Shot chapter today and even though I've got more written, it will be a little but longer for an update. I've been rethinking a few plot decisions and in order to see how everything's going to work out I need to write it all out first. Luckily it's not the whole story I gotta finish lol, just the next few bits.

Thanks for reading and thank you guys so much for your patience!

I just want to apologize for any words that don't go in a certain sentence. My brain doesn't work right and I sometimes switch words for completely different ones. Also some sentences that just don't make sense. When I write them, I say the words in my head but it comes out different and most of the time I don't notice. So apologies if you come across something like this.

Words: 1,746?

___________________________________________________________

Almost dying puts the important things in life into perspective. Or at least that's what Spencer Reid thought. He's been in many situations that almost resulted in his death before but this time things felt a little different.

Once the young doctor was released from the hospital, Ryder took him straight home. It took time but Spencer convinced her he was fine and the couple decided to use this time to finish the move.

Steve got home the day before and after Ryder gushed over missing her best friend, they go to work. Tommy and Steve both helped them, despite Ryder saying they really didn't have to. It ended up being a fun day that ended with the group of four eating pizza on the floor. Why the floor? It just happened.

It was later that night, after everyone had gone home and the young couple was getting ready for bed that Spencer spoke up. "What do you think about going to Nevada this weekend?" It had been on his mind for a while now, and he knew it was time.

"Nevada?" Ryder asked. She knew what he was getting at but wanted to be sure before she said anything. "Like...?"

"To meet my mom." Spencer nodded. "It's long overdue."

"I'm sorry, just everything with Roy, I've been distracted." Ryder apologized, feeling responsible.

"No, no, it's not your fault." Spencer assured her. "It's no ones. We've both been busy. What do you say?"

"Of course I want to go." Ryder smiled, her excitement soon being replaced with nerves. "She'll like me, right?"

"What? Of course she will." Spencer chuckled, rubbing the sides of Ryder's arms. "Please don't be nervous, she already loves you from what I've told her."

"Okay, okay." Ryder nodded, feeling a little better. "It just means a lot, that she approves."

"It means a lot to me too." Reid nodded. "But trust me, she loves you. You'll see."

_______________________

The entire flight out to Vegas was filled with nervers fidgiting from Ryder and reasurances from Spencer. She kept apologizing for it but he waved her off. He understood, this meant a lot to both of them. But he loved Ryder and so would Diana.

They checked into a hotel before grabbing a quick lunch. Ryder made Spencer promise to show her around his home town later, she was excited and curious to see where he came from. And she'd already seen some interesting sights, the photographer inside her was fighting to get its hands on a camera.

Arriving at the building, as Ryder took to calling it. Sanitarium just didn't feel right to her. The young woman thought her nerves were gone, though she had worked through them, but as they stepped inside the doors, they came back. Her stomach felt funny and she started wringing her hands until Spencer grabbed one, giving a comforting squeeze.

"Spencer." The woman behind a desk greeted with a smile when she saw the approaching doctor.

"Hey, Megan." Spencer nodded back. "How is she today?"

"She had been talking none stop since you told her you were coming." The blonde lady responded, her eyes turning to Ryder. "You must be the famous Ryder, she's so excited to meet you." Unable to stop it, a bigger smile pulled at Ryder's lips at Megan's words. "Alright, you can go on in, she's just in there."

"Thank you." Tugging on Ryder's hand, Spencer led her into the room where he easily spotted his mother. "Mom."

"Spencer." The woman said softly, smiling and standing when she saw her son. Letting go of Ryder's hand, Spencer stepped forward to return his mother's hug before returning.

"Mom, this is Ryder."

"Hey." Ryder's voice was soft and quiet, she worried for a moment that the woman wouldn't hear her.

"Aren't you beautiful." Diana said, the complement catching the young woman by surprise. "Come here."

With a quick glance to her boyfriend, Ryder moved to accept a hug from the woman. She already felt better about this whole thing, her nerves all but disappearing. "It's so good to meet you."

"I can't believe Spencer's kept you from me for so long." Diana said, sending her son a look, earning her an apologetic one in return. "Doesn't matter, you're here now. Sit."

"Sorry we didn't come sooner." Spencer apologized after they all took their seats. "Just work and stuff."

"It's fine, Spencer. I know you do important work." His mother stressed. She misses her son, of course she does but she understands why he can't be there all the time. "Now, I want to hear all about the girl who stole my son's heart."

That's what they talked about first. Ryder told the woman about herself, the things she didn't already know from what Spencer had told her. The good things of course. Then Ryder asked about Spencer as a child. Diana started talking without hesitation. At one point they moved to the older woman's room that held photo albums.

"Aww, Spence, you were so cute, look at you." Ryder cooed, looking at the pictures of young Spencer, much to the man's chagrin. But he didn't oppose. The two most important women in his life were getting along and he couldn't be happier about it.

"If you'll excuse me, I need to use the lady's room." Ryder said as she stood from her seat, walking off.

"What's on your mind?" Diana asked her son once Ryder was out of earshot.

"What?"

"You don't fool me Spencer, I'm your mother." The woman told him simply, staring her son down.

Giving a defeated sigh, Spencer nodded and looked off to where Ryder disappeared too. He could never get anything past his mother. Reaching into his pants pocket, Reid pulls out a little, blue velvet box, his grip strong, as if it would slip through his fingers and disappear.

It wasn't anything extravagant. Just a small, round diamond in the middle, three smaller ones on either side. Attached to a rose gold band. But it was perfect.

"Gorgeous." Diana nodded, eyes scanning the engagement ring. "So, when?"

"I don't know." Spencer sighed. "I've been running every possible idea through my head but nothing seems right."

"Nothing will." Diana told him. "You'll know when the time is right."

"Thanks." Spencer mumbled, quickly sliding the box back into his pocket as Ryder reappeared.

"What are you guys talking about?" The young woman asked, retaking her seat.

"Just stuff." Diana said, shooting her son a knowing smile.

It wasn't long later that the young couple said there goodbyes and left. They were staying the night, heading out later the next day. Spencer had time off so they were taking it as a small vacation. They'd come back to see Diana before they left of course.

"She is a lovely woman." Ryder told her boyfriend as they walked through the halls. "I never should have been worried."

"Told you." Spencer mumbled, gripping tightly to Ryder's hands. The day had gone even better than he could've expected. His girlfriend met his mother. They got along. He told his mom about his plan to propose. His life seemed perfect.

"Spencer?" Spoke too soon, Spencer thought to himself as he froze midstep, Ryder doing the same with a curious look. "I didn't know you were in town."

"Yeah." Spencer shrugged, looking over at his father. His mother had mentioned he'd come to see her a few times since they all saw each other again. He hadn't expected to run into him though. "Just uh...came to see mom."

"Right." William mumbled and Ryder thought you could cut the tension with a dull knife with no difficulty.

"Hi, I'm Ryder." The woman introduced herself, trying to break to the awkwardness of this whole situation.

"Ryder, this is...my dad. William." Spencer snapped from his thoughts, hesitating as he introduced the man.

"It's nice to meet you." She said, if only to be polite. Spencer had told her all about his father.

"Pleasure to meet you, too."

"Well, we have to go." Spencer spoke up, barely giving William the chance to say bye before he was dragging Ryder out of the building.

"Well, that was...something." She mumbled.

"I'm sorry." Spencer sighed. "He just-"

"No, I get it. You know I do." Ryder nodded softly. Anger towards ones father was something she knew well.

"Of course. Can we just forget about this and have a nice dinner?"

"That sounds amazing." Ryder smiled, quickly kissing her boyfriend before the two climbed into their car.

__________________________

"I want to say something and I don't want you to get upset." Ryder spit the words out before she lost her nerve, sitting sideways on the couch to look at her boyfriend.

"Okay." He said slowly, turning to face her. "I won't, what's up?"

"I think you should call your father." If possible, she said the words quicker than her last ones, speaking again before Spencer could. "I know, I know, it's not my place. I support whatever you think is best but...the way you were with him. I hate seeing you like that. I think maybe you should talk to him."

"You know, after seeing him for the first time in seventeen years I was beyond angry." Spencer started. "And I still am, mad at him, but I thought after we solved that case things might be different. Maybe we would stay in touch, or something, I don't know. But that didn't happen. I didn't try to make it." He didn't look at Ryder as he spoke, his head was down, eyes watching his hands fidgeting with Ryder's smaller fingers.

"Do you want to try?" She asked him softly, bending her head down to catch his eye. "It's okay if you don't and it's okay if you do. Like you told me before, with my father. That was my choice to make. This one is yours."

"I think...I think I want to try." Smiling, Ryder nodded, turning her hands over to take hold of his.

"I'm proud of you."