A/N Thank you for coming back for a third chapter! You're amazing. I promise, all of this bulk is just leading to the real story ahead. I have a lot planned for this puppy and I can't wait to be able to share it with all of you, and I'm so excited that you like it!

Disclaimer I don't own any part of the Pretty Little Liars franchise. I do however, own Cooper and any other original characters thrown about.

- Home, let me go home
Home is wherever I'm with you
Home, let me go home
Home is when I'm alone with you -

"It's so big in here!" Exclaimed Cooper as he spun around the third floor Village apartment. When he was finally too dizzy, he collapsed on the floor in a fit of giggles.

"Careful, kid. Don't wanna crack your head open on the worn out wall trim." Hanna warned.

"Okay, but don't worry." He assured her. "I have perrrfect balance!"

She giggled and tore a piece of mover's tape off its roll, laying it across the top of a package. "Whatever, Spidey!"

It was nearing three weeks later and the young Rivers family was in the process of moving out of their little Village apartment and back to Rosewood. Everything in the flat had been for the most part packed into boxes and Caleb was helping the movers fill the truck.

To Cooper's entertainment and delight, the floor of the living room had never been so spacious to play in. Ever since the couch and television had been packed and away, the kid had made himself busy playing gymnast on the harsh, thinly carpeted floor.

"Mommy, I could fit my whole entire race car set on the floor!" He told her as he ran back and forth across the room.

Hanna blew a strand of her bangs that stuck out of her messy braid and sighed. She took another piece from the tape roll and ripped it over the rigid blade. "I know, baby. And I can fit my whole fist in my mouth. But you need to settle down, okay? It's too early to be horsin' around in here, you're gonna wake up the neighbors downstairs."

The couple that had taken up residence in the Fitz's former apartment one floor down was awful. The neighborhood in general was a fairly youthful scene and the couple, who clearly bordered on retirement, was very uptight. Their lights were already out by ten o'clock in the evening when Caleb would arrive home from the bistro and they rarely slept after nine in the morning. Hanna couldn't wait to move back to where everyone was friendly and courteous, and no one acted like they were permanently constipated.

The Rivers were planning to arrive back in Rosewood later that day, but had gotten up at five in the morning to clean the empty apartment before getting on the road.

Soon after Cooper had settled down, Caleb entered the apartment with a large paper bag. "Who's ready to move?" He asked his son.

Hanna stood up from her place sealing boxes on the floor, crossing her arms over her chest. "Depends. What's in the bag?" She asked curiously, trying to hide her eagerness to eat something.

"I got bagels from that place down the street we used to go to every Saturday until last year."

"Why did we stop?" Cooper asked. Hanna nodded, also joining in his inquisitiveness.

He sighed and laughed a little. "They found mice in their freezer. But that was nine months ago, and they're under new management now." Caleb shoved the paper bag on the counter.

"Ah!" Hanna said with glee. She stood up off the floor and proceeded to take the bag from the kitchen and dig for her favorite kind; cheddar. "Coops, which flavor do you want?" She asked, licking creamed cheese she had been spreading on the already cheesy morsel off her fingers.

The boy placed his index finger to his chin in deep decision. Then he perked up. "Is there cinnamon?"

Hanna nodded and pulled out a cinnamon bagel. She pulled a napkin out of the drawer and offered it up. "Here, C."

The boy took the bagel and chomped into it. He swallowed and smiled, showing his tooth that had almost grown back. "Daddy, did you see how big the living room is with no stuff in it?"

Caleb nodded, taking a bite of his chocolate chipped treat. "Yeah, buddy. I think you could fit your whole race track in here."

"That's what I said!" Cried Cooper.

Hanna wiped her mouth and threw the napkin that had held her bagel in the trash, she turned to Caleb and asked. "Are we ready to head out?"

"As soon as the car I called for us arrives. Then we will be Rosewood bound." He replied.

As soon as Cooper had finished his breakfast, his mother cleaned the cream cheese from the corners of his mouth with a napkin.

"Coop, you ready to go?" Asked Caleb.

He nodded. "I'm just sad to leave my old room. Will my room the new house be the same color?"

Hanna nodded. "Yep, unless you decide on a different color."

As they made their way downstairs to the front of the building, he kept babbling on. "Nope, I want my Peter Pan room! But this time, can my bed be a pirate ship?" He pleaded.

Hanna chuckled and shrugged, bending down to adjust his winter hat – a beanie just like his dad's. "I guess we'll have to see what your new room looks like. May not be tall enough for such a tall boat!"

Cooper paused for a second to climb into the SUV they'd rented for the drive home. Once he was settled in the back, he carried on again. "If the new house is big enough, can we have a slide in the middle of it?"

After cranking the ignition, Caleb laughed out loud at his son's suggestion. "Where would you get an idea like that, Bud?"

"The magazine in the box by the trash can."

"What magazine was that, Boo?" Hanna asked with an aprehensive tone.

"I don't know," he answered annoyingly. "There was a picture of a bunny on the front and a bunch of girls who looked like Mommy in sparkly swim suits were on a slide in the middle of a big, huge house! Bigger than a castle."

"Ohmigod!" She squeaked and slapped her snickering husband. "Caleb, what the heck?"

"That magazine is like eleven years old! It was my foster brother, Shane's, he sold it to me in the ninth grade." He explained.

"My baby probably saw naked women!"

"Relax, there's nothing vulgar in that issue, I got ripped off. And I guarantee you, Coop probably saw more last year when he walked in on us."

Hanna swatted at his shoulder again. "Don't remind him. He was scared to go in our room for like, a whole month after."

The couple looked back at their son, wondering if he was still paying attention. Cooper however didn't hear his parents' conversation. He sat idly in his booster seat, paying serious attention to his hand held video game.

They turned back and Hanna sighed. "I cannot wait to live in a house with thick walls. Our son can sleep soundly down the hall and we won't have to worry about making too much noise against the bed frame."

"God," Caleb chuckled. "Don't take that for granted just yet, we don't even know the state of the houses on the market in Rosewood."

She shrugged in return. "Anything is better as long as it's got four bedrooms and a bay window somewhere inside it." Hanna replied casually.

Caleb nodded. "I will make sure to tell the realtor specifically that you want a large bay window." He switched on the turn signal and followed their truck over the bridge connecting the city to the suburbs. "Who is our realtor, anyway?"

"Don't hate me." Hanna replied quietly.

"Who is it, Han?"

"My dads suggesting we give Kate a chance." She mumbled quickly.

He shuddered. "As in Kate Randall? Your not-so-charming step sister? Great."

"She's been sober three years!" She argued. "And my mom says she's been working really hard to get her license. I think we should give her a chance."

"Since when are you willing to trust her? She tried to have you expelled for god's sake!"

Hanna sighed. "She was feeling insecure, something I am fairly familiar with, if you remember."

His knuckles, gripped securely around the steering wheel, slowly faded from white to their normal color. "I'm sorry, it's just hard for me to trust that she won't stick us in a house that might combust in the middle of the night!"

"She's family, Caleb. I'm willing to give her a chance."

He hesitated. "I guess you're right. But I'm still coming with you, and she will get the beat down if she steps out of line."

Hanna giggled at her husband's meager threats and pulled out a magazine to entertain herself for the rest of the two hour trip.

-:-

Ashley Marin grinned idiotically as she spotted the Bekins truck roll into her driveway through her front window, followed by the large SUV that trailed it's path. She wasted no time rushing out the front door to meet her family as they came to a stop.

The little family of three slowly exited the rental, Caleb hopping out on his side and circling the front of the car to Hanna's side. He opened the door, careful to avoid Cooper who had climbed over the seat with pure eagerness and nearly flew onto the curb. As soon as her son was safely in the ground, Hanna took Caleb's hand and let him gently help her out as well.

"Nana!" Cooper called to Ashley. He shot across the freshly trimmed lawn and launched into his grandmother's waiting arms.

Caleb and Hanna giggled, finding their son's excitement adorable. They made their way hand in hand, over to the moving van where the two brawny men were opening up the back.

The woman knelt down just in time to catch her grandson just as he launched into her waiting arms. "I missed you, baby." Whispered Ashley into the child's ear.

Cooper pulled away and looked at her with amusement. "I just saw you during summer vacation!" He said.

The older woman laughed out loud and ruffled the boy's hair. "But that was a long four months ago, hon. Hey, I made you some cookies!"

He perked up and smiled. "Where? Can I have them now?" She nodded.

"Cooper," Caleb called. "Come help us with these boxes first."

The dark-haired child looked a the door to the house and back to the truck where his parents waited.

"It's only a couple boxes," said Hanna. "Come put them next to your stack."

"Okay." Cooper shrugged and jogged over to the truck. Caleb handed him a little box that had "COOPER" written in big black letters on the side.

After his small stack of belongings had been formed, Cooper excitedly followed Ashley into the kitchen to retrieve his snack.

Still outside, Hanna stood in the yard. Tens of boxes surrounded her at her feet, she jotted down stuff on her mini check list as she surveyed the packages. There weren't as many things to pack so the cardboard collection was generally small. Their apartment was tidy yet cramped, but when all boxed up it seemed like nothing. The couple has also decided on saving only the valuable things and selling the furniture. Hanna was fully set on completely decorating their future house from scratch.

Caleb walked over and set the last of the boxes down. He came up behind his wife and wrapped his arms around her waist, setting his head on her shoulder. He took the notepad from her and tossed it on the grass. Hanna sighed happily. "We're finally home. Well, sort of."

"It was a good thing we decided on not bringing the furniture with us. Otherwise we'd be drowning in bubble wrap and packing peanuts." He whispered.

"Look at this, we already are."

He spun her around to where they were facing each other. He gently tapped the end of her nose. "You look so hot in this sweater and those glasses. The sexy librarian look really suits you."

She blushed and shoved his hands off her waist. Before she could step away he distracted her once more by capturing her lips in his, letting her fall under his spell.

"Ew, kissing!" Yelled a childishly manipulated voice that came from behind the pair. Aria walked up the sidewalk and onto the grass, Happy trounced beside her, on a leash in her grasp. "Hey, neighbors! Been a while." She greeted.

Hanna blushed again even more and waved to the woman. Aria stopped for a laugh and continued. "Good to see you again. What's it been, a month?"

She nodded. "Just about right. Three weeks as of yesterday."

"Well that was fast. I guess my convincing really worked." Aria boasted. The two friends went in for a hug before settling back down.

"Ah, so this was all your idea?" Caleb teased. "How is your new place?"

"It's perfect." She gushed. "Really, really great. You know, it's nice when there's no one a floor above you having a 24 hour dance party."

Aria and Ezra had officially moved into their home three weeks before. The couple had found a little chunk of town that had been the home too wealthy families a century ago that had been completely renovated by the bank and put on the market for new families in Rosewood. The Fitzes lived in a four bedroom bungalow at the end of the street. It was painted a dark purple and the shutters were a deep charcoal shade. Inside they added a wall-long bookcase in Ezra's office and another shelf in the den. It was their perfect abode.

"Ha-Hah. That's wonderful, Ari." The blonde smiled and hugged her friend tightly. Caleb went back to transporting boxes.

"Anything I can help you with?" She asked.

"Just carrying boxes into my mom's garage. Shouldn't take long." Hanna answered.

"Sounds fairly easy." She looked around in slight confusion with the lack of boxes surrounding them. "Why nothing big?"

"We're getting new furniture for the house." Caleb said as he came back for another load.

Aria squealed. "You guys bought a house?"

"Not yet." Hanna frowned. She grabbed an armful and led her friend to the garage.

On their way, Aria asked "What do you mean? You can't live with your mom and Ted forever."

"I know," Hanna set the load down and brushed the specks of dirt it had left on her large sweater. "We're hoping to start house hunting within the week. We certainly don't want to live out of suitcases for months and months."

"The house next door to us is for sale!"

The blonde crossed her arms over her chest. "Ari, every house on your block is for sale. You're like, the only family on the street."

"All the more reason to move in!" She cried. "At least say you'll check them out." She followed with her famous puppy dog pout. It had always worked for her, considering her dough eyes and natural pouty lip.

"Of course we will check some out, it's a good part of town. But I won't guarantee that we will like any." She replied calmingly.

Aria stuck her tongue out teasingly and followed her friend back to the mound of cardboard boxes in the yard.

Soon after all the boxes were neatly stacked in the garage, the friends sat around Ashley's kitchen table picking at the Chinese they'd ordered for lunch.

"How come Spencer hasn't come around?" Ashley asked.

Hanna quickly swallowed her mouthful of food. "She's too big to get behind the wheel and its too long of a walk. We might go visit tomorrow after we look at some listings."

"Oh, that's right, she's due any day now."

Aria nodded. "It's exciting, huh? She's the first one of us to start her family."

This earned a glare from her friend across the table. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Oh, I-I mean like, willingly start...uh, never mind." she stuttered.

"That's what I thought."

Ashley collected the empty plates from the kitchen table and set them in the sink before sitting back down next to her daughter. "When are you and Caleb planning to look at houses? I'd hope you're not planning to live here forever."

"Excuse me," gasped Hanna. "If I recall, you're the one who was practically begging us to shack up with you not too long ago."

"Well," the woman shrugged. "That was just me being a mother who was desperate for her daughter and family to live a little closer. You can't blame me for trying anything."

Hanna scoffed, taking a sip of lemonade. "Whatever, mom. If you must know, me and Caleb are going to meet with Kate tomorrow to browse the town."

Aria gaped at the girl, nearly choking on her fortune cookie. "Kate?!"

"Yes, Kate." she confirmed. "She's got excellent credentials and I'm willing to give it a try."

"I think that's very sisterly of you," Ashley inputted.

"Whatever," the tiny raven-haired woman droned. "As long as you guys keep a safe distance, nothing can go too wrong."

-:-

The next morning after Caleb and Hanna dropped Cooper off at Aria's for the afternoon, the couple made their way to the Grille for a lunch with Kate.

Upon entering, Hanna was certainly surprised at just how much the cafe she had consumed many a meal hadn't changed a bit. The walls were exactly the same color as they had been ever since they had moved to New York. The table she regularly sat at almost ever weekend in high school was right in the same place by the same window as well.

At that beloved table sat none other than the not-so-beloved woman Hanna legally called her step-sister. Kate looked exactly the same as well, minus her long locks. She had seemingly dyed her tresses a sandy, light brown that clearly showed off her highlights. She was dressed in a casually elegant black, sleeved sweetheart dress and leopard printed flats, her light pink trench coat hung off the back of the chair she sat in.

She hadn't looked up from the interior design magazine she had been thumbing through since the couple spotted her. Hanna soon brought her self to walk over to the table, her husband on her tail.

As they reached the table, Kate looked up, startled. "Hi,"

Hanna waved awkwardly. "Hey there,"

Kate motioned the couple to sit down as well and they did. There was a moment of silence before anyone spoke another word.

"Sorry we're a bit late," said Caleb. "Have you been waiting long?"

The woman waved him off, smiling. "No, no. I just got here a minute ago."

"Great," Hanna replied, shifting in her seat. She folded her hands and pull them in her lap. "It's been a while since we've last seen each other."

"Uh, yeah." Kate nodded meekly. "I'm sorry about that. I really didn't have my life together back in high school, and it was a really hard time for me. There was a lot of adjustment and I didn't know how to handle it all, I guess. Anyway, I wanted to apologize for that and anything else I'd put you guys through. I'm doing a lot better now, as you can see, and I feel that I needed to clear that up before I take you guys in as clients."

Hanna was a bit taken aback by her sudden suggestion of reconciliation, but took it as a good thing. Nodding and smiling, she replied. "It's fine. Clearly neither one of us had it together, but as long as that's behind us I don't see any reason for this to be awkward. I forgive you." She then elbowed her still silent husband.

"Me too," he coughed.

"I'm so glad!" Kate replied. She then bent over and pulled some papers out of her tote bag. "These are some listings, I took the liberty of asking Ashley what you all were looking for and came up with some results."

"Wow, thank you." said Hanna as she took the forms off the table and flipped through them. "These are really nice, thanks so much!"

"No problem really, it's sort of part of my whole process. And I promise, they're all nice homes and are in good, clean condition. If you wanted to see some now, I'd be happy to take you over." She suggested.

Hanna nodded eagerly, glancing down at the paper in her hand. "That'd be so cool. Actually, Eastworth drive looks really cute, I love the whole cottage feel of it. And the front window! Can we walk over?"

The woman nodded and packed the folders back into her tote. She left a five dollar billon the table to cover her half-drank iced tea and lead the couple out of the restaurant.

The house was just a few blocks over from the grille, and if Hanna was correct, only three blocks from Spencer and Toby. Upon walking down the street, she could spot Aria's sedan parked out front of a house a few doors down across the street. So far, the location was perfect.

The house was newer than they had expected. It was well-renovated and the kitchen was very up to date as far as appliances and all. The cabinets were white stained and had little glass windows inside them, allowing you to peek through and see dishes.

"I love the counter tops," said Hanna, running her hands over the smooth, streaked white oak. "And the island is just the icing on the cake. I love it."

The three made their way into the living room. It was very large in size, with clean carpet on the half that Hanna presumed was for the sofa, and a wall of shelving with a gap in the middle for the television. So far, everything seemed beautiful.

"And up the stairs, we have our four bedrooms. Each of them, excluding the master, are very roomy." said Kate. She led them over to a pair of rooms each large enough to be the master. "Now these two rooms are connected by the bathroom here, and both have enough closet space to each be bedrooms."

They walked down the hall to the other two rooms, one of which was over the garage.

"I guess we could use that for the game room." Caleb suggested.

Hanna frowned and looked at him. "That should be the guest room. It has it's own bathroom."

"Well, what's wrong with the other rooms?" he asked confusedly.

She scoffed. "I think we should save that room for the children."

"We only have one kid, Han. Unless..." he trailed off.

"No," she smacked him. "I mean, in the future, I might want to fill it with more kids. It's attached to Cooper's room and it's the perfect size."

Caleb groaned. "Fine, this can be the guest room then. But we need a game room, I promised Coop we'd have one."

"Well that was a stupid idea, wasn't it?" she replied in a sing-song tone.

"Um, I hate to interrupt, but there's also a finished basement in the house." Kate informed the couple whom she had been awkwardly watching bicker from behind. "There's plenty of space and outlets for whatever you need."

Caleb's eyebrows rose informatively as he glanced at Hanna. She rolled her own and smiled. "I guess all that's left to see is the master bedroom, right?" she asked. Kate nodded and led them across the hall, past the laundry closet.

They came upon a pair of double doors, stained a dark oak. Behind them was the bedroom of their dreams. High beam ceilings that led to a little nook for sitting and a large bay window looking out onto the back yard.

"I think we could fit the old apartment in this room alone." gaped Hanna.

Caleb nodded wordlessly, leading her into the bathroom.

Inside the bathroom, there was a counter with his and hers sinks, white marble tops. Across from the sinks was the bathtub, in the center of the room. It was in-ground, but large enough to fit a family of four comfortably.

"That tub could hold the entire family from that TLC show..." Hanna whispered, running her fingers lightly over the edge. "And it's got jets!"

"It's definitely big, but I want to take a look at the shower." Caleb pulled her away from the tub and over to the shower. It too was easily big enough to fit a family. "I like the size, it's nice."

"OH MY GOD."

Caleb turned around to find a snickering Kate staring at him. "Looks like Hanna abandoned you to find the closets." she giggled.

Hanna then scrambled out of the closet and over to her husband. "I want that closet, I want to live here," she turned to Kate, "I want to live here! We'll take it."

Kate stifled another laugh and glanced at Caleb. "What do you think?"

He nodded, smiling. "I really like it, too. Uh, so I guess we'll take it."

"Alright," said Kate, copying something down in her notebook. She ripped the page out and handed it to the couple. "That's the address to office in town. Tomorrow, we can meet and make an offer, then see where it goes from there."

"Sounds great," said Caleb. "We'll be there."

-:-

So they picked out a house! I didn't want to make Kate a bitch, so I wrote her as an angel, because let's face it, she's beautiful. This is easily a very long chapter, so I hope y'all enjoyed it! Sorry it took me forever to update, I've been sorta busy. But you should expect a new chapter soon.

Tell your friends and fam about this story, I'd love some more follows and lots of reviews!

Thanks so much for reading!