Set some time after 7x20.

Happy Father's Day.

Enjoy below...


Where I Belong

"All I have is a story and a dream

Here I am, and that's all I can be"


Caleb Rivers couldn't help but smile as he walked down an all-too familiar New York street on a warm summer evening. Despite being beckoned out for drinks with his colleagues, he'd turned them down with the knowledge that he had a very important visitor waiting for him in one of the downtown bars he frequently haunted. Tonight certainly wasn't about getting plastered with people from work.

He glanced ahead, his smile growing as he caught sight of his drinks companion loitering outside with a cigarette in their mouth. "Dad!" He called, walking a little quicker towards him.

"Caleb," Jamie grinned, stubbing out his half-smoked cigarette before he embraced his son in a tight hug.

"I can't believe you're in New York," Caleb smiled back, equally as happy to be spending his Thursday evening with him. It really had been too long.

"Well," Jamie started as they headed inside, "I had a job upstate and the last time I saw you guys was 5 months ago so I didn't need another excuse to come in for a pit stop."

"Is it a big job?" Caleb asked, guiding him towards the bar where he proceeded to order 2 beers.

"One of those rich guys wants to extend his garage for his fourth car," Jamie rolled his eyes, "It'll take me a couple of weeks to do what he wants."

"Nice paycheck though," Caleb acknowledged, clinking his bottle with Jamie's before he took a sip.

"It certainly doesn't hurt," He agreed.

"There's a really nice garden out back," Caleb indicated with his head, "Han and I used to come here a lot last summer once the weather started to pick up."

"I can see why," Jamie smiled as they made their way out into the sunshine, heading for a spare table near the back. "Is the fair maiden not joining us tonight?"

"No," Caleb shook his head, taking another sip of his beer, "She's got a work gig tonight that she can't get out of," He said.

"Last time I saw you guys she was talking about a new job."

"Yeah," Caleb grinned, "I'm so proud of her," He started, "She's got a job as an assistant designer for one of the labels," He said, "And yeah," He couldn't help but smile, "She's just working hard at what she loves."

"She's always been a girl who gets what she wants."

Caleb smiled, taking a sip of beer. He couldn't disagree with Jamie on that one.

"So you guys are still thinking of staying put in New York then?" Jamie asked.

Caleb nodded slowly, "Our lives are here right now," He acknowledged, "And since we moved into our new apartment, I've spent every weekend looking at paint and fabric swatches as we make our way through each room. I'm not letting that go to waste."

"You guys have been there over a year now though, right?"

He nodded again, "But I guess with our lives running at a million miles an hour it takes so long to get this stuff sorted. Plus Han's a perfectionist with anything visual so that just doubles how long it takes to decide on things."

"Time just moves even quicker the older you get son."

Caleb sighed, "It kind of feels like yesterday that we got married."

Jamie laughed, "That's what happens when you're in love."

"Speak of the devil," Caleb murmured as he heard his phone ding. His smile grew as he read the message from Hanna.

Say hi to Jamie from me, wish I was with you. We've run out of mayonnaise and ketchup, please can you pick some up on your way back? I'll love you forever

"Everything okay?"

"Yeah," He smiled, "She says hi and that she wishes she was here."

"I wish she was here too," Jamie grinned. "Conversation's always better with a lady around."

I'll grab everything on my way home. I won't be back too late, try and stay awake if you can, I feel like I haven't seen you today

Caleb hit send and then shoved his phone in his pocket, reaching for his wallet instead. "No," Jamie stopped him, "I'll get the next round."

Before Caleb had a chance to say anything, Jamie was up and out of his seat, heading for the bar inside leaving him sat there on his own. He reached for his phone again, deciding that if he was alone, he may as well make the most of it.

"Hey," Hanna answered almost straight away, "Is everything okay?"

"Hey babe," He said, looking out over the garden where everyone was enjoying the sunshine, "Yeah, it's fine."

"I was worried when I saw your number."

"Dad's just gone inside to get another beer and I wanted to hear your voice."

"Have you told him yet?"

"No," He couldn't help but smile, "I got my wallet out but then he thought I was going to buy more drinks so he went inside. Oh he's coming back."

"Good luck."

"I love you," He murmured, waiting for her to say it right back before he hung up. "Sorry," He said to Jamie as he sat down.

"Don't worry," He shook his head, "I remember what it's like having a girl you want to talk to all the time."

Caleb didn't say anything, deciding now was the perfect moment to drop the b-bomb as he and Hanna called it, "So I uh," He cleared his throat, "I kind of have something to tell you."

"Is everything okay?" Jamie sat up a little bit straighter, his grip around the neck of his beer tightening as he took in Caleb's nervous posture.

"Yeah, everything's great," He smiled, "Perfect actually," He reached for his wallet again, pulling out a slightly crinkled black and white photograph with well-worn edges. It was something that had been looked at every day for the past two weeks.

"What is it son?"

"I'm… gonna be a Dad," Caleb breathed, giving the ultrasound scan in his hand one last longing look before he handed it over to Jamie.

"What?" Jamie's voice held wonder and disbelief mired with joy and happiness. "Congratulations," He said, standing and leaning over the table to give Caleb a tight hug before his eyes were straight back on the black and white outline of a baby. "I… I can't believe it," He started, "I always knew one day you two would make great parents but this is…"

"I know," Caleb shook his head with a grin plastered across his face. "Sometimes I still forget that it's real, you know?"

"How's Hanna? How's she feeling?"

"She's great," He said, "She had a bit of morning sickness in the first trimester but since we've come out of it all she's having to deal with is cravings for Thousand Island sauce."

"How far along…" Jamie trailed off.

"We had our 20 week scan a couple of weeks ago," Caleb said, nodding at the ultrasound, "We would have told you sooner," He faltered for a moment, wondering if they'd done things wrong, "But I wanted to do it in person."

"It's fine," Jamie shook his head, his thumb still brushing over the image, "Does your Mom know?"

"She came out to New York a few weeks ago and we told her then," He explained, "She was super excited," He laughed, "Almost as excited as Ashley."

"I bet those woman are going ga ga."

"Pretty much," Caleb chuckled, "I guess it's their first grandchild."

"Yeah," Jamie went quiet before he handed the picture back. "I'm seriously proud of you son. Hell, I know I wasn't a father when you were growing up and because of that you haven't had that person to look up to, but I know you're gonna make the best Dad," He said, "And Hanna's gonna make a great Mom."

"Yeah," Caleb choked out, thumbing the bottom of the ultrasound, "She already is. She's perfect."

"So do you know what you're having?" The older man tried to change the subject slightly before they went deeper than either felt comfortable to.

"Nope," He placed the picture carefully back in his wallet before taking another sip of his beer. "We want to keep it a surprise," He murmured, thinking of the day he'd practically begged Hanna to promise not to find out the gender. They'd been through so much, had so many bad things sprung on them that he wanted them to have one surprise that could only end with both of them beyond happy.

"I bet your Mom hated that."

"She was kind of okay with it," He smiled as he shrugged his shoulders, "I guess she's just happy she's getting a grandkid. Ashley on the other hand," He sent Jamie a knowing look, "She keeps badgering us to find out when we tell her we have a scan coming up."

"Well you just hold your ground," He replied, "The only woman you give in to is your wife."

"Doesn't she know it." He rolled his eyes, "All she has to do is look at me and I'm down at the local supermarket at 4am trying to find raspberry flavored ice cream."

"Be grateful it's not raspberry ice cream topped with gherkin."

Caleb scrunched his face up, "They haven't been that weird… yet."

"You just wait," Jamie teased him, "But seriously, doc says everything is good with Hanna and the baby?"

"They're both doing great," He couldn't help but grin. "They're doing all the hard work and I'm here just doing what I can."

"You're here," Jamie reassured him, "That's all they need from you right now," He said, "I really am proud of you son."

"Thanks Dad."


Almost two hours later, Caleb found himself trying to open their apartment door as he cradled two extra large bottles of ketchup and mayonnaise in one arm. Maybe this was where the cravings started to go a little weird, he thought to himself as he made his way in. Still though, he really couldn't complain.

He dumped the condiments on the side in the kitchen, his eyes surveying the area for any signs of life. But they came up empty and his heart immediately sank as he moved through the apartment, increasingly expecting to find Hanna passed out in their bed. He'd hardly gotten the chance to see her that morning as she'd had to go into work early and after being out with his Dad, he was craving some contact with his wife but he knew how tired she'd been that week and he wouldn't have been surprised if she'd crashed as soon as she'd gotten home.

"Han?" He called quietly, kicking his shoes off before padding down the hallway towards their bedroom.

"Here," He heard a faint, bleary voice call back.

"Hey," He murmured quietly as he walked into their room, the smile on his face growing as he took in the sight of Hanna propped up against the pillows, her glasses on her face as she tried to stay awake whilst she read their most recent baby book purchase.

"Hi Daddy," She smiled tiredly, dropping the book as he sat down on the side of the bed and leant over to press a gentle kiss against her lips. "We missed you today," She said, fighting a yawn before he stole her mouth again tenderly.

"I know I missed you more," He replied, one hand dropping to her t-shirt small bump. "Hey baby," He whispered, pushing her top up so that his lips could caress the taut skin.

Hanna's fingers weaved through his hair, stroking back and forth as he spent time greeting their unborn child. She'd fallen even more in love with him ever since they'd found out they were going to be parents; and she couldn't wait to tumble again when he held their baby for the first time.

"Did you get the ketchup and mayo?" She asked, her fingers running down his jaw until he stole her hand in his and pressed his lips against it.

"It's in the kitchen," He murmured, sitting back up properly so that he could kiss her again.

"Thank you," She whispered, their lips connecting once more. Caleb breathed in her scent, his hand running back and forth across her stomach as soothingly as possible. This was everything he'd always wanted.

"If I'm not doing anything right, you need to tell me okay?" He told her quietly, the conversation he'd had with his Dad running through his mind.

She frowned, her eyes suddenly finding the energy to stay open, "What are you talking about?"

"I've... I've never had anyone," He said quietly, "A father figure," He clarified, blinking his eyes shut as he shook his head, "This," His palm splayed over her small belly, "You," His nose nudged hers, "Are my dream and I don't want to do anything to mess it up."

"And you think I know what a good Dad, a good husband looks like?" She asked him, her thumb stroking his cheek, "All I know is you," She whispered, "And you're pretty perfect to me. To us."

He let out a small breath and wry smile that told her he knew he was being stupid. "I guess seeing Jamie... Dad..."

She shuffled down in their bed, rolling onto her side and holding her arm out for him. He followed her lead, trying to remember every last detail about the moment as she buried her head against his neck and rested her hand over his as it continued it's tender movements across her stomach. "We've been waiting for you to fall asleep," She told him quietly, "Nothing holds us like you do."

"Go to sleep," He murmured, his lips pressed against her forehead as his free hand weaved it's way into her hair, keeping her cradled against him.

Hanna smiled with her eyes shut, "You're gonna make the best Daddy, Caleb Rivers," She mumbled tiredly.

"Yeah?"

"The best," She echoed.

"Dad said we'd make great parents," He said more to himself than to her, his fingers still swirling across her skin and through her hair.

"That's nice," She whispered tiredly, already half asleep.

Caleb held back a laugh, craning his neck to find her eyes drooped shut. He pressed a final kiss against her forehead and moved to untangle them so that he could go and get ready for bed properly.

"No," She stirred and stopped him, moving a little closer to her, "You're right where you belong."

He could never argue with her. "I love you," He said tenderly.

"Mm," She swallowed, "We love you too," She whispered, her voice trailing off as sleep overtook her.

He pressed his lips against her hairline, before sitting back and taking her in. She was glowing, literally glowing with her tiny bump poking out from underneath his t-shirt. He could have stared at her all night. He could have stared at her every second, every minute, every hour, every lifetime.

This was his story. This was his dream.

He was right where he belonged.


Enjoyed? Review? xoxo