Paranoia - s.reid

You're Right

Several months had passed since Penelope Garcia got shot. The team had solved four cases since then and the newly engaged couple made it their mission to play a game of Monopoly when they were home, as a way of saying they were okay, it was their way of saying things were going to be alright. 

Liz had a painful experience telling her mother she was engaged over the phone which went like this:

"Hey, mom! I have some news."

"Let me guess, he asked you to marry him and you said yes?" Her tone was dull.

"Wow, you're so excited!" Liz opted for sarcasm rather than starting an argument.

"Yes, well, you know I love you, Elizabeth. I don't want to start a fight so just do whatever makes you happy. Here, speak to your sister." Pause. Screeching could be heard. "My bitch is getting married!"

"And my bitch moved into an apartment, how's that?"

"10 minutes away from you. I can annoy you and your future husband anytime."

"Do it, and I'll arrest you."

"I better be bridesmaid."

"You're lucky if you even come to the wedding. I gotta go, love you."

Liz stood in the kitchen, carefully monitored the food that sat on the stove as she anxiously twisted the engagement ring around her finger. Today was the day one of her ex-boyfriends were coming over for dinner since Liz couldn't offer him a place to stay for Spencer's comfort. She hadn't told her fiance about the history between her and her ex-boyfriend, but it was bound to come out anyways.

Spencer walked into the kitchen, immediately wrapping his arms around the brunette and peppering sweet kisses on her neck. "He's going to be here soon, Penny."

"Please don't call me that during dinner. What's his name again?"

"Matthew." On cue, the doorbell rang, forcing Spencer to pull away as he volunteered to open the door, making Liz's nerves go haywire. 

She heard the familiar voice, practically hearing the smile as she speed walked to the front door, her eyes meeting his brown ones. "Hi, Matthew." She offered a tight lipped smile. "Matthew, this is Spencer. Spencer, Matthew." She introduced. Spencer offered a wave before explaining how shaking hands was unsafe, making sure to leave out the part where kissing would be safer. He 

The three sat down for dinner, the only noise came from the cutlery scratching against the plates. Liz felt like stabbing herself with the butter knife she held. "So, uh, Matthew, what do you do for a living." Jesus Christ, Spencer, can't you tell you're making your fiancee suicidal?

"I'm an actor. Liz and I actually met at a performing arts school. Sad she didn't attend and was only there for the tour, she has real talent." Matthew smiled. Of course Spencer knew this. "I hear you're both FBI agents? That's really cool!"

Spencer opened his mouth to answer, but nothing came out as Liz beat him to it. "Yeah, we're part of the Behavioral Analysis Unit. We also travel a lot, all over the country."

"It must be really cool travelling around the country with your girlfriend, right Spencer?" Spencer froze. Girlfriend? He did a double take on Liz's finger, relief flooding through him when his eyes latched onto the diamond. Did Matthew not notice?

"Yeah, uh, Liz and I are actually engaged so technically she's my fiancee."

"Oh." Oh indeed. 

"Honey, can you pass me the salad?" Liz smiled sweetly. Her smile instantly dropped when both men reached for the salad bowl, eyeing each other as if they were having a silent argument over who would win over Liz's love by passing a salad bowl. She cleared her throat, reaching over and just barely taking the bowl, snapping the childish men out of their death glares. 

"So when did you guys get engaged?"

"A few months ago. I proposed over a game of Monopoly." Spencer smiled, but it wasn't his normal smile, it was almost childish and... Evil. "Funny how different we are, Spencer. I proposed during a candle lit dinner." Matthew remarked. Now, it was Liz's turn to freeze as the doctor almost choked on his food.

"Liz never told me you proposed." He turned over to his fiancee, only to be met with a nervous giggle and a pained grin. "Yes, well, probably because she said no." Matthew's tone was slightly bitter. Who could blame him? He was sitting at a dinner table with his ex-girlfriend who rejected his marriage proposal but said yes to a nerdy FBI agent.

Liz dropped her fork onto her plate, distracting Matthew from his glare. "Alright, who wants ice cream?" She plastered on the best grin she could muster, although it looked more like she was wincing. "Actually, I gotta go. It was good seeing you, Liz. Nice to meet you, Spencer." She nodded, kissing Spencer's cheek before walking Matthew to the door, pausing at the doorway.

"Are you kidding me? You're engaged to him?" Liz sighed, annoyed.

"Can you keep your voice down? Yes, I love him. What's your issue? We're done, Matt." She narrowed her eyes. "Why didn't you say yes to me?" Matthew's voice was soft and sad, but not enough to break Liz's heart the same way it would've broken if they were dating.

"We were 21, Matthew. We were both getting attention for very different things and if we'd gotten married, it would've been worse. It would've never worked." 

"But now you're getting the good attention from being an FBI agent." He nodded, his eyes focused on his shoes. "I still don't like it, but I can't make it go away. It was good seeing you, Matt." They shared a brief embrace before Matthew opened the door, pulling it closed behind him as he left.

Liz took a deep breath before walking through an archway that led her to the living room where her eyes met with Spencer's who held a book in his hand as he lounged on the plush sofa. "You never told me he proposed." He blurted, catching the woman off guard.

"Why does it matter? I said yes to you, didn't I?"

"Kind of feels like you don't tell me anything. I didn't know about Chip Taylor, or Matthew, or anything about your past! I didn't even know you had an interest in performing arts until a few years ago." Spencer's voice was raising with every word, but instantly softened when he saw Liz's eyes glaze. "You know me inside out, but if feels like I don't know you at all."

"Look Spencer, there are certain things that are going to take time for me to tell you and there are certain things that I don't feel the need to tell you at all!" Everyone was yelling at this point.

"If you can't tell me things, should we really be planning a wedding?" Spencer immediately regretted the words that flowed out of his mouth when Liz bit her lip and looked away. A sign that she was not okay. He'd seen that gesture many times before, but this time it hurt a tad more knowing he caused it. 

"You know what? You're right." Liz brought her right hand to the ring, beginning to slip it off until Spencer caught her wrists in his hands, his eyes teary and sad. "I didn't mean what I said. You promised me you'd never take it off, no matter what." He slowly let go of her, following after her as she made her way to their bedroom, slightly relieved that she'd kept the ring on. She grabbed her go-bag, before brushing past him and almost running to the front door where she paused, turning around to meet him. "Don't leave, Ellie, please." Spencer Reid was begging.

"We'll talk when we're ready."

And she left.

Elizabeth Bundy slammed the door shut and then proceeded to drive to a certain person's place.