Understanding courses through Caroline and with it, the overwhelming urge to pull Hannah into her and hold her until this fear subsides. With Michael’s custody demand still in the air, the absence of Abbie must feel like a very terrifying glimpse of a worst case scenario.

Hannah shakes her head harshly at herself. “I shouldn’t have texted you. I shouldn’t have made you come all the way here –”

The tears littering her gaze, even as she tries to wipe them away, due Caroline in. Her heart feels like it’s being squeezed uncomfortably tight seeing Hannah like this, and she can’t bear to just stand there and let her cry.

She draws Hannah to her gently, wrapping an arm around her waist as her other hand strokes up her back. And Hannah melts into her, seeming to trust that Caroline will hold her up, as she pushes her face against Caroline’s neck.

“Don’t apologize,” she murmurs, stroking her hand up and down Hannah’s back because all she wants is to soothe this anxiety away. Like there’s nothing else that matters remotely as much as this. “I’m glad you texted me, okay?”

“But still,” Hannah’s words come in a teary whisper. “I’m sure you have something better to do.”

Caroline’s heart flip-flops intensely in her chest even as she scoffs. “There’s nowhere else I’d rather be. How often do I have to tell you?” The certainty in her own voice is unmistakable.

And her hand pauses on its leisurely stroke up Hannah’s back, eyes opening wide, terrified she’s given herself away. Her stomach drops like a stone, waiting – just waiting – for whatever Hannah’s going to say to her.

But Hannah only hugs her tighter for another beat and her eyes fall closed again at the feeling, her heart rate returning to normal. Sort of. A little faster, but with Hannah around that’s beyond her control.

Hannah pulls back eventually and runs her hands through her hair, rolling her eyes at herself when she realizes that it was supposed to be up in a ponytail. It’s quite possibly the most adorable thing Caroline has ever seen and – yep. She’s an entire sucker for this woman.

And because she knows her, knows Hannah well enough that she is going to tell Caroline that she doesn’t have to stay here with her, despite the fact that she is feeling lonely and vulnerable, Caroline takes the opportunity to slip off her suit jacket and set it on the back of a chair.

“Let me order us some dinner and watch something adult-like that we aren’t allowed to when Abbie’s here.” It takes her a moment to register what that implies when she says it aloud, her cheeks coloring at it. “I meant a horror movie or – something.”