There were no uneasiness, or awkwardness just pure love. "I really envy you guys for cooking so well..." She said serving up the desert she managed to prepare herself. Alan looked at her a little confused, and Lizzie smiled "Don't let Lizzie near any stove at all. She even burns water..." Red said in a very reading voice, making Alan laugh "how do you burn water?" Alan asked back and they all laughed.
The desert was simple fruit salad with different syrups and whipped cream. They mercilessly kept on teasing her. They were so much alike even with the teasing. She thinks this was a victory so well that she had managed to deal with two Reddington's in one night, that there was a home run. It went on splendidly and she was so happy for them. She could tell that both Red and Alan desperately wanted to be a part of each other's life once more, which meant that in the past her lover had a place in his brother's life and vise versa. And they hadn't been so different; not just physically but emotionally. Something was common, how they express or hide their emotions. Maybe they hadn't had a good childhood or great parents which also explained why Red almost acted like Alan's father being the older of the two and he still looked to him like his secret hero- of course Alan didn't want to show it but he couldn't trick her profilers eyes.
"So how did you find Raymond the first time you met him or something... What would you have to remember him by the first time you met?" He asked while they were doing the dishes. Red was holding another call while Dembe took the trash out. "On the first day I met your brother, he ended up in the hospital because I stabbed a pen into his neck." She smirked as she saw him slightly dropping his jaw. "And he didn't even teased me like what you do now..." She said picking into his sides giggling a little "guess what I'm going to do if you push me further" she winked and stepped back while he handed over another plate. Alan couldn't speak for a minute because he had already seen that he would tease her all night and he would have the upper hand being a Reddington and all. But he was wrong, oh so wrong. "Now I'm pretty sure they Raymond has some masochist attitude..." He chuckled and Liz laughed as well.

She didn't want the night to end. She was so happy getting to hear stories from their childhood. They were both boisterous, adventurous, and very mischievous set of young boys. Both Red and Alan told tales of their womanizing days; Alan even spoke of Diane without managing feeling sorry for himself instead happy to recall and share them with his brother and her lover. Eventually he said goodnight. "Please take the suit below..." Red offered "the owner is my friend, and we'll pay it tomorrow, and get the papers done. I'll ask Dembe to bring you a change of clothes for you to work in the morning and then you can list everything you want him to get and by the weekend we'll help you settle down..." Red said placing a hand on his brother's shoulder "I'll pay the apartment to you, little by little..." Alan started but was cut off "it's fine... Alan... Please...indulge me." Red said almost pleadingly almost. Alan shrugged and smiled "okay, if you insist..." And they both laughed "really Ray...thank you..." Alan pulled him in for a hug and Red kissed his cheek "I'm just glad to have you back brother..." He said and felt Alan hug him tighter and patted his back "I'm glad I have you back too..." They pulled apart holding each other's faces laughing, Liz had to smile. It was like watching a mirror. "Goodnight Ray..." He said giving him one lad hug "goodnight Liz..." He said with a big smile and opening his arms to her; "goodnight Alan, I'm very glad to meet you..." Alan laughed a little "welcome to the family..." He said with a big smile "goodnight Alan..." Red said and Alan went out of the door, with Dembe closed behind to lead him home downstairs.
"This is gonna be a gas..." Red said laughing and Liz could help but to smile back pulling her in for a kiss. "You betcha..." She said back.