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Rushing around her apartment, Robin holds her phone between her shoulder and her ear while picking up stray clothes. "No, Mama, I can't." She says, unable to shake her head at the risk of dropping her phone. "I've got...work." It's a poor excuse, she knows, but there isn't a better one.
"Can't you take a few days off? We haven't seen you in forever." Her mother's voice filters through the phone and Robin holds back a sigh. She loves her parents, she does, but as they say, it's complicated.
"I know, but not right now." Robin continues, balancing her laundry basket on her hip. "I just...not right now."
"Is this about Lucas?"
"No-" Robin cuts herself off with a sigh, dropping the basket to free her hand, allowing her to pinch the bridge of her nose. "It's not about Lucas, mom. Look, I miss you guys and I love you, but I just got stuff I need to focus on here for a while, okay?"
"I learned a long time ago there's no use in arguing with you when you're like this." The older woman says, drawing an eye roll Robin only did because she knows her mother can't see her. "Don't roll your eyes at me." Eyes widening comically, Robin looks around as if her mother would appear from around the corner. "Don't look so surprised, I know my daughter. We're more alike than you think."
"Right." Robin mumbles, shaking her head to herself.
"Can you at least call more? Let us know you're doing okay? I hate you living there all by yourself and with that job." Robin's mother has never been a fan of her working at the bar, never would be. The young woman was sure to never tell her anything bad, especially how she got the scar on her arm. She'd have a heart attack.
"I'm sorry, mama. I know I need to keep in touch better, and I'll try, promise." Robin sighs once more, falling back to sit on her bed.
"Are you getting enough sleep? You sound tired."
"Yes, I'm getting plenty of sleep." Robin chuckles. At the question, she can't help but think of Spencer. He's always telling her how important sleep is. "I'll call you later, okay? I've got to go."
"Alright." Robin can hear her mother sigh through the phone and she drops her head. "I love you, Ro. So does your father. We'll talk soon."
"Yes. I love you guys too." She says, folding the hem of her unmade sheets between her fingers. "Goodbye, mom."
"Goodbye, sweetie."
Pulling the phone away from her ear, Robin hangs up with a groan, flopping back onto her bed. She'll go see them soon, she tells herself. Even if she knows she won't.
The sounds of liquid pouring, things shifting and people chatting flow through the air. The atmosphere is light, easy. The couple sitting at a window table block out everyone else, instead of focusing on each other.
"No, no," Robin shakes her head, leaning back in her chair with a laugh. "I love your hair!" She tells Spencer enthusiastically, bewildered as to why he would say it's weird. "You should've seen mine when I was a teenager. Bright red."
Spencer can't contain his amused snort, followed by a chuckle. He wants to apologize for laughing but Robin doesn't seem to mind one bit, she even laughs with him, nodding her head. "Yup, had to bleach my whole head and everything. My mom was so against it."
"But she let you do it anyway?" Reid questions, leaning forward in his seat.
"Yeah, she knew if she didn't I'd go out and find a way to do it myself." Robin shrugs. "Yeah, I was, uh, crazy in my teenage years."
"It's normal for teenagers to act out." Spencer tells her automatically, almost wincing as he does.
"Yes, well I was definitely one of those." Robin gives another chuckle, this one a little less amused. It wasn't Spencer's fault, just memories creeping up on her. "But I won't get into that, don't want to scare you off just yet." She jokes with a smile. It doesn't escape Spencer's attention that it was slightly forced but he doesn't question her. She was far from the first person to not like something about their past.
She still confuses him. Even though he's gotten to know her a lot more recently. She made him feel this way, he knew what it was. Had seen it in others, heard other people talk about it, he just never imagined himself feeling this way about someone. But here he was, sitting across from this beautiful woman, an easy, soft smile on his face as he watches her. It almost feels like he's dreaming.
"What?" Robin's question snaps him out of his thoughts.
"You're beautiful." The words escape his mouth before he can register them.
"Oh, well thank you." Robin says, trying to hide how wide her smile was growing. "You're not so bad on the eyes, yourself."
With his own smile, Spencer opens his mouth to answer, only to be cut off by the ringing of his phone. Even though it was the weekend, he never truly has a day off. He knows exactly who is trying to get into contact with him without looking. "I'm sorry." Spencer apologizes with a sigh, shifting to pull his phone from his pocket, confirming that it was, in fact, work.
"You have to go." Robin deduces with a small nod. "It's okay." She gives him a smile in hopes he won't feel to guilty. He always does when he has to run out when they were together, no matter how many times she said she understands. He's saving lives after all, how could she be upset over that?
"I'll make it up to you." Spencer promises earnestly, eyes shrouded in the all to familiar guilt Robin hates seeing there.
"Spencer, it's okay. You don't have." She tries to tell him but it's like her words go in one ear and out the other.
"We had more plans today and now I have to cancel again."
"Hey, Spence, look at me." She starts again, cutting him off before he can say anything else and going to stand in front of him, holding his arms to gain his full attention. "I'm serious. It's okay, I understand that you have to go. This won't be the last time this happens either and I'm telling you I'm okay with that. We can pick up our plans from here when you get back."
Spencer nods but can't help thinking that she won't feel that way forever. She says she's okay with him running off all the time now but what about in a week when he cancels a date for the second time? Or a month when he leaves in the middle of dinner again? Or he misses anniversaries, birthdays, holidays. He can't see her being okay with it then.
"I'll call you when I can." He tells her instead of what he really wanted to, bending down to kiss her. "I'm sorry."
"Please, stop apologizing, okay? You have nothing to be sorry for." Robin says, lacing her fingers together behind his neck. "Promise you'll stay safe, though."
"Promise." Spencer smiles, unable to not feel a little better as she smiles up at him. It occurs to him how important she was becoming. How important she already is to him. It scares him, having this, knowing how easily he could lose it. Lose her. It makes him sick just thinking about it.
"Are you okay?" Robin asks, her eyebrows furrowing in concern. "You suddenly look pale."
"Yeah, yeah," Spencer mumbles with a shake of his head, trying to snap himself from his thoughts. "Just wish I didn't have to go."
"Me too." Robin sighs. "But it's okay." Pulling him down for another quick kiss - PDA and all that - Robin gives him her best smile. "Now, you better get your cute butt into work before you're late."
"I think you're confused." Spencer starts, a sly smile making its way onto his lips. "You're the one with a cute butt."
Gasping, Robin can't hold back the loud laugh that escapes her. "Spencer Reid, I like the way confidence looks on you."
"Yeah?" He asks, the smirk still on his face. It was easy to be this way with her, she made it easy, he's comfortable around her.
"Yeah." Robin nods. "We might have time if you want me to drive you."
"You don't mind?" It would be faster. If he shows up late, the others will question him. He doesn't want to have to answer or dodge said questions.
"Not one bit." Robin shakes her head, sliding her arms through her jacket sleeves. "Wouldn't offer if I did?"
Grabbing her hand, Spencer leads Robin out of the little shop and onto the street. He didn't want to put her out of her way but he wasn't ready to leave her company yet. "I'll call you when I can." He tells her as they near the FBI building. "And let you know when we're on our way back."
"Okay, see you then." Pulling to a stop, Robin puts her car in park so she can lean over the middle console as Spencer does the same, meeting him in the middle for a long kiss. "I-" Clearing her throat, Robin starts again. "Keep me updated?"
"Yeah." Spencer nods, reaching to grab his messenger bag from the floor. "I- uh, I'll see you later."
"Looking forward to it." Grabbing his tie, Robin pulls Spencer in for another kiss, releasing him quickly so he could pull back if he wanted. "Now, go," She chuckles. "You're gonna be so late."
"Worth it." Spencer mumbles, placing one more kiss to Robin's lips before leaning back and opening the door. "I'll call you."
"I'll be waiting." Waving, Spencer picks up his pace and jogs away from the car and inside. Once in the elevator, Reid blows out a breath, his hands clutching his bags strap from where it hangs over his shoulder.
"Sorry." He apologizes when he walks into the briefing room, taking his seat in the empty chair. He isn't super late, but everyone else is already there, and all eyes turn to him.
"You look nice." Emily says with a raised brow and Spencer looks down at what he's wearing. Nothing much more special than his normal work clothes. He'd chosen a dark purple shirt that day because he remembers the time Robin casually mentioned she thought he looked good in that color.
"Thank you..." Spencer says hesitantly, looking up to meet the woman's eyes before quickly diverting his attention.
"Where you coming from, pretty boy?" Morgan teases his friend, chuckling when he shakes his head, mumbling under his breath, 'nowhere' before everyone's attention is diverted to the case.
Spencer can't have been more grateful for that fact. He had been doing good at keeping his relationship separate from his work and in that, hidden from his friends and teammates. He doesn't like it, but he isn't ready to tell them.
Hmm, what's going on with Robin and her parents? I wonder.
A cute little date with our lovely couple. Spencer hates that he has to run off all the time. We'll see if his insecurities get the better of him in future chapters or if he's able to put them aside.
Hope you enjoyed this chapter! Would love to know what you think!
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