The humid air and the brightly shining sun greeted Hanna as her and Caleb left the airport terminal in Montecito, California. She took a deep breath and stood looking around her as Caleb hailed a cab and loaded the bags into the trunk. Then he gestured for her to enter the car and followed her in after giving the driver the address to his moms place and before Hanna knew it they were on the highway heading towards his family.

"Here we go." He said with a smile as the car drove along the highway.

"Yeah." She breathed quietly in answer. For the most part the drive was made in silence, Hanna being too nervous to talk much and unsure of what she would now do with her life.

"Stop it." Caleb said as the car came to a stop in front of a very big fancy house.

"Stop what?" She asked.

"Worrying. There's nothing that needs to be decided right now so just relax and take a breather. Give yourself time to adjust." He told her.

"I know I should I'm just not sure I know how. I've been living on the edge of a cliff for so long that I don't know what to think or feel right now." Hanna replied. "I feel sort of numb to be honest. I know that, that feeling will go away it's what's going to happen when it does that I'm so worried about. I've had to build up so many walls the past few years to protect myself as well as those around me that I'm not sure I know how to live without those walls anymore." Hanna explained.

"I know those walls Hanna. It took me a long time to get around them but I did eventually because you let me and you can do it again. It's just going to take time." He told her. "I'll help anyway I can you know that and my family will be here to help as well." He added.

"I dunno." She replied quietly with another look up at the house.

They exited the car and retrieved their bags from the trunk with no more words spoken between then Hanna was too lost in thought as she stared at the house wondering what the people inside would be like. Caleb paid the driver and came up beside her wanting to ask what she was thinking but not wanting to seem intrusive.

"Ready?" He asked gently gesturing towards the front door of the house.

"As I'll ever be I guess." She responded. After taking a couple of steps the front door opened and a brunette woman stepped outside.

"Caleb!" She called happily with a big sincere smile. "This is a bit of a surprise I wasn't expecting you to visit until school was over." She said. "Why are you here now? Is something wrong?" She asked a frown appearing on her face.

"It's a bit of a long story mom. Maybe we should explain a bit later after we've had time to settle in." He responded.

"Okay honey. And who is this pretty lady?" She asked.

"This would be Hanna mom." Caleb said a meaningful note in his tone.

"Hanna?" She questioned surprise evident on her face. She was obviously aware of the status of their current relationship. "Well Hanna it's nice to finally meet you. I've heard a great many things about you." She added with a warm smile towards Hanna. "I'm Claudia Caleb's mom. Please come inside you two and we'll get you settled."

"It's nice to meet you too." Hanna mumbled quietly.

Caleb's mom gave him a questioning look as she gestured discreetly towards Hanna on their way inside. Caleb just shook his head as if to say 'later mom' and she nodded that she understood. She could see the obvious stress and sadness etched into the young woman's face though and the dejected way she carried her body and she was worried.

"Well welcome to our home Hanna. Feel free to make yourself at home and help yourself to anything you want. I'll get a guest room set up for you and Caleb you know where the guesthouse is." His mom said once the front door was closed.

Caleb noticed the panicked look in Hanna's eyes at the thought of being in a strange house without him and looked at him beseechingly for help.

"Actually mom Hanna's going to stay in the guest house with me. There's a lot going on with her right now and I want to be close by in case she needs something." Caleb said with a meaningful look at his mother.

"Oh well alright then." She replied her frown deepening. "Well I want to hear all about what's been going on." She added with a sharp glance at an oblivious Hanna who was gazing around at everything in the front hall of the house. Caleb knew this was going to be one very long day.