A/N: The perspective in this chapter keeps shifting from back and forth between Spencer and Monica. I hope that won't be too confusing. It's to maintain an exciting pace about the chapter. Anyway, thank you for taking the time to review, read, follow, and favourite this little story. Especially the kind Guest whose feedback motivates me to update this story regularly. Thank you!

"What's coming will come and we'll just have to meet it when it does"

- J. K. Rowling

Three days of sashaying around as a British spy at all of Beatrice's known locations finally paid off. Monica was in a taxi heading back to her hotel when Lawrence called.
"Sighting confirmed. It's her. She's entering a back door to the hotel as we speak", he said, "Good job. Now get the hell out of Richmond"
She didn't have to be told twice.

He felt embarrassed about how excited his team was to meet Monica. They teased him about it. Times like these, he missed Derek. He would have loved her.
"This is Monica Knight and her imaginary friends. Leave a message!"
Spencer said,
"Hey, I just got back. Are you home yet? I, uh, I was thinking I could crash at your place tonight. Let me know when you get this, okay? Bye"
It was purely coincidence that he hadn't heard from Monica the last three days. It had nothing to do with the insane gut feeling he had that something was about to go horribly wrong. Right?
Right.

"Could you take me to Main Street Station instead?", Monica said to the driver, "My sister said she will bring my bags directly there"
"All right"
It was over. Done.
She almost cried in relief. But crying would have to wait. What she needed right now more than anything was to see the man she loved.
'I am going home', she thought cheerfully, 'I am going home to him'

Monica wouldn't mind. Would she? No. Maybe she would. No, no.
Spencer tried to reason with himself as he drove. She had given him a key. That meant he could come and go as he pleased. And maybe if she was still at George's, he could do something nice for her. Vacuum her floors, fluff her pillows, make her breakfast. She had to be back by morning anyway. When he saw her, he would hug her. Touch her and kiss her.
He groaned with ripe sexual frustration.
Being a cerebral creature, Spencer didn't like this kind of unexpected arousal. But with her meaningful kisses, her eager touches and her blazing looks, Monica had ruined him.
He hoped to God she was home. All he needed in that moment was to see she was okay.
Then take her to bed until she was coiling her legs around his hips and calling him Spencer.

At the train station, Monica bought the newest Stephen King book. Her eyes pored over the pages in an easy motion, lazy almost. And each page she read made her journey feel shorter. It was as if everything she did was getting her closer to the safety of Spencer's arms. The thought put a smile on her face.

Spencer sighed in dismay. He locked her door behind him. Monica's house was empty. Maybe she would be back early in the morning.
Putting away his bag, Spencer Reid walked to her kitchen. He carried chicken tikka for two in a takeout bag in his right hand. Seemed to him he would be eating it alone.

When she was an hour away from Quantico, the phone Lawrence had given her rang again.
Not a good sign.
Especially when she was holding it right above the toilet. But maybe something had happened. Senses on full alert, Monica accepted the call.
"You"
That honeyed voice, even sweeter than she remembered, chilled her right down to the bone. Beatrice said,
"You, you, you. How rude you are, Susanna. I come to see you and you try to trap me. Again. Did you really think I would let you do it to me a second time?"
Monica held her breath. She tried to focus on what the maniac was saying, but all she could think about was Spencer.
'Let her kill me before she gets to him. Please'
"You know, honey, you have been really shy around me. I don't bite. Well", Beatrice giggled, "I kind of bit Lawrence's ear off in our little scrape..."
Monica winced.
"...but I said an Ave over his body. And the others'. I'm sure our old employers will be pleased to find them like that. But enough about those nasty boys, honey. I want to meet you. How about we do a face to face? It's been long coming, don't you think?"
Beatrice's voice took on a teasing tone.
"I guess I'm going to have to meet your family too. Don't worry, I'll find them. Did you get married, honey? Do you have babies? Oh, I'll bet they have your big, beautiful eyes! Aunt Bea will just have to come and see for herself, won't she?"
Monica's voice was a strangled whisper. She said,
"Please..."
"No, no. Don't beg, honey! I'll find you and I'll set us up a nice girly date. You would like that, honey, wouldn't you?"
"Beatrice", her heart pounded in fear, "I was doing my job. It wasn't personal"
"Aw! You know I take everything personally, honey. It's not your fault", Beatrice sounded happier, "Now, enough chitchat. I have to go wash some blood from under my nails. It was real neat catching up with you, Susanna. I'll see you soon! Buh-bye!"
Monica's hands shook as she dropped the phone in the toilet and pulled the flush. There was not much for her to do then, but sit down and despair.

"Herr God, Herr Lucifer
Beware
Beware.
Out of the ash
I rise with my red hair
And I eat men like air"

- Sylvia Plath