Hanna is ten months into motherhood as a young single mom. The way she envisioned her future as a mother is completely turned upside down when her own mother takes her on a well deserved holiday and forces Hanna to open up her heart and life for new possibilities. Takes place after 1x21

Unexpected

Chapter one.

Grandma

XxxxxX

Staring out at the endless sight, Ashley let out a long breath of content. She was enjoying herself at the Santa Barbara beach. A smile grazed her lips and she thought back for a moment as to how long it had been since she had actually been at the beach.

It must have been when Hanna was only two years old. Ashley smiled to herself when she remembered that very first time Hanna had seen the ocean. How excited her little toddler had been, clapping her tiny hands and her dimples never disappearing from her cheeks. How her father had walked her to the edge of the ocean to show her the crashing crashing waves. How he had carried her to carefully touch the water whilst in her father's protective arms. How she had squealed in delight at the sound of the crashing waves and spent the rest of the day playing with the sand. How she and Tom had stared at their daughter for the rest of the enjoying herself, promising each other they'd take her to the beach every year.

Ashley looked at the blonde haired baby girl in front of her. Crawling through the sand in her pink frilly bathing suit. Her pudgy legs sticking out of them and covered in sand. Her tiny fists enthusiastically grabbing as much sand as she could fit in her little fat fists before opening them again and watching the sand fall from her little hands in awe. Repeating the action over and over again.

Ashley chuckled at the endearing sight and wondered if she would ever be able to tear her eyes away from the beautiful little girl in front of her. She had always been convinced she could never love anything and anyone more than her own daughter. But then this tiny munchkin came into the world and Ashley soon found out how deep and far her love could stretch.

The moment Hanna had revealed to her she was going to be a grandmother she had been shocked, angry, furious even, worried and apprehensive. Not only was her daughter way too young to bring a child into the world. She was too vulnerable and inexperienced, but also going through her first ever heartbreak and bringing this baby into the world as a single mom.

Even though it had hurt Ashley to do so, she had told Hanna about her options. Telling her she'd support her in any choice she would make regarding her pregnancy and begged Hanna to really think about it and sleep on it before making a final decision about her future. Yet the next day her brave daughter had told her with an uncanny determination she was going to do this by herself and keep her baby.

Ashley had predicted all the tears during the pregnancy. The bittersweet moment her granddaughter came into the world looking like a replica of her father and how much that affected Hanna. Her daughters struggle to be a new mom, the sleepless nights that nearly became too much for Hanna and she even predicted the breakdown coming 6 weeks in.

Yet Ashley hadn't predicted how fast Hanna would pick herself up again. How determined she was to be the best mom she could be. Do her very best in school to build a future for herself and her daughter. She always knew Hanna was strong, but she hadn't expected she would become such a proud mother and grandmother herself in such a short amount of time. Proud of the woman Hanna had become ever since she had made the decision to be a mom herself.

Ashley smiled as her granddaughter began to squeal at something she must have found in the sand looking at it intently, but Ashley soon shot up from where she was sitting when the baby brought her tiny hand to her mouth and tried to put whatever she had clasped inside of her fist to her mouth, alongside a handful of sand.

Ashley yanked the baby's hand away, but it was too late. She had already eaten a handful of sand and was chewing it thoughtfully before deciding she didn't like it. Scrunching up her nose. Her lower lip quivering before her cries started to fill the beach. Becoming louder by the second, the soft breeze carrying her shrill cries on for miles.

Ashley pulled her granddaughter into her lap trying to soothe her and rummaged in her bag to look for her sippy cup.

Wound up by the continuous and increasing crying from the baby, Ashley desperately tried to locate the sippy cup but couldn't find it. Desperately, she grabbed a bottle of water, which was nearly empty. Cursing herself now for not letting Hanna pack the diaper bag for her like she had offered. She momentarily locked eyes with another woman sitting close to her before she poured some of the water from the water bottle into the cap and tried to let her granddaughter drink from it, but the now screaming and furious girl wouldn't have it and slapped the water bottle out of her hand. The water rapidly disappearing into the sand.

"Oh no!" Ashley moaned.

"I hope you don't mind, but us mother's should help each other out!" The woman who she had locked eyes with said. Standing next to her and holding out a sippy cup for Ashley to take.

"My kids haven't used it, I just find them useful to take to the beach." She said smiling as Ashley gratefully accepted the cup and gave it to her granddaughter who grabbed it and brought it to her mouth eagerly. The crying subsiding in an instant.

Ashley felt herself relax. She hated her granddaughter crying.

"Thank you!" She said letting out a breath of relief, looking at the friendly woman who was still hovering, her eyes on the baby and smiling broadly at her.

"Glad to help, you can keep it. We have enough at the house and my boys are actually way too big for it." She said pointing at two small boys who were building a sand castle not too far from them.

"Thank you again, it's so nice of you to help out. Are you sure you don't want it back? I'm pretty sure I have a few more cups at the hotel."

"It's fine really, don't worry about it. Anything for such a beautiful little girl." She gushed the last few words at the baby who was still happily guzzling from the cup. The moment the lady locked eyes with the little blonde baby, she dropped her sippy cup and shot her a massive grin, showing her two newly aquired bottom teeth.

"Awwww, look at her, she is so cute." The lady gushed, looking at the baby in adoration and then to Ashley.

"She likes you." Ashley smiled at the interaction and nodded at the woman to sit down next to her as she was still awkwardly standing next to her.

"You are so lucky." The woman said, sitting down. "Don't get me wrong, I love my boys to bits and I wouldn't trade them for the world. But seeing this cutiepie reminds me of how much I would have loved to have a daughter. You are so lucky to have such a beautiful daughter!" She said stroking the baby's chubby dimpled cheeks and looking into her chocolate brown eyes.

"Oh eh…" Ashley started awkwardly.

This wasn't the first time it happened to Ashley. More than often people assumed she had two daughters instead of only one.

"This isn't my daughter, she's my granddaughter."

The lady whipped her head around to stare at Ashley, although her expression was void of the shock and judgement Ashley usually received when she told people she was a grandmother.

"You look so young though." The lady said.

"Im 45, Ashley admitted, my daughter is 17."

"And who is this little lady?" The woman asked squeezing the babies pudgy leg. Not making an issue of what Ashley just told her.

"This is Aubrey." Ashley said in a proud voice, she's 10 months."

"Hello Aubrey." The woman said in a baby voice and Aubrey smiled at her again, holding up her little arms and letting out a whiny voice before reaching for the lady, begging to be picked up. The lady looked at Ashley apprehensively but Ashley nodded encouragingly at her.

"It's fine, she loves meeting new people, although her mother would probably kill me. My daughter Hanna is very protective of her."

Ashley watched as Aubrey climbed into the woman's lap, taking a moment to settle down before shooting both women a cheeky smile, as if she had just won the day by managing to claim the stranger's lap all for herself.

"Omg she is so stinking cute." She said glancing over Aubrey's blonde hair, the cheeky brown eyes and dimples that appeared when she laughed, to her high cheekbones and her tanned complexion. Her brows furrowed for a moment before she smiled broadly again at Aubrey who returned it happily, gurgling incoherent nothings.

"So you said you're staying at a hotel, are you on holiday here?" The woman asked, finally tearing her eyes away from Aubrey.

"Yes!" Ashley smiled happily. "The first year, it's been… it's been quite tough, but my daughter has been fighting hard against the odds. I took them on holiday for a well deserved break." Ashley said. "She always told me she wanted to go to the west coast some day, so I surprised her with a holiday for her summer break."

"That is so nice of you! It must be hard on you as well, having a young daughter who is a mother. I'm sure you still have a lot to deal with even if she is doing all she can."

"We get by." Ashley smiled proudly again. "She really does all she can, I'm proud of what she's accomplished so far. I wasn't sure what to expect but she really changed since Aubrey was born and even before that. She will move heaven and earth for her daughter."

Ashley looked up at the woman, noticing her eyes had glassed over. Aubrey oblivious to the shift in atmosphere was playing with her toes she had recently discovered, doubling over to try and put them in her mouth.

"Are you okay?" Ashley said apprehensively. Not sure how she might have upset the other woman. Or how she upset the woman.

"Yeah I'm fine. It's just, it reminds me of myself.'' She finally admitted wiping at her eyes.

"I was a teen mother myself and it was so hard. I didn't have the support you are obviously giving your daughter so it just reminds me of how things could have been." She finally said giving Ashley a weak smile.

Ashley glanced at the two boys behind the woman. They must have been around 3 and 5 years old by the look of them. The woman was probably around her own age. Ashley could tell the moment she had laid eyes on her companion she was well off. She hadn't missed the meticulous manicured hands and feet, the massive rock and wedding band on her hand and the Birkin bag on her beach towel. She smiled at the woman not wanting to say anything that would upset her, assuming the lady's worrisome past must be well behind her.

"It's a long time ago and I'm lucky for everything I have in my life now." She said having seen Ashley looking at her.

"But it was really hard when I was younger, I had to make some tough decisions all by myself and looking back now, there's so much I would have done differently."

Ashley smiled at her knowingly. Not wanting to judge her, as the lady herself hadn't judged her being such a young grandmother either. Ashley couldn't imagine her own daughter having to struggle as a young mother all by herself.

Ashley was fully aware of the sacrifice she was making by being there for her Hanna and Aubrey but she couldn't imagine doing anything else.

"I can only imagine." Ashley said understanding.

"So have you been here long, in Santa Barbara, how long are you staying?" The lady asked not wanting to dwell on the painful subject.

"We only arrived a few days ago, the flight was exhausting for my daughter and it took us a few days to settle in and find a rhythm. Dinner is still a challenge." Ashley chuckled.

"With this little girl you mean?"

"Yes! You can't really have a quiet meal and enjoy your dinner with a tired 10 month old around. Back at home we feed her before we have dinner ourselves, but now we are at the mercy of the hotel which means eating at the same time. I do look forward to a hot meal again." Ashley chuckled.

"Oh I remember those days and I don't miss that at all!" She chuckled and looked behind her at her children who had moved to the water's edge, chasing each other.

"Boys! Not so close to the water!" She called out and they ran further up the beach.

She turned back to Ashley again and smiled. "Life with boys." She sighed rolling her eyes. I'm glad we live close by so they can blow off some energy. Don't know what else I should do with them both at home for 6 weeks!"

"You are lucky to live so close to a beach! Do you live here in Santa Barbara?"

"No actually we live a town over, but this beach is more child friendly, so I rather come here with my two rambunctious boys." She said giving her a knowing look.

Ashley chuckled and looked at Aubrey who started rubbing her eyes and sighed.

"I'm really enjoying this company but I should get going. She's getting tired and I want her back at the hotel before she starts getting cranky. I bet her mother is already wondering where we are."

The lady smiled sweetly at her. "I understand. I really enjoyed spending some time together and especially with this cute little lady." She said rubbing the wispy blonde hair on Aubrey's head and standing up with Aubrey in her hands as Ashley scooped up her belongings into Hanna's massive diaper bag, throwing it over her shoulder before taking Aubrey from the woman and wrapping her in a towel despite the heat and smiling at the woman whose company she had enjoyed so much.

Ashley was about to bid her farewell, but the lady spoke first

"Uhm before you go…" She started uncertainly, walking over to her own beach blanket and rummaging in her bag. Scribbling something on a piece of paper and handed it to Ashley.

"I know it may be a bit weird and I'm not sure if I am crossing any boundaries. But if you and your daughter like to, my husband is testing out his new barbecue tonight and you are very welcome to come over to our house to join us. Have a nice quiet dinner for a change whilst this little one plays around. We have a child friendly house so she can play around safely."

"Wow, thank you for the invitation, I actually really appreciate that!". Ashley said excitedly having enjoyed the woman's company. "I'll talk to my daughter about it, she doesn't really like having new people around Aubrey, but I'll do my best to convince her. Hopefully we will see you tonight."

"It was nice meeting you….?" The woman asked looking at Ashley expectantly and holding out her hand, slightly embarrassed that they hadn't exchanged names before.

"I'm Ashley."

"It takes was nice meeting you Ashley, I'm…" But she was cut off.

"Moooommm!" They heard across the beach.

They whipped their heads around looking at the two boys, where one of them was waving excitedly.

"I'm mom apparently."She chuckled and looked at Ashley apologetically.

"I really hope to see you later Ashley, you're welcome at 5. Or earlier, whatever goes with the little lady." She said as she shot her an apologetic look and made her way to her kids who were still jumping and and down excitedly.

"I'll do my best!" Ashley called out and waved at the woman. Looking back and smiling at her granddaughter in her arms who had her little head on her shoulder, already drifting off to sleep.

XxxxxX

"Mom, what were you thinking, why did you think this was a good idea? You know I don't like strangers around Aubrey." Hanna said, stroking her sleeping daughters hair and trailing a hand through the wispy strands before walking towards Aubrey's cot and tucking her in. Closing the door behind her and walking to the bedroom she was sharing with her mother.

"Hanna, there is nothing wrong with meeting new people." Besides it's only a dinner. You have to admit it yourself it will be nice to have your hands free for a while so you can eat your dinner. How long gone had it been since you've been able to do that?"

"It will have been a year when she turns one." Hanna scoffed, letting herself fall onto the bed, staring at the ceiling.

"So what's keeping you, why don't you want to come tonight?"

"I don't like being around new people." Hanna moaned, sitting up and looking at her mothers expectant face.

"Well your daughter does." Ashley challenged.

Hanna sighed again rolling her eyes at her mother's persistence. "Why don't you just go by yourself mom? Me and Aubrey can have a quiet night in."

Ashley surveyed her daughter for a while, contemplating what to say next.

"Because you need this Hanna. Ever since you found out you were having Aubrey you have been very serious about being a good mother and I am beyond proud of you."

"But?" Hanna asked.

"No buts, I am proud of you and there is nothing wrong in broadening your horizons or letting go sometimes. You don't have to be the perfect mom all the time, you're only 17."

"I know I'm only 17 thank you very much. I was there remember?"

"Oh I remember Hanna." Her mother shot back. "But now you have the opportunity to let loose a little bit Hanna. Meet new people and relax. I came with you on this trip so you can have some time to yourself, not for you to stay in your hotel room all day and night."

"I thought you brought me here because you were proud of me and I deserved some time away?"

Ashley smiled at Hanna and sat down next to her on the bed.

"Of course I am proud of you Hanna" She said, putting an arm around her shoulder. "Prouder than I ever imagined I would be in such a short time. You've really changed and you always put Aubrey first. But Hanna, even as a mom and especially as the young mother that you are, it's totally okay to let loose sometimes. It's okay to have fun. Like I always remind you, a happy mother is a happy baby."

Hanna smiled weakly, however it never reached her eyes.

"Hanna what's wrong?" Ashley asked, starting to worry a bit that she was unable to lift Hanna's mood.

Hanna shrugged.

"Hanna you can tell me anything, you know own that by now down you?"

"I know mom." She said quietly.

"So spill."

"Look, mom. I love you for the things that you say about me and I love being here with you on this holiday."

"And you are right, I do need to let go a bit more and maybe go out and have a bit more fun, but Aubrey only has me as a parent and I don't want to disappoint her."

"Ooohhhhh baby, is that what you have been worrying about?" Ashley nearly laughed, but stopped as soon as she saw Hanna's solemn face and she hugged her daughter close.

When they pulled away Ashley looked at Hanna, her hands still on her shoulders.

"Hanna! Aubrey loves you!"

"No wait, she adores you. And when you are not around she's still fine and she won't love you any less because you're not spending every free second with her, so stop worrying." Ashley said, gently shaking her shoulders and shooting her a smile which Hanna finally returned.

Hanna grabbed her mother's hands in hers and squeezed them softly before getting off the bed and pulling some clothes from the dresser.

"What are you doing?" Ashley asked, surprised by Hanna's sudden movement.

"Grabbing some clothes and having a shower, what does it look like? What time do we need to go to that barbecue?" Hanna said matter of factly before disappearing into the shower. Her mother sitting back on the bed with a smile on her face.

XxxxxX

"Mom! Are you sure this is the address that lady gave you?" Hanna whispered when she steered their rental car to stop near one of the bigger mansions on the street that they had been driving on for a good few minutes.

Ashley glanced at the paper in her hand again and looked at Hanna, who was gawking at the house.

"This is the address." Ashley confirmed. "It does explain the Birkin." She whispered to herself.

"What?" Hanna asked, looking at her mother in surprise. "What Birkin?"

"Hanna I told you that she had a Birkin and I told you I could tell she was well off."

"How well off do you think she is? It looks like she robbed quite a few banks." Hanna said and stared at the gate surrounding the house, wondering if her mother's new found friend would actually let them into the house.

"Come on, let's go." Ashley said. Getting out of the car and opening the trunk to get Aubrey's stroller.

Hanna unbuckled Aubrey's seat and placed her in the stroller, fixing her dress and her hair in the process as she stared up at the house again, wondering what kind of people lived beyond those gates. Soon following her mother who was already pushing Aubrey towards the gate ringing the bell on some sort of security system.

"Hello?" An excited voice came from the intercom and Ashley looked into the tiny camera of the intercom, but before she could introduce herself she could hear the voice again.

"Oh hi Ashley, it's so lovely to see that you're here. I'll open the gate."

Moments later the whirring sound of the gate opening could be heard and they waited patiently until they could make their way to the front door where the woman was already waving at them, the youngest boy from the beach hanging off her leg. In no way did she look like she ever used to be an underage mother, Hanna thought to herself. She really must have done good for herself.

"Hi, I am so delighted that you are all here." She said with a pearly white and genuine smile.

"I see you have managed to convince Hanna to come along." She said as she helped Ashley lift the stroller into the house.

As soon as they entered Hanna tried not to stare too much around the house, although she was very certain she had never seen a house quite like it. According to the bewildered look on Aubrey's face the tiny girl was just as impressed by her surroundings as Hanna was. Looking with wide eyes at the massive chandelier right above them.

"Do you like those twinkling lights baby?" Hanna cooed, tickling Aubrey's tummy making her squeal in delight and kick her little legs.

"Hanna, you have such a beautiful baby, I already told your mother that so many times today but she really is a little treasure."

"Thank you. Hanna smiled shyly. She's a pretty good baby."

"Do you want me to take you to the garden? My husband is already setting up his new barbeque."

"Sure." Hanna and Ashley said in unison, following the lady towards the back of the house, down a long and bright hallway and into a massive kitchen where two French doors lead into a rather large patio area followed by a garden that seemed to stretch for miles. Hanna tried not to look too surprised by the magnitude of everything.

Hanna noticed a tall broad and dark haired man standing by the barbeque as they reached the decked area. Even though he was standing behind the barbeque, he was still wearing slacks and a soft blue dress shirt rolled up to his elbows. A young lanky boy only dressed in swimming trunks stood so close to the man it looked like he wanted to disappear into him.

They both looked around as soon as Hanna, Aubrey and her mom stepped onto the patio area and shot them friendly smiles as soon as they locked eyes.

"Our guests are here William." The lady said to the man, beckoning Ashley and Hanna to come closer and the man called William held out his hand to introduce himself.

"Hi, it's very nice to meet you." William said in a surprisingly soft and kind voice, his blue eyes twinkling and laughter lines in his face deepening as he greeted them.

"I'm Claudia's husband." He said unnecessary pointing at his wife, although Ashley was happy to find out the woman she had been talking to was called Claudia. It suited her.

After Hanna and Aubrey had been introduced accordingly as well, Hanna noticed the lanky boy was still standing close to his father and eyeing Hanna and her mother suspiciously.

"James, stop hiding behind your father and come and introduce yourself." Claudia said to the lanky boy in the swimming trunks. You too Clay." She said to the youngest of the two and peeled Clay off her legs pushing him towards Hanna and her mother.

"Come and sit down." Claudia said after they all had been introduced and guided them towards the comfortable looking seating area where she poured them all some lemonade calling her boys over to join them, sitting down as well.

"Hanna, do you want me to grab some cushions or a blanket for Aubrey to play on?" I still have my boys blankets and I'm sure I still have some toys she could play with as well."

"Uhm, a blanket would be nice." Hanna said shyly as she pulled Aubrey from the stroller. Hanna wasn't so sure why this over friendly woman was making her act so shy in the first place. She had gotten so used by people judging and underestimating her as soon as they found out she had a baby, that it was slightly unsettling to finally meet someone who acted like being a teenage mother was the new normal.

Soon Claudia was back with her arms laden with blankets and some colorful toys. Laying down the blanket between them, with some help from James. Hanna placed Aubrey down on the baby blue blanket and Claudia handed Aubrey a colorful toy which she happily accepted, gurgling incoherently.

"Well she's one happy customer." Claudia said and sat back down and looking at Aubrey who was now trying to devour the toy that was given to her.

Hanna laughed at Aubrey's antics. "Silly girl." Hanna laughed and shook her head as Aubrey kept gnawing the toy, drool dribbling down her fresh shirt.

"Don't worry about it, I'm pretty sure it's unbreakable." Claudia said confidently looking at Hanna who was still looking and smiling broadly at the little girl at her feet.

"Now I can finally tell where she gets those dimples from." Claudia said, nodding from Aubrey to Hanna.

"Yeah I guess that's a family thing. Hanna smiled. I'm really glad she inherited at least something from me." Hanna said. "She's got those dimples and the blonde hair from me, but everything else is definitely thanks to her father." Hanna explained.

A flash of Aubrey's father running through her mind before she buried that image to the back of her head where it belonged.

"Oh, is he still around?" Claudia asked apprehensively, she didn't get the impression from Ashley earlier that day the father was still in their lives.

Hanna however didn't answer and Claudia looked from Hanna to Ashley, afraid that she might have said the wrong thing and upset the young girl sitting across from her who had a look of utter shock on her face.

"No euhm… the father is not around." Ashley said, glancing sideways at Hanna who had fallen silent and seemed to stare straight through Claudia as if she was invisible.

"We never had a chance to…" She started but soon her eyes fell onto what Hanna must have been staring at and the words died in her throat.

Claudia looked at the both of them curious as to what they were staring at and whipped around in her seat following their gaze.

Claudia let out a breath of relief when she realised what they'd been looking at. For a moment she felt like Hanna and Ashley had seen a burglar walking up to them. Although considering the way her eldest son was dressed, she couldn't blame them for thinking the worst.

Claudia turned back around trying to ease Hanna's and Ashley's minds, missing her son's astonished face and his jaw hitting the floor as he got closer.

"Hanna?" The boy said in a whisper, although his deep voice carried clear around the garden.

"Caleb?"

"Is that really you?" Hanna asked in shock.

XxxxxX

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