It's Saturday evening and Caleb is asleep on the couch when someone rings the doorbell, waking him up. He stretches his arms and yawns before standing up. His eyes feel irritated from crying. Chocolate follows him as he heads to the door.
Caleb "Hey, Spence." He greets Spencer, finding her with Finn in her arms, dressed up, and carrying Finn's diaper bag. "Hey, little one." He forces a faint smile for the baby.
Spencer "Hey! Is Hanna home?"
Caleb "No, she's not." He only says, avoiding further explanations.
Spencer "Oh…" She sounds disappointed, and notices Caleb's expression. "Are you okay?"
Caleb "Yeah, I'm fine. I was just asleep."
Spencer "Oh, I'm sorry I woke you up."
Caleb "It's fine. Don't worry… Do you need anything?"
Spencer "No, it's nothing." She smiles. "Is Hanna coming back soon?"
Caleb "No… she actually… she moved to Lucas' apartment this morning."
Spencer "Oh, I'm sorry… I didn't know."
Caleb "It's okay… So, do you need someone to watch Finnie?"
Spencer "Yes, Toby was supposed to come home a while ago, but I just called him, and his truck won't start… and I have this dinner at my mother's, and I'm already running late."
Caleb "I'll watch him." He offers.
Spencer "You sure?"
Caleb "Yeah… I obviously have no plans for the night. I'd be happy to."
Spencer smiles. "Thank you, Caleb." She passes the baby to him. "It'll only be for a little while until Toby comes home." She adds while handing him Finn's bag as well.
Caleb "Sure, don't worry. I'll keep him alive until then." He holds the baby gently against himself as he hangs the bag on his shoulder.
Spencer "Thank you, Caleb! You are the best!... Just call me anything." She adds while walking away.
Caleb closes the door and goes back inside. "We have company, Chocolate." He tells the dog, who's eyeing the baby curiously.
He gently settles the baby down on the couch, taking a seat beside him and placing the diaper bag on his lap. "Let's see if you have any toys in here." He tells Finn while rummaging through the bag. He finds a colorful baby toy and offers it to him. "Here, Finnie."
Finn takes the toy but swiftly tosses it aside. Then he reaches out with his tiny arms to touch Chocolate, who has rested his head on the couch, right next to the baby.
Caleb chuckles. "Looks like you've found something more interesting."
The baby grabs Chocolate's ears, giggling in delight.
Caleb "Easy there, Finnie… let's be gentle with Chocolate." He gently cautions as he carefully removes the baby's grip from the dog's ears.
/
Spencer arrives at her mother's house but before getting out of her car, she decides to send a voice message to Aria, Emily, and Alison.
Spencer "Hey guys… I just left Finnie with Caleb, and, well, he told me that Hanna moved to Lucas' today. Would any of you mind checking on her? Maybe give her a call or something? I'd do it myself, but I have this dinner at my mom's with a couple of other senators she invited, and I'm already late."
/
Hanna lies on Lucas' couch, not paying much attention to the TV when the doorbell rings. She ignores it the first time, thinking someone must have pressed the wrong button on the intercom since no one besides Caleb knows she is there, and he wouldn't just come over. But it rings again, and she decides to answer it.
Hanna "Hi."
Emily "Hey, Han… it's me, Emily."
Aria "And me." She adds.
Hanna "Come in." She buzzes them in through the intercom.
Shortly after, they arrive on the second floor, and Hanna waits for them by the doorframe.
Hanna "What are you guys doing here?"
Emily "We brought pizza." She smiles.
Aria "And some chocolates." She says as they step inside.
Both of them notice Hanna's swollen eyes but choose not to comment on them.
Hanna "Who told you guys I was here?" She asks, confused, while closing the door.
Emily "Spencer... She's not here because she had some important dinner at her parents'."
Aria "Yeah… she said she left Finnie with Caleb."
Hanna "Oh." She responds simply.
Emily places the pizza box on the coffee table as Aria grabs some glasses and napkins.
Aria "What a great apartment!" She comments, glancing around.
Hanna "Yeah, it's very nice. I'm sure Lucas' hired a decorator."
They settle in the living room, each grabbing a slice of pizza.
Hanna "This is exactly what I needed, guys." She says before taking a bite.
Aria smiles at her, and since she's sitting right next to her on the couch, she reaches out and places her hand on Hanna's shoulder. "I think we know you pretty well."
Hanna gives her a slight smile as she chews.
Emily "So, I heard Mona's been taking care of your store..." She starts a conversation.
Hanna "Yeah… She learned about what happened to Caleb and went there to help. I'm really thankful to her. I would have had to keep the store closed if it weren't for her… I'll go back to work on Monday, though."
Aria "Yes, you should go see what's left of your store."
Hanna "Hey, give Mona some credit… she's been doing very well lately."
Aria "It was just a joke." She smiles at Hanna.
Hanna "Where's Ali?" She asks Emily.
Emily "She stayed home with the babies… Grace's been a little fussy today."
Hanna nods.
Aria "Where's Chocolate? Did you leave him with Caleb?"
Emily gives her a death glare since they had agreed earlier in the car not to bring up the matter unless Hanna did.
Aria "What? I just asked about Chocolate." She mumbles.
Hanna "It's okay, guys…" She says, realizing the situation. "I left him with Caleb because Lucas is allergic to dogs, so I wasn't going to bring Chocolate here." She explains. "And Caleb and I are on a break, that's why I'm here. But I'll update you later… Right now, I just want to enjoy my pizza in peace. I've cried enough for today."
Emily "I'm sorry, Han…"
Aria reaches out again and rubs her hand on Hanna's arm, reassuring her.
Hanna takes her glass and sips some water.
Emily "I can't believe Lucas doesn't have any wine here."
Aria chuckles. "I can believe it."
Hanna "He just doesn't like wine... or any alcoholic drinks…"
Emily "I'll bring a bottle next time." She smiles at Hanna.
/
Caleb has laid out a blanket on the floor, with Finn seated on it surrounded by cushions and a few scattered toys. However, the baby remains captivated by Chocolate.
Chocolate brings his favorite ball and gently places it nearby the baby.
Caleb is sitting on the floor next to them, using his phone. He's about to take Chocolate's ball away from the baby's reach, but Finn grabs it before he can.
Caleb "Oh, okay… just don't tell your mother I let you play with Chocolate's ball." He smiles, amused. "We'll wash those tiny hands of yours later." He adds, keeping an eye on the baby to ensure he doesn't put the toy in his mouth since it's quite dirty.
Finn tries to toss the ball away, but it only falls a few inches from him. Chocolate, using his snout, pushes it back to the baby, getting a loud laugh from him.
Caleb laughs too, as Finn's laughter is infectious. He grabs his phone and starts recording a video, as that same funny sequence repeats a few more times. He immediately thinks about how much Hanna would enjoy watching that video, but he can't send it to her.
The doorbell rings, interrupting his thoughts.
Caleb "That must be your dad, Finnie." He stands up, scooping the baby into his arms.
He heads to the door with Chocolate following closely.
Caleb "Hey, buddy!" He greets Toby, who stands at his door with a pizza box and a six-pack.
Toby "Hey, you two!" He returns the greeting, making a funny face at his baby.
Finn gets excited seeing his dad and reaches out his arms, wanting to be picked up.
Caleb laughs, taking the pizza box from Toby and passing the baby to him.
He then closes the door, and they return to the living room.
/
Hanna "Well… do you want to know about Caleb and me?" She asks while opening a chocolate. She's half-sitting on the couch, her back resting on a couple of cushions, legs folded, and feet resting on the couch.
Aria "Only if you feel like telling us." She answers while rubbing her baby bump. She is still sitting on the couch, next to Hanna.
Emily "We are here only to keep you company, so it's up to you." She adds while grabbing a chocolate bar too.
Hanna "Yeah, well… I don't know if I feel like talking about all this, but I could use your opinion, guys… I don't know how to feel about this 'break' thing. I mean, I go from feeling sad to being angry with Caleb to feeling sad again and so on."
Emily "What happened? You guys seemed to be doing well when I saw you back at the hospital."
Hanna "Yes, we were doing better. I even opened up to him about many things yesterday. We had a very honest conversation, and I felt us closer again… but then he showed up later and suggested we took a break… This was his idea. I wasn't okay with it, but I agreed to do it anyway."
Aria "Why did you agree to it if you didn't want to, Han?"
Hanna "I had no other choice, Aria… What would you do if Ezra asked you to take a break? I couldn't just say no and stay in our house as if nothing had happened."
Aria nods, understanding her point.
Emily "I still don't get why he would ask you for a break… He was so insistent on seeing you when we came for him here at Lucas' and later at the hospital."
Hanna sighs. "He asked me to take a break because I'm opening a new store in New York, so I'll have to spend most of my time there the next months, and he's already fed up with the way I've been handling my business so far… I mean, I didn't do a good job balancing my working hours and my personal life… and I've also been taking some of the frustration out on him. So I get why he's concerned about it. I actually wasn't going to do it. I told him I wouldn't, but he doesn't want to hold me back, so he just suggested we took a break while I focus on it."
Aria smiles at Hanna. "First of all, I'm happy you are doing so well with your business that you are expanding it to New York… and secondly, it now makes more sense Caleb asking you for a break, but I still think you should talk to him if you are not okay with it. You could find another way to make it work."
Emily "Yeah, I agree with Aria." She smiles too. "New York! That's great, Han!... Talk to Caleb again. Why don't you ask him to come to New York with you? He can do most of his job from home, and I could give him a hand if he needs me to take care of something from the office."
Hanna smiles back. "Thank you, guys… the expansion to New York isn't about just growing my business bigger, it is mainly to fix some problems that I have been having, especially with maintaining the production of the dresses. Lucas is helping me, it was his idea… anyway, I won't talk to Caleb again. I'm doing this 'break' thing because he only wants us to stop fighting so much, and I can't assure him it won't happen again… we need to get over this hard time, somehow. And right now, I have no other option to suggest." By the time she finishes with her explanation, her eyes have become glassy again, leaving her on the verge of tears once more. "If he had seen himself coming to New York with me as an option, he would have suggested it himself, Em… but he evidently thought that taking a break was a better choice, so…" She starts crying now. "That's it. We are on a break."
Aria gets closer to Hanna, and Hanna puts her legs down, allowing Aria to hug her. "Things will get better, Han." She reassures her, gently rubbing her back.
Hanna "It's too much time… Lucas didn't even get the investors we need yet, so I won't go to New York right away... Caleb thinks it'll only be a couple of months, but this could take three or four months…" She breaks away from Aria's embrace, grabbing a napkin to wipe her tears.
Emily "Hey, don't jump too far ahead, Han. You'll figure things out one day at a time… you'll see things more clearly as the days pass."
Hanna nods. "I just can't stop thinking of him… picturing what he could be doing with Finnie right now. I'm dying to know if he changed the dressings on his wound again… and I don't know if he'll remember he has to go to the hospital for a check-up on Monday… I hate him."
Emily smiles tenderly at her. "I'll remind him about that check-up. Don't worry."
/
Monday morning.
Hanna arrives at her store and finds Maggie, her new employee, by the checkout counter.
Hanna "Oh, hi, Maggie."
Maggie "Hi, Hanna! It's very nice to see you again." She greets her cheerfully, since she only saw Hanna once, when she came for her job interview.
Hanna "Likewise." She gives her a kind smile. "So, how's it been? How are you adjusting to the new job?"
Maggie "Good! I just started on Saturday, so this would be my second day. But it's been good." She smiles back.
Hanna "I'm glad Mona didn't scare you away on your first day." She chuckles. "It's a good sign that you showed up for your second day after being under her charge."
Maggie "Well, now that you mentioned it… She's a little intense. But nothing I couldn't handle." She gives Hanna a sincere answer now.
Hanna "Yeah, she can be a bit intense at times, especially when given a little power. But she's good." She smiles again. "Well, I'll be upstairs if you need anything."
Maggie "Sure."
Hanna heads to the stairs.
Maggie "Oh, thanks for the job, by the way." She adds, and Hanna responds with a nod and a smile from the stairs.
Hanna "Hi, everyone! How are you doing?" She greets Lisa, Vanessa, and Mona, who is seated at her desk.
Mona "Hey, Han!" She stands up and goes to hug her.
Hanna "Hey, Mona!" She reciprocates the hug warmly. "Thank you so much for everything. Really."
Mona "You are welcome!" She says while pulling away from the embrace.
Lisa "Hi, Hanna! Welcome back."
Vanessa "Hi! So good to see you!"
Hanna "Thank you, guys!" She smiles at them before turning her attention back to Mona. "So? Please, fill me in on everything I've missed here while I was gone." She asks Mona, while placing her purse on her desk.
/
Meanwhile, Caleb is in the living room, still only in his boxers since he hasn't showered yet because he's working from home. He's sitting on the couch with his laptop on his lap when the doorbell rings. He places the computer aside and goes to take a look through the peephole.
Caleb smiles upon seeing Emily standing on the other side of the door. And since it's her, he opens the door just like that.
Caleb "Hey!"
Emily "Okay, I see that it's becoming a habit of yours to welcome me in just your boxers." She teases.
Caleb chuckles. "Come in… I'll go throw something on."
Shortly after, he returns to the living room, wearing a pair of shorts and a plain t-shirt. He finds Emily sitting on the couch.
Caleb "I'm sorry, I wasn't expecting company." He explains, as he picks up a couple of dirty dishes and glasses from the coffee table.
Emily "No problem."
Caleb takes the items to the kitchen and then comes back.
Caleb "So, what brings you here?"
Emily "I need you to sign these papers." She hands a few documents to Caleb.
Caleb examines them and then looks at Emily, confused.
Caleb "You know you could have just emailed me these for a digital signature, or just forged my signature yourself…"
Emily "Yeah, I know." She admits. "I just came to check on you."
Caleb "Oh, okay." He says, taking a seat next to her on the couch.
Emily "How are you feeling?"
Caleb "My appendix-free stomach is perfectly fine."
Emily "What about your heart?"
Caleb "You already know the answer to that."
Emily nods.
Caleb "It's not easy… my Sunday was awful… but I just try to keep in mind why we are doing this and focus on something else."
Emily "I'm sorry to hear that, Caleb. I'm here for you, you know? If you ever need to talk or need anything…"
Caleb "Thanks, Em." He replies with a kind smile.
Emily "Where's Chocolate?"
Caleb sighs. "In the backyard… He keeps going to the front door expecting Hanna to come back, and it was breaking my heart."
Emily "Well, I could take him to see Hanna any of these days."
Caleb "How's she? Have you seen her?"
Emily "Yeah, I saw her on Saturday night. She's just like you, Caleb. Sad, but trying to hold herself together and go on."
Caleb nods.
Emily "I promised her I would remind you of your check-up today." She mentions.
Caleb smiles a little. "Yeah, I didn't forget. It's this afternoon."
Emily "Will you need a ride?"
Caleb "No, it's fine. I can go back to drive now."
Emily "Okay, just let me know if you need anything." She says while standing up. "I'll get going."
Caleb stands up too. "You know you don't have to go to the office, right? I mean, you know how everything works now, and I won't be there, Toby is out most of the time, so it wouldn't make any sense for you to be there." He tells her while walking her to the door.
Emily chuckles. "You have no idea what it's like to have two babies at home, Caleb. I couldn't get half of the work done if I worked from home. I love my peaceful time at the office."
Caleb "Okay… just keep that in mind, if you ever need to work from home." He opens the door for her.
Emily "Thanks, I'll keep that in mind for next time one of the girls get sick or something. But right now, they both are doing great thank god. So, I'll just go enjoy my peace at the office." She steps outside. "See you around, Caleb."
Caleb "See you, Em!"
/
It's evening when Hanna returns to Lucas' apartment carrying some grocery bags. After unpacking everything, she flops down on the couch and reaches for her phone to call Lucas.
Lucas "Hey, Han! What's up?"
Hanna "Hey, Lucas! How are you doing?"
Lucas "I'm pretty good, what about you?"
Hanna sighs. "I'm okay…"
Lucas "What happened? More problems at the store?"
Hanna "No… Caleb and I are taking a break. That's why I'm calling you. Is it okay if I stay at your apartment for a few days?"
Lucas "Of course, Han. I told Caleb the other day he could stay as long as he needed. Same goes for you."
Hanna "Thank you, Lucas. You are so kind. I feel like a lifetime wouldn't be enough time to thank you."
Lucas chuckles. "No problem, Han."
Hanna "So, did you make any progress with the investors we need?"
Lucas "Not yet, but I'm planning to gather a group of potential interested investors and make a presentation next week. I've already compiled a list of names, and my assistant will be reaching out to schedule a meeting. It would be good if you could be present too. Can you make it here next week?"
Hanna "Sure, Lucas. Just make the arrangements and let me know the location and time, and I'll be there."
Lucas "Perfect."
Hanna "I'll start looking for a place in New York. I'll stay there for however long it takes us to get everything set up… I think the ladies at my store can handle things on their own while I'm gone."
Lucas "That would be great, Han! Having you here permanently will make things easier. You don't have to look for a place to stay. I have a guestroom here." He offers right away.
Hanna "Oh, no, no. I can't take any more help from you, Lucas. It's starting to feel like an abuse. Don't worry, I'll figure it out."
Lucas "Please, Han! I insist you stay here with me. I'm out most of the time, it wouldn't make any sense for you to have to rent a place for yourself."
Hanna "I don't know, Lucas. It's too much to ask."
Lucas "You are not asking, I'm offering."
Hanna "Okay, we'll see next week when I go there for that meeting with the investors."
Lucas "Okay."
Hanna "Well, I'll let you get back to whatever your busy ass needs to take care of. See you next week then."
Lucas chuckles. "I'll keep you updated about the meeting. Bye, Han."
Hanna "Bye, Lucas."
/
Next day. Tuesday.
Hanna is the first to arrive at her store in the morning. Carrying a couple of her sketchbooks filled with new designs she's been working on, she heads upstairs.
She sits down at her desk and starts writing down the usual instructions for each of her designs, so Lisa and Vanessa can start working on them.
Maggie arrives next and greets Hanna upstairs before heading back downstairs to open the store for customers.
Shortly after, Lisa shows up too.
Lisa "Hi, Hanna. Good morning." She greets Hanna warmly as she takes off her coat and hangs it on the backrest of her chair.
Hanna "Morning, Lis!" She stands up and approaches her. "I wanted to have a word with you…"
Lisa "Sure." She says, looking at her expectantly.
Hanna "You already know about the project to expand the business to New York." She starts.
Lisa nods.
Hanna "I'll have to stay there for a couple of months… and since you've been working with me for months now, and you've been so loyal and kind, and you know me and my high-quality standards very well, I was thinking you could take on more responsibilities." She explains. "Like supervising Vanessa's work while I'm gone, making sure every dress that ends up hanging on the racks downstairs is just as perfect as I would like. Also, keeping an eye on Maggie, she seems very nice, but she's new and I haven't had the time to know her better yet. And I would need you to hold the keys and open and close this place every day. I'll still be overseeing things from New York, we can make video calls, I'll send you the new designs and the instructions. If any of you need a day off, just text me. Mona also offered to replace Maggie at the store if she can't come one day. But I'll still need someone I trust over watching things here every day, and I thought you would be perfect… of course I'll pay you for this extra work. You don't have to give me your answer just yet, you can take some time to think about it."
Lisa "Oh, I don't need to think about it. I'll be happy to do it." She answers, eagerly.
Hanna smiles, pleasantly surprised. "Really?"
Lisa "Sure." She says, fully committed.
Hanna "That's great, Lis! Thank you very much."
Lisa "Will I have to take care of ordering supplies too?"
Hanna "No, I'll handle that from New York. I don't want you to waste your time with that. I'll still need you stay focused on working on the dresses most of the time. Just let me know if there's something specific you need me to purchase."
Lisa nods.
Hanna "And If anything comes up, feel free to call me."
Lisa "Perfect."
Hanna "Anyway, I'll be here for a few more days. So if you have any more questions or concerns, just come talk to me."
Lisa smiles. "Thank you very much for thinking of me to do this, Hanna."
Hanna smiles back. "You deserve it, Lis. You've proven countless times that I can trust you."
Hanna sits back at her desk, but before continuing to work, she texts Spencer: "Hey! I wanna see you and Finnie. Are you free after work? Or maybe for dinner?"
She sets her phone down and goes back to working on her designs. Shortly after, she receives a reply from Spencer: "Sure, let's do dinner. Wanna come over?"
Hanna: "Not really." She types, since she doesn't want to take the chance of running into Caleb. "Why don't you and Finnie come to Lucas'. We can have an early dinner not to mess up Finnie's sleep routine."
Spencer: "Sure! No problem. See you there!"
/
That evening, Spencer arrives at Lucas' apartment.
Hanna "Hi, Finnie!" She greets the baby excitedly while taking him from Spencer's arms. "How are you doing, little angel?"
Finn gives her a big smile while staring at her with wide eyes.
Hanna smooches his cheek repeatedly, placing loud kisses on his soft skin, getting some giggles from the baby.
Spencer "Hi, nice to see you too." She says while closing the door.
Hanna chuckles. "Hi, Spence!"
Spencer "Did you prepare dinner?" She asks after smelling something delicious.
Hanna "Yeah, I made chicken with some veggies, not too seasoned though, so Finnie can eat too."
Spencer "Great!" She approaches Hanna and leans in, looking at her baby. "Did you hear that, Finnie? Auntie Hanna made dinner for you."
Finn smiles again.
/
After dinner, Hanna and Spencer settle in the living room.
Spencer places Finn on the couch, right in between Hanna and herself, offering him a couple of toys to keep him busy as they chat.
Hanna "I wanted to show you something, Spence." She says while taking one of her sketchbooks from the coffee table. "I've been working on the design for your wedding dress… and I have two versions to show you… it's actually the same design, but I wasn't sure about the sleeves, so I sketched out my two ideas for you to decide. You can make as many changes as you want… and if you hate it, please tell me. It's your wedding, and I want everything to be perfect, especially your dress, since it'll be my gift for you."
Spencer's face lights up with excitement. "I'm so excited, Han!"
Finally, Hanna opens her sketchbook and, after finding the correct page, she hands it to Spencer. She gazes at her friend expectantly as Spencer examines it carefully.
Spencer "Oh my god, Hanna! This is beautiful!" She finally says, and Hanna feels a wave of relief wash over her.
Hanna "So you like it?"
Spencer "Are you kidding? I love it! I knew you'd come up with something very nice, but... this is just perfect. It's romantic, but also kind of sexy, and... I don't know, it just looks like it's from a magazine."
Hanna grins. "I'm happy you like it, Spence. It wasn't easy. I've been a little blocked lately. But this idea just came to me the other day. I guess taking those days off work to be with Caleb helped clear my mind a little... Anyway, which version do you like the most?"
Spencer "I honestly can decide." She looks up at Hanna. "Thank you so much for this, Han. I can't wait for it to be done so I can try it on." She smiles again and places the sketchbook back on the coffee table.
Hanna "I'll start working on it tomorrow. Take a couple of days to decide on the sleeves. I don't need to know that right away."
Spencer "You'll make the dress yourself?" She asks, excited.
Hanna "Of course, Spence. You'll get a 100% Hanna Marin original dress."
Spencer "You are the best, Han." She pulls her into a hug, being careful with the baby still sitting between them on the couch. "Thank you very much."
Hanna "You are welcome, Spence. I love you."
Spencer "I love you too, my Hanna Banana."
As they pull away from the embrace, Spencer is shedding a few tears, clearly touched.
Hanna hands her a napkin.
Spencer "Thanks." She wipes her tears. "I'm sorry, I get emotional with anything related to my wedding."
Hanna gives her a slight smile. "It's okay. I'm touched too, believe me. I just think I have no more tears to cry... I must be all dried up from so much crying these days."
Spencer "How are you doing, Han?"
Hanna "A little better than yesterday…" She replies simply. "I try to stay positive, otherwise, I don't know how I'll get through these next couple of months."
Spencer "Yeah, it's not easy… I've been there." She sighs. "But you were there for me then, so I want to be here for you now. You can call me anytime, and Finnie and I will be ready to come cheer you up." She grabs the baby, holding him by his waist and helping him stand on the couch. "Right Finnie?"
Hanna smiles and hugs the baby. "I love you both so much." She places a tender kiss on Finn's head and then releases him. "I'll be leaving for New York next week, Spence."
Spencer seats Finn back on the couch. "Oh, yeah. Emily and Aria told me about that New York project you've been working on with Lucas. I'm really happy for you, Han! I just didn't think you would be leaving just yet." She says while showing a toy to the baby, trying to keep him entertained.
Hanna "Yeah… We still need to secure some investors. Lucas is scheduling a presentation next week, that's why I'm leaving. I could come back here after that meeting until we get the whole thing started… but I've been thinking about it, and I'll just stay there. It might make things easier for me."
Spencer nods. "Maybe we can organize a girls' night for this weekend, so we all can see you before you leave."
Hanna "Sure! That would be nice… I'll still be coming back here every so often, I have to keep an eye on my store. But yes, let's get together this weekend… not on Friday though, I made plans with Mona. I'm taking her out to dinner to thank her for taking care of my store."
Spencer "Perfect. I'll talk to the guys and I'll let you know."
Hanna "Let's get together at a house, please. I'm dying to see Chocolate too."
Spencer smiles sympathetically. "I'll take care of picking him up myself."
Hanna smiles back. "Thanks, Spence."
Finn yawns and rubs his eyes with his little fists.
Hanna "Oh my god, he's so cute." She reaches out and softly caresses his hair.
Spencer smiles while observing her son. "Well, that's my cue to leave." She says and looks at Hanna. "Mind if I take a couple of pics of the sketches?"
Hanna "Sure, it's your dress." She hands her the sketchbook. "Just make sure Toby doesn't see it."
As Spencer starts taking the pictures, Finn begins to whimper, his bottom lip quivering. Hanna gently takes him in her arms, and the baby rests his head on her shoulder, seeking comfort.
Spencer "Just one second, Finnie." She hands Hanna the baby's pacifier.
Hanna gently places the pacifier in Finn's mouth and then stands up, pacing around as the baby relaxes in her arms.
Spencer "Well, I'm done." She closes the sketchbook and places it back on the coffee table. "I'll let you know which version I choose." She adds and starts gathering Finn's belongings, putting them back in his diaper bag.
Hanna nods and places a tender kiss on the top of Finn's head.
/
It's Saturday night when Hanna rings the doorbell at Alison's and Emily's.
Alison "Hey, Han!" She greets her with a smile. "Come in."
Hanna "Hi, Ali." She greets her back while making her way into the house.
In the living room, Emily is feeding one of the babies while Aria sits beside her on the couch.
Hanna "Hi, guys!"
Emily "Hey." She smiles at her.
Aria "You look good, Han!" She grins. "I love that red lipstick."
Hanna "Thanks… I just needed to freshen up a bit to lift my spirits." She takes a seat in a chair. "Spencer hasn't arrived yet, has she?"
Emily "Not yet, but don't worry. She's bringing Chocolate."
Hanna smiles a little.
Alison "Want some wine? Dinner will be ready soon."
Hanna "Yes, please."
Emily "Aren't you going to take a guess today?" She asks as she takes the empty bottle away from the mouth of baby she's holding and helps her sit up a little to burp.
Hanna "Hmm… Grace?" She just says, lacking enthusiasm.
Before Emily can answer, Alison jumps in.
Alison "Yes, it's Grace." She lies to Hanna, giving her a kind smile. "I'll be right back with your wine."
/
Meanwhile.
Spencer rings the doorbell at Caleb's.
Caleb "Hey, Spence!"
Spencer "Hey!"
Caleb "Just give me a sec, I'll put Chocolate on his leash."
Spencer "Okay, hurry up, please! I have Finnie in his seat."
Caleb "Oh! Go with him, then. I'll get Chocolate in your car myself."
Spencer "Okay, thanks!" She says and heads back to her car.
Shortly after, Caleb emerges from his house and heads to Spencer's driveway. He opens the rear door and settles Chocolate in the backseat next to Finn's seat.
Spencer rolls down her window. "Thanks, Caleb! I won't bring him back too late."
Caleb "It's fine, don't worry about the time." He reassures her as he approaches. "So… you are getting together at Ali's and Em's?"
Spencer "Yeah… Han is leaving on Monday morning, so we're having a quiet girls' night in with babies." She sighs. "Crazy girls' nights out seem so distant right now…"
Caleb "Well, I'm perfectly fine with your quiet night in with babies." He smiles slightly.
Spencer returns the smile.
Caleb "Okay, I won't keep you any longer. Go have fun."
Spencer "Thanks, Caleb! See you later."
Caleb "See you!"
Spencer lifts up her window and drives off in her car.
/
The doorbell rings at Emily's and Alison's, and Hanna jumps from her seat to go answer the door herself, knowing that Spencer is the only one left to arrive and dying to see Chocolate again after a whole week.
Hanna opens the door, her face lighting up at the sight of Chocolate standing there. "Hi, my baby! Did you miss me?" She steps back to allow Chocolate to enter the house.
Spencer lets go of his leash, and Chocolate rushes to Hanna with his usual excitement.
Hanna "I missed you too." She tries to hug Chocolate, but he continues to jump around with excitement.
Spencer laughs. "I'll be right back. I'll go get Finnie from the car."
Hanna smiles at her. "Thanks for this, Spence!" She thanks her as Chocolate gives her a lick on the cheek.
They all go to the living room where Hanna sits on the floor holding Chocolate.
Aria takes Finn from Spencer's arms and joins Emily and Lily on the couch. Spencer and Alison take the chairs.
Emily "You look so much happier now, Han."
Hanna "Yeah, I am." She responds with a smile, stroking Chocolate's fur.
Alison "Well, so now I can tell you that you took the wrong guess… That's Lily, not Grace."
Hanna chuckles. "Why would you lie to me?"
Alison "You looked like a sad puppy. I couldn't bring myself to tell you that you were wrong." She explains, sipping up her wine.
Hanna "Caleb must have taken Chocolate to the groomer. He smells so good, and his fur is so soft." She comments, inhaling Chocolate's scent.
Spencer "Yeah, I told him like three days ago I would pick Chocolate up today, so I guess he just made him an appointment."
Aria "That's very sweet of him."
Hanna nods in agreement but doesn't make any further comments.
Emily "Caleb went to that checkup at the hospital, Han. I asked him how it went, and he said that everything was perfectly fine. He mentioned that he has to go back this Monday to get his stitches removed."
Hanna "Thanks for the update, Em."
Emily "No problem." She gives her a warm smile.
Spencer "So? What are we ordering for dinner?"
Emily "Ali's making dinner, Spence."
Spencer smiles. "Oh, really?"
Alison "You'll get to try my beef Wellington."
Spencer "Great!"
Alison "It'll be ready soon." She says and then looks at Aria. "You had an appointment this week, didn't you?"
Aria "Yeah, everything's right." She smiles. "The little one is perfectly healthy."
Hanna "I can't believe you don't want to find out the sex... I'm dying to know, and it's not even my baby."
Aria chuckles. "Do you want me to have my doctor call you and tell you the sex?"
Hanna "Yeah, that would actually be great."
Aria laughs. "Well, that's not happening. You'll have to wait another five months to find out."
Hanna "You are torturing me."
Finn starts to get restless in Aria's arms.
Spencer "Just leave him on the floor, it's fine. He's been more active lately, now that he's started crawling."
Aria gently sets Finn on the floor.
Hanna lets go of Chocolate for a moment. "Hi, little Finnie." She greets him in a playful voice, waving with a smile.
Finn giggles and leans forward, placing his tiny hands on the floor, eager to reach Hanna.
Hanna "Come on, come here with your auntie."
The baby begins to crawl towards her, his movements a bit unsteady since he recently started crawling.
Spencer "Go, Finnie!" She encourages her baby. "Show your aunties what a great crawler you are!"
The baby reaches Hanna, but instead of going to her, he bypasses and goes to Chocolate, sitting in front of the dog with a big smile. Still seated on the floor, Hanna reaches out and takes him.
Hanna "Hey, you little traitor!" She playfully scolds him. lifting him up above her head and giving him a gentle kiss on the cheek before setting him back down. The baby laughs, and Hanna places more kisses all over his face. "You're lucky you're so cute." She smiles at him, then places him back on the floor.
Spencer "Speaking of how cute my baby is, we went to Philly this afternoon and got matching suits for him and Toby for the wedding. I nearly died from cuteness overload when I saw them together."
Aria "Oh, really? Do you have any pictures? I want to see them."
Spencer "Of course I took pictures, but I'm not showing them to you. You'll have to wait until the wedding."
Hanna "Now you know how it feels when they make you wait for months." She tells Aria, who responds with an eye roll.
Spencer chuckles. "It's worth the wait, I promise. Finn wearing a suit is the most adorable thing I've ever seen."
Finn starts laughing out loud again, and when they turn to him, he's trying to catch Chocolate's tail as the dog keeps wagging it, making it an impossible task for the baby.
Alison "He's always adorable."
Spencer "So? How's been Maggie's first week at work?" She asks Hanna, changing the subject.
Alison "Who the hell is Maggie?"
Hanna "My new hire at the store." She answers to Ali first and then turns back to look at Spencer. "She's been great, Spence. You have a good eye. I could have ended up with another Sydney if it weren't for you. Thanks."
Alison "Well, you should send Caleb into your store and see if she passes the test." She jokes.
Emily laughs. "Poor Caleb, leave him out of this. He's already had enough with Sydney grabbing his dick." She says, amused.
Hanna "Grabbing his what?" She asks, astonished.
Emily stares at Hanna, just as astonished as she is.
Alison, Aria and Spencer stare at them too, in complete silence.
Hanna "What did you just say?" She asks again.
Emily "I don't get it. I thought you knew."
Hanna "No, of course I didn't know."
Emily "I'm sorry, I thought you knew." She repeats.
Hanna "No, I never asked Caleb the details… I had just assumed she only tried to kiss him or something like that… What do you mean she grabbed his dick? In which situation did she end up with her hand there?"
Emily "Okay, I'll give you the details… just promise me I won't get Caleb into any more trouble."
Hanna "No, you won't. Just tell me."
Emily "When I came out from the ladies' room, Sydney already had him trapped against the wall, there in the hallway. And she had her hand…" She tries to find the right words to describe the situation. "She was cupping his bulge through his pants. But he took her hand off of him and pushed her away right away."
Hanna "Oh my god! I hate that bitch so much! How did she have the nerve to do something like that? I really hope I don't run into her ever again. Thank god I didn't learn about it before, or I would have ended up with a lawsuit against me for ripping every single hair on her head."
Aria "I can't believe she did that to him… it's awful…"
Spencer "Yes, I think it's more normalized because Caleb's a guy. But it could be labeled as sexual harassment." She points out.
Emily "Yeah, well, I asked Caleb if he was okay, and he didn't seem affected by it at all. He didn't take it that way. Honestly, I wouldn't have just laughed about it if that was the case. He was just worried about Hanna losing Sydney at her store, that was all."
Hanna "That's so like him… He's always thinking about me first… Fuck, I wish I could just hug him tight."
Aria "Then do it, Han. Go to his place."
Hanna "No, I can't. I'll just stick to this stupid break."
Spencer "Why?"
Hanna "Because I want to go back to when we were best friends, when we would talk about our day and laugh together… and kiss a lot… and make love almost every day… I miss that connection, and maybe he's right, and this time apart helps us to go back to that… and… I'm excited about New York too. It scared me at first when Lucas suggested it. But I'm convinced now it's going to work out, and I've worked so hard to come this far that I don't want to give up on my business just like that, or keep struggling here in Rosewood when there are so many opportunities in New York… I just need to get past this shitty time, and then I might get my babe back and a beautiful new store in New York. I hope so."
Emily "You'll have both, Han. You'll get there."
Alison "Yeah, well. I think Caleb is being a little bit of a coward here. He should've considered going with you to New York."
Emily "Hey! Don't judge him. You don't know where he's coming from. His feelings, his reasons."
Hanna "I won't lie, Ali… I would've loved it if he came with me to New York. And I'm upset about this break, especially because he suggested it shortly after we had a conversation where I opened up to him about everything that's been going on with me. But anyway, I have no doubts about his feelings for me."
Alison nods. "I'm sorry, I wasn't doubting his feelings for you, Han. I just hate seeing you this sad. That's all." She apologizes.
Hanna responds with a small smile and takes her glass, sipping some wine.
Hanna enjoys a nice evening with the girls. After dinner, they move back to the living room where they stay up too late, chatting and having some wine (except for Aria), while the three babies sleep peacefully at the twins' room. Hanna even ends up laughing out loud several times, something she hasn't been able to do in the last few days.
However, her sadness resurfaces as the night comes to an end and she must say goodbye to Chocolate. They stand outside, next to Spencer's car. It's just her, Spencer, and Emily, as Aria has already left and Hanna said goodbye to Alison inside the house. Finn is already in his seat, still asleep.
Hanna kneels before Chocolate, hugging him tightly. "I'll come visit you, baby. I'll see you again very soon, okay?" She kisses the dog on his soft furry forehead and then stands up to hand Spencer the leash.
Emily "Wanna stay the night here, Han? You could keep him until tomorrow…" She offers.
Hanna "No, thanks." She says, wiping her eyes to prevent her tears from falling. "I'll have to say goodbye to him anyway. I'd rather get this over with right now."
Spencer "You sure?"
Hanna nods, so Spencer gets the dog in her car.
Hanna "Thanks for bringing him."
Spencer "Anytime, Han." She gives Hanna a tender hug. "I'm going to miss you. And so will Finnie."
Hanna "I'll come back often, I promise. I'll just be in New York, it's not a long distance."
Spencer pulls away from the hug. "You better keep that promise."
Hanna "I will." She smiles a little.
Spencer heads around her car to get into the driver's seat. "Bye, Han!"
Hanna "Bye, Spence!"
Spencer gets into her car and drives away.
Hanna "Well, I'll get going too." She tells Emily.
Emily nods and hugs her.
Hanna "I've seen that you and Caleb have become very close. Please take care of him. Make sure he joins you every time you make plans. He only has you guys here in Rosewood."
Emily "Of course, Han. He's one of us. I'll keep an eye on him."
They break their hug.
Hanna "Well… I'll see you soon."
Emily "Bye, Han… have a good time in New York. I know it won't be easy, but I also know you'll do great." She says, offering a smile.
Hanna "Thanks, Em." She returns the smile before heading for her car.
/
On Sunday afternoon, Hanna returns to Lucas' apartment after having lunch with Ashley, taking the chance to update her on her current situation with Caleb and share her plans about New York.
She heads to the guestroom and begins organizing her belongings, arranging the clothes left in her suitcases, getting ready to leave the following day.
Her phone buzzes on the nightstand, and her heart races when she sees a text from Caleb.
Caleb: "Hey! I know I shouldn't be texting you, but I couldn't resist. I know you're leaving tomorrow, and I just wanted to wish you the best of luck. Not that you need it, because you're great, Han. I just hope everything goes very well for you… and that you come back soon. I also hope you change your mind again about not calling or texting, because this isn't what I had in mind for us. Not talking is killing me. But I respect your decision. This will be the only text I'll send. Anyway, I'm here for you if you need anything. You have my support, always."
After reading Caleb's text, Hanna ends up crying for what feels like three endless hours. She finds some calm only after taking a long, warm shower.
Sitting on the edge of the bed, she attempts to come up with a replay: "Hey. Thanks for your words, Caleb. But really, don't text me anymore. I just can't stop crying now and you just ruined all the progress I had made during the week. Now I feel as awful as I did when I left our place. You asked me for a break, so deal with it now." She sighs and deletes the entire text, realizing her words come from her upset feelings towards him. She starts over: "Hey… thank you for your words. I just need some more time to adjust to this situation." Ending up in tears again, she dries her hair and heads straight to bed, crying herself to sleep.
Thanks for your review, Milli. Don't worry, the break will not be drawn out. But I'm sure you'll enjoy the chapters where they are still on a break as well.