I was meant to publish another chapter after this but I think I will leave it for Off-Screen and officially end TKOM with this chapter (which will be followed by an epilogue). Enjoy!
Spencer met Madeline at the age of five in kindergarten. Even at five, Madeline was nothing short of iconic. As soon as she stepped in, all the children ogled at her light-up shoes and cool toys. Spencer and Oliver were sitting beside each other, perhaps the only ones not charmed by Madeline. They couldn't spare her a glance because they were too busy playing with their Tamagotchis. Suddenly, a young girl with ridiculously huge eyes planted herself in the seat in front of them and announced they were her new friends. They both shrugged and continued playing while Madeline watched them observingly.
Spencer couldn't pinpoint exactly when he fell in love with her. But he did remember when he realised he had feelings for her. They were fifteen. Madeline had invited him, Nora and Oliver to a sleepover because she was home alone (aside from the chef and her french au pair). Oliver and Nora couldn't come so it was just the two of them for the whole night. They talked about everything, from their favourite flavour of Ramen to what would happen after death. And it was so peaceful. They fell asleep on the couch, Madeline's head on Spencer's lap and in the morning, when Spencer woke up before her, he couldn't stop staring at her peaceful sleeping face. She represented peace to him. Spencer realised then that he never wanted to live in a future that didn't involve Madeline Lockhart. She meant everything to him.
"We're here, sir," The Uber driver announced.
Spencer looked outside the window to find Dr Ann's clinic right in front of him. The red-bricked building stared dauntingly at him. He reached out to the door handle but froze. It was a stupid idea. Madeline didn't want him ambushing her at her doctor. He should have never come. He wasn't ready to be a father. And Madeline didn't love him-
"Sir? I said we have arrived."
Stop being a coward, Spencer. You got this
"Oh... yeah, yeah. Sorry."
Spencer took a deep breath before opening the door and leaving. He shoved down all his fears as he staggered towards the clinic, nervous and jittery. However, when he reached the door and tried to push it he found it was locked. He tried again to no avail. His eyes landed on the opening hours of the clinic which revealed they weren't open on Sundays.
Of course Spencer had failed to take into account his horrific luck.
"Shit!" He cursed. Why was nothing going his way? He didn't know where Madeline was. Priya probably heard her wrong. For all he knew, she could have been back in Blake's arms. Why wouldn't she choose him over Spencer? Blake was perfect. Her history with him wasn't as muddled and complicated as her history with Spencer. She could live such a peaceful life with Blake.
But Spencer needed to see her. He had to at least try and win her back.
He dialled Nora's number in a desperate last effort to locate her.
"Hello?" Nora chirped.
"I went to her parents house. I came to the clinic. And still I can't find her! Nora, where is she!?"
"Slow down, Spence. I didn't understand anything you just said."
Spencer huffed and sat down on the step in front of the clinic's door. He could feel tears of frustration prickle his eyes. He dropped the stupid bouquet and rubbed his temples with his shaky fingers. It felt like the universe was ruthlessly intent on keeping them apart.
"I don't know where she is and traffic was so bad and I can't find Madeline. I need to tell her so much and... damn it Nora I miss her! I have to see her. I love her so damn much! I love that girl with all my heart and... and... I can't find her."
"Oh, Spence, I'm sorry. She will reappear though. It's not like she went missing."
Of course he knew she wasn't missing. But he couldn't wait any longer. He couldn't spend another day, hour or minute doing nothing when he knew Madeline was out there pregnant with his child and burdening herself by keeping the secret from him.
"I know but... I just...I-"
"Spence?"
Spencer twisted around swiftly and was met with the glowing Madeline Lockhart. She had confusion and shock painted on her face. Spencer was in awe at how angelic she looked in the yellow dress she was wearing. She was breathtaking.
"Maddie..."
Although he had mentally prepared an entire speech on how he loved her and would be there for her, he found his mind went blank. He couldn't think of anything to say.
"OH EM GEE! Is Maddie there?! Keep me on the line, I want to hear this!" Nora exclaimed, totally ruining the mood.
Spencer fumbled to hang up before quickly stuffing his phone into his pocket and looking up at Madeline who looked just as confused as he did, albeit for different reasons.
"But... I thought the clinic was closed..."
"It is but I know the doctor... Spence... what are you doing here?"
He couldn't even reply to her simple question. Instead he strode up to her and wrapped his arms around her, much to her surprise.
"Spence-"
"I know about the baby, Maddie. And I will be here with you every step of the way."
Madeline gasped softly and pulled away to look into his eyes. "You know?"
"I know. And I'm sorry. I am so sorry I have been so self-obsessed lately and I am so sorry I ignored your text. You mean so much to me, Maddie."
"No, I'm the one that's sorry. I know this will probably cause problems between you and Amelie-"
"We broke up."
"Oh. I'm sorry to hear that."
Spencer shook his head. "I'm not. I was stringing her along even though I knew... I knew I was in love with someone else."
Madeline couldn't stop herself from smiling and looked down at her sandals. "Oh really?"
Spencer took a deep breath, ready to tell her for the last time how he felt about her. He wouldn't put her through another one of his confessions again. If she rejected him this time, he would get over it and accept that they were destined for a platonic relationship. Either way, he would be there for his child.
Spencer took a while to get the words out because every time he looked into her hopeful eyes, he would lose his trail of thought.
"Madeline Lockhart, I have been in love with you for the past eight years. And I don't care if you love me back but I want you to know that I will always love you."
Madeline opened her mouth to speak but nothing came out. She tried to subtly turn her head away to hide oncoming tears. However, the small stream quickly became a river and Spencer reached out to wipe her tears.
"Shit, Maddie, I didn't mean to upset you. I'm sorry," He apologised nervously. He always said the wrong thing. What was wrong with him? He messed up yet again.
She shook her head quickly. "No, it's not that. It's just... I tend to ruin people's lives, Spence. You deserve better than me."
Spencer's heart fell. "Better than you? There is no one better than you. You are my family now and I wouldn't have it any other way."
"But... this baby will change everything."
Spencer's fingers slipped under her chin as tilted it upwards so that her glassy eyes were looking into his. "Nothing can change how I feel about you."
Madeline sniffled and smiled, wiping the tears from her face. "Spencer Kingsley, I love you so much."
Three words. He had been waiting five years to hear those melodious words. He spent entire nights dreaming about this moment. Of course, he thought it would take place under very different circumstances. He imagined there would be a string quartet and a cheering crowd applauding their reunion or a garden of flowers and rainbows in the sky or fireworks and fondue. He never would have imagined that he would be standing in front of a gynaecologist's clinic with a pregnant Madeline Lockhart. But it still felt perfect. Surreal, almost.
He didn't know what the next few months would bring. He couldn't even imagine what his life would be like the next year. But he seemed certain that he could get through anything with Maddie by his side. She made him invincible.
Spencer slowly leaned closer to her and closed the gap between them with a salty kiss, wet from both of their tears. Madeline smiled and her arms wrapped around his neck. He lifted her off her feet and spun her around in glee. Everything seemed to fit. He felt at home in her arms. Her melodious laugh was music to his ears and he could feel himself falling even more in love with her with every passing second if that were even possible. It was perfect. Everything felt perfect.
"You're my dream guy, Spence."
"And you're my dream girl, Maddie."
THE END
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Stay tuned for the epilogue!