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.

71. Chapter 71

It's Tuesday evening, and as he promised Hanna, Caleb has been accompanying her to New York since the previous week, even staying with her for the three days she needed to be in the city each time. This time, they arrived the previous day and are planning to go back to Rosewood the next day.

Seated at the desk in their hotel room, Caleb is on a video call.

Caleb "Okay, guys, it's all settled. Greg will be arriving in LA next week to coordinate the transfer."

Greg is the computer engineer Caleb hired some months ago to be his right-hand man.

Caleb "Thank you all for your time. Good evening." He wraps up the meeting and disconnects.

Stretching out his arms, he yawns and stands up from the desk. Checking the time on his phone, he decides to text Hanna: "Hey! Are you on your way back already? Want me to order some room service in the meantime? Or are you more in the mood to head down to the restaurant?"

After using the bathroom, he flops down on the couch and turns on the TV, leaving the news on in the background as he entertains himself on his phone.

A few minutes later, he receives a text from Hanna: "Hey! I'll be having dinner with Leo. We're still at the workshop."

Caleb: "Want me to pick you up later?" He offers.

Hanna takes a few more minutes to respond: "No need. Traffic is a mess. I'll call an Uber, don't worry."

Caleb replies immediately: "Okay, just let me know. It's no trouble. I'm here precisely for that."

/

Later, Caleb returns to the hotel room after enjoying dinner and drinks at a popular restaurant's bar, taking advantage of the vibrant nightlife in NYC.

Noticing that Hanna hasn't returned yet, he decides to give her a call.

Hanna "Hey!" She answers after only a couple of rings.

Caleb "Hey! It's getting late. Tell me where you are, and I'll come pick you up."

Hanna "I'm actually entering our hotel at this very moment, Caleb. I'll be up in a sec. Bye." She says and hangs up.

Caleb leaves his phone on the bed and heads for the bathroom. He's brushing his teeth when, after only a couple of minutes, he hears Hanna coming inside their room. Right away, she shows up by the bathroom.

Hanna "Hey!" She briefly greets him. "I'm sorry, I really have to pee right now. Hallie must be using my bladder as a pillow." She explains, rushing to sit on the toilet.

Caleb rinses his mouth and turns off the faucet before leaving his toothbrush and wiping his mouth with a towel.

Caleb "Hey! Is everything okay? You stayed out late…" He asks, hanging the towel back.

Hanna "Yeah, Leo and I took care of shopping for the shoes the models will wear with my dresses at the fashion show, and it took us way longer than expected. We've been to a thousand stores, literally. It took us hours." She sighs and approaches the sink to wash her hands. "And then when we went back to the workshop, Chloe showed up over there. She wanted to see me, catching up took a while, and she was very chatty, then Lucas called me, so Leo and I didn't sit down to work until like 6, and we had tons of things to do… so, well… that was my day." She explains, finishing drying her hands with the towel.

Caleb "Chloe, huh? Hope she didn't show up for another pregnancy test." He jokes.

Hanna "Don't be mean, she's changed so much. She seems more mature. You can tell by how she talks how much she's grown up." She says, heading out of the bathroom.

Caleb follows her.

Hanna "She was looking for a part-time job here in New York, and wanted to know if we were hiring or if I could recommend her to anyone." She says, sitting on the edge of the bed. "She told me she and Zeth broke up a couple of months ago, and she lived with him in a little apartment his parents rent for him, so she moved out of there."

Caleb "Oh, really? That sucks."

Hanna nods in agreement. "Anyway, she has to come back to college in some weeks but the dorms at the campus are full and she's on a waiting list and has to find another place to live in the meantime. And that's why she's looking for a job."

Caleb "So? Are you going to hire her again?" He asks as he watches Hanna kick off her sneakers and take off her socks.

Hanna "Of course I am. Leo could use some help at the workshop, especially when I'm gone to have the baby. I was thinking about hiring someone more experienced than her, but… she'll do just fine. Leo can train her. Even just with taking care of placing the orders for the supplies we need to restock at both workshops, she will be a lot of help, but I'm sure she'll manage to do even more. Seriously, she seems so much more mature…"

Caleb "Han! Your feet!" He says, impressed by how swollen they are.

Hanna "Yeah, they are killing me… Thank god I chose to wear sneakers this morning."

Caleb "Maybe you shouldn't have gone to all those shoe stores today… why didn't you guys just purchase them online?"

Hanna "Are you kidding me? We're talking about the shoes the models are wearing for the fashion show. It's a big deal! I needed to make sure they were perfect myself."

Caleb disagrees with that but decides not to contradict her.

Hanna "I'll stay here until Friday, Caleb. I can't leave tomorrow with you. I'll go back to Rosewood on Saturday morning and I'll only stay for the weekend." She suddenly says, standing up from the bed and heading back to the bathroom.

Caleb "Why?" He asks, following her again.

Hanna "Because I have too much to take care of here. I still need to sort out some stuff before the baby arrives, and also Lucas is organizing a status meeting with the investors before my leave, and with the fashion show coming up… I just need to be here. I'm even considering staying here the entire next week too."

Caleb "Don't we have an appointment with your doctor next week? On Wednesday?"

Hanna "Yeah, but I called the clinic today and practically begged them to move it forward to Monday morning, so I'll go to that appointment and then I'll come here for the rest of the week."

Caleb nods. "Oh, great! You already have it all figured out!" He says in a sarcastic tone.

Hanna "Yeah, what's the problem?" She asks, staring at his frowned face through the mirror where she's removing her makeup.

Caleb "Oh, nothing… just a little detail… Me, maybe? Do I fit into your plans somehow?" He turns away and leaves the bathroom.

Hanna sighs and turns on the shower, deciding to unwind after her long day before having a much-needed talk with Caleb. After tying her hair up in a messy bun, she steps inside and lets the warm water bring some relief to her sore back.

/

After slipping on a pair of panties and one of Caleb's old t-shirts she's taken to wearing to bed lately, which has ended up stretched out because of her pregnant belly, Hanna climbs into bed, seeking the comfort of the covers she's been craving all day. Caleb is already lying down, facing away, so she presses a tender kiss to his back.

Hanna "Can we talk for a moment?" She asks softly. "I feel like I'm about to run out of battery any moment and fall asleep, and…" She trails off, her palm gently caressing his shoulder. "I don't want to go to sleep feeling like this."

Caleb rolls over to face her. "Monday morning doesn't work for me, Han. And I really don't want to miss the appointment."

Hanna nods. "I'm sorry, I should have checked with you before rescheduling."

Caleb "And I've been rearranging my schedule and making extra efforts to be here with you, and then you just decide you'll stay until Friday and the whole next week, and…" He trails off, a hint of frustration in his voice. "It feels like all my efforts were for nothing because it doesn't matter to you whether I'm here or not."

Hanna "Oh, babe, it's not like that!" She reaches for his hand. "I really appreciate you driving me here and staying with me. Especially on our way back to Rosewood when you let me nap in the passenger seat. But I need to stay here, and if you can't, I understand. But going back to Rosewood isn't an option for me. That's why I didn't ask you. Don't worry about the drive, I can take a bus or rent a car and drive myself." She reassures him, her thumb caressing his palm.

Caleb "You said you wouldn't be driving back and forth once you reached your eighth month, and you are only a few days away from that…" He points out, his other hand resting on her belly.

Hanna "I know, but I don't have a choice. This fashion show is a huge opportunity for me. I've been pushing the organizers to provide us with crucial information we need for planning, but there's also been a venue change that's forced them to reconsider the setting, and of course, it affected us too. Leo and I are still learning the ropes. It's our first event of such magnitude. With all the delays we've faced, I need to stay on top of things. I really tried to work ahead, but it's not that easy. I just need to get through these last weeks, and then I'll be able to step back. I'll stop working after the fashion show."

Caleb nods.

Hanna "Please don't be mad at me. I'm doing my best to make this work. I'm not going back to my old habits, I promise." She gives his hand a gentle squeeze.

Caleb smiles slightly. "I'm not mad… I'm just trying to figure out a solution because there's no way I'm leaving you here on your own. Let alone taking my car and leaving you to take a bus. Are you nuts?"

Hanna smiles back. "Think faster, I'm about to fall asleep here." She closes her eyes.

Caleb leans in and pecks her lips. "Turn around, I wanna hold you." He requests, as given her baby bump, the only way for him to be able to hug her to sleep is by spooning her.

Hanna's eyes open again and she shifts onto her other side. She switches off the bedside lamp and places a pillow under the side of her belly for support, as she's been struggling to find a comfortable position to sleep lately.

Once settled, Caleb lovingly wraps his arm around her shoulders.

Caleb "I'll tell you what…" He begins, placing a tender kiss on the side of her neck before resting his head on the pillow. "I'll rearrange my schedule so I can make it to that appointment on Monday morning, but then, you'll have to wait until the end of the day so I can drive you back here… Deal?"

Hanna smiles with her eyes closed. "Deal."

Caleb "And I'll just drive back and forth to Rosewood next week when I need to, so I can stay here with you the entire week."

Hanna "You're the best."

Caleb "I know, you said it in that magazine interview."

Hanna chuckles. "I hate you."

Caleb smiles, his eyes closing. "I know that too."

Hanna "But I love you way more than I hate you."

Caleb "Thank god, because I love you so much that I'll have twenty people in LA cursing me for rescheduling our Monday meeting… again."

Hanna "What's with all the LA meetings anyway? What are you up to?"

Caleb "Just sorting my things out before Hallie arrives, Han, just like you."

Hanna "Uh huh." She murmurs, dropping the subject despite her curiosity, as her exhaustion is stronger than her intrigue. "Night, baby."

Caleb "Good night, Han."

/

That weekend, back in Rosewood.

It's Saturday noon when Caleb gets back home from the gym. After leaving his keys in the key bowl by the entrance, he heads towards the kitchen area where Hanna seems to be preparing a salad.

Caleb "Salad again?" He asks, wrinkling his nose.

Hanna turns to look at him. "Yeah, it's fresh, healthy, and light. I didn't feel like cooking in this heat. You can prepare yourself another meal if you want."

Caleb smiles. "Salad sounds perfect, babe." He simply answers, clearly knowing better.

Hanna shoots him a cocky smile. "Thought so."

Caleb can't help but approach and kiss that arrogant smile of hers. Standing behind her, his palms rest on each side of her waist. Hanna turns her face to the side, happily receiving his kiss.

Caleb "I'm very much in the mood for salad." He playfully says after the kiss.

Hanna chuckles. "Aren't you in the mood for a shower too? Because you really need one." She teases.

Caleb laughs, releasing her. "Fine, but… Don't start eating that delicious salad without me." He jokes, walking away.

Passing by the table, he notices a huge bag that he recognizes as one from the toy store at the mall.

Caleb "What's this?" He asks, intrigued. Taking a look into it, he sees that it's an inflatable pool for toddlers. "You made fun of me when I got Hallie those sneakers, but then you went and bought her a pool that she won't be old enough to use until next summer?" He says, amused. "Or even the one after that…" He adds.

Hanna "First of all, those…" She pauses, realizing that she's about to say 'hideous sneakers'. "Colorful sneakers that you got for her are too big for her to wear at least until she's three." She says instead, fixing her phrase just in time to avoid hurting his feelings. As much as she finds that pair of sneakers hideous, she knows Caleb couldn't help buying them for their daughter because he really liked them, so she plans on letting the girl wear them at home a few times just to make him happy. "And secondly, I bought that pool for Dante, not for Hallie. Aria is dropping him off in the afternoon, and Emily and the twins are coming over too. I also told Spence I'd pick Finnie up as well. I promised the kids I'd have them over for a swim a few weeks ago, and, well, seems like Lily didn't forget about it."

Caleb "Oh! So I'll miss the pool party…" He says, examining another box that is next to the toy store bag.

Hanna "Why? Do you have plans for the afternoon?"

Caleb "Yeah, I have a couple of things to take care of at the office… shouldn't take me that long, but I also want to stop by the hardware store and get a few things I need to start baby-proofing the house."

Hanna shoots him a smile.

Caleb "What's exactly this?" He asks, gesturing toward the box on the table.

Hanna "That's a sterilizer… you know, for the bottles and pacifiers. Ali said they weren't using it anymore and offered it to me, so I picked it up at their place this morning."

Caleb nods, still checking it out.

Hanna "Go take your shower now, I'm getting hungry."

/

Later on.

Hanna "Stay still, Finnie. I'm almost done, baby." She instructs the little kid.

Hanna is sitting on the edge of a lounger, and the boy is standing before her as she applies some sunscreen on his back and arms.

Emily "There you go, Gracie." She says after finishing removing her clothes.

Now that she's just in her adorable bathing suit, the little girl rushes toward the pool right away, excited and eager to join her twin sister who is already in the water.

Emily "Hey! Remember the rules, no running near the pool, baby!"

Grace nods and carefully steps down into the water. "Hey, Lily! Wach this!" She says before diving into the water to swim toward her.

Emily smiles proudly, getting into the pool as well and simply taking a seat on one of the steps, ready to watch her daughters from there.

Hanna "Can't believe the way they swim, Em… it's so natural for them." She comments, approaching the pool with Finn following her. "It's just amazing!" She adds, watching the girls swimming without needing any kind of floaties.

Emily looks up and shoots her a proud smile. She's responsible for that, as she convinced Alison to take the twins to baby swimming classes since they were only a few months old, and it's surely given great results.

Hanna "They look so tiny swimming around the pool." She chuckles.

Emily chuckles too. "Yeah, they are my little happy duckies."

Hanna "So, what pool would you like to try today, Finnie? The big pool with the twins? Or would you like to join Dante and play with toys?" She asks the little boy next to her while taking a look at Dante.

The youngest of the children is peacefully playing in the small pool that Caleb left fully inflated and ready for him to use before leaving the house earlier. Hanna took care to fill it with very little warm water after placing it next to the shallow end of the large pool, so she can watch him from there.

Chocolate shows up and jumps into the water in the middle of the pool, causing the twins to laugh as they get splashed.

Finn's face lights up with a huge grin, and Hanna knows right away what his choice will be.

Hanna "Let's put your vest on." She says, chuckling.

Finn leaves her side for a moment and rushes to go get his decorated with little cute whales swim vest from a lounger.

Once all the kids are already enjoying themselves in the pools, Hanna puts a sun hat on Dante's head and joins Emily. She sits down next to her by the steps of the pool, submerging half of her body in the warm water, which feels very nice on her sore back and swollen feet. She takes a look at Dante from there, he seems to be very entertained with a couple of toy boats while sucking on his pacifier non-stop.

Emily "So, how is it going with this?" She asks Hanna, gently placing her hand on her baby bump.

Hanna shifts her eyes from Dante to her, with a smile. "Do you want the sugar-coated version, or the raw truth?"

Emily chuckles and removes her hand from her bump. "Feel free to vent, Han…"

Hanna "Well, I'm not having it as rough as Aria when she said she was going through the worst month of her life when she was in her last weeks of pregnancy, but… look at my feet." She says, bringing one of her legs above the water so Emily can take a look at her foot. "They've been swollen for days now, and I thought it would ease up, but no such luck. My lower back's been a bit sore, and depending on Hallie's position in here, I feel like I need to pee every fifteen minutes…" She adds, placing her hand on her belly. "And I'm starting to get heartburn now, so I've gotta watch what I eat. But overall, I'm hanging in there. Still well enough to handle work."

Emily smiles sympathetically. "Fashion show's right around the corner, huh? You sticking around in New York next week too?"

Hanna "Exactly... I'm gonna try to knock out as much work as I can so that next week, I'm only there for a day or two... I don't know how much longer I can keep up this pace."

Emily nods. "Yeah, seriously. You have to start taking it easy, Han. You might be feeling okay to work now, but... you're giving birth in just a month." She chuckles.

Hanna smiles slightly. "Yeah, don't remind me. It freaks me out."

Lily "Mommy, wach this!" She calls out, breaking their conversation.

Emily "Wow, that's amazing, Lily! Just come a bit closer to us. Remember to stay near the steps just in case you need to stand up quickly, okay, sweetheart?"

Finn, who is standing on another step nearby Hanna and Emily, as he doesn't feel as comfortable as the twins in the water and despite having his vest on, he still feels safer where he can still touch the bottom and the water doesn't even reach his chest, approaches Hanna.

Finn "Wanna pway, auntie Hanna." He tells Hanna, pointing to the twins and Chocolate who are playing around the pool with floaters and some other toys.

Hanna smiles at him. "Sounds like fun! Let's go play, then!" She stands up and goes down the last steps of the pool until the water reaches past her waist. "Come here, baby." She extends her arms toward the little boy. "Can you watch Dante for me, Em?" She asks as Finn takes her hands, letting her guide him into the water.

Emily "Of course!"

Hanna "Look out, girls! Here comes the cutest but fiercest shark in Rosewood!" She playfully says.

Finn's face shows a delightful smile as Hanna takes him deeper into the water, always holding him by his arms as his vest keeps him floating.

/

After almost two hours of playing non-stop in the water, Hanna and Emily finally manage to get the kids out of the pool, drying them off with their towels. Then, they take them back inside the house, and Hanna takes care of changing Finn's and Dante's swimming diapers while Emily takes the twins to use the bathroom. Once they get all the kids changed back into dry clothes and after also taking turns to watch the kids as the other one gets changed, Emily entertains the children in the living area while Hanna prepares some healthy snacks and drinks. Yes, taking care of little ones is a handful.

Hanna "Here you go." She says, placing a tray on the coffee table, as the kids gather around. "Milk for my sweet Dantie…" She says, handing him his bottle. "And some apple juice for my little swimmers." She adds, handing Finn and the twins their sippy cups as well.

Then, she finally joins Emily on the couch.

Hanna "Help yourself to coffee or anything else." She tells Emily as she lays back, resting her back on some cushions. "I'm out of energy, so this is as far as my hospitality goes…"

Emily chuckles. "Fun auntie Hanna is out of the game!" She teases.

Hanna "Seriously, how can they be so little and have so much energy?"

Emily "Give them just a little while more, and you'll see how they run out of battery in just a sec. Swimming wears them out."

Hanna "I'll take your word for it." She says, checking her phone.

Emily "Don't worry anyway, as soon as they finish snacking, I'm leaving with the twins."

Hanna "I'm not kicking you out, silly." She tells Emily and smiles, still on her phone.

Emily "I know, but you could use a nap too."

Hanna nods, yawning, while typing on her phone.

Emily "And I'm returning Finnie to his place too on my way out."

Hanna "Thanks, Em!" She says, leaving her phone aside. "So, Ali told me this morning you're taking a trip with the swimming team next month?"

Emily smiles. "Yeah! My girls qualified for regionals!"

Hanna "Oh, that's awesome! Congratulations! They have the best coach ever!"

Hanna and Emily keep chatting as the kids dig into the snacks. After a while, Grace approaches Emily.

Grace "Bafroom, mommy."

Emily "Again?"

Grace smiles amusedly. "It's poop."

Emily chuckles. "Alright, let's go."

Emily stands up from the couch and they walk away.

Hanna takes the opportunity to stretch out on the couch, propping up her legs and lying on her side to keep an eye on the kids. Lily and Finn seem to be very entertained with some toy cars that Finn brought from home, while little Dante peacefully chews on a cracker. Despite her efforts to stay awake, Hanna's eyelids grow heavier and heavier. After a brief struggle, she gives in and sits up, hoping to stave off sleep. But it doesn't work. Before she knows it, her eyes drift shut, and she's out in a matter of seconds.

However, her nap is short-lived. She startles awake at the sound of Dante's loud crying and Lily's yelling. With a sense of urgency, she pushes herself off the couch and rushes over to Dante, her heart racing with concern. Dante's cries echo through the room, while Lily stands nearby, her face scrunched up in frustration.

Lily "Not cool, Fi-nnie!" She yells, her cute little face creased with a frown.

Hanna "Dante, sweetheart, what happened?" She asks, scooping the crying toddler into her arms, holding him close in a comforting embrace, feeling his tiny body tremble with sobs. As she does, she notices a reddish mark on one of Dante's chubby cheeks, a clear sign of a bite. "What happened?" She asks, addressing Lily and Finn.

Finn looks like he's about to start crying too, while Lily seems upset.

Lily "It was Finn, antie Han." She tattles on her friend, pointing her tiny finger at him.

Hanna "Finn, did you just bite Dante?" Her tone is firm yet gentle as she addresses Finn directly.

Finn's lower lip trembles, tears welling up in his eyes as he looks up at Hanna.

Hanna "Why would you do that, baby? You know that's not right." She says softly, her own eyes filling up with tears as well.

Lily "Finn no share cars." She adds more information.

Feeling frustrated, overwhelmed, and guilty about the situation, Hanna can no longer hold back her tears. Probably shedding as many tears as the baby boy in her arms, but silently, she walks over to the kitchen area and retrieves an ice pack from the freezer to put on Dante's cheek.

Emily "Hey, what happened?" She asks, coming back with Grace, upon finding Finn crying.

When Hanna turns to her, she notices that Hanna herself and Dante are crying as well. Confusion shows on her face as she picks Finn up in her arms and he wraps his arms around her neck, hiding his face in the crook of her neck.

Emily "What happened? Why are you crying too?" She asks Hanna, completely puzzled.

The twins, even Lily for the first time in her short life, are speechless and quiet observing the situation, as they are very used to seeing other kids crying, but watching an adult cry is shocking to them.

Hanna "I messed up, that's what happened." She sobs, still applying the ice pack on Dante's face. She walks back to the couch and sits down, settling the kid on one of her legs, as her baby bump keeps her from placing him properly on her lap. "I just dozed off for a moment and…" She sobs again. "It seems like Finn bit Dante."

Emily sits down next to Hanna, still holding Finn in her arms. "And why are you crying too?"

Hanna "Because this was my fault and I just don't know how to handle this situation, look at this poor baby, he's so little…" She holds Dante tighter against herself. "And look at Finnie, he's so sad too, scolding him doesn't feel right either… and I also don't know how I'll tell Aria that her kid got bit and how I'll explain to Spencer that Finn bit Dante while I was asleep…" Her voice comes out shaky as she's still crying.

Emily "First of all, calm down, Han. You are scaring the kids." She tells Hanna softly, holding Finn with one arm and using the other to hug Hanna from the side. "This wasn't your fault, they are just kids being kids." She reassures her.

Hanna "Still, I fell asleep when I was supposed to be watching them. This wouldn't have happened if I-"

Emily "Hey!" She cuts her off. "Let's all calm down, okay?"

Hanna takes a deep breath, trying to recompose herself.

Lily climbs on the couch and standing beside Hanna, she leans on her, wrapping her tiny arms around her neck. "Don' be sad, antie Han." She tenderly says.

Hanna smiles slightly at the little girl's kind gesture. Emily smiles proudly.

Emily "Why don't we all just hug so we feel better?" She suggests, in an attempt to comfort the upset kids and Hanna.

Grace rushes over to the couch as well, and Emily helps her up.

Emily "What do you think, Finn?" She asks him, gently stroking his hair, as he's still hiding his face against her body.

Hanna "I'm not mad at you, Finnie." She says warmly, trying to coax the boy out of hiding.

Finn finally looks at Hanna, his lower lip still trembling, tears streaming down his cheeks.

Hanna reaches out and wipes his tears away. "Want a hug?"

Finn nods shyly.

Hanna smiles at him. "Come here." Holding Dante with one arm, she hugs Finn with the other. Emily and the twins join the hug as well.

Emily "Well, we're all friends again now." She says, smiling as she pulls away. "I'll get going, Han. You should have some rest." She says, standing up and putting Finn down on his feet. "Get your bags and start putting your things away, girls." She tells the twins, starting to clear the coffee table.

Hanna "Don't worry, Em. I'll clean up later." She says, still sitting on the couch with Dante in her arms, applying the ice pack again on his cheek.

Emily "No, I'll take care of this, and then I'm taking all the kids with me, Han. You're eight freaking months pregnant, you need to be calm and quiet. I'm sorry, we shouldn't have-"

Caleb "Hey, everyone!" He interrupts, entering the room and greeting them all.

Seeing Caleb, Hanna lets out a deep breath of relief right away.

The twins rush over to him immediately, and as he crouches down and hugs them, he notices Hanna's, Finn's, and Dante's sad faces, as well as the ice pack that Hanna is pressing against Dante's cheek.

Caleb "What happened here?" He asks, confused.

Emily shoots him a kind smile. "Nothing, just kids' stuff."

When the twins let go of Caleb, Finn shyly approaches him too.

Caleb "Hi, buddy!" He smiles at him.

Finn smiles back, probably feeling happy to see another familiar face, someone very close to him like his uncle 'Caweb'.

Caleb picks him up in his arms, and Finn clings to his neck. He looks at Hanna, and when their eyes meet, he knows for sure that something is up. Hanna takes another deep breath and looks away, knowing that she'll start crying again and make the kids upset once more if she holds Caleb's gaze any longer.

Dante "Mommy?" He suddenly says, pushing the ice pack away from his cheek along with Hanna's hand.

Dante, still a few months away from his second birthday, still doesn't speak too many words, but he surely knows how to ask for his mom.

Emily "I'll take you to your mommy in just a little while, baby." She tells him.

Hanna "I should probably take him myself, Em. I would like to explain what happened to Aria."

Emily "Stop it, Hanna. This wasn't your fault. I'll tell her what happened, and she'll understand. You and Caleb take care of returning Finnie, okay?"

Hanna nods. "Okay."

Emily finishes gathering all the kids' stuff, and they are ready to leave. She takes Dante from Hanna's arms. He seems to be sleepy now.

Emily "His cheek doesn't look that bad, Han. I'm sure he'll only get a bruise." She reassures Hanna, putting Dante's pacifier in his mouth.

Hanna sighs. "Hope so."

Emily "Caleb, can you help me get the kids in my car?" She asks while taking the twins' bags.

Caleb "Sure!" He says, approaching Hanna and settling Finn next to her on the couch. "Wait for me here, Finnie."

Emily "See you later, Han… really, don't feel guilty. Relax and take care of yourself, okay?"

Hanna nods. "Thanks, Em! See you around." She greets her back and turns her gaze to Caleb. "Dante's bag is over there, baby." She tells him, gesturing toward a diaper bag nearby.

Caleb takes Dante's bag and hangs it on his shoulder. "Let's go, princesses." He tells Grace and Lily, taking their hands.

When everyone leaves, Finn looks up at Hanna with wide eyes.

Hanna "Wanna go home too?" She asks him softly.

Finn nods.

Hanna "I'm not mad at you." She reassures him again, stroking his short hair. "I was crying because I love you all so much, and it hurts me to see you fighting or getting hurt." She explains to him as simply as she can, also avoiding talking about his behavior as she doesn't know how his parents will choose to handle the incident. "Let's get your bag. I'll take you home."

Finn nods once more.

/

Hanna holds Finn's hand and walks him to the house next door.

Spencer "Hey there!" She greets Hanna and Finn with a warm smile.

Hanna "Hey!" She smiles back slightly.

Finn lets go of Hanna's hand and rushes to hug his mom's legs.

Spencer chuckles. "Did you have fun at Auntie Hanna's pool?" She asks him tenderly as Hanna passes Finn's bag to her.

Hanna "Yes, we had a lot of fun playing with the twins in the water, didn't we?"

Finn only nods and looks up to Spencer.

Spencer "Seems like someone needs a nap." She smiles at him, stroking his hair.

Finn extends his arms to her, reaching out to her, and Spencer picks him up.

Spencer "You wanna come in, Han?"

Hanna "Yeah, sure." She accepts Spencer's invitation and follows her into the house.

They head for the living room, where Toby is watching TV, lying on the couch with Liam asleep on his chest.

Toby "Oh! Look who came back!" He greets his son with excitement, but still in a low voice not to disturb the newborn's rest.

Hanna "Hey, Tob!" She greets him too.

Toby "Hi, Han! How's it going?"

Hanna "Good, thanks… you seem pretty relaxed over there." She jokes.

Toby shoots her a smile.

Spencer settles Finn on the couch next to Toby.

Toby "Come here, bud!" He keeps one arm on Liam's back and uses the other to pull Finn into an embrace.

Hanna "He's such a cutie!" She says, staring at Liam.

Spencer smiles at her. "Wanna something to drink, Han?" She offers.

Hanna "Yes, please."

Spencer "Decaff? Tea? Orange juice?" She offers all the pregnancy-friendly drinks she can think of.

Hanna "Just water is fine."

Spencer "Be right back." She says, turning around to head for the kitchen.

Hanna "Oh, I'll come with you." She follows her.

When they get into the kitchen, Spencer heads for the fridge but Hanna stops her.

Hanna "It's fine, Spence. I don't actually want water and I'll head back home soon. Caleb just came back." She says.

Spencer looks at her confused.

Hanna "Just wanted to talk to you for a sec."

Spencer "Oh, okay… What's up? Any pregnancy stuff I can help you with?"

Hanna shakes her head while taking a seat on a stool by the kitchen island. "It's about Finnie."

Spencer "Oh, what is it?" She asks, surprised. "Did he behave bad?"

Hanna "He bit Dante." She goes straight to the point.

Spencer "Oh, really? How? Why? What happened?"

Hanna sighs. "I'm really sorry. It was my fault. Emily left for a moment to help Grace in the bathroom and… I fell asleep for one moment while watching the kids, and well, he bit Dante on his cheek… I'm really sorry, Spence. It's like I couldn't keep myself awake, it was such a long day, and... I swear it was just for a moment, it's not like I left them on their own or something like that. I was right there next to them… I-"

Spencer cuts her off. "Hanna, stop apologizing. It wasn't your fault. I know how well you look after the kids, it could have happened to anyone watching them. They are kids, you look away for one second, and shit happens. Besides, you're eight months pregnant and four kids are a real handful, even with Emily helping out… and… Finn hasn't been himself since the baby arrived. He's been fussy as hell, just yesterday he threw a tantrum at Toby at the store, and you know we were potty training him, but now he refuses to use the bathroom." She sighs. "I'm sorry, I should have warned you. I just thought he would be fine there with you guys, you know? Like it would be like a break for him."

Hanna nods.

Spencer "Anyway, don't feel guilty. Seriously."

Hanna "I can't help feeling awful, Spence. The situation completely overwhelmed me, I didn't even know what to do with it."

Spencer gives her a smile. "Welcome to parenthood, Han. Most of the time you're just winging it, hoping you're not messing everything up."

Hanna "Well, I didn't scold Finn or anything. I just couldn't. He seemed so upset, I only asked him what happened and he started to cry."

Spencer "He probably felt terrible." She says, a pensive expression on her face as she processes Hanna's words, but then she shoots her an understanding smile. "Thanks, Han. I'll talk about this with Toby and we'll see how we approach this with Finn."

Hanna nods. "I just hope he doesn't feel weird around me after this. He wouldn't even look at me at first and then… well, he's been too quiet since the incident."

Spencer "Yes, because he must know very well that what he did was very wrong. But don't worry." She chuckles. "He absolutely adores you, Han."

Hanna barely smiles back.

Spencer approaches her. "Don't worry, Hanna banana, these things happen." She reassures her, hugging her from the side. "I'll give Aria a call later and smooth things over. Was it that bad? I mean, how was Dante?"

Hanna "No, it wasn't that bad. Emily thinks he'll just get a bruise on his cheek. But he was crying his lungs out, I think he got scared mostly."

Spencer sighs, letting go of Hanna. "Poor little baby, he took the worst part."

Hanna nods and takes a deep breath, as she's in the verge of tears again. "Hope Aria doesn't murder me."

Spencer "I'm sure she'll understand, Han." She says, hugging Hanna again.

/

Getting back home, Hanna finds Caleb sitting on the couch, a bunch of stuff he got from the hardware store scattered on the coffee table as he examines what seems to be a magnetic lock.

Hanna "I'll be upstairs, babe." She says, heading for the stairs. "Need a nap." She adds.

Caleb drops what he's doing and follows her upstairs.

Hanna kicks off her slide sandals and lies down on the bed, resting on her side, facing the center.

Caleb joins her, sitting next to her. "How are you?" He asks, propping up pillows against the headboard and then resting his back on them.

Hanna "Did Emily tell you what happened?"

Caleb "Nope, just your face, Finn's, and the ice pack on Dante's cheek. I'm not sure what happened, but I know how much you love those kids and the way you look after them as if they were your own. So, don't be upset." He reassures her, gently scratching her head.

Hanna closes her eyes, enjoying the caresses. "I fell asleep while watching them."

Caleb "Maybe you're pushing yourself too hard... Hosting a pool party for four kids under 3 in your last month of pregnancy? That's insane, Han."

Hanna "It wasn't my intention to end up with all the kids." She starts to explain. "This morning when I went to Emily and Alison's to pick up the sterilizer, Lily reminded me that I promised her we'd arrange for her to come over for a swim. Then, I stopped by Aria's to pick up the dress she wore for Spencer's wedding because I want to try it on for the fashion show. I told her that Emily and the twins were coming over and invited her as well, but she said she was going to be busy and could use us to look after Dante for a few hours, so she asked if she could drop him off. Of course, I wasn't going to say no. Then, I realized that Finn was going to be the only kid missing, and it didn't feel right not having him over only because Spencer would be busy with the baby, so I texted her to see if I could pick him up. That's how I ended up in this situation. But don't worry, I've learned my lesson… and I'm pretty sure Aria won't ask me to look after Dante anymore."

Caleb "Stop beating yourself up, Han. It wasn't your fault." He says, removing his hand from her hair. "I'll leave you alone to take your nap. I'll be downstairs babyproofing the kitchen."

Hanna opens her eyes and reaches out for his arm. "Stay." She asks, looking up at him. "You've got plenty of time to baby proof everything until Hallie starts moving around the house on her own. Nap with me."

Caleb smiles, lying down next to her. "I'm not that sleepy, babe."

Hanna retrieves the remote from her bedside table and hands it to him.

Caleb turns on the TV, and Hanna makes herself comfortable, resting her head on his chest and embracing his torso with her arm, the side of her baby bump resting on the mattress between them. Caleb wraps his arm around her shoulders as he looks for something to watch with the remote in his other hand.

/

Later, that evening.

Caleb returns to the bedroom, carrying a bed tray with legs. He has slipped out a while ago and now he's back to wake Hanna from her nap with dinner. Sitting down on the bed beside her, he carefully places the tray before him.

Caleb "Hanna…" He says softly, running his hand through her hair gently. "Babe…"

Hanna opens her eyes, frowning slightly.

Caleb "Before you snap at me for waking you up, I've got fries!" He says with a smile, taking a fry and showing it to her before holding it by her mouth for her to eat.

Hanna smiles, but instead of accepting the fry, she rolls onto her back and yawns. "Is it dinner time already?"

Caleb "Uh huh." He confirms, eating the fry himself.

Hanna remains staring at the ceiling for a few seconds.

Caleb "Come on, it's getting cold."

Hanna shifts her gaze to the tray, noticing that Caleb ordered a couple of burgers and sodas too. "I can't eat that, baby." She says to him with a slight smile while sitting up.

Caleb "Why not? You've been eating way too healthy lately. I just thought you could use a tasty cheeseburger and some fries to end your tough day a little better…"

Hanna "I appreciate the gesture, babe…" She says, rubbing her lower back with both her hands. "But really, I can't eat that."

Caleb "Come on, treat yourself, Han! One meal won't mess up all the effort you've put into staying healthy during your pregnancy. Besides, didn't your doctor suggest you could put on a few more pounds? Enjoy some tasty calories! I know you love eating fries in bed."

Hanna shoots him another smile. "It's not that, baby. I'm not trying to stay fit, and I know a cheeseburger every so often won't harm the baby. It's just that… fatty meals like that, fried things, chocolates, sodas, and even orange juice, make me feel sick lately. I can't eat that."

Caleb nods in understanding. "So that's what all those salads, vegetables, and grilled chicken breasts were all about."

Hanna "Yep, it was just me trying to steer clear of… heartburn and sleepless nights."

Caleb "Oh, why didn't you just tell me?"

Hanna "I'm telling you now. Don't worry, enjoy your tasty dinner, and I'll just stick to my healthy calories."

Caleb "Okay, let me prepare something else for you then." He says and is about to stand up, but Hanna stops him.

Hanna "Just enjoy your burger before it gets cold." She says, gently placing her hand on his shoulder. "I'm not hungry right now anyway, I just woke up. I'll eat something later."

Caleb "You sure?"

Hanna "I'm sure."

Caleb "Okay, I'll make you something later."

Hanna nods while standing up from the bed. "I'll go take a bath, I'm craving a relaxing hot tub with my lavender bath salts."

Caleb "Okay, knock yourself out." He answers, chewing on his burger.

Hanna "You too." She says, disappearing into the bathroom.

/

About half an hour later, Hanna is fully immersed in her bath, enjoying the calming silence, warm water, and closed eyes when Caleb opens the bathroom door and steps in.

Caleb "Hey, Aria's calling you!" He says, holding Hanna's phone.

Hanna "Tell her I just died." She responds without opening her eyes.

Caleb "Come on, Han. I'm sure she just wants to talk." He responds, approaching the tub. "Here." He offers her a towel to dry her hands and take the phone.

Hanna "I'm not taking that call, Caleb." She finally opens her eyes and looks at him. "I'll just talk to her in a few days when she's… less mad at me."

Caleb "Maybe she's not mad at you at all. She has no reason to be."

Hanna "Yes, she does. And I don't want to find out now anyway."

Giving up, he leaves her phone by the sink, then crouches down next to the tub and dips his hand into the water.

Caleb "This feels really nice…" He comments, enjoying the warmth.

Hanna "Yeah, it's pretty relaxing… I'd invite you to join me, but… there's not much space in here." She says, looking at him.

Caleb smiles. "Yeah, I see…" He says, placing his palm on the top of Hanna's baby bump.

He takes a moment to admire the view of her bare body under the water, her legs, her pregnant belly, her larger mother-to-be breasts with the more noticeable veins on their surface…

Hanna notices his intense stare.

Caleb licks his bottom lip and shifts his gaze to her face. "I'll go make you something for dinner. Anything specific you're craving?"

Hanna shakes her head. "Just something light, please."

Caleb nods. "Yeah, don't worry. I got it." He says, standing up.

Hanna "Wait…"

Caleb "Yeah?"

Hanna "Can you help me up before you leave? I'm not sure I'll be able to get up from here." She smiles.

Caleb smiles back. "Sure, baby."

Caleb crouches down beside the tub and reaches out his arms. He helps Hanna up by supporting her under her arms and lower back, making sure she's steady as she stands.

Once she's safely standing on the bath mat, Caleb kindly places her towel over her shoulders.

Hanna "Oops, I got your shirt wet." She chuckles.

Caleb "No worries, I've got plenty of shirts, but only one pregnant wife." He smiles, removing his shirt and tossing it aside.

Hanna smiles back.

Then, he gets back close to her and wraps his arms around her, holding her wrapped-up body by the side, against himself. Leaning in, he searches for her mouth with his, and when his lips are only a breath away from hers, he whispers "Anything for my girls." Rubbing her belly with his hand, he starts a very intense kiss.

With her arms trapped in Caleb's embrace, Hanna can only respond with her mouth, her tongue entangling with his. Caleb's hand wanders under the towel, caressing Hanna's body with gentle yet steamy touches. His palm moves from her lower belly up to her waist and then back down to her very lower back.

Sensing the need to stop, Hanna gently pulls away.

Hanna "Let me go get dressed so I can join you in making my dinner."

Caleb nods, but instead of letting go, he softly squeezes her body in his arms, nuzzling her neck. "You smell amazing." He murmurs against her skin. "And you feel so soft too." He adds, as his restless hand strokes her lower back.

When he raises his head from her neck, Hanna can't help placing a tender peck on his lips, but that's all, as she doesn't want to go further.

Caleb "I'll go check what's in the fridge for your dinner." He finally lets go of her.

Hanna "I'll be right down." She tells him as he leaves the bathroom.

Hanna finishes drying herself with the towel and returns to the bedroom. Opting for one of her short, loose dresses, her summer staple, she throws it on and slips into a pair of fluffy slippers. Just as she's about to head downstairs, she hears her phone ringing again in the bathroom where Caleb left it.

Seeing that it's Aria calling again, she can't help but take the call now. Teenage Hanna would probably avoid Aria for a month, but she's grown up over the years and knows that avoiding the situation won't work. Besides, if it were her own kid who got hurt, she'd want an explanation too, so she feels obligated to answer.

Hanna "Hey!" She answers, after letting out a deep breath.

Aria "Hi, Han! How are you fee-?"

Hanna interrupts her. "Look, Aria. I'm really sorry about what happened. I feel terrible that Dante ended up hurt when I was watching him. Well… When I was supposed to." She corrects herself. "Believe me, I love that little guy with my life and I would never, ever-"

Aria "Whoa, slow down, Han! Take a breath." She cuts Hanna off. "I know, okay? I know how much you love my kid and how caring you are with him. I'm not calling you to discuss what happened. Emily told me everything when she dropped Dante off, and Spencer also called earlier. She told me about what Finn's going through too. I actually wanted to apologize to you myself."

Hanna "To me? Why?" She asks, confused, sitting on the bed, resting her back against the headboard and propping her legs up.

Aria "Because I shouldn't have asked you to watch Dante in the first place. A kid his age is a total handful and you are so much pregnant right now. I should have put myself in your shoes, Han. Especially considering how hard it was for me my last month of pregnancy. I know very well what you're going through physically and emotionally. I'm really sorry."

Hanna's on the verge of tears after hearing Aria's words. "Please, Aria. Stop apologizing, you're just making me feel worse. It was your kid the one who ended up hurt, and he was with me… I'm sorry." She adds, wiping the first tear that escapes her eyes.

Aria "Hey! How about we both stop apologizing? Seriously, don't feel guilty because I feel you, Han. I fell asleep while having sex when I was pregnant, so I totally understand…"

Hanna smiles, amused, through her teary eyes. "Oh, you really did?"

Aria chuckles. "Yeah, I did..."

Hanna "Poor Ezra."

Aria "Yep, it took me a while to make him understand that it wasn't because of him."

Hanna "How's Dantie now?" She asks, still smiling.

Aria "Exhausted. He surely had a blast, because he's been sleeping since Emily dropped him off."

Hanna "I mean, his cheek…" She clarifies, her smile is gone now.

Aria "Just a bruise, Han. Seriously, don't worry about it."

Hanna "I can't help it… poor little one, it was heartbreaking seeing him cry." She sighs. "He looked so scared, I felt so bad for him. He's so tiny and helpless… he started to ask for you, he just wanted his mommy… he's just a baby."

Aria "Look, Han… I could have just left him with my mom today, but wanna know why asked you to keep him? Because he's too attached to me and I can't leave him with anyone but my mom or Ezra. I want him to become more independent and… he adores you, not for nothing we all call you fun auntie Hanna. All of our kids love you. I knew Dante would stay with you without a problem and even more considering that Emily and the twins would be there too. But again, I shouldn't have asked you to keep him. I'm really sorry I put you in that position, I'm sorry that you feel sorry for something that wasn't even your fault. Kids fight and get hurt all the time, even with their parents there."

Hanna "Hey, we said no more apologies."

Aria "I know. I just want you to stop feeling upset about this."

Hanna sighs. "Thanks, I guess I do feel less bad now. Thanks for calling."

Aria "Thanks for watching Dantie today, Emily showed me a picture of him in that little pool you set just for him."

Hanna smiles. "Yeah, I guess he did have a good time before everything happened."

Aria "Have you tried on my dress yet?" She asks, changing the subject.

Hanna "Not yet, I'll try it on tomorrow."

Aria "Okay, feel free to make any modifications if you need to. I don't think I'll wear it again. It's yours."

Hanna "Oh, are you sure?"

Aria "Yeah, I'm sure."

Hanna "Thank you!"

Aria "So, you never answered me how you are feeling… How's pregnancy treating you? Besides little Hallie consuming all your energy?"

Hanna smiles. "I'm hanging in there… Of course, I've got swollen feet, my back hurts a bit, and well… some foods make me sick, but I'm okay."

Aria "Are you still sleeping at night?"

Hanna "Mostly, yes. Unless Hallie crushes my bladder, I still sleep at night, and very much during the day too when I'm not working."

Aria chuckles. "Lucky you!"

Hanna "Since we are talking about this... Can I ask you something? I was going to ask Spencer, but we had other things to talk about today and, well…"

Aria "Sure!"

Hanna "It's about, um… Sex."

Aria chuckles. "Okay, shoot and let's see if I can help you with it."

Hanna "My doctor said it was okay and safe for me to keep having sex as long as I felt comfortable with it."

Aria "Uh huh…"

Hanna "The thing is, it started to feel weird some weeks ago, so Caleb told me that he was okay with stopping. He just brought it up a couple of weeks ago and we haven't had sex since then…"

Aria "So? What's your question?"

Hanna "I don't know… I mean… I know he still wants it and we've never been without sex for this long. Well, except for that stupid break we took, but it doesn't count."

Aria "What do you mean by 'this long'?" She chuckles. "They were only two weeks."

Hanna "Well, it's long for us…"

Aria chuckles. "I'm not counting, but I think Ezra and I are past a couple of weeks without sex right now that he's been going to Philly more often and Dante keeps sneaking into our bed at night. Anyway, back to our matter, we spent months without any sex because of my pregnancy. Several months."

Hanna "Really? And he… held on?" She asks intrigued, while rubbing her baby bump.

Aria "Of course he did. He had no other choice. I mean, I was going through a lot, first the pregnancy and then the postpartum. Han, we go through too much, so it really doesn't matter what they want. It's about us. So, if you want to have sex, have it, as long as it feels good. If you don't, then Caleb can either hold back or jerk off, and that's not your problem. You have to focus on yourself."

Hanna "Yeah, I know! It's not like I'm considering having sex only because I know he wants it, it's just that… I don't know how long it'll take until I want or I can have sex again after the baby is born, and I just thought that I could at least keep trying to do it now."

Aria "That's entirely up to you, Han. Besides, having sex doesn't always have to be with… intercourse. If that doesn't feel so nice, just try something else. I'm sure you know what I'm talking about." She chuckles. "But seriously, only do it if you want it. And don't worry about how long you guys could be without sex, it's perfectly normal. You are having a freaking baby."

Hanna "Yes, you are totally right."

Aria "And even if it feels good, it could also happen that you just lose interest in it. It happened to me, I wasn't in the mood for it… and it got worse after Dantie was born. It took me a while… and Ezra was very supportive. I'm sure Caleb will be too, I mean, you just told me he brought it up himself, so really, sex shouldn't be a concern for you."

Hanna "No, it's not a concern, but… It's surely something I've been thinking a lot about lately."

Aria "Well, I hope I was helpful enough… You can still ask Spencer." She chuckles.

Hanna chuckles too. "I asked her so many questions in the last months that she should start charging me for it."

Aria "Oh, please! That woman loves knowing about everything and being asked questions."

Hanna laughs. "Yeah, she totally does. Do you think she makes Toby ask her questions in bed? Maybe that's one of her turn-ons." She jokes.

Aria bursts out laughing. "You are such an idiot."

Caleb shows up in the bedroom. He smiles when he sees Hanna laughing on the phone.

Hanna "Need anything?" She asks him.

Caleb shakes his head.

Aria "What?"

Hanna "Nothing, I'm just talking to Caleb here."

Aria "Oh, okay."

Caleb "I was just checking on you because you never came downstairs."

Hanna "Oh, okay. I'll be there in a little while."

Caleb "Okay, take your time." He says, leaving the bedroom.

Aria "It's okay, Han. I'll leave you now, anyway. I wanna try finishing reading my book now that Dante is asleep."

Hanna "Okay, give him a kiss for me."

Aria "I will. Take care of yourself, Han. And it's not just a set phrase, really, focus on yourself, and what makes you feel good. And sleep as much as you can while you still can."

Hanna smiles. "I will. Thanks for your call. I feel better now."

Aria "Yeah, I feel better too, knowing that you do. Give me a shout if you need anything, or, if you have any more questions… I might not be Spencer, but still, I may be able to help you."

Hanna "You did help me, thanks again. Take care, Ari. See you around."

Aria "Anytime, Han. Good night!"

/

Next morning.

The sound of heavy rain accompanies Hanna's first thoughts of the day as she regains consciousness. A slight chill makes her pull the covers up to her neck as she keeps her eyes closed a little longer. She shifts toward the center of the bed, seeking Caleb's warmth, but opens her eyes to find he's not there.

After staying in bed for several minutes, Hanna finally gets up and slips into one of Caleb's oversized sweatshirts before heading to the bathroom.

A few minutes later, as she leaves the bedroom, Chocolate greets her by the hallway.

Hanna "Hi, baby bear!" She says, stroking his head. "Did you sleep good?" She smiles at him.

She notices the door to Caleb's office fully open and the light from his computer screens illuminating the room. Curious, she heads there.

Hanna "Morning, sweetie!" She greets Caleb as she steps into the dimly lit room.

Caleb "Morning!" He greets back, spinning around in his office chair to look at her, and shoots her a smile.

Hanna "What are you doing on your computer so early?" She asks, approaching him. "On a Sunday…"

Caleb "Just getting a few things ready for tomorrow."

Hanna nods, resting her palm on his shoulder. "I'm sorry you had to go to the office yesterday and that you're working on a Sunday just to come with me to New York tomorrow."

Caleb "Oh, don't worry, it's not because of that. I just need to get some things done before tomorrow morning." He reassures her, though he's actually addressing tasks he couldn't complete the previous week due to their New York trip.

Hanna "So it's because I moved the appointment with my doctor to tomorrow morning…"

Caleb shakes his head but doesn't offer further explanation. Instead, he takes her hand and pulls her toward him.

Hanna sits on his lap.

Caleb "Seriously, don't worry, I've got everything under control here." He reassures her, wrapping his arms around her.

Hanna rests her arm on his shoulder and starts scratching his nape. "Look, Chloe is in Rosewood, and she's going to New York tomorrow as well. She's meeting up with Ross, our guy from HR, to complete all the paperwork so she can start working with us in a few days. I was thinking I could ask her to wait for me until we are done at the appointment with my doctor and ride together to New York... in my car."

Caleb stares at her.

Hanna "What? It's a win-win. That way, I don't have to wait for you until the evening, I won't be driving there alone, and you don't even have to come to New York right on Monday, you could stay here and take care of your things and join me on Tuesday or Wednesday… whenever it suits you the best."

Caleb "But we've already arranged this... Do you really need to be there earlier tomorrow? Can't you just wait for me as we discussed?"

Hanna "If I wait for you, we won't be leaving until the evening and it means a day less of work for me there. I just want to get as much work done as I can this week so I can take it easier the following one."

Caleb sighs. "Fine."

Hanna "So you are okay with this?"

Caleb "I don't know, but… Do I have a saying?"

Hanna removes her hand from his nape and stands up. She takes a few seconds before responding, feeling a bit frustrated, but also wanting to be patient.

Hanna "Of course you do… I'm just trying to explain to you why is so important to me to arrive in New York earlier tomorrow and not to lose a complete day of work there."

Caleb "Okay, talk to Chloe then. But I'm still going there on Monday as soon as I'm done with work." He spins in his chair again, facing his desk.

Hanna gets closer and rests her palm on his shoulder. "Okay, thanks… I'll talk to Chloe and figure out the details."

Caleb doesn't respond, his focus remaining on the computer screen as he keeps clicking around with his mouse.

Hanna sighs, her patience waning. "Caleb!"

Caleb finally turns to her, his expression a mixture of annoyance and resignation. "What, Hanna? I said fine. What more do you want from me?"

Hanna "Okay, I'm not fighting with you over this. That's a chapter in our lives I surely don't want to relieve."

Caleb "Yeah, as if I wanted to…" He murmurs.

Hanna sighs once more. "Look, I'll take a shower and go out for lunch with my mom. I guess we can try and figure this out later…" She says, leaving the room.

After Hanna leaves the room, Caleb lets out a frustrated sigh, his irritation evident in the furrow of his brow. He runs a hand through his hair, knowing he could have handled the situation better. With a shake of his head, he turns back to his computer, trying to refocus on his work.

/

A little while later, as Hanna finishes getting dressed in maternity leggings and an oversized sweatshirt instead of her usual comfy summer dresses due to the rainy day, Caleb shows up in their bedroom.

Caleb "Cold out there, huh?" He says to break the ice.

Hanna sits on the edge of the bed. "Yeah... Looks like we're nearing the end of summer." She lifts one of her feet slightly, attempting to put on her light pink sock.

Caleb nods. "I went out with Chocolate earlier before the rain started, and it was chilly already." He adds to the small talk, approaching her. "Let me help you with that." He takes the sock from her hand before crouching down. "Cool! You've got normal feet again, Han!" He smiles, taking her foot and gently putting on her sock.

Hanna smiles back. "Yep, they aren't swollen anymore. I think being in the water so much yesterday and lying down helped a lot. I was actually planning on relaxing in the pool again today, but... I guess the rain ruined my plans…"

Caleb "Listen, about earlier…" He starts, putting on her other sock.

Hanna "Oh, don't worry about it. I didn't talk to Chloe. Let's just go with our original plan."

Caleb looks up at her. "No, Han… I-"

Hanna cuts him off. "I don't want us to fight over the same old things all over again. We both know what it did to us the last time... and things are pretty different now. We can't allow ourselves to go there again." She explains, rubbing her baby bump.

Caleb shoots her a smile and stands up to sit next to her on the edge of the bed. "That won't happen again." He takes her hand. "We are different now."

Hanna smiles back, but her smile is slighter, like she's not fully convinced yet.

Caleb "I want you to talk to Chloe and go to New York with her tomorrow after your appointment. You're right, it makes more sense for you to be there early and not rush through work later. I'm sorry, I got frustrated because I keep organizing my whole work schedule around yours, and you keep making changes, and..." He sighs. "Anyway, what you proposed doesn't sound bad at all, and it doesn't mess with my schedule. I just wanted us to drive to New York together as we had planned. But it's okay, go with Chloe, and I'll join you later in the evening."

Hanna smiles a more sincere smile now. As he's still holding her hand, she uses her thumb to caress his. "I told you the other day, I really appreciate your efforts to be there with me… I just... please, don't misunderstand me, I love having you there, but... It's not the end of the world if you can't be there every single day. It's okay if you need to stay here a day or two. Don't stress yourself over this. Or… even end up working on weekends. I don't want that for you…"

Caleb remains silent, so Hanna lets go of his hand and wraps her arm around his neck, hugging him from the side.

Hanna "Thanks for coming to talk to me." She kisses his cheek. "I love you."

Caleb looks at her. "I'll be there tomorrow and the whole week, and if I need to be here in Rosewood, I'll just drive back and forth during the day as I told you."

Hanna cups his face with both her hands. "You turned out to be pretty much more stubborn than me... I'll be waiting for you tomorrow then." She's about to kiss him, but Caleb speaks again.

Caleb "You just said it yourself, Han. Things are different now."

Hanna feels his palm on her belly.

Caleb "We are a family now, we have to stick together, so yes. I'm planning on staying in New York with you every night."

Hanna grins and presses a tender kiss to his lips. "Wanna join me and my mom for lunch then? She's your family too."

Caleb chuckles against her mouth. "Love my mother-in-law, but… I could use a lazy Sunday in, and with this rain…"

Hanna smiles again and releases his face. "Got it. Besides, you deserve some rest, after working yesterday and just now... Also, I think I'll join your lazy Sunday later too... could use some cuddles with you and Chocolate and the sound of the rain…"

Caleb "Or…" He starts, wrapping his arms around her. "You could cancel on your mom and we could just get back in bed and finish the movie we didn't finish the other day because you fell asleep…"

Hanna chuckles, pushing his arms away. "Sounds very tempting, but I can't cancel on my mom. I barely saw her these last couple of weeks... help me with my sneakers too? I can't go out just in my socks…" She shoots him a winning smile.

Caleb "Fine." He says, standing up from the bed. "But get some ice cream on your way back. We are watching that movie then." He adds, taking her sneakers.

Hanna "Sure thing, baby."

---

Hey there! I took a couple of weeks to update this time, this long chapter took me some time. Anyway, if there's someone still reading my story, I just wanted to let you know that next chapter is also a long one, so I might take a few more days as well. Hope you are enjoying reading as much as I'm enjoying writing.