Mágoa // Spencer Reid

Chapter 56

"Two persons cannot long be friends if they cannot forgive each other's little failings."
Jean De La Bruyere

A week had passed since Spencer's birthday, in the week Maria and Spencer had been completely open with each other and although it felt like they were just getting to know each other again there was a slight awkwardness between the two. On the second night the two had argued and screamed at each other, Spencer had begun asking Maria if he contributed to her relapse, she had lied and told him that he hadn't and he picked up on it- he was hurt that she wouldn't be straight with him about it, but she couldn't tell him that and make him feel guilty or like he owes her something. Once the two had argued for an hour the air seemed to clear ever so slightly, Spencer had voiced his regret about the Evie situation and Maria had spoken about how hurt she felt when Evie came into the picture,
"Spencer, I was happy that you had moved on- it just hurt that she was practically my doppelgänger." Maria had whispered when Spencer rose his voice in defence. That argument had ended with the two apologising for their errors, Spence insisted that Maria hadn't messed anything up- she argued back that she should've and could've fought for them more than she did. The two agreed not to dwell on the past, but to draw a line and start again.

Through the week her cheek was beginning to heal, by the end of the week it was almost completely healed, and it no longer hurt as much. During this week she pestered Hotch to let her get back to work but he had ordered her to take two weeks off while she healed, she had attempted to persuade him to let her do paperwork but he wouldn't budge.

As the second week arrived she was bored of watching Grey's anatomy re-runs, so she decided to go to her mum's coffee shop to see Rachel. The two friends caught up on everything that had happened over the previous months and apologised to each other for not keeping in touch, she left around four in the afternoon and headed back to her apartment. Upon arrival she noticed her phone had several missed FaceTime calls, she quickly sat on the sofa and checked her notifications. Ben had tried to FaceTime her three times in the last ten minutes, she quickly called him back holding her phone up so she could see him when he answered his hair was a mess and he looked exhausted.
"Hey Ben what's up?" She asked as she observed his face on the screen, he let out a big sigh before replying.
"I've got a problem, is there any chance you can help me?" Maria instantly began to panic and think of every worst case scenario, she nodded for him to continue, "I don't think I've every really told you about my sexuality have I?" He asked and she shook her head, instantly growing more curious. "Well I'm bisexual, and recently I've had a customer who has become a regular, and honestly Ria he must've been sculpted by Greek gods, he is prettier than Spencer- which I didn't think was possible." Maria grinned at Ben at the mention of Spencer, she also felt quite pleased that Ben was confiding in her-
"Okay, so what is the issue? Have you spoken to the guy?" Maria asked, Ben let out another sigh.
"You see, I have spoken to him and I've got a date with him, but the issue is my family. They are all very religious and homophobic, or at least they were when I was growing up. And there is a family wedding at the weekend, and they invited me and asked if I was seeing anyone- I said I was but then I realised I can't take Will, and now I don't know what to do-" He ran his hand through his hair and let out a quiet groan, "I should cancel, I'll say I'm ill or something. Or is there a website where I can hire someone to pretend to be my date?" Maria offered him a small smile as she began trying to think of options,
"Why don't I come with you? I mean we've been chatting regularly since we first met, and I would say you are one of my close friends. Could it work?" Ben's face lit up like a Christmas tree,
"Really? Would you do that?" He asked in disbelief, she grinned at him,
"Of course." The two fixed a plan and decided on their story of how they met, Ben told her about each of his family members and gave her warnings of 'grey areas'. Maria had agreed to make the journey a day before the wedding so they could attend the rehearsal and offer help doing the final preparations.

After hanging up the call she plugged her phone in and switched on her Bluetooth speaker, blasting out some of her favourite songs; there was Coldplay, Fall out boy, Bon Jovi, The Beatles, and lots of Naomi's favourite artists. She began rummaging through her wardrobe for an outfit suitable for a wedding, she settled on a royal blue knee length fit and flare dress. She quickly grabbed a necklace and  a few bracelets to accessorise, she found some flat ballet shoes and placed them with her clothes for the trip. The wedding was on Saturday and it was Monday, so she had time still but she preferred to be prepared.

Spencer sent her a text letting her know he had finished work and that he was going home to shower and then coming over, she smiled and decided to cook for the two. She began making a spinach and cheese stuffed chicken dish that she had seen on a Facebook video, it was easier than she thought it would be to make. As the food was cooking in the oven she found her mouth watering slightly at the aroma in the room, she also threw together a batch of her 'famous' brownies, while the chicken and the brownies were cooking she poured herself a glass of wine, she was finally off her antibiotics and was now back to her usual caffeine binging self- she had not been that bothered about not drinking alcohol too much as she was rarely a drinker, unless she was having therapy with Penelope and a bottle of tequila, but as she stood sipping on her Sauvignon blanc from New Zealand she couldn't help but savour the taste. She turned her music down, and lit some candle to create ambience, just as she put her lighter back in the drawer there was a knock on the door. She scurried to answer it, she swung it open and was greeted by Spencer wearing a dark purple shirt with a black tie and black pants,
"Hi-" she giggled as he pulled her in for a hug the two exchanged a quick kiss before Spencer seemed to notice the aromas,
"Ria, it smells amazing- what are you cooking?"she didn't reply, instead she grabbed two plates and took the chicken and potatoes out of the oven she plated up the food and put the trays they were cooking on in the oven, she pulled the brownie out and placed it on a cooling rack. She gently placed the plates of food down and offered Spence a glass of wine, he declined and opted for a glass of water.

The two conversed about their days as they ate, Spencer couldn't stop complimenting Maria's cooking skills. Maria told him about Ben's dilemma and how she was going to help him out, initially Spencer was slightly dubious and thought Ben was still into Maria,
"Don't worry Spence, he seems head over heels about this Will guy. I really don't think it's a dramatic ploy to get me to him." She laughed as she took a sip of wine, after a few moment Spencer spoke up,
"Wait, he's gay?" Maria shook her head,
"No he's bi, and his family are homophobic." Spencer nodded and paused.
"That must be really hard. I don't understand why people are homophobic." Spencer began Maria nodded in agreement.
"Love is love at the end of the day, and I mean that in the sense of people should be able to love people of the same gender, or different gender."

After their meal Maria presented the brownies with a small scoop of ice cream, once the desserts were finished the two put the dishes in the dishwasher and settled down on the sofa, on the coffee table was Maria's copy of Red Dragon the prequel to Silence of the Lambs the bookmark was sticking out revealing that Maria had almost finished it.
"Do you want me to read to you?" Spencer asked after noticing Maria staring intently at the book, she nodded before curling up next to Spence, he read the book to her and gently drew patterns on her arm.

The two drifted off into a blissful sleep, curled up on Maria's sofa- only to be woken up by Penelope arriving home from girls night, Maria had been invited but she had preferred to stay home. It had been the flash of a camera that woke the two, sleepily the two sat upright and opened their eyes, Maria had glared at Penny who had just laughed before stammering to her room.

Spence had began to leave to go home,
"You can stay Spence, it's late." She smiled and he nodded following her into her room, she disappeared into the bathroom to change into a vest and some purple and blue harem styled pyjama bottoms, when she emerged from the bathroom Spence was in Maria's bed wearing only his boxers- at first she was slightly shocked, but then she realised he didn't have any clothes here, or he did but she had put them in a box and hidden the box when they fell out, so she wriggled into bed feeling his arm wrap around her waist sending her off into another blissful sleep.