Hanna wandered down to the kitchen after finishing all her calls. She found Caleb sitting on the couch, his phone plastered to his ear.
"So you can come?" Caleb asked. Hanna could hear the excitement in his voice. "Alright. I'll talk to you later, Mom. Love you! Bye." He hung up and threw his phone to the end of the couch, before noticing her standing by. Caleb smiled and patted the spot next to him, and Hanna shuffled around to sit there. She slumped back against the back and let out a long, exasperated sigh.
"My dad's not coming," Hanna announced. Caleb looked at her, confused. "He's with Kate."
"Babe, I'm sorry," Caleb replied, resting his palm on her thigh.
"It doesn't matter. I don't really care anyway."
Although she did care. And Caleb could see she cared. Hanna had cared what her dad thought of her ever since the day he walked out. She'd started shoplifting, just for his attention. All Hanna wanted was to be accepted by her own father.
Caleb, not wanting to upset his wife anymore than she already was, decided it was best to not talk about Tom Marin anymore. "What about Ali and Elliot? And your mom?"
"They can all come." The blond strained a smile and attempted to block out all thoughts of her dad from her mind. She didn't need him stressing her out, especially since she was 8 weeks pregnant. "Can the others make it?"
"Ezra and Aria definitely can. My mom can. But Spence and Toby said they needed to check," Caleb replied. "Spencer said she might have some work thing on."
Hanna nodded in understanding, but was going to keep her fingers crossed until the call came. She wanted all her friends there, not all but one. "This is all so weird. This morning, I was thinking about when we announced we were pregnant with Maddie. I can't believe we're doing it for the second time."
"But this time it's going to be different," Caleb replied. Hanna looked at him oddly. What was he talking about? "It's going to be different because we're going to have a boy this time."
"Oh yeah?" Hanna smirked.
Before the brunette could answer his wife, there was a distant wail from upstairs, and Hanna suddenly remembered Maddie had been up there sleeping. "I'll go," Hanna said, jumping up from the couch. She skipped up the stairs and hurried down the hallway, into the toddler's bedroom. There, sitting on her bed, was the little blond herself. She had a real bedhead. "Hey baby," Hanna whispered quietly.
"Mama," Madelyn called, her voice still sleepy and hoarse. She had her arms up, begging for Hanna to carry her. The blond sighed but smiled, and swung her daughter onto her hip.
As Hanna bounced Maddie down the stairs, she giggled out in glee. "Is that fun?" Hanna laughed. She tickled Maddie's belly, making the young blond squeal. Caleb watched his girls walk into the living room and couldn't help but smile. They were just too darn cute.
Hanna passed Madelyn over to Caleb as they reached the couch and perched herself on the arm. Maddie began jumping on her dad. "Ooh." Caleb pretended to be hurt, which seemed to egg her on more. Madelyn started smacking Caleb's face, laughing and squealing as she went.
"That's enough, Maddie," Hanna interrupted. She grabbed the toddler by the waist and removed her from the couch, placing her on the floor. "Where's Bella? Do you want to find Bella?"
"Bella!" Maddie yelled, running off. Hanna chuckled and grabbed Vogue from the coffee table, before turning to her husband.
"You're wrong about the baby being a boy," the blond said casually as she began flicking through the magazine. "It's a girl. Definitely a girl."
"You're, like, 2 months pregnant, Han. How can you know for sure?"
"Mother's instinct. You seem to be pretty set on it being a boy. How do you know for sure?" Hanna replied. She looked over at Caleb and raised an eyebrow, awaiting his answer. He looked around, unsure. "See, you don't. But I do. So it's 100 percent a girl."
"I'm not having this argument with you again," Caleb said, sighing. Hanna grinned to herself; she always won. Bella darted through the living room, skidding on the rug as she went. Seconds later, Madelyn followed through, obviously chasing the pup around the house. She was giggling loudly and dived onto the floor when she took her chance of catching Bella. Hanna turned around quickly, worried that there would be a sudden outburst of crying, but breathed a sigh of relief when there was nothing.
A ping sound echoed around the living room and Hanna glanced at her phone. A notification had popped up, saying that she had a new email. Caleb, who had checked his own phone at the same time, looked over at his wife.
"Anyone interesting?" he asked. Caleb arose from the couch and wandered over to the kitchen. He turned on the coffee machine, grabbed a cup from the side and started tapping his foot against the floor as he waited.
"It's an email," Hanna replied slowly. She swiped across the screen and opened the email up. "It's about the job."
Caleb peered over Hanna's shoulder as he returned from the kitchen with a steaming cup of black coffee and read the email. "They want you in New York in two days?"
"Apparently so," the blond said. Hanna twisted her head around in an awkward and uncomfortable position and looked at Caleb, almost worried. "Babe, I can't go to New York in two days."
Caleb took a sip of his coffee and swerved around the couch as he headed to sit down. "Why not? Just do what I did; go for the day. You don't need to stay overnight."
Hanna shrugged. "I don't know."
"Han, you need to go to this interview if you want the job," Caleb said. He saw Hanna's expression and sighed. "I'll take the day off and look after Maddie. You won't have anything to worry about."
"I'm not worried about that. I'm just worried about…well, this makes it all so real," the blond replied. Caleb, who was now sitting next to his wife, raised an eyebrow. "Don't look at me like that. I know it's real but this means I'll have a job in New York. You'll have a job in New York. We're going to be living in New York."
"I'm glad you've realised we're moving to New York, Han. It took you however many months, but I'm glad," Caleb said sarcastically. The blond rolled her eyes. She reached over to the coffee table and grabbed a magazine, and then brought her legs up to her chest.
As Hanna flicked through the pages, she sighed. "I'm bored. Can we go out somewhere?"
"You sound like a six-year-old." Caleb took another gulp of his coffee before leaning over and placing it on the table. "But I suppose we could. What were you thinking we could do?"
"Philly? I could really do with some new shoes," Hanna replied. She dropped her magazine onto the space next to her on the couch and turned to face Caleb. His facial expression was not as excited as hers. "Please, babe? Pretty please?"
Caleb rolled his eyes, but nodded. "If we have to. But we're not spending three hours in Saks again, okay?"
The last trip Hanna and Caleb had taken to Philadelphia for clothing needs did not end well for Caleb. Hanna ended up spending over three hours just looking at the Alexander Wang clothes. Caleb was not prepared for a situation like that to happen again.
In a matter of two hours, Hanna, Caleb and Madelyn were wandering round Victoria Secret. Caleb wasn't really comfortable walking his two-year-old daughter around a store that sold 'sexy' underwear, but Hanna persuaded him that the toddler knew no different. Maddie didn't care. She was happy weaving and running in and out of the stands.
"Caleb, do you like this?" Hanna asked. She was holding up a red, lacy piece of lingerie. Caleb liked. He definitely liked. Hanna saw her husband's eyes widen and his head slowly start nodding, a smile growing across his face. "I'll take that as a yes." She chuckled and hung the piece over her arm.
After paying in Victoria Secret, Hanna wanted to head to Michael Kors. She was hoping she could manage to get Caleb to buy her a new purse. Apparently, Maddie had other ideas. She spotted Build-a-bear Workshop and decided she would refuse to do anything other than go inside.
"Mommy!" the little blond exclaimed when her mother said no. Caleb stood back, laughing. Madelyn turned to him and gave him the exact same puppy eyes Hanna sometimes gave him. It was like looking at a mini Hanna. "Daddy? Bear?" Maddie pointed to the store on her left and pouted.
"Han, come on," Caleb said as he looked at his wife. "5 minutes in there?"
Hanna sighed. "Fine," she breathed. Madelyn squealed with delight and ran into the store, not waiting another second. Caleb grabbed his wife's hand and dragged her inside. As they walked in, Hanna and Caleb were greeted by a rather chirpy woman, dressed in what Hanna thought was a very embarrassing outfit. Sidetracking the woman, Hanna caught up with Maddie, who was now standing in front of the different bears.
The toddler pulled one from the shelf and stretched her arm out to Hanna. "Bear, Mama."
"Do you want to make a bear?" Hanna asked. She adored making the bears here. Caleb joined the pair by the shelves and grabbed an unmade bear.
"How about this one?" Madelyn nodded excitedly and snatched it from her dad. Caleb took a hold of Madelyn's wrist as she began to run towards the machine that would stuff the bears. She let out a whimper and pulled against his force, hoping to be released. "You can't run off, Maddie. You need to stay with Mommy or Daddy."
Hanna happily smiled from behind as she watched her husband help their daughter stuff her bear. She'd never seen a father-daughter bond as strong as Caleb and Madelyn's, and she treasured it so much—especially since she never had that with her own dad.
"Do you want a sound in it?" Caleb asked. Madelyn nodded, grinning. She picked which one she wanted and asked Caleb to put it inside, which he happily did
"Done!" Maddie exclaimed as Caleb handed the bear back to her. The toddler turned to her mom and held it out to show her.
"That's so good, baby!" Hanna replied. She touched the fur of the stuffed bear and smiled. "Do you love it?"
"Yup!" Maddie squealed. Hanna chuckled as her daughter skipped off around the store, and followed her to the checkout.
After paying, the blond decided she didn't want to go to Michael Kors. Instead, she decided she wanted to go back to Rosewood and have a nice, long, relaxing walk in the park.
The warm summer evening air was the perfect remedy and therapy for Hanna. She'd been so stressed out about New York, a calming walk was just what she needed. Even Maddie seemed calmer than usual. The toddler would normally be running around like a madman, but she was happily strolling along, holding her dad's hand.
"Bella, sit," Caleb ordered as he released the pup from her leash. They'd collected Bella from the house while dropping the car off, and to say the dog was happy to be going on a walk was a huge understatement. Bella had practically dragged Hanna to the park as she held her leash.
"Bella," Madelyn said perfectly. Hanna looked at the toddler, shocked. Madelyn had never said a word so precisely before.
Hanna nudged Caleb's arm excitedly. "Babe, did you hear that?"
"What? Maddie saying Bella's name? She's been saying it for, like, a year, Han," Caleb replied. Hanna frowned.
"Yes, I know, but she's never said it that well before!" The blond crouched down to her daughter's level and tickled her belly. "Well done, baby."
Madelyn liked the attention she was getting from her mom and figured it was because of what she'd said, so decided she would carry on repeating Bella's name. "Bella! Bella!"
"Maddie, stop it. Bella's going crazy," Caleb said, attempting to calm Bella. The dog was barking and jumping up and down as the toddler chanted.
The young blond pouted at her dad and slumped off, stroppy. Hanna chuckled and linked her arm with Caleb's as the couple wandered after her. Bella darted off, chasing Madelyn.
"She's so cute," Hanna sighed as she watched her daughter. She rested her spare hand onto her stomach. "I hope this one's that cute."
Caleb grinned and nodded. "He will be. I'm sure of it."
Hanna rolled her eyes. "She is not a he, Caleb. Stop pretending she is."
Caleb smiled to himself; he found it funny how annoyed his wife got when it came to the gender of the baby. It was exactly like how she was when pregnant with Madelyn. Caleb said it was a boy, Hanna swore it was a girl. She may have been right in that instance, but Caleb knew he was right this time. It was a boy. Definitely a boy.
"Hey, Maddie. Come here, baby!" Hanna called after the toddler. Madelyn was bending down, inspecting a leaf that was buried amongst the mud. The blond let go of Caleb's arm and hurried over to the toddler, just in time before she put the leaf in her mouth. Hanna swept Maddie up into her arms and carried her like a baby back to Caleb, laughing. Maddie was laughing, too; she loved being carried like a baby. "Leaves are not supposed to be eaten by little girls, Madelyn. How many times are we going to have this conversation?"
Madelyn seemed to have somewhat of an obsession with eating leaves. Hanna and Caleb had been beginning to get worried, but the obsession had disappeared for a while. Apparently it was back.
Caleb took his daughter from Hanna's arms and moved her onto his shoulders. Madelyn squealed with delight as she gazed around the park from a new height. It was like a whole new world, and she loved it.
"Is that fun?" Hanna asked, chuckling. Maddie nodded enthusiastically and patted the top of Caleb's head.
Caleb winced and said, "Thanks, Maddie." The toddler found it hilariously funny and continued to hit her dad's head, getting harder and harder each time. "Okay, Maddie. That's enough."
"Again, again," Maddie squealed. She didn't stop, even when Caleb pulled her leg. That seemed to make it even funnier to her. Caleb began wondering what on earth goes on inside a toddler's mind. They found the oddest things funny, they never stopped when asked to, and they liked to push everyone's patience. Unfortunately for Caleb, he would never know what his daughter was thinking.
As Hanna slid her hand into her husband's, she got a sudden craving for cupcakes. "Can we stop by Leon's on the way home?" Hanna asked.
"Sure," the brunette replied simply. He adjust Maddie's position on his shoulders as neck began to ache, and started bouncing her up and down. She giggled loudly and with her cute smile, scored a few smiles and chuckles from passers-by.
Half an hour later, Hanna was staring at the range of cupcakes that stood in front of her. Her stomach rumbled at the sight, and she was desperate to eat one, but couldn't decide what flavor she wanted. Hanna let out a big groan. Who knew cupcakes could cause so much debate?
"Babe," the blond called. Caleb was sitting outside the store, watching Madelyn as she chased Bella around the table. He stood up and quickly poked his head around the door. "Can I just get all four? I can't choose."
Caleb tutted, but nodded. "Anything for you, babe," he said. Caleb knew that if he said no, Hanna wouldn't forgive him. He knew better than to come in between Hanna Rivers and her food. Hanna grinned happily and turned back to the counter, where she asked the man behind for one chocolate peanut butter cupcake; one red velvet; one vanilla, and one chocolate marshmallow. Her cravings would certainly be satisfied. Before leaving Lucky Leon's, Hanna got a plain, milk chocolate cupcake for Maddie, and a second chocolate peanut butter cupcake for Caleb.
"Okay, let's go," Hanna said as she stepped outside the door. Caleb arose from his chair and called for Bella to come over. Madelyn was on her dad's phone, and was so engrossed, she was unaware that her mom had come outside. Hanna stood over the toddler and raised an eyebrow. "Maddie? Do you want to come home or…"
Maddie jumped at the sound of Hanna's voice and looked up. She slowly slid off of her chair and walked around the table to Caleb, who she then passed his phone to. Caleb grabbed it, put it in his back pocket before crouching down to attach Bella's leash.
"Can I have your hand, baby?" Hanna asked her daughter as she held out her own. Maddie smiled and gave her mom her hand. She contentedly walked next to Hanna as they began heading home, with Caleb and Bella the other side.
As they turned down the end of the street, Hanna looked up at the sky and saw the sunset. The oranges and reds merged together to create a stunning, beautiful scene. "Babe, wait," she said to Caleb. Hanna reached into her purse and pulled out her IPhone, swiped up to reveal the camera, and snapped a few shots. "It's so pretty," Hanna whispered to herself as she checked the photos.
Caleb was getting impatient—he didn't really care about the sky. He began walking off the second Hanna dropped her phone back into her bag, and urged her to hurry up.
It didn't take long to arrive home, and when they did, both Hanna and Caleb immediately opened up the cupcake box and indulged in the cakes.
Hanna let out a heavenly sigh as she took her first bite. She was now sat at the table and had her chin resting in one hand, and the cupcake sitting in the other. "These are soo good."
Caleb nodded, agreeing and looked at his daughter and let out a laugh. She had chocolate smeared all over and had a big grin plastered on her face. "Maddie, are you enjoying that?" Madelyn nodded over-excitedly and stuffed her face into the cupcake.
Hanna finished her peanut butter cake, and automatically reached for the vanilla one. "These cravings are going to make me fat," she moaned as she unwrapped it. Hanna didn't want to eat a second cupcake, but this baby seemed to be making her.
"I'm just going to the bathroom," Caleb said, scraping his chair back against the floor. Hanna smiled, acknowledging this, but went back to eating.
"Finished!" Maddie announced. "Me down?" Hanna put aside her half-eaten cupcake and nodded, leaving the table herself.
Madelyn ran into her playroom and headed straight for her pink play-kitchen. Hanna smiled; Aria had bought Maddie the play-kitchen as soon as Hanna announced she was having a daughter. Hanna and Caleb had both thought how eager it was, but it had turned out to come in very handy. It could keep Madelyn occupied for hours, and she adored playing restaurants with Mommy and Daddy.
"What are we making today?" Hanna asked as she knelt by the kitchen. Maddie was rummaging through the plastic cupboard and brought out a small, pink, fake plate. "Should we make…pizza?"
"Yeah! Pizza!" the little blond yelled. She grabbed a slice of fake pizza and dropped it onto the plate before shoving it into the pretend stove.
"What's going on in here?" Caleb, who was walking through the doorway, asked. He saw the two blonds by the kitchen and Hanna's face, and played along. "It smells so good, Maddie!"
Caleb wandered over to join Hanna and Madelyn, and sat cross-legged by them. Maddie handed a tiny cup over to each of her parents. "Juice," Madelyn said.
"Thank you," Hanna and Caleb said at the same time. They looked at each other and chuckled, but Maddie didn't let the attention move away from her. She patted them both on the shoulders and gave them a plate each, both with a slice of plastic pizza on it.
Caleb pretended to take a bite and chew whilst nodding. "This tastes really good, Mads."
"My favorite!" Hanna exclaimed.
Almost two hours later, after many "meals", Hanna announced it was time for Madelyn to go to bed. She tried to put up a fight—which involved tears and tantrums—but was carried away, kicking and screaming. Caleb stayed behind in the playroom, picking up all the pieces of his daughter's toy kitchen.
"Madelyn, stop kicking," Hanna said sternly as she sat Maddie on her bed. The toddler let out a loud wail and tried to run past her mom, but was caught before she could move a meter. "Sit down, Madelyn."
"Mommy," the toddler cried.
Hanna let out a loud sigh, but couldn't let the firmness break in her voice. "Let me get you changed."
"No Mommy," Madelyn replied. "No bed."
"Yes Mommy. Yes bed," the blond said. She quickly turned around and grabbed a pair of Maddie's pajamas. "Come on. Let me change you."
There were real tears rolling down Madelyn's cheeks, not just fake ones like usual. She was adamant about not going to bed. Hanna tried to pull his daughter's shirt over her head, but Madelyn wriggled too much.
"Madelyn!" she shouted.
Caleb, who had finished tidying up the playroom, was wandering into the living room when he heard Hanna shouting. He immediately knew something was up; Hanna never shouted that loudly at Maddie. Caleb hurried up the stairs to find the toddler red-faced and screaming, and Hanna flustered and frustrated.
"Madelyn Ava Rivers, sit your ass down right this second," Caleb said loudly as he entered the bedroom. Madelyn stopped crying, sat down on the bed and sniffled. "Let Mommy get you changed, lie down, and go to sleep, okay?"
Hanna leant against the bedroom wall and sighed, exasperated—thank God for Caleb. Maddie loosened up and let Hanna change her quickly, and even walked through to the bathroom by herself, after only being asked once. After brushing her teeth and washing her face, Hanna silently led the blond back to the bedroom and laid her in bed.
Unlike usual, Hanna didn't offer to read a bedtime story. She didn't even give Madelyn a proper kiss. Instead, she said, "Goodnight, Madelyn," before walking to the door, switching the light off, and leaving.
Caleb was standing outside in the hallway, and when Hanna spotted him, she collapsed into his arms.
"How am I going to cope with another baby when Madelyn acts like that?" she asked, muffled. The blond turned her head so her face was no longer buried in his shirt, and took a deep breath in and out.
"I'll always be here, Hanna. It's not you alone. It's us," Caleb replied. Hanna pulled back and looked up at her husband. She stared deep into his eyes and stood up on her tip-toes, and connected her lips with his.
A/N - i'm sorry this has been such a long time coming! ive been so busy lately, and its taken me longer than usual to write a chapter.
to make up for it, i tried to make this longer than the other chapters. i hope you all liked it!
please review!