Seeing him again has made her remember all the things they have been through and now she walked in on her best friend about to kiss the only person she every truly loved.
This one shot is set in between 6x12 and 6x13. After seeing Caleb, Hanna is brought back to reality and finally has to face some demons she left years ago.
I'm unsure of the time each event took place over the last 5 years i.e. Hanna and Caleb's breakup so I decided to make matters easier and completely guess. I am also not a doctor so I'm sorry if some of the medical information is incorrect or unrealistic however it is supposed to be fiction. Enjoy!
As she sat at the glass table of the small hotel room, she scribbled down everything she hadn't been able to bring herself to say for the last 2 years. She wrote everything that had been bottled up since she walked out on him. She thought that maybe it would make her feel better but now all she is thinking about is what she could have had, the life she could have been living and the presence of the most wonderful man she has ever met.
After returning to the hotel from Ali's dinner she had sat in the bathroom crying and drinking the pain away while her fiancé was out getting pizza. Despite already going to dinner, Hanna had insisted Jordan go and fetch some pizza. She couldn't eat at the dinner because she did not feel like sharing a meal with her past and present boyfriends. It was also an excuse to have some alone time and reflect on her crazy life.
That's how she came to the doorstep of the barn which her best friend had kindly lent to Caleb. She made her way through to the backyard of the Dilaurentis house which was connected to the Hastings and opened the slightly rusted, unhinged, wooden door that led to the back of the Hastings barn. Hanna was going to avoid Spencer at all costs because she didn't really know what was going on but she sensed Spencer's slight unease and guilt whenever she was in her presence. After being as quite as she could and not disturbing anyone who was in the main Hastings house Hanna felt proud of her efforts.
In the moment Hanna noticed the barn door was opened and decided to make herself known by strutting straight in. It was then that she realised she should have knocked. The blonde stared wide eyed at Spencer Hastings about to kiss Caleb Rivers. That was a sight she wished she could un-see. Her heart plummeted to the ground and suddenly everything made sense. The reason Caleb wouldn't stop mentioning Spencer and the reason Spencer was so on edge all the time. Hanna wanted to crawl into a hole and die.
Hanna squeezed her eyes shut and brought her palm to her forehead in an effort to forget the recent encounter but that logic failed. When she reopened her eyes Caleb was stood on the other side of the room whereas Spencer had awkwardly made her way into the spare bedroom.
That was the moment of truth for Hanna. She needed answers so she followed Spencer. "Hey Han," Spencer let out sheepishly.
Hanna glared at her in amazement while waiting for an elaboration. "That's all you have to say?" Hanna quietly yelled not wanting to make a bigger scene than the one only a few minutes prior. "What would have happened if I had of came in here 5 minutes later?" Hanna asked inquisitively with her arms folded against her chest.
Spencer put her head down, wanting to be anywhere else in that moment. "I don't know Hanna but you can't be mad," Spencer said as her tone began to fill with sass.
"Can't be mad?" Hanna huffed. "I just walked in on you about to kiss my ex-boyfriend."
"Hanna, listen-" Spencer tried before she was rudely cut off.
"No. You know how much he means to me!" Hanna said, her voice now drowned with sadness as Spencer crossed her arms getting defensive.
Meanwhile Caleb had gone to get himself a glass of water. With all the chaos lately and meeting Hanna's fiancé, all he wanted to do was take his mind off the thing that was killing him inside. So what if he had to kiss her best friend? At least he was kissing someone. But after he saw the pain wrapped around Hanna's face he regretted it instantly. How could he be so stupid? That was her best friend and Hanna was the love of his life. Caleb then heard the conversation between the women escalate and decided he would begin to make his way to the bedroom.
"How much he means to you?" Spencer yelled. "Hanna you are engaged and the way I remember, it's not to Caleb!"
"That doesn't mean anything," Hanna tried to reason although she knew she was engaged to someone else and Caleb was a free man. The way she saw it, he was still her property. Yes it was wrong but those feelings they felt for each other don't just go away.
"Hanna you can't just move on and expect Caleb to stay single forever," Spencer logically pointed out. Hanna was at a loss of words as she held back the tears that begged to spill onto her make-up free face. Spencer continued, "and anyway he was just a high school boyfriend. Nothing more than practice. It's over Hanna, wake up to yourself and your new life."
Those words cut Hanna deeper than she could have guessed. Spencer knew she shouldn't have said that and instantly wanted to retrieve her statement but knew there was nothing she could do. She was falling for Caleb, hard.
Nothing more than practice? Those words hit Hanna so hard. Caleb was so much more than practice. He was her first, her rock and the only guy she had felt so strongly towards.
In an instant Hanna's tears rushed down her face. One after the other, unable to be controlled. In the moment Hanna wasn't thinking straight. She pulled up her right arm away from her body and whacked Spencer straight across the face with much force.
Hanna's hand stung as did Spencer's face but the girls continued to death stare each other, as if they were frozen and time had stopped. Spencer knew it wasn't her place to continue speaking. She was wrong to try and kiss Caleb but that slap was uncalled for.
Caleb, who had heard everything, rushed into the bedroom and was shocked to see the non-dialogue scene in front of him. "Is… Everything alright?" He questioned, unsure of whether his presence was appreciated.
He noticed the red mark on Spencer's face and connected the dots. "Hanna, did you?" Caleb began but couldn't get his words out. The craziest part about this was that he wasn't even shocked. If Toby had of came onto Hanna in front of him, he would have given Toby more than just a slap.
Hanna's head whipped around to stare at Caleb. She reached into her jacket pocket and retrieved her scribbles from earlier that night. Hanna handed over the envelope that was addressed to Caleb as well as a small box. "I want you to have this. Call me please," Hanna whispered with such pain and betrayal in her voice. She then rushed out the door before she could make a bigger mess of the situation.
Spencer stood at the bedroom doorway completely stunned by the events of the night. She furrowed her eyebrows as Caleb went to place himself on the couch and open up what seemed like a letter which was clearly coated in Hanna's shed tears.
Not wanting to put herself in another awkward situation, Spencer decided to make herself useful in the kitchen. She went to grab some ice for her check as well as a coffee for herself and Caleb. She couldn't blame Hanna. Hanna had always been one to act on impulse and if it were Spencer in her position, she would be livid as well.
Back in the lounge area Caleb took out the pages of pink paper and stared down at her perfect cursive. He began to read the writing, imagining her voice reading it in the back of his mind.
Dear Caleb,
I know it has been so long.
So long since I last saw you.
So long since I walked out.
Not only that, it has been so long since we've talked about why.
I didn't expect to see you on my trip back to Rosewood but once I did, I was reminded of all the beautiful memories we shared. I couldn't have made it through high school without you. You were my rock. The reason I was still alive. You gave me so many reasons to love you so I did.
I had never been with anyone before in ways that I was with you. I mean you remember November 5thin that tiny tent.
I remember every word, every emotion and every second we spent together in high school. I remember the way you made me feel. I always felt like I was on cloud nine around you. When I cast my mind back to all the happiness we shared I can't keep my mind on the positives without thinking about the negatives.
You were there, we went through it together. Okay we didn't come out of it together but we both share the same memories.
I remember the day so vividly. It was a hot day in July and things between us were going perfectly. Better than perfectly. But you still knew something was up and as much as I wanted to deny you the pleasure of being right, I knew something was happening as well.
You came home from work to me crying on the bed in our cosy apartment and you looked down at me. I looked up and as our eyes met, you knew. I asked you to drive me there and you didn't question it because it was a touchy subject. I mean we were only 20 Caleb. How could that ever work out?
Things had been going well because I had been counting. We had sex at least once a day every day for the last 2 months… non-interrupted. We both knew that wasn't biologically possible.
So we finally came home and I sat on the white tiles of our small bathroom. And all I was thinking was, this apartment is too small to ever work.
You barged in anxiously and looked down at the floor. You looked down at me collapsed on the cold floor balling, waiting for you to pick me up and tell me it would be okay.
Caleb, you never picked me up. Why did you never pick me up?!
You vowed it would all be okay and we would get through it but you didn't touch me so how could I have been sure? I was crying but I wasn't upset. My tears were filled with all the emotions from the past month that I had bottled up. The rest of the afternoon seemed to be a blur as I waited for you to jump into bed with me and repeat soothing sentences into my ear to clear my worries. However all my ears heard were the deep breaths you were taking on the other side of the paper thin walls. You paced back and forth for hours…
But I do remember the dinner you treated me to that night. And you finally touched me. And it felt like I had been healed. My heart grew 3 sizes in that moment, one for you, one for me and one for our new baby. You assured me it was all okay but I was certain things couldn't work out. Caleb how did you ever believe things would be okay? I was attending school which you were paying for and we lived in a tiny apartment in a city where we knew no one. HOW COULD THINGS EVER BE OKAY?
As the days went on we searched high and low for a new place to live. You even sold your car. And that Caleb, that was when I knew you would give up anything to make me and baby Rivers happy.
Things weren't amazing. I mean all our dates were trips to central park rather than wasting money on expensive dining or other activities that would cost a cent. We were saving every cent for the new arrival. But things were finally looking up and I had never felt more at home. I was getting bigger and our love was getting stronger.
That appointment when we discovered the addition to our family was a little girl was the best day of my life. I don't know about you but I already had 5 names picked out. She was our miracle and although I hadn't told the girls or anyone yet, I knew in that moment that everyone would be supportive.
But you know the rest.
That day I remember more vividly than the day I found out I was actually pregnant. You came home that day and the first thing you noticed was my tear-stained face, the second was the trail of blood leading into the bathroom. Your expression said it all. You hoisted me into the car and sped to the emergency department but little did we know it was too late.
I will never forget those words that trickled off the doctors lips with such regret, "Miss Main, unfortunately we cannot find a heartbeat." I didn't keep listening after then. My world had come crashing down. After 4 hours and a Dilation and Curettage, our daughter was basically non-existent.
November 5thwill never be the same again.
You knew how I was feeling but you never asked. You didn't ask if I was okay but that's really what I needed. I knew you were hurting too but I couldn't bring myself to talk about it. March rolled around and I could do nothing but leave. I kept blaming myself for the loss of our baby girl and as much as you assured me I was wrong, I couldn't help but feel guilty.
I still do feel guilty.
If I had of told you to stay home that morning because I was feeling sick we could have saved her. If I had of eaten better or changed my work habits slightly, maybe she would be in New York, running around our apartment like all 3 year olds do Babbling sweet words of innocence as we watch her with such delight. I know they didn't find a liable reason for her passing but I still believe that I could have done something more to save her.
I don't want to feel this way anymore Caleb. For 3 years now I have been consumed by the idea that I am a murderer.
I want to set up a head stone in the Rosewood cemetery. She deserves that. Somewhere we can go to remember her and all the joy she brought to our lives, even if that joy was limited. That somewhere shouldn't be in New York, it should be where we met. Where her mommy and daddy fell in love with each other.
I also want to name her. I know we agreed not to because it hurt too much but she deserves that. Please call me.
Xo, Hanna
Caleb folded the paper up as Spencer walked in with two mugs. She could tell he was crying. He had been bawling and he had the tear stains to prove it. Caleb reached down and picked up the box Hanna had given him. He undid the sticky tape and revealed a pair of pink baby slippers, no bigger than his palm. A piece of paper with a black and white blur also fell out of the box. He knew it was an ultrasound instantly. Something Hanna kept in her handbag and walked out with many years ago.
Spencer soon caught on and although she was confused, Hanna had never mentioned a pregnancy to her, she still had an idea of what was going on. Spencer reached out to Caleb in an effort to comfort him but he abruptly stood up and widened his eyes.
"Get off me," He called. He knew it was rude but all he could think about was how much Hanna now hated him for nearly kissing her best friend. She did not deserve that.
So that is my first story guys, I hope you enjoyed it. I watched the promo for 6x13 and I'm really dreading it. This story was really about giving myself a reason for their break-up. Something that actually makes sense!
Please read and review. Your comments will be much appreciated. This was originally a one shot but now I have some more ideas so comment if you would be interested in reading a part 2! Thank you :)
