Some days later.

Hanna arrives home after another tough workout session with Spencer and their trainer. Her flushed, sweaty face and messy hair are clear signs she's pushed herself hard again.

Hanna "Caleb?" She calls out while heading to the kitchen.

When there's no reply, she sets her empty water bottle on the kitchen island and walks over to the fridge. Grabbing a fresh, cold bottle of water, she gulps down nearly half of it in seconds.

Chocolate bounds over with his tail wagging, and stops in front of her.

Hanna "Hey there!" She smiles, placing the bottle on the countertop. "Did they leave without you?"

Chocolate tilts his head, letting out a soft whine.

Hanna chuckles. "Wanna go out for a walk?" She offers, despite her obvious exhaustion.

Chocolate barks excitedly and starts hopping around.

Hanna grins. "Let's go get your leash, bud!"

/

Hanna clips Chocolate's leash and heads out toward the park, the cool breeze brushing against her face as they walk.

Chocolate's massive paws thump happily beside her as they reach the familiar path, heading straight to their usual spot under the big oak tree.

Hanna "It's been a while, huh, bud?" She says, settling down on the soft grass with a satisfied sigh. "I missed this, just you and me, like old times... Guess you did too, huh?"

Chocolate wags his tail and flops down beside her, resting his big head on her lap. Hanna strokes his fur absentmindedly, soaking in the shade and the peacefulness of the park, her body finally starting to relax after the intense workout.

They stay like that for a while, enjoying the calm, until a shadow falls over them.

"Wow, that's a big dog!" A voice says, making Hanna look up.

A tall, athletic-looking guy with an easy smile stands there, his eyes focused on Chocolate. He kneels down, giving the dog a friendly pat.

Guy "Is he a Newfie?" He asks, sounding genuinely interested.

Hanna nods, her smile relaxed. "Yeah, Chocolate's a Newfoundland. Big, gentle giant."

The guy chuckles. "He's beautiful. Does he need a lot of exercise?"

Hanna "Kind of… he's a bit lazy, but yeah, he needs his walks." She gestures vaguely.

The guy glances at her, then back at Chocolate. "And those walks usually bring you here?"

Hanna "Haven't been able to bring him much lately, but yeah, this is our usual spot. We love hanging out here, right bud?" She strokes Chocolate's ear.

Guy "Good to know."

His tone shifts slightly, and Hanna picks up on it.

Guy "I'll definitely start coming here more often, because I've gotta say, a beautiful woman sitting under a tree with a dog like that, it's quite the sight. Makes my stretching routine a lot more interesting." He gives her a knowing smile.

Hanna stifles a laugh, feeling a mix of surprise and flattery. She hadn't expected to be hit on, especially now.

Hanna "Uh, thanks." She says, her tone friendly but firm. "But I'm married." She holds up her left hand, the glint of her wedding ring catching the sunlight. "And we just had a baby girl."

The guy raises his eyebrows, clearly surprised but unfazed. "Wow, no way. You seriously don't look like you just had a baby. You look incredible."

Hanna feels her cheeks flush. She's still adjusting to her postpartum body, but the compliment feels nice. "That's sweet of you to say, but yeah… baby at home, husband too."

The guy shrugs, flashing her a grin as he stands up. "Well, lucky guy. But hey, if you're ever free…" He gives her a playful wink. "I'm new in town, and I'll be around. You know where to find me… same park, same stretches…"

Hanna laughs, shaking her head. "I think I'm good, but thanks for the ego boost."

With a final wave, the guy walks off, leaving Hanna in a lighter mood.

She glances down at Chocolate, giving his ears a gentle scratch.

Hanna "Still got it, huh, boy?"

Chocolate lets out a soft huff, as if in agreement.

/

Hanna arrives home, opening the door with Chocolate stepping in happily beside her. She's still feeling the high from her park visit, a subtle smile lingering on her face. As she enters, she hears Hallie's soft whimpering from the living area.

Hanna "Hi, my loveys!" She calls out warmly, her voice filled with extra cheer.

Caleb looks up from the couch, holding their little girl and gently bouncing her. "Hey, you're back!" He says, sounding relieved. "She's getting fussy… probably hungry again. And we're out of the milk you pumped before the gym."

Hanna laughs softly, setting Chocolate's leash by the door as she walks over. "Already? You must've been a hungry little munchkin, huh?" She coos playfully at Hallie, gently brushing her tiny cheek.

Caleb chuckles. "Yeah, didn't last long."

Hanna looks back at Caleb, her face glowing from the combination of fresh air and her great mood. "Okay, I'll feed her in a sec. Do you mind soothing her for a few minutes while I take a quick shower? I'm all gross from the gym."

Caleb nods, adjusting Hallie against his chest. "Of course. Take your time."

As Hanna bounces toward the stairs, there's a lightness in her step, and Caleb watches her closely, noticing how relaxed and cheerful she seems, lighter than she's been in a while, but he doesn't comment on it. Instead, he just smiles. "We'll be here when you're ready."

Hanna gives him a quick wave. "Be right back, my loveys!" She calls, rushing upstairs to freshen up.

Caleb watches her go, chuckling softly as Hallie snuggles against his chest. "Mommy's in an extra good mood today…" He murmurs to their daughter. "Think she's starting to enjoy the gym?" He grins. "Nah, maybe she stopped for pizza or ice cream on her way back." He jokes.

He continues talking softly to Hallie, keeping her entertained until Hanna comes back down.

/

A few minutes later.

Hanna comes back downstairs, freshly showered, her damp hair pulled back, and wearing nothing but her bathrobe. She moves toward the couch where Caleb is still holding Hallie, a soft smile on her face as she reaches out to take their little girl.

Hanna "Alright, baby girl, it's mommy time." She says, settling down beside Caleb, gently cradling Hallie, who's even more unsettled now, as she starts to breastfeed. "Ouch, Hallie!" She laughs softly. "Easy there, baby! It's mommy now, not your bottle."

Caleb chuckles. "She must be really hungry."

Hanna "Seems like it." She glances at Caleb. "So, where were you two? I came back from the gym and only found Chocolate, so we went for a walk by ourselves, right bud?" She tells Chocolate, who happily pads over and looks up at her.

Hanna flashes a warm smile at the dog, but her hands are busy with Hallie, so Caleb reaches out to stroke Chocolate's giant head.

Caleb "We were right next door at Toby's. Didn't want to take her too far, but she seemed to enjoy it." He turns toward Hallie, his tone becoming playful. "We went to visit cousin Finn and cousin Liam, didn't we, Halls?"

Hanna "Oh, so you didn't go far..." She smiles down at Hallie.

Caleb "Nope, just hung out with uncle Toby, I had a beer, and we spent time with cousin Finn and cousin Liam. Hallie loves her cousins, and her cousins love her back." He keeps stroking Chocolate with one hand while gently scratching Hallie's leg with the other.

Hanna's eyebrows shoot up, a laugh bubbling from her lips. "Wait, what?" She giggles, eyeing him. "Why are you suddenly throwing the word 'cousin' around so much? You're being weird."

Caleb shrugs, trying to keep a straight face. "We're basically family, right?"

Hanna bursts out laughing as realization dawns. "Oh my God! Is Jason's joke still messing with you?"

Caleb "What joke?"

Hanna "The one from last Friday! You're totally freaking out about the idea of Finn or Liam hitting on Hallie when they're older, aren't you?" She grins. "Now you're making sure she thinks of them as her cousins so it doesn't happen. I know you too well, Caleb Rivers."

Caleb tries to play it cool, but a laugh escapes. "What? No, that's not what this is about. We are like family, for real."

Hanna shakes her head, unable to stop laughing. "You're ridiculous! She's not even a month old, and you're already worrying about her dating?" She smirks. "Babe, relax… She'll date whoever she wants, whether it's a boy, a girl, or even Finn or Liam because, newsflash, they're not really her cousins!" She shoots him a teasing look. "You'll just have to suck it up."

Caleb sighs dramatically. "Fine, I'll stop overthinking it. But for the record, she's not dating whoever she wants. What if she shows up with a guy twice her age?"

Hanna rolls her eyes, still amused. "You're such a dad already."

Caleb grins. "I can't help it."

Hanna smiles warmly, leaning over to place a hand on his arm. "And I love you for it. But seriously, chill out." She strokes his forearm softly, giving him a reassuring look.

Caleb chuckles. "Alright, alright. So, where did you and Chocolate go?"

Hanna leans back slightly, still feeding Hallie. "We went to the park. Had a nice walk, sat under our usual tree… this guy even came up to say hi. He was super friendly."

Caleb glances at her, raising an eyebrow. "Oh yeah? Super friendly, huh?"

Hanna tries to play it off, but the grin pulling at her lips betrays her casual tone. "Yeah, you know, asking about Chocolate at first… but then, well, it became clear he wasn't really there for the dog."

Caleb chuckles, shaking his head. "Wait, hold up. Are you telling me some guy was hitting on you at the park?" He leans back, smirking. "How dumb am I, worrying so much about Hallie dating, when I should've been worried about my wife dating?"

Hanna laughs. "You're such an idiot."

Caleb smirks. "Well, guess that explains the extra bounce in your step when you came home."

Hanna shrugs like it's no big deal, still laughing. "I mean, yeah, maybe he tried a little. But it was harmless… kinda flattering, though."

Caleb grins, watching her face light up. "Flattering, huh? That's why you're still grinning like that?"

Hanna playfully swats his arm, laughing. "What? I can't help it! It's nice to know I've still got it…"

Caleb "Oh, you've definitely still got it." He teases, winking at her. "Can't even blame the guy, you probably had him speechless the minute you walked in with Chocolate."

Hanna grins at Caleb, appreciating his words. "Speechless? Nah, he had plenty to say." She shifts Hallie in her arms. "But don't worry, I let him down easy. Told him I was happily married with a newborn at home."

Caleb shifts his gaze to Chocolate. "What about you, buddy? Remember when you wouldn't let anyone near Hanna at the park? What happened with that?"

Hanna smiles at Chocolate. "Seems like all those dog training hours paid off because he just stayed there for rubs while I handled everything."

Caleb laughs. "Oh, so my wifey's got it handled… Well, as long as you left the poor guy with some shred of dignity."

Hanna gives him a mock-serious look. "Of course. I'm not a monster." She bites back another grin. "And his offer is still standing, he said I could find him at the park."

Caleb leans over, planting a quick kiss on her cheek. "You're in trouble, you know that?"

Hanna smirks. "Oh, am I?" She reaches out, placing her hand on Caleb's nape. "Don't worry, I'm all yours." She pulls him in for a kiss.

Caleb chuckles against her lips, breaking the kiss before it deepens. "Kissing your way out of this, huh?"

Hanna grins. "It works for you when you screw up with me, so… figured I'd use your tactic against you."

Caleb laughs softly. "Totally works." He cups her face with both hands as he kisses her back.

Hanna pulls away with a chuckle. "So, am I off the hook already? Because I'm kinda busy here." She says, focusing back on Hallie, who's still feeding.

Caleb smiles, draping his arm over Hanna's shoulders as they lean back on the couch. "For now."

They share a peaceful moment of silence, enjoying their time together as a family.

Caleb breaks it gently. "Toby mentioned something earlier…"

Hanna looks up, curious.

Caleb "He said one of Claudia's best friends from high school still lives in Rosewood. Thinks she might know something, maybe give us a lead about my father… or what happened." His gaze lingers on Hanna, as if waiting for her advice.

Hanna nods. "You thinking about reaching out?"

Caleb shrugs. "I don't know. Toby offered to make the first move, see if she's willing to talk, but… I'm not sure. What do you think?"

Hanna sighs softly. "You know how I feel, babe. We've talked about this. You've got nothing to lose, and finding out the truth could help you get closure with your past. But it's your call."

Caleb looks thoughtful. "Yeah, but… is this the right time? I mean, I'm good. We've got everything we wanted. I'm happy, Han." He strokes Hallie's little leg gently, his eyes soft on her face. "Why mess with the past?"

Hanna gives him a warm, encouraging smile. "Nothing's gonna ruin this moment for you, baby. If anything, you're stronger now. And if it's another dead end or something you don't want to hear, you come home, look at this beautiful baby girl we made, and that's it. Life's bright again."

Caleb smiles in agreement, though he stays quiet.

Hanna adjusts her bathrobe, positioning Hallie against her chest to burp her. "We're here for daddy, right, Hallie?" She coos sweetly, tapping her back gently.

Hallie's wide eyes scan the room, and Caleb leans in, covering her chubby cheeks with kisses before straightening up and picking up his phone.

Hanna grins. "Texting Toby?"

Caleb nods, not looking up from the screen. "Uh huh… Hallie says I should give this a shot." He smiles, glancing her way.

Hanna chuckles. "Smart girl, just like her daddy. I'd listen to her too."

At that moment, Hallie lets out a loud burp, followed by spit-up all over Hanna's shoulder. Hanna and Caleb burst into laughter.

Caleb grins, grabbing a baby towel to help clean up. "You think this is her way of telling us to fuck off and stop putting words in her mouth when she can't even talk yet?"

Hanna laughs, wiping her robe. "Probably. She's got your brains, but she's definitely got my attitude."

Caleb smirks. "Yeah, no doubt about that."

Hanna raises an eyebrow playfully. "Hey!"

/

Next day. Saturday.

Hanna and Caleb get back home after having brunch with Ashley. A brunch Hanna almost canceled because she and Caleb barely slept the night before. Hallie had been fussy all night, unable to settle, probably due to an upset tummy.

As always, Chocolate is there to greet them as soon as they step inside.

Hanna "Hey, baby bear!" She greets him with a quick pet on the head.

Caleb "Hey, buddy! Here she is, safe and sound." He chuckles, setting Hallie's baby seat on the floor.

Chocolate sniffs the sleeping baby briefly, then licks her tiny foot before looking up at Caleb.

Caleb smiles at him. "Wanna go for a walk, Chocolate?"

The dog gets excited, leaping around and wagging his tail.

Caleb "Wanna come with us, babe? We can put Hallie in the stroller and head to the park."

Hanna, eyes heavy with exhaustion, looks at him. "No way, Caleb. I need a nap... I'm totally drained. I feel like I'm gonna pass out right here. How do you have all this energy? You slept as little as I did."

Caleb smiles. "I'm dead tired too, babe. But this guy needs a walk, and if I lie down now, I'm not getting back up until tomorrow." He grabs Chocolate's leash.

Hanna "Then just take him out by yourself and skip the park. It'll save you some time. We can take him there tomorrow." She picks Hallie up from her baby seat. "This little one and I are heading upstairs for a nap."

Caleb "Alright, bud. Looks like it's just you and me." He clips the leash onto Chocolate's collar.

/

Caleb gets back home with Chocolate, quietly closing the front door. The second he steps inside, though, he hears Hallie's cries from upstairs. His heart sinks a little, and as soon as he frees Chocolate from his leash, he heads straight for the bedroom.

When he enters, he sees Hanna sitting on the edge of the bed, tears streaming down her face, holding Hallie, who's crying just as hard. Hanna looks completely overwhelmed, her eyes puffy and red.

Hanna "I'm so tired, Caleb, I don't know what's wrong with her!" She sobs, bouncing Hallie in her arms in an attempt to calm her. "I don't know if it was something I did. Should we call the doctor? She's been crying so much, and I… I don't know what to do."

Caleb walks over, sitting beside her, gently rubbing her back. "Hey, hey… it's okay, babe. I'm sure it's nothing we did. Babies are just fussy sometimes." He reaches for Hallie, and Hanna hands her over, looking defeated.

Hanna "I don't get it… We did everything the same as always. Why is she so upset? Did I eat something that messed with the milk?" Her voice cracks as she wipes her eyes, clearly exhausted and feeling guilty. "Maybe it was the bottle? That's the only thing we did differently this week. I shouldn't have left her to go to the gym, she's still so little… I screwed up!"

Caleb cradles Hallie, gently bouncing her as he strokes her back. "Babe, you didn't screw up. And it's not like we gave her formula or anything, it was just the milk you pumped."

Hanna "Yeah, but maybe she sucked up some air while feeding with the bottle and now she has colic or something?"

Caleb "Han, calm down, babe. Lots of babies take bottles, and they're fine. We didn't do anything wrong. Hallie's probably just gassy or overtired… you know how it goes." He gives her a reassuring look.

Hanna buries her face in her hands, her voice muffled. "Maybe… maybe we should take her to the doctor. What if it's something else?"

Caleb shakes his head softly. "She's okay, I promise. We'll keep an eye on her, but right now, you need some rest."

Hanna "I should've canceled brunch with my mom… it was the only time Hallie was calm, and I should've stayed in and gotten some sleep. Now I'm falling apart and can't even take good care of her…"

Caleb looks down at Hallie, still fussing in his arms. "How about I take her for a bit, and you just lie down?"

Hanna "But you're tired too, baby…" She says softly, wiping her tears.

Caleb "I've still got some energy left. I'll be fine. Really, take your nap."

Hanna looks at him, her eyes tired but grateful. "I'm so sorry, Caleb. I feel like I'm losing it."

Caleb smiles gently, leaning in to kiss her forehead. "You're not losing it, Han. You're just exhausted. You're doing great, okay? Now go lie down for a while. I'll take care of Hallie. And we'll take turns tonight, alright? No point in both of us being up at the same time like last night. It was our first really rough night, but there might be more, and we need to pace ourselves."

Hanna nods, her tears finally slowing. "Okay… but if she doesn't settle soon, we're calling the doctor."

Caleb grins softly. "Deal."

/

An hour and a bit more later…

Hallie's still very unsettled, and Caleb's starting to think that maybe calling the doctor isn't a bad idea, just to be sure. He's sitting on the couch with Hallie lying on her back on his lap, her tiny face scrunched up as she cries, facing up toward him. Chocolate, lying on the floor next to them, has been watching attentively the whole time, never taking his eyes off Hallie.

Caleb "I know, baby…" He whispers softly to the baby as he gently folds her little legs up to her stomach. "I know your tummy's giving you a hard time, but… you'll feel better soon." He sighs. "Or I hope so…" He adds to himself. "I wish I could take the pain away somehow, little one. I'd trade places with you in a heartbeat, but that's not how it works…"

Watching Hallie cry so much is starting to make Caleb feel helpless and overwhelmed, much like Hanna earlier. A sense of guilt is creeping in too, as he wonders if maybe he didn't feed her properly with the bottle and Hanna was right. At least he's got the advantage of not having hormones messing with him like Hanna does, so holding it together, despite the guilt and lack of sleep, is just a little easier for him. But Hallie's little face pouting and tearing up, her chubby cheeks burning red, and her cries that don't stop are pushing him to the edge.

Caleb "You must be so tired of crying too…"

He picks her up from his lap and gently lifts her to his face, placing soft kisses on her cheek as he leans back on the couch. Hallie's small body curls up, her legs folding naturally against his chest. To his surprise, she relaxes a bit, leaning her head into him, her cheek pressing softly against his lips. She settles into a cozy, fetal position against his chest, one arm tucked under her body, the other tiny hand resting on the side of Caleb's neck. Noticing this, Caleb carefully turns his head to the side so their cheeks touch, letting Hallie use his face as a pillow. Too afraid to move and disturb her, he stays perfectly still, his hands holding her securely, until she slowly falls asleep.

Hanna comes downstairs and, at first, she thinks they're both asleep. She grabs Hallie's blanket and sits next to Caleb. That's when she realizes he's actually awake.

Hanna "I thought you were asleep too." She whispers, covering Hallie and Caleb's hands with the blanket.

Caleb "Nope… just trying to stay awake. I don't want to move and wake her, or worse… fall asleep and drop her." He explains in a barely audible voice. "Did you get any rest?"

Hanna "Maybe ten minutes… it was hard trying to sleep, hearing her cry downstairs like that. It broke my heart, but I eventually passed out."

Caleb "Yeah…"

Hanna "Get some sleep, baby. I've got you." She whispers to Caleb, scooting closer and turning to her side, pulling her legs up on the couch too. She curls against Caleb's side, resting her arm gently on Hallie's tiny butt to help support her. She kisses both Caleb and Hallie on the forehead, then rests her head on the couch pillow, her face close to theirs.

Caleb finally closes his eyes and surrenders to his exhaustion.

After a few minutes, Hanna spots Caleb's phone on the coffee table. She can't resist grabbing it to take a picture of him and Hallie. She stares at the snap proudly. It's the cutest picture she's ever seen, and also, probably the hottest picture of Caleb. His new role as 'daddy' is such a turn-on for her.

The doorbell rings, startling Caleb awake.

Hanna "It's okay, babe, just the door." She says softly.

Caleb nods, adjusting Hallie's position lower so she's resting more against his chest. His neck is starting to get sore from the uncomfortable position of her using his face as a pillow.

Hanna "It must be Spencer. I called her earlier when I was freaking out about Hallie, and she said she'd stop by after they got back from the mall."

Caleb, still half-asleep, smiles. "We should probably stop calling her every single time something happens and give her a break… they're gonna end up moving away from us."

Hanna chuckles as she heads for the door. "I sent her a pic of Hallie's poop the other day to see if it was normal. If that didn't scare her off, nothing will. Besides, it's Spencer. She loves being a smart-ass and being asked for help."

But when Hanna opens the door, it's not Spencer.

Caleb "You've got to be kidding me." He mutters, hearing the voice on the other side of the door.

From his spot on the couch, he watches as Mona steps inside. Out of all the people who could have shown up, she's the last person he's in the mood to deal with while sleep-deprived.

Mona "Oh, look at that cutie over there!" She says excitedly, walking toward the couch.

Hanna "Keep it down, Mona! If she wakes up, I swear I'll die right here…"

Mona "Hi, cute little Hallie." She says in a much softer voice, reaching out for Hallie's little hand.

But Hanna stops her before she gets the chance.

Hanna "Wait! Don't touch her until you wash your hands."

Mona "Oh, hi, Caleb." She adds quickly before turning back to Hanna. "Hey! You're not even ready to go yet!"

Hanna "Oh, I'm so sorry, Mona. I totally forgot about our plans… I can't go. Hallie's been fussy, and I don't want to take her out like this. She needs to rest."

Mona "Okay, so it's just us, then. Go fix your makeup at least. You look terrible, Hanna. You're turning into one of those moms who let themselves go."

Caleb groans internally. 'Great, just what Hanna needs to hear right now.' He thinks.

Hanna "Mona! Keep it quiet! I mean it."

Mona "Okay, okay, sorry!" She says, lowering her voice just a bit. "But seriously, go freshen up and let's go."

Hanna "No, I just told you. Hallie's not feeling well. I'm not leaving her."

Mona "She's got a dad, doesn't she? Come on, just for a little while. You look like you could use some fresh air." She says with a grin.

Hanna "For the last time, Mona, keep it down! And no, I'm not leaving. I can make some tea if you want—"

Mona "Tea? No way!" She interrupts. "I didn't spend an hour getting ready just to sit and drink tea in your kitchen. Besides, you look like you need coffee more than just tea. Anyway, I guess I'll see you around. I'll go rock these Manolos somewhere else." She gestures down at her shoes.

Right then, her phone starts ringing loudly from her purse, causing Hallie to stir and let out a few whiny moans.

Hanna shoots Mona a death glare.

Mona "Okay, okay, I'm leaving!"

Caleb quickly reaches for Hallie's pacifier, popping it into her mouth and rubbing her back softly to settle her as Hanna walks Mona to the door.

As soon as the door closes, Hanna leans against it for a moment, letting out a heavy sigh. She glances over at Caleb, who's still on the couch with Hallie snuggled against his chest, the pacifier now firmly in place as Hallie drifts back into a peaceful sleep.

Hanna "In times like this, I wonder why the heck I'm still friends with Mona…" She mutters, making her way back to the couch. "Then I remember that time back in high school when I ended up in the hospital, and she showed up just to do my makeup, and it all makes sense again."

Caleb raises an eyebrow but decides not to comment.

Hanna sits down next to them, reaching out to stroke Hallie's little hand. "Seriously though, I completely forgot about our plans. I feel bad, but there's no way I'm leaving Hallie like this." She grabs Caleb's phone to check her reflection in the screen. "Mona's right. I do look like hell." She wipes away the smudged mascara from under her eyes.

Caleb "She's not right. You look gorgeous as always."

Hanna "You say that because you're my husband… you're probably still blinded by love. But I really do look awful." She's still inspecting her reflection, trying to fix her messy hair.

Caleb smirks, looking at Hanna with that familiar warmth in his eyes. "Do I need to track down that guy from the park who hit on you yesterday and have him tell you? If that's what it takes to convince you, I'll do it."

Hanna gives him a small, tired smile, appreciating how he always knows how to make her feel better. "No need, baby." She leans over, kissing Caleb's cheek before gently stroking Hallie's head. "We both look terribly tired from taking care of this little bundle of cuteness. I really hope we get some sleep tonight…"

Caleb "I'm over here trying to make you feel better, and all you're doing is telling me I look just as awful?" He teases.

Hanna chuckles. "Yeah, but it's hot-awful. Check this." She unlocks his phone. "I just took this pic of you passed out. You and Hallie looked too cute. I love you in your cute-daddy mode." She shows him the screen.

Caleb "Well, it is a cute pic."

Hanna "Uh-huh… Can I post it on your Instagram?" She grins.

Caleb nods, amused.

Hanna slides closer, resting her head against his shoulder while typing on his phone. Once she's done, she puts it down and carefully places her arm across Hallie's back.

Hanna "How about we take another nap before Spencer and Toby come over?"

Caleb "Sounds like a plan." He whispers, eyes already closed.

Hanna "And cousin Finn, and cousin Liam." She adds, teasing him.

Caleb grins. "Stop making fun of me."

Hanna chuckles. "That's not happening." She pecks his lips, then settles comfortably against his side and closes her eyes.

/

Hanna "So, we shouldn't call a doctor?" She asks Spencer for the tenth time, her voice filled with worry.

Spencer chuckles. "No, Han. She's fine. She doesn't even have a fever."

Caleb "She's calm now, but earlier she was crying her lungs out." He adds, still sounding a bit concerned.

The three of them are gathered in Hanna and Caleb's bedroom, leaning over Hallie's bassinet. She's peacefully asleep now, looking like a tiny bundle of calmness.

Spencer "Seriously, you guys need to chill out. This is totally normal. You just had insane luck the first few weeks when she only cried if she was hungry or needed a diaper change, and you actually got three hours of sleep at a time… But this? This is normal too. I'm not a doctor, but she looks perfectly fine. If I thought something was wrong, I'd tell you to call a real doctor right away."

Caleb nods, his eyes still locked on Hallie.

Hanna "It sucks seeing her so upset and not being able to help… Makes me feel useless, guilty. It's so frustrating…"

Caleb "Yeah…" he agrees softly, his hand reaching out to gently trace Hallie's cheek with his fingertip.

Spencer "Remember a couple of years ago when Finn wouldn't stop crying because of colic? You came to my rescue, Han. I was losing it, seriously on the edge of madness. Every parent has tough, frustrating days like that. It doesn't mean you're doing something wrong, it's just part of having a baby. Colic, gas, reflux… It happens, and all you can do is be there and try to comfort them. When's Hallie's next checkup?"

Hanna "Wednesday."

Spencer "Well, I'd wait until then and see what her doctor says. That's what I'd do if I were in the same boat with Liam."

Hanna nods, relieved. "Thanks, Spence. I don't know what we'd do without you. It's so comforting knowing you're right next door."

Caleb "Yeah, thanks, Spence. When we found out Hanna was pregnant, I had this dumb idea that we should move to a bigger house. Thank God Hanna made me come to my senses and realize how important it was to stay close to you guys. Renovating this place instead? Best decision we ever made."

Spencer laughs, touched. "You guys didn't stay here just because of me, did you?"

Hanna "You'll never get rid of us, Spence." She moves behind Spencer, wrapping her arms around her from behind as they both look down at Hallie. "Besides, we want Hallie to grow up close to her cousins, Finn and Liam." She adds with a teasing wink at Caleb.

Caleb rolls his eyes but smiles, clearly amused.

Spencer "Oh, that's so sweet, you guys!" She smiles, not catching Hanna's inside joke. "I'm really glad you stayed. Being neighbors with your best friends? It doesn't get better than that."

Hanna "Even if we drive you nuts with all our new-parent questions and freak-outs? Not to mention when my hormones are out of control, and Caleb calls you to come talk sense into me?"

Spencer "Uh-huh, and let's not forget about that poop pic you sent me the other day." She grins playfully.

Hanna bursts out laughing. "You're the best, Spence." She says, finally letting go of her. "Wanna stay for dinner? We can order something."

Spencer "You sure? You both look pretty wiped."

Caleb "We are. But a nice, relaxed night with friends sounds perfect right about now." He smiles warmly. "So, what do you say?"

Spencer "Sushi or pizza?" She asks with a grin.

Hanna switches on Hallie's baby monitor, and the three of them head downstairs. As they reach the living room, they find Finn running around, playing with Chocolate, while Toby relaxes on the couch, baby Liam nestled in his arms, watching a game on TV. It's the picture of cozy chaos, with everyone feeling right at home.