Some months later.

It's evening when Ashley returns home after a long day of work at The Radley. As soon as she steps inside, she discovers piles of boxes and packages, not only at the entrance but also down the hallway, blocking the way to the living room. She heads straight to the kitchen.

Ashley "Hanna?" She yells after opening the door that leads to the basement.

Hanna "Just a minute, mom. I'm in the middle of something." She yells back.

Ashley sighs and throws her purse on the kitchen island to pour herself a glass of wine.

Hanna shows up there some minutes later and finds Ashley having her wine at the table aside.

Hanna "What's up, mom?"

Ashley "What's all that mess of boxes there at the entrance? We've already discussed this. You need to keep your stuff in the basement. This is a house, not-"

Hanna "I know, I know." She cuts her off. "I'm sorry, Mom. I received a lot of orders today from my suppliers, and I didn't have the time to move it all to the basement. I'll do it now, okay? Don't stress yourself out."

Hanna's business is now a success, but the journey hasn't been without its challenges. In the beginning, she faced a slow start with no sales, which naturally led to some initial panic. During those first few days, she spent sleepless nights in front of her laptop, repeatedly refreshing her website, and even had Caleb check it to ensure everything was working correctly. Yet, she had unwavering support from Ashley, Caleb, and her friends who reassured her that all she needed was time. One day, she woke up to discover her first sales, little did she know, Caleb had played a crucial part in those initial purchases. He had secretly invested in social media advertising, giving her business the boost it needed, firmly believing that success was inevitable. Word of mouth took over, and her dresses became known for their exceptional quality and unique design. And, in the recent months, her business has experienced significant growth, with a rising demand that keeps her working harder than ever.

Hanna takes her phone to send Aria a voice message: "Hey, Ari… listen, could you talk to your friend and ask him if I could use his photography studio in these days? I'll pay him, I don't want him to lend it to me for free anymore. I need to take pictures of the new dresses. Or let me know if you know any other place I could rent. I can't keep using this guy's studio for free."

Then she heads to the entrance of her house to start getting her boxes in the basement.

The doorbell rings, so she puts a box down and goes to answer it.

Zeth "Hey, Han!" He greets her with a smile.

Hanna "Hi, Zeth! How are you doing?"

Zeth "I'm doing pretty well." He hands her Chocolate's leash. "You? Too much work?"

Hanna "Yeah… as always." She answers while putting the dog off his leash.

Zeth "I wanted to ask you for a favor…"

Hanna "Sure."

Zeth "I know you only sell your dresses online for now... but my girlfriend needs a dress for her sister's wedding, and she is a big fan of your designs, but she isn't so sure about buying a dress without trying it on first. She asked me if I could just talk to you and maybe-"

Hanna "Just bring her with you tomorrow." She interrupts him. "She can try on as many dresses as she wants, and I can adapt any of them for her."

Zeth grins. "Thank you, Han. You are the best."

Hanna "Sure. No problem. I owe you one anyway." She smiles back.

When Hanna couldn't keep up with the delivery of her dresses in Rosewood a couple of months ago, she asked Zeth if he knew someone who could be interested in that little job, and a couple of days later, he showed up at her front door with Ryan, a friend of his who was ready to start working for Hanna.

Hanna "I didn't know you had a girlfriend."

Zeth "Well, it's very new."

Hanna shoots him another smile. "Okay, see you tomorrow then."

Zeth "Thanks, Han. See you."

It takes Hanna some time to move all the boxes into the basement, and then she returns to her work. She needs to prepare a few dresses for shipment since Ryan handles the deliveries in Rosewood. However, some of the orders are from other cities, so she must package and mail those herself.

The basement is no longer as beautiful and tidy as it was at first, when Caleb intervened it to create a more functional workspace for her. It's now packed with various items: rolls of fabric are scattered around, boxes and wrapping paper are piled up, half-finished dresses hang on racks, folders filled with papers are stacked on tables, Hanna's desk is a mess, and her working table and sewing machine are surrounded by pieces of cloth, scattered scissors, and various other supplies.

She checks the time on her phone, only to realize she won't make it to her Pilates class today, marking the third class she's missed this month. She puts her phone away and returns to packaging a dress, but it vibrates on the table, so she grabs it again.

It's a text from Caleb: "Want me to pick you up for dinner?"

Hanna sighs and text him back: "I can't, baby. I'll come over later when I finish here. Don't wait for me for dinner."

She is about to set her phone back on the table when she receives a call from Spencer.

Hanna "Hey, Spence!"

Spencer "Hey, Han! How are you doing?"

Hanna "Good... just swamped with work. You? Do you need anything?" She asks, as she is calling her instead of just texting.

Spencer "No, it's fine. I just wanted to talk. I haven't left my house in like four days, and I think I'll lose my mind. But don't worry, I don't need anything. I'll leave you to work."

Hanna "No, it's okay. I'm just getting a few orders ready for shipment. I'll put you on speaker so we can talk. What's going on? How's Finn?" She asks as she resumes her task.

Spencer "Well, he's been quite fussy lately. I had the doctor check him out, and it turns out he's just got a bit of colic. The little guy's been having a hard time with it, poor thing. But they say it'll pass as he gets a bit older."

Hanna "Oh, I'm sorry to hear that, Spence... Let me know if you need some help."

Spencer "Actually, my mom offered to babysit him tomorrow so I can go out and clear my mind... Wanna grab some coffee? I know you are pretty busy, but Emily will be at work, Ali hasn't been feeling so well lately, and Aria is going to Philly for some book presentation."

Hanna chuckles. "Oh, so I'm your last option…"

Spencer "No, silly. I know you are busier than anyone... but I was just wondering if you could make some time for me."

Spencer is right. Hanna has a tight agenda for the following day. She was just thinking about how to fit Caleb into her day after turning him down for dinner a few minutes ago. But something comes to her mind.

Hanna "Well... there's this thing I have to do tomorrow, and I guess you can come with me. I could use your opinion... and those meticulous eyes of yours."

Spencer "Sure, tell me."

Hanna "I'm meeting up with a leasing agent who is showing me an apartment... I've talked to my accountant, and it turns out I could afford to rent an apartment. I think it's time for me to find my own place... I need some space."

Spencer "That's awesome, Han! I'm so happy for you! You deserve it, you've been working so hard…"

Hanna smiles. "Thanks! I'm so excited!" she stats to hear the baby crying in the background. "Do you need to go-"

Spencer "No, it's Toby's turn." She cuts her off. "So, how's business going?"

They keep chatting for a long while as Hanna works, and Spencer takes a very needed and deserved break from motherhood.

/

It's past eleven when Hanna arrives at Caleb's. She has decided to leave Chocolate at her house since she's going back there early in the morning anyway.

Caleb has already turned in, but it doesn't surprise Hanna. He's been busy too, although not as much as she has, as his job is less demanding. He has recently started going to the gym and taking up runs to have something to do besides working, which often leaves him feeling tired, causing him to head to bed early on workdays. So, it's become a normal routine for her to find him already asleep and simply join him. She used to wake him up when she got into bed with him, but she has stopped doing it a while ago.

Tonight, she simply gets comfortable next to him, reaches out to grab his numb arm, and gently places it around herself. It only takes her a few minutes to fall asleep too.

/

The morning after, Caleb wakes up and Hanna is no longer there. He only realizes she's been there because he finds her nightie lying on the floor. He picks it up and puts it away before heading for the bathroom.

He skips breakfast and leaves his house after a shower. He drives to Rosewood's downtown. He and Toby have rented an office space there. The place is modest, with a small reception area (without a secretary as they haven't hired one yet), a compact kitchen, a tiny bathroom, and a couple of offices where they meet clients.

Caleb heads to the kitchen to prepare some coffee.

Toby gets there a few minutes later and greets Caleb with a simple "Morning."

Caleb "Hey, buddy! Want some coffee?"

Toby "Yes, please."

He leans against the kitchen countertop as Caleb pours some mugs.

Toby "I barely slept last night." He rubs his eyes. "The baby cried all night."

Caleb hands him a mug. "Wanna take the day off? I only have a couple of video calls, so I could check on the guys myself."

Caleb and Toby make an awesome team in their new business. Caleb usually meets up with clients and designs computer security systems to fit their needs. Meanwhile, Toby handles the hands-on work, takes care of the infrastructure, and oversees the guys they hire temporarily for each job.

Toby "No, it's fine." He takes a big sip of coffee. "I'll just go take a nap in my office, and then I'll head to the site myself. I won't get any sleep at home anyway."

Caleb "Okay, just let me know anything."

Toby only nods and drinks some more coffee. "So Hanna is getting her own place?" He casually asks, making conversation.

Caleb looks at him, confused. "How so? Like setting up a store for her dresses?"

Toby "No, Spencer told me she would accompany her to see an apartment this afternoon… she wants to move out from Ashley's… Haven't you talked to her?"

Caleb remains silent. He hasn't spoken to Hanna since the last weekend. Their conversations have been through texts in the last days.

Toby "I'm sorry, I thought you knew. I'm sure she was going to tell you anyway."

Caleb "Yeah, sure. We've just been having some trouble finding some time to hang out lately. That's all."

Toby places his empty mug in the sink. "Well, I'll go take that nap now."

Caleb chuckles. "Go knock yourself out, buddy!"

/

It's the afternoon.

Ashley arrives home earlier than her usual time because she has plans with Ted. When she opens the front door, she's relieved to find no boxes blocking her way this time. But as she makes her way to the kitchen, she encounters another of Hanna's unexpected surprises.

In the kitchen, Ashley is met with the presence of three women. Three women she's never seen in her life. Two of them are seated at her kitchen island, while the other occupies her table, all busily engaged in completing some kind of form.

She pushes open the basement door and heads downstairs.

Hanna's eyes widen upon seeing Ashley back home already. She's seated with another unfamiliar woman. "Mom… you are early…"

Ashley "Hanna! What's all this?" She asks, clearly annoyed.

Hanna "I'm sorry, Anna. Excuse me for a minute." She smiles at the woman in front of her and rises from her seat. "Let's not do this here, mom." She whispers to Ashley and they both go upstairs.

But the other three women are still there in the kitchen, so they go upstairs again, to the first floor.

Ashley "What the heck, Hanna? What are all these women doing in my house?"

Hanna "I'm sorry, Mom. I didn't know you were coming back early today."

Ashley "Still, you can't just fill the house with strangers!"

Hanna "I'm sorry, mom." She apologizes again. "I just need someone to help me with my dresses. I'm hiring a seamstress, I can't keep up with-"

Ashley interrupts her. "I don't care, Hanna. Just get all those women out of my kitchen."

Hanna "Okay, fine. I'll have them wait in the basement. I just wanted some privacy to interview them one by one."

Ashley "And I want some privacy in my own house, Hanna."

Ashley barely finishes her sentence when another girl emerges from Hanna's bedroom. It's Chloe, Zeth's girlfriend.

Chloe "I love this dress, Han! I'm taking this!" she says excited.

Hanna receives the fiercest glare she's ever seen from Ashley. Despite annoying her mom on various occasions before (mostly during her teenage years), she's never seen a look like that before. To make everything worse, another person emerges from Hanna's bedroom.

Zeth "It fits you perfectly, babe." He tells his girlfriend.

Hanna wishes she could simply vanish.

/

A couple of hours later, Hanna picks Spencer up at her place.

Spencer "Hey, Han!" She greets her excitedly as she hops into the car.

Hanna "Hey, you!" She smiles at her friend.

Spencer "So, where's the apartment? Is it near Aria's and Ezra's?" She assumes it must be in Rosewood's downtown if it's an apartment building.

Hanna "We aren't going to see any apartment, Spence. We will just get coffee at The Brew."

Spencer "Why? What happened?"

Hanna "I changed my mind." She sighs. "I just canceled the appointment with the leasing agent."

Spencer notices her disappointment so she keeps insisting. "What happened, Han? You were so excited about it yesterday on the phone."

Hanna "Yeah, but I came to my senses today. I really wanted my own place to live, Spence. I needed it. But I'm driving my mom crazy running my business in her basement, so I need to move it out before thinking about moving myself out." She sees a red light and stops the car, looking at Spencer. "I'll start looking for a place to set up a store… somewhere that also has space for me to have a workspace too. I can't afford to rent a store and an apartment right now. So, I have to do the right thing and just stay at my mom's until I can afford an apartment as well."

Spencer "Well, that's a very sensible decision. I know it's not what you originally wanted, but opening your store finally is a big step for your business, Han. That's just awesome."

Hanna gives her a little smile. "Yeah, I know." She starts driving again. "It's a little scary too."

Spencer "You'll do just fine, Han. Just like you've done so far. In fact, you'll do amazingly. Your business keeps on growing!"

Hanna chuckles. "Yeah, I'm hiring some help. I can't keep up with the demand. I'm almost sold out again."

Spencer "That's great!"

Hanna "So the little one is driving you and Toby crazy?"

Spencer sighs. "Yeah, we practically didn't sleep last night… having a baby at home is not easy."

Hanna "And how are you two dealing with it?"

Spencer "We are good… I guess that crisis he had before the baby came helped us prepare for this. I mean, it's hard sometimes, but we've learned to talk things through."

Hanna "That's good."

/

Hanna arrives back home later and heads directly to the basement. She has to catch up with the work she postponed to meet up with Spencer.

After working for an hour on a dress, giving it the final touches to get it finished and ready for sale, she decides to give Caleb a call. Knowing she won't be able to make some time to see him as well.

Caleb "Hey, stranger!"

Hanna "Hey, baby."

Caleb "It's nice to hear your voice."

Hanna smiles.

Caleb "So, are we going out to dinner tonight?"

Hanna "I can't baby… I…" she sighs. "Wanna come over and just be here with me?"

Caleb "Sure. I just want to see you. Let me finish here, and then I'll pick up some pizza on my way there."

Hanna smiles again. "Okay, see you!"

/

The doorbell rings later and Hanna meets Chocolate at the front door.

Hanna chuckles. "Oh, you missed him too, didn't you?" She pets Chocolate's back before opening the door.

Caleb "Hey!"

Hanna is about to embrace Caleb, but Chocolate beats her to it. He jumps excitedly on Caleb, placing his paws on his shoulders while wagging his tail. Hanna grabs the pizza box from Caleb's hands just in time for the dog not to drop it on the floor. She puts it on the entryway table aside.

Caleb "Hi, buddy! I missed you too." He pets him.

Hanna smiles and gently pulls Chocolate away from Caleb by his collar. "Easy, buddy… it's my turn now." She finally wraps her arms around Caleb's neck now.

Caleb wraps his arms around Hanna too as their lips meet. He kisses her back with the same intensity she's showing. She takes one of her hands to his face, cupping his cheek as she deepens the kiss.

Caleb "Why don't we just skip dinner… and go upstairs?" He starts suggesting between kisses and presses her harder against himself.

Hanna pulls away from his lips. She hides her face against his neck, closing her eyes in frustration. "I can't, baby... leaving aside the amount of work I still need to do before going to bed, I'm... on my period, like in the worst day of it."

Caleb "Oh…" He caresses her hair softly. "Well, let's just have some pizza then."

Hanna raises her head from his neck and smiles. "Let's go."

They break apart from their embrace, and Hanna grabs the pizza.

Caleb "Thought food wasn't allowed in your basement." He says when she opens the door to the basement.

Hanna "I know, but I have work to do. Just be careful not to stain anything with pizza." She hands him the pizza box. "I'll get the glasses."

When Hanna gets to the basement a couple of minutes later, she finds Caleb standing in the middle of the cluttered space, still holding the pizza box. He knows better than to touch Hanna's stuff.

Caleb "What a mess you have down here, Han."

Hanna "Yeah, I know." She starts making some space on the table, moving her things aside. "I just can't find the moment to tidy it up." She grabs the dress she was working on and hangs it on one of the racks. "Here."

Caleb "No, you know what? Why don't we just go back upstairs and eat this on the table?" He suggests.

Hanna hesitates.

Caleb "Come on, Han. Just take fifteen minutes to eat something in peace. Besides, what are you planning to do? Eat a slice of pizza with one hand and sew a dress with the other?"

Hanna "Fine, you are right. Let's go to the kitchen." She agrees.

/

Caleb "So… what have you been up to?" He's interested in hearing about Hanna's recent activities and is hoping she might mention her plans to move out from her mother's house.

Hanna "Just work, baby… Nothing new. I don't have much to tell you. I just missed another Pilates class yesterday." She takes a bite of her pizza slice. "You?"

Caleb "Same here, nothing new… only that I've had some extra free time, since my girlfriend's been busy, so I hit the gym every day this week." He takes a bite of his pizza as well.

Hanna "I'm sorry, babe… I'm trying to organize my things better. I'm hiring a seamstress to give me a hand with the dresses."

Caleb "That's good, Han. And I don't say it for me. I was just kidding. I know you are putting your heart into this, but I think you need to find a balance. You won't be able to keep up with this insane pace for too much longer."

Hanna "Yeah, I know." She pours their glasses with some water. "I'm sorry I have nothing but water in the fridge. Neither my mom nor I had time to go to the store."

Caleb smiles. "It's fine."

Hanna "I was thinking Chocolate needs to go to the vet for a checkup. He needs his shots too. Could you take care of it?" She asks and drinks some water.

Caleb "Sure."

/

They go back to the basement after having dinner. Caleb sits in her office chair, while Hanna takes a seat at her working table.

Hanna "You know what I've found out yesterday?" She starts chatting while sewing a zipper to a dress.

Caleb "What?" He asks, staring at her. He loves watching her while she works. He's never seen her so focused on something as when she's working. He still remembers the first time he saw her sketching, she was so inspired, it was several months ago, the day she kept him company while he was painting his living room.

Hanna "Zeth has a girlfriend."

Caleb "It was about time he found someone his age... and available." He adds.

Hanna laughs.

Caleb "So, how did you find out?"

Hanna "He told me she wanted to wear one of my dresses to her sister's wedding. He brought her today with him, her name is Chloe. She's so beautiful and kind. I liked her."

Caleb "Good for him." He just says and spins in the chair to use Hanna's laptop on the desk. "Mind if I take a look at your website?"

Hanna "Of course not." She answers, still too focused on her work. "Why? Is there something wrong with it?"

Caleb "No, nothing's wrong with it. I just wanted to see how it's been doing, you know, the traffic, the sales... I like to keep an eye on things."

Hanna "Oh, okay. Thanks!"

Caleb is about to check her website when something else catches his attention. It's a rental listing website that she left open in different browser tabs. Many of the listings are for commercial spaces for rent in Rosewood, not apartments as Toby told him. He wonders why she hasn't mentioned anything to him yet. Whether she's looking for an apartment or a store, or maybe both, it would be a significant step in her life, and everyone except him seems to know about it.

Caleb "Han…" He decides to bring it up himself, since it seems she won't. He spins in the chair again to look at her.

Hanna "Uh huh?" She asks, still focused on the dress.

Caleb "What have you really been up to these days?" He asks her the same question he asked her at dinner.

Hanna looks up at him now, confused. "What do you mean?"

Caleb "This." He points to her laptop, and Hanna gets to see one of the tabs she left open on it.

Hanna "Oh, that!" She resumes her sewing. "It's nothing… I just started looking for a place to open my store and to work. I need to move my business out of this basement, or I'll end up sending my mom straight to Welby. But it's nothing concrete yet. I haven't even visited any places yet."

Caleb "Why didn't you mention it to me?"

Hanna "Because I just started looking for places today… What's with all these questions?"

Caleb "Nothing… Toby mentioned this morning that you were looking for an apartment. In fact, he told me that you and Spencer would go check one out this afternoon. Are you looking for an apartment as well?"

Hanna looks up at him again, this time with a frown on her face. "You know you could have just asked me instead of snooping around my computer."

Caleb "I didn't, Hanna. I was just about to check your website and I found this." He sighs, a little frustrated now. "I'm not looking for a fight, okay?"

He stands up from the chair and approaches her. He gently wraps his arms around her shoulders, holding her from behind. Hanna leaves the dress on the table and rests her hands on his arms.

Caleb "I don't get to see you as much as I would like. I won't waste our time together fighting." He presses a soft kiss against her cheek. "Toby told me this morning about the apartment, and I thought you were going to tell me as soon as we met up. But you didn't... and now I just found out you were also looking for a store... I just want to know why you aren't telling me about those things. They are important, and-"

Hanna "I wasn't hiding anything from you, Caleb. In fact, I was hoping you could come with me to check out some of those places. It's just too recent, that's all. Spencer called me yesterday because she was overwhelmed with the baby and all, and she needed to get out of her house and clear her mind. Bringing her with me to see that apartment was the only way to fit her into my hectic day today. That's why she knew. We didn't go to see the apartment anyway. I cancelled it. We just had coffee."

Caleb "Why not?"

Hanna pushes his arms away from her shoulders and stands up from her chair. "Sit." She instructs him, and Caleb takes a seat in her chair. Then she sits down on his lap. "I realized today that moving my business out of my mom's house is more urgent than getting an apartment." She starts explaining as Caleb wraps one of his arms around her waist. "I can't afford both, so that's why I canceled my visit to that apartment today. That's why I didn't even mention it to you. And I was going to tell you about the store as soon as I found one I was interested in visiting. You've been a big part of the success of my business. I've seen what you did to my IG, I found out you boosted some of my posts." She grabs his face in her hands. "I know I haven't been a good girlfriend lately, but I wasn't leaving you out of this."

Caleb "Good" he smiles. "Because there's something I've been wanting to ask you for a while now, and I was just waiting for the right moment... That's why I was expecting you would tell me about the apartment."

Hanna only stares at him in silence.

Caleb "Would you move in with me?"

Hanna smiles widely upon his sweet proposal, but she doesn't say a word.

Caleb "So?"

Hanna "Are you sure? I'll drive you crazy… I'm not easy to live with. And you don't need to ask me to move in with you only because I can't afford renting my own place yet. I can stay here with my mom until I do."

Caleb chuckles. "I know you are a pain in the ass, don't worry about that part." He kisses her on the mouth briefly. "And I'm not asking you to move in with me because of what you just told me. I've been wanting to ask you this for a couple of months now… but it just didn't make any sense for you to move in with me when you were running your business here, I mean, it was more convenient for you to just stay here with your mom. But now that you are working somewhere else… I just don't see a reason for you not to move in with me. I think we would see each other more often that way. You sneaking into my bed at night like you did last night is not enough for me, Han. I didn't even get to see you this morning…"

Hanna "Well, I guess that's a good enough reason. Besides, I've been thinking about us being together more often too. I'd love to move in with you, Caleb." She kisses him with enthusiasm, then gently rests her head on his shoulder. "It just feels right, you know? I can't wait to share our lives more closely." She wraps her arms around him in a loving embrace.

Caleb smiles warmly. He gently lifts her chin with his fingers, looking deep into her eyes. "I love you, my baby." He whispers to her and places a soft, affectionate kiss on her lips, tenderly stroking her hair as he holds her close in his arms.

Hanna "You've been waiting to ask me this for like two months and you just chose to ask me it the only night in the month I can't make love with you." She says, cutting with the cheesiness of the moment. "I love you too, by the way."

Caleb laughs. He's certain of one thing: life with Hanna will never be boring.