Writing is my escape from revision. Naughty but oh well. I also found a new tumblr to obsess over, everyone go look at hannnarivers
Thanks for all the reviews (over 20, wow!), unsurprisingly 1105! Anniversary Special got the most votes as the next chapter and it's 80% written, but halfway through writing it, I wanted to write about Spencer's baby because in the timeline she's born a month and a half before and enough people mentioned that one. Almost all of the other chapters I mentioned before will reference things that happen here, so without further adieu...
September Rain
"Caleb," Hanna whispered at 3am on a rainy September night. "Caleb," She hushed again, this time a little louder as she shook his shoulder.
"What?" He grumbled, his eyes still shut as he tried to pull her close against his body and stay asleep.
"Spencer's in labour," She said excitedly as she flashed the light of her phone in his face.
"That's nice," He muttered, burying his head in the pillow.
Hanna really didn't care about his lack of reaction or his obvious desire to just carry on sleeping, "She says she's only 2cm dilated but her waters broke so they've admitted her," She continued, her voice getting more animated as she went on, "This is so exciting!" Caleb opened an eye and stared at her as she texted Spencer back at lightning speed. "What?" She asked as she connected her eyes with his before her phone pinged and she looked away, "Oh she says she wants an epidural," She said smugly, "Some of us did it naturally," She murmured.
Caleb was glad she'd told him about Spencer going into labour, but he really didn't want to hear the ins and outs of what was happening. He lifted his arm and stole her phone out of her hands, silencing it and putting it on the bedside table as Hanna pouted up at him. "What are you doing?" She asked him, slightly annoyed. "There is a baby being born right now!"
He rolled on top of her and kissed her lips to shut her up, "You woke me up," He stated, his hands running down her thighs as they wrapped around his waist. "And the baby is not being born right now,"
"Your point?" She asked imploringly, although the smile on her face told him she knew exactly what he intended on doing.
Pushing his nose against hers, he nipped at her lip and stared down into her eyes as they heard the rain pelt on the windows, "You need to be punished."
She shrieked as he began to kiss her neck, wrapping her hands around his shoulders, "I need to message Spencer." She tried reaching for her phone on Caleb's side but he grabbed her hands and pushed them back behind her head, completely holding her hostage. She stared up at him, her eyes softening as he connected their lips tenderly. "You're right, I need to be punished."
"You look disgustingly calm," Hanna said as she pushed Mila's stroller into Spencer's hospital room.
"Hey, you're here," Spencer grinned as she watched her friend park up and then greet Toby with a hug. "Why do you not have my godson hanging off you?"
Hanna walked over and hugged her bed-ridden friend before sitting down on the chair next to her and sighing, "Lo's at preschool, Mimi's asleep, I'm essentially child-free," She said, "How are you feeling?"
"Like I can't feel my whole lower body," Spencer grinned.
"That's because you can't feel your whole lower body," Toby laughed, sitting on the side of her bed.
"Urgh, you're such a bitch,"
"Hanna, just because I went to the hospital early enough to get an epidural does not mean that I'm a bitch,"
Hanna glanced sideways, "Not from where I'm sitting," She muttered, crossing her arms.
"You're grouchy. Where's Caleb?" Toby asked as Hanna stood and walked to the stroller.
"I am not grouchy," She scoffed as she checked on Mila and grabbed some magazines she'd bought before heading back to her seat, "And he's at work," She said, handing Mother and Baby to Spencer. "But he's gonna try and leave early and come here as soon as," She added.
Spencer sighed heavily, "Are you grouchy because I woke you up in the middle of the night?" She asked as she began to flick through the magazine, "We've still got a while to go," She replied, patting her bump.
"We didn't exactly go back to sleep," Hanna huffed. "How dilated are you?" She asked, scrunching up her nose.
"That's a very personal question,"
"Spence," Hanna said, looking at her knowingly.
"Which I will answer because you're grouchy. 5 centimetres."
Hanna laughed, "Wow, you have got a long way to go,"
Spencer pouted at Toby, "8 hours and I've moved 3 centimetres," She whined, throwing the magazine down in disgust.
"Spencer," He soothed, "It's your first baby, the doctor says these things take time," He said softly, pulling her into his chest.
Spencer didn't say anything but seemed to accept his words nevertheless. "I can't believe it's still raining," She changed the subject, looking out of the window.
Hanna grinned at her and couldn't help but prod one more time, "Maybe once you eventually push out our new ball of sunshine in 10 hours time, the rain'll dry up."
"Hanna!" Spencer exclaimed, "Not helping,"
"They'll be here eventually," Hanna reassured her, resting her elbows on Spencer's bed, "Or they'll just bring out the forceps,"
"I want to kill you."
"Mommy look," Logan giggled as he pressed his nose against the French doors later that afternoon and stared out at the rain that was still pouring from the grey skies.
"What is it?" She asked, squatting down next to him and looking through the glass.
He pressed his finger against the pane and tried to point, giggling away as big fat raindrops splashed onto the path and grass. "It's splashin'," He squealed, jumping up and down excitedly. Hanna laughed at him and pulled him in front of her, resting her chin on his shoulder as they watched the rain pour down into the backyard.
"It is," She agreed, cuddling him close. "Shall we go outside and play?" She whispered, grinning as Logan gasped and turned to her and nodded excitedly. She checked her phone as she grabbed Logan's raincoat and boots, smiling as she read a text from Toby.
12 hours and still going strong. Doc thinks the baby will be here in a couple of hours so don't rush back down.
Hopefully Caleb would finish soon and they could all go down to the hospital together later. "Arms out little man," She said to Logan as she helped him pull on his adorable tiny yellow raincoat that she'd only just bought him. "What's this sock doing?" She asked, tickling his feet as she pulled one of his socks back up and helped him into his matching rain boots. She pulled on her own coat and unlocked the patio door, taking Logan's hand and leading him out onto the path.
"Mommy!" He squealed excitedly as a drop of water landed on his face.
She pulled his little hood further over his head and watched as he began to splash in the puddles that were forming. "Let me send a picture to Daddy," She grinned, squatting down to take a picture as he held his hands out to feel the rain. Bubba's enjoying the rain she texted Caleb and sent the picture. "Is this fun?" She laughed as Logan splashed his way over to her. He nodded and smiled at her before he moved to the lawn, bending down to feel the wet blades of grass.
Hanna followed him and squatted down next to him but paused as her phone began to ring, "Hey Daddy's calling us," She told him as she answered Caleb's FaceTime. As it connected Logan ran over to her and pushed himself in between her legs, holding his hood out of his eyes as Caleb's face came onto the screen. "Hi Daddy," Hanna grinned, holding the phone out in front of them.
"Daddeeee!" Logan exclaimed.
"Hey," He said, smiling at the pair of them. "Are you having fun in the rain?" He asked, leaning back in his office chair as he watched them.
"Daddy I splashing," Logan cried happily, cuddling against Hanna as she pulled him against her chest.
"We're having fun," Hanna laughed, letting Logan wriggle out of her grip and go back to the path where he began to splash in the puddles again. Hanna flipped the camera and let Caleb watch as he tapped his tiny rain boots into the water and became completely immersed in the ripples.
"Babe," He chuckled, before looking slightly concerned as the preschooler almost fell over, "Careful," He ushered at Logan as Hanna held a hand out to steady him. "Okay I gotta go, I just wanted to see his reaction," Caleb began as Hanna flipped the camera back round to her face.
"When are you finishing?" She asked, keeping an eye on Logan.
"I'm not sure but I'll text you. We can either meet at the hospital or I'll come home first if there's time," He said, almost reading her mind.
"Okay," Hanna agreed, "Lo come say bye to Daddy," She called, grinning as he ran over with his hands out to feel the water.
"Bye Daddy," He waved with Hanna before Caleb disconnected the call. "Mommy I getting wet," Logan complained as he rubbed his eyes.
She pulled his hood forward to make sure it covered his eyes as much as possible and then held his hand as he led her on a walk around their yard. She couldn't wait for them to move into their new house; it felt like it had ten times the amount of outside space and she knew Logan would absolutely love it. It would have been perfect for days like today but as Logan bounced around at her feet and pointed out the way the water was running down some leaves, she just tried to embrace the moment with her son for what it was.
"I cold," Logan began to whine 10 minutes later. He tried to look up at Hanna but his hood fell back off his head and raindrops began to land on his face, "Mommy," He cried as one landed in his eye.
"Shhh," She hushed him, pulling his hood back over his head and wiping his eyes with her thumb before leading him back towards the house. He leant on her shoulders as she squatted down and pulled his rain boots off by the door before shrugging his arms as he tried to throw off his raincoat as quickly as possible, "Careful Lo," Hanna soothed as he got wound up with one arm getting stuck.
"Mommy I cold," He whined again, collapsing against her chest in between her legs.
Hanna picked him up and carried him to their sofa. She spied one of Caleb's jumpers lying over the back and grabbed it, knowing it would calm her three-year-old down straight away. "Arms up," She instructed him, pulling the item over his head and feeding his arms through. "Does Daddy's jumper make it better?" She asked, also grabbing the throw and tucking it around him.
Logan nodded, "I love Daddy," He said matter-of-factly before sticking his thumb in his mouth.
Hanna pressed a kiss against his forehead, "I love Daddy too," She agreed before moving towards the kitchen to make them hot chocolate.
Hanna was pacing. And not by choice.
She'd rocked up to the hospital half an hour ago after Toby had text her to say their doctor thought the baby would be here in an hour, but ever since she'd gotten there Mila had been constantly whining unless Hanna let her practice her walking, back and forth, up and down the corridor. Everyone else had of course found it completely adorable but what neither Aria or Emily or Alison didn't appreciate was that it had been going on for over a week. And as cute as Hanna found her daughter, she didn't enjoy being hunched over all day as her baby walked backwards and forwards at snail's pace. She was hardly gripping her hands and Hanna knew that she just liked having Mommy or Daddy there for moral support and to cuddle her if she fell on her butt.
"You're almost there," Hanna said and shook her head as Mila gripped her hands around Hanna's fingers and led her down the corridor back towards where everyone was sat.
"Mama," She replied, letting go of one hand to point at Logan.
"Let's go see Lo," She cooed, holding her up as she stumbled slightly. "Lo, you okay baby?" She asked him as she walked Mila over.
"Mommy I'm thirsty," He replied, pouting up at her from his position on Emily's lap.
"You want me to take him to get a drink?" Emily asked as Hanna bent down next to her.
"No," She mumbled, moving both of Mila's hands to wrap around one of hers before she began to rifle around in her handbag with the other. "I've got a juicebox," She replied, pulling it out and handing it to Logan as Mila wobbled on her feet, trying to turn around. "Mila," She chastised as the ten-month-old let out an angry cry, "Wait or go it alone," She added, making sure Logan was content for the time being.
"Dada!" Mila called as she spied Caleb walking towards them. Hanna swiveled around and rested her knees on the floor as she went back to holding both of Mila's hands out on either side of her. "Dada," She cried again, letting go of Hanna's hands as she tried to move closer to him.
"Hi," He grinned, squatting down a few paces away from her and Hanna. He dropped his car keys on the floor and held his hands out for his baby girl. "Come see Daddy," He encouraged, motioning her closer as she stood and looked over at him. She wobbled a bit and almost fell but Hanna immediately stuck her hands out to steady her before letting go again. "Come here," Caleb cooed again.
"Han, is she?" Aria asked as she came and stood behind Hanna.
"I think she is," Hanna whispered, her hand to her mouth in shock as Mila tentatively put one foot out in front of the other. She just wanted to get to her Daddy.
"Come here baby," Caleb encouraged again, holding his arms further out in front of him. Mila looked up at him and rushed towards him, taking four precious steps before collapsing into his waiting arms as the gravity became too much for her tiny body to handle. "You are so clever," He exclaimed, scooping her up and cuddling her close as he stood up.
"She just walked," Hanna almost cried as she rushed over to the pair of them, pressing kisses against Mila's forehead as she snuggled against Caleb's neck.
"Trying to steal baby Cavanaugh's thunder," He laughed. "Wanna practice baby?" He asked, moving to put her back on the floor but she whined and gripped his neck.
"That's a no," Hanna grinned, bending down to pick up Caleb's car keys that lay forgotten on the floor. "She's walking," She said again, her hands coming up to her lips in disbelief.
Caleb wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her close as he leant down to press a gentle kiss on her lips in greeting, "Hi," He said softly, pecking her one final time before pulling away.
"How was work?" She asked, leading him over to everyone else.
Logan jumped off Emily's lap as soon as he saw Caleb and raced over. "Busy," Caleb answered her before bending down to greet Logan with a kiss. "You been good for Mommy?" He asked, brushing his hair back and looking him in the eye.
Logan nodded and smiled really big up at him, "We was playin' in the rain and Mommy maked me a choccie," He told Caleb excitedly, following him to the seats before resting his hands on Caleb's knees as he sat down in a free chair with Mila on his lap.
"We had fun, didn't we Lo?" Hanna asked, pushing a helping hand under his butt as he climbed up onto Caleb's lap and squished himself on there next to Mila. Both her babies missed their Daddy when he was at work – all they wanted to do in the evenings was be as close to him as possible which she just found so incredibly heart melting that every time Logan begged her for 5 more minutes with Daddy before bedtime, she hardly ever said no.
Logan nodded and rested his head against Caleb's chest whilst he reached out and grabbed Mila's hand, "But Mimi was sleepy," He said sadly. Their three year old was the ultimate heartbreaker with those eyes and that pout, not to mention the way he doted on his baby sister.
Caleb laughed slightly and pressed a kiss against his hair, "Was she napping?"
"Yea and she… and she was sleepy so she had no cuddles with me and Mommy," He tried to get out as Mila reached for Hanna over Caleb's arm. "So now she's wanted cuddles," He said, sticking his hand out like it was obvious.
"Come here my little walker," Hanna took the 10-month-old letting Logan swing his legs properly over Caleb's lap.
"So you got to play with Mommy in the rain, have hot chocolate and cuddle with her too?" He asked, Logan nodding in response. "That sounds like a pretty good day," He whispered, cuddling him close.
"Toby!" Emily gasped, gaining everyone's attention as she spied their friend walking towards them.
Everybody looked at him questioningly as he approached them, "She's here," He grinned, "It's a girl," He breathed. "She was born half an hour ago and we want you all to come meet her,"
He didn't have to say another word before everybody bolted up and began to follow him down the corridor to Spencer's room. Emily pushed in first, heading straight for the bed as Aria followed closely behind. Hanna hung back slightly and only followed everyone else through when she felt Caleb's hand on the small of her back. "You okay?" He asked quietly, holding onto Logan's hand as he stayed close to him.
"Yeah," Hanna nodded, although he wasn't convinced. He took Mila from her and encouraged her over to the bed where he heard her gasp before staring down at the bundle in Spencer's arms.
"Do you want to hold her?" Spencer asked Hanna much to the chagrin of Emily and Aria.
"Why does she get to go first?" Emily said annoyed.
Spencer rolled her eyes as she handed the baby to Hanna, "Because she's held a newborn a lot,"
Aria pouted, "You're already going into Mama bear mode," She said, "It's kinda cute," She conceded, wrapping an arm around Spencer's shoulders and hugging her.
Caleb walked over to Hanna and wrapped his arm around her waist as Mila rested tiredly on his shoulder. "You're a natural," He whispered in her ear and he was surprised when she looked at him and blushed.
"I hope so," She said quietly before smiling and staring back down at the newborn. Caleb shot her a confused look, but she avoided eye contact and gently cuddled the baby close to her chest.
"Does she have a name?" Ezra asked from the foot of the bed.
Spencer grinned as Toby came and sat next to her, reaching a hand up to touch the back of their baby girl's head as Hanna rocked her. "We're going with Eleanor Marion Rayne Cavanaugh,"
"It's beautiful guys," Hanna smiled, "She's beautiful," She added before she reluctantly gave her up to Aria.
"Why Eleanor?" Emily asked, slightly confused. It was a gorgeous name, but not what she was expected.
"After Eleanor Roosevelt," Spencer began to explain, although Hanna tuned out as she began to whittle on about history and why she was important. "Marion after Toby's Mom and Rayne because it's rained all day and I never want to forget it," She laughed.
"That one was kind of impulsive," Toby grinned with her.
Hanna scooped Logan up as he came over to her and pulled on her top, holding him close before she grinned at Spencer and Toby, "It has finally stopped raining," She laughed.
"I can't wait to have one," Aria sighed prompting everyone to look at her questioningly. "I'm not pregnant guys," She rolled her eyes, handing the baby to Emily.
"I can't wait for Mimi and Nori to have play dates and dress up together," Hanna smiled, looking at the baby and then at Mila who was all too happy to cuddle with Caleb.
"No no no," Spencer began, "We are not nicknaming her Nori,"
"We thought she'd be an Ellie," Toby added.
"But Nori's so cute," Hanna pouted at them, "She's Nori to me," She huffed determinedly, "And she's my goddaughter so it's sticking,"
Spencer rolled her eyes at her friend's dramatics, "Hanna, please note I am not Kim Kardashian and I have not named my child after a compass,"
Emily gasped as Eleanor opened her eyes and looked up at her, "Hi Nori," She cooed, the baby trying to make noises in response, "Spence I think she likes it."
"Guys do not ruin my child's name," Spencer pleaded jokingly; she actually kinda liked it.
"Hi Ellie," Emily tried out. Eleanor took that opportune moment to start crying, prompting everyone to laugh as she clearly rejected the nickname.
Caleb rubbed Hanna's back as he watched Emily hand baby Eleanor to Spencer. "Sorry Spence, looks like she's a Nori."
Caleb was surprised to walk out of their bathroom and find Hanna lying in bed with her bedside lamp off. Sure, it was relatively late on a Thursday night but she usually liked to wait for him before she fell asleep. In fact, she'd been quiet ever since they'd been introduced to precious little Eleanor earlier that evening. He walked over to their bed and climbed in under the covers, stroking her hair as she lay there with her eyes opened and glazed over.
"Han," He started, "What is going on?" He asked as she looked up at him. "You've been quiet ever since we met Nori," He said, knowing something was off with her.
"I want another baby," She replied.
Caleb froze. He wasn't expecting that.
"Babe, Mimi's 10-months-old," He started quietly, searching her eyes for what was pushing this inside of her.
"I know," Hanna said, pushing herself up into a sitting position, burying her head in her hands. "I know she is,"
"Where is this coming from?" He hushed, sitting up himself and pulling her against his chest.
"I'm not saying I want one now," She said, looking up at him, "I just…" She fiddled with her hands as she struggled to articulate what she was trying to say. "Today just made me know that we're not done yet,"
Caleb lay back down against the pillows and reached up to brush her hair back from her face, "We've always been on the same page about this," His face frowned as he comforted her, rubbing her shoulder as she rested her head on his shoulder.
"I don't want to wait too long though," She mumbled, biting her fingernail. "But not right now," She added again, her mind all over the place.
"Hanna," Caleb said, forcing her to look him in the eye. "I love Lo, I love Mimi, I will love whatever children we have but right now, I want to enjoy them and I want to enjoy you whilst we try and manage my boss in California alongside the builder whose gutting our house, your shop and two kids who I already feel like I don't spend enough time with,"
"I know, I know," She agreed with him. He was right; their life was crazy enough right now. "I don't even know why I brought it up, I only just had my shot last week anyway," She muttered.
Caleb could tell she was getting upset by it all and just pulled her as tight as he could against his chest. "Your shot lasts 3 months right?" He asked gently, holding the back of her head. She nodded against him, "In 3 months we'll have moved into our new place, Mimi will be 1 and I know work will have settled down," He began, cupping her cheek "So lets just not get it again,"
Hanna pressed her forearms down onto his chest and looked down at him. "You mean that?"
"Hanna, nothing would make me happier than having another baby with you," He said lovingly, accepting her kiss as she connected their lips, "But I don't wanna try, okay?"
Hanna nodded, knowing exactly what he was getting at. They'd never tried for babies; if it was meant to be, it happened. "We don't try," She grinned, lifting her leg over his so that she lay on his chest.
"I just can't keep my hands off you and 9 months later a perfect baby appears," He laughed with her, pulling the comforter up around her shoulders.
"They are pretty perfect." She agreed, snuggling up against him.
He reached over and turned his bedside light off knowing they both needed to sleep. "Let's not rush it Han," He whispered, "When it's right, it'll happen."
Like it? Like her name? Like Logan playing in the rain? Like Mimi walking? Let me know in a review my lovelies. 1105! Anniversary Special will be up after my exam x
