NOTE: I drew inspiration from a look of Ashley's for Hanna in this chapter. This website doesn't allow me to attach any pictures in the chapters, but you can google it this way: "Ashley Benson Much Music Video Awards 2016." I just described it in a different color because it didn't seem right for a wedding. I mean, it could seem white in a place with little lighting.
Wedding day.
Hanna is in Ashley's car, as she picked her up at the Philly airport. They are now on the road, heading back to Rosewood.
Hanna "This is so stressful, mom… my dress is back in New York, and I have nothing to wear."
Ashley smiles, still focused on the road. "Good thing you own the best dress store in Rosewood."
Hanna "Yeah… I'm not even sure I've got a gold dress at the store…" She sighs. "I'll just pick any that fits. I've already missed the rehearsal dinner, and I've just flown for like a million hours to get here, so I guess I'll survive not being a bridesmaid…"
Hanna takes her phone and texts Caleb: "On my way to Rosewood. Finally done with airports and planes. Thanks again!"
Ashley "So, what's the plan? Do you want to go straight to my place and take a shower? Or would you rather stop by your store and get a dress first."
Hanna "I think we should go get the dress first, so then I can shower and get ready… I don't have much time. I need to do my hair, my makeup… good thing I painted my nails back at LA airport… Do you have a curling iron at home? I want to wear my hair loose with some waves."
Ashley "Of course, honey."
Hanna gets a text from Caleb. It's just a red heart emoji. She smiles and sends another one back.
/
Ceremony.
By the time Hanna arrives at the church, the ceremony is already in progress. She quietly enters the delicately decorated place with flowers, followed by Ashley. A knot forms in her throat as she realizes Spencer is already at the altar, and she has missed the grand entrance and the walk down the aisle.
Despite the place being crowded, Spencer spots Hanna and Ashley heading to their seats at the bottom.
Spencer "Excuse me for a second." She tells the minister officiating the ceremony. Then she looks at Hanna. "Come here, Han."
Hanna smiles shyly and shakes her head.
Spencer "Come on, Han. I'm not doing this without you."
Feeling a bit ashamed, Hanna's body temperature suddenly rises as all eyes turn toward her. She finally stands up from her seat, goes around, avoiding the aisle, and approaches Spencer.
Hanna "I'm not even wearing a gold dress." She whispers to her.
Spencer "I don't care. I'm just glad you are here."
Hanna shoots her a smile and joins Aria, Emily and Alison.
Spencer "Now I can get married." She jokes.
The minister resumes the ceremony as Hanna locks eyes with Caleb, who is standing near Toby, holding Finn in his arms. He looks so handsome in the suit she picked out for him. Even better than she had pictured when she bought it.
Hanna "Thank you." She mouths to him.
Caleb only offers her a big smile in response. Hanna smiles back and then focuses on Spencer and Toby. However, Caleb can't take his eyes off Hanna. She's actually wearing a pink gold satin dress, so it's not like the color of her dress stands out too much. It's a very simple gown dress with a V-neckline and spaghetti straps. It is knee-length in the front and floor-length in the back, with a slit on the left side, leaving her stunning legs in sight. Her hair is worn loose, with soft waves, and she has light makeup highlighting her deep blue eyes. She looks gorgeous.
Caleb does his best effort and finally refocuses on the ceremony. When it's time for them to exchange rings, Caleb gives Finnie the little box containing them and approaches Toby.
Toby tries to take the ring box from Finnie, but the almost one-year-old baby holds onto it with all his force, keeping his little hands pressed on it.
Caleb chuckles. "Whose big idea was it to give a baby the ring box?" He jokes.
Toby and the few people who get to hear Caleb's comment chuckle, including Hanna.
Toby "Come on, buddy. I kind of have to marry your mommy." He whispers to the baby, who laughs but doesn't let go of the box.
Caleb "Where's Chocolate, Finnie?" He asks the baby, and his attempt to distract him works. The baby starts looking around for the dog, who clearly isn't there, and loses his grip on the box.
Toby finally gets the rings, and the ceremony continues.
Once it's finished, and Toby and Spencer leave together, Caleb is ready to approach Hanna. He walks toward her, feeling a bit nervous, as this is the first time they see each other again after their brief accidental encounter at Spencer's and Toby's almost three months ago.
Hanna sees him approaching and shoots him smile.
But suddenly, Veronica Hastings gets to Hanna first.
Veronica "Hanna, my dear! It's been a while since the last time I saw you. You look beautiful! Is that a dress of yours?"
Hanna smiles politely. "Hi, Mrs. Hastings. Thanks! Yes, this is one of my dresses."
Veronica "So delicate." She comments while checking her dress out. "Come with me, I have some people to introduce you. They want to meet the designer who made my daughter look so beautiful at her wedding." She tells Hanna while grabbing her by the arm.
Hanna shoots Caleb an apologetic look and follows Veronica.
Caleb turns around and goes say hi to Ashley.
/
Later.
Hanna arrives with Ashley and Ted at the venue for the reception.
Hanna "I had no idea this place even existed." She says, gazing at the expansive party room nestled in the woods.
Ashley "It's pretty new. We came to a wedding anniversary party a few months ago. It's a very nice place… I don't know how they managed to book it for a Saturday with so little anticipation…"
Hanna chuckles. "Please, mom. They are the Hastings, there's nothing they can't get." She answers as they enter the place.
Hanna takes a look around. The decoration is impeccable, from the dressings of the tables and chairs to the flower arrangements, everything is on point. But what captivates her the most is the ceiling, made entirely of glass, offering a view of the sky above.
Hanna "I love the ceiling. I'm sure we'll get to see the stars later."
A young man approaches them to guide them to their tables. He leads Ashley and Ted to a table where they find Mrs. Fields, Mr. and Mrs. Montgomery, and another unknown couple that Mr. Montgomery seems to know. Then, the man leads Hanna to another table, placed very close to the special table prepared for Toby and Spencer, where she finds all of her friends already seated, and... Caleb!
Hanna "Hey!" She tells him with a grin on her face.
Caleb looks up from his phone and smiles widely. "Hey, you!" He leaves his phone on the table and stands up.
Hanna takes the few steps that separate them.
Caleb "Finally…" He says softly as he wraps his arms around her waist, immediately pulling her as close to him as possible, pressing her body against his.
Hanna "Finally." She wraps her arms around his neck and buries her face in his shoulder, inhaling his cologne.
Their friends clap and celebrate in the background.
Caleb "You look beautiful." He whispers into her ear.
Hanna smiles. "You too."
They can feel each other's hearts beating through their elegant clothes. When Caleb rubs his hand softly on Hanna's lower back, she feels a shiver run down her spine, a mix of excitement and anticipation. But…
The lights dim, and the spotlight shifts to the entrance as the DJ announces the arrival of the groom and the bride, causing Hanna and Caleb to break their embrace.
If the church ceremony was crowded, the reception is at least three times more bustling. Following Spencer and Toby's grand entrance, Emily, Alison, Aria, and Hanna deliver a joint speech, as Spencer refused to pick only one of them as her maid of honor.
Hanna "I love you, guys… And, well, keep on making cute babies because I adore my little nephew." She says, ending their speech.
Then, it's Caleb's turn, and Hanna hands him the mic.
Caleb "Well, this isn't exactly my comfort zone. But here I go…" He chuckles, starting his speech.
Hanna watches him with a smile.
Caleb "What can I say about the lovely couple next door? I met you two on probably one of the hardest days of my life, and you were there for me." He says, without sharing the details, as no one at the wedding needs or wants to know that the first day he met them, Toby informed him about his grandfather's death. "You're not only a great couple but also great friends, great parents, great people. In these almost two years, you, Toby, have become like a brother to me. Thanks for the honor of being your best man tonight. I hope that one day, you'll be my best man too." He glances at Hanna, and her smile widens. Then, he turns back to Toby and Spencer. "I wish you two a joyful life together with Finnie and, hopefully, with a bunch more kids." Spencer laughs and shakes her head. Caleb chuckles. "I think it's just great that you two have been together since you were only sixteen. You are very lucky to have found each other so early in life. I love you, guys! Congratulations on the beginning of the rest of your life."
After Spencer's and Toby's very romantic first dance, everyone takes their seats at the tables. Hanna curses at herself for asking Spencer not to seat her right next to Caleb. A couple of months ago, when Spencer and the wedding planner were working on the seating arrangement, she asked Hanna if she was okay with sharing the table with Caleb. Hanna agreed without any doubts but requested separate seats just in case, uncertain about their situation by the day of the wedding. Now she regrets that decision.
They enjoy a delicious dinner together with the usual vibrant conversation, jokes, and laughter.
Ezra "How was China, Han?" He asks at some point.
Hanna "Didn't get to see much of it… Lucas and I were really busy. That's why he stayed longer there, to have some time to tourist around… but we got to walk by Nanjing Road, the shopping street, and it was impressive… and we also visited the Shanghai Tower, the views of the city from there were awesome!"
Emily "What about the food?"
Hanna chuckles. "I didn't dare to try any strange dishes… I just stuck to salad and pizza…"
Aria "I can't believe you got stuck at the airport… how stressing!"
Hanna "Yeah… I almost lost it when they told me my flight got canceled… Thank God Caleb was right at the other side of the globe ready to help me." She shoots him a smile across the table.
Caleb smiles back.
Hanna "How big Finnie is! It's been some weeks since the last time I saw him. He looked so different at the ceremony… and I almost melted when I saw him in that suit."
Alison "Yeah, he's changed a lot. And he's starting to walk…"
Hanna "Really?"
Emily "Yeah, he still needs to be held by his hand, but he goes around walking already."
Aria "And he's stopped breastfeeding some weeks ago, he's such a big boy now."
Hanna "Aww… I wanna see him. Where is he, though?"
Caleb "Melissa took him back home after the ceremony. His babysitter was waiting for him there."
Hanna "Oh…"
Caleb "You can visit him tomorrow…"
Hanna "I have to go back to New York tomorrow… but I'll be back in a few days for his birthday."
Caleb only nods, he was hoping she would stay longer in Rosewood, but it seems she's not.
Hanna "What about my favorite twins? Did I miss any important milestone in their lives as well?"
Emily smiles. "They are starting to sit up… and they tried their first solid food yesterday." She says, proudly.
Alison "They are insanely cute."
Hanna grins. "I can't wait to see them too."
Ezra "When are you planning on moving back to Rosewood, Han? Any time soon? Or will our baby start walking too before you come back?" He asks, lovely placing his hand on Aria's baby bump.
Hanna smiles. "Hopefully in some more weeks…" She only says, not wanting to get into the details, as she hasn't had the chance to talk about it with Caleb, and it's a very sensitive topic for them.
Emily "How's that list of names going?" She asks Aria.
Aria "Lists of names… we have one list for boy names and another one for girl names… but we haven't decided yet… It's not easy."
They keep chatting, and right after the cake, Spencer's mother shows up to steal Hanna away again. Caleb's smile softens a little, but he still looks happier than he has been in months.
/
Later on,
The dancing has started, and many guests fill the dance floor.
Hanna is still receiving compliments on the dress she made for Spencer when she spots Caleb on the other side of the venue, looking around as if searching for someone. And she knows it's her.
Hanna "Excuse me, Margaret, right? I have to go now. I'm glad you liked the dress. Feel free to stop by my store to check out my designs anytime." She gives the woman a kind smile before walking away.
/
Giving up on trying to find Hanna, Caleb is heading back to the table when he suddenly feels nails brushing on his palm and then fingers interlacing with his own. He turns around with a grin on his face.
Caleb "Hey, I was looking for you." He squeezes her hand.
Hanna "I know." She smiles.
Caleb "Wanna dance?"
Hanna nods and leads him to the dance floor herself. Despite the lively song, Hanna wraps her arms around Caleb's neck, and he wraps his around her waist, not caring too much to follow the rhythm of the music.
Caleb "I'm glad you made it to the wedding." He tells her, but the music is too loud, and Hanna doesn't quite catch his words.
Hanna "What?"
Caleb "I'm glad you made it to the wedding." He repeats, this time close to her ear, then pulls back to look at her again.
Hanna smiles, tightening her grip around his neck as she leans in to speak in his ear as well. "Thanks to you." She says, leaving a tender kiss on his cheek before pulling back.
Caleb "You woke me up at like 4 a.m. in the morning..." He speaks in her ear again.
Hanna "I know. I've already apologized for that." She speaks a bit louder so he can hear her.
Caleb goes back to her ear. "Yeah... I was just saying, maybe I deserve more than just a kiss on my cheek…" He pulls back, taking one of his hands to her face, cupping her cheek.
Hanna smiles a little. "Not right now…" She says, not too loudly, but Caleb gets it anyway.
Caleb nods, placing his arm back around her waist. They continue dancing in silence for a while.
However, Caleb's thoughts, doubts, and questions don't allow him to enjoy his dance with Hanna anymore. He releases his grip on her waist, takes her hand instead, and leads her away from the dance floor.
Caleb "Want something to drink?" He asks her as they walk.
Hanna nods.
Caleb lets go of her hand to take two glasses of champagne from a passing waiter's tray and hands her one of the glasses. Taking her hand again, he leads her to a quieter sitting area where he spots a comfortable couch, and they sit down.
Hanna takes a sip of champagne, placing her glass on the coffee table before them. She then rests her arm over Caleb's shoulders as he takes a sip from his glass too.
Hanna "You look very handsome in this suit." She comments, running her other hand over his chest, then resting it on his thigh.
Caleb places his glass on the coffee table too. "Thanks, someone really special picked it out for me."
Hanna smiles.
Caleb "Han…" He starts, taking the hand she rested on his leg with both of his hands. "I need to know in which situation we are standing right now because I'm a bit awkward here, not sure how to behave around you. I mean, I've been dying to kiss you from the moment I saw you at the ceremony, but I'm not even sure if I'm allowed to do so. And what you just said back there when we were dancing gave me the impression that you might not want the same as me... Are we still on a break?"
Hanna "I'm done with the stupid break, Caleb. I want us to go back to normal. I just don't know how to get there, and I want us to be careful and not rush into anything..." She looks down.
Caleb smiles. "Okay... Why don't we just start by doing what we feel?" He caresses the palm of her hand.
Hanna looks up at him. "I've been dying to kiss you too."
Caleb "Huh?" He utters, his eyes already gazing her mouth.
Hanna takes her hand off of his and brings it to his face, rubbing his cheek with her thumb as she leans in for a kiss. Caleb wraps an arm around her back and takes his other hand to the back of her neck before leaning in as well to connect their lips.
Hanna can feel the deep little breath of relief he lets go against her mouth right after their lips connect and right before he captures her bottom lip between his, starting that much long-awaited kiss. Caleb ensures to kiss her softly but still passionately, maintaining a relaxed pace as he sucks on her lips. Hanna lets him lead as she kisses him back the same way. Though, she can't help but place a little soft bite on his bottom lip when Caleb runs his hand up and caresses her hair. Caleb stops for a moment and smiles against her mouth.
Hanna chuckles. "What?"
Caleb "Nothing, I just missed you and your way of driving me crazy."
Hanna "Like this?"
Hanna takes both of her hands to his cheeks and resumes the kiss, making it a French kiss as she gets her tongue involved now.
Caleb sighs. "Yeah…" He answers, only pausing the kiss for a second, before sliding his tongue between her lips as well, resuming it.
They continue making out for a few more minutes until Hanna gently pulls away.
Hanna "I missed you too." She tells him and places a tender kiss on his cheek before turning to grab her glass and take a sip.
Caleb wraps his arm around her waist, reaching for his glass with his other hand as well. "So are we officially over with the break?" He asks, sipping up some champagne.
Hanna "Of course we are, couples on a break don't kiss like we just did." She leaves her glass.
Caleb smiles.
Hanna "We just need to find a way to make this work because I'll have to stay in New York for some more time…"
Caleb "We will." He places his glass back on the table.
Hanna "Let's just focus on right now for now…"
Caleb nods. "I know you have to leave tomorrow, but will you stay all night long with me at least?" He asks, taking her hand and starting to play with her fingers.
Hanna "Sure." She places a tender kiss on his cheek.
Caleb "What's this?" He asks, noticing what seems to be a little "C" tattooed on the side of her ring finger.
Hanna "It's a "C." I got it a few weeks ago in New York. I really missed Chocolate."
Caleb "Oh, it's very nice." He traces his fingertip on it.
Hanna only smiles amused, but doesn't say anything else. He doesn't notice her facial expression because he's still staring at the tiny tattoo.
Caleb "Look, the girls are gathering over there. Spencer must be about to toss the bouquet." He comments when he finally looks up from her finger.
Hanna "It's fine… they can have it. I don't care. I'm too comfy here." She leans and rests her head on Caleb's shoulder. "Besides, I don't need to catch the bouquet to get married. I think that tossing the bouquet got old… I'm not doing it at my wedding. I'm sure this was Mrs. Hastings' idea…"
Caleb "Yeah, it was. Toby refused to toss the garter." He chuckles.
Hanna "Good for him."
Caleb smiles and starts rubbing her back gently.
But Alison approaches them shortly after.
Alison "Come on, Han! Let's go!" She says, taking Hanna's hand and pulling her away.
Hanna "I'm not interested in that bouquet, Ali… you go."
Alison smiles at her. "Spence sent me to get you, do it for her. You can come back with Caleb later."
Caleb releases his grip around her waist.
Hanna gives in, standing up. "I'll be right back."
Caleb nods with a smile on his face.
Spencer finally tosses the bouquet and a girl near Hanna catches it and starts celebrating.
Spencer approaches Hanna with a grin on her face. "I swear I tried to toss it at you…"
Hanna smiles back.
Spencer "I've been pretty busy taking pictures and greeting the million guests my mom made me invite, but don't you think I didn't see you making out with Caleb back there." She teases.
Hanna smiles amused.
Spencer "I'm so happy you made it here in time, Han!" She pulls Hanna into a hug. "This wouldn't have been the same knowing that you were missing."
Hanna hugs her back. "Yeah… missing your wedding would have broken my heart into ten million pieces. I'm glad I'm here. I'm sorry I interrupted the ceremony, by the way."
Spencer laughs. "It gave it a special touch." She pulls back from the hug. "You've no idea how many people have complimented my dress so far."
Hanna "Yeah, I know… your mom introduced me to half of your guests because of it." She smiles.
Spencer smiles back.
The DJ puts on a song that prompts the guests to start filling the dance floor again, so Spencer takes Hanna's hand and they start dancing together. Shortly after, the rest of the girls join them.
Emily "Hey, you… I saw you devouring Caleb's mouth on that couch." She teases Hanna as they move to the rhythm of the music.
Hanna chuckles, her cheeks blushing slightly. "Well, you know, reunions can be intense."
Emily laughs. "I'm so happy for you two."
Hanna smiles widely.
Spencer "Have you seen my husband? I haven't seen him for like an hour." She asks the girls as she looks around.
Alison "Your husband… sounds pretty good, huh?"
Spencer grins. "Yeah, I can't stop calling him that." She admits.
Aria "I know the feeling… it's just great!"
Hanna "Look, he's over there with… my baby." She smiles, an adoring look on her face as she stares at Caleb, who is chatting with Toby.
Spencer "Let's go get them." She takes Hanna's hand and they walk toward the guys.
Toby "Hey, wifey!" He smiles at Spencer.
Spencer "Hi, my love."
They share a smiley brief kiss.
Caleb and Hanna stare at them, smiling as well.
Hanna "You two are definitely making Finnie's little sibling tonight." She jokes.
Toby laughs. "Nice to see you back, Han!"
Spencer "Let's go dance." She takes Toby's hand.
Hanna offers her hand to Caleb, and he takes it right away.
They return to the group.
Hanna "Where's Aria?" She asks, noticing her absence.
Alison "Over there." She gestures to the sitting area where Hanna and Caleb were before.
Hanna sees her sitting on Ezra's lap, sharing what seems to be a tender conversation as they both smile.
Alison "It's impossible to bear with high heels and a baby bump all night long."
Hanna "Yeah, I can imagine…" She says as she feels Caleb's arms wrapping around her waist from behind.
Hanna tilts her head back, resting it on Caleb's shoulder, and places her hands on his arms twisted around her waist. He smiles and smooches her cheek with several kisses.
Caleb "Have you seen the starry sky above us?"
Hanna looks up at the glassy ceiling and sees the beautiful view above them.
Hanna "So beautiful."
Caleb "Almost as much as you."
Hanna smiles at his cheesy comment and turns around. Still between his arms, she places her hands on his shoulders and tenderly kisses his lips.
Spencer "I adore you two back together." She hugs them both.
When Spencer lets go of them, Toby hands Caleb a champagne bottle. Hanna releases herself from his grip and joins the girls dancing.
/
The party is over and Hanna and Caleb exit together.
Hanna "Oh my god, what's wrong with these people getting married in winter? Couldn't they just wait till spring?" She says, already shivering.
Caleb laughs. "Technically, we aren't in winter yet." He answers, already placing his suit jacket around her shoulders.
Hanna "You'll get cold too." She says, attempting to return the jacket.
Caleb "I'll be fine. Let's just go to my car, and I'll turn on the heat." He says, adjusting his jacket back over her shoulders.
Hanna "Thanks." She says, passing her arms through the sleeves to put it on properly.
Caleb takes her hand, leading her toward his car.
/
Hanna "So? Where are we going? Where are you taking me?" She asks as he pulls out with his car.
Caleb "I have something in mind."
Hanna smiles and relaxes in the passenger seat, yawning.
Caleb "You tired?"
Hanna "Yeah… the last two days have been crazy, you know, airports, layover hours, too many hours flying, a party…"
Caleb places his hand on her knee. "Don't worry, I don't have any crazy plans in mind… it's actually a pretty relaxed one."
Hanna places her hand on top of his. "Perfect."
/
Hanna "Okay, I'm liking your plan so far…" She says, savoring a fry as they exit a drive-thru with two cups of soda and two orders of fries. "I was getting hungry."
Caleb smiles.
Hanna "So? What's next?"
Caleb "We will get there soon." He says, his eyes focused on the road. "Are you still cold?"
Hanna "No, I'm perfectly fine now. Thanks."
Caleb "Good."
Hanna "You? Want your jacket back?"
Caleb "No, I'm fine."
Hanna reaches out and gives him a fry in his mouth. Caleb smiles as he chews on it.
Hanna "Hope we get wherever you're taking me soon, or I'll end up eating your fries too."
Caleb chuckles. "Go ahead, I really don't care about my fries. I'm just happy to be with you."
Hanna grins. "You are being overly cute tonight… you remind me of when we just started dating."
Caleb "It feels a little bit like it, doesn't it? I just felt like we were having another first kiss back at the party."
Hanna "Yeah…" She only says and hugs his arm, leaning on him and resting her head on his shoulder. "Feels good." She yawns again.
Caleb "We are almost there, please don't fall asleep now."
Hanna smiles. "I won't. I'm too happy to fall asleep just yet."
Caleb smiles too.
A few minutes later, Caleb parks his car at a scenic overlook in the woods, an elevated area that provides them with a wide view of Rosewood.
Caleb "Here we are."
Hanna smiles and sits up straight. "I love your cozy plan." She says, as eating fries in his warm car with such a view before them seems just perfect.
Caleb "Yeah… I just thought we could take the chance to be together and just talk… make this night last longer…" He explains, staring at the view as well.
Hanna "I think this is just perfect." She takes his hand.
Caleb looks at her, and Hanna notices his gaze going down to her mouth, so letting go of his hand, she moves hers to the side of his face and gently pulls him into a brief, tender kiss. Then pulls back and looks at him, finding him with a smile on his face.
Caleb "I was a little nervous about how this night could go… But it went perfectly."
Hanna "Why so nervous, though?" She asks, eating another fry.
Caleb "You know, seeing you again after all this time… I had my hopes so up, I was just a little afraid you might not want the same as me yet. I freaked out a little when you wouldn't kiss me when we were dancing. I didn't want to wait any longer." He grabs a couple of fires.
Hanna "I just needed that little talk we had on the couch first. I need us to be careful this time around. That was all." She sips up her soda.
Caleb nods.
They fall silent for a few minutes as they eat their fries and relax together. It's not an awkward silence, just a comfortable one. Then, Hanna speaks again.
Hanna "Can I ask you something? Because I really need to get it out of my system."
Caleb looks at her. "Sure, Han."
Hanna "Why the hell did you just ask me for a break right after I opened up to you and told you everything that was going on with me? We were doing better already. Didn't you realize you would just hurt me?"
Caleb "I'm sorry, Han… That obviously wasn't my intention. I would never hurt you on purpose. I was very honest with you that day, I just wanted you to go to New York without the burden of our relationship problems. You are right, we were doing better, but you said it yourself that day, we weren't in a good place for you to embark on this huge project while we tried to fix our relationship… So that's why you were so upset with me at first?"
Hanna "Yeah. It felt like you didn't care much about what we had been talking earlier and that you freaked out about New York and just chose not to be part of it, so you took the easiest way for you and asked me for a break."
Caleb "That's what you think, Han? That I was just abandoning the ship?"
Hanna "At first, yes. I still understood you, though. I mean, it was me the one who messed up and let my job affect our relationship. So I understood that you didn't want to have anything to do with New York. But I couldn't help being mad at you at the same time."
Caleb "Well, you were wrong because my only intention was to let you go to New York without having to worry about us. I told you, I would be waiting for you. We also said we would stay in touch…"
Hanna "I was too upset to stay in touch with you and just talk as if nothing were going on, Caleb. I needed some time, and that was the whole point of taking a break after all, wasn't it? To put some space between us and stop fighting already."
Caleb "Yeah, you are right… but I want to make it clear that it's not like I didn't want to be a part or support you with your project, because I wanted to. I just couldn't find a way."
Hanna "I know you stopped by at my store to let the ladies know they could reach out to you if they needed help, thanks."
Caleb nods. "I also almost screwed up trying to be an investor without you knowing about it."
Hanna smiles. "You did?"
Caleb "Yeah… but going behind your back to be a secret investor wasn't a very good idea, and Lucas made me see it."
Hanna "Yes, I would have gotten mad at you. Because I told you countless times I didn't want you to invest in my business."
Caleb "I know. I'm sorry for even trying to do it. I was desperate to make you come home earlier."
Hanna takes his hand and starts to caress his palm. "Anyway, I don't know if this break was the best option for us, but I have to admit that it worked. At least for me. I figured a lot of things out, healed a lot of things I thought I was over but found out I was not. It was useful… But I still think we could have found another way, a less painful one at least…"
Caleb "Why didn't you just say so that day? I thought you agreed with me. You were the one who suggested setting the rules. You even made jokes while we were talking about it. Why did you just go along with it?"
Hanna "Because there's nothing I wouldn't do for you, Caleb. And you really wanted a break. You brought it up like three times in those awful days. Besides, I wasn't going to just stay home after you asked me for a break."
Caleb "I didn't want a break, Han. I thought we needed it. But I was wrong. I'm glad you were able to make something useful out of this break, but I didn't. I don't want to go through something like that again."
Hanna "Yeah, neither I do."
Caleb "I'm sorry."
Hanna "Yeah, me too. Let's not let something like that happen to us again."
Caleb "Come here." He says, opening his arms to her.
Hanna hugs him, resting her chin on his shoulder as Caleb wraps his arms around her.
Caleb "Would you help me find a way to… fit into your new life in New York?"
Hanna smiles. "My life in New York is just temporary because I can't wait to come back to Rosewood." She chuckles. "Never in my life I thought I would just say that phrase. I'd always wanted to stay as far away from this town as possible… But sure, we'll find a way to make this work."
Caleb "Yeah, I know the feeling. Rosewood hasn't been that great for me either without you here."
Hanna kisses his cheek and pulls back from the hug. "Look, it's starting to snow."
Caleb looks out the windshield too.
The sun is also starting to rise, making their view even more beautiful. A perfect snowy dawn.
As they gaze out at the falling snow, Caleb gently brushes a strand of hair away from Hanna's face.
Caleb "What a view, huh?"
Hanna smiles, leaning into his touch. "Yeah, it's such a beautiful way to end this beautiful night. Thank you for this."
Caleb "Anything for you, princess." He grins.
Hanna smiles amused. "Princess?"
Caleb "Yeah, you look like a princess tonight." He says, still caressing her hair. "Really, you are insanely cute. I can't keep my eyes off you."
Hanna "Are you trying to make me die of love? Because you're doing an excellent job."
Caleb "You almost made me die of love yourself earlier…"
Hanna chuckles. "When?"
Caleb "Many times, actually… but…" He takes her hand. "I almost lost it when I saw this." He gently lifts her tattooed finger.
Hanna laughs. "I thought you hadn't caught it."
Caleb "Really, Han? It's on your ring finger. I'm not that clueless."
Hanna grins. "I just missed you too much. I needed to do something about it."
Caleb "I missed you like crazy, baby."
Hanna "Gosh, I missed you calling me 'baby' so bad."
Caleb "Yeah, me too… you haven't called me that again yet…"
Hanna smiles. "Oh, I did… just not to your face."
Caleb "Would you do it to my face now, then?"
Hanna nods and wraps her arms around his neck, pulling herself closer to him. "I love you, my baby."
Caleb sighs. "God, Han..." His arms twist around her waist right away. "I love you, baby."
Hanna's heart races with a mix of anticipation and love. She pulls back slightly, her eyes fixed on Caleb's. With a soft smile, she cups his face in her hands, feeling the warmth of his skin against her fingertips. Caleb's hands find their place on Hanna's waist, pulling her even closer, as close as possible, given the limited space in the front seats of his car. In that instant, Hanna leans in, her lips meeting Caleb's in a sweet, lingering kiss. It starts gently, a tender exploration, but as emotions surge, the kiss deepens.
Caleb's fingers gently trace patterns on Hanna's back, a silent way of showing her his feelings. Hanna's hand moves from his cheek to the back of his neck, fingers entwined in his hair, as if holding onto that moment forever.
Caleb "Let's move to the backseat." He suggests against her lips.
Hanna pulls a little back. "Caleb… I'm not-"
Caleb cuts her off. "Just to cuddle. I can't have you as close to me as I'd like with all this stuff between us." He explains, gesturing to the center console and their cups of soda.
Hanna "Okay."
They step out of the car and reunite in the backseat.
Hanna "It's freezing outside." She says, adjusting his jacket for better warmth.
Caleb "Come here." He tells her after closing his door, leaning against the backrest, and opening his arms.
Hanna settles comfortably between his arms, resting her head on his chest. Caleb embraces her tighter, trying to warm her up again.
After a couple of minutes, Hanna lifts her head from his chest, initiating another intense kiss. Their bodies melt into each other now that they are much closer, almost inseparable, forgetting about the cold surroundings as their own warmth becomes sufficient.
Caleb reaches for her legs, placing them on his lap and taking advantage of the slit on the side of her dress to caress her thigh gently.
After a few more minutes, breaking the kiss, they gaze into each other's eyes, breathless but content. Hanna rests her forehead against Caleb's.
Hanna "Let's just take a moment."
Caleb nods, moving her hair away from her neck, he places a tender kiss there.
Hanna "I don't want to rush into-"
Caleb "I know, Han." He interrupts her. "I'm more than okay with it, I mean, this night's been already way more than I was expecting."
Hanna rests her head back against his chest, relaxing into his embrace. Caleb starts rubbing one of his hands against her back, trying to keep her warm.
Hanna yawns and closes her eyes.
Caleb "Wanna go to our place and get some sleep?"
Hanna smiles, her eyes still shut. "Sounds tempting, but I can't go back there yet… I won't be able to leave again if I do so."
Caleb "Okay, then… Let's just stay here a little longer and then I'll take you to… are you staying at Lucas'?"
Hanna "Not this time. I'll stay with my mom. I don't have my car."
Caleb "Oh, okay. I'll take you there later."
Hanna "Thanks."
Caleb kisses the top of her head, then closes his eyes too, taking a moment to rest. However, only a few minutes later, both of them fall asleep.
/
Hanna wakes up about an hour later as the car's heater isn't enough to keep them warm anymore.
Hanna "Babe…" She softly caresses Caleb's cheek.
Caleb opens his eyes.
Hanna "I'm freezing."
Caleb yawns. "Okay… time to go." He says, but hugs Hanna tighter instead of letting go of her.
Hanna smiles and rubs the tip of her cold nose against his cheek.
Caleb "Oh, you are really cold."
Hanna pecks his lips. "Yeah…"
Caleb "Okay, let's get going." He finally releases her from his grip.
They leave the backseat and return to the front. Caleb pulls out with the car.
Hanna "I had never been here before. How did you find this place?"
Caleb "On a hike with Chocolate. I thought you would like it."
Hanna "Yes, I did. We are coming back another day." She smiles at him.
/
Once they arrive at Ashley's, and Caleb parks his car, the hardest part comes, as they have to say goodbye.
Caleb is about to open his door, but Hanna stops him.
Hanna "Don't. It's freezing out there. Let's just say goodbye here." She says while taking off his jacket.
Caleb "Okay, but keep my jacket then."
Hanna "It's fine, it's just a few steps until the house." She insists and gives it back to him.
Caleb nods and puts it aside to wear later.
Hanna "Well… let's talk on the phone tonight?"
Caleb nods.
Hanna "I'm not sure how to move forward from here, so… if you have any ideas…"
Caleb "How about I go see you any of these days in New York, and we figure out our options together?"
Hanna "Yeah, it sounds good. I'll talk to Lucas to have a better idea of how much time it would take us to finish setting everything up."
Caleb "Okay."
Hanna "Well… I'll leave now." She smiles.
Caleb "Isn't there any goodbye kiss for me."
Hanna "Nope."
Caleb looks at her, confused.
Hanna "I have a see-you-soon kiss for you."
Caleb grins. "You love torturing me, don't you?"
Hanna grins too. "Yeah, a little."
Caleb "A little too much."
Hanna smiles again before cupping his cheeks and planting a tender kiss on his lips.
Hanna "See you soon, Caleb." She says after pulling back from the kiss.
Caleb "See you soon, baby."
Hanna steps out of the car with a huge smile on her face. She rushes toward the door as it's really cold outside. Caleb waits until she enters the house and then leaves.