Sine Qua Non

This is an AU story where Raymond Reddington does not leave Masha Rostova's life while she is young. After rescuing the four-year-old girl from the fire, he does leave her in Nebraska to be raised in secret by Sam, but he keeps in contact with her, physically appearing during various, important moments in her life. The two of them develop a profound bond throughout the years she matures from child to woman. But something happens to make Red immediately break off their contact for years. It is during her FBI training when Liz learns the man she has known for most of her life, the man she called "Red," is Raymond Reddington, the "Concierge of Crime." Eventually Red comes out of hiding to work as an asset for the FBI--but, like in the show, this is to ultimately protect her from those who wish to hunt her down. Their relationship is shattered, and yet they both find that they are still drawn to one another. Will they be able to reestablish the bond they had made while she had been growing up? Will they be able to rebuild their trust in one another? *This story is currently being illustrated. It is the wish of the artists that permission be asked to share the artwork on other sites. TY!