NYLON ~ 63 ~ YOU NEEDED ME

Hanna woke up to the delicate sound of birds chirping outside of her window. She rolled over and opened her eyes to see the gorgeous diamond ring shining brightly on her left hand.

"Hey," Caleb nuzzled her neck.

"Good morning," Hanna kissed him.

"Mama!" JT came running in and jumped on the bed between them.

"Hey little man," Caleb grabbed him.

"I'm hungry," JT said.

"Come on," Hanna laughed throwing off the covers. "How about some eggs?"

She pulled on a robe and headed to the kitchen to get started on breakfast. A few minutes later Caleb was strapping JT into his chair. Hanna turned the stove off and grabbed some plates as Caleb crept up behind her sliding an arm around her waist. She caved at his touch and turned around to kiss him.

"Bekfasts!" JT banged his fists on the table.

"Hold up, buddy," Caleb shushed him although he was clearly entertained by their infant cockblock.

"Here you go," Hanna scraped the eggs onto the plates and carried them to the table where she'd already laid out a plate of toast and another of fruit.

"Thanks babe," Caleb took a bite as the phone rang. Hanna got up to get it but Caleb raised an eyebrow.

"What?" Hanna asked. "It could be important. They're calling the house phone."

"Or it's a telemarketer," Caleb replied as the phone rang twice more. The call got sent to voicemail.

"Hanna," she recognized Spencer's voice, "we're at the hospital with Emily. Kristen is in the ICU. I think you should get down here."

Hanna lunged for the door just as Spencer finished up the final details of her call.

"I'll drive you," Caleb said getting up.

"Let me grab my purse," Hanna said leaving her breakfast and bolting for the bedroom. She threw on a pair of jeans and an oversized sweatshirt before picking up her bag and finding Caleb in the foyer with JT in tow.

"What's going on?" JT asked innocently.

"We're taking Mommy to see her friend," Caleb told him gently.

They took the elevator downstairs and headed straight for the car. Caleb arrived at the hospital in record time. He dropped Hanna off and then took JT over to Ashley's place as Hanna ran up the stairs to find her friends.

"Hanna!" Spencer hugged her friend.

"What's happening?" Hanna asked.

"Kristen came down with pneumonia," Spencer explained. "She's not doing well. Emily's in with her now."

"Where are the kids?" Hanna asked.

"Ezra's watching them," Spencer replied.

"Can I go in?" Hanna tried her best to see in through the tiny window on the door.

"Not yet," Spencer said as they took their seats in the lobby.

"Hey," Emily emerged and hugged Hanna who held her in a tight embrace.

"How are you?" Hanna asked.

"I'm okay," Emily bit her lip. "She wants to see you."

"Okay," Hanna nodded stepping into the cold white room. She saw her friend on the bed looking paler than ever before.

"Hi," Kristen whispered.

"How are you?" Hanna asked noticing her blue lips.

"Not great," Kristen coughed.

"Okay," Hanna took a seat. "Remember that night in Paris when we did the photo shoot on the Senne and spent all night chugging champagne to stay warm? Would you say you feel better or worse than you did during the hangover the next morning."

"Definitely better," Kristen laughed. "I didn't know my body could barf that much."

"That's a good sign," Hanna replied.

"Can I ask you something?" Kristen took her hand.

"Yeah, of course," Hanna smiled weakly.

"I know Emily already talked to you about making it legal," Kristen began, "but I want to know, that if anything happens to me, you will be in my kids' life forever. They love you, Hanna, so much."

"I love them too," a tear rolled down Hanna's cheek as she said it. "I'll always love them like my own."

"Thanks," Kristen kissed Hanna's hand. "I can't leave this world peacefully without knowing my kids will always be loved."

"Don't talk like that," Hanna told her. "You're the strongest person I know."

"We all get called back eventually," Kristen replied, "but you guys give me strength."

"I love you," Hanna told her.

"I love you too," Kristen replied. Then she noticed the ring on Hanna's finger. "I'm glad someone else does too."

"Oh," Hanna took it off and shoved it in her pocket. "We're trying to keep it quiet until we can tell our parents."

"I promise," Kristen mimed zipping her lips. "Won't tell a soul."

"Thanks," Hanna smiled as Kristen's eyes got groggy. "Maybe I should let you rest."

"I'd love that," Kristen replied as she released Hanna's hand.

"Hey!" Caleb hugged Hanna when she stepped back into the lobby.

"Where's JT?" she asked. "I don't want him in the hospital."

"You're mom's watching him," he replied.

"Thanks," Hanna looped her arms around his neck. "I'm glad you came."

"You needed me," he smiled holding her tightly.

Despite the circumstances, Hanna felt so safe with Caleb. She bit down on her lip as she held onto Caleb praying dearly for her good friend.