Spoby One-Shots [COMPLETE]

Tale As Old As Time

"Momma! Daddy, look! Momma's a princess!" The brunette toddler ran down the hall and into her mother's arms, unaware of the busy actors and stage-aids cramped in the same small hallway.

"I know, she is a princess," Toby agreed, handing his wife a bouquet of roses. They matched perfectly with her lips.

"I haven't gone onstage yet," Spencer said as she received the roses, hugging her daughter at the same time.

"I know, but I honestly couldn't wait any longer. And I wanted to see you," he admitted, planting a kiss on his wife's lips. He rarely ever came backstage before a performance, but both he and his daughter, Ellie, wanted to see Spencer. She was clad in Belle's classic blue and white dress, her hair tied in a matching blue ribbon.

"They're beautiful," Spencer said, "are you excited, Ellie? It's your favorite show!"

The toddler nodded, smiling as she held the playbill that featured her mother's name on the inside. She was too young to understand the struggle her mother had endured for the last eight months. Spencer hated not being there for her family. She hated that she missed out on so much, leaving Toby to take care of their daughter. She hated that she spent the last eight months only talking to her three-year-old and husband over the phone. But this was an amazing opportunity. This was a role she had been dreaming of since she was a child. She didn't want to let this dream die. Not when she had been working her entire life to get there.

"Five minutes until places!" A stage-aid yelled to the actors.

"We'll be in the front row. Break a leg," Toby promised his wife. He picked up their daughter and headed back to the theatre's house.

-

Toby waited for his wife to return from the dressing room until the house was nearly empty. By the time Spencer emerged from the dressing room, out of costume and in regular clothes, there were only sound technicians, a few stage-aids and a handful of actors remaining.

Spencer fake-pouted at the sight of her daughter asleep in her husband's arms.

"She tried to stay awake, I swear," Toby said, seeing his wife for the first time since she performed. Their three-year-old had been fast asleep since the beginning of the second act, despite her promising to stay awake throughout the show.

"I don't blame her, it's late." Spencer said as they made their way to the lobby, where several of the cast members were with their family and friends. Toby handed her their child. She didn't mind that she was asleep. She was just glad her family was there.

"You were incredible. I am so proud of you, Spence." He said, then proceeding to kiss her.

"Spencer! Are you going to the cast party?" An actor in full costume and a full face of makeup yelled across the crowded lobby.

"If you want to go, I'm not going to stop you," Toby said.

"I don't want to. I want to spent the rest of the night with you and Ellie." Spencer said. She had spent the last eight months separated from her family. She didn't want to spend another second away from her family.

-

The small family spent the night in a motel room, seeing as they were all exhausted and didn't want to drive in the middle of the night. Ellie laid in between her parents, still fast asleep.

"You were incredible tonight," Toby said to his wife, his arm wrapped around her.

"You said that already," Spencer said, picking at her nails and avoiding eye contact.

"What's the matter?" Toby asked, noticing that his wife was distracted.

"I'm sorry, Toby. I'm really sorry that I left you to take care of Ellie all by yourself for eight months. You have no idea how terrible I feel about that-"

"Hey, Spence," Toby interrupted, gently grabbing his wife's hand. "Don't apologize for following your dream. I could never be angry with you or resent you for doing that. I love you, and I love our family. I want you to be happy."

Spencer looked over at Ellie. The toddler was fast asleep on the hotel bed, and she hadn't stirred since she fell asleep on her father's lap in the theater. She loved her so much, and she would do anything to keep her happy and safe. "I love you, too. And our family."

She connected their lips one more time, then began to drift into a deep, peaceful sleep.