Atlas: A Dr. Spencer Reid Love Story

Poison & Wine (The Civil Wars)

-end of Season 7: 2012-

"Mom, you are being ridiculous!" Veronica frantically spoke, the anger directing itself towards the hand that gripped Spencer's.

"Veronica Grace Gideon, I am your mother - I know what is best for you and this life is not it! He is barely home, he is nearly inept in social settings – which is what you thrive in – he surrounds himself with the minds of maniacs, and what truly scares me is that he would never be able to fully support both you and any children you may have – "

"So that's what this is about – money? Why is it always about money with you? Do you even care about what I want or are you just looking for the biggest price tag?" Veronica irritatedly retorted while Spencer took a hard swallow and glared at the floor as his soon-to-be mother-in-law spoke poorly of him directly in front of his face.

"You were always a free spirit, you never understood what it meant to actually have a sustainable life-" Catherine, Veronica's mother, vigorously shook her head in disapproval.

Veronica huffed, stepping closer to her mother, "Mom, Spencer is more of myself than I am. Whatever our beings are made of, his and mine are the same. He feels like home, and everywhere I've ever been - all at once. The way I fell for him was instinct, like an effortless breath. He's the love of my life, mom, and he's not going anywhere," Veronica firmly spoke, her fingers entangling with Spencer's as he sheepishly stood beside her.

Catherine scoffed, setting her hands on her hips, "This is a doomed relationship, Veronica. How do you even truly know he loves you?"

Veronica became speechless, extreme disdain running through her veins as her mother disappointingly stared down the duo. Silence enraptured the room in an unsettling manner before Spencer found the courage he had been searching for the entire conversation.

"F. Scott Fitzgerald..." Spencer quipped.

"What?" Catherine confusingly blinked.

Spencer cleared his throat, rolling his shoulders back and straightening his posture before resting his gaze upon Catherine's face, "F. Scott Fitzgerald once wrote 'You are the finest, loveliest, tenderest, and most beautiful person I have ever known and even that is an understatement' - that's the quote that always comes to mind whenever I think of Veronica. She writes me post-it notes and sticks them to my satchel so I can find them when I'm in the middle of a difficult case and I can remember that there are breathtakingly good things in this world; when I see her wearing one of my sweaters, the room lights up; she has helped me face every fear I've ever had. When I roll over in bed, I want her face to be the first thing my eyes see every morning. Catherine, your daughter is the best thing to ever walk in my life, and I refuse to stand by and watch her walk out of it," Spencer confidently spoke despite his shaking hands.

Veronica took her hand from his to set it against his shoulder, "Spence'..." she said in a daze, her heart full. Spencer took her hand from his shoulder and gently kissed it, smiling in contentedness.

"Well, mom - there you go. We don't need to prove anything else to you," Veronica grinned towards Spencer, refusing to even glance towards her mother.

Catherine's stance softened as she took a deep breath, "I'm sorry, Veronica, but I just can't condone this wedding."

Veronica dejectedly glanced towards her mother, "And you are entitled to your opinion, but because of that, you won't have to worry about coming to the wedding; you're uninvited," she fiercely spoke, her lips pressed together.

Catherine quietly gasped, taking a step back with wide eyes, "Fine" she curtly spoke, turning on her heel and storming out the door with a slam behind her.

Veronica sighed, shutting her eyes tight before plopping it on one of Spencer's shoulders.

"Are you okay?" Spencer spoke in a hush, his words dripping with concern. He wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her figure closer to him.

Veronica looked up, sharing eye contact with him as she held a furrowed brow, "Did I do the right thing?" She muttered.

Spencer dejectedly gazed at her as he set a hand against her cheek, "There isn't really a right or wrong answer in this case," Spencer solemnly uttered. His lips set against Veronica's hairline as she nestled against his side, their bodies compressed together.