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.

64. Chapter 64

Some months later.

Hanna wakes up to the sound of an unfamiliar alarm going off, one that isn't hers or Caleb's.

Spencer "Wake up, Hanna Banana!" She hits Hanna with a pillow. "Your big day's here!"

Hanna "Ugh… Should have shared the bed with Em…" She mutters, still half-asleep, knowing that just like herself, Emily isn't a morning person either.

Emily "Well! I'm just as excited as Spence today!" She says, climbing onto the bed as well and throwing herself on top of Hanna. "Wake up, Han! You are getting married today!" She tells her excitedly while hugging her, resting her head on Hanna's back.

Alison "Is there some room for me too?" She asks, climbing over the foot of the king-size bed and settling herself on her feet with her knees bent. "Wake up, Han! It's past eleven already!" She grabs one of Hanna's ankles that is uncovered by the sheets and gives her a gentle shake.

Hanna chuckles from underneath Emily. "Okay, fine. I'm awake. Move away, Em!"

Emily shifts to sit on the mattress between Hanna and Spencer.

Hanna "Morning, guys!" She says, rolling onto her back with a smile on her face.

Hanna, Emily, Alison, and Spencer have spent the night in a room at the Radley after having a girls' night there, which Aria shared with them too, but then left for the night to go back home to her almost four-month-old baby.

Spencer "Morning, bride!" She smiles at Hanna.

Hanna grins while staring at the ceiling. "Can't believe I'm actually getting married today."

Emily "Are you nervous?"

Hanna "Not really." She looks at her. "I actually can't wait for the ceremony."

Alison "What time are the makeup artist and the hairstylist coming?" She asks Spencer.

Spencer "After lunch." She answers, stretching her arms out.

Emily "I'm hungry… let's get some room service."

Alison "Oh, yeah! I'm up for a brunch too."

Hanna "I think I'm not hungry for the first time in my life." She smiles.

Spencer chuckles. "You say that now, but I know you'll dig in the food when the room service arrives."

Hanna chuckles. "I might."

Emily "I need to pee." She says, getting out of the bed.

There's a knock on the door.

Alison "I'll get it." She says, already standing up from the bed, and heads to the living room area of the suite to answer the door.

A few seconds later, Aria shows up in there too.

Aria "Morning, bride!"

Hanna grins. "Hey! You came back!" She sits up.

Aria "Yeah, and I'm not alone." She says, hugging Hanna, as Alison makes her way into the room with baby Dante in her arms.

Spencer "Oh! Bring that baby here!"

Alison approaches the bed and places the baby in between Spencer and Hanna.

Hanna "Hey there, Dantie baby!" She sweetly greets him, taking one of his little hands.

Spencer "Morning, auntie's sweet baby boy." She leans in and kisses his forehead.

Dante's face lights up with a toothless grin as he excitedly kicks his legs and waves his arms in response to Hanna's and Spencer's cheerful greetings.

/

After their brunch and some relaxing massage sessions, the girls spend the rest of the day preparing for Hanna's wedding. They do their nails, take turns showering, and then get their makeup and hair done by the makeup artist and hairstylist they've hired to leave them all gorgeous for the special day.

Hanna is the last one to have her makeup done. Since it's still early, she decides to linger in her robe for a little while before changing into the beautiful wedding dress she bought in New York a few weeks ago.

Taking a seat on the couch, she checks her phone. Finding a text from Caleb with not a single word, just a red heart, she grins and sends one back right away. She exhales deeply. As the time of the ceremony approaches, she starts to feel a mix of excitement and nervousness bubbling up inside her.

A knock on the door distracts her from her thoughts, and she stands up to go answer.

Hanna "Hey, mom! What are you doing here?" She greets her, a huge smile on her face as she steps aside, letting her in.

Ashley "Hi, sweetie." She returns the smile. "I just wanted to stop by to see you before the ceremony." She takes a couple of seconds to examine her daughter. "You look gorgeous." She reaches out and being extra careful not to mess up her make-up, she caresses her cheek a little.

Hanna smiles again. "Thanks, mom. You look flawless yourself too."

Ashley grins. "Well, I'm wearing a Hanna Marin original design."

Hanna chuckles and pulls her into a hug. "Thanks for being here, mom. Thanks for this room for me and my friends. Thanks for all your help in planning this very important day."

Ashley "You're welcome, baby." She rubs Hanna's back with both of her hands.

Hanna "Wanna just stay and go with us?"

Ashley "Oh, no, thanks, sweetheart. Ted is waiting for me. I want to get there first and make sure everything is perfect for the ceremony." She explains, pulling away from Hanna's embrace.

Hanna "Okay, I'll see you there then."

Ashley places a soft kiss on her forehead. "See you there, baby." She gives Hanna another smile before leaving.

Hanna goes back to sit on the couch and picks up her phone again, trying to keep herself entertained until it's time to change and leave.

Spencer sits down next to her, with Dante in her arms.

Hanna looks at her and smiles. "Missing Finnie?" She extends her hand, gently stroking Dante's tiny fingers.

Spencer "Yeah, I already miss him. Toby just sent me a pic of him, and he looks so adorable in his button-up shirt and his bow tie."

Hanna "Well, you'll get to see him in a little while."

Spencer "Yeah… I also miss having a baby this little." She kisses Dante's head. "He's so calm."

Hanna grins, about to respond, but Spencer interjects.

Spencer "I know what you're going to say. Toby and I talked about it a few months ago, but we decided to wait a little longer. Finn is still too little, and we want to give him our full attention for now... we might start trying in a few months…"

Hanna simply nods, still smiling.

Spencer "You are getting married in a little while! How are you feeling?"

Hanna chuckles nervously. "Well, I'm starting to feel a bit nervous now, but... I'm excited, and... I kind of miss Caleb a little too, so I'm really looking forward to just meeting him at the altar."

Spencer smiles sympathetically at her. "Just a bit more time, Han."

/

Hanna arrives at the beautiful botanical garden where the ceremony will take place in Spencer's car, along with Emily and Alison, as Ezra picked up Aria and the baby earlier at the Radley.

Despite Hanna and Caleb's initial plan for an intimate, non-traditional wedding with just a handful of guests, the excitement surrounding their engagement has led to a more extensive guest list. Many others in their circle have expressed enthusiasm about the upcoming wedding, prompting them to adjust their original plan slightly. The wedding will still be non-traditional and relaxed. There wasn't a rehearsal dinner the previous night, and there won't be a church ceremony either. Instead, they have opted for an outdoor ceremony in the garden, followed by a reception at "The Greenhouse Events Hall" a very nice venue placed within the botanical garden.

Among the guests, in addition to Ashley, Ted, and their group of best friends, are Lucas and Lizzie, Mona, Spencer's and Aria's parents, as well as Pam Fields and Toby's dad with his wife. Hanna's employees from her Rosewood store are also in attendance, along with Leo from New York, as he has grown closer to Hanna in the last few months. Hanna's grandmother, Regina, is also present. Another guest is Jason DiLaurentis, who has permanently moved back to Rosewood and has been spending a lot of time with Caleb and Toby lately. Chloe, who learned about the "Haleb" wedding on Instagram, is also present and has convinced Zeth to come back from New York to be her plus one. Hanna felt compelled to invite her, as she was the inventor of the ship after all. And last but not least: Chocolate. So, it's not the very intimate wedding they had initially thought of, but it's still a short list of guests.

The girls step out of Spencer's car and assist Hanna as she emerges, carefully holding up her dress to ensure she doesn't trip. Hanna's wedding dress isn't that voluminous anyway. It's a fit and flare bridal gown. The lace bodice is intricately adorned, creating a romantic and elegant look. The sweetheart neckline adds a touch of allure. The dress is backless, revealing a V-back. Overall, it's a perfect blend of romantic and sexy elements. Keeping with the garden-themed springtime wedding, Hanna wears her hair styled in a sleek low bun, adorned with delicate flowers. A few loose strands frame her flawless face. Her makeup is subtle yet refined, with eyeshadow that highlights her blue eyes and a light lipstick, specially chosen by Hanna to ensure she can kiss Caleb without worrying about smudging.

The girls walk Hanna to a sitting area, a very nice place with benches surrounding a fountain, near the area where the ceremony will take place, the forest of the garden keeping the areas separated. Logically, none of them takes a seat on the benches, choosing to stay standing not to stain their dresses.

Spencer "Wait here… I'll go make sure that everything is ready for your big entrance, Han." She says, walking away.

Emily "I know I've told you this too many times already, but you look gorgeous, Han." She says, with a warm smile on her face.

Hanna smiles back. "Thanks, Em."

Alison "Isn't that your dad? Thought he wasn't invited."

Hanna turns her gaze in the same direction as Alison. "He's not invited." She says, noticing indeed that it is her father walking toward them.

Alison "Want me to kick him out?"

Hanna "No, it's fine."

Tom Marin approaches the group, his expression serious yet determined.

Hanna "What are you doing here, dad?" She asks directly, skipping the greetings.

Tom glances at Emily and Alison. "Girls, if you don't mind, I need to have a word with my daughter."

Hanna exchanges a glance with Alison, silently letting her know that she's okay with it.

Alison "Hope this bastard doesn't ruin Hanna's big day." She whispers to Emily as they walk away, giving Hanna and her father some privacy.

Hanna "So?"

Tom "I understand why I wasn't invited to the wedding, but here I am taking the first step this time around. Anyway, I don't want to make you uncomfortable, so... I'll just leave if you don't want me here."

Hanna "It's okay, dad. You can stay... just don't expect to walk me down the aisle or anything, though. But of course, you can stay. I would never ask you to leave."

Tom nods understandingly.

Hanna "The ceremony is about to start, go get your seat. It's right down that walkway."

Tom gives her shoulder a squeeze before walking away.

Emily "So?" She asks Hanna, as she and Alison return to her.

Hanna "Nothing, he's staying for the ceremony."

Alison "You're okay with it?"

Hanna "Yeah… I have no hard feelings for him. Our relationship is just the way it is." She shrugs.

Spencer comes back to them. "Everything is ready, guys!" She announces with a big smile on her face.

Toby shows up right after her. "So, where's the beautiful bride I'm giving away to my best friend?" He says playfully, approaching Hanna.

Hanna grins at him.

Toby "You look amazing, Han." He gives Hanna a brief hug.

Hanna "Thanks, Tob, you look pretty handsome yourself too!... Is Caleb already there?" She asks Spencer as Toby pulls away from her.

Spencer "Of course he is, and very anxious to see you walk down that aisle, by the way."

Hanna smiles widely.

Emily "Did you see my mom? Did she and Jason manage well with the twins?"

Spencer "Yep, the girls look precious in their dresses."

Alison "The things we do for you, Han… we left our one-year-old babies under the care of my brother."

Emily chuckles. "Don't be so hard on him. He's proved to be a fine babysitter."

Alison "Please, Em… you wouldn't have left the twins with him if your mom wasn't there too."

Emily only smiles, conceding to Alison's point.

Spencer "Well, let's go get our seats." She tells Emily and Alison, and the three of them leave.

Toby "Ready?" He asks Hanna after they watch the girls disappear down the walkway.

Hanna "Yeah! I can't wait!" She holds onto his arm and uses her free hand to hold up her dress a little.

They get to the place where the ceremony is taking place, but Toby stops behind a couple of trees and stays there.

Toby "Your mom told me to wait here until we hear the music." He explains.

Hanna nods.

A couple of minutes later, after Spencer gives the order, soft music starts to fill the air, complementing the natural sounds of the garden.

Anxious but smiling, Hanna lets her dress fall as they resume their way. Guests turn their heads to see her entrance. They reach the starting point of the aisle and begin their walk down to the altar. Hanna's eyes immediately search for Caleb. When their gazes meet, their smiles widen. Hanna feels a moment of shyness under Caleb's attentive gaze, biting her bottom lip and briefly looking away. But soon, she meets his eyes again, and their gazes remain locked as she continues her way. She moves gracefully, her steps light and confident, her dress flowing behind her. Caleb's eyes reflect love and admiration as he awaits her. With each step, anticipation builds among the guests until finally, Hanna reaches the altar.

Toby "Enjoy your big day, buddy." He whispers to Caleb as Hanna releases his arm.

Then, he takes his seat in the front row beside Spencer, who is holding Finn in her arms. While Toby is Caleb's best man, being a non-traditional wedding, only Hanna and Caleb stand at the altar, accompanied by the professional officiant they've hired for the ceremony to ensure their union is legally recognized.

Caleb takes both of Hanna's hands, and they gaze at each other, grinning with happiness.

Caleb "You look insanely gorgeous, Han."

Hanna "You too, babe." She takes a moment to admire him.

Caleb is wearing a very elegant yet modern black tuxedo, a white shirt, and a narrow black tie. He looks incredibly stylish in it. His pants end just above his ankles, a few inches above his shoes, giving the impression that he's not wearing socks, when in fact, he's got on a pair of no-show dress socks that Hanna got for him. The most significant detail completing his outfit is the tiny couple of flowers adorning the pocket square in his jacket, matching the ones in Hanna's hair bun.

Hanna is about to give in to her need of hugging Caleb, but the officiant starts the ceremony.

Officiant "Dear friends and family, we gather here today to celebrate the union of Hanna and Caleb..."

Hanna and Caleb don't break their eye lock as the officiant continues with the ceremony. The smiles on their faces are indelible. Hanna feels Caleb's thumbs stroking both of her hands the whole time.

The moment to exchange their vows arrives, so the officiant gives the word to Caleb.

Caleb grins. "I find it incredibly hard to put into words everything I feel for you, Han. I've been thinking a lot these days, trying to find the right words, or at least the ones that come closest to expressing what I want to tell you. Meeting you changed my life forever. Everything makes so much more sense with you by my side. Everything feels better, actually, you make everything better for me. Some of the people here know that I haven't had it easy in life, but now, with you, I feel like I'm getting all the happiness at once."

Hanna's first tear of joy escapes, touched by Caleb's heartfelt words.

Caleb's grin softens into a tender smile. "So, that's pretty much why I want you in my life forever. The day your dog showed up at my door a few years ago was the best thing that ever happened to me. I can't help but think what would have happened if he had chosen another place to shelter from the storm that summer day. I don't even want to imagine it. Anyway, I want to spend every single day of my life with you. And I promise to make your days just as meaningful as you make mine. I love you too much, Han."

All eyes shift to Hanna now, and she's a mess of tears.

Hanna chuckles through her tears. "How do I even continue after this?"

Caleb smiles, reaching out to wipe her tears with both hands before planting a tender kiss on her forehead.

Hanna takes a deep breath, getting ready to start with her vows as well. She takes Caleb's hands in hers again. "I'm not great with speeches either." She admits with a chuckle. "But we decided to make this wedding our way, relaxed and special for both of us, so…" She turns to their guests for a moment. "I'll just ignore all of you there and just talk to my love here." She smiles and focuses on Caleb. "Babe… I couldn't agree more with you. You make life better for me too. I think Chocolate saw something in you, and you know, they say that animals can sense if you are a good person, so I'm very thankful to Chocolate and his excellent senses for having chosen you." She glances toward the guests, spotting Chocolate sitting at the end of the front row beside Emily, who holds his leash. Hanna blows a kiss to him before returning her gaze to Caleb. "I'm beyond happy to be marrying you today. You are not only the love of my life, but also my best friend, and that's just great! I'm so in love with you. Actually, I still fall more in love with you each day, even when I'm convinced that I can't love you any more than I already do, because it seems impossible to love you more, I end up doing so. So I love you today, very very very much, to the moon and back and much more. I love you more than words can express. But I promise you that I'll love you more tomorrow, and the day after tomorrow, and the day after that, and so on, for the rest of my life, which I'm eager to spend with you. I choose you to be my companion forever. I love you, Caleb."

Tears fill Caleb's eyes now, but he's not alone, many of the guests, including Ashley, are deeply moved by their vow exchange.

Officiant "Hanna, do you take Caleb to be your lawfully wedded husband?"

Hanna "I do." She smiles. "Of course, I do."

Officiant "Do you, Caleb, take Hanna to be your lawfully wedded wife?"

Caleb "I do."

Hanna smiles at him again, unable to contain herself any longer. She releases his hands and wraps her arms around his neck, embracing him tightly. Caleb envelops her in his arms, holding her close against him. They remain in the embrace until the officiant gently interrupts to continue the ceremony.

It's now time to exchange the rings. Spencer approaches them with Finn in her arms and hands them the box with the rings herself, having learned from her own wedding that letting Finn hand over the rings isn't the best idea.

Caleb takes Hanna's hand first, gently holding it in his hand, using his other to slide the ring onto her finger.

Then, it's Hanna's turn. She takes Caleb's hand, ready to place the ring on his finger too, but she gets a big surprise.

Caleb smiles amusedly as her eyes shift from his hand to his face.

Hanna "What's this?" She asks, a huge smile lighting up her face.

Caleb "An 'H' from someone very special's name." He whispers to her.

Hanna "See? This is what I was telling you before. Now I just love you even more."

Caleb grins.

Hanna brings his hand to her lips and places a tender kiss on the side of his finger, right on the 'H'. Then, being extra careful with his recent tattoo, she finally slides the ring on. "I love you." She says again.

Caleb "I love you more."

Hanna grabs his face and starts kissing him right then, not giving a damn about the formalities of the ceremony.

Officer "Well." He chuckles. "By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. And you are already kissing, so…" He shrugs.

The guests respond with applause, cheers, and even some whistles, filling the atmosphere with joy and celebration.

Hanna "Hi, hubby." She says with a smile, still in his embrace.

Caleb "Hi, wifey." He responds, pecking her lips. "Gorgeous, wifey."

After the ceremony, Hanna and Caleb take the chance to take some pictures in different areas of the beautiful garden, including some with Chocolate. Meanwhile, the guests make their way to the venue for the reception. Aria serves as their special photographer.

/

The sun sets as Hanna and Caleb arrive hand in hand at the reception. Chocolate follows closely behind them. They step into the charming and picturesque venue nestled within the garden, an indoor setting with glass walls that offer guests a view of the surrounding botanical beauty while providing shelter. The whole place is adorned with twinkling fairy lights, the chairs and tables dressed in light, airy fabrics, and flower arrangements on each table, creating a very romantic atmosphere. The guests greet them with warm applause and cheers.

Hanna grins. "Thank you all for being here, sharing this very special day with us." She says, raising her voice a little for everyone to hear her. No need to use a mic, since the number of guests doesn't even reach thirty people.

Since it's an intimate celebration, there's no DJ, just a simple sound system, with Emily in charge of the music.

Emily "Time for your first dance, guys." She says, taking her phone to put on a song.

Hanna smiles and leads Caleb to the open space beside the tables. Her hands rest gently on Caleb's shoulders, while his arms encircle her waist, drawing her close. Their eyes meet in a tender gaze as the romantic song fills the air and they start moving to its slow rhythm. Their movements are effortless and their connection is just perfect. They exchange smiles and their joy and love are evident.

Caleb "Am I doing this right, or am I just embarrassing us in our first hour as a married couple?" He whispers into her ear as they move.

Hanna chuckles softly. "You are doing it perfectly, baby." She assures him, grinning.

Caleb "Is everything going the way you imagined it?" He asks, again into her ear.

Hanna "It's actually going even better." She shifts her hands, wrapping her arms around his neck, drawing her body closer to his. "Everything is perfect. Even your perfume. I love it." She says, inhaling his scent against his neck.

Caleb smiles. "I'm very glad to hear that. I'm enjoying every second of this wedding too."

Once they finish their dance, Caleb leads Hanna to their table. Following the unstructured style of their wedding, they've opted to sit with Toby, Spencer, Aria, Ezra, Alison, and Emily. As it's a kid-friendly event, the babies are also present. Aria's little one, still too young, peacefully sleeps in his stroller, wearing a pair of baby earmuffs to protect his ears from any loud noises. One of the twins is with Emily, while the other is next to Alison, in her stroller. Finn is on his father's lap, happily chewing on a roll.

Hanna "Hi, Finnie! You are looking very handsome today, baby!" She warmly greets him, gently rubbing his cheek as she settles into her seat.

Finn smiles at her briefly before taking the roll back into his mouth.

Caleb chuckles. "He's too busy with his roll." He comments, taking his seat next to Hanna.

Spencer stands up. "Now that you're both here, I'd like to say a few words." She starts her speech. "Little did I know a few years ago when I met my new neighbor that he would steal my best friend's dog only to end up marrying her later." She jokes.

Caleb smiles at Spencer, while Hanna leans against Caleb's side, resting her hand and chin on his shoulder, settling in to listen to her friend's words. Caleb gently places his hand on her knee.

Spencer "I'm very thrilled to be here today sharing this special moment with you guys. You are amazing together. I saw you go from being just friends to becoming a couple in a very short time, and it couldn't have been otherwise. You are made for each other. I know you'll have a life full of joy and a lot of laughter too. I can assure you, Caleb, that life will never get boring with Han by your side."

Hanna and Spencer exchange smiles.

Spencer "And before I end my speech, I'll return the favor from your speeches at my wedding and boldly ask for a little nephew or niece. You've been wonderful as uncle and aunt to my Finnie, but it's time for you two to make your own baby already." She smiles amused.

Caleb "No objections here, Spence." He grins.

Hanna "Hey, my parents are here!" She jokes.

Spencer "Yeah, well, mine were at my wedding too." She retorts with a chuckle, as she settles back into her chair.

Passing Finn to Spencer, Toby stands up, clearing his throat.

Toby "As the best man to my buddy here, I have some things to say too." He begins. "I just want to take a moment to express how deeply honored I feel to be here today, sharing in this incredibly special moment with Hanna and Caleb. I know I speak for all of us when I say that being part of this intimate gathering, surrounded by the people who mean the most to them, is truly a privilege." He directs his gaze to Hanna and Caleb. "Thank you for allowing us to be a part of this beautiful celebration. I know your grandpa must be watching over this important day for you too, Caleb. Wherever he is, I'm sure he's happy to see you finally getting the family you've always deserved... I love you both, guys. You are great people and deserve only the best." Toby turns back to the rest of the guests to conclude his brief speech. "And now, let's raise our glasses to Hanna and Cal-"

Alison "Wait! I want to say something too." She stands up, interrupting Toby. "Don't worry, folks, I know you're eager for dinner, I'll be brief." She smiles and looks at Hanna. "Han, let's admit it, you've always had a thing for assholes." A few laughs are heard. "So, I'm very glad you fell in love with a man who wasn't your usual type. A man who is kind, caring, thoughtful, and loves you the right way. And he's handsome as hell too." She adds with a grin.

Hanna chuckles and plants a kiss on Caleb's cheek.

Alison "I'm very happy that you've found each other. You are perfect for one another, and I could see it even when you were just friends. Your love is out of this world, guys. Let's make a toast to it, to you, and the bright future awaiting you." She ends, raising her glass.

The meal service begins as waiters bring dishes to the guests. Hanna and Caleb share a relaxed moment with their closest friends, chatting, laughing, and joking, as if they were having dinner at one of their places any other evening.

/

After dinner, Hanna and Caleb take their time to greet all their guests, one by one, also taking pictures with all of them as well. Even Tom Marin, who shakes hands with Caleb and congratulates them on their marriage. Then they do the cake cutting and right after it, Emily puts on the party music, inviting the guests to have some fun and celebrate.

Later on, Hanna is dancing with the girls when she spots Caleb coming out from the restrooms. She hands the champagne bottle she is holding in her hand to Emily and walks toward him.

Hanna "Hey there."

Caleb grins. "Hey."

Hanna gets closer and takes his hands. "Wanna get lost for a moment from our own wedding with me?" She proposes, wagging their joined hands in the air.

Caleb "I'd love to."

Hanna grins and lets go of one of his hands, keeping her hold on the other, and leads him outside. She takes him to the area with the fountain and the benches where she waited earlier before the ceremony started.

Caleb "We picked such a beautiful place for our wedding, huh?" He comments, taking a look around the calm and majestic garden, that looks even better now during spring.

Hanna "Yeah, it's just wonderful."

They stand by the fountain and Caleb turns to face her. He reaches out, cupping her face with his hand.

Caleb "This seems like a dream." He tells her, already caressing her cheek with his thumb. "I still can't believe we just got married."

Hanna grins. "Can I have a kiss from my husband?" She asks, placing her hands on each side of his waist, underneath his jacket, scratching her nails through the fabric of his shirt.

Caleb leans in and initiates the kiss, their first private kiss as a married couple. A very romantic and intimate one. Keeping his hand on her face, Caleb places the other on her lower back, pushing her closer to him. Hanna tilts her head to the side, seeking further connection. There are so many feelings involved in that kiss, that both of them also start feeling them physically, butterflies in Hanna's stomach, goosebumps on Caleb's skin as they enjoy their kiss. Hanna briefly opens her eyes, catching sight of Caleb's relaxed expression with closed eyes, which makes her smile against his mouth. She closes her eyes again, moving one of her hands to his face for support. With gentle caresses, she traces along his bottom lip with the tip of her tongue before slipping it back into his mouth, causing a slow shiver to him.

Caleb pulls away from her mouth, tilting his head, and plants a tender kiss below her ear. "Turn around for a moment, Han." He softly instructs, his hand resting on her waist as he gently guides her around. "I've been wanting to do this since I first saw you from behind earlier today." He adds, admiring her sexy bare back perfectly framed by the V-back of her dress.

Caleb delicately places his palm on her stomach, while the other hand caresses the skin of her back softly, brushing his fingertips up and down, sending shivers down Hanna's spine. Starting at her nape, he leans in and begins to kiss her again, slowly working his way down, placing open-mouthed kisses all over her back, ending with a longer kiss on her lower back, just above the edge of her dress. Straightening up, he hugs her from behind with both his arms and returns to kissing her neck.

Hanna lets out a deep breath through her slightly parted lips, her eyes shut as she enjoys the amazing sensation Caleb's warm mouth provokes on her body. But she knows they need to stop, so only a few seconds later, in spite of herself, she stops him.

Hanna "Let's save something for our wedding night, baby." She says, turning around and smiling at him as their gazes meet again.

Caleb returns her smile, his arms still wrapped around her waist. "Sorry, couldn't help it. I've got the sexiest bride ever."

Hanna "Are you making love to me tonight?" Her arms wrap around his neck.

Caleb nods. "And I'm taking all the time in the world to make sure we enjoy every second of it." He intends to go back to kissing her mouth, but Hanna has other plans.

Hanna "Gosh, babe… we need to stop now or we are never going back to our own wedding." She chuckles. "Let's go sit on a bench. I brought you here to talk." She takes his hand and leads him to one of the benches where they take a seat. "I just wanted to tell you a few more things that I kept to ourselves and didn't say at the ceremony." She explains, resting her elbow on the backrest of the bench, her torso turned toward him.

Caleb raises his eyebrow. "Really?" He whispers and pecks her lips. "I'm eager to hear them."

Hanna smiles, reaching out with her free arm and taking his hand. "First of all, I want to ask you when the hell you got this tattoo." She gently pushes his fingers apart to take another look at his 'H'.

Caleb smiles amusedly. "Yesterday, when you were too busy with your friends at the Radley… Just wanted to surprise you."

Hanna grins. "Oh, you did surprise me! I love it."

Caleb uses his free hand to start caressing her hair, being careful not to mess up her beautiful hairstyle. "And what else did you want to say to me?"

Hanna "Remember when a few months ago I told you that I was telling you 'I love you' so often, so many times, that I was starting to worry it might start to sound less meaningful or powerful?"

Caleb nods.

Hanna "And you told me not to worry, that those words coming from me still had the same impact on you as when I first said them to you?"

Caleb nods again.

Hanna "Well, I remember very well the first time you told me you loved me too. Those words came right at the moment when I needed to hear them the most. I was paralyzed, literally couldn't move a single muscle in my body. I was frightened, but you were there to make me feel safer. I remember the frustration of not being able to say it back to you, or at least let you know that I had heard you. I know I never speak about that day. It was an awful day for me. But…" She takes a deep breath, getting emotional already. "I just wanted to let you know that your 'I love you's' also mean a lot to me and that I'll never forget the way you were there for me that day." She sobs a little, as a few tears roll down her cheeks.

Caleb "I remember that day very clearly, Han." He lets go of her hand and wipes her tears. "That's why your first 'I love you' to me meant so much. They were your first words when you were able to speak again. I remember how surprised I was to find out that you had heard me earlier, and I still remember what you said next, 'I always hear you.' Those words meant a lot to me too. It's a pity that our first 'I love you's' happened under those circumstances, but well… it was the way it was, we needed to say it and we did."

Hanna "Yeah, well… we are making up some other story to tell people. I'm not telling our kids, or grandkids, what really happened the day we first said each other 'I love you'." She says, calmer now, and adding a little touch of humor to their conversation.

Caleb smirks. "I doubt kids ask their parents about those things. I think they find them disgusting." He chuckles. "But sure, we can make up something less dramatic just in case."

Hanna chuckles. "Thinking about it now, our love story is a bit tricky to explain. The timelines don't quite match up... there's some overlap there…" She mentions it casually, alluding to her past mistake cheating without directly bringing up Jordan's name on this meaningful day for her and Caleb.

Caleb smiles. "We could just tell people how Chocolate brought us together without getting into all the other details. It's the only thing that matters after all, isn't it? I mean, you lost your dog during the storm, he found me, I was stupid enough to take him away with me for a whole year, we crossed paths again when I was walking him back in Rosewood, you yelled at me, we couldn't stand each other for a few days, well, you actually hated me more, then we started to hang out because of Chocolate, got to know each other, and just fell in love. It wasn't at first sight, it was better. What else is there to tell?"

Hanna grins. "Exactly."

Caleb leans in and places a kiss on her forehead.

Hanna "Did I ruin my makeup?" She suddenly asks him.

Caleb "Not too much. You're still flawless... just a bit short on lipstick, but I'll take the blame for that one." He playfully says.

Hanna smiles amusedly. "Thank goodness for waterproof mascara. I knew I was going to cry."

Caleb "Anything else you wanted to tell me?"

Hanna "Nope…" She shakes her head, shifting to sit on his lap. "Just that I'm excited to embark on this new chapter as your wife." She says, wrapping her arms around his neck, as Caleb holds her by the waist. "Also, I couldn't be happier about the fact that I'm spending the rest of my life with you, my best friend, who happens to be amazing in bed, by the way."

Caleb arches an eyebrow. "Amazing in bed, huh?"

Hanna nods, pressing a kiss to the tip of his nose.

Caleb "You forgot to mention that in your vows…" He teases.

Hanna smiles against his skin, brushing her lips along his jawline. "I'll make sure to mention it when we renew our vows on our 25th wedding anniversary." She playfully responds, kissing the corner of his mouth.

Caleb laughs. "Well, that'll surely gross out our kids then."

Hanna laughs too, before initiating another passionate kiss. "You're mine forever now."

Caleb playfully bites her bottom lip in response as they continue kissing.

Ashley "There you are!" She says while approaching them.

Hanna pulls away from Caleb. "Hey, mom!... We just needed a moment." She explains.

Ashley smiles at them. "Your grandmother is leaving and she wants to say goodbye to you both."

Caleb "Let's go back." He kisses Hanna's cheek.