Hope you guys like this chapter. Tried to go less Angst-y more upbeat. Let me know what you think!


"I know you didn't mean too...you just do, Caleb. Every time. And it's really REALLY unfair."

Hanna, I didn't mean too...honestly.

Caleb watches her as she walks towards the cab to leave, he blinks - once, twice and then the words fall out of his mouth before he can think about it again

Ask her, you have got to know.

"Do you love him?"

She stops and then turns back to face him "Don't ask me questions like that."

He takes a deep breath and steps closer to her "Why not?"

"MISS?! I really have to get going..." the cab driver calls again Caleb never takes his eyes off of her as she thinks about her answer.

But do you really want to know…?

"Because. Don't make me say it...not to you." she says and he can see the tear that escapes her eyes and runs down her cheek.

Say yes...prove to me that I made the right decision. NO! Say no...say you don't love him...

His heart races as he takes another step forward "I want to hear you say it...say it..."

"Yeah, I do but -." she whispers

He shakes his head no to stop her mid-sentence. Swallowing hard he stares at the ground and when he looks up she watches him with tears in her eyes "See, that….that is all matters...that you are happy. That's the best I can ask for you."

They stand there again, no words – just stares and silence.

"MISS! I am about to have to leave and I would really hate to leave you in the dark to walk the rest of the way!" the cab driver calls back out from the window.

Hanna turns her head to face him still waiting on the curb. She looks back to him "I guess I better go." As she says it, he can see the tears fall from her eyes.

Just let her go man. She is happy...Don't keep her from that.

"Yeah…I guess so." He whispers back and he can feel his eyes burn.

She turns and heads for the cab and he watches her as she reaches for the door handle and then she sobs and he gasps at the sound. She whips her head back around to look at him then she starts to speak

"Why didn't you come back? I just need to know why. I came back but you didn't."

Came back? She came back...what does that even mean?

"I waited and waited – no calls, texts, email nothing. I walked around like a crazy person for weeks crying all the time, seeing you ever where, when you were nowhere to be seen. I waited for you as long as I could, when you never came back I eventually had to pick up the million little pieces of my broken heart and move on with life the best I could."

"Han, you just have to understand-"

I was just doing what I thought was best…

"No! You have to understand I – I…." she stops and breathes in deep. "I'm gonna be sick." She says as she leans over the bushes.

He reaches her just in time to grab her hair back from her face and holds it in a ponytail in his hands. She hangs her head after she's done, with her hands on her knees she braces herself. She stands and wobbles, and he quickly reaches out to stable her as she mumbles "I'm sorry." through tears.

He reaches out and wipes her tears from her eyes, "Are you okay? Where are your friends?"

"I've already dropped them off…like 20 minutes ago now…" the cab driver chimes in as he gets out of the car and hands him a paper towel "I really hate to be that guy, but I do have to keep going…what's it gonna be sweetheart?" he asks as he looks at Hanna.

"Yeah, uh I'll go with her and make sure she gets home okay." Caleb says as he reaches over to wipe first her cheeks, then her mouth.

"I'm fine." Hanna says beside him as she takes the paper towel from his hand.

Yeah, no you're not. You're drunk.

Caleb looks at the cab driver and they exchange questioning looks. He wraps Hanna's arm around his neck and walks her slowly to the cab. He sits her down inside and walks around to the other door, opens it and slides in. The driver pulls off the curb and into the street. He watches her from across the seat as she lays her head against the window. She shifts suddenly, kicking off her shoes and lays down on the seat curling into a ball and laying her head in his lap, taking him by surprise. He hesitates but reaches down and gently strokes her head with his hand. She begins to quietly sob and he shushes her.

"It was pouring down rain that night. I jumped out of the cab sitting in the traffic and I ran back to the apartment to apologize and so we could leave for Europe together. I knew that I had made a mistake by leaving, so I jumped out of the cab and ran back. I came back, and you were gone. I called your phone, and it lit up on the table and in that very second I knew that I had ruined everything. I am so sorry Caleb, I am so sorry."

She came back after I left…to the apartment…after I was already gone…

He opens his mouth to reply, stopping himself to think about his answer and before he can come up with words to say he can hear her soft snoring from his lap, she's out. He kind of chuckles, because that's all he can do. He continues to rub her hair as he stares out the window, deep in thought.

She came back...

After a few minutes of silence the driver speaks "She loves you, you know..." he says from the front of the car, making Caleb turn to meet his gaze in the rear view mirror of the car "I mean, I don't know you or her so pardon me if that is a step over the line...but I heard her talking to her other friends before I dropped them off...and I saw what just happened on that sidewalk...she loves you. I have seen a lot of drunken rants on these streets trust me, but that..." he raises his eyebrows and shakes his head "That wasn't fueled by anger or by alcohol...that was something else."

Caleb stares at the driver in the mirror but doesn't say anything.

The driver chuckles under his breath and "And you love her, so you need to tell her."

Caleb looks down at her head in his lap and back up to the mirror at the driver "Yeah, I know." he looks down at Hanna again and then back up in the mirror "She's engaged to someone else though."

"So I heard. Just tell her how you feel. I have a feeling she will listen." he says with a wink in the mirror.

"Exactly how much did you hear?"

This time he laughs out loud before answering "Pretty much all of it...lots of history between the two of you huh?"

"Yeah, something like that..." he says as he looks back down at a sleeping Hanna in his lap and he rubs her head.

"We're here my friend." He says as he pulls the cab to the curb outside of an apartment building

Caleb looks out the window and up at the building, recognizing it immediately and he smiles. He shakes Hanna "Han...Hanna...wake up... We're here." he says but she doesn't budge. He leans up and pulls his wallet out of his pocket for the fare, and then he pulls her into his lap and carefully shimmies out of the seat.

He stands out of the cab and shuts the door with his hip and turns back to the driver "Thanks man."

The driver nods to him and says "Have a good night. Tell her if not tonight, then before you leave." and laughs as he puts the car in drive and pulls away. Caleb turns back around to the building and then looks down at Hanna. He walks through the doors and makes his way to the stairs. When he makes it to the door he tries to wake her again "Han, Han…wake up. I need your keys." This time she opens her eyes and nods. She pulls the keys out of her bag and wiggles to get down out of his arms. He gently sits her down and she fumbles with the keys for a few minutes.

Man man man…Hanna…you really do not handle your liquor well…

He thinks with a laugh as she finally finds the right key and opens the door. He walks behind her as she lowly makes her way through the apartment to the bedroom. Once inside she kicks off her shoes by the nightstand and lays down, face down on the bed. He shakes his head and walks into the bathroom that adjoins the bedroom. He smiles when he realizes that she still puts her pajamas on the same hook on the bathroom wall.

Well, at least some things never change…

He grabs the shirt off of the hook and throws it over his shoulder, picking up the shorts that hang on the hook he walks back into the bedroom. He stands in the doorway of the bathroom for a minute just looking at her as she sleeps. She looks peaceful but she snores, something that he knew she only did when she had too much to drink. He walks back over to the bed and lays the clothes down beside her as he debates how he will wake her up to get them on. He sits down on the edge of the bed and hesitates before he touches her back to shake her "Han…Hanna, wake up. I brought your pajamas. Han…" when she doesn't wake he huffs. He leans down and his fingers linger over the zipper on the back of the dress. He carefully unzips her dress, exposing her back.

Slowly, he sits her up and she doesn't fight him. Her eyes slightly open as he slides the straps off of her shoulders "Arms up" he says as he holds out the shirt and she lifts her arms in the air. He slides the shirt down over her dress. She falls back on the bed on her back, and he rolls his eyes then grabs the bottom hem of the dress and pulls it down over her legs. Grabbing the shorts beside her, he slides them up and over her legs. He leans over her, sliding his hand between her back and the mattress; lifting her to his chest and he moves her to lay her head on the pillow. He nuzzles her hair taking a deep breath as he does.

She smells the same…like Hanna…like home...I miss it.

When he lays her back down her eyes sling open and she moans "Ugh, I'm going to be sick." she says as she sits up. He reaches over and grabs the trash can that sits by the desk and hands it to her. He walks into the bathroom and looks around before opening the cabinet that used to hold the rags to find that they were still there. He grabs one and closes it back before he turns to the sink to run it under warm water. He opens the medicine cabinet and grabs her makeup remover wipes and closes it back before he heads back into the bedroom.

The trash can sits back on the floor beside the bed and she lays on her back with her arm thrown over her eyes. He walks over to the bed and sits down beside her and moves her arm. He picks up the rag and wipes her face then he picks up a wipe out of the container and gently wipes her eyes, removing her eye makeup as best he can. Once he is done, he sighs as he stands and pulls the covers from the foot of the bed up and over her and sits back down on top of them.

He sighs again and holds the bridge of his nose "Now that I can get a word in…let me explain myself. The night I left…after you walked out, I uh…I sat on this very bed, in this very spot and I looked around this room. I thought about all the good times and all the bad ones. I thought about staying and waiting on you to get back home. I thought about working it out and then I thought about leaving." he stops to think of the words to stay before continuing.

"We fought so hard all the time…together…we fought against a lot more than most couples ever have to – but it got to where all we fought, was each other. So I listened to the little voice in the back of my mind that told me to leave, and I did. That doesn't mean that I wanted to and that doesn't mean I didn't want to come back. I just didn't because I wanted you to be happy again. I have seen you happy, really happy and you just weren't anymore and maybe I took the coward's way out. Maybe I jumped ship when it got tough but it was really hard. I thought about how I would react when I found out you had moved on with someone else…and I knew you would eventually. I told myself I would be happy for you and I am, but you are right I am mad…mostly I am mad because I know deep down I should've come back or never left and none of this would even be an issue." He reaches out and brushes the hair out of her face before continuing "I will always care. You will always be the one person I love…loved more than anything or anyone and if you are happy, then I will find a way to be happy…for you."

He leans down and kisses her temple before he stands up from the bed and walks towards the door. Before he walks out, he turns to look over his shoulder at her while she sleeps then heads out the door for the living room. He looks around the living nothing that everything was exactly like he remembered it. As he walks around the couch, he runs his fingers over the back of it. He walks around and sits down and puts his head in his hands.

He lays back on the couch and puts his arm on his head.

I was just walking back to the hotel from Jamie's apartment…how did I end up here? Hanna on whiskey…that's how.

He chuckles and looks up at the ceiling as thoughts of the night flash through his mind. He closes his eyes and before he knows it, he is asleep


Hanna wakes in bed and stretches, taking inventory of what hurts when she does. Realizing she feels pretty good she sits up in bed; her head begins to pound when she does and she falls back down on the bed.

God, I am never drinking again….ever….damn them letting me drink this much…I gotta get up, I have got to pee…

She groans as she throws the covers back to go to the bathroom. As she stands she throws her hand to her forehead in an attempt to stop the pounding. She walks into the bathroom and tries to walk past the mirror but gives herself the side eye and stops when she sees her reflection and stops.

Holy crap Marin…you look rough…

She walks on past saying she will fix herself when she's done. As she sits images of the night begin to zoom through her mind. "Did I throw up?" she whispers under her breath. She shakes her head and stands, walking back to the mirror she grabs a hairbrush and starts to brush through the tangles in her hair and pulls it up into a very messy top knot on her head. She runs her fingers under her eyes, wiping away the remaining eyeliner that lingers there. She sighs and grabs her toothbrush from the holder and begins to brush her teeth. Once she is done she puts it back into the holder and wipes her month.

Now…Advil…

She thinks as she walks out of the bathroom and through the bedroom door into the living room to make her way to the kitchen. She glances over the back of the couch when she sees feet move under the covers draped over them. She looks back as she passes by.

Why is Caleb on the couch? He should've come to bed…

She walks to the kitchen and grabs a glass and from the cabinet and opens the refrigerator and pulls out a carton of orange juice, pours some into the glass and then puts the carton back in. She lifts it to her mouth and takes a drink, her face immediately scrunching up. She turns and spits it out in the sink and pours the remaining liquid in the glass down the drain and sits it glass down in the sink.

Toothpaste and Orange Juice don't mix Hanna, duh!

She thinks as she turns back to the fridge and grabs a bottle of water out. She reaches over and grabs the bottle of aspirin off the counter and pours two pills out into her hand. She downs he pills and takes a drink of her water and swallows them. When she lifts the bottle to her lips the second time she pours some water into her mouth and when she sees him asleep on the couch again, she spits it out all over the counter.

Caleb…Caleb…Why is Caleb here…what the…

She thinks as she sits her water bottle down on the counter and makes her way back into the living room. She leans in real close to his face and looks at him, he groans in his sleep and it makes her jump back. She throws her hand over to mouth to keep her scream inside. She sits down on the table and looks him over.

What…happened…last…night… Why is he here? Oh my god…he was at the bar…oh crap. What did I say?

She thinks back through the night trying to remember what was said.

I bumped into him inside the bar…we talked on the street…Alyssa…Jamie…Lemon Drops…they left….Why is he here? God, he's gorgeous. Has he always been this gorgeous? Yeah…he has always been pretty damn gorgeous…even when he sleeps…pain in my ass. I wake up looking like I've been hit by a bus, and he looks like this. He wears his hair different now.

She thinks as she reaches out to run her fingers through his hair. He stirs as she touches the strands and she stops, holding her hand still over his hair. When he settles she pulls her hand back and watches him sleep from her spot on the table.

Well, nothing wrong with enjoying the view…

When Caleb wakes he opens his eyes to see the ceiling he blinks and then closes his eyes back rolling onto his side. When he opens them he sees Hanna sitting Indian style on the coffee table, with a bowl of cereal and it makes him jump straight up.

What the-

He thinks as he looks at her, blinks and then looks around the room and registers that he is back in his old apartment. When he looks back at her she sits the bowl down on the table and uncrosses her legs, letting them dangle off one side of the table.

"Good Morning."

He looks at her confused "Morning."

"What the hell happened here?" she says as she points in between the two of them.

"What? Nothing." he says and then he puts his head in his hands "After I left the bar I went to Jamie's to hang for a little bit and I was walking back to my hotel when you jumped out of a cab and started yelling.." he looks up at her and she has a horrified look on her face "You threw up all over a poor defenseless bush and then passed out so I brought you home...I must've fallen asleep"

"I yelled at you? Why did I yell at you? What did I say? What did you do?" she asks

"I don't know why you started yelling at me…my guess is whiskey…" he says as he shoots her a look.

"I didn't have whiskey!"

"You didn't?"

"No. I had mojitos all night other than the lemon drops Jamie sent us and then I…" she gasps and she gives him an 'I'm so sorry' look "Jack and Diet Coke…"

"Yeah, yelling drunk Hanna only happens on whiskey…just like crying drunk Hanna only happens on wine." He says as a chuckle.

"Caleb, I am so sorry."

"Yeah, I know. You told me that already."

She looks at him with wide eyes.

What else did I say to you?

She stands from the table and grabs the bowl before heading back to the kitchen. She glances back over her shoulder "You want some breakfast? I mean, it is the least I can do since I apparently made a total ass of myself last night."

"Coffee?" he asks

She smiles "Yeah, come on."

He stands from the couch and walks towards the kitchen as she sits the bowl in the sink "Coffee cups are over-" she starts but when she turns around he already has one in his hand "I uh, I forget you used to live here…" she says with an awkward laugh as she looks down to the floor and back to him "Just uh, make yourself at home…again."

"You want a cup?" he turns to ask her, she shakes her head yes and he smiles grabbing another cup from the cabinet before turning towards the Keurig to make their coffee. She walks over and grabs the creamer and sugar out of the cabinet then turns back to him. "Lots of sugar, no creamer, right?"

She stops "Yeah…how do you-"

"I made your coffee for a lot of years Han. " he says and now he laughs softly and hands her the cup once it's made.

She takes it from him "Thanks." She whispers and takes a sip of it as she walks back towards the living room, sitting down in the chair beside the couch, pulls her legs underneath her.

He joins her when he is done with his coffee and sits down on the couch, next to the chair and takes a sip of his coffee. They sit in silence for a long time, she taking drinks and exchanging awkward looks and smiles. Hanna finally breaks the silence when she asks "So, you said you were in town on business…how long are you here for?"

"I uh, I am here for just a few more days. The company I work for in DC sent me to check on some firewalls for some of our clients, just to make sure that we are doing our job at keeping them from being hacked, and then I am headed back."

"To DC? That where you live?"

"I moved there after I came back from Europe. I actually ran into Spencer over in Madrid and that is where she lives."

"Yeah" she swallows "I know, I've talked to her a few times since she's been there…she never mentioned you being there though." She says and she picks up her cup

"Well when we got back in the states, I uh…I didn't really have any ideas where I would go, she mentioned that she knew a company there that could use someone with my skills so I went there."

"Well it's good you had somewhere to go. " she says and it comes out a lot harsher than she intended "That's uh…that didn't come out like I meant it I mean-"

"Yeah, I know." He says and shakes his head "Look, Han I should've called…I know that…it just wasn't a good time."

They sit in silence, both thinking about what he just said. He finally looks at the time and stands "I should go. I have some reports to send in from yesterday." He walks into the kitchen to put his cup in the sink.

She stands awkwardly as she watches him gather his things. She opens her mouth several times to say something but shuts it back each time.

Say something. Stop him.

"I would love to hear about your trip." She says, as it is the only thing that comes to her mind to stop him.

Really? That is all you have…

He turns to face her "Hanna…" he starts but stops.

"I'm sorry; I just figured….we can be friends, right? I mean I am just a friend…asking another friend about his trip…"

He stares at her as she stands with her hands on her hips, no doubt feeling as weird to be in this situation as he is.

"Let's catch up...over dinner…I mean, you did spend your night taking care of me so it is the least I can do. Friends can have dinner, right?"

"You said that about breakfast."

She rolls her eyes "Coffee is hardly breakfast."

He laughs and thinks for a second before he shakes his head "Okay. I will be back around 7?"

"Yeah, that works for me."

He walks towards the door and she follows behind him. When they reach it, he turns and they share a very stiff hug as he walks out the door. She shuts it behind him and puts her back to it. She cannot help the smile creeps over her face.

Did I just ask Caleb over for dinner…? I run into him for the first time after 3 years, make a total ass of myself and now I ask him for dinner…what is wrong with me?

Caleb walks down the hall and as he reaches the stairs he turns back to look down the hallway to the door he just walked out of. He turns back to look down the stairs and back at the door.

Did I just agree to dinner? How am I gonna have dinner…she's engaged remember, this will do you no good…Maybe I should cancel…but I don't want to…but I should. Screw it, I am having dinner with Hanna Marin.