❝ maybe we have to. ❞

         HALF A YEAR ago, Olivia Natalia Griffins accepted Emily Prentiss' job offer to work in the London office of Interpol with her. since then many things have changed; her and Spencer Reid became a long distance couple, she had finally adopted Oliver and Rosie Edwards as her own, and her and Emily Prentiss grew closer than ever before. Previously, Olivia and Spencer had made a promise that despite Liv's departure from the BAU, they'd figure out a way to work and that they'd be okay.

And for the most part, they've fulfilled that guarantee. Spencer would visit her in London during his vacation days and spend his time with Liv and the twins. They went on dates and he'd stay over. Unfortunately, not everything can be ideally and perfect. Not even what seemed like their perfect romantic relationship.

         Soon, Olivia became busier and busier, resulting in less time between her and Spencer. Whenever she wasn't occupied with her work, he was. As if their schedules couldn't be any less compatible, they barely had time to do things as little as communicating. Because of this, arguments began to emerge. They just weren't on the same page anymore.

One week, spencer traveled to London to visit Olivia. Despite the fights they've been having, he still wanted to see her and he thought this could be exactly what they needed to get back to how they were. And it worked, temporarily. When the twins stayed over at a friend's house, Olivia and Spencer spent their time together. Alas, another argument about god knows what broke out.

         "But you just came home from work an hour ago, and now you have to go back? Are you serious?" Spencer questioned, his voice a little more raised than usual.

         "Yeah, sorry I can't control when serial killers kill. But don't worry, i'll tell them to be more considerate next time." Olivia retorted.

         "That is not my point, Liv. You can't keep avoiding this conversation forever. You know things have been off between us, that's why i'm here." He told her.

"Well, you could've told me you were coming in the first place and then I would've asked for a few days off. But I can't really do that right now." Olivia responded, walking out of her bedroom to the living room with Spencer trailing behind her. Spencer scoffed, "Do you even acknowledge the fact that this is our 7th fight in the past 3 months?"

          Olivia turned around to look at him, "No, stop. This- this isn't a fight."

         "Really? Because I'm pretty sure what we're doing right now is the definition of fighting!" He argued.

          "Stop it!" Olivia said. "Stop saying we're in a fight because if you say it, then it's actually happening and I don't want us to fight, but lately it feels like we can't stop!"

"Yeah, because we aren't communicating with each other anymore." He said, softer than his other statements. "Maybe if we talked, we could be happy again like before."

         She tilted her head and blinked at him, "Are you not happy in this relationship?" She asked. When she did, he shut his eyes not realizing what he had just said before opening them back up, being met with a stunned look on Olivia's face.

         "No, I didn't mean— I am, I am. I just meant—" His explanation was interrupted by Olivia. "Spence, stop. You aren't happy." She turned her head a little, trying not to make eye contact.

"And you are?" He asked. Her mouth opened as she was about to say something, but no words came out. A moment of silence surrounded the two until Spencer spoke up again. "40 percent. 40 percent of long distance couples break up. I don't want us to be part of that statistic."

Tears threatened to trickle down her face, thinking about her options. No matter what Spencer told her, she knew he wasn't actually happy. She can't say she has been lately either. Who would be when they're fighting with their significant other? Olivia only wants the best for Spencer, and where they are with each other right now does not seem like the best. She cares for him so much, which is why even though she doesn't want to, she has to let him go. Not only will it be good for him, it will be good for her. It will be good for the both of them.

         "Maybe we have to." She croaked.

         His face fell as he shook his head. Spencer thought they could work it out, they always do. What would be the difference here? He loves her and she loves him. He doesn't want to give up because of an obstacle in their relationship. When they met each other's eyes again, it was well noticeable they were pushing back the tears that so desperately wanted to be released. "No, we don't. All we need is a solution."

         "That is the solution, Spence. We need to break up." She took a step closer to him. "It's not like I want to do this. I just want what's best for us. And it may not seem like it right now, but in the future it'll be worth it." She took another step closer to him, his hands being able to absentmindedly rest on her waist. He didn't say anything back and instead turned his head away from her. She took her hand and gently pushed his head so they can make eye contact. She gave him a tight lipped grin as a tear actually fell from her eye, "Hey, I love you. We'll be okay."

         Olivia wrapped her arms around his neck as his arms was wrapped around her waist, their hug growing so tight, they don't ever want to let go. "I love you."

         When they did eventually depart, a few tears ran down their faces. Spencer planted one last kiss on her forehead as his hand rested on her cheek, his thumb wiping away the tear stains on her face. He was going to miss Olivia and everything about her, but the decision seemed final and he couldn't change that. If Olivia said they were going to be okay, then they most likely will be, right?

         She stepped away from his arms, Spencer already feeling deprived of her warmth, her presence, her touch. "I'm gonna be late." She muttered, picking up her bag that was left beside the front door. "Bye, Spencer." She forced a small, soft grin that he matched as he waved.

         The second the door shut and the sounds of her footsteps sounded more and more distant, he broke down. He sat on the couch of her living room, processing what had just happened. Did he cause this? If he had never brought up the conversation about their fights, would this had still happened? If he never came out to London, would they still have broken up?

           When Olivia arrived home from work, her first instinct was to go to her bedroom. It was part of her routine. She'd go home after work and immediately enter her room. But stepping foot in that room felt different that time. Her eyes found that Spencer's side of the bed they shared when he visited was made and tidy. The pair of Converse sneakers that he would leave in the shoe rack of the corner of her room were absent and so were the rest of his belongings. That's when she finally realized what she did. She finally realized they broke up and he was gone.

ANGIE'S NOTES ☺︎︎
anna dying in adore you just to see that
spencer and olivia broke up two years
later: 🤨😐

also i have never been broken up with nor
have i ever been in a relationship before
so this could be inaccurate idk 🏃‍♀️ but
spencer and olivia do not hate each other.
they ended their relationship on sad, but
good terms!!!
and i also just realized that adore you is literally just like a prologue story for this
fic if that makes sense😭
OKAY ANYWAYS BYE ILY ALL SO MUCH MWAH<3