Running Away

Disclaimer: I do not own Pretty Little Liars or it's characters.

Author's Note: Okay everyone here is the spin off story from Reunion Homecoming hope you all enjoy and that any questions you had are answered.

Chapter 1

Hanna stepped into the airport lobby slowly her palms sweaty, heart racing and body trembling. She was terrified that Caleb would decide not to show up, afraid that their past together would make him realize he didn't need to help her anymore.

Terror was truly beginning to take hold as she thought of facing the unknown future ahead of her alone. Her eyes frantically scanned the lobby looking for the familiar shaggy brown hair.

One minute went by, then five, after ten minutes she began to really panic. By twenty minutes she was having trouble breathing and spots were forming in front of her eyes which is why at first she didn't hear him speaking from behind her.

"Hanna?" He question touching her arm. She didn't respond. "Hanna!" He said sharply raising his voice as he turned her to face him and used his hands to tilt her face up so she could look into his face. Her breathing was fast and sharp and she looked ready to pass out which worried him so he began talking calmly trying to get her to calm down. "Breathe Hanna, slow deep breaths, come on you can do it. Follow my breathing Hanna." He told her as he grabbed her hands and held them over his chest so she could feel how he was breathing and copy him.

Gradually her breathing began to even out and the spots in her eyes faded leaving her feeling weak and light headed, but she was able to focus on her surroundings again.

"C…Ca…Caleb?" Hanna stuttered confusion lacing her tone. Caleb pulled her into his arms and held her as he spoke.

"I'm here Hanna, I'm here." He whispered soothingly rubbing her back gently.

"I.. thought.. you.. weren't.. gonna.. Come…" Hanna said taking deep breaths in between each word.

"Hey I said I'd be here didn't I?" He questioned. "Sorry it took so long had a few loose ends to tie up in Ravenswood, some people to say goodbye to and explain why I was leaving." He explained.

"Oh… yes of course you did. I just thought… I mean I'm really not your problem so I'd understand if you decided to forget about it all…" Hanna mumbled her voice trailing away.

"I told you I'm not going anywhere. I said I'd help you and I meant it. You are too important to me to walk away from when you are so obviously not alright right now no matter where we are right now." Caleb responded.

They began walking towards the front desk to get their tickets noting that the plane leaving for Montecito, California would not be leaving for another two hours.

"Well I guess we have some time to kill. What do you want to do? Eat? Call home? Sit and wait?" Caleb asked turning to Hanna.

"I should probably send an e-mail to my mom explaining what's going on. She's probably really worried by now." Hanna answered.

"Okay let's see internet café is to the right." Caleb said as they look at the map of the airport and he gestured to the direction of the café.

"Okay let's get this done with then." Hanna said softly as they began walking slowly towards the café carrying their bags. Hanna still wasn't quite recovered from her panic attack yet so she was a bit sluggish and Caleb noticed so he took her heaviest bag for her. "Thanks." She said.

"How many have you had recently?" He asked startling her.

"How many what?"

"Panic attacks Hanna. How many?" He asked gently but firmly.

"Since you left there's been a few, more then a few actually." Hanna responded. "The first one was when I came home from Ravenswood and they've happened off and on since then."

"Have you talked to a doctor about them?" He questioned.

"No. I didn't want anyone to know." Hanna whispered shaking her head.

"Well we'll need to deal with them eventually you know." Caleb said as they stepped into the café and found an available computer to sit at. Caleb sat with her for a minute before standing up and speaking again. "I'm gonna go check our bags okay? Give you some privacy to write to your mom."

"Okay. You won't be gone long though right?" She asked anxiousness entering her eyes and her voice.

"I'll be back before you know it. Thirty minutes tops I promise." He reassured her kissing her forehead and then gathering up their bags besides their carry-on's and leaving the café.

Turning back to the computer screen once he was out of her line of sight all she could do was stare. After five minutes of staring she finally logged into her e-mail and went to compose a new e-mail to her mom. Several times she started writing but each time she would erase what was written and try to start over. Finally she just decided to stop thinking about it so much and wrote from the heart.

Mom,

I'm sorry I left the way I did, but I had to leave. Rosewood doesn't feel safe for me anymore and I can't be there now. The past few years have been hard, harder then I ever thought they could be and I'm broken because of it. I'm tired of fighting for a life, tired of the lying and the games and the mysteries. I just want to move on from everything and I don't think I could do that if I stayed there. I can't handle it all anymore it's become too much for me. Try not to worry about me though I'm alright, I'm with Caleb and he's promised to keep me safe. Him and I together right now are a long story and I promise I'll fill you in sometime but for now I just want you to know that I'm safe with him and he's going to take me to Montecito, California to his moms place to stay for a while. Until I start feeling better. I need this mom so please try and understand. I love you and I'm not running away from you just all the memories of Rosewood. I'll miss you and I hope you'll come visit me soon so I can explain everything better. Don't try to call my cell I have it turned off and I'm not sure I plan on turning it on anytime soon if at all. Take care mom and please tell my friends that I'm safe but not to look for me. I don't want to be found right now, I'm not ready. I may never be ready. I love you very much. Be safe. I need to go now Caleb will be back soon and we'll need to get going. I'll e-mail again as soon as I can. Bye for now mom.

Xoxo

Love Hanna

After sitting there for another five minutes reading it over she finally hit send and logged out before shutting down the computer and paying for her time on it. All she could do was hope that her mom would understand her reasons for leaving and forgive her.

She exited the café and stood outside waiting for Caleb to return. As promised he was back within the thirty minutes making Hanna sag in relief. Caleb smirked as he caught the relief on her face.

"Miss me?" He asked with a smug grin.

"I keep thinking that I'm dreaming. That I didn't really call you and you didn't really come rescue me and that I'm actually doing this all on my own. Or that any second you're going to realize that I'm not your responsibility to save anymore and you're going to leave. It's sounds selfish I know but I don't want you to go anywhere even though I would totally understand why you would." Hanna rambled on trying to explain.

"Hanna how many times do I have to tell you I'm not going anywhere? I'm here as long as you want me to be here." He told her gently as they began to walk back towards the lobby.

"You're sure?" She asked timidly.

"One hundred percent. You're stuck with me Princess." He assured her with a smile. "Now come on let's eat before we have to board our plane.

"Okay." Hanna said as they continued to walk. They had a quiet meal in a tiny restaurant in a remote corner of the airport. They didn't talk much as they ate just looked around at the people coming and going. Hanna wasn't ready to really talk about everything and Caleb knew her well enough to know and understand that.

Finally their flight was being called and they began walking to their gate to board the plane. Noticing how nervous she seemed Caleb grabbed Hanna's hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze as he smiled down at her. "I'm right here Hanna." He whispered in her ear. She nodded her head and squeezed his hand back as they got past the woman at the gate and made their way to their seats. Hanna took the window seat while caleb stored their bags in the overhead compartment.

They didn't talk much during the flight just sat there together his hand holding hers as he tried to reassure her through his touch that he wasn't going anywhere.

An hour later found her head on his shoulder as she succumbed to the exhaustion that had been clinging to her since her panic attack. Caleb just sat there watching her sleep against him vowing to himself that he would do whatever he could to erase the shadows that haunted her eyes these days. He wouldn't fail her again that wasn't an option for him. After vowing that to himself he allowed his head to rest on top of hers as he too drifted off to sleep the sounds of the engines lulling him there.

Soon they would be in California and then it would be time to talk about Rosewood and everything that had happened since he left but for now they slept as the plane carried them away from Rosewood and to a future that was uncertain for the both of them.