Title: I don't have a choice, but I still choose you

Pairing: Ezria (Ezra/Aria); Spoby (Spencer/Toby); Haleb (Hanna/Caleb); Bemily (Ben/Emily)

Rated T: mild language and thematic elements

Summary: The PLLs struggle to navigate through life and love, all while dealing with -A. Set during various seasons /FOUR-SHOT;; IN PROGRESS


A/N: Hey everyone! Here is the third part to this four-shot. Hope you enjoy ;) And thank you so much to everyone who reviewed/favorited/followed, it is much appreciated.

Disclaimer: I do not own Pretty Little Liars or Poison & Wine by The Civil Wars.

I apologize in advance if there are any spelling/grammar errors I might not have caught.


Hanna thought she finally figured out the rules of –A's game, then –A went and changed them on her. She knew telling Caleb about the emergence of a new tormentor would risk putting his life in danger; but she didn't know merely contemplating the idea was enough ammo for –A to try and kill his mother. That's why when he showed up in her doorway looking upset she knew she couldn't go through with it. Sure, she might lose him for a while (or forever), but at least he'd still be alive. He'd hate her, though, he'd eventually get over it. Or so Hanna told herself. The truth was she had no idea how Caleb would react, how long he'd be upset, or how betrayed he would feel. All Hanna knew was that she loved him and she'd do anything to protect him, even if it meant hurting herself in the process. Caleb could survive without her, but she couldn't survive without Caleb.

It's too bad she would have to anyway.

-::-

Hanna tried to assure Caleb that everything was all right and that she'd called him over for no reason, but being with her as long as he had, he wasn't so easily convinced.

"Caleb, it's nothing, really." Hanna sighed, frustrated. Caleb ignored her.

"Hanna, I understand that when you lied to me last year, you were trying to protect me; but there's no more –A. So why are you lying to me now?"

Hanna stayed silent.

"Is this about Mona?"

"No."

"Then what?"

"Can we just drop it?"

Except Caleb wouldn't. He was fed up with all the secrets and lies and to be quite frank, he didn't think he deserved them. He deserved a girlfriend who'd speak to him honestly.

"Caleb, where are you going?" Hanna called out after him as he prepared to exit her bedroom. He spun around agitated, hurt clearly etched all over his face.

"I can't do this anymore…"

"Can't do what?"

"This…I feel like you've been pushing me away for weeks, and I…I just keep hoping that things are going to go back to the way that they were…but clearly, that's not gonna happen."

"Look, you've just gotta be patient with me right now—"

"I've been nothing but patient with you. I feel like I only exist in half of your life and that's not good enough for me anymore…I'm done, Hanna." And then Caleb walked out before Hanna could even bother to question him. He told her she hadn't given him much of a choice; then again neither had –A. And if Hanna wanted to see Caleb alive and well, she'd do whatever –A wanted. She'd kill herself if she had to.

"I'm so sorry, Caleb." She'd whispered aloud to no one in particular later that evening. "I realize it's a poor excuse, but I'm so, so sorry."

Then she wondered if one day she'd ever stop apologizing. If she'd finally take her life into her own hands again and stand up to –A (what a bitch). She hoped that she would, and not just for herself, but for Caleb, too.

Fin.


That does it for Haleb, last up is Bemily. Thanks all. Hope you've enjoyed this as much as I have. Let me know what you're looking forward to, or what I could've done better.