It wasn't at first sight

by ByAllegra

What happens when Hanna loses her dog and Caleb finds it? This is a HALEB AU story. Hanna will have to deal with the asshole who kept her dog for a year. Caleb will have to deal with the beautiful but crazy girl who doesn't stop yelling at him, and who also happens to be the actual owner of "his" dog. Of course it won't be long until they change their minds and fall for each other.

55. Chapter 55

Hanna finally reaches the room where Caleb is recovering after his surgery. Uncertain of how he'll react, she cautiously opens the door and peers inside to see Caleb.

Caleb "Hey, wifey." He jokes, offering her a smile.

Hanna returns the smile, feeling more assured, and swiftly approaches him, setting her purse on the chair beside his bed on her way.

Hanna "Hey." She greets him, leaning over his bed to tenderly embrace him.

Caleb hugs her back, wrapping his arms around her while sitting up slightly.

Hanna "I'm so sorry, Caleb. I should have been there for you." She says, still holding him in the hug.

Caleb "It's okay. You didn't know." He reassures her, then lies back down, gently pulling away from her arms.

Hanna places her hand on his face, caressing him with her thumb. "How are you feeling? Does it hurt?"

Caleb "It doesn't hurt. I guess I'm still under the effects of the painkillers. I just feel a little weird, but I'm okay." He responds, looking at her. "You look worse than me. Are you okay?"

Hanna's bottom lip starts trembling as she tries to speak, struggling to contain her emotions. "I'm okay too." She manages to say before tears stream down her face. "You... You're just too kind, asking if I'm okay when you're the one who just came out of surgery." She pauses to wipe away the tears that have escaped her eyes. "I'm so sorry, Caleb. About everything. You were right. I won't open that other store in New York. I don't know what I was thinking. I want to make things right again. I'm sorry if I made you feel like I was choosing my work over you. You are my choice, Caleb. You've always been." She confesses, unable to hold back her emotions any longer.

Caleb "Hey…"

Caleb extends his arms from his hospital bed, reaching out to her. Hanna steps forward, allowing Caleb to pull her close to his chest as she leans against him, resting her head on his chest, finding some comfort in his embrace. She sobs softly, her tears wetting the hospital gown he's wearing.

Caleb "You should do the New York expansion, Han. I think it's a great idea. But we'll discuss everything later. For now, please, try to calm down before someone comes to take you away again."

Hanna "That doctor is crazy if he thinks he can make me leave. I'm not moving from here."

Caleb smiles softly. "No one is taking my wife away from me." He gently strokes her hair.

Hanna "Yeah... that was just a little white lie."

Caleb "Anyway, I just want you to calm down. I'm fine... and we will be fine too."

Hanna "You think?" She asks as she eases out of his embrace and stands up straight again.

Caleb "I'm sure."

Hanna takes a deep breath and wipes her tears away, trying to calm down.

Caleb "Did they tell you how long I'll have to stay here?"

Hanna "The doctor said a couple of days." She looks around the recovery room. "I'm sure they'll move you to another room soon." She lets out another deep breath, feeling more relaxed.

Caleb nods.

Hanna "The guys brought your bag, but let me know if there's anything else you need."

Caleb "I think I have everything I need in there."

Hanna nods.

They fall into a moment of silence, and Caleb reaches for Hanna's hand.

Hanna "Are you coming back home when they discharge you?" She asks, her forehead wrinkled with worry.

Caleb is about to answer, but a couple of nurses enter the room, interrupting their conversation.

Nurse "We're taking you to another room, Caleb. You'll have to stay here for a couple of nights." She explains while the other nurse checks Caleb's IV.

/

After Caleb is taken to the room where he'll be hospitalized for the next couple of days, Toby and Spencer, and later Ashley, take turns visiting him.

Around 9 p.m., Hanna returns to the hospital after having a meal with Emily. Finding no one else in the waiting room, she says goodbye to Emily, who leaves for home after the long day, and enters Caleb's room where she finds Ashley still with him.

Hanna "Hey." She approaches them, placing her hand on Ashley's shoulder. "Go home, Mom. I've already eaten. I'll stay here now."

Ashley "Okay, honey. Do you need me to grab something for you from your place?"

Hanna "No, thanks. Toby and Spencer have the key to our house. Spencer's bringing my things later."

Ashley nods and turns toward Caleb. "Goodnight, Caleb. Get better soon."

Caleb "Goodnight, Ashley. Thanks for coming."

Ashley smiles at him and then kisses Hanna's forehead. "Call me if you need anything."

Hanna "Thanks, Mom. Goodnight."

Ashley leaves, and Hanna settles on the edge of Caleb's bed.

Hanna "You look tired." She observes, holding his hand. His IV's been removed and he looks better, but he also looks sleepy now.

Caleb "I am a bit tired. You look tired too."

Hanna nods.

Caleb shifts to the side, making space for her on his bed. "Come here."

Hanna "No, you need to be comfortable there. I'll just take the chair later. I'm okay now." She reaches out to gently stroke his hair.

Caleb "I'll be more comfortable cuddling with you." He insists.

Hanna gives up. "Fine… just a little while." She lies down on her side, positioning herself to occupy minimal space on the edge of the bed.

Caleb attempts to put an arm around her, but she gently stops him.

Hanna "I'm holding you this time." She says softly. She repositions his arm, placing it on his stomach, and then rests her arm gently across his chest, embracing him from the side. She rests her head on his pillow.

Caleb feels her warm breath against his cheek and instinctively turns his face, planting a brief, tender kiss on her lips. Hanna feels relief flooding her body and returns two soft pecks before closing her eyes, finally relaxing. Caleb closes his eyes as well.

Shortly after, they are both sound asleep.

/

Toby arrives back at the hospital a little past 10 p.m. and softly knocks on Caleb's room door.

Hanna, who hears the knocking, carefully slides off Caleb's bed and goes to answer the door.

Hanna "Hey…" She whispers to Toby.

Toby "Hey! How's he doing?" He asks in a hushed tone.

Hanna "Good." She opens the door wider so Toby can take a look. "He's resting."

Toby nods. "Spencer sent you this." He hands her a bag.

Hanna takes the bag. "Did she remember to feed Chocolate?"

Toby "We actually took him home with us." He smiles warmly. "We placed his bed in Finnie's room because he wouldn't move from his side."

Hanna smiles gratefully. "That's great! Thank you, guys, for taking care of him."

Toby "No problem." He gives her a reassuring squeeze on her shoulder. "Just call me anytime, okay?"

Hanna nods.

Toby "Night, Han."

Hanna "Goodnight, Toby."

Hanna closes the door softly, placing her bag on the chair beside Caleb's bed. Retrieving her charger, she plugs in her phone and shifts her bag to a nearby table. Settling into the reclining chair, she reaches out and gently takes Caleb's hand, tenderly stroking it as she quietly watches him sleep.

After a while, feeling a bit chilly, she gets up and searches Caleb's bag for something to wear. Finding a cozy sweatshirt, she puts it on, smiling as she pulls it close, breathing in Caleb's familiar scent lingering on the fabric. She then goes check her phone.

Among the messages, Hanna notices a few texts from Mona and a missed call from her, but her attention is drawn to the two missed calls and a text from Caleb. Seeing the red heart emoji in his text from the day before stirs up emotions, tears tracing down her cheeks as she wishes she had turned her phone on sooner. Despite Caleb being right there with her, she responds with a red heart emoji, keeping their affectionate tradition.

Caleb's phone unexpectedly beeps, waking him. Half-asleep, he reaches for it and sees a text from Hanna. Confused, he looks around the room and spots Hanna standing nearby, holding her phone still attached to the charger.

Hanna "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to wake you up." She says, wiping her tears. "I thought your phone would be on silent." She explains.

Caleb "Why are you crying again?" He asks softly noticing her quiet tears.

Hanna "I'm such an idiot… you had been calling me and I… I'm so sorry I wasn't there, Caleb."

Caleb "It's okay, Han. We had a fight, and I was pretty rough with you. I just assumed you were mad at me and I called the guys. It was nothing. I'm glad you are here now." He checks his phone, opening her text and seeing the red heart she just sent him warms his heart, sending a wave of relief and affection through his body. "Come here." He pats the bed.

Hanna leaves her phone, wipes her last tears, and sits on the edge of his bed. Caleb reaches for her hand, interlacing their fingers together.

Caleb "I'm sorry too, I was too angry yesterday and I said things I regret. We'll talk things through in another moment." He says, stifling a yawn.

Hanna "I'm sorry I disturbed your rest." She apologizes once more, managing a slight smile. "You should go back to sleep."

Caleb smiles back. "I'll actually go use the bathroom." He sits up.

Hanna "Do you want me to go get a nurse?" She stands up herself, concerned as it would be his first time standing up after the surgery.

Caleb "No, I'm okay." He stands up carefully.

Hanna "Are you sure?"

Caleb "Yeah… my stomach feels weird, but I'm okay."

Hanna nods and follows Caleb closely as he slowly makes his way to the bathroom in his room.

Caleb "Would you get me a t-shirt from my bag? I want to take off this stupid gown." He asks her as he reaches the bathroom.

Hanna chuckles. "Sure."

Caleb "And my toothbrush, please."

She retrieves the items he asked for and hands them to him before he closes the door.

Hanna "Just let me know if you need anything else." She says through the door. "And sit down if you get dizzy or something." She adds, concerned.

A few minutes later, Caleb emerges from the bathroom, dressed in his t-shirt and boxers. Once he's safely back in his bed, Hanna takes the opportunity to use the bathroom herself.

Hanna "Okay, we are ready to go to sleep now." She comments while standing by his bed and taking his hand.

Caleb moves to the side, making room for her in his bed again.

Hanna "I'll take the chair this time, babe."

Caleb "Why? I'm okay. Come here." He insists.

Hanna "They just cut you open, Caleb. You need to lie down properly…" She says while brushing her hand over his stomach. "Mind If… I take a look?" She asks.

Caleb shakes his head no, allowing her to take a look.

Hanna pulls down the covers a little and then she lifts his t-shirt, exposing his torso. She notices a small bandage on the lower right of his stomach. "I guess you'll end up with just another sexy scar." She jokes, lightly caressing his skin next to the bandage before adjusting his t-shirt and pulling the covers back over him.

Caleb gives her a smile.

Hanna leans over him and places a tender brief kiss on his lips. "Goodnight, baby."

Caleb "Night, Han."

Hanna turns off the lights and settles into the reclining chair.

Caleb reaches for her hand. "You sure you don't want to-"

Hanna interrupts gently. "I'll stay in this chair, Caleb."

Caleb places their joined hands on the mattress and starts to caress her hand softly.

Hanna changes the subject. "Chocolate is staying the night with Finnie."

Caleb chuckles. "Really? I'm not sure he'll want to come back home when they discharge me."

Hanna "What about you? Are you coming back home when they release you?" She seizes the moment to ask again.

Caleb sighs. "We've got a lot to discuss, Han… I don't want to leave things unresolved and just go back to fighting in a few days… but yes, I'll go home with you."

Hanna feels relieved after hearing his words. That's all she needed to know.

Hanna "Okay… just wake me up if you need anything."

Caleb responds with a gentle squeeze of her hand.

/

Next morning.

Hanna and Caleb are awakened by a nurse who comes to check on Caleb and change the dressings on his wound. Once the nurse leaves the room, Hanna moves closer to Caleb and places a tender kiss on his forehead.

Hanna "How are you feeling?"

Caleb "I'm doing pretty well… I'm actually getting hungry."

Hanna chuckles. "I'm sure they won't take too long to bring you a hideous hospital breakfast." She jokes.

Caleb makes a disgusted face. "Maybe I'm lucky enough and my wife sneaks me a bagel or something like that."

Hanna "Well, I don't see any ring on my finger, so I guess you won't get that lucky." She plays along.

Just as Caleb is about to respond, Hanna's phone starts ringing.

Hanna checks the caller ID. "I have to take this… it's Lisa."

Caleb gives her a nod.

Hanna "Hey, Lis! What's up?" She answers the call. "What crazy friend of mine?... Oh, Mona maybe?... I've no idea who told her, but yes. It'd be great… Yeah, I'm sorry. You are going to have to be very patient with her. But give her a chance, she's good… Oh, okay. Yes, thanks… I don't know when I'll be back... Sure. Thanks again for closing up the store yesterday. It was very kind of you… Okay, bye Lis!" She ends the call.

Caleb "Go there if you have to, Han. I'm okay, you don't have to stay here all the time."

Hanna "What? No! Are you crazy? I'm not leaving you." She holds onto his hand. "Mona just showed up at my store to take care of everything." She explains. "Lisa was just calling to make sure I was okay with it."

Caleb "Mona?" He seems surprised.

Hanna "Yeah… I don't know who told her what happened, but she showed up there to help."

Caleb "Okay, now I really think you should go to your store."

Hanna "Don't be mean. I'm very thankful to her. It wouldn't have been good for the business to close the store again for days, and that's exactly what I was going to do. I'm glad she showed up to take charge of everything."

Caleb lets go of her hand to get up from the bed. "I hope they let me go home today." He says while heading for the bathroom.

Hanna takes the chance to call Mona now.

Mona "Hey, you!" She answers after only a couple of rings.

Hanna "Hey! Lisa just called me. What are you doing there?"

Mona "I'm keeping everything under control." She says, proudly.

Hanna "Yeah, I know… but… who told you?"

Mona "I was trying to reach you yesterday and you weren't picking up, so I drove to your place and since you weren't there, I just stopped by at Spencer's. She filled me in and I just thought you could use my help here."

Hanna smiles. "Thanks, Mona. I really appreciate you being there. Just… take it easy okay? Don't make big changes while I'm gone, just watch the store and let my ladies do their job."

Mona "Sure, don't worry."

Hanna "I mean it, Mona. I know you."

Mona "Chill, Han… I won't take over your business." She jokes.

Hanna "Okay, just call me anything."

Mona "Uh huh."

Hanna "Thanks, Mona." She repeats, truly thankful.

Mona "You are very welcome! Now if you'll excuse me, I have a store to redecorate."

Hanna "Mona!"

Mona laughs. "I was just messing with you. Chill." She only says and ends the call.

Hanna finishes her call with Mona as Caleb returns from the bathroom.

Caleb "Everything good?"

Hanna "Yeah, everything's good." She sits down on the edge of his bed.

Caleb sits down next to her, and his stomach makes a gurgling noise.

Hanna chuckles. "I'll smuggle in a bagel for you, don't worry."

Caleb smirks. "A criminal act for a bagel? That's true love." He wraps his arm around her shoulders.

Hanna grins. "Absolutely, risking it all for your breakfast cravings." She gives him a peck on the lips.

They share a laugh as they wait for the doctors to come for their morning rounds.

/

Unfortunately for Caleb, the doctors insist on another day's stay. It's Friday noon when they finally release him, providing detailed instructions on caring for the wound at home.

Hanna parks her car in their driveway, and they both step out.

Hanna "Go inside, babe… I'll just go get Chocolate from Spencer's and Toby's."

Caleb grabs his bag along with Hanna's and heads inside.

Hanna rings the doorbell at Spencer's and shortly after, she opens the door.

Spencer "Hey, Han!"

Hanna "Spence!"

Spencer "So? Caleb's back home?"

Hanna "Yeah, he's back home." She smiles happily.

Chocolate emerges from the house and starts to excitedly jump around Hanna.

Hanna "Hi, baby! I missed you!" She grins and strokes his back. "Wanna come home?"

Spencer "We are going to miss him so much… I love his bond with Finnie. He's so careful with him."

Hanna "Maybe you should consider adopting a dog." She suggests, still smiling.

Spencer chuckles. "Yeah, I don't know…"

Hanna "Anyway, Spence. Thank you very much for everything, really."

Spencer "No problem, Han."

Hanna "See you around." She starts to walk away, but Spencer stops her.

Spencer "Wait!"

Hanna turns back toward Spencer.

Spencer "I just thought you should know I picked a person to be your new salesperson at the store…"

Hanna "Oh, really? Who?"

Spencer "Maggie."

Hanna "Oh, yeah. She seemed nice." She comments, recalling her from the interview a few days ago.

Spencer "She's starting tomorrow. Mona's training her."

Hanna "Looks like they won't need me at my store anymore." She smiles, amused. "Thanks, Spence. You've been great!"

Spencer "You are welcome, Hanna Banana."

Hanna gives her another smile before walking back home with Chocolate.

When she gets home, she finds Caleb sitting on the couch with his laptop.

Chocolate rushes to Caleb to greet him just as excitedly as he greeted Hanna moments ago.

Hanna "Easy there, Chocolate." She chuckles. "Caleb just missed his appendix, baby." She jokes.

Caleb gives Hanna an amused look and then puts his laptop aside to greet the dog. "Hey, buddy!" He pets his head, as Chocolate wags his tail at him. "I missed you!"

Hanna "I'll go make something for lunch, babe. Just give me a shout if you need anything."

Caleb "Real food, finally."

Hanna laughs. "Yeah, well… I wouldn't get my hopes too high if I were you." She says before walking away.

/

Later that day.

It's the afternoon, and Hanna returns home after a trip to the store. She goes to the kitchen, putting away all the groceries she purchased. Once done, she decides to check on Caleb but finds he isn't in the living room or their bedroom.

Hanna "Caleb?" She calls out for him, but there's no answer.

Noticing Chocolate isn't around either, and aware that Caleb can't engage in physical activities like walking the dog, she decides to check the backyard. There, she finally finds them: Caleb is sitting on a lounger beside the pool, playing fetch with Chocolate.

Hanna "Hey, there you are." She approaches Caleb.

Caleb throws Chocolate's ball and looks up. "Yeah, I just needed some fresh air."

Hanna nods and sits on the lounger beside Caleb, lying down to relax.

Caleb "So… when did you start smocking again?" He casually asks.

Hanna stares at him.

Caleb "I was just looking for your charger because I left mine at Lucas' and I found your cigarettes." He explains.

Hanna sighs. "Only a few days ago." She confesses. "Just very few times, I needed to chill out. I'll quit again." She adds.

Caleb "It's okay, I was just asking." He says, taking the ball from Chocolate's mouth and tossing it again.

Hanna "It's been crazy days…"

Caleb "Yeah, I know. You can smoke a cigarette every so often if it helps you relax, it's okay. I'm not trying to tell you what to do. I just don't like it because it's not good for you, but if we're working things out between us, we should accept that we won't always agree and just deal with it, you know? Take things more easily."

Hanna nods. "Uh huh… I agree with you." She sits up. "I think we should also be more honest with each other."

Caleb "Look, Han… if you are saying that because of all that situation with Sydney, I didn't mean to hide it from you. I actually had nothing to hide. I just-"

Hanna "No, Caleb." She cuts him off. "I'm not talking about Sydney. We already discussed it, and I've really put it behind me. I was just talking about me. I wasn't completely honest with you. I mean… it's not like I lied to you about something… but I might have just kept a few things from you."

Chocolate brings back his ball, but Caleb takes it from his mouth and doesn't throw it away again.

Caleb "Here, buddy. Lie down for a moment. Let's just take a break." He instructs the dog, wanting to fully focus on his conversation with Hanna. "Lie down, buddy." He repeats, and the dog finally lies down next to him. Then he looks back at Hanna.

Hanna "My business is a mess, Caleb. I've been dealing with so many problems in the last few weeks that it's a miracle it's still standing. I hate it there. I hate what it's become. It's nothing like I had imagined. Since Anna hurt her wrist and Sean sent out his stupid wedding invitations, everything's gone worse. I was left with only a few dresses in stock at the store. When you went on that fishing trip with Toby, I went on a trip to New York myself, desperate for Lucas' help."

Caleb "God, Han… Why didn't you just tell me about it before?"

Hanna "Because I didn't want to let anyone down, especially my mom and you. You've been there for me since day one, Caleb. You were so proud when I finally opened my store that I just couldn't bring myself to tell you what a mess I made of it." She takes a deep breath, and even though a tear rolls down her cheek, she remains fairly calm as she speaks. "I was just trying to keep it afloat."

Caleb "Han, I'm sorry if I made you feel pressured instead of making you feel you could count on me."

Hanna "No, you didn't. It was just me and my stupid pride. I liked that you were so proud of me that I guess I didn't want you to find out what a mess I am at managing my business." She smiles, as another tear escapes from her eye.

Caleb smiles back and reaches out to wipe her tear.

Hanna "Anyway, the night I showed up with those condoms-"

Caleb "Those fifty condoms." He chuckles.

Hanna "The night I showed up with fifty condoms…" She continues. "I had just experienced the most awful day at the store. I ran out of many supplies we needed to finish the dresses because I hadn't had the time to take care of making the orders to restock them. So, I ended up driving around all of Rosewood trying to get some of those supplies. Anna told me she wouldn't come back to work for like three months, Sydney was driving me crazy with her bad attitude, I was blocked from so much stress and couldn't come up with any new designs, including Spencer's wedding dress, which I haven't even started yet, by the way. And then that storm hit, and the power went out."

Caleb nods. "Yeah, I had imagined something had happened that day… Didn't know there were so many things."

Hanna "That wasn't all, though…" She gazes into Caleb's eyes, completely sincere. "I had another panic attack that day, Caleb. And it was horrible." She sighs.

Caleb "Damn, Han. You should have told me." He reaches out and takes her arm. "Come here."

Hanna stands up, and Caleb shifts back in the lounger, making space for her to sit between his legs, her back to him.

Hanna "It wasn't the only reason why I changed my mind about the baby, anyway." She adds as Caleb wraps his arms around her stomach, holding her from behind. "Well, it was one of the main reasons, but not the only one." She explains, placing her palms on his arms.

Caleb "Then why did you change your mind?" He rests his chin on her shoulder.

Hanna "To be honest, I was never completely certain about it. Deep down, I knew it wasn't the right time. That's probably why I took a couple of days to bring it up after you suggested I quit the pills. But then we went to that dinner at Spencer's, and everyone seemed so happy with their babies, and I found out that Aria was pregnant too, so… I kind of wanted the same for us. I convinced myself that it might not be the perfect time, but it would be great anyway... I mean, I've always wanted kids, and I want them even more now that I know you'll be their father, so I let my dream overcome my common sense. But it wasn't the right time, and I knew it all along."

Caleb "You know, if you had told me all this that night, instead of just throwing me off center with those condoms, I would have completely understood."

Hanna "I was in a very bad mood, babe. I was stressed, and I felt frustrated because I thought I was over the panic attacks. Having one after more than a year made me feel sad and angry, and well… you already know the rest."

They fall into a silence, not the awkward kind they've experienced in recent days, but a contemplative one. Hanna feels relieved after airing out her feelings, while Caleb is processing everything she just shared.

Hanna "I would love to have a baby with you, Caleb." She breaks the silence after some time. "I just don't think we're there yet. There are so many things I'd like to experience with you first, as a couple… like taking a trip together, just the two of us. We haven't done that yet. I want to enjoy this child-free phase as a couple a little longer."

Caleb "Yeah, I understand… I might have jumped ahead too, seeing all our friends starting families. I was so sure about us, about you, that I suggested you quit the pills."

Hanna turns to face him, straddling, her butt on the lounger, settling her thighs on his. "We'll get there, sooner rather than later… but right now, we should focus on us." She cups his face and plants a tender kiss on his lips.

Caleb wraps his arms around her lower back. "My offer still stands, Han… if you ever feel ready to stop the pills again, I'm completely okay with it. I trust you'll make a more thoughtful decision next time."

Hanna smiles warmly at him.

Caleb "Of course, only if you want to go back to the pill. I don't mind using condoms if you prefer."

Hanna strokes his cheek gently. "I'll go back to taking the pills. I like the idea of us being fully connected when we make love."

Caleb sighs and nestles into the crook of her neck. "You are teasing me right now." He says, remembering the doctor's advice of abstaining from sex for some days.

Hanna chuckles softly. "I didn't mean to. I'm sorry." She says as Caleb's lips tenderly brush her skin.

Suddenly, the doorbell rings, interrupting their intimate moment. Hanna moves away from Caleb.

Caleb sighs. "I hate whoever just rang that doorbell."

Hanna "Hey! It might be my mom!" She laughs while walking away.

Chocolate follows her inside.

Toby shows up in the backyard after a few minutes and tosses a zipper hoodie to Caleb. "Hanna said you should put that on. It's a bit cold out here."

Caleb "Hey!" He greets him as he puts on the hoodie.

Toby settles down on the other lounger. "So, how are you feeling?"

Caleb adjusts the hoodie. "I'm pretty good. The stitches feel weird, but I'm doing well."

Toby "Good. Do you think you'll be fully recovered in like… three months?"

Caleb looks at him, slightly confused since it would take him only some weeks to return to normal, and Toby is aware of that.

Toby chuckles. "Spencer and I set a date for our wedding, and I'll need you there as my best man." He explains.

Caleb grins. "Wow, man, that's fantastic news!" He reaches out and gives Toby's shoulder a friendly squeeze. "Of course I'll be there. I'd be more than happy to."

Toby "Good, because I just told Hanna, and she was already deciding what kind of suit she would pick out for you."

Caleb smiles warmly.

Toby "So… You and Hanna worked things out?" He casually asks while lying down, making himself more comfortable on the lounger.

Caleb "We are working on it." He comments briefly.

Toby "That's good."

Caleb "You and Spencer went through something like this… what did you guys do to stop fighting? I mean… how do you make it out of a rough patch like this?"

Toby "Well, when I left our home things cooled off, it actually helped… but me almost dying in that shooting is what made us realize we didn't want to be without each other and refocus on the important things."

Caleb "So you're suggesting I should have gone through something more life-threatening than just a simple appendicitis?" He jokes, smiling in amusement.

Toby chuckles.

Caleb "How did you leave your house?" He asks, becoming serious again.

Toby "The same way you left here the other day."

Caleb "Yeah, but… Spencer was pregnant. I don't think I could leave under those circumstances."

Toby sighs. "There was no other option, Caleb. It wasn't easy, but I had to leave. And I don't regret it. We might not be together now if I hadn't left…"

Caleb nods.

Toby "I'm not saying you should do the same… every couple is different."

Caleb "Yeah, I know. These last couple of days together were great... But I really don't want to have another fight. At least not like the ones we've been having lately. I couldn't go back to that. I wasn't planning on coming back home just yet, but I couldn't say no when Hanna asked me to come back."

Toby "Just be patient and see where things go."

Caleb "Would you make me a huge favor?"

Toby "Sure!" He accepts right away, even though Caleb hasn't told him what he needs yet.

Caleb "I can't drive just yet, so I'll need you to take me somewhere."

Toby "Right now?"

Caleb nods.

Toby "Okay, let's go." He stands up and extends his hand to help Caleb up as well.

Hanna is in the kitchen when they go back inside.

Hanna "Where are you two going?" She follows them out of the kitchen and to the front door.

Caleb "We will be right back." He tells her while opening the door.

Hanna "Do I need to remind you what happened the last time Toby tried to take you on a secret mission?"

Caleb "Well, it's different this time. I'm the one who asked Toby a favor."

Hanna "Just be careful."

Toby smiles at Hanna before closing the door.

/

It's evening when Caleb returns home and finds Hanna on the couch, absorbed in her sketchbook.

Hanna "So? Are you going to tell me where you've been?"

Caleb "I just needed to get some things from the office." He places a couple of flash drives on the coffee table. "I'll be working from home next week."

Hanna rolls her eyes and refocuses on her sketchbook. "You could have just told me earlier."

Caleb smirks. "I enjoy being mysterious." He settles down beside her, adjusting himself for comfort against the backrest.

Hanna "I see." She says, fully focused on her drawing.

Caleb "Are you working on a new design?"

Hanna "Uh huh." She glances up at him. "But it's not just any design. I'm working on Spencer's wedding dress. I need to create the perfect design… I can't believe they're getting married in only three months."

Caleb "Don't stress yourself out." He places his hand on her knee and gently squeezes it.

Hanna sets down one pencil on the coffee table and picks up another before leaning back and continuing to draw.

Caleb "You know, I had a lot of time to think when I stayed at Lucas'… and I also took a look at your new business plan and the entire expansion to New York."

Hanna "I already told you I'm not doing it." She responds without looking up from her drawing.

Caleb "But you should, Han. It's such a great plan, and you were right... I'm sorry I wouldn't listen to you before."

Hanna "Well, it's not your fault. I know I lost my credibility after so many times I assured you I would start working less. I never meant to lie to you though, I genuinely believed I would manage to put things in order at some point. But I was wrong, and everything kept slipping out of my hands. So, I don't see why it would be different this time around."

Caleb "You won't find out until you give it a chance."

Hanna "It's too risky."

Caleb "Why? You have nothing to lose, Han. You told me earlier you hated your current situation at work and that you didn't like what your business turned into. This is your chance to make it right… wasn't that what you asked Lucas? It's not that risky, Han… Lucas has everything figured out, and your business has become messy because it's actually successful. You just need to address it." He encourages her.

Hanna puts her sketchbook aside. "It's our relationship that I don't want to risk, Caleb. Between my business and you, I choose you. And right now, we aren't in a good place for me to just embark on this huge project. You were right the other day. I'll just keep my store here and see if I can find a way to make it work, and if I don't, then I'll just close it and go back to the website."

Caleb "I wasn't right, Hanna. I was mad and I said things-"

Hanna interrupts him. "You said things that you needed to say and that I needed to hear."

Caleb "No, I wasn't fair to you. We are two people in this relationship and we are both responsible for the issues we've been having." He takes her hand. "I think you should go to New York, Han. You have to do it, for us. I could never live with myself knowing you missed such a great chance because of me. I would never make you choose between me and your job."

Hanna stares at him, feeling uncertain.

Caleb "Take whatever time it takes you to set up everything there, and I'll just be waiting for you here when you come back."

Hanna "What? I was never planning on moving to New York, Caleb." She withdraws her hand from his grasp. "I thought I would just drive back and forth, maybe staying for two or three days there from time to time… and I also thought you could come with me sometimes… but I never planned on leaving Rosewood."

Caleb "That would be insane, Han. It would never work. You'd be working too many hours, and adding a two-hour drive to get there and then another two-hour drive to come back to Rosewood wouldn't make any sense. It wouldn't be safe either."

Hanna "So, what's your big solution? That I move there permanently for two or three months and you stay here? What good would it make to our relationship?"

Caleb "I actually… I think it's just what we need right now, Han. A time to ourselves. So we can put everything behind and get a fresh start when you come back."

Hanna "I can't believe you are just suggesting such a thing, Caleb!" She stands up from the couch, clearly annoyed. "It's been days since you've been suggesting that we should take a break. If you want to take a break, just say so… but don't make it seem like we are doing it because of my business." She storms out of the room, luckily for Caleb, there's no door in the living room or she would have surely slammed it shut.

He hesitates for a moment, considering going after Hanna. However, from their fights in the past few days, he has learned not to engage in discussions when one of them is upset. He opts to head for the kitchen to prepare something for dinner, trying to avoid any chance that this turns into a new big fight.

/

Later.

Caleb is stirring a sauce on the stove when Hanna enters the kitchen.

Hanna "I'm sorry, Caleb." She says, making Caleb turn to her. "I don't know what's wrong with me. I keep snapping at you..."

Caleb lowers the heat on the stove and approaches her, noticing her reddened eyes. He wraps his arms around her waist. "You been crying again?" Concern fills his voice.

Hanna manages a small smile, resting her hands on his shoulders. "Yeah... I don't know what's with me. I think I've never cried so much in my life as I have these days."

Caleb gives her a questioning look.

Hanna "What?" She asks, confused.

Caleb "Is there a chance that you…" He searches for the right words not to upset her again. "You mentioned the other day, after that negative test, that you would take another pregnancy test in a few days just to make sure... did you?"

Hanna shakes her head. "I'm not pregnant."

Caleb "Okay." He only says and places a tender kiss on her forehead.

Hanna "Look, I'm sorry about earlier. If you want to take a break, we will. I'm done with all this back and forth. It's exhausting."

Caleb "I just think we need to find a way to put a stop to this crappy situation, and since you'll need to be in New York most of the time, I thought it would be the perfect opportunity. I wasn't trying to get rid of you. And just to make it clear, I don't want to take a break. I think we need it, and I'm willing to do it. But I don't want it to be my decision only. We'll only do it if you're okay with it."

Hanna nods. "I'm open to trying it, but we need to set some ground rules. There are certain things about taking a break that I'm not comfortable with."

Caleb "Of course, Han." He releases her and checks his sauce. "The last thing we need right now would be a misunderstanding. So, let's just talk it through… And this would be like… a special break, not a break, break. I mean, none of us has any doubts about their feelings right?"

Hanna "Right."

Caleb stirs the sauce a little and then removes the pan from the stove.

Hanna "First rule, stop making dinner right now and have a seat." She pulls out a chair from the table for Caleb to sit down. "You've been standing for too long."

Caleb "I'm almost done, here."

Hanna "Okay, then have a seat and guide me. I'll finish dinner."

Caleb "The sauce is ready. I just need to boil some water for the spaghetti."

Hanna "Alright." She takes a pot from the cupboard.

Caleb sits down on the chair.

Hanna "Second rule, we are not seeing other people."

Caleb "Come on, Han. It never crossed my mind."

Hanna "I'm just making it clear, we don't want to end up like Rachel and Ross." She fills the pot with water.

Caleb "Okay."

Hanna "Third rule, we can speak on the phone." She looks at Caleb to confirm his agreement.

Caleb nods.

Hanna "That includes texting and calls." She places the pot on the stove.

Caleb "Sure."

Hanna "Next rule, break is over when I'm done in New York."

Caleb "I think we should review that point as we go..."

Hanna "Why?" She goes to sit on another chair.

Caleb "Because we don't know what's going to happen. Maybe we decide it's enough time before you come back to Rosewood, or maybe you want to stay there a little longer, I don't know. I think setting a definite end to this break might add unnecessary pressure. This should be as relaxed as possible."

Hanna nods, understanding his point.

Caleb "I have only one rule to add…"

Hanna "Okay."

Caleb "You are taking another pregnancy test. I couldn't do this if you-."

Hanna interrupts him. "I'm not pregnant, Caleb. But sure, I'll take another test tomorrow morning if that makes you feel more at ease. I have one in the bathroom upstairs."

Caleb "Thanks, Han." He says softly, meeting her gaze, expressing his appreciation for her willingness. "I'll move out to Lucas' tomorrow so you can stay here until you get things started in New York."

Hanna "So we are really doing this…"

Caleb "I love you, Hanna… I just want us to go back to normal, and right now, I can't see any other possibility."

Hanna "Yeah, I know. I want the same as you... it's just that taking a break feels like such a big deal... I never thought we'd reach this point." She takes a deep breath.

Caleb "It doesn't have to be a big deal. It's just us, Han." He reaches out and joins their hands. "We're strong enough to take a break and then, I don't know... maybe get married?"

Hanna "Are you seriously talking about getting married in the same conversation where we're setting up rules for a break?"

Caleb smiles. "Why not? Aren't we doing this to save our relationship?"

Hanna "Let's handle one thing at a time. Taking a break is challenging enough without adding thoughts about marriage into the mix."

Caleb nods. "Yeah, I'm sorry… I was just saying."

Hanna "You should probably go change the dressings on your wound… it's been hours." She releases his hand. "Don't worry about your spaghetti. I've got this." She stands up to check the pot.

Caleb stands up too and leaves the kitchen.

Hanna blinks back tears as she puts the spaghetti in the boiling water.

/

They share a quiet meal, avoiding any mention of the break, engaging in casual conversation. Despite Hanna barely touching her food, everything goes smoothly until bedtime.

After using the bathroom, Hanna grabs a blanket and heads downstairs. She turns off the lights and lies down on the couch.

Hanna "Hey, baby." She caresses Chocolate's ear after he shows up there.

Chocolate lies down on the floor next to her. Hanna turns to lie on her stomach and reaches out to stroke him.

Hanna "I'm going to miss you while I'm in New York, buddy… Maybe I can take you with me for some time."

Chocolate rolls over, exposing his tummy for Hanna. She smiles and continues caressing him.

Caleb "Hey, what are you doing down here?" He approaches her.

Hanna "I would ask you the same. Stop going up and down the stairs so much. It's not good for you."

Caleb "Don't change the subject. Come to bed."

Hanna "No, you don't change the subject. Take care of yourself, Caleb."

Caleb "Okay, I will." He sits down on the edge of the couch. "Come on, you two. Let's go upstairs." He looks from Chocolate to Hanna.

Hanna "I'll stay right here."

Caleb "Come on, don't make me carry you to bed, my stitches might come out."

Hanna "Caleb, please. I'm trying really hard not to snap at you again. You convinced me that taking a break was our only option left and I agreed to it. Don't make things more difficult. It's been days since we shared a bed. I'm not starting now that we're on a break."

Caleb "So, we're on a break already?"

Hanna "Yes, we are. What were you expecting? That we set a start date or something?"

Caleb "Okay, I'm sorry. You are right." He stands up.

Hanna "Did you remember to take your meds?"

Caleb "Yep." He responds, walking away.

Hanna "Okay, just text me if you need anything. I don't want to see you on the stairs again until tomorrow morning."

Chocolate stands up to go after Caleb.

Hanna "Hey, you!" She calls out to the dog. "You better stay right here with me." She warns him.

The dog turns to look at her.

Hanna "Come here, Chocolate." She taps on the couch.

Chocolate hesitates, glancing at the stairs, but finally decides to return to Hanna. He jumps on the couch, resting at her feet. Luckily for them, it's a very large couch.

Hanna "You made the right choice, Chocolate."

/

Saturday morning.

Caleb comes out of the bathroom, freshly showered, wearing only his underwear and new clean dressings on his wound. He finds Hanna in their bedroom, packing a suitcase.

Caleb "What are you packing for? Are you leaving for New York already? I thought Lucas had to secure the investors first." He asks while tossing on a t-shirt.

Hanna "I'm moving to Lucas' apartment. I'll stay there until I leave for New York." She explains, sorting through a pile of t-shirts to select the ones she intends to pack.

Caleb "I told you yesterday I'd go stay there, Han."

Hanna "I know, but you're still recovering from your surgery. It wouldn't make sense for you to move there for a few days and then come back here. I'll do it. I'm the one leaving this time."

Caleb "I'm okay. I can handle it."

Hanna sighs and looks at him. "Please, don't make this harder, Caleb."

Caleb nods, grabbing a pair of black jeans to put on.

Hanna continues packing in silence while Caleb finishes getting dressed. Then, he heads downstairs.

He's seated at the kitchen table when Hanna shows up, about two hours later, having finished packing and showered.

Hanna "Here." She says and hands him a pregnancy test. "It came out negative again."

Caleb "It's okay, I don't need to see it. I believe you." He doesn't take the test from Hanna's hand. "Thanks for taking it."

Hanna "No problem." She says and throws it away in the kitchen trash. She then walks back to the kitchen door. "I left you my charger on the bedside table. I'll use the one you forgot at Lucas'." She lets him know.

Caleb nods.

Hanna "And I took your suitcase too. I hope you don't mind. Mine wasn't enough for packing for a couple of months…"

Caleb "That's fine." He stands up. "I'll heat up the coffee."

Hanna notices the breakfast he's prepared on the table. "I'm not staying for breakfast, Caleb. I'm leaving now. Give me the keys to Lucas' apartment."

Caleb sighs. "Stay a little longer."

Hanna "No, I'll leave now… this isn't easy for me, you know? I barely slept last night." She takes a deep breath, fighting back tears.

Caleb walks over and takes her hand. "This isn't easy for me either, Han. It sucks, it hurts… but it's just a couple of months. After that, we've got the rest of our lives together…" His eyes fill with tears too now. "It doesn't seem so long when you think about it that way, right?" He adds softly, reaching out with his free hand to gently tuck a few strands of Hanna's hair behind her ear.

Hanna pulls her hand away. "Just go get me the keys, please." She wipes her eyes before her tears can fall.

Caleb nods and leaves the kitchen.

When he returns from upstairs, he finds Hanna standing by the front door with the two suitcases she packed. He swallows hard and approaches her.

Caleb "Here." The word comes out barely audible as he hands Hanna the keys.

Hanna takes the keys and tosses them into her purse.

Chocolate joins them, excited, possibly thinking they're going for a walk. He wags his tail, his mouth open with his tongue hanging out.

Hanna kneels down, and the dog licks her face. "I'm going to miss you so much, baby." She wraps her arms around Chocolate's neck, unable to hold back her tears any longer. "Keep being such a good boy. I'll see you soon." Her voice cracks. "I love you."

As she stands up, she notices Caleb shedding tears as well. She wipes her own tears and grabs one of her suitcases. Opening the door, she steps outside.

Caleb "Stay here, buddy." He tells the dog, taking the other suitcase and following Hanna.

They walk to Hanna's car in silence, and she opens the trunk.

Hanna "Don't." She tells Caleb as he tries to lift one of her suitcases. "You can't lift heavy things."

She grabs the suitcase and puts it in the trunk herself, then does the same with the other one.

Hanna "I changed my mind about one of the rules we discussed last night…"

Caleb "Which one?" He asks softly.

Hanna "I won't be calling or texting you for now… I think it would only make this harder."

Caleb nods understandingly. "Just… do call me if you need anything, okay?"

Hanna nods. "You too… I promise I'll keep my phone on this time."

Caleb tries to pull her into a hug, but Hanna stops him.

Hanna "Don't… or I'll never leave." She wipes her tears again, as Caleb does the same with his own. She takes a step back, visibly holding herself together. "Goodbye, Caleb." Her voice trembles as she tries to maintain her composure.

Caleb takes a deep breath, fighting his emotions. "Goodbye, Han." His voice breaks slightly.

Hanna turns away and gets into her car.

Caleb turns and walks back into the house, feeling a deep ache in his chest, avoiding watching Hanna drive away.

Caleb "Hey buddy… It's just you and me again." His tears stream down his face again. "And it sucks…"

Chocolate leaps on him, sensing his sadness. Caleb leans in and hugs the dog looking for some comfort.