Work Text:
Haley released an exasperated sigh as she officially changed her status from 'Married' to 'Single'. She wasn't sure why she convinced herself it would work out this time with Dylan. Given their history. Maybe holding onto hope was just a trap, she thinks. She attempts to not roll her eyes as pings from those who were unaware ask her what's up. I mean, the split was amicable. It's not like all of a sudden her and Dylan hated each others guts or something. But their versions of what a life together looked like her just, well, simply different. She's about to power off her phone before bed when her phone lights up again. A name she hadn't seen in a long time pings at the top of her notifications.
Andy:
Just hope you know I'm always here for ya, home slice :)
The girl can't help but giggle at the very much in character wording from Andy. A familiar feeling fluttering in her stomach, she goes to respond. But it seems Andy beat her to it.
Andy:
If you're ever in Utah, don't be afraid to hit me up!
(preferably not in the face lol)
This one nearly makes her howl with laughter but she remembers that she just put the twins down to bed. So she quickly responds instead.
Haley:
I'll definitely take you up on that! ;)
Her heart nearly falls in the pit of her stomach. Was the winky face a bit...too suggestive? Was he about to overanalyze this single sentence text for the next 10 minutes. But soon her bubbling fears are quelled when her phone pings again.
Andy:
Looking forward to it! :)
Haley can't help but smile at his genuine sincerity. That was something she always admired about Andy. His deep caring for people and just always wanting to make sure someone was okay. No matter what was going on. Sure that could sometimes make it a bit of a people pleaser. But was also kind of, chivalrous, in a way. The girl leans back in her desk chair and remembers the moment she first felt something for him. When they were making the video for his ex-fiancé Beth. The look of love he possessed in his eyes was enough to make any girl swoon. The endless depths of his caring and compassion. His romantic, if not incredibly cheesy, gestures. He always managed to possess the most sincere form of flattery. She tries not to well up as all of their remaining memories flood back. The moment he walked away in the airport causing her to grip the desk in front of her as all of the emotions from that day absorb back. She tries to shake it out and just as she's about to head up to bed, curiosity gets the best of her.
Sure the girl knows that places like Facebook are now mostly filled with people like her parents, except more incoherent. But once she became a mom, it kind of became like a bedrock for communication on those she didn't have any other real way to contact. And while she isn't on it incredibly often, she didn't have the heart to cease using it forever. She smiles sees Andy's goofy profile picture once she reaches her friends list: Him in a café with a croissant in front of his mouth so it looks like a smiley face. She clicks his profile and to her utter amazement saw familiar status: Single.
She bites her lip before simply just shutting her computer down and heading for the door. Giving the computer one last glance before going to bed.
Andy's sits quietly in bed, gently scratching behind his dog, Jack's ear. When suddenly his phone pings. He smiles seeing Haley's message: 'I'll definitely take you up on that! ;)' . He tries not read too much into the winky face, figuring it was probably a simple mistake. He expertly replies with one hand: 'Looking forward to it! :)'. Andy would be lying if he said this is where he saw himself. Living in an Utah suburb with no one but his trusty canine companion. He imagined at least by this point he'd at least have one or two kids running around. But that didn't make him unhappy. He was actually quite content. But he'd be lying again if he didn't admit it could get quite lonely. He looks down at Jack as the golden retriever nuzzles his leg as he snores. A bit of somberness tugging at his heart. He just truly wished he had someone to share this all with.
He desired someone to come home to. Someone to make a candlelight dinner for, someone to plan vacations with, who could be yet another friend for Jack. But he sort of came resigned to the fact that if any of that was going to happen. It was going to take time. He feels a heaviness in his eyes and turns off the lights before getting under the covers. Jack giving in a simple kiss to the cheek before snoozing once again.
Maybe some day, he thinks.
Haley couldn't stop reading and re-reading the last message Andy sent her. 'Looking forward to it! :)' practically became her background. Even Phil noticed she wasn't all quite there when he came over to visit. "Is this about Dylan, Hailey Bailey?" He asks initially, but she smiles and shakes her head as she feeds Poppy while Phil bounces George on his knee. "It's not, no." She sighs a little sadly when her eyes meet him, her smile quickly returning as she cleans banana off of her daughter's face.
"Is it NERD?" This nearly makes Hailey laugh.
"NERP? No, I um, I'm not there anymore." She answers Phil's unspoken question. "Have you ever wondered," She looks off a bit before her gaze back on her dad. "What it would be like if you, married someone who isn't mom?"
"I mean, not really." The man says blissfully and honestly as the same time. "I can't imagine myself with anyone but your mother." He admits proudly. "I'm sure I've given her plenty of reasons to wonder that, but I think being a team is what has kept us together this long. Love is really a collaborative effort. Sometime's it's indescribable. But I think that, when you know, there's this warmness in you that never truly fades." Haley hadn't expected to tear up at her dad's pearls of wisdom today, but here she was. "I don't know where I would be without your mother, and I really don't liking thinking about that. I just know I couldn't be any luckier." He gives her a smile and one of his signature fatherly hugs. It isn't too much longer after that that he decides he needs to head home. "Don't worry about finding 'the one'," He tells her as she's walking him to the door. "They'll find you. You'll know it when you feel it." He gives her one last hug before he leaves. Little did he know the thoughts that would continue to linger even once the door was shut.
Before bed, Haley attempted to find online fashion publications based in Utah. And when it seemed it like she'd reached a dead end, she fell upon an up-and-coming website who were looking for editors in good amount of categories: her eyes lit up when one of them was the Style & Art section was up for grabs. She quickly re-downloaded her resumé (not before editing it, of course) and sent it in. Her heart nearly stopped when she got an email nearly two weeks later saying they were excited to work with her.
But she once again sat back in her chair. Uprooting her life was a big decision. Moving over 600 miles away was a big decision. With Alex in Switzerland and her uncles Cam and Mitchell in Missouri, she didn't want to deprive her parents of another family member being close to home. But then she remembered what her dad said: "You'll know it when you feel it."
She tried her best to not make this whole decision about Andy. Even though she hadn't been able to stop thinking about him for the last month. And she didn't want her kids growing up without a dad. Sure Dylan was still supportive, but they no longer lived together. And his visiting wasn't the most consistent. She decides to send a screenshot of the email to her parents, Alex, and even Dylan first.
The reactions went about as expected.
Alex:
Utah?? That's a bit far! But, I mean, as long as you're happy! I know you'll make the right decision!
Mom:
When did you start thinking about this??
Dylan:
That sounds kinda killer! I promise I'll make sure to visit if you go through with it.
But overall, whoever she told that she was considering this as a truly viable option, ultimately promised to be supportive. Even if her mom was still a bit unsure. Luke's response nearly makes her face heat.
Luke:
Doesn't Andy live in Utah...?
She finally decides it's best to sit everyone down for dinner one night. Well, all those who were able to attend. "I know this is a very big decision," She admits to her parents and Luke, who's currently more focused on scarfing down mashed potatoes. "And I know I'll be very far away from all of you," Her gaze falls to the other side of the table, where her grandparents Jay and Gloria sit. "But I guess this could be like a brand new start for me!" She says with an unmistakable smile. "And I really do think it could...be something I need. I just don't think I could go without your support." She helps feed her twins while a heavy silence sits in the air as her family exchanged looks.
"If you genuinely feel that's where you belong," Jay starts, "Who are we really to stop you?" She can't help but engulf her grandpa in a tight hug, making the man 'oof' in response. But he still smiles and gives her one hell of a grandfatherly squeeze back.
She tried not to cry when her family saw her off at the airport. Embracing them all with equal measure. Even making sure to call Alex and her uncles before her flight took off. It was definitely an emotional day. But then she felt that warmness again. That was enough for her to know this was the right move. She happily takes a picture of her window as her plane begins to ascend in the air. Posting it on her instagram story with the caption: 'So Long L.A, I'll Always Love You', ending it with a simple red heart emoji.
Once the plane touched down she desperately tried to call Andy, nearly panicking as her calls kept going to voicemail. She rushed to baggage claim and tried one last time to reach him. But thankfully, this time it didn't end in his voicemail message.
"Hailey." He exhales with sheer joy. Nearly making her cry.
"I'm uh, I'm here at the airport. And I know this is sudden but I was wondering if-"
"I know." He simply responds instead. Her face contours with confusion, but he goes on to say, "Turn around." With a quirked brow she does and her heart nearly beats right out of her chest as just a few feet away stands Andy. A rush of emotion overcomes her, as she races towards him, making sure to bring her stroller with her. They nearly crash into each other, but Andy's arms wrap around her just in time. "You didn't think I'd miss your instagram story, do you?"
She laughs through tears as she kisses him with an intense level of passion. Leaving both of them breathless. "I um, I hope you don't mind having two kids around." She says, giggling a bit as she does.
"Not at all." His lips once again crash into hers.
She was right. This is where she was meant to be.