A/N Who enjoyed that poorly edited little diddy of a first chapter? Pretty professional, huh? Can y'all believe it's only the second day, and I'm updating? Crazy!

Disclaimer I don't own any part of the Pretty Little Liars franchise, but I do take credit for Cooper. He is my precious baby-boo. Awkward...

- Welcome to the fallout,

Welcome to resistance.

The tension is here

Tension is here -

Five Months Later...

It's hard to be left alone, in such a big world. Life is what you make it, or at least that's what some people seem to believe. Those people who make the stupid sayings up are the one's who are happy. And there are very few of those, so it shouldn't even count. However, it is true that you make do with what you have and learn to except what you don't.

Friends. Hanna had a lot of them, keyword being had. In the beginning of high school, she was it It girl. She had it all; friends, followers, suitors, everything. And all within reasonable distance. Yet as she stood on the front steps of the Fitz's apartment building, watching her best friend boss around the group of movers, Hanna felt completely alone.

As planned, Aria and Ezra were moving back to Rosewood, a little earlier than planned. And that was great, because it's what they wanted out of life. They were more than happy when they were together; they had time for each other. Hanna didn't know what she wanted. She did know that she loved what she had. Caleb and Cooper were her rock(s). Life without them was unimaginable. Still, she longed for more out of life. Her job was at a stand-still, while Caleb's was on the rocks. She had no time for herself anymore. No time for Cooper, or Caleb either. In July, Caleb's company had been discussing cuts in employees and salary, none of which they could afford to go without. Even though he had been working over-time, Caleb's pay had reduced 2%, and he was forced to take a second job in the night time, which made it even harder for him to search for better jobs.

Their love life was no better. Even when they had two seconds together for any sort of intimacy, things were quickly ruined either by work or simple life. In just five short months, they had become distant. Going from sex at least twice a week to maybe once a month. Hanna couldn't begin to count those times when they just laid in bed, silent.

The worst part was Cooper. After trying all kinds of methods of keeping up with a dog in the city, they had decided that there wasn't enough time for them to pay attention to Happy. With much convincing, Cooper finally settled for his best friend to move with his aunt and uncle to Pennsylvania. This broke his heart almost as much as Caleb not being there at night to read him his books had. Whenever Hanna had tried, she was confronted with "But Daddy uses cool voices."

The blonde shivered in the passing of the cool October breeze as she walked down the steps to the moving van. She handed Aria a mug of coffee and sighed. "So this is it, isn't it?"

"Mmm, yes it is." murmured the brunette as she warmed her fingers around the mug.

"You'll come back to visit, won't you?"

"Eventually," Aria replied smartly with a smirk.

"Will you at least make it back for our annual Christmas shopping spree at Barney's and Macy's?"

The brunette looked amused. "That's never been a tradition. But I'll try my hardest to come back as long as you come with us to Pennsylvania for the rest of the holiday. And then we can take Cooper ice skating. Just like we did when we were growing up."

Hanna sighed. "This is so surreal. You're actually leaving New York City to go back to stuffy old Rosewood."

"Maybe it's stuffy, Han, but it's home. New York is big and loud, and people are all pushy and strange. I know people in Rosewood, at least. It's where Ezra wants to be, and for great reason." She shifted her position on the step, sipping again on her coffee. "I'm not going to let him give up this opportunity. It's a good one and he's really excited."

"I know, I'm just being a big baby." The blonde rested her head on the other woman's shoulder. "Maybe I should suggest moving back to my husband, though I'm not sure how Caleb would feel."

Aria ran her fingers through Hanna's hair. "If you feel it's best, and that it would make you happy, then I think you should. But you shouldn't let Ezra and I moving away be your catalyst for doing so. Nor should you let this ruin the good in your life. You're only twenty-two, you have plenty of time to turn it around."

"Maybe you're right."

"Maybe, but I know how happy you are here."

Hanna pulled her head up and sighed shakily, tears sparkling in her eyes. "I'm not happy. Not now, at least. And I don't know what to do anymore, it's like me and Caleb are stuck. I don't know how to pick up the pieces."

Aria set her mug down on the brick step and wrapped her arms around her friend, rubbing her hands up and down her back. "I know, honey. I know it may seem like everything is falling apart, but it isn't. Not yet. What you need is to confront Caleb. Tell him that you're unhappy. Not in a way that will make it seem like his fault, because its not. Just let him know that you need help to feel happy again."

"I know. I should, but I'm just scared of being rejected." Hanna whimpered.

"What do you mean?"

She took in a deep breath and shook the emotion from her face. "What if he does blame it all on me? Maybe he doesn't want to help me."

"Don't say that, don't you dare." Scolded the tiny girl. "He loves you, and he would never be that stupid."

"We have, in a way, grown apart the last few months. Anything could come out of his mouth. That's what I'm afraid of." She confessed.

Aria hugged her closer. "Well lets hope it doesn't come to anything terrible."

-:-

That night after Caleb returned home from his night job as the manager of a bistro down the block, he and Hanna were simultaneously preparing for bed there was a phone call.

Curiously, Hanna left the bathroom and made her way over to the phone on the dresser. She pressed the 'talk' button. "Hello?"

"Hi, is Caleb Rivers available?" A low, feminine voice asked.

The woman's voice wasn't recognizable. The only thing Hanna could make out was that she was British. Worry crept over the her as she tried to think of reasons why this person would be calling for Caleb at ten o'clock at night. Earlier in the week she'd had some suspicions about a number written on a napkin she found in his pants pocket as she folded laundry, and when his collar smelled of Burberry perfume. Surely there was nothing Hanna needed to feel concerned over, but Caleb and her hadn't actually had any real, considerable conversations within the last week or so.

Not knowing what else to say or do, Hanna panicked and waved Caleb over before handed the phone to her husband. "Hello?" He answered wearily, yawning away from the reciever.

Hanna decided that she really had nothing to worry about, and walked into the bathroom to change into her nightgown. Then she heard something she couldn't ignore. She peeked her head slyly around the edge of the closet's door.

"Stop putting so much pressure on me," her husband whispered playfully. "I don't know if we can meet there then, my wife might suspect something. No, trust me I want this so much, more than you may think. I understand, you only have so much time in the day. Okay, I'll text you later." He hung up the phone and climbed into bed.

The closet door flung open suddenly, banging loudly as it slammed against the wall.

"Who the hell was that?" Hanna hissed, nearly scaring Caleb to the point of falling on the floor.

"No one important." He grimaced.

Hanna strode over to her side of the bed, climbing on and sitting upwards. "Then why were you scared of me suspecting something? I know that was a woman, Caleb, don't pretend you're innocent. I'm as clueless as some would think."

He turned away from her on his back, settling his head in the pillow. "She's no one, calm down." he stated simply, as if it were not big deal.

"No!" She gaped. "If you want to fool around with some hoe, then be my guest, but don't be surprised when you get home one night to find me and your son gone."

She could make out his groan before he rolled back over to face her. "Why would I 'fool around' with another woman? Is that really what this relationship has come to, you not being able to trust me?"

"Oh, please! You're the one practically blurting out your special plans!" She stopped for a second to draw in another shaky breath. Then turning back to him, she asked quietly. "Who is she?"

He sighed. "Her name is Madeline Agnes."

"Even sounds like a hooker." She mumbled under her breath.

"She isn't an escort."

"Oh, a stripper, even better."

Caleb sat up and glared at her. "Would you stop this?" He hesitated before continuing. "Madeline happens to be in charge of scouting new employees for Grayson Corporations."

"The tech plant based in Philly?"

He nodded. "She wants to interview me for a position as senior developer in the innovations lab. She saw a lot of the work I did with RCA developments last year and thinks I'm what they're looking for!"

"Oh," At first Hanna was confused but that was soon replaced by excitement. "Oh, that's great!"

"I know!" he smiled. "But nothing's set in stone just yet. That's why I didn't want to tell you. I didn't want you to feel let down in case I don't get it."

"Baby, you know it wouldn't matter. There are going to be plenty of opportunities in the future. Maybe not right away, but soon." She consoled him.

He nodded, reaching for her hand from his shoulder and pulling her closer to where she sat facing him on the bed. "I know, but this would be a really great thing for us. We'd have to move back to Rosewood, but at least we have our family there."

Hanna paused for a second. "That's what I want."

He glanced up at her. "You do?"

She nodded. "Now that Aria and Ezra have moved back, we have nothing left for us here. It's our fault we didn't make any new friends while living here," he chuckled at this. Hanna grabbed his other hand and squeezed it.

Caleb smiled. "I'll be honest, I have missed it. New York is just...too big."

"And unfriendly."

"So is Rosewood." He teased. "At least it's physically quieter."

Hanna giggled. "And they have the decency to wait until you have your back turned to say something about you, instead of screaming it right in your face, along with their hotdog-breath."

"True." Caleb agreed. Taking Hanna's face into his hands, he smiled. They hadn't had a moment like this in a long time. It was nice to know they could so easily get back to the bright souls they were. In truth, they both thought that being around each other would become awkward, being they hadn't been so close.

"Are you going to meet with Madeline, then?"

"Yeah," he nodded. "Hopefully tomorrow will be my final interview before my stuff gets sent to corporate."

Hanna crawled back under the sheets and stayed facing Caleb, smiling as he did the same. "I know you're gonna get this, you have it in the bag. When will they tell you their decision?"

"I hope so. This job could mean so many things for me. For us. We could get our own house, a decent-sized one with a yard."

"Yeah, Coop would have a ball with Happy. I could find a job somewhere part-time."

"What about your job at Glam?" he asked.

Hanna made a putrid face and giggled. "It's all become quite boring. You also get pretty guilty when your son cries the first day of school because you're not the one picking him up. I just miss my baby."

"I know. It seems like we never have any time for him."

"If we don't do something about that soon, we'll have an emotional wreck on our hands."

"Or things will go well and he turns out like Spencer." they laughed, him a little more than her.

"If you don't get this job, does that mean we can't relocate to Rosewood anyway?" she asked.

"Nah, we're definitely moving back."

-:-

The next evening was a Friday night, which meant it was movie night when Caleb got off work. Hanna was on the floor, folding laundry as the popcorn popped wildly. When the beeper sounded and she got up to retrieve her snack, her husband could be heard booming up the steps of the building and to the door.

Barging through the threshold came Caleb with a grin on his face from ear to ear. "Hanna!"

She stepped out of the kitchen with the bowl of popcorn and a look of amusement on her face. "What?" she giggled.

The paper bag he had carried in was torn open as he pulled out a large glass bottle. "You'll never believe what happened tonight!"

"Hm, I don't know, did you get the job?" she teased.

"Actually, no."

"What," she nearly dropped the bowl "Oh I'm so sorry!"

"I didn't get the Siemens job, which sucks because it's convenient. I did, however, get the job at Grayson!"

Hanna's mouth flew open. "You did not!"

As he nodded, she squealed and threw herself into his arms, spinning around. "I'm so proud of you!" she kissed him over and over. "This is amazing! I love you so much!"

Caleb kissed her back equally as turned on. Luckily he had taken time to set the bottle of champagne on the counter before catching her mid-leap. "I'm so excited, babe. You don't even understand, this is great. There were four other guys up for the position. But none of them had such impressive backgrounds. I was the only Ivy League applicant."

"That's awesome, I'm so proud to call you mine." she whispered as he lowered her back to the floor.

Suddenly there was another shadow lingering in the living room as Cooper tottered over sleepily.

"What's happening?" he whispered. "Why is Mommy cwying?"

Hanna quickly wiped the tears which she hadn't even realized were falling and got down on her knees to her son's level. "Daddy got a job, honey."

The five-year-old gave his parents another confused look. "Huh?"

Caleb then joined the two on the floor. "You know when Mrs. Mabry picks the most behaved student to sit on the magic carpet with her at story time?" The child nodded.

"Well, Daddy got picked to help some really cool people at work because he's the smartest student." finished the blonde.

"Congratulations, Daddy." said Cooper proudly. Then he was grabbed by his middle and taken into Caleb's arms where his parents began tickling him. "Thank you, Buddy." he replied.

Cooper was soon let go and taken by his mother, who wanted to cuddle. "Now we get to go on a big adventure. We're going to leave this apartment and move into a big house, Hon," she whispered.

"Why?"

"Because it's closer to my work." his father answered simply.

"But I like it here, my fwiends live here. Who lives at the new house?"

"Nana Ashley does. So do Uncle Ezra and Aunt Aria, and Uncle Toby and Aunt Spencer. But guess what the best part is?"

"Hm?"

"We get to take Happy with us in our new house! And you'll have a yard to play with him in, and teach him lots of tricks." explained Hanna.

"Really?" the parents nodded. "This is gonna be so fun, Mom."

Hanna burst out a laugh, "I know, Cooper, it will be."

And with that, the little family all cuddled together for movie night, Cooper included since it was such a special occasion for them.

They couldn't wait to be back home.

-:-

I hope you enjoyed this installment!

PLEASE, tell your friends, tell your neighbors, tell everyone about this story! I'm afraid that many people won't read it because on the story post's description, it says this story is only a few words long, which we all know isn't true. I don't want to prevent anyone from missing out on this. (not that there's much to miss)

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