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Chapter Twenty One: Plans and Erased Messages

Natalie tucked her hair behind her ears as she entered the busy restaurant and made an attempt to find her table through the crowds of people.

She was supposed to be meeting the girls for lunch and a little bit of shopping today. She highly doubted that she was the first one here considering Spencer had been less than willing to let her out of their bed this morning.

She had to hurry up and get ready this morning. So she'd just thrown on some clothing and make a lame attempt to put her hair into a messy bun even though she wanted nothing more than to crawl right back into bed.

She didn't' think anyone could blame her for wanting that. Spencer and she were both exhausted after their late flight in last night. They had made it home at about three am this morning.

Needless to say they both wanted nothing more than to lay in bed and sleep all day long. She had already made plans with the girls today though. So that idea of just lounging around all day was out of the question.

She finally spotted the table and made her way over to it only to have Garcia speak up holding her hand out towards her. "Okay show us the ring. I want to get a closer look".

Natalie widened her eyes feeling her cheeks darken a little as she heard this. She held her hand out placing it in Garcia's.

She was thankful that she'd had enough time to do her make up this morning considering her cheeks darkened more as she heard all three of the girls speak up at once.

"It's so beautiful. I can't believe Reid picked this out". JJ stated raising her eyebrows.

"So Reid really picked this out without anyone pointing it out to him"? Emily questioned looking over at Garcia.

"Of course he did I was there when he bought it, He was the one that spotted it. So how did he ask? I mean did he get down on his knees and all that good stuff"? Garcia stated as she looked up at Natalie.

Natalie swallowed the lump in her throat quickly deciding that she would leave out some of the more intimate details including the lingerie.

She sat down and managed to speak up as she took a sip of the water that was already sitting at the table. "He asked me at our hotel the night before Christmas Eve".

"And? Come on we want details here". Garcia stated.

Natalie felt her cheeks flush a little as she heard this. She stared at the two other women at the table seeing that they were just as interested as Garcia.

She took another sip of her water as she spoke up again. "He got us a honeymoon suite. When we came back from visiting his mom he talked me into taking a bath. He ordered us some room service and right before I was about to eat my dessert he got down on his knees and asked me. He said some really amazing sweet things while he was asking and I said yes".

The women at the table raised their eyebrows and grinned obviously knowing that she was leaving out some of the finer details from the night.

She wouldn't dare tell them everything he'd said though or anything slightly romantic that he'd done for her during their trip.

She knew he would completely freak out if he knew that she'd told them about how he'd taken several baths with her and practically refused that they get out of bed, while they were in the hotel.

He would especially freak out if he knew that anyone he worked with knew about the ruby baby doll and the fact that he'd developed a fondness of her wearing lingerie.

They each ordered their drinks and their food before JJ spoke up. "So when and where are you getting married? I mean are you doing it in Vegas or here"?

"I don't know. We haven't really talked about it in detail". Natalie said as she took her coat off.

"Well when do you want to get married"? Emily stated as she took a sip of her drink.

Natalie shook her head as she reached up and ran her finger tips along the closed locket around her neck.

She hadn't taken it off except for when she'd taken showers, since Christmas Eve when Spencer had given it to her.

She shrugged speaking up "I have no idea. I want it to be sometime soon, but I don't want it to be too ridiculously soon. I already know that my grandmother is going to make us have a real wedding in a church, a reception, and all of that. So I guess eloping in Vegas is out of the question. We might do it around the end of April or at the beginning of May".

She paused feeling her cheeks darken a little as she spoke up again feeling a little anxious about asking this. "I was wondering if I could convince you to be my bridesmaids ? I was also wondering if uh Penelope would you like to be my maid of honor"?

"Seriously I mean don't you have some cousins or someone else that would want to do that"? Penelope Garcia squealed making a few people at the other tables stare at her.

Natalie shook her head as she stared down at the crisp white table cloth. "No I'm not really that close to any of my cousins and Spencer really doesn't have any family. So it would mean a lot to Spence and me if you would do this for us".

"We'd love too". Garcia stated speaking up for the others who were both nodding their heads agreeing.

Natalie let out a sigh of relief grateful to hear that.

Natalie let out a tired sigh as she entered Spencer and her empty home. She took off her coat and sat her few shopping bags down on the sofa.

She walked over to the answering machine frowning at the red flashing one. She hit the play button fully expecting to be a message from Spencer. Or even a message from her father attempting to convince them that he was completely sure that he wanted to pay for the wedding.

She walked into the kitchen getting ready to pour herself a glass of water but stopped dead in her tracks as she heard a familiar voice.

"Hello Natalie it's me......your mother. I guess your not home. I got your phone number from your brother........ I'll be in town next month and I want to see you. Call me okay".

Natalie felt her stomach plummet as she walked over to the answering machine and stared down at it almost wanting to throw it far away into the nearest corner. She swallowed the lump in her throat as she reached down and pushed the erase button.

She let out a sigh of relief as she heard the mechanical voice state: Message erased.

She almost jumped out of her skin as she heard Spencer speak up from behind her. "Who was the message from".

She turned around seeing him. He had just walked through the front door and he hadn't even taken his coat off or dumped his messengers bag in the broom closet like he usually did. So he couldn't of heard the message.

"No one. I mean it was the wrong number". She stated feeling sick over the fact that she'd just lied to him.

She already knew how he'd react if he knew that her mother had called though. He would panic and then he would get angry that she'd tried to call after everything her mother had done to her.

She knew he was protective when it came to her mother.

So it was really better this way. It was easier just telling him that it was no one. It would stop him from having to worry and dread over it.

Spencer frowned seeing the sick look on her face. He shook his head deciding to ignore the look on her face. If she said it was no one then it was no one "So did you have a good lunch with the girls"?

"Yeah it was good. They questioned me about the wedding plans and then we went shopping. I asked them to be my bridesmaids". She stated glad that he wasn't pressing her about the message.

"That's good. I haven't thought about who I want to be my best man or anything like that. I'm thinking I may ask Morgan. I mean I know he's going to tease me more about this whole thing once I ask him, but I can't think of anyone else I'd rather have do it". He stated as he put his things away in the broom closet.

Natalie bit her bottom lip remembering the shopping bags and the light green lace baby doll that she'd managed to purchase while none of the girls were looking.

She managed to walk over to him and hug him gently burying her head against his chest taking in his scent. She couldn't help but to completly enjoy the way his grip tightened on her.

She looked up at him as she spoke up. "Do you want to see what I bought?........I have a feeling you'll be quite pleased with it".

"What makes you think that"? He stated lowering his voice a little as he felt his cheeks flush having a good idea of what she'd bought.

She smirked going over to the bags and picking them up as she started to make her way upstairs to the bedroom. She spoke up looking back at him. "Come on and I'll show you. I promise you won't be disappointed".

He practically tripped over himself as he followed her completely forgetting about the erased message.