Hey beauts, thanks for all the lovely reviews. New chappie below - this one is all about the emotions behind our favourite family preparing for Everly.
Sam ~ I kind of dabbled with whether I think they'd have 2 of each... I'm still on the fence.. the door is not fully shut
Glad you guys all like the James and Clay scene, it was fun to write!
Not long til we get to meet baby girl... Enjoy below...
Hello, Harper
"Oh, look at her," Hanna cooed as she cradled three-week-old baby Harper. She was the most petite and delicate newborn and Hanna was already madly in love with her. Plus, she'd never seen Aria and Ezra in a happier state - it was almost like they were floating on air - and she never wanted to see them come down. "Is she sleeping okay?"
Aria sighed happily as she took a sip of her green tea, "No," She smiled, "But we love her anyway."
"Caleb says he's never seen Ezra so delirious," Hanna grinned at her best friend, "In a good way," She added as she realised how it sounded, rocking Harper as she began to mewl unhappily. "She looks so much like you," She said, reaching a hand up to brush the dark tendrils of baby hair on Harper's head. "I want to steal her."
"Hey," Aria laughed, "You've got your own coming soon."
"I know," Hanna grinned, thoughts of her new baby girl gracing her head.
"And how are you feeling?" Aria asked as she took in her friend on her sofa. She looked happy but tired and Aria was worried about her. Well, technically Caleb was worried about her and asked Aria to check in (because Hanna liked to pretend it was all sunshine and daisies with him), but now that he'd mentioned it, she could see where he was coming from. She'd been too caught up in her new baby to notice the worn down state of her friend.
"Exhausted," Hanna admitted, but she still had a smile on her face.
"Is Caleb helping out enough?"
"He's being amazing, he's taken today off just so that he can be here," Hanna said, handing Harper to Aria as she began to full on bawl looking for food. "I'm kind of starting to think my body can't carry babies to full term." She remarked casually, resting her hands on top of her bump.
"You're in labour?" Aria asked worriedly as she let Harper start to nurse. She really needed to make sure she was checking in more often.
"No," Hanna shook her head and relaxed back against the sofa, "I mean I don't know how much more my body can take. I have no energy and I feel like she just needs to get here so I can be a Mommy to all my babies again. At the moment, all my body can focus on is getting her ready to come out."
"Hey, I know you're being the best Mom to Logan and Mila."
"Try saying that when bug's crying and begging me to take her to the park to go swing but I can't even find the energy to leave the house," She sighed unhappily. She knew that once the baby got here, she'd be running on empty then too, but at least she'd be able to play with Mila and Logan. And if need be, Caleb could just take Everly for a few hours so that she could get some precious sleep. Right now, it was all down to her and there was nothing Caleb could do to really help.
"She can probably just tell that things are changing," Aria tried to reassure her. Mila was precocious and defiant and headstrong – (Aria was convinced it was because she had to keep up with Logan) – but she was also very sensitive and loved nothing more than having her Mommy and Daddy's attention.
"That's what Caleb says, but it kills me that I can't do this stuff with her. She's my little girl and when Lo's at preschool, we're used to having each other one on one and doing whatever we want."
"You should have brought her with you," The brunette insisted, "You know I love seeing her."
"I know, but Caleb's at home and she was being clingy with him when I left," Hanna explained, quickly checking her phone. There was a slightly unexpected text from her husband; Mimi wants to go to the park, u up for it? As he'd dropped her off, he'd said that he'd leave her be for the day so that she could relax and get to know baby Harper.
Defo, Aria's tea has magic energy in it she pinged off quickly.
Bug can't wait, we're coming to pick u up
"Caleb's coming to pick me up," She said to Aria, stealing Harper back for one more cuddle before her man arrived.
"Aww," Aria pouted, "Do you have to go? We haven't caught up about Spencer."
Hanna laughed as she thought about their friend who'd just given birth to another baby girl. She was handling everything perfectly from what they could see, but it was obvious Eleanor was not adjusting to her new baby sister very well. Add to that, the fact that they were yet to decide on a name for their latest addition and one week into being a family of 4, Spencer seemed to be on the edge of a minor breakdown. "They just need to decide on a name and then they'll settle."
Aria smiled at her and stroked her daughter's dark baby hair, "You're such a pro," She said, "I feel like I can come to you for any baby advice and it'll work."
Hanna tore her eyes away from the newborn and tried to fight a grin, "It's just because I've been through it all already. With number three I'll be coming straight back to you, I'm outta newborn practice."
"Just trying to feel my way through the dark," Aria said.
"She's a happy baby," Hanna reassured her, "You're so happy aren't you?" She cooed down at her, rocking her gently. She sighed and looked up at Aria, "There's something I want to ask you actually."
"What is it?" Aria looked mildly concerned, her lips forming a small pout.
"Me and Caleb have been talking about who we want as godparents and he actually said it first," She rambled, "But anyway, we want you to be godmother."
"Hanna," Aria gasped, standing up to move over and sit next to Hanna. "I would be so honoured."
"Oh god, I'm getting emotional," Hanna smiled as she felt her eyes welling, "Caleb said that he wants to make sure you guys are in our lives forever."
Aria shot her a look that made her laugh, "Caleb said that?"
She bit her lip, "Okay, so he said it slightly differently but that's what he meant and it's true," She rested her head on Aria's shoulder as they both stared down at Harper. "I want to make sure we're always connected."
"You know I don't need to be made godparent for that to happen."
Hanna sighed again, "I know," She agreed, "But we both want you to be godmother anyway."
"Well it's a yes," Aria hugged her tightly, "Of course it's a yes."
Both of them turned their heads as they heard the sound of a horn outside. "I'm gonna have to remind him never to do that ever again," She pulled a face at Aria and they both began to laugh. She handed Harper back to her Mommy before managing to push herself up and grab her bag. She was big, but she actually felt smaller than how she remembered feeling with both Logan and Mila. With her anxiety and lack of self-confidence earlier in her pregnancy, she would have thought it would make her feel better about herself, but at the moment it only served to worry her. Mila had been small enough (even if she was early) and although it would seriously save her vagina, the only thing she really cared about was her baby being healthy. And whilst their trip to Montecito had managed to relax her brain for a week, right now her mind was whirring to endless possibilities; she felt her chest start to get tight again and forced herself to take a breath.
Collecting herself, she gave Aria as tighter hug as she could with her belly and Harper in between them before disappearing out the door. She needed the fresh air right now. "Hey," Caleb greeted her with a quick kiss across the central console before beginning to reverse out the driveway. "How's Aria?" He asked as he put the car into drive.
"Good," Hanna smiled. "Harper's so gorgeous, I could hold her all day."
"You'll have our own soon," He grinned, rubbing her bump as she shot him a smile before turning around as best as she could to look at Mila who was looking happy as a clam in her car seat.
"Hi angel," She cooed at her, reaching her hand back to stroke her ankle, "Are you excited to go to the park?"
"Mama park," The toddler grinned, reaching for Hanna.
"That's right, we're going to the park and when we go home, we can play in the garden with George." She suggested, letting her grab onto her hand. "It's sunny so we should play outside."
"Hat."
"It is hot today," She agreed, turning back around as Caleb drove them towards Rosewood Park.
"You okay? It is pretty hot out," He worried, glancing across at her.
"Stop worrying," She told him, squeezing his shoulder, "I want to go to the park whilst I actually feel like I have energy."
"Mama Mama park."
"I know baby," Hanna agreed as Caleb pulled into the all-familiar turn. As she climbed down from the car, she smiled as she heard Mila jabbering away at Caleb about the swings. She grabbed her bag before walking around the front of their Audi to join Caleb as he placed Mila on the floor and let her race off across the grass towards the swing set. "She's gonna trip," She whispered as Caleb grabbed her hand and laced their fingers.
"She's just like you," He grinned at her. "She knows what she wants."
"Mama," Mila called as she bent down to inspect the grass.
"If I bend down I won't be able to get back up," Hanna laughed, letting go of Caleb's hand as he knelt down next to Mila to see what she'd found.
"What is it bunny?" He asked his daughter, stroking her hair as she held up a ladybird on her finger. "You found a ladybird!" He gasped, both of them watching as it flew away before he scooped her up.
"Laybir," Mila tried to get out, holding onto Caleb's shoulders as he carried her over to the swing.
"Ladybird," He repeated, kissing her cheek before placing her in the seat.
"You ready to swing bug?" Hanna asked as she stood to the side of the swing set, a hand on her bump as she felt the baby kick away at her insides.
"Daddy go," Mila squealed as Caleb started to gently push the swing.
"Higher?" He asked as she held onto the front of the baby seat.
"Push," Mila pouted before smiling away as she went higher and higher. Hanna and Caleb just watched her and smiled before the little girl grew bored and decided she wanted to go on the playground instead. They followed her, Caleb making sure she wasn't going to fall as Hanna started to feel a pang of sadness. This was probably one of the last times they were going to get to spend a day with their daughter by themselves. When the new baby came, she knew it would be harder and harder to get away to the park with just their little blonde diva.
"So I spoke to Aria," Hanna said as Caleb pulled faces at Mila and continued to push her.
"Yeah?" He looked over at her, "What did she say?"
"Yes," She grinned.
"Told you she would," He smiled at her, slowing the swing down before scooping Mila out and letting her run off to wherever she wanted to go in the play area. He hooked an arm around Hanna's neck as they began to follow her slowly, "You know you had nothing to worry about."
Hanna linked her fingers with the hand that was dangling over her shoulder and wrapped her other arm around his waist, "She could have said no," She looked up at him, "She has her own baby to worry about at the moment."
He buried his nose in her hair, "Never gonna happen with you girls."
"I guess you're right," She conceded, pouting up at him until he connected their lips. They were broken from their moment as Mila called for them impatiently and when they looked over at her, she was already starting to climb up a ladder. "Caleb," Hanna worried as Mila reached for the next rung.
He shook his head, "I know," He muttered, unwrapping himself from Hanna and running over to Mila to make sure she didn't fall and hurt herself. That turned into Mila forcing Caleb to climb up with her and run through the climbing frame until she decided she was tired and wanted to come down.
"You gonna slide down?" Hanna asked as Mila perched nervously on the top of a baby slide.
"Mama," Mila called, holding her hands out for her.
"I can't come up there," Hanna smiled as she managed to kneel down at the bottom of the slide, holding her hands out and encouraging her down. "Come down and give Mommy a kiss."
"You ready?" Caleb asked. He'd climbed down and was stood near the top of the slide, his hands on Mila's waist to make sure she didn't scare herself. She nodded and he counted down from three before holding onto her as she slid down into Hanna's waiting arms.
"Yay," Hanna grinned, cuddling her close and peppering her face with kisses. "You did it!"
"Up Mama," Mila demanded, holding onto Hanna's neck as she tried to stand up.
"Okay," She agreed, reaching her hand up for Caleb's. "Let me get up first, then I'll carry you."
"Babe, I can carry her," Caleb insisted as he helped her stand, a worrying look crossing his face as she scrunched her eyes up.
"No," Hanna insisted, "It's fine, if you just pick her up and give her to me."
"Hanna," He tried again, looking at her imploringly, but she sent him a glare that told him to shut up and pass her their daughter. "Okay," He sighed, scooping Mila up before handing her to Hanna. "Don't look at me like that," He muttered with a grin on his face as Mila wrapped her arms around Hanna's neck and held onto her tightly, looking like the cat that got the cream.
"Mama," She grinned toothily, gripping onto Hanna's shoulders.
"My baby," Hanna cooed, kissing Mila's cheek over and nuzzling her nose against her blonde curls.
"She loves her Mama," Caleb remarked as they began to walk back towards the car with his hand on Hanna's lower back. "And she definitely knows you're not supposed to carry her," He added, opening up the back door for them.
"I know," Hanna agreed as she lifted Mila in, "But you're Mommy's girl, huh? And no baby bump's gonna change that," She said, giving her a sweet kiss before strapping her in and handing the toddler her blanket. Not only did Mila love the park, but it also tired her out like no tomorrow and she usually took a nice long nap afterwards that let Hanna get on with whatever she needed to. Although at the moment, the only thing Hanna was doing, was napping with her.
"Bug," Hanna called as she riffled through her purse, "You want your binks?" She asked, holding one out for her. The little girl nodded sleepily and took it from Hanna, shoving it in her mouth before resting her head tiredly against the side of her seat. Hanna couldn't help herself, she just looked too adorable, so leant down to give her one final kiss on her forehead and a gentle stroke of her cherubic cheek before shutting the door gently and joining Caleb in the front.
"You good?" He asked as he watched her try and get comfortable in her seat.
"Yeah," Hanna smiled at him, but she knew she really shouldn't have carried Mila all the way back to the car, especially if the twinge in her back was anything to go by. New baby girl couldn't get here soon enough.
"Babe," Hanna opened her eyes to find Caleb gently rocking her shoulder with their phone in his other hand. "Aria's on the phone."
"What?" She asked tiredly, pushing herself to sit up from where she'd been napping on the sofa.
"Aria's wants to talk to you," He repeated, stroking her hair back from her face, "I can tell her to call back," He suggested, but Hanna shook her head and reached for the phone.
"Hello," She answered tiredly, half-distracted as her eyes followed Caleb as he walked away from her and down the hallway out of sight.
"Hanna, she won't stop crying," Aria said worriedly and if Hanna listened just a little harder, she could make out the sound of a screaming baby in the background.
"Have you tried feeding her?" Hanna asked through a yawn.
"I've tried everything," She said worriedly and Hanna could hear the panic in her voice.
"When did you last feed her?"
"Not that long ago," Aria dithered, "And she's been crying ever since."
"She might have colic," Hanna suggested. She looked up when she heard noise coming from the hallway and smiled when a sleepy Mila came into view, propped on Caleb's hip with her blanket gripped tightly in her hand.
"Can I bring her over?" Aria pleaded. She really just needed some reassuring right now from somebody who'd already been through it all. Despite having had Harper at home for almost a month, she still felt like she didn't have the confidence of Hanna or Spencer when it came to being a Mom.
"Sure," Hanna agreed, cradling the phone between her ear and shoulder as she took Mila into her arms, "We'll see you in a bit," She added before hanging up. "Hi sleepy girl," She cooed at Mila who was rubbing her eyes tiredly, "Are you excited to see Harper?"
"They're coming over?" Caleb asked, grabbing Mila's sippy from the kitchen and bringing it back over to them. "Babe, you're shattered."
"Yeah," Hanna ignored him, kissing the side of Mila's head as she sucked on her binky whilst she lay contently against Hanna's shoulder, "Shall we call Auntie Emmy and ask her if she wants to come and play too?" Mila nodded and clung onto Hanna tightly.
"She could pick Lo up on her way over here," Caleb said as it became clear he was not going to be able to change Hanna's mind about having people over.
"That would be good, wouldn't it?" She asked Mila, "It means we don't have to leave the house," She added, tucking Mila's blanket around her.
"Mama, pway," Mila mumbled, looking up at Hanna and then Caleb.
"And this is why I want Em to come over," Hanna smiled tiredly up at Caleb, grateful when he helped Mila down off the sofa and then sat next to her as an all-too-comfortable pillow. "You're my favourite pillow," She grinned, resting her head on his chest and looking up at him.
"Smiling at me like that will not make me forget how tired you are."
"What if I pout?" She pouted instead, but her lips soon formed a grin again as he leant down to kiss her, shaking his head in slight disbelief.
"Still not making me forget," He whispered against her mouth, kissing her again and again. "You know I'm only worried because I love you."
"I know," She sighed, grabbing his hand and resting it on her bump where their baby girl was kicking away like crazy. "Three weeks," She grinned, her fingertips drawing invisible patterns over her top, "And then we get to meet her."
"That's if she's on time," Caleb remarked – he had a funny feeling they wouldn't have to wait that long until she was here.
"Mmm," Hanna mumbled, watching Mila as she played with some plastic horses, "If she's anything like her sister then she'll be here early." That and the fact that her back had not stopped twinging since they'd gotten in the car at the park. Yeah… there were definite signs. "Did you scare Mommy and Daddy by coming early?" She grinned at her daughter as she came over with one of her toy ponies.
"No," Mila shook her head, holding up the toy.
"Yes you did," Caleb argued with her, laughing as she continued to shake her head at them, "You scared Mommy and Daddy a lot."
"No," She argued back, giving Caleb a pony before heading back over to her toys to pick up another one. Caleb stood as he heard George start to whine at their duplex doors, moving to let him out into their back yard. Mila stopped what she was doing and watched Caleb for a few seconds before deciding she wanted to go outside too.
Hanna shot Emily a text before she somehow managed to push herself up and followed the pair of them outside, determined to enjoy the afternoon summer sun with her family. She bit her lip and fought a smile as she sat herself down on their outdoor sofa set and watched Mila immediately start to strip and remove her pyjamas in the middle of their lawn. "Babe," She yelled, grabbing Caleb's atention as he made sure George wasn't destroying one of their fences. "She's stripping."
Caleb laughed and walked over to Mila, helping her out of her clothes and letting her run around the garden butt naked. He grabbed one of the sprinklers that they'd been using over the summer and turned it on, grinning as Mila shrieked before starting to run through the spray with George hot on her heels. "Daddy!" She squealed, running over to him with her hair now damp.
"Are you having fun?" He asked her, not expecting an answer as Mila ran straight back off towards the water again, her hands in the air as she let the spray cover her.
"Hey guys." Hanna and Caleb both looked over towards the house as they heard Ashley Marin great them.
"Mom," Hanna frowned, "What are you doing here?"
"I can't come check up on my very pregnant daughter?" Ashley defended herself, leaning down to give Mila a kiss when she ran over, before sitting herself next to Hanna.
"Nope," Hanna smiled, resting her head on Ashley's shoulder.
"Any signs of movement?" Ashley asked her daughter gently.
"I don't think so," The blonde replied, "But she is definitely kicking a lot."
"Feeling ready?" She added as Caleb came over to the pair of them and sat down opposite, dumping Mila's pyjamas on the side.
"Do you ever feel ready?" He quirked his eyebrows, turning his head as Mila shrieked and ran over to him. He rolled her up in his arms and blew a raspberry on her belly, making her squeal with delight, "I still don't think I'm ready for everything this crazy girl throws at us," He placed Mila back on the floor, tickling her naked belly one more time before she ran back off to the sprinkler.
Hanna laughed as Mila screamed, her face lighting up as the water covered her from head to toe, "She's always been a curveball."
"I think the door just went," Caleb said, craning his neck to look into the house.
"We're out here!" Hanna yelled, too tired to get up to see who it was.
"She won't stop crying," Aria rambled as she appeared with Harper in her car seat. "Tell me what to do."
Hanna sat up, "Have you swaddled her?"
"No," Aria murmured, pulling her baby daughter into her arms, "I should try that."
"Make sure it's tight enough," Caleb couldn't help but remark as he watched Aria loosely wrap Harper up.
"Caleb," Hanna laughed, shaking her head at him.
"What?" He grinned at her.
"Like this?" Aria asked him as she re-swaddled the baby.
"Yeah," Caleb agreed, although he stood up and moved over to tug the blanket a little tighter, "Perfect," He said as she tucked the material around Harper. As if by magic, she stopped crying.
Aria sighed in relief and sat down, "He is such a pro," She said, "How is he such a pro?"
"He's had a lot of practice," Ashley smiled at her, "She's so beautiful," She complimented Harper, peering into the blanket to take in the cherubic face staring back at her.
"Mommeeeeeee?" A voice yelled from inside.
"We're outside Lo!" Hanna yelled back, waiting for her biggest bundle to appear in front of her.
He ran straight past her and at Caleb, "Daddy!" He shrieked – having him home before dinner time was an unexpected luxury. "Why are you here?"
"I've been helping Mommy today," Caleb explained, "Go give her a kiss," He encouraged him, guiding him over to Hanna.
"Hi bubba," She grinned, kissing his forehead, "Did you have fun a pre-school?"
Logan nodded and smiled, "We played in the sand," He said, forcing himself up onto her lap. "Hi sissy," He yelled at her belly, "How are you?"
"Remember we said sissy can hear you without yelling," Hanna shot him an amused look as Emily appeared.
"Looks like we're having a little summer party out here," She said, looking out over the lawn and grinning as she spied her goddaughter butt-naked and having fun in the water with George. "Mimi!" She yelled, walking towards her slightly until Mila spotted her and ran full-speed into her arms. "My beautiful goddaughter," Emily cooed, uncaring of the fact that she was naked and wetting her clothes, "I miss you whenever we're apart."
"Aunie Emmy," Mila squealed.
Emily gasped and kissed her, "Have you said hi to Harper?" She asked her, brushing her blonde wet curls away from her forehead. "Shall we say hi?"
"Lo, you wanna go say hi too?" Hanna asked, running a hand through his hair as he looked at Aria who was sat there with Harper in her arms. "Go say hi," She encouraged him.
Caleb came and moved himself next to her, wrapping an arm around her shoulder to pull her close. "Think they're ready for a new sister?" He asked her as she rested her head on his shoulder and her hand on his chest.
They both watched as Logan rested his hands on Aria's knees before he peered down at Harper and encouraged Mila to do the same. "Yeah," Hanna smiled contently, relaxing against him, "I think they are."
"Can you say hello Harper?" Emily asked Mila and Logan.
"Hello Harper," They said together, both of them gasping as the baby opened her eyes and let out a soft coo.
Hanna bit her lip as she felt another twinge in her back. She wasn't scared now. She was ready. "They are," She repeatedly softly and looked up at Caleb.
He looked down at her and gently connected their lips, "They definitely are."
Do you guys actually think something will happen with Haleb in the finale? I'm not sure how happy we're going to be.
Enjoy? Please revieeeeew x
