Author's Note: Hello again everyone! So I have decided that this will be the final chapter of this fic. I don't have any concrete plans for the story beyond this point, and I would like to do some one-shots, which I have not had time for while working on two full-length fics. I will still be continuing with We Need Each Other for a while because that story has not yet reached its conclusion. I hope you all have enjoyed reading this fic as much as I have enjoyed writing it, and thank you for sticking with me!
Just a reminder, this is an AU fic for right after the pill scandal, and it is a Spemily story. This is Spencer's POV. I am not all that educated on withdrawal symptoms, so forgive me if any of this seems inaccurate. All mistakes are mine. I hope you all enjoy, and please let me know what you think!
Disclaimer: I do not own Pretty Little Liars or any of the characters that exist therein. If I did, it would be all Spemily, all the time.
I was about to pick Emily up for our date, and I was nervous as hell.
Em had wanted to plan it, probably worried that I would stress myself out over it, but I had insisted on putting everything together. It was our first date, and I wanted it to be absolutely perfect. Emily deserved to have everything be perfect.
Stepping out of my car, I cautiously made my way up to the Fields' front door. Having known Emily for as long as I had, having been best friends with her as long as I had, I can honestly say that I had only been nervous while approaching her house once before in my life. Thankfully, my nerves were of a much different ilk than they had been when Em had returned from Haiti in the wake of Maya's death. They were anxious, but also joyous.
We were finally together, and we were about to make it official by going on our very first date.
My anxiety quickly turned into excitement as I knocked on the front door.
"Hello, Spencer. Emily is just finishing up getting ready, she'll be down in just a moment," Mrs. Fields greeted, pulling me into a hug as she beamed at me. I was afraid I might die of suffocation before she finally released me, but she quickly did so in order to turn toward the stairs. "Emily! Spencer is here! We'll be in the kitchen whenever you're ready!"
Motioning for me to follow her, Mrs. Fields lead me into the kitchen and motioned for me to take a seat at the table before placing a glass of water in front of me and taking a seat herself.
"So, you finally figured it out, I see," she offered knowingly, a giant grin on her face that edged on a joyous smirk.
"We managed to figure it out, thankfully," I replied with my own smile, my cheeks reddening as I felt a bit embarrassed by my own giddiness. "Though Emily did take a bit of convincing, she can be pretty stubborn sometimes, you know?"
There was a clearing of someone's throat behind us, and I whipped around to see Emily standing in the doorway, her eyebrow raised in a teasing manner.
The eyebrow was not the only teasing thing about her in that moment, and I was struggling not to ogle my best friend with her mother sitting right next to me. That gorgeous blue dress that fit her like a glove was making things particularly difficult for me.
"I'm only stubborn when it comes to protecting the people that I love," Em explained saucily, walking straight toward me, an adorable grin on her face before she leaned down to kiss my cheek lightly.
"Well aren't you two just precious," Mrs. Fields gushed, making Emily and I both turn a deep shade of red.
"Yes, yes, okay, Mom. We're going on our date now. I'll see you before curfew. Love you," Emily offered quickly, placing a kiss on her mother's cheek before practically dragging me out of the house.
"In a hurry to get somewhere, Ms. Fields?" I inquired laughingly, stopping her short of the car so I could step in front and open her door for her.
Instead of sliding into her seat as I expected, she stepped up directly in front of me, our noses brushing, and my eyes just about popped out of their sockets in surprise.
"Just in a hurry to be alone with my Super Genius, Ms. Hastings," she breathed across my lips, brushing her own across my cheek teasingly before finally getting in the car.
My mouth hanging open, I just stood there, unable to move.
Emily laughed lightly, looking up at me through her gorgeous lashes.
"Are you just going to stand there all night, or are you going to take me on our date?" She asked with a chuckle, throwing me the sexiest smirk I had ever seen.
She was trying to kill me, I was sure of it.
"Maybe this was our date and I'm going to take you right back home now," I teased back, sticking my tongue out at her childishly before carefully closing her door and moving around to the driver's side.
"As long as I get to be with you, I'm not sure I would mind," Emily offered sincerely, smiling brightly at me before she leaned forward to place a chaste kiss on my lips.
Reacting quickly, I reached forward and slid my hands into her hair, pulling her closer and deepening the kiss. I could have continued kissing her all night; that would have made me perfectly content, but it was out first date, and Emily deserved to have her socks knocked off.
So, although it was extraordinarily difficult, I pulled away after only about a minute.
"Our date awaits, milady," I explained when she pouted at me, placing a kiss on her cheek before reversing out of the driveway and beginning our journey.
Emily reached out to grab my right hand and placed it in her lap, leaving me to drive with only one. Not that I minded, but it was a little distracting to have her fingers running lightly over my own in senseless patterns.
I was starting to regret stopping our make out session.
"So, where are we off to, Super Genius?" Em asked sweetly, shifting in her seat to look straight at me.
Her dress rode up her thighs just the tiniest bit as she shifted, and the hand she was holding in her lap came into contact with even more skin. Goosebumps rose all over my body and I could feel my face heat up at the sensation.
I was going to crash the car if this continued.
"It's a surprise," I managed to choke out, coughing a little to clear my throat.
"Oh really?" Em asked with faux innocence, turning my hand over so I could grasp her thigh in my palm. "Are you sure you don't want to tell me?"
She was obviously intent on getting us both killed.
"I'm absolutely sure," I stated without conviction, snatching my hand away and focusing as best I could when I realized we had missed our turn. "Now stop trying to distract me, or we'll never get there."
Sticking my tongue out at her again, I smiled when she snorted with laughter.
"Okay, okay, hands to myself, I got it," she giggled, sticking her own tongue out at me in response.
Even that was distracting.
Everything about her was distracting.
"See, you better behave, I'm all over the place because of you and now we're going to be late," I teased, winking at her before pulling a u-turn so I could get back on our route.
Emily giggled again, and I grinned so widely at the sound that I thought my face might break open with my happiness.
Falling into an easy silence while we drove, I just grinned continually, occasionally glancing over at Em and then back to the road. I was entirely unable to contain my joy, and I was loving every minute of it. The gigantic smile on my girlfriend's face told me she wasn't doing too shabby herself.
Girlfriend.
Emily Fields was my girlfriend.
My grin grew impossibly wider for the remaining twenty minutes of our drive.
"You know, if you wanted it to be a surprise that we were coming to the lake house, you probably should have blindfolded me. I know these roads by now, Spence," Emily teased, winking at me as I pulled into the driveway.
"Well, perhaps it is not the lake house itself that is the surprise, but what's inside," I offered mysteriously, winking right back at her before stepping out of the car and moving around to open her door.
"So chivalrous," Em observed as I helped her out of the car, surprising me when she placed a light, chaste kiss on my lips in thanks.
Unable to help myself, I reached my arms around her waist, pulling her toward me and returning her kiss with much more depth than she had originally intended. Emily's breath caught in her throat when my lips were pulled to her elegant neck, and I had never heard anything so sexy in my life.
I wanted her so badly.
"Spence, Spencer," Emily gasped as I reached her exposed collarbone, reaching out to take hold of my shoulders and still my movements. "We need to slow down. You haven't even taken me on our first date yet."
Her tone was playful, but sincere in her desire to take a step back, and I immediately felt a little guilty.
My point in bringing her to the lake house was to wow her, not to push her.
"I'm sorry, Em, you're right. I got carried away," I apologized, closing the car door before taking her hand and leading her to the front door. "I promised I was going to make this special, and I will, you deserve that."
Emily pulled at my hand to stop me before I opened the door, and I hesitantly turned to face her.
"Spencer, stop it," she admonished gently, reaching up to tuck my hair behind my ear and keeping that same hand lightly on my cheek as she spoke. "Stop blaming yourself for things that aren't even blameworthy. I know that you're still healing, and putting that extra stress on yourself is not going to help you get better. I need you to know that I am here no matter what, even if you have a bad day and things don't turn out the way you want them to.
Everything you are feeling, or not feeling, is legitimate. So don't beat yourself up about all of these little things. I know how much you want to make this special for me, perfectionist that you are, but I don't want to be another element added to your stress levels. Plus, I'm with you, Spencer. Tonight is already special to me."
There were tears in my eyes when she finished.
"Em, I…" I started, before I was cut off by another wave of her hand.
"I don't want you to say anything in response to that; let's just go inside and enjoy the wonderful date that you have planned for us. My fingers are about to freeze off, and I would very much like to be able to hold your hand after this moment," she joked, giving me a peck on the cheek before motioning for me to open the door in front of us.
"As you wish," I offered with a kitschy bow, winking at her as I pushed through the entrance.
She giggled adorably and curtseyed before walking in behind me.
"May I take your coat, madam?" I inquired imperiously after closing the door, trying my absolute best to keep a straight face.
"You may," Em returned playfully, allowing me to slip her coat off her shoulders.
There was that gorgeous dress again. Suddenly the warm seemed significantly warmer than it had just seconds before.
"You're staring, my love," she teased, reaching out to push my open mouth closed and causing me to blush a bit in embarrassment.
I really needed to stop ogling her, but I couldn't seem to help myself.
"It's not my fault you're the most beautiful woman I've ever seen. How could I help but stare?"
It was Emily's turn to blush as I turned to hang my own coat up in the entryway closet.
As soon as I had finished, strong arms wrapped around my middle, and Emily's mouth settled directly next to my ear, her hot breath blowing tauntingly across my cheek.
"I think perhaps, my love, you do not look in the mirror often enough," she whispered, placing an open mouthed kiss behind my ear before pulling away.
This woman was going to be the death of me.
Taking a deep breath, I steadied myself and turned back toward her.
"So, are you ready to be wowed?"
Em just nodded, a sincere smile gracing her features as she waited for me to take the lead.
"Close your eyes and take my hand. Don't look until I tell you," I commanded softly, taking her hand and leading her carefully into the living room once I was certain her eyes were closed tightly.
I had driven up earlier in the day to set everything up. There were gardenias everywhere (Emily's favorite flowers). The crockpot was on, keeping our lasagna warm, and the salad was already made and in the refrigerator. All that was left for me to do was slide the tray of rolls into the oven for a few minutes. Ice cream was for dessert. The coffee table was set, pillows were scattered across the floor for us to sit on, and candles were set out on every possible surface.
Taking Emily's hand from mine, I placed it on the back of the couch so she would have an anchor while I finished setting up.
"Keep your eyes closed," I reminded her, before preheating the oven and lighting all of the candles in the room.
Taking a deep breath, I moved to switch on the CD player, and old-school jazz started to flow from the surround sound speakers my dad had installed years ago. Walking back behind the couch, I turned Em toward me.
"Open your eyes."
Emily blinked a few times, her eyes coming into focus quickly but her head turning slowly. As her eyes slid over all of the details in the room, her mouth fell open slightly and her face shone with happiness. Catching sight of the first bouquet of gardenias, her eyes became wet with unshed tears.
"Spencer…" she started, her breath catching slightly in her throat.
I smiled at her and took her hands, halting her words.
"The rolls still need to be put in the oven. Dance with me while they bake?" I requested, feeling the hopefulness shine from my face.
"I would love to," Emily breathed, squeezing my hands in her own.
Nodding with a giant grin on my face, I squeezed her hands in return before letting them go and turning toward the kitchen. I quickly unwrapped the rolls and slid the pan into the oven. Turning back, I took Em's hands once more and pulled her toward me, sliding one arm around her waist and holding the other in my own, securing her tightly to me.
Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong serenaded us from all around the living room, their smooth, soulful voices fitting perfectly into the atmosphere, helping to create an intimacy that wasn't there before. The candles flickered softly, and their scent lingered in the air.
The moment could not have been any more perfect.
As a Hastings, my parents had insisted on dance lessons from a young age, ballroom of course. All of their country club friends were imposing it on their country club children, and the Hastings couldn't do less. It was only while I danced with Emily that I truly came to appreciate the fact that I had been forced to participate in such a farce. I was proud to lead her around my living room floor, and that I actually remembered the steps.
Twirling her around the couch and chairs, I found that my girlfriend was not quite a follower, especially when it came to dancing. She took my lead when she wanted to, but she refused to twirl too far from my side, or stay out of my embrace for too long.
I can't say that I exactly minded.
We were so lost in each other that I quite literally jumped at least two feet in the air when the timer for the rolls went off.
Emily died laughing.
Being the child that I was, I stuck my tongue out at her before walking into the kitchen. Pulling the rolls out of the oven with a dishtowel, I had to shoo Em away from helping.
"Stop it. Go sit down. I am serving you dinner tonight," I admonished, kissing her cheek before playfully swatting her butt and sending her out to the living room.
"Yes, Super Genius. Whatever you say, Super Genius," she retorted with a grin, purposefully sashaying sexily out of the room.
I almost dropped the tray of rolls.
Shakily placing the tray on the stovetop, I gave myself a moment before dishing out the lasagna into a large bowl and placing the rolls onto a plate. With everything table-ready, I carried all three elements of our meal into the living room, where all of the plates and cutlery were already set up from my visit earlier. Kissing Emily's cheek, I motioned for her to start dishing up a plate while I returned to the kitchen for the sparkling cider I had bought for the occasion.
With Em having struggled with alcohol in the past, and my recent bout with addiction, I figured it would make for a better night if we avoided temptation.
At least that kind of temptation.
"So, are you ready to eat?" I asked as I sat down, reaching to grab Emily's champagne glass and fill it with the non-alcoholic beverage.
"So ready," she gushed, placing a light kiss on my lips before moving to cheers me with her newly filled glass. "And thank you, Spencer. You went to so much trouble, and everything looks absolutely delicious. You truly have made tonight perfect."
"Anything for you, Em," I stated, smiling brightly at her as she dug in.
I was not expecting the moans.
From her first bite, Emily made appreciative noises in the back of her throat as she tasted each of the dishes, and they had a quite predictable effect on me.
"Oh my god, Spencer, this is so good! I didn't know you were such a talented cook," she exclaimed with her mouth still half full, her eyes wide with surprise.
I might have been insulted by her lack of faith had my brain been functioning at full capacity. It was not.
"I'm glad you like it," I offered breathlessly, my mouth hanging open.
Paralyzed by the sounds that were emanating from her as she ate, all I could do was stare at her. My fork hung in mid-air, lasagna dripping off the sides. I was genuinely incapable of moving.
Emily just smirked at me. Giving one last moan that was unnecessarily loud and sexy, she proceeded to quiet down finally, and I knew at once she had done it on purpose. She reaching over with a single, crooked finger to gently shut my mouth for me.
"You are evil, you know that?" I questioned teasingly, fighting very hard to get myself under control enough to continue eating.
"Maybe," Em agreed with an even more devious smirk, moving just the tiniest bit closer to me. "But who could blame me? You're pretty adorable when you get flustered."
Unable to help myself, I started laughing uncontrollably, smacking Em's arm lightly.
Our conversation stayed light throughout the remainder of the meal, punctuated by loud laughter and a lot of smiling. The intimacy of our surroundings eliminated a lot of the emotional boundaries we both usually felt, and we discussed everything more deeply and freely than ever before. Jumping from childhood friends we had before meeting each other to funny family stories to some of our greatest fears, we talked long after our plates were clean and the leftovers had gone cold. We never even got to the ice cream.
"We should probably clean this up. I want at least one more dance with you before you take me home," Em stated as she gathered her plate and stood from the floor, already heading to the kitchen.
"Emily, you can't possibly think I'm going to let you clean up after a date that I planned," I argued, standing with my plate as well and following her.
After placing her dish on the counter, she took mine and deposited it there as well. She then moved closer to me, putting her lips right up next to my ear. Again.
I was sensing a pattern.
"The quicker we get this place cleaned up, the longer I get to spend in your arms. I'm helping you whether you like it or not."
Needless to say, I couldn't exactly argue with her logic.
Putting the food away and washing the dishes took virtually no time at all. It probably would have if Em had her way, what with all the hand brushing and leaning into each other, but I really wanted to hold her for as long as I could before our night was through, so I kept myself as under control as humanly possible.
"That's the last one," I stated triumphantly, turning dramatically toward Emily and offering my hand to her gallantly. "So, my lady, may I have another dance?"
"Like you even need to ask," Em returned with a nod, smiling as I lead her back into the candle-lit living room.
Holding each other tightly, I took a moment just to soak it all in; the happiness I felt with the love of my life standing there in my arms. It was incredible to me, how the last few days had unfolded, and I couldn't help but be incredibly grateful for the chance I had been given.
"Do you have any idea how incredible you are?" I inquired with awe, placing a light and loving kiss on Emily's cheek as I spun her around, waiting for her response.
"Says my Super Genius," she chuckled, pulling away to look at me in the eye, a giant smile plastered on her beautiful face.
"No, seriously, Em. I don't know where I would be without you," I argued, maintaining pointed eye contact as I tried to impress upon her just how incredible I thought she was.
"You would be healing, my love," she responded, reaching up to cup my cheek. "Even without me, you would have beaten the pills. You don't need me; your amazing strength is what has gotten you through all this time. I'm just glad that I can be here with you, loving you and supporting you through all of it."
Taking a deep breath, I had to fight back the tears that threatened to fall as I tried my best to answer her praise.
"I'm not sure I agree with you on the strength part, but I'm incredibly glad that you're with me. I've never been more grateful for anything in my life… I love you so much."
Leaning forward, I kissed her deeply, unable to restrain myself any longer. Our lips slid together, perfectly, made for each other, and I sighed happily as our mouths opened simultaneously and Emily deepened our kiss even further.
I would never get tired of kissing her, or holding her, or loving her.
"How did we get so lucky?" Emily questioned with a groan as I moved my head to nibble gently on her ear lobe.
Pulling myself away reluctantly, knowing I had to get her home by curfew, I stepped back to ensure we didn't fall into each other all over again. I couldn't be sure I could control myself if we kissed like that again.
"I don't know," I finally responded, gazing at her longingly from a few feet away. "But after everything we've been through lately, I think we both deserve this little bit of happiness, don't you?"
"I definitely do," Em agreed strongly, pulling me in once more by the shirt, ensuring she wouldn't get home for quite some time.
In all honesty, I couldn't exactly bring myself to care about curfew. Not when I had the most compassionate, beautiful, incredible woman standing in my arms.
The world could wait.