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.

57. Chapter 57

New York.

It's evening and Lucas returns to his apartment after a long day of business meetings. He finds Hanna sitting at the table, focused on her laptop.

Lucas "Hey, Han!"

Hanna "Hey!" She greets him back with a smile. "Are you hungry? I ordered Chinese for two. The delivery should be arriving soon."

Lucas "Great! Thanks." He takes a seat across from her at the small table.

Lucas' apartment in New York is just as modern and well-decorated as his loft in Rosewood, but it's not as spacious. Lucas has persistently encouraged her to stay, so Hanna's been staying in his cozy guestroom since her arrival in New York two weeks ago.

Lucas "So, what are you working on?"

Hanna "Just selecting some pictures of my best dresses for the new presentation."

The meeting Lucas arranged with some potential investors was a success. Although the attendance wasn't extensive, most of them seemed interested in Hanna's business, especially after Lucas presented the growth projections within a year of expanding it to New York. While a few attendees declined a second meeting, maybe already committed to investing in other types of projects, the majority showed interest in learning more about the project and confirmed their attendance for a second encounter. Some even contacted Lucas' assistant to involve additional people. So now, Hanna has been busy working on her part of the new presentation that she and Lucas are preparing.

Lucas "Yeah, about that… I've been thinking. Wouldn't it be better if you brought some of your dresses to the meeting? Instead of just some pictures?" He suggests.

Hanna nods. "Yeah, I could do that if you think it will be really useful. But my stock at the store is still pretty limited, so I would have to bring the dresses here just for that day and then take them back to Rosewood before opening time the following day."

Lucas "Do it, Han. It'll make a difference. Actual dresses will have more impact than just pictures."

Hanna "Okay, I'll go get them the day before the meeting then."

Lucas "Perfect."

/

A couple of days later, in the afternoon, Hanna arrives in Rosewood. She heads straight to her store, taking the opportunity to ensure everything is running smoothly there.

Maggie warmly welcomes her at the store, and then she heads upstairs to see Lisa and Vanessa. She finds everything as she left it, and nothing seems out of order. The same issue as always persists: the ladies are struggling to keep up with the production of the dresses. However, it seems they've managed quite well, given that the store doesn't look as empty. Hanna also checks the latest finished dresses and finds them to be of the same perfect quality as always.

Hanna "Okay, Lis… so I'll place the order the day after tomorrow, and it should arrive by next Monday." She says, after making a list of the supplies she needs to restock.

Lisa "Perfect."

Hanna "I'm also taking some lace with me… I'm working on Spencer's dress, and I want to hand-sew the delicate parts…" She explains.

Lisa "Oh, then you should take this as well." She goes through a drawer and retrieves a spool of very fine white thread. "This is the best for lacework." She hands it to Hanna.

Hanna gives her a smile. "Thanks, Lis."

Lisa "There's something else I'd like to talk to you about, Han…"

Hanna "Sure, what is it?"

Lisa "Caleb was here last week."

Hanna "Here at the store?" She asks, intrigued. "What did he want?"

Lisa "He wanted to talk to me. But Maggie didn't know him, so she didn't let him come upstairs. He left me a note with his phone number, asking Maggie to tell me that I could call him if we needed anything here, like if something broke or in case of an emergency. But I'm not sure about the situation between you two… It seems like you aren't together at the moment. I don't mean to pry, but I just wanted to know what to do. Should I call him if something happens here or not? Should I tell Maggie to let him come upstairs if he shows up again or not?"

Hanna "You're right, Caleb and I are on a break right now. But yes, you can call him if something urgent comes up and you need to get it solved right away and can't wait for me to come all the way from New York. I think it was very thoughtful of him to offer that." She smiles. "And yes, he's still welcome here at the workshop. I don't think he'll show up again, but there's no problem. Feel free to reach out to him."

Lisa "Okay, perfect."

Hanna "Thanks for letting me know, Lis."

Lisa "Sure."

With everything sorted out, as Lisa has done an excellent job keeping things on track, Hanna sits at her desk and texts the girls.

Hanna: "Hey! I'm here in Rosewood for a few hours. Anyone free?"

Aria: "I'm sorry, Han. I'm working on this review I have to get ready for tomorrow."

Alison: "Hey, Han! Em and I already have plans. Today would have been her dad's birthday."

Hanna: "Oh, okay. Don't worry then. I'll see you next time. What about you, Spence?"

Hanna spends the rest of her time working on the dresses with Lisa and Vanessa. When it's time to close the store, she goes back downstairs and picks out a few of her best dresses to take with her to New York.

In her car, driving toward Rosewood's exit, she receives a call from Spencer.

Hanna "Hi, Spence!" She answers the call through the speakers while driving.

Spencer "Hi, Han! I'm sorry. I just saw your text. I was swamped with work today, and Finn had a slight fever. He's feeling better now, but I'd rather not take him out just yet. Wanna come over for dinner?"

Hanna "It's okay, don't worry, Spence. I'm just about to hit the road back to New York. I just came to pick up some dresses for a presentation Lucas and I are doing tomorrow."

Spencer "Oh, come on! Turn around and come over… Just for a little while. I'll order sushi right now so you can leave early."

Hanna "I don't know, Spence…"

Spencer "Come on, I'm picking up Chocolate."

Hanna chuckles. "You know my weaknesses too well… fine, I'm turning around. I'll be there soon."

Spencer "Great!"

Hanna makes a U-turn and heads back to Rosewood.

/

Hanna "So? Where's Chocolate?" She asks as she and Spencer enter the kitchen.

Spencer "I'm sorry, Han… Caleb wasn't home."

Hanna "Oh… okay." She says, clearly disappointed. "What about Finnie?"

Spencer "He's asleep. He skipped his nap today because he wasn't feeling well. But don't worry, he'll wake up soon when he feels hungry."

Hanna "Poor baby."

Spencer "Want some wine?"

Hanna "No, thanks… I still have to drive back to New York."

Spencer "Don't you want to stay the night here?" She asks while glancing into the fridge.

Hanna. "Thanks, Spence. But Lucas and I have this presentation tomorrow. It's in the afternoon, but you know. He'll freak out if I'm still here in Rosewood by tomorrow."

Spencer "I only have water, Han… Toby forgot to buy orange juice… He didn't forget his beers though."

Hanna chuckles. "Water is fine."

Spencer "With sushi?" She asks, not entirely convinced.

Hanna shrugs. "In Toby's defense, orange juice wouldn't have been a great combination with sushi either."

Spencer "Water is it." She says, taking a bottle and then closing the fridge.

Hanna "Where's Toby, though?"

Spencer "They are working extra hours to finish setting up some big security system at Welby."

Hanna "Oh, so maybe that's why Caleb isn't home?"

Spencer "I don't know… he usually doesn't handle the installations… but it could be."

Hanna nods.

Spencer "Haven't you guys talked again?"

Hanna "Nope… He texted me the day before I left for New York to wish me luck. But that was all. I asked him not to have contact for now. It's not easy for me."

Spencer "Let's go back to the living room until the sushi arrives." She suggests. "Isn't it harder not talking at all? Don't you miss him?" They head for the living room.

Hanna "I couldn't stop crying after his text, Spencer. Please, stop with the questions already. I don't want to go back there." She says, taking a seat on the couch.

Spencer "Okay, sorry." She sits down next to her.

Hanna "So? How's the wedding planning going?"

Spencer "Thank god we hired a wedding planner, Han… planning a wedding is insane. My mom is driving me nuts too. She's making me invite so many people."

Hanna smiles at her. "It will all be worth it when the day arrives."

Spencer smiles too. "Yeah, it'll be amazing. You have to see the flower arrangements I chose." She tells Hanna, showing her some pictures on her phone.

/

Spencer "So, how are you and Lucas doing with the investors? Did you manage to get some people on board yet?" She starts a conversation as they eat sushi at the kitchen table.

Hanna "Yeah… the first meeting went well. Tomorrow is the second encounter, and Lucas is positive that after it, we'll secure most, if not all, of the investors we need." She replies, pouring herself some water.

Spencer "That's great news, Han! Have you started looking for a place for the workshop and the store?"

Hanna "Lucas and I have been searching online, but we were just taking a look. He wants to wait until we have all the necessary investment secured. Anyway, it might not be possible to have them in the same location as I have here in Rosewood. The store needs a commercial area… and the workshop might be elsewhere."

Spencer "It makes sense."

Hanna "I've made a lot of progress with your dress, Spence…" She comments as she takes one last piece of sushi to her mouth and then leaves the sticks aside.

Spencer "Really?" She asks, excitedly.

Hanna "Yeah, I want to get it ready in a few weeks so you can try it on, and I can make any modifications you need."

Spencer "That's awesome, Han!"

Hanna "I'm coming back to Rosewood the day after tomorrow to bring back the dresses I'm taking for the presentation. I'll bring what I have of your dress then and use one of the sewing machines here to assemble it."

Spencer "I can't wait to finally see it!"

Hanna smiles warmly.

Finnie's whimpering starts to come through the baby monitor.

Spencer "Well, at least he gave me time to finish dinner." She says while standing up.

Hanna grins. "I'm dying to see him."

Spencer "I'll be right back with him."

Hanna starts to clear the table, putting away in the fridge the sushi leftovers. Suddenly, she hears the front door, followed by Toby's voice as he makes his way to the kitchen.

Toby "Want a beer?"

Caleb "Sure!"

Hanna turns around abruptly as she recognizes Caleb's voice.

Toby "Hey, Han! I didn't know you were back!"

Hanna "Hi…"

Caleb's face lights up. "Hey, Han!" He greets her with a grin.

Hanna "Hi." She simply responds.

Toby "So, how's New York?" He asks her while grabbing a couple of beer bottles from the fridge.

Hanna's eyes remain fixed on Caleb, a bit surprised. It's been three weeks since she last saw him, and she wasn't expecting to encounter him anytime soon. Before responding, she turns to Toby. "Good."

Toby chuckles. "Just 'good'? That's all you've got?" He hands a beer to Caleb.

Hanna "Yeah, it's been good." She only says and then leaves the kitchen, heading to the living room.

Spencer "Are you leaving already?" She asks, coming down the stairs with Finn in her arms, noticing Hanna grabbing her purse from the couch.

Hanna "Yeah… I…"

Caleb "Don't leave, Han."

Hanna turns to find Caleb there in the living room too.

Hanna "I have to go back to New York."

Caleb "Right now?"

Hanna nods and approaches Spencer to plant a tender kiss on Finn's forehead. "I'll see you soon, Finnie."

The baby extends his arms to her, but Hanna heads for the door.

Caleb "Wait." He tells her and then looks at Spencer. "Will you give us a moment, Spence?"

Spencer "Sure…" She leaves for the kitchen with Finn.

Caleb "Come on, Han… we can be in the same room together. You don't have to leave."

Hanna "I was leaving anyway. I have to be in New York for a presentation tomorrow."

Caleb "I know you, Hanna… you didn't even get the chance to see Finn yet. You are leaving earlier because I showed up."

Hanna "Okay, fine. I don't know what you want me to say…"

Caleb "Nothing. Just stay. We are just on a break, we didn't break up. I don't know why you keep avoiding me like this. This is not what we discussed that night when we talked about the rules… rules, it even sounds stupid. It's just us… why are you acting like we were strangers?" He explains, his tone calm despite his questioning. "This isn't what I had in mind, Han… We talked about this, we agreed we would text and call, this wasn't going to be a 'strict' break… I just wanted you to go to New York without all the stress of worrying about our relationship issues. That's all."

Hanna sighs. "I do what I can, Caleb." She only answers before leaving, closing the door behind her without saying goodbye.

/

Hanna arrives at Lucas' apartment in New York.

Lucas "Hey! I was waiting for you! Want to see the final version of the presentation?" He asks while standing up from the couch to help Hanna with the dresses she's carrying.

Hanna "No, thanks… I've seen it a hundred times already." She responds as they place the dresses on the table. "I'll get a rack tomorrow morning, so we can hang them properly. Just make sure they are spread out. I don't want them to wrinkle."

Lucas "Are you okay?" He asks, noticing her troubled face.

Hanna "Yeah, I'm fine." She sighs. "I ran into Caleb."

Lucas "Oh… I thought you guys were on some kind of amicable break."

Hanna "I just have mixed feelings, that's all."

Lucas nods understandingly.

Hanna "I'll go to bed now…" She places her hand on Lucas' shoulder. "We've got this."

Lucas smiles. "We've got this, Han."

Hanna smiles back and heads for her bedroom.

/

The presentation Lucas and Hanna deliver to the group of potential investors is as successful as the previous one. Once it finishes, several of the investors engage in individual conversations with Lucas. Meanwhile, Hanna starts packing the dresses back into their garment bags to take them to her car. As she does, a tall blonde man in his thirties approaches her.

Ryan "Quite the presentation back there. Lucas really knows how to sell it, doesn't he? Though I must admit, seeing the mastermind behind the business is much more interesting."

Hanna zips up one of the garment bags and looks at him.

Ryan "I'm Ryan, nice to meet you."

Hanna "Hi... I'm Hanna, obviously." She smiles a little. "So you know Lucas?"

Ryan "We've invested in some business together before, and he's very skilled in business. He really knows where to put his money. So, I didn't doubt for a second when his assistant invited me to this presentation."

Hanna "So are you investing?"

Ryan chuckles. "Very subtle way to ask for my money, Hanna." He jokes.

Hanna "Aren't you here precisely to do that?"

Ryan "Yeah… I just haven't made up my mind yet. I've never ventured into the fashion business, so I guess I still have some questions… maybe we could go for a coffee, and you can enlighten me a bit?"

Hanna "I'm sorry, I have to take these dresses back right now. They are from my store in Rosewood."

Ryan "Right! Nice place you've set up there in Rosewood." He comments, since a few pictures of her already successful store in Rosewood were shown during the presentation before. "Okay, maybe some other day?"

Hanna hesitates.

Ryan "Come on, it's just a coffee. I know Lucas is very reliable, so if he says this project is profitable, I believe him. I just want to know a bit more about some fashion-related matters before investing. And as I said before, you are the mastermind here. They are your designs."

Hanna "Okay, I guess we can meet up another day."

Ryan smiles and hands her his phone for her to enter her number. Once she's done, she hands it back to him.

Ryan "Nice to meet you, Hanna."

Hanna "Likewise."

/

A couple of days later.

In the evening, Hanna is seated on Lucas' couch working on Spencer's dress. She took the opportunity to assemble it when she was in Rosewood a couple of days ago, returning her dresses after the presentation, and she is now meticulously adding the lace details by hand.

Lucas "Hi, Han!" He greets her when he arrives.

Hanna "Hey there! How was your day?"

Lucas "Great! Remember the videogame I invested in? It launched this morning and exceeded our expectations for the first day. Sales are a bit higher than anticipated."

Hanna "That's awesome, Lucas! I'm happy for you!"

Lucas "Thanks, Han!"

Hanna "What about our investors? Any news?"

Lucas "Same as yesterday, Han… We still need at least a couple of extra people involved to get started."

Hanna "Oh…." She says, disappointed.

Lucas "Hey, these things take time, Han… having most of the investors secured by now it's great. We're doing really well so far. Many of them have even signed the legal arrangements already. We just need to convince those who haven't confirmed their investments yet."

Hanna "Yeah, I know we're doing well. And that's all thanks to you… I just… this is taking longer than I thought."

Lucas "Time would pass quicker if you found something else to do besides staying in here all day, Han… I know you've been working on your new designs and Spencer's dress. But maybe you should find something else to do besides working… you're in New York!"

Hanna "Yeah, I guess you're right… It's not easy, though… I don't have my friends, I don't have my dog, I don't have Caleb…" She says, with a hint of sadness, and swallows hard.

Lucas "There's a very nice Pilates studio right around the corner. Didn't you tell me you had to quit your Pilates classes because you didn't have time? You could go back to it now…"

Hanna "Yeah, I might give it a chance." She gives Lucas a warm smile. He's such a good friend.

Lucas smiles back. "Well, I'll go take a shower. I need to get this long day off of me."

Hanna's phone buzzes next to her on the couch and when she takes it, she sees it's a text from an unknown phone number: "Hey, Hanna. It's Ryan. I apologize for the delay, I've been busy. Are you free right now? I could pick you up, and we could grab a drink while you tell me more about your business…"

Hanna texts him back right away: "Hi Ryan! I'd prefer to meet for a coffee another day if that's okay with you." She feels uncertain about going for a drink with a stranger, even if it's business-related. It doesn't seem fair to Caleb.

A couple of minutes later, another text from Ryan comes through: "I'm leaving for LA tomorrow morning. Just one drink and maybe I could follow up with a call to Lucas' assistant to get the legal arrangements ready for me to sign when I'm back."

Hanna hesitates for a few minutes before replying: "Okay, just one drink. I'll send you the address of a bar. I'll see you there in an hour." She finally gives in. The sooner she and Lucas secure the needed investors, the sooner she'll set up her new store and workshop.

Hanna gets up from the couch, puts Spencer's dress away, and goes to her bedroom to freshen up.

Lucas "Are you leaving?" He asks when Hanna comes out from her bedroom later.

Hanna "Yeah. You were right. I need to go out more often." She responds briefly as she heads out.

/

When Hanna arrives at the bar, Ryan is already there. The place is more crowded than she expected. She maneuvers through the crowd and heads to the bar where he's sitting.

Hanna "Hi, Ryan!" She greets him as she takes a seat on the stool next to him.

Ryan "Hey, Han!" He greets her back with a smile. "I'm sorry, there weren't any tables available when I got here, so I just sat here."

Hanna "It's okay."

Ryan "What would you like to drink?"

Hanna "Hmm… What are you having?" She gestures towards his drink.

Ryan "An old fashioned. Wanna try it?" He slides his glass closer to her.

Hanna "Oh, no, thanks. I don't like whiskey… I'll just have a margarita."

Ryan nods and orders for her.

Hanna "So? What are your concerns about my business? What's keeping you from investing in fashion?" She goes straight to the point.

Ryan chuckles. "I just have a few questions. I wouldn't refer to them as 'concerns'… Let's just say I want to get to know the woman behind this briskly growing business… you'll be the one making the decisions that will affect my profits after all."

Hanna "Well, kind of… I mean, I'll just take Lucas' advice when it comes to managing the business. I want to focus on my designs mostly."

Ryan "But it's been just you so far, right? I mean, your store back in Rosewood is your achievement."

The bartender places Hanna's drink before her, so she picks up the glass and takes a sip.

Hanna "Yeah, but I've had the support of my friends and family… I wouldn't have gotten where I am if it weren't for them."

Ryan laughs. "You are too modest, Hanna."

Hanna "So, what else would you like to know?" She takes a few more sips of her margarita, not wanting to take too long to finish it.

Ryan "I don't know… tell me more about you…"

Hanna "I came to college here in NY, I graduated from the Fashion Institute of Technology… I decided to focus on designing dresses because that's my passion. Haute couture dresses. I'm working on a wedding dress for a friend at the moment, but I'm not particularly into wedding dresses. I'm just making it as a gift for her. Anyway, I'm-"

Ryan "Haven't you considered modeling?" He interjects abruptly.

Hanna "Not really. Why would I do that? I'm a designer."

Ryan shrugs. "You are too beautiful… that face of yours is just insane."

Hanna sighs, sensing the direction the conversation is taking. "I'm a designer, that's what I studied for and what I enjoy doing… Do you have any real business-related questions to ask?" She tells him, losing her patience.

Ryan laughs. "Chill, Han… I was just saying."

Hanna "Please, just call me Hanna." She requests, attempting to steer the conversation back to a more professional tone.

Ryan "Come on, don't be so uptight. I'm just trying to get to know you better. Besides, business can wait…"

Hanna "Business is exactly why we're here. But you're wasting my time. I take my work seriously, you know?" She grabs her purse, getting ready to stand up and leave.

Ryan "Okay, my bad. Don't leave. You haven't finished your margarita yet…" He places his hand on her knee.

Hanna immediately stands up from her seat now. "I only came here to discuss the potential investment, which now seems rather irrelevant… so I'll just get going. You can contact Lucas' assistant if you are still interested." She attempts to conclude the meeting professionally, wearing out the last of her patience.

Ryan "You know what? I was about to invest, but your attitude makes me reconsider. Why would I put my money into someone who can't handle a compliment?"

Hanna "Fine. I don't need your stupid money, you jerk-off. I'm not interested in your investment." She can no longer hold herself back as her words come straight from her core.

She leaves the bar, feeling overwhelmingly frustrated. She had sensed that this supposed 'business-related' meeting might not turn out to be so focused on business, yet she dismissed that thought. Instead, she chose to trust the part of her that wanted to believe she could return to Lucas' place having secured a new investor on her own. So that's what pisses her off the most, she just fell into this guy's trap. Of course business meetings don't happen in bars at night. What was she thinking?

She enters the apartment feeling completely stupid.

Lucas "Hey! You came back early." He comments, since it's been less than an hour since Hanna left.

Hanna "Yeah…" She mumbles, dropping her purse onto the table.

Lucas "Are you okay?"

Shaking her head, Hanna fights back tears.

Lucas "What's wrong?"

Hanna "It's me. I messed up." She admits, her eyes welling up. "I'm sorry, I just ruined our chance with one of the investors we were about to convince."

Lucas "What do you mean?" He asks, puzzled. "Did you just meet up with an investor?"

Hanna "Yeah, I'm so stupid. I agreed to grab a drink with that Ryan guy from our last presentation. I'm such an idiot… I should have known better!"

Lucas "It's okay, Han… we don't need him. We have other people interested… more serious people. You should have told me you were meeting up with him, I know this guy, he's good in business, but he's such a jerk… I could have warned you." He says, guessing what happened. "Are you okay, though? Did he make you feel uncomfortable somehow?" He approaches her and places his arm around her shoulders.

Hanna "No… it wasn't that bad. I'm just angry at myself. I was just trying to help. But I'll leave the business part to you… I obviously suck at it." She wipes her eyes. "I'm just tired, Lucas… I wanna go home."

Lucas "Go back to Rosewood for a few days, Han… I'll let you know when we get the full investment."

Hanna "I can't do that." She only says, realizing that by 'home' she meant Caleb, which isn't an option for now. "I'll feel better in the morning."

/

A week later.

Hanna returns to Lucas' apartment in the evening.

Lucas "Hey, Han!" He greets her from the table where he's working on his laptop.

Hanna "Hey!" She responds, placing a groceries bag on the counter. "I'm making dinner tonight… do you like chicken parmesan?"

Lucas "Oh… I love chicken parmesan, but… I've already made plans for tonight. I'm going out to dinner with a friend."

Hanna "It's okay, don't worry. I'll do it tomorrow." She looks at him and smiles. "I'll order something for myself tonight."

Lucas "Are you okay?" He asks, noticing something in her expression.

Hanna "Yeah. Why do you ask?" She asks, confused, as she is in a good mood.

Lucas "Your eyes… they look a bit reddish."

Hanna "Oh…" She checks her reflection in the microwave. "I started therapy… I had my first session this afternoon. I kind of cried the whole time." She admits with a small chuckle.

Lucas "Really? That's fantastic, Han! I'm happy for you. I'm glad you decided to do something to feel better, something for yourself…"

Hanna "Yeah… I'd been wanting to give it a try for months, but I didn't have the time."

Lucas "It's not easy at first, but it's very helpful. You'll see. Someone who has been in therapy since they were five years old is telling you this." He offers a comforting smile.

Hanna "I hope so… anyway, I've been working on the new designs we talked about, the ones that we are getting mass-produced." She tells him, handing him a sketchbook. "Here, take a look."

Lucas "Great, Han! I've already started some conversations with a couple of companies in China and Turkey… Once we've decided on which one is the best option, we'll have to visit the factories and workshops."

Hanna grins. "Oh, really? That's awesome, Lucas!... So you are already getting in touch with them? I thought you wanted to wait until the investment was secured."

Lucas "I've just had a couple of meetings, nothing too formal yet. I just thought I'd move forward with some things in the meantime… the investors we need won't take long to sign in. Anyway, make sure your passport is in order."

Hanna "Oh, it surely is. I can't wait!" She says, excitedly.

/

Lucas arrives at his favorite restaurant, the same one where he had dinner with Hanna almost two months ago. Spotting Caleb at a table, he walks over.

Caleb "Hey, man!"

Lucas "Caleb! You are in a way better shape than last time I saw you." He jokes as he takes a seat. He hasn't seen Caleb since weeks ago when he stayed in his apartment in Rosewood.

Caleb laughs.

Lucas "So, how's your recovery from the appendectomy going?"

Caleb "Good, I'm almost back to normal. I've started running again last week, and I'll hit the gym after I return from my trip."

Lucas "So, what's taking you to Europe? Business or pleasure?"

Caleb "Neither… I just needed a change of scenery. I was going crazy back in Rosewood. This last month's been hard, without Hanna plus recovering from surgery. So, I got the tickets last night and here I am... I'm just visiting some acquaintances in London, but I'll only stay there for a couple of days, then figure it out from there. I don't exactly have a plan." He explains as he scans the menu.

Lucas nods. "I recommend you the New York Strip Steak… it's one of my favorite here. Hanna liked it too."

Caleb "Perfect, I'll give it a try." He replies, closing the menu. "Speaking of Hanna, is she still staying with you?"

Lucas "Yeah, she's at my place. Wasn't sure if you were okay with her knowing you were here for the night or aware of your trip, so I just told her I was having dinner with a friend... which isn't a lie either."

Caleb smiles. "It's fine, don't worry. My trip isn't a secret. I just didn't tell her because she's not talking to me… But I figured she'd find out from one of the girls, so feel free to tell her about meeting up with me."

Lucas nods, and as the waiter approaches, they place their orders.

Lucas "What did you do with Hanna's dog?... I mean, your dog." He asks once the waiter steps away.

Caleb "Ashley is taking care of him until I get back."

Lucas "I'll let Hanna know. I'm sure she'll want to visit him for a few days."

Caleb "So? How are you guys doing with the investors?"

Lucas "We're almost there. Just need a couple more people on board to get started. Hanna's getting a little impatient, but I keep assuring her we're making good progress."

Caleb "Is there any chance I could… be an investor without her knowing?"

Lucas stares at him.

Caleb "I could invest through the security company Toby and I own so she wouldn't know… I would just need you not to tell her. I wouldn't like her to know, at least until everything is set up and running."

Lucas "Are you nuts?"

Caleb "Why? I just want to support her somehow. Be there for her… and right now, she's not speaking to me, so…"

Lucas "She doesn't need your money, Caleb. I'm confident we'll get the investment we need soon enough. Besides, I won't risk her trust. She's trusting me with the future of her business. I won't jeopardize it just because you can't find a way to be there for her. Find another way."

Caleb "You are right. I'm sorry for even asking such a thing." He sighs. "I just don't know what else to do. Taking a break might not have been the best idea... I feel like I'm losing her more every day."

Lucas "I'm no relationship expert, but secretly investing in her business won't solve anything. What would be the point?"

Caleb "She would come back home sooner… that'd be the only point."

Lucas "Yes, and then she'd get mad at both of us for keeping it from her. That's not the way, Caleb."

/

Lucas gets back home and finds Hanna asleep on the couch, with what he assumes to be Spencer's wedding dress on her lap.

Lucas "Hey, Han… Wake up." He says softly while gently shaking her shoulder.

Hanna opens her eyes and looks at him.

Lucas "You fell asleep on the couch… go to bed."

Hanna nods.

Lucas carefully takes Spencer's dress and extends it on a nearby chair.

Hanna yawns. "How was your dinner?" She asks while standing up from the couch.

Lucas "It was good… I actually met up with Caleb." He casually mentions.

Hanna "Caleb? What is he doing here in New York?" She asks, surprised.

Lucas "He's catching a flight to London in a few hours."

Hanna "Why?" She asks right away. "I mean, what's he doing there?"

Lucas "He said he needed a 'change of scenery'… he's only leaving for a couple of weeks."

Hanna "Oh…"

Lucas "He left your dog with your mom. I just thought you should know, in case you want to take the chance to go back to Rosewood now that he won't be there…"

Hanna smiles slightly. "Are you trying to get rid of me, maybe?"

Lucas chuckles. "Well, you could be a little tidier… and my bathroom can't take a single extra beauty product of yours… but no, I'm happy to have you here."

Hanna smiles again, approaching him to tenderly kiss his cheek. "I'm happy to be here with you too. You've made things easier for me… You are right though, I might visit Chocolate this weekend." She says, heading toward her bedroom.

/

Another week goes by.

Hanna gets out from her bedroom in the morning and finds Lucas at the table, having breakfast.

Hanna "Hey, didn't you need to watch your sugar?" She asks, noticing his choice of cereal for breakfast.

Lucas "Yeah, but I need my cereal to start my day… just as some people need their cup of coffee."

Hanna grabs the cereal box and takes a look at it. "You know, there are some healthier cereal options with a lot less sugar, at least."

Lucas snatches his colorful, superhero-themed cereal box back from Hanna. "It's my guilty pleasure. Leave me alone… I always have these for breakfast."

Hanna chuckles.

Lucas "You'd know if you got up earlier." He teases. "What are you doing up so early today, though?"

Hanna "I'm taking a Pilates class to start my day." She explains, gesturing to her athletic clothes.

Lucas "That's great, Han!"

Hanna "Yeah, it was about time I went back to doing some workouts."

Lucas "I have some good news for you…" He says as Hanna grabs a bottle of water from the fridge.

Hanna "Please, tell me we've got all the damn investment we need now."

Lucas grins. "Yes, we made it, Han! We've got all the money we needed."

Hanna "That's so awesome, Lucas!" She says excitedly, her face lighting up with a huge grin.

Lucas "So, I'm happy you're resuming your Pilates classes and I'm even happier about you doing therapy, but I'll need you to keep your schedule clear for the rest of the day so we can get started with the hard work and schedule the hundred meetings we will need to."

Hanna "Yeah! Sure!" She responds enthusiastically.

/

That evening. Hanna is lying on Lucas' couch, feeling sleepy after having started her day earlier than usual. She's looking for something to watch on the TV when her phone buzzes.

It's a text from Aria: "Hey! I can't believe you were here in Rosewood this weekend and didn't even let us know. I miss you."

Hanna starts typing her reply but realizes it'll be such a long text, so she decides to send Aria a voice message instead: "Hey! I'm sorry. I only went there for two days so I just spent some time with my mom and Chocolate. I'll have to go back there soon, though. I'm almost ready with Spencer's dress and I want her to try it on as soon as possible. I'll let you know when I'm coming. I miss you too."

Aria "Great, Han! I'll see you soon then. Love you."

After reading Aria's text, Hanna sets her phone down. But an impulsive urge makes her pick it up again. Without much thought, she sends Caleb a red heart emoji, feeling a rush of adrenaline as she hits send.

Despite the time difference between New York and whichever European city Caleb is in at the moment, only a few minutes later, Hanna receives a red heart in response from him, which makes her heart pound like crazy in her chest.

/

And another week later.

Hanna and Lucas are leaving a place they visited for Hanna's potential new workshop location.

Lucas "So? What do you think?" He asks Hanna now that the agent is no longer with them.

Hanna "It's very spacious… but the lighting is really bad. We would have to redo the entire installation because those lamps will never be enough. Lighting is crucial... and I also didn't like the elevator. It's a bit small... It would take like four trips to get all the fabric rolls to the second floor every time a shipment arrives. That's what I don't like about my workshop in Rosewood, it's a pain in the ass to take the fabric rolls upstairs. A freight elevator would be a necessity for the new workshop, especially considering that we will be producing more than three times as many dresses. Also, it would be great if an entire rack could fit in the elevator."

Lucas "You have a very good point there. I'll ask Diane to discard locations that don't have freight elevators."

Hanna "So, are we done for the day?"

Lucas "Yeah, we're finished. I won't be going back home with you, though. I'll get you a cab." He offers as they approach the edge of the sidewalk, scanning for a passing cab on the street.

Hanna "Where are you going?" She asks, intrigued.

Lucas "I kind of have a date."

Hanna chuckles. "What do you mean by 'kind of'? Do you have a date or not?"

Lucas "I'm not sure if it's a date."

Hanna "How come?"

Lucas "I asked this girl out… Lizzie, she's one of the programmers from that video game I invested in. But I'm not sure if she's aware this is a date."

Hanna "Why? What are you guys doing? What did you invite her to do?"

Lucas "We are catching a movie."

Hanna smiles. "I'm sure she knows it's a date then."

A cab passes by, but Hanna signals Lucas not to stop it. Their conversation isn't over yet, and she's very interested in the matter.

Lucas "Why are you so sure? This is a movie we've been talking about for weeks, it's a part of a saga we're both fans of. Maybe she thought this was a friendly thing… besides, she's so pretty, Hanna. I couldn't believe it when she agreed to go out with me. That's why I started to think that maybe she-"

Hanna cuts him off. "Chill, Lucas. I'm sure she's well aware this is a date. And of course, she would go on a date with you. You're such a great guy, anyone would be happy to. It seems like you have many interests in common. You'll be fine. Just be a bit more confident."

Lucas nods, but Hanna senses he's not entirely convinced yet.

Hanna "And if you need to make sure she knows your intentions, just make a move on her. But try something that won't make her feel uncomfortable… like caressing her hand a little or something like that… just keep your hands away from her legs at least until you know for sure that she-"

Lucas interrupts her. "I know, Hanna… I've dated girls before. I don't know why I feel so nervous this time around."

Hanna smiles tenderly. "Maybe because you really like her. You'll be fine, Lucas. You're a very kind guy, be yourself, and everything will go smoothly."

Lucas "Thanks, Han." He lets go a deep breath. "I guess you're right. I'll just take it easy."

/

Hanna gets back in Lucas' apartment.

The conversation she had with Lucas has caused her to think a lot. It brings back memories of the beginning of her relationship with Caleb, the emotions that come with starting something new, the nervousness, the tingling sensations at every small gesture like holding hands or a gentle caress. It reminds her of the early stages with Caleb when she was oblivious, initially considering it only a friendship, yet feeling those same chills whenever their bodies touched... the shared hugs before realizing the direction their relationship was heading. Then, the memory of their first kiss at Camp Mona comes to her mind, and all the feelings involved in that kiss, because by then, they were already deeply in love.

Lying on the couch, she suddenly realizes she's holding her phone to her ear.

Caleb "Han!" He answers right away.

Hanna "Hey…" She softly responds.

Caleb "You've got no idea how happy it makes me to hear your voice again."

Hanna stays silent for a moment, unsure of how to respond.

Caleb "Are you okay? Do you need anything?" He wonders if something urgent made her call.

Hanna "No… I just…" She doesn't know how to explain the reason for her call. "How was your day?" She asks, avoiding explanation.

Caleb smiles, realizing she called just to chat. "It was good… quite busy, but I just got back from a walk with Chocolate."

Hanna "Oh, how's he?"

Caleb "Great as always. He's all about his ball and his food. Everything's perfect in his world."

Hanna smiles. "And how was your trip?"

Caleb "It was okay… I visited some interesting places." He only comments.

They both fall silent. Caleb is trying to avoid saying things like his trip wasn't that good because she wasn't there, as she completely ignored his previous comment about being happy to hear her voice again. And Hanna isn't still sure why she called him in the first place, as it was just an impulsive urge to feel closer to him without much thought behind it.

Caleb "So, how was your day?" He asks, breaking the silence.

Hanna "It was good too… I took a Pilates class this morning, and then Lucas and I had a couple of meetings. We went out for lunch and visited some places for rent for my workshop in the afternoon."

Caleb "Oh, yes. He told me you guys got all the investment you needed. That's great, Han! I'm really happy for you."

Hanna "Thanks… The hardest part starts now, I guess. We have so much to do, but his assistant Diane is great. She keeps everything well organized for us. Anyway, I'm happy too. It's starting to feel more real. I can't believe I'm actually opening a store here."

Caleb "I do believe it."

Hanna "Well… I'll have to leave you now. I'll eat something and go straight to bed." She tries to wrap up the conversation. Happy that despite the understandable awkwardness, the call went well.

Caleb "Can I call you next time? Like any of these days? Or tomorrow maybe?"

Hanna "I'll call you."

Caleb "Okay."

Hanna "Bye, Caleb."

Caleb "Night, Han. Sleep tight, and I'll be waiting for that call."

Hanna smiles and ends the call.

/

Next morning.

Hanna "So? How was your date?" She asks Lucas straight away while taking a seat beside him at the table.

Lucas grins. "We kissed."

Hanna smiles widely. "Oh my god!" She says, excitedly. "So she was aware it was a date after all." She jokes while reaching for Lucas' box of cereals.

Lucas "Yeah, we're going out again this weekend."

Hanna "I'm happy for you." She says while pouring some cereal into her hand and munching on it. "I wanna meet her."

Lucas "Not yet. Go get in the shower now or we'll be late for our first meeting." He grabs the cereal box from her hand. "And stop eating my cereal."

Hanna laughs and heads for the bathroom.

/

That Friday.

Hanna arrived in Rosewood at noon and has been taking care of some pending tasks at her store. It's now afternoon, and Spencer shows up in her workshop.

Spencer "Hi, everyone!" She greets Hanna, Lisa and Vanessa all at once.

Lisa "Hi, Spencer."

Vanessa "Hey! I can't wait to see you in that beautiful dress Hanna made."

Hanna "Hey, Spence!" She greets her back from her desk, standing up. "I'm so excited!"

Spencer grins and gives her a quick hug. "I know, I'm excited too."

Hanna goes to a rack aside and takes a garment bag. "Let's make the big revelation…" She says, placing it on a nearby table and starting to unzip the bag. "Ready?"

Spencer "Yes, I'm ready. Hurry up!" She says, impatiently.

Hanna finally takes the wedding dress out, holding the hanger up, showing it to Spencer.

Spencer "Oh my god, Hanna… It's… amazing!" She runs her hands through her hair. "I can't believe it!" She says while staring at the dress in awe.

Hanna "Come on, try it on… Here, come to the bathroom so you don't have to go to the fitting rooms downstairs." She says, leading the way to the bathroom with the dress.

Spencer follows her and steps into the bathroom. Hanna hands the dress to her.

Spencer "It's so… delicate, Han." She tells Hanna as her hands come in contact with the fine fabric Hanna chose.

Hanna "Yeah, I know." She proudly says. "Come on, try it on." She encourages, closing the door behind her.

When Spencer emerges from the bathroom a few minutes later, she's already in tears.

Hanna "Oh my gosh, it looks even better on you." She admires Spencer. "You look so beautiful, Spence."

Spencer "It's just perfect, Han." She wipes her tears and pulls Hanna into a hug. "Thank you so much. You are truly the best."

Hanna "I'm so happy you liked it, Spence… really, I'm over the top."

Spencer pulls away from the hug just to take another look at the dress she's wearing. "I love the back too." She says while admiring her reflection in the mirror.

Hanna "Yeah… I'll just need to make a little adjustment here." She says while examining the back. "It's a bit loose over here… but nothing a couple of stitches can't solve."

Lisa "Here, Han." She hands Hanna a couple of pins to mark the dress. "You look like a bride from a magazine, Spencer."

Spencer smiles. "Thank you, Lisa."

Vanessa "I want to take a look too!" She says while approaching them too.

/

Spencer "Well… I'll get going. I have to meet up with Toby and the wedding planner to take care of some final details" She tells Hanna after changing back into her clothes, taking a seat across her desk.

Hanna "I can't believe your wedding is in a bit more than a month."

Spencer "Yeah… and thanks to you, I have one thing less to stress about because that wedding dress is just a dream."

Hanna smiles.

Spencer "So? How long are you staying this time?"

Hanna "I'm leaving on Sunday."

Spencer "We are getting together at our place tonight… Toby said he had already invited Caleb to come today when I asked him, so we can't just uninvite him now… but maybe you can come too… I mean… it's been weeks. How long are you going to avoid him?"

Hanna "I need some more time, Spence. And I made plans with Mona tonight anyway."

Spencer "Okay, are you free tomorrow night?"

Hanna "Yeah, I'll be free tomorrow."

Spencer "Great! I'll let the girls know." She says while standing up.

Hanna nods. "Lisa will make the adjustments to your dress. You can pick it up from Monday."

Spencer "Perfect!" She grins. "See you tomorrow, Han."

Hanna "See you."

Spencer "Goodbye, ladies." She tells Vanessa and Lisa while heading for the stairs.

/

That evening, everyone gathers at Spencer's and Toby's, including all the babies and Chocolate. They're in the living room, just hanging out while they wait for a food delivery. Finn is on the floor, crawling around and occasionally grabbing onto things to pull himself up. Chocolate is napping on the floor beside Caleb, looking exhausted from Finn's excessive attention. Lily is asleep in a stroller, and Spencer is holding Grace in her arms while seated on Toby's lap. Toby's on the couch alongside Alison and Emily. Aria and Ezra are cozily sharing a smaller couch, and Caleb has comfortably settled into a nearby chair.

Spencer "I miss when Finnie was this little." She says, gently hugging Grace and planting a soft kiss on her cheek. "He's become so restless now that I have to wait until he feels sleepy to cuddle with him."

Alison smiles. "Yeah, they grow up so fast."

Toby "Poor Chocolate when these two start crawling too…" He lovingly caresses Grace's little hand. "I don't think he'll be able to handle three babies at the same time."

Ezra "Or four…" He tenderly rubs Aria's almost six-month-pregnant belly.

Emily chuckles. "They'll drive him crazy."

Aria "What's driving me crazy is this food delivery… Why is it taking so long? I'm starving."

Toby laughs a bit. "Can't wait, huh? You're turning into Hanna with that impatience! I'm sure it won't take too much longer."

Emily giggles too. "Yeah, she just sounded a lot like Han." She agrees with Toby.

Caleb, previously inattentive, now suddenly gets interested in the conversation upon hearing Hanna's name mentioned.

Alison "Why isn't she here anyway?"

Emily shoots Alison a look. "She had plans with Mona." She quickly offers an explanation before someone could say the obvious, that she isn't there because of Caleb. Trying to avoid making him uncomfortable.

Ezra "Is she back in Rosewood?"

Spencer "Just for the weekend."

Ezra "I haven't seen her in like two months… but Aria's kept me updated, she's doing pretty well in New York, huh?"

Emily "Yeah, she's been doing great."

Toby "Does anyone want some snacks as we wait for the food?" He changes the subject, being considerate of Caleb.

Aria smiles at him. "I'm good, thanks. I'd rather wait for the food…"

Toby "Okay, I'll get some beers."

Spencer shifts from his lap to give him space to stand up. Then she settles back onto the couch, still holding Grace, while Toby heads toward the kitchen.

As they continue chatting, Caleb still doesn't engage in the conversation. Noticing it, Emily stands up from the couch and approaches him, sitting down on the armrest of his chair.

Emily "You miss her, don't you?" She asks softly, wrapping her arm around his neck in a side hug.

Caleb "Like hell."

Emily "You still aren't talking?" She initiates a private conversation between them.

Caleb "She called me a few days ago, but it was just a short call… and small talk mostly."

Emily "Well, that's a start."

Caleb "Yeah… she said she would call me again. But I'm still waiting."

Emily "Be patient. I know for sure she misses you just as much as you miss her. She'll call you."

Caleb "Thanks, Em." He squeezes her arm, expressing gratitude for her comforting words. "I just miss her even more in moments like this, when we're all together…"

Emily "I know it's hard, but hold on a little longer. She'll come back to you."

Caleb "Hope so."

Toby hands Caleb a beer.

Caleb "Thanks, buddy!"

Toby offers a bottle to Emily as well.

Emily "I'm good, thanks."

Toby walks away.

Caleb "What are you guys doing tomorrow? Are you picking up Chocolate?"

Emily "We haven't planned anything specific yet, but Spencer might pick him up."

Caleb "Okay, let me know."

/

After dinner.

With all the babies gone to sleep, everyone is back in the living room, hanging out while having some drinks. Some of them choose not to drink: Aria because of her pregnancy, Emily because she needs to drive back home with two babies in her car and Spencer because breastfeeding isn't compatible with consuming alcohol. Caleb, on the other hand, seems to be drinking the most, mostly silent and sipping on his beer without actively participating in the conversation.

Aria "So, have you decided where you're going on your honeymoon?" She asks, resting her head on Ezra's shoulder as they cuddle on the same couch they were sitting on earlier.

Spencer "We decided to postpone it until summer. We want to go to the beach, and we don't want to leave the country because we are taking Finnie with us."

Alison "Oh, I thought you said you would leave him with your mom."

Spencer "I changed my mind. A senator isn't the best option to take care of a baby full-time. And I don't want to leave him with Melissa either. Actually, I still don't feel comfortable leaving him for so many days. He's still too little."

Toby "Yeah, we are going on a family honeymoon."

Caleb "Hanna an' I could… take care of him, y'know, if she decides to talk t'me 'gain by summer…"

Spencer smiles at him. "That's very kind of you, Caleb. But I think you should stop drinking already... I could barely understand what you just said."

Caleb shrugs. "Be sober by summer, Spencer. I'll be… best babysitter." He jokes.

Emily "Yeah, you've had plenty." She stands up and gently takes the beer bottle from his hand.

Caleb "Hey! Don't need to... drive home, Emily…" He complains.

Toby chuckles. "Come on, Emily, let him finish that bottle, it's fine."

Emily "Sorry, Caleb, but I'm doing you a favor. You'll thank me tomorrow."

Caleb rolls his eyes, but doesn't protest any further, recognizing the situation. He stays a little longer, but then he realizes he isn't really having the best time and it's getting late.

Caleb "Heading back home, guys." He rises from his chair. "Good to see y'all, love you... not as much as I love Hanna, and she ain't here, so I'm off." Then he turns to Chocolate. "C'mon, buddy. Let's head home."

Spencer gets up too. "I'll walk him." She whispers to Toby.

Toby nods.

Spencer "Hey, Caleb… Is it alright if I take Chocolate tomorrow?" She initiates a conversation as an excuse to accompany him home.

Caleb "Sure thing, Spence." They head toward the door.

/

Later that night.

Emily and Alison are leaving Spencer's house, securing the sleeping twins in their baby seats when they notice Caleb exiting his house.

Emily "Hold on, Ali. I need to check on something." She keeps an eye on Caleb.

Alison "What's Caleb up to?" She says, observing Caleb as well.

Emily "I don't know. I'll go talk to him."

Emily rushes toward Caleb as she sees him about to enter his car.

Emily "Hey, what the hell are you doing?" She asks while holding open the door of his car.

Caleb "Gotta go see Hanna." He mumbles from the driver's seat.

Emily "Are you nuts? You're way too drunk to drive."

Caleb "Need to see her."

Emily "Did you talk to her?"

Caleb shakes his head.

Emily "What's your big plan then?"

Caleb "She's probably at Lucas' or Ashley's."

Emily "Caleb, get out of the car."

Caleb "Nope."

Emily "You're seriously ticking me off. You could crash the car and hurt yourself or someone else. Get out of the car now. I won't let you drive, anyway." She maintains her hold on the car door.

Caleb "Fine. Gonna Uber." He steps out, slightly irritated.

Emily "I'm keeping these." She takes Caleb's keys from the ignition.

Caleb doesn't pay attention to her, he's on his phone, trying to get a ride.

Emily "Hey." She attempts to take his phone too, but Caleb evades her.

Caleb "Don't."

Emily "Just listen."

Caleb ignores her, focused on his phone.

Emily "Hey! Pay attention!" She finally manages to take his phone.

Caleb "Please, Em…"

Emily "Let's talk. If you still want to see Hanna after, I'll drive you."

Caleb sighs. "Fine." He grumbles, realizing he hasn't much of a choice anyway.

Emily "Get inside. I need to take Ali and the babies home first."

Caleb heads back into his house.

Emily sighs and goes back to her car.

/

Only a few minutes later, Emily parks her car in front of Caleb's house and rushes to his door.

Caleb doesn't take long to answer the doorbell.

Emily "Hey…" She says softly, noticing the tears on his cheeks.

Caleb moves aside, gesturing for her to come in.

Emily "Thanks for waiting for me." She says, relieved that he didn't attempt to go after Hanna again.

Caleb doesn't respond, heading straight for the living room. Emily follows.

Emily "I know it's not easy, Caleb. But you can't just show up at her door."

Caleb "Why not? She's not talking to me. What else can I do? I can't just sit here like an idiot and do nothing. I'm losing her." He slumps down on the couch.

Emily "You are not losing her." She takes a seat next to him. "She called you the other day, didn't she?"

Caleb nods and wipes his tears.

Emily "She just needs some more time. She's doing better, you know? Spencer saw her today, and she said she seemed happier."

Caleb "So she's getting over me. I'm such an idiot… I should have never suggested taking a break." A few more tears escape his eyes. "Can't take this anymore, Em. She completely pushed me out of her life. We talked about it. This break wasn't supposed to be a real break. We were going to stay in touch. Only wanted her to go to New York without any pressure. But you jus' said it yourself, she's happier without me."

Emily "That's not what I meant, Caleb. She's happier because things are going good for her in New York and she's just focused on that. She's doing better than some weeks ago, 'cause this 'break' was really hard for her. But she still misses you as much as you miss her. Anyway, it's not my place to talk to you about it. You guys will have a talk when the time comes. I'm sure you'll get back together when you're ready. This is just a rough patch in your relationship."

Caleb takes a deep breath, trying to calm down.

Emily hugs him. "Do the right thing. Give her more time, don't ruin her progress making the wrong choice now that you're drunk. You'll see things clearer in the morning. Promise me you won't try anything." She tells him softly. "I care about you two, I just want the best for both of you. So please, don't do this to her."

Caleb "Won't, Em." He pulls away from her embrace. "Go home with your girls. Promise I'll stay here. Take my phone too if you wanna be sure."

Emily smiles at him. "I believe you. But I'll stay a little longer until you feel better, okay?"

Caleb "You don't have to."

Emily "I want to."

/

Next day, in the evening.

Hanna "Oh my god, really?" She laughs.

Alison "I swear, Han, she was half covered with vomit and half covered with poop. I didn't know what to wash first, her head or her butt. Lily was screaming like crazy in the stroller while I rushed Grace into the kitchen sink for a quick bath."

Hanna and Alison are catching up in Ashley's kitchen. Although Hanna is staying at Lucas' loft, Ashley had plans with Ted and she lent the house to Hanna for her to hang out with her friends and also see Chocolate, something she can't do at Lucas' due to his allergies. They're seated at the kitchen table, and Alison is holding Grace in her arms.

Hanna "Sounds pretty stressful."

Alison "Oh, it was. I couldn't wait for Em to get back from work and just get out of that house."

Hanna chuckles and shifts her attention to the baby in Alison's arms. "How can something so cute and tiny make such a big mess?" The five-month-old baby smiles at Hanna. "Yes, I'm talking about you, Gracie… you are so cute." She returns the baby's smile.

Aria "Well, this one's all freshened up." She walks into the kitchen, holding Lily in her arms and also carrying a diaper bag. "I can't believe I just handled my first full-diaper situation. I feel like I can conquer anything now. Nothing can stop me!" She says, all happy, leaving the bag on the kitchen island and joining Alison and Hanna at the table.

Alison laughs. "Oh, you are screwed if you think just a dirty diaper will be your biggest challenge in motherhood."

Hanna laughs. "I'm slightly worried that your first diaper change happened on my mom's bed. I hope she doesn't find any traces of it, or poor Chocolate might take the blame."

Aria laughs. "Don't worry, I was super careful. Chocolate is in the clear."

Hanna catches Alison staring at her. "Why are you staring at me so much?"

Alison smiles. "Nothing, you just seem happier than the last time we saw you. That's all."

Hanna smiles. "Yeah, I'm doing better. It's been easier for me since Lucas and I got all the investment and started to actually work on our project… I'm so excited about it, starting to get everything together it's been fun. I guess that keeping myself busy with it, and finding other activities besides work, has helped me a lot."

Aria "That's awesome, Han!" She smiles warmly.

Alison "And what about Caleb?" She asks after having seen his deep reaction to Hanna's absence the previous night.

Hanna "I called him the other day… I'm not sure about how to move forward. I mean… I'll still need to stay in New York for a while and I just don't know what that means for us. I guess I'll just follow my instincts and see where it leads. I'll meet up with him at some point, when it feels right. But for now, I'll just stick to the phone calls. I'll just call him every time I feel like talking to him. I want to take it slow and not rush anything."

Aria "That's good… I mean, after this time apart, starting with conversations sounds like a sensible way to reconnect."

Hanna "Yeah… it's been about… one month and a half."

Alison "He missed you last night, Han. He was sad." She comments briefly, holding back details, as she promised Emily she wouldn't say a word to Hanna about Caleb getting drunk or his breakdown due to missing her.

Hanna "I miss him every night too. I actually miss him every single minute of the day. But I need to take things easy with him for now."

The doorbell rings, so Hanna stands up and goes get the door.

Hanna "Hey, everyone!" She smiles at finding Spencer, Emily and Chocolate at her door.

Emily "Hey, Han!"

Spencer "Hey there!"

Chocolate rushes to Hanna, so Spencer doesn't bother to try to unleash him. She just lets go of the leash instead.

Hanna "Hi, Chocolate!" She bends down, attempting to pet the excited dog. "Hey, baby." She smiles and gives him a few seconds to settle down, since it's impossible to hug or pet him in that excited state. "Where's Finnie?" She asks Spencer in the meantime.

Spencer "He's with Toby and Caleb. They're having a guys' night. I needed some time to myself. Wine is calling my name." She explains, and both she and Emily enter the house before closing the door.

Hanna laughs. "I was really looking forward to seeing him, but you definitely deserve a break from mom duties."

Chocolate lies down, exposing his tummy to Hanna.

Hanna "Oh, so now you want belly rubs, huh?" She teases, petting his stomach and chest. She then notices a small envelope attached to his collar. "What's this?"

Emily smiles. "A message from someone special." She only says. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I'll go say hi to my babies. Haven't seen them since this morning." She heads toward the kitchen.

Spencer gives Hanna a smile and follows Emily.

Hanna removes the little envelope from Chocolate's collar and opens it. A big smile lights up her face as she reads the short handwritten message inside: "I'm still waiting for that call."