The Architect. [The Blacklist. Donald Ressler X Oc]

Estranged.

Maggie.

It had been difficult lately. Sometimes I couldn't believe that Don and I were still at that stage where he would completely shut off and not tell me if something was bothering him, and something clearly was bothering him, because for maybe a full week he barely even talked to me, and the only times I could see him smile was when he was holding Alma.

I, in return, was also not very good, I wore my emotions on my sleeve all the time and I bet he could see it in my face.

I was making the line at the coffee shop, just to have a coffee and a little break, when I felt a hand in the low of my back. I could tell it was obviously his, but I still have him a confused look.

"What are you doing here?" I asked, Don shrugged one shoulder and tightened his arm around my waist.

"James and I got separated during interviews, he was called back to another thing and I'm waiting for someone else to pick me up so we can continue"

It was my turn to order, Don gave me a quick 'i got it', fishing his wallet out of his pocket and paying for my drink. We both sat in the tables outside.

"It's just a follow-up round, I'm going to be done with this pretty soon and maybe tonight or tomorrow the team wanted to have a get together and have a barbecue or something"

"That sounds nice"

He hummed in agreement, and we crossed looks for a second.

"You're not very talkative today" he said after a few seconds.

"Says you, this is the most you've talked to me in a week" he was already nodding halfway through my sentence.

"I know" he said instantly after me. "I'm-" he was interrupted by a car horn on the other side of the road, coming from a very standard black SUV. "Hey" he said turning to me on the chair "-we need to go out, just you and me, I'll have Alma taken-" his eyes darted behind me, and it was so obviously visible how his body stiffened. "I'll see you tonight" he said, then motioned at his earpiece and stood from the chair, walking past the coffee shop and disappearing around the corner.

I found it odd, yet relieving, knowing that there was something else that had kept his mind occupied, other than Raymond and the situation with Liz.

He showed up at the house too late for us to go out, but with dinner ready for us to eat. Alma was fast asleep already, and we sat in the couch with pizzas, a few beers and a movie to make noise in the background.

"I don't even remember when was the last time we ate pizza on the couch" I said, fishing the second slice.

"You've been on a diet since before we got married, so it's been a while"

I gave him a quick look, seeing his little smile peak under the beer bottle.

After a while of not really paying attention to the movie but still keeping my eyes on it, I felt my hair being pushed away from my neck and shoulder, then his thumb caressing my jawline.

"I know I've been really shut off lately, but I was handling a very complicated case love"

I pulled my legs under me and turned to look at him, he downed the rest of his beer and left the bottle in the floor.