I'm sorry it's been ages since I updated. Stuff has been hectic and will probably continue to be. This chapter was also incredibly difficult to write, I have no idea why, and I finally found a version I'm happy with so I apologize for the short chapter, but at least it's something new! Enjoy :)

NYLON ~ 64 ~ TODAY

Hanna squeezed Emily's hand as they looked over a piled up mound of dirt. Slowly, the casket was lowered into the ground and tears streamed down Emily's face. Hanna remembered how they had cried in the hospital after hearing the news. It had all come on so suddenly and nothing could have prepared them for hearing the doctor's haunting words.

Ali tugged at the hem of Hanna's dress and Hanna snapped out of her daydream to smile at her. She picked up the small girl and held her close. Ali was probably too young to understand but she did realize the severity of their actions today. The little girl wiped the tears from her eyes and then hid her face in Hanna's chest, burying herself in her hair. Hanna didn't know what to do so she simply rubbed the little girl's back trying to soothe her feelings.


Hanna tapped away on her computer finishing up a series of reports. She hit print and proceeded to file them away for their respective clients. Then she turned back to her desk where a long list of tasks was waiting for her.

"Choose a venue," she read aloud.

She sighed and collapsed in her chair. As much as she wanted to marry Caleb, it didn't feel right to start planning a wedding only three weeks after the death of her dear friend. But at the same time, it wasn't fair to Caleb to sideline their wedding once again. Maybe there would never be a right time for them to get married but Hanna was insistent on not giving up this time, and that's when genius was born.

"Caleb," she tapped on the glass wall dividing their offices. He rolled his eyes and came around to her door.

"What's up?" he asked.

"Close the door," Hanna pointed. Caleb dutifully followed her instructions. "I have an idea."

"I know," he took a seat. "I can see that look in your eyes."

"Let's get married," she told him. "Today."

"Hanna," he raised an eyebrow.

"Look," she said, "I don''t feel comfortable planning a huge wedding right now. Not with everything Emily's going through...and, I just want to be with you. I want us to be happily married without all the fuss."

"So, we're getting married?" he asked. "Today?"

"Is that okay with you?" she asked him.

"I wanted to marry you ten years ago," he told her. "Let's do this."

"Really?" she gushed.

"Yeah," he said taking her hand.

She and Caleb rushed down to city hall where they waited patiently before a clerk at the marriage bureau would see them. It took hours before they finally managed to file the correct paperwork and apply for a marriage license, only to be told they would have to wait twenty-four hours for processing.

"So what do we do now?" Caleb asked as they stood hand in hand at the foot of the county court offices.

"I guess we get married in the morning," Hanna laughed.

Caleb smiled and kissed her sweetly before lifting her up and spinning her around. Giggling like a couple of teenagers, they bolted home and entered the door collapsing on the couch in a clumsy heap.

"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Caleb asked taking her hand in his once their excitement had died down.

"Of course," she told him confused. "I've wanted to marry you for the last ten years, maybe longer."

"No," he explained, "I mean, are you sure you want to elope? You always struck me as the fairy tale wedding type."

"I also thought I'd be the type to get married and then have kids," she reminded him. "Things change and we can't control everything, but I know I'm in love with you and I can't bear to put up any more obstacles between us."

"So we're doing this?" Caleb asked holding up the receipt for their marriage license.

"Yupp," Hanna laughed. Then she stopped and stared off into space.

"What?" Caleb asked concerned.

"I need a dress!" she said rushing to her closet in search of the perfect frock for an impromptu afternoon wedding.