"I came in like a wrecking ball, I never hit so hard in love, all I wanted was to break your walls, all you ever did was wreck me. Yeah, you wreck me."
[Wrecking Ball - Miley Cyrus]
The next morning, Hanna woke up feeling good. She didn't have nausea, she didn't feel ugly, and she had by her side a Caleb peacefully asleep. They were both lying on Hanna's bed; Caleb was lying on his side, with his head resting on her shoulder and one of his hands gently pressed on her belly, as she was with her back on the mattress and her hands interwined to Caleb's free one. He was breathing in the crook of her neck, causing her a nice tickling. Hanna smiled and kissed his forehead, sighing. The previous night, as soon as they had slipped in the bed, they had both fallen fast asleep in a few minutes the one in the other's arms.
That day they would have talked to Ashley. It wouldn't have been easy, but, like Caleb said, whatever would have happened, they would have faced it together. And this was really reassuring. Caleb, in the afternoon, would have come back to the NYU though because he had to give some lessons with Norton, but luckily he had most of the day to be with Hanna and Ashley, of course.
Hanna got up, paying attention not to wake Caleb up. The clock showed a few minutes after nine 'o clock. She was wearing one of Caleb's sweaters, which kept herself enough warm not to make her feel the need to wear something else more. She walked then to the kitchen and started cooking eggs and bacon, even though the smell was kinda disturbing her. But she had the intention to make breakfast for Caleb, so she was determined to bear that little bothering particular.
Suddenly, her mobile buzzed. It was a text from her mother, who alerted her that she would have come back home around two 'o clock in the afternoon. Hanna replied quietly, as she sighed, a little nervous. But then, just at the thought that Caleb was there, a few steps far from her, and that he was really not gonna leaving her alone, she could look at everything optimistically, unusually for her nature. So she come back near the stove, humming some old Spice Girls' chorus, until she felt two safe arms wrap her waist from behind.
"Smells good..." Caleb murmured then, placing his chin on Hanna's shoulder.
"Good morning, sleepyhead..." she whispered in reply, slightly turning her neck to press a kiss on his lips.
"Good morning... How are my babes today?" Caleb said.
"Fine." Hanna smiled.
Caleb kissed her temple and sat on one of the chairs near the table, watching Hanna cooking.
"Let me finish, at the hospital they said you have to get rest..." he offered then.
"I know you're an excellent cook, believe me, I perfectly remember it. But... I'm not striving, I like making breakfast for the two of us like once!" Hanna replied, smiling.
Caleb laughed, then bited his lip.
"We fell in love between breakfasts, didn't we?" he added.
"Yeah, something like that..." Hanna replied, with a tip of sarcasm.
Caleb winked at her.
"News from Ashley?" he asked then.
"She'll be back around two 'o clock..."
"Good, I have class at five 'o clock, so there will be enough time for everything. I'd like to try to cancel, but..."
"No, Caleb. This stage is a huge opportunity for you, I don't want you to toss it like this. We're gonna talk to my mom and then you'll go to the college, that's it. There's no need for you to stay with me for the whole time." Hanna interrupted him.
"Believe me, it wouldn't disappoint me at all..." Caleb replied, shrugging.
"It wouldn't disappoint me either, but... You know, if one day you'll marry me, it will always be like that." Hanna teased, without looking at Caleb.
Caleb smiled and stood up, walking again to Hanna and placing himself behind her back.
"You perfectly know that I will marry you..." he whispered in her ear, moving his hands to her hips.
Hanna giggled, without saying anything though, keeping cooking the eggs and the bacon.
"Just give me the time to gain enough money for the ring that you deserve..." Caleb added.
Hanna stopped herself and threw her head back against his chest.
"Caleb, when I fell in love with you, you didn't have even a penny in your pocket. I'd marry you even if you'd ask me with a flower..." she said then, smiling.
Caleb chuckled and kissed her through her hair.
"Good to know, but you deserve the best. Hanna Marin has always wished a diamond, and Hanna Marin will have a diamond. That's all." he added.
Hanna laughed and lifted her head to be able to kiss Caleb, and the thought of the eggs and the bacon burning in a little was the only thing that could part them.
"So, this means that you really wanna marry me..." Hanna continued, placing the food in the dishes.
"Did you have doubts about it?" Caleb replied, sitting at the table.
"Actually no, but... Hear you say it, is beautiful..."
"Hanna Marin, I wanna marry you. I wanna become your husband. I wanna grow old with you, raising our children." he said, ceremoniously.
"Children? You want more than one?" she asked smiling, handing him the full dish.
"Yeah, I like the idea of so many little Hannas running around the living room of our big house..."
Hanna laughed loudly.
"Okay, we're travelling a little too much with fantasy now..." she added.
Caleb smiled and shrugged.
"Fine, but you should know that I'll do my best to make sure it won't remain just a fantasy." he added, taking a mouthful.
"Anyway, the day of the wedding I'll have to be flawless. We're gonna get married only after I'll have given birth and I'll have lost all of the post-pregnancy weight, are we clear?" Hanna suddenly continued, surprisingly serious.
This time was Caleb the one who laughed loudly, making the fork fall to the dish. She was always the same.
"Hanna, if you'd accept to marry me even if I'd ask you with a poor flower, you should know that I'd marry you even if you'd show up in your pajama and with messy hair..." he said, shaking his head amused.
Hanna raised her eyebrows and shrugged.
"Better to point out." she added.
"Don't worry, we're gonna take a step per time. Now we have to think about the baby, and then, when we want to get married, we'll do it. My life is already completely dedicated to you, so the wedding will come, but only when you'll feel ready. Alright?" Caleb smiled.
"That's perfect." Hanna smiled back, leaning from the chair to be able to kiss Caleb on the lips.
From those chats, transpired the fact of how all of the problems seemed to disappear when they were together. They were planning their wedding, they were happily living the pregnancy, they were eating breakfast sitting at the table like it was something daily. They both were perfectly comfortable, they both were happy in that little angle of life, they both wanted those moments to build their future up. The one by the other's side, making a family, with that joy in the heart that only love can bring.
When there was almost two 'o clock in the afternoon, Hanna and Caleb were sitting on the couch, waiting for Ashley. Hanna was back to feel particularly nervous, with her head between her own hands and her knees weak, as Caleb was gently rubbing her back. Trying to make her more comfortable, Caleb tried then to say something.
"What is like to be pregnant?"
Hanna chuckled.
"What do you mean?" she asked then.
"I don't know... I mean... Do you feel different?"
"Yeah. But I don't know how to explain. I can just say that's a feeling I've never felt before..."
Caleb nodded and smiled at her.
"Everything's gonna be okay, I promise." he said then.
Hanna replied with a weak smile, then it could be heard the keys in the lock, and Caleb jumped off the couch.
"Here we go..." he whispered to Hanna, extending her his own hand.
She sighed and took Caleb's hand, who helped her to stand up.
"Hanna, I'm home!" Ashley announced, walking to the living room, where she would have soon find her daughter with Caleb, ready to tell her something.
As soon as she took sight of the two, she didn't even appear much surprised; on the other hand, Hanna had already told her about Caleb. But not about the rest.
"Hi, Ashley." Caleb said shyly, motioning a smile.
"Caleb... How long have you been here?" Ashley replied, raising her eyebrows and crossing her arms to her chest.
Caleb was about to answer, but Hanna cut all off.
"Mom, it's not the moment to do the third degree."
Ashley sighed, then she continued.
"What, do you guys wanna ask for my approvation?"
Hanna rolled her eyes.
"Ashley, I..." Caleb started, before right Ashley interrupted him.
"Caleb, my daughter is adult and she's free to take her decisions. If she's happy with you, that's fine to me. I also know that you're a nice guy, but I can't pretend to forget what happened between the two of you a few years ago. Try to make her feel bad like I saw her bad not so many months ago, and I swear you'll pay for it. Are we clear?"
Caleb sighed and took Hanna's hand.
"That's not gonna happen again, I swear." he added.
"Wanna have lunch with us?" Ashley said then, motioning a smile.
Caleb just smiled at her, and Hanna restarted the speech.
"Mom, Caleb and I have to talk with you about something..." she murmured, with teary eyes.
Ashley raised her eyebrows, immediately understanding that the situation was serious. Caleb lowered his gaze and sat back on the couch, gesturing at Hanna to do the same, along with Ashley. Upon all of the three were sitting and able to look at each other, Hanna couldn't help but start silently crying, not able to speak. Caleb held her hand and sighed deeply.
"Something happened with Dave?" Ashley asked, displaced.
"Well, he has learnt about us and he reacted bad, but... This isn't about him..." Caleb murmured in reply.
"Caleb, please... Tell me what's going on..." the woman continued, at the sight of Hanna keeping crying.
Hanna squeezed tightly Caleb's hand signaling him to wait before telling. She wanted and she had to do it.
"Mom, I..." she muttered, feeling blocked before being able to go on.
"Sweetie, what's up?" Ashley implored, caressing her daughter.
"I'm carrying a baby, mom..." Hanna mumbled then, with her head low.
Caleb watched how Ashley react at those words; the woman took off her hands from Hanna's face and got up from the couch, turning around and running her hands through her hair, then placing them on her own hips. Hanna instead remained with her head low crying, as Caleb caressed her, waiting for Ashley to say something. But she didn't. Then he felt that he had to add something, getting over his fears.
"The baby's mine. And I'm not going to leave Hanna. I won't leave her alone. We'll get through everything together."
Ashley didn't apparently have the minimum reaction at Caleb's honest words. She was probably still realizing the idea of her twenty years old daughter pregnant.
"Mom... Say something, please..." Hanna sobbed, hardly lifting her head.
"What am I supposed to say, Hanna?" Ashley blurted out, finally turning around to face the two.
Hanna wiped away her tears, then she replied.
"I don't know, but say something..."
"I don't think you guys realize what all of this means..." the woman admitted then, shaking her head.
"Mom, I..." Hanna tried before Ashley interrupted her.
"How... How do you guys think to raise a child? You're twenty, Hanna, you're going to the college, and... And we don't have enough money for this too, and... And regardless how much you two love each other, this is a thing too big to deal with... How could you guys be so naive?"
Caleb sighed and got up from the couch, bursting in the speech.
"We're young, that's true, but... We're ready to take our responsibilities. Ashley, believe me, I... I'm willing to anything. I have a job, I'll earn and I'll do my best not to make Hanna and the kid miss anything. And I'll make sure Hanna will be able to finish the college. I know this is not a joke, I know it won't be easy, but... We're having a baby. It happened, it's gone this way, and regardless how much it scares us, Hanna and I have understood this can't do anything but make us happy. I'm not saying it will always be alright, but... But I swear I'll do my best to make everything go the right way. I love Hanna and I'll always be by her side."
Ashley sighed.
"So you weren't ill? So... You threw up and you were always tired because you're pregnant?" she added, looking at Hanna.
"Yes, but... I found out just the other day, when you left. I really thought it was just a stupid virus, mom..." she confessed, wiping other tears away.
"Caleb, go away, please." Ashley continued.
"What? No!" Hanna implored.
"Ashley, I..." Caleb murmured, but Ashley interrupted him before he could say anything.
"I said 'go away', Caleb."
Caleb sighed and walked to the door, grabbing his bag on the way, which was placed in front of the stairs. When he closed the front door behind his back, Ashley sat next to Hanna, who had restarted crying harder than before.
"Why have you made him leave?" she mumbled.
"I wanna talk with you, alone."
"Why, mom? To tell me that I should have used protections, to tell me that I shouldn't have cheated on Dave, to tell me that I'm just a naive and irresponsible kid that allowed a guy who had ran away from her plenty times in the past to knock her up?"
"No, nothing of this." Ashley replied, placing a hand on her daughter's leg.
Hanna looked at her quizzically, so Ashley continued.
"I wanna know if you're sure that's Caleb the man you want by your side. I wanna know if he really makes you happy..."
Hanna calmed herself down and wiped her tears away, then she replied, sure.
"He's everything to me, mom. It's always been like this. There hasn't been... There hasn't been a single moment in which I stopped thinking about him. He's always been there, even when he wasn't there. I love him, I've always loved him, and... I feel it's the same for him. I'm sure about him and I'm sure that he's really not gonna leave this time, and that's all that I need to know, because... When I'm with him, the fact that I'll become a mom doesn't scare me. Maybe... Maybe because I know that he'll be by my side..."
Ashley, then, hugged Hanna the tightest she could, stroking her hair.
"I'll be by your side too..." she whispered to her, letting out a tear.
Hanna kept crying held by her mother, and never like in that istant she felt daughter, she felt kid, she felt small. Yeah, she would have soon had to be mother, mature, woman. But this didn't influence that she would have always needed her mother. This could never have changed, neither with the age, nor with a child.
"Thanks, mom..." she mumbled.
"He's a nice guy, you know I love him... But poor him if he messes with you again, are we clear?"
Hanna pulled away from the hug and looked at her mother in the eyes, then she nodded.
"You can call him back, if you want." Ashley continued, shrugging.
"Later. I just need some time with my mom now..." Hanna smiled.
Ashley smiled back.
"I'm gonna make lunch and then we talk better about everything, is it fine?" she added, walking towards the kitchen.
Hanna nodded and took her mobile to text Caleb.
Hanna - 2:23 pm; Don't worry, with mom everything's alright :) I just need to stay a little time alone with her, is that okay?
His reply, while he was in a taxi direct to the college, arrived soon.
Caleb - 2:25 pm; I'm glad :) Don't worry, I'll call you when I'm done with classes. Give Ashley a kiss for me. Have a good lunch, princess... See you later :)
Hanna smiled, then she reached her mother in the kitchen.
Caleb, upon the classes were over, decided to stop by his room to take his wallet, which he had forgotten there. He would have called Hanna later, he knew she was spending some time with her mother and he didn't wanna bother her, of course. He arrived at the male dormitory whistling, thinking he would have soon become a dad, with a huge joy in his heart. Yeah, he still had to tell his folks, with all the messes he hadn't found the time yet. But he was happy about the way everything was going, despite the difficulties.
Turning the corner for his hallway, he noticed a shape in front of the door of his room. There was a guy sitting cross-legged against the door 319. Caleb advanced, doubtful, until he was enough close to be able to distinguish the contours of that shape, until he recognized Dave. He took a deep breath and walked to him; he didn't have nothing to be ashamed for with him, nor he feared him. On the other hand, the moment to face him would have come, sooner or later.
"Dave, can I help you?" he started, not worried, with the keys in his hand.
Dave lifted his gaze and crossed Caleb's one, smiling at him. He was drunk.
"Caleb, how are you going?" he mumbled, standing up from the floor.
Caleb felt the strong smell of alcohol as soon as Dave opened his mouth.
"What are you doing here?" Caleb continued.
"I was looking for you... I knew you would have come back here sooner or later!"
"Whatever you wanna tell me, this isn't the moment."
"Oh yeah? And why?"
"Because you're drunk."
"It's that slut of Hanna's fault if I'm drunk, you know?"
When Caleb heard someone talk in a certain way about Hanna, his nerves jumped like crickets, but in that case he tried to stay calm just because Dave wasn't in himself, even though he would have deserved a punch even just for the fact not to have helped Hanna when she had fallen a few days earlier.
"Go home, Dave..." Caleb continued.
Dave pushed himself against the door of Caleb's room and smiled treacherously.
"I'm definitely not going anywhere." he added, shaking his head.
"Fine, then it's me the one who's going somewhere else. I'm not in the mood to fight at all." Caleb replied, sighing.
But before he could take a step, Dave grabbed his wrist.
"Tell me something, asshole... Is Hanna very fiery with you? Huh?"
Caleb struggled out of Dave's grasp and shook his head.
"Don't talk about her. The last thing she would have wanted is seeing you this way. She has always cared of you..." he said.
"But she prefers getting fucked by you, right?"
"Stop it, okay? Let me get in and let's just end this. I have no intention to talk with you if you're drunk, you couldn't understand..."
"There's nothing to understand, Caleb. You've screwed my girlfriend in front of me, and the worst thing is that you pretended to be nice with me... The morning that I came to your room to ask you that favor and I found you half-naked, you were with her, weren't you? What a jerk... I really thought you were a nice guy, you know? Instead you're a filthy hypocritical, I wish to you and to that stupid slut of Hanna all the world's bad... Go to hell, Caleb Rivers..."
Caleb avoided once again to react, just watching Dave who slowly moved away from the door, apparently determined to go. He sighed and placed the keys in the lock, but then he felt again a presence behind his own back. He was losing his patience, so he turned around to repeat Dave to go away for the nth time, before he was really going to end up beating him.
But as soon as he turned around, Dave was faster and threw himself against him, in a way which Caleb used a little time to realize.
He felt like freezing. At first, he thought it was a normal punch in the stomach, but it wouldn't have been the first time he would have received it, and he knew it wasn't the pain of a punch in the stomach. That pain was different. It was strong, rending. He felt blocked, he couldn't move, his breath was framed into his throat. Then he lowered his gaze to his own stomach, and all he saw was blood.
In Dave's hand, he saw something. He had gripped something.
A knife.
In that istant Caleb understood. And it was the same instant in which Dave pulled the blade out.
"Go to hell..." he repeated, running away.
Caleb fell on his knees, devoid of strength or balance. He was devoid of anything, all that was filling him was pain.
A/N: Yeah, if you guys thought Dave was a jerk, I can't imagine what do you think now... Poor Caleb! Anyway, I hope Ashley's reaction was IC... I mean, I honestly don't think she'd just jump for the happiness if Hanna would tell her that she's pregnant... But of course she'd give her daughter her support, so I hope it was okay :) Now, speaking of Ashley... She LOVES Caleb though, and you'll see how much she does right in the next chapter... She'll do something in order to help him, something really important... Okay, as always I wanna thank you guys for your reviews. For the guest who noticed one of the lines of the previous chapter similar to a Tyshley interview... Yeah, we can say that I was inspired by Tyler's words about Ashley :):) Tyshley is just awwww, isn't it? :D Another guest wrote that I said that this story would have had 34 chapters... Yeah, that's right. When I talked about three/four chapters left, I was talking about my other Haleb story "The Healer" (soon I'll publish one of those chapter), not this. Katie, I completely agree with you on your whole Dave thing, and this chapter is a confirmation of how bad he actually is. I love the Hanna/Brit relationship too, and I was sure you guys would have hated her at first but then you would have liked her ;) Oh, she'll be in the next chapter as well! Now we have to see how bad is Caleb's situation... Remember that he's a strong guy! As always, if you leave a review, I'll be really happy :) Thank you guys! Love xx -Atramea.
