Hello and happy Monday! Yeah, usually "happy" and "Monday" don't go well together, BUT it's my final week of school so I'm happy. Tomorrow's my last day of school ever. Like ever. It's my last last day of school. Crazy. Anyway, hopefully today is finding you well. I'm glad you enjoyed the last chapter! I thought it was kind of weak, personally, but of course, I am my toughest critic. I've said it before and I'm sure I'll say it again. I hope you like this chapter, too! It's about two of my favorite things- Sundays and brunch. Too bad today's Monday. I could use a Sunday brunch.

Today's chapter title comes from "Carry On" by Fun. which is kinda sorta mainstream, so maybe you know it? Hopefully you enjoy the chapter; definitely let me know if you didn't. Also side-note to SpobyFicStalker- this isn't the chapter I was talking about when I said "stay tuned" after you mentioned Wren. That's coming tomorrow. ;)

i've closed enough windows to know you can never look back

The air is thick with tension one muggy April evening as Spencer and Toby climb into bed, avoiding eye contact. They switch off the lights and are bathed in darkness when Toby sighs and says, "I don't want to fight anymore."

"Why not? We've been fighting all day," Spencer's voice is dripping with surliness. "I can tell you're not done so you might as well get it off your chest."

"I don't want to go to brunch with your family tomorrow," He admits and Spencer scoffs. "I hate going to brunch with them and this isn't a Jane Austen novel. We don't need these monthly reunions when we all live in the same town."

"Toby, they're working all the time," Spencer counteracts. "They never see Grace, she never sees them. I would like her to actually have a relationship with her family."

"Okay, well whose fault is that?" He questions. "Wren's a doctor, so whatever, but you and I both know your parents choose to put in those hectic hours. They've been building towards retirement for a while and yet they still haven't taken it. I wish I could say I was surprised but…"

"What?" Spencer probes when he hesitates. "Just say it. You know you want to."

"They didn't pay enough attention to you or Melissa," Toby blurts out, blinded by the irritation. "What makes you think things will be different for Vivian and Grace?"

It may be dark, but Toby can still see Spencer's eyes glowing with anger. He frowns, "Don't look at me like that. You know that's not what I meant. I'm just saying-"

"I know what you're saying," She seethes. "You think my parents don't give a shit about me or my sister and that we're fucked up because of it."

"No I don't," Toby sighs. "I don't think either of you are fucked up and I know your parents love you both. But you have to see where I'm coming from, Spencer. You spent your teenage years afraid to be in your own house because your parents weren't home to protect you. They love you; I know they do. But they put their jobs before you a lot."

She's silent a while and Toby's honestly not sure how to take it. It isn't until a moment later, when she lifts a hand to her eyes that he feels like an unimaginable bastard. He hates to see her cry, but he hates it even more when he's the cause of it. "Don't cry. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you cry."

"You didn't," She deflects. "It's not about you. I just… I don't want to fight anymore."

"Neither do I," He agrees, pulling her into his arms as her own snake around him. "I never want to fight."

"I hate it," She mumbles. "I don't like making you angry and if it's going to make you angry if we go to brunch tomorrow, then we shouldn't go. We don't have to if you don't want to."

"It's not that it's going to make me angry," He tells her. "It's just that I literally have nothing to contribute to the conversation."

She shakes her head. "That's not true."

"Yeah, it is," Toby informs her. "Your dad and Wren talk all about law and medicine like they're the only respectable professions in the world and are the keys to becoming masters of the universe. You and your mom and Melissa are always knee-deep in whatever family drama goes on in the Hastings' world behind closed doors. And then there's me, sitting there like Feste the Fool, because who am I supposed to talk to, the girls? They're too busy comparing plastic jewelry and catching each other up on what happened on this week's Mickey Mouse Clubhouse!"

Spencer can't help herself; she bursts into laughter. Toby doesn't get nearly enough credit for his wit, but he's not amused. "Why are you laughing at me? I'm totally serious."

"You are and I'm sorry," She grins. "But you are on point with your literary references this evening. First Jane Austen and then Shakespeare? Fitz would be proud."

"I wouldn't know," He says. "I didn't last long enough to have Humbert Humbert as my English teacher."

"Three for three!" Spencer beams. "I think that you might be overreacting just a tad, though."

"I really don't think so."

"I do," She replies. "Look, my family loves you. It took them longer than I would have liked, but they got there. Your thoughts and opinions are valued, trust me. I bet you could say anything and they would be fine with it."

"Not anything," He teases. "There's plenty I could say that they wouldn't approve of and all of it has to do with your brother-in-law."

"My?"

"Your," He says with finality. "I'm not claiming ownership to him."

She smirks. "Will you two ever let it go?"

"I don't know. Will he ever stop looking at you like you're the one that got away?" Toby counters and Spencer has to give him that one. "He's ridiculous. And you know what else is ridiculous?"

"I'm sure you're going to tell me."

"Melissa is none the wiser," Toby answers. "How can she not know?"

"She knows," Spencer says. "She knows the answer to your question before you even ask it. There's no way she doesn't notice Wren's wandering eye."

"Well then she does a damn good job of ignoring it."

"Yeah, so do I," Spencer comments. "You should try it sometime."

Toby frowns. "We'll see."

The following morning, the three of them are on their way to Sunday brunch at the Craftsman House on the far edge of town. Peter claims they have the best French toast in the entire country and this is what justifies the almost half-hour drive away from civilization. Spencer wonders if the other reason why Toby hates it so much is because of how formal everything is. He's not a jacket and tie kind of guy and he wouldn't be caught dead in a country club, which is part of the reason she loves him so much. He doesn't care about those things, but unfortunately the Craftsman House requests its guests to don their Sunday best. When they're seated and they've ordered, the women fall into easy conversation and Wren begins his overshadowing nonsense.

"So my colleague has this woman on his table; massive hemorrhaging, internal bleeding, all that. She, of course, perishes," He explains, pausing to sip from his steaming mug of coffee. "Meanwhile, her husband's out in the waiting room pacing and when my coworker informs him of his wife's passing, he breaks down and says she was pregnant."

"Brutal," Peter comments. "Sounds like a liability lawsuit is coming his way."

Toby shoots Spencer a pointed look and she sends back one of sympathy. Just when he's considering jabbing his fork into his eye, Peter asks, "So Toby, how's business been since you've been back? You're keeping busy, I hope?"

"Yeah, for the most part," He nods, a bit startled at his sudden inclusion. "I've been doing a lot of deskwork lately; you know, answering phone calls and filing request forms. But I've also been involved in putting an addition on a house on Fairmount Street, so that's been great."

"Oh really? Which house?" Peter asks, intrigued. "I've got a buddy that lives down there."

"Uh, it's 64, I think?" Toby replies. "The Montagues."

"Yeah, that's him!" Peter notes. "Tim and I work together and listen, don't let him skimp on the payments. He might play the elusive card but he and his wife vacation for weeks at a time in the Keys. They own a place down there; it's worth over five million dollars. He's rolling in it; his wife's always wearing a new diamond somewhere."

"Oh yeah, I met her the other day," Toby agrees. "Paula, her name was? She was nice; she brought us drinks."

"No," Peter chuckles. "His wife's name is Kelly. You must've met the mistress."

Toby's eyes widen. "Really?"

"Oh yeah," He grins. "And I wouldn't be surprised if this Paula isn't the only one. Tim doesn't like to keep all his eggs in one basket, if you know what I mean."

"Wow," Toby remarks. "That's not what I expected."

"Neither is half the town," Peter states. "And you saw the car, right?"

"The Jaguar?" Toby references. "Couldn't miss it. He was waxing it the entire time we were there to show it off."

"Yeah, it hasn't run in years and he can't get it to," Peter laughs. "Engine's absolutely shot, but does that matter to Tim? No sir; he still acts as though it's his most prized possession."

Toby hesitates a moment before asking, "Isn't he your friend?"

"Of course. Why do you ask?"

"Because you're enjoying ripping into him a bit too much."

"It's good fun," Peter responds. "Plus, he screwed me out of clients far too many times to count. He's a great guy to play tennis with, but he's not exactly the person I'd want to spend all of my time with, you know?"

Their food arrives just moments later and Wren uses this distraction to try and turn the conversation back in his favor. It doesn't work. Peter instead spends the rest of the meal asking Toby questions about every aspect of his life and Spencer watches from afar in awe. Her parents had accepted and grown to love Toby years ago, but never had her father ever given a conscious effort to get to know him. She could see the surprise in Toby's eyes as well; the shock is all over his face. And call her crazy, but is that envy emanating from Wren's? When their meal is finished and the bills have been paid, the family bids farewell and begins to depart the restaurant. Spencer catches her father's arm and holds him back.

"Dad, thank you for what you did today," She expresses sincerely. "With Toby. These kinds of situations make him kind of uncomfortable, but you were really great."

Peter shrugs as though it's not a huge deal. "He's really great, Spencer."

"I know that," She replies. "I've always known that, remember? It was you that took forever to realize it."

"No man is ever good enough for your little girl, Spencer. You're going to realize that soon, with Grace," Peter tells her, smiling. "But Toby comes damn close."