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takadasaiko · 7 years

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Demons at the Door: Chapter Two

FFN II AO3

Chapter Summary: The Keens take their moments of peace where they can get them for Agnes' birthday.

Chapter Two: Glitter and Tiaras

Somewhere in the back of her mind Liz had realized that she had been working and moving nonstop, but she wasn't sure that she'd given herself time to really think about it until she had sat down and walked through the events of the last week or two with Tom over dinner. He'd surprised her by coming into town early and they'd spent their evening catching each other up on everything. As much as she would have loved to talk to him every night that he was away, that wasn't always an option and the longer he was away, the more that he had piling on his plate, the less she'd been willing to share the chaos on her end. It wasn't that she didn't want him to know, not really. It was that he had enough to deal with and she didn't want him to worry. Still, keeping things was a slippery slope for them, and they both knew it, so dinner had been a share-all, and as Liz had walked through the chaos of the last couple of weeks, she realized that she hadn't really stopped to breathe recently.

Tom had taken things in stride, but she hadn't missed the look on his eyes when she had told him that Reddington had been the one to hire the the Debt Collector to kidnap her and use her to lure Kate Kaplan out. He didn't say anything, didn't bring it back up when she changed the subject, but there was a dangerous look in his eyes for just a moment that told her exactly how he felt about the whole ordeal.

Their life had been nonstop for so long that sometimes it was strange to think about slowing down. She had worried about it from time to time, the idea that if the fight finally wound down, where did it leave them? She had thought they had been happy in their townhouse with Hudson and the hopes of adopting, and in a way they had been, but they had both worn masks. They had both played parts. She knew now that Tom, while certainly not as active in covert operations as he was these days, had run ops during their first marriage, and she'd desperately fought to convince herself that she was that pink and perfect little FBI agent that she never really could be. They were both still learning things about themselves, bit by bit, and she had about decided that their brand of normal might not be what everyone else saw as normal. Still, as Liz slowly surfaced from what was likely the best night's sleep she had had since her husband had left for New York, she thought that they'd earned a day for them. Something without shooting or kidnapping or explosions. Something peaceful for their family.

Liz turned over in the bed, reaching for her husband and finding only an empty space with the blankets pushed back. Slowly, sleepily, she sat up, sheets wrapped around her, and looked over at the clock. It was nearly eight-thirty. She hadn't slept in that late since Agnes had been born, which explained where Tom was.

A few minutes later she'd managed to pull herself out of bed, grabbing a t-shirt of his out of his bag that he'd dropped next to the dresser, and shuffled into the hall while stifling a yawn. She found Agnes in her highchair, giggling like crazy, and Tom still grinning about something as he flipped the bacon in his pan. "Is your daddy being funny, sweetie?" she asked, leaning down to kiss one of her daughter's chubby cheeks.

"She and I've been singing," Tom chuckled, and Liz spotted his phone attached to the speakers on the table. The next song switched over and Agnes giggled again, babbling along with it. Tom's grin only grew as he bent down and pulled toast out of the oven.

The smile was contagious and Liz crossed the space between them, wrapping her arms around him from behind and pressing a kiss between his shoulder blades. She felt his chuckle more than heard it. "Good morning."

"Working on it," she teased, tightening her grip. In the rush of everything, she hadn't realized just how badly she had missed him.

"You're not going in today, are you?"

"Nope. I have this crazy thing that seems to be called a day off," she said as she reluctantly released him so that he could switch the bacon out for their scrambled eggs. "You and I are going to be knee deep in tiaras, streamers, and glitter. Right, Agnes? Yay?"

Agnes giggled, throwing her hands in the air in a mimicked motion and squealing.

"Yay!" Liz laughed as their daughter continued the expression. "Is Howard still coming?"

She glanced back to see a brief flash of confusion across Tom's face. "Far as I know. That still okay?"

"He's your father. Of course it is."

He dumped the newly scrambled eggs onto a plate and Liz reached for two for them to use to use. "Is Reddington coming?" he asked, the question a little hesitant.

Liz pursed her lips together. "I'm not sure. He wanted to come up and see her the other day and I told him that unless he could promise not to hurt Kaplan that he wasn't welcome."

"Fair."

"But then he said that he'd be willing to co-exist with her a couple of days ago."

"When he kidnapped you?" Tom popped off and she shot him a warning look. He returned it with his best innocent expression that would have fooled anyone but his wife that knew him too well.

"I don't know where that leaves us, honestly. I'm… really pissed, but it's Agnes' birthday. I don't want a scene. If he shows, can you play nice?"

He snorted a laugh, setting his coffee cup down. "Yeah, babe. I'll play nice."

She shook her head, a smile playing on her lips as she shovelled a bite of food into her mouth. "I've missed you."

"Yeah? Because I didn't get that impression at all last night," he teased suggestively and winked at her.

She rolled her eyes and gave him a hard nudge with her foot under the table, pulling a grin out of him. The mischief didn't leave his eyes as he turned back to his breakfast, amused and happy. It was something that they both desperately needed, and she refused to let anything take away from it.

It was amazing how many places glitter could get, especially when a one year old got ahold of a bottle. Tom was covered in the stuff, as was the living room floor. Agnes hadn't quite got to the walking stage yet, but she was definitely crawling with the best of them, scooting around her parents' feet as they decorated the apartment and pulling herself up to reach for things that she never would have been able to go after a couple of months before. She had the throwing thing down too, sending glitter in all directions before Tom had managed to coax the mostly-empty bottle away from her without sending her into hysterics.

"One final touch," Liz said with a grin as she pulled a tiara from behind her back and put it on his head. "Look how pretty Daddy is, Agnes."

"Uh-huh," he chuckled.

"It goes nicely with your pink and purple sparkle."

She motioned to the glitter all up and down his white shirt and he grinned, pulling her into a tight hug and she immediately started trying to squirm away. "Tom! Tom, let go!" she managed between laughs as she tried to pull away.

He grinned, refusing to let go. "Agnes shared it with me and now it's your turn."

She was still laughing as Tom picked her up fully off the floor and she leaned down into the kiss, both of them covered in pink and purple glitter now.

They parted and Tom reluctantly set her back down as someone knocked on the door. "It's open," Liz managed, still laughing, and he wrapped an arm around her and kissed the side of her head as their front door opened and Donald Ressler stepped in. He quirked an eyebrow and Liz narrowed her eyes. "Say one thing about it and the rest of the bottle goes over your head."

Her partner held his hands up in mock surrender. "I'm not getting in the middle of all of that," he said, a small smirk playing on his features. "Love the tiara, Tom."

"Laugh it up, Ressler. Yours has feathers."

"Hey, I'm just here for the birthday girl," he chuckled and Agnes looked up from where she was sitting on the floor, big blue eyes wide as she spotted the bag in her Uncle Donnie's hand. Ressler handed it to Liz. "I, uh, wasn't sure exactly what to get her, and she really can't wear it until she's older, but-"

Tom peered over as Liz dug into the bag and pulled out a small chain with a pedant on the end. "It's St Christopher. He's the patron saint of protection for travelers, and since she's already been so many places... I know she's too little right now, but it's something she can grow into."

"It's perfect, Ress. Thank you."

Their unconventional group filtered in over the next little bit, bringing gifts and leaving Agnes giggling and sharing her glitter with them every time they picked her up. She went for hair and jewelry and fingers, holding tight to her godparents that all talked about needing to get by more. Chatter filled the apartment and there was something nice about seeing these people without the bullets flying or someone having been kidnapped.

"So where's Aram's new girlfriend I heard something about?" Tom asked, coming to stand next to Ressler.

"You mean the old new girlfriend? He started dating the girl that used him to hack our systems for Kirk. I don't even know the whole story."

"She was a hacker, right? They probably gave her a deal if she was good enough," Tom mused.

"Yeah, but why go back to her? She was hot. Not that hot."

The ginger agent stopped then and Tom broken into a grin and shrugged. "I have zero room to judge that situation."

Ressler cleared his throat awkwardly. "Anyway, she's not exactly popular with the team."

"Been there. You guys hold a grudge."

Ressler rolled his eyes and motioned to the door where Howard Hargrave had just entered, looking as if he were making sure he was in the right place as he did. "Is that who I think it is? He was in the Post Office a week or two ago. Liz said he's your dad?"

Tom offered a quirked smile. "Yeah. It's been… complicated lately."

"When is it not with you two?" his wife's partner asked and Tom rolled his eyes a little, as he moved forward.

"You made it," he greeted, his own smile a little more hesitant than Howard's. His father beamed as soon as he spotted him.

"I wouldn't miss it. You weren't kidding about the princess theme, were you?"

Tom chuckled as he reached up, plucking the tiara that he'd all but forgotten about off of his head and examining it. "Yeah, Agnes loves them. She won't wear one herself, of course, but Samar tried to take hers off a little bit ago and Agnes had a meltdown until she put it back on. I'm still not sure if it was adorable or scary." Howard laughed at him and Tom offered a lopsided smile. "You wanna meet her?"

He waited for the older man to nod and motioned for him to follow to where Cooper had Agnes in his arms and the little girl was watching him with wide, blue eyes, absolutely mesmerized by something that wasn't immediately evident. Cooper looked over and paused half a beat when he noticed that Howard. "Mr Hargrave. You're looking better than the last time I saw you."

"What, in a mental institution?" Howard chuckled. "Leave it to Scottie to blow things out of proportion to distract from whatever she's doing. Is this the little princess herself?"

Agnes blinked at him, her expression even as she watched him. Tom took her from Cooper and she held onto her daddy. "Say hi to your grandpa, Agnes," Tom coaxed softly and she gripped at his t-shirt, burying her face against his chest.

"I don't think I've ever seen that little girl shy," Cooper murmured and Tom didn't miss the disappointment that flashed through Howard's eyes.

"She's just overwhelmed. Lots of people."

"I know what she needs." Howard reached forward without warning and took the tiara that Tom still had loosely clutched in his fingers and put it on his own head. "Better, little princess?" he asked with a smile and Agnes turned to look at him, her gaze curious and studying as she looked the smiling man up and down. Slowly the smile broke out and she giggled, reaching forward to him, her fingers going for his beard.

"I think you won her over," Liz said and Tom felt her briefly touch his back as she approached him from behind. "So, we've got cake for everyone and a smash cake for Agnes. You got her?"

"What? You don't want cake all over you too?" Tom asked with a big grin that probably would have gotten him a punch to the shoulder if he hadn't been holding their child. He bounced her a little. "What do you say, baby girl? What's one more mess today, huh? Let's just try to keep the glitter out of the food."

He turned, starting towards the highchair, but he felt Liz's fingers latch onto the hem of his shirt to discreetly stop him. "Reddington's on his way."

"I told you I'd play nice," he promised and he saw the hesitation in her eyes before she nodded. He offered her a playful smile and kissed her cheek. "Love you."

That pulled a tired smile from her as well and for just a moment, he saw just how heavily this was weighing on her. The sooner that they got control of all of the craziness that was happening around them, the better. She shouldn't have to face this alone and he hated that she had. Maybe he'd extend his stay for a couple days more. He could just have Nez send him anything that needed to be looked at and he could take a nice, long weekend with his family. It would help him reset and get a better outlook on the case and could give Liz at least a little support. As he got Agnes settled in the highchair, Liz bringing over the tiny little cake for her, the decision was made. He needed them just as much as they needed him.

The smash cake had been a success in all the ways it had been meant to be a success. Agnes had stuffed handfuls in her mouth, smearing the icing everywhere and giggling all the way through. Liz watched with a lingering smile, shaking her head as her daughter offered her a fistful of pink and purple icing that may have been part of one of the princesses that had decorated it at one time.

Dembe's call had come nearly an hour before, but even as everyone started to filter out, the birthday girl at her limit for the day, there was no sign of him or Reddington. They said their goodbyes, Agnes latched onto her daddy like she'd never let him go. It was the only thing that kept the tears at bay and he stood bouncing her even as Aram said his last goodbye, leaving the Keens and Howard as the only ones that left.

Howard lingered, almost as if he were afraid to break the spell, and Liz watched her father-in-law watch his own son and granddaughter, a fond sort of smile playing on his lips and he slowly pulled the tiara off his head and motioned over to where Tom was bouncing Agnes gently, speaking in low tones to her. "She really is beautiful."

"Thank you," Liz answered, her own smile still lingering. "We're pretty proud of her."

"And you should be." Howard paused and Liz watched him out of the corner of her eye. She hadn't spent a great deal of time around her husband's father, but it still shook her when she caught glimpses in him that were so undeniably Tom. The mischievous look in his eyes, that very tiny smile that he got. Even the look that said he was turning over something that he wanted to say, but was getting a feel for the reaction he should expect.

"Whatever you're going to ask, you might as well ask it," she murmured, still watching him.

Howard gave a soft laugh. "I'm sure you're aware that Tom went to go see his mother before leaving New York."

Liz met Howard's gaze, not confirming or denying the statement, but she waited, letting him continue.

He pulled in a deep breath. "I'm just worried about him. Scottie is… manipulative. Very manipulative. She'll use him to get what she wants and then she'll toss him away."

There was something in his expression that she recognized. "She hurt you pretty badly, didn't she?"

"That obvious?"

"My guess is you wear a pretty good front with most people. Tom does. He's very good at it."

"He is."

Liz pursed her lips and closed her eyes for the briefest moment. "Listen, Howard-" The knock at the door drew her attention and she glanced over to see Agnes stirring in Tom's arms, her whimper starting to build into what might turn into a full tantrum if they weren't careful.

"I should probably get going anyway," Howard acknowledged.

"I'm glad you made it," Liz said.

"Me too. Let me say goodbye to Tom and Agnes and I'll let you two have some downtime."

She moved over to the door just in time to see it open, Reddington peeking in very hesitantly. "I didn't want to intrude," he told her and she offered him a tired smile.

"I was starting to think you weren't going to come after all."

"A bit of business got in the way."

"Everyone okay?"

"For now," he acknowledged, Dembe following him into the apartment and he held up a stuffed bear with a red bowtie. "Is the birthday girl still taking presents?"

"I think she can manage one more. Howard's just saying goodbye to her." Reddington's gaze drifted past Liz and she followed it very briefly before turning back to him. "You've met him before, haven't you?"

Red tilted his head ever so slightly, his gaze remaining on Tom's father. "We had a brief professional relationship," he said, though Liz heard all the signs that that wasn't all there was to it. She was just too tired to push it right then.

"Raymond Reddington," Howard greeted as he looked over and he offered Red a very charming smile. "It's been a while."

"It has."

Howard shot him a look that Liz wasn't quite sure she knew the meaning of and started towards the door. "Thank you again for the invite, Liz. Tom, take your time. We'll handle the case. You enjoy this lovely family of yours."

"I think I can manage that," Tom answered and pressed a kiss to Agnes' head as Howard left. "Agnes, you wanna wake up for another present? Look there. Hey, you," he teased her softly as she squirmed, trying desperately to bury her face in the crook of his shoulder and ignore him.

Reddington moved around behind Tom and Liz saw him make a goofy face for Agnes, the little girl tried not to laugh as she burying her nose in her daddy's shoulder again even as Red brought the bear up into her line of sight.

"She's had a long day," Liz explained.

"We have that in common then," Reddington murmured. "I won't keep you. I just wanted to drop this by and wish her a very happy first birthday."

Agnes gave a big yawn and Tom shifted her. "I'm going to go try to get some of that glitter and cake off of her before bed."

Liz nodded, catching the quick exit for what it was. Playing nice looked like it was simply not speaking to Reddington. She couldn't really fault him. At least he was standing by his word and trying.

"Did Kate reach out to you for the birthday?" Reddington asked and Liz turned, startled by the question.

"Is that why you're here?"

He blinked owlishly at her. "No, of course not. I'm here to wish Agnes a happy birthday and bring her her present. I was merely curious."

"It wouldn't be the first time you used me to get to her." She pulled in a sharp breath as soon as the words had escaped. She was tired. Too tired. She'd promised herself she wouldn't harp on this. She hated that he'd done it, but there was no changing it. Holding a grudge over it would do neither of them any good in the end and with Agent Gale breathing down their necks they all needed to be on the same side. "I'm sorry."

"No need to apologize, Elizabeth," he said quietly and he was already fitting his hat back on his head. "I'll leave you and Tom to get Agnes down for the night."

"Reddington?" He stopped, turning and she met his gaze. "Thank you for coming. And for the bear. Agnes will love it when she's awake enough to realize it's hers."

He gave her an almost sad smile. "Good night, Elizabeth."

She watched him go, the door closing behind him and she loosed a breath she didn't realize that she'd been holding before padding down the hall to lock the door behind them. She turned back, eyeing the chaos that was left in the wake. Everyone had done what they could by putting their trash away, but the apartment was covered in glitter and there were pieces of smash cake all over the kitchen and Agnes' highchair. It'd have to wait until morning.

Tom was already getting Agnes into her onsie after her bath by the time Liz made it to the bathroom door. He was soaked from it, but she was dry, clean, and already nearly asleep. He picked her up and she flopped halfway over his shoulder as he turned and a slow, questioning smile tilted his lips as he found his wife staring at him. "What?"

"You. Covered in glitter and with Agnes like that. It's just… better than I could have imagined a couple years ago."

His smile grew just a little more. "We've come a long ways."

She nodded, stepping into the bathroom. "Why don't you go put her to bed and you and I can get cleaned up?"

"I like that idea," he answered and leaned down to kiss her.

She broke it quicker than either of them would have liked. "Go. Kid first, then shower."

"Right," he chuckled and she rolled her eyes at him as she leaned over to switch the shower on, peeling off her clothes and stepping in to let the hot water start to work at the stress knots. It was good to have him home. It felt right. She knew he needed to find answers about his family, and she even understood that he felt like he needed to make sure that he'd found the right answers, and she didn't want to take him away from that, but with everything that had been happening lately, she needed him there, even if only for a few days. She needed to be able to lean in and have him wrap his arms around her so that she could just forget for a few minutes that they were on a knife's edge and her life wasn't the only one on the line. She needed, just for a moment, not to have to try so damn hard to hold it all together.

She heard the door to the shower open up and Tom stepped in behind her. A small smile perked her lips as she felt his hands go to her shoulders, working at the tension there as the water fell around both of them. "You okay?" he asked softly.

"Yeah."

"Really?"

"I'm trying to be."

He leaned down and Liz tilted her head a little as she felt him press a kiss to the crook of her neck, her breath escaping her. After a moment she turned, wrapping her arms around his neck and looking up at him. "I've missed you."

"I've missed you too," he answered, his voice a little rough and she tipped up on her toes to initiate the kiss this time. Her hand snaked to the back of his neck, pulling him down and deepening it, and for just a moment it was just them. There was no investigation, no parent drama, and nothing that needed their attention. Reddington, Howard, Scottie, Gale, and Kaplan… none of it mattered. It was just her and the man that she loved, and right then, that's what Liz needed most.

Notes: First, major hat tip to @askdonaldressler for the amazing gift idea for Agnes. The RP group did a birthday party and Ress gave her a St Christopher necklace. The RPer was nice enough to let me bum that fantastic idea of of them.

Second, I can't tell you how much fun I had with this chapter. There's a lot of drama in this story, but I love those breaths that the Keens catch every great once and a while, and I love their crazy little extended family. This chapter leaves me with all the happy feels.

Next time - Kat wakes up, Tom asks a hard question, and Howard visits Scottie.

#the blacklist #fanfiction #Demons at the Door #Tom Keen #Agnes Keen #Elizabeth Keen #Donald Ressler #Howard Hargrave #Raymond Reddington #Keen2 #Keen3

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