HANNAH'S POV

"I've got the wine." Jada yells as she lets herself into the house.

"And I've got the pizza." Renee adds.

I hear them take off their shoes so I leave the kitchen drying off my hands with a paper towel.

"And you're both two hours late." I retort when I see them both.

"I got stuck at work, sorry." Jada apologizes taking off her jacket after putting the bottle of wine down on the coffee table.

"And I gave you all a niece who's not always happy to see me go so cut some slack." Renee defends.

"Just get in here already, I'm hungry and after the day I had, I need some wine in me." I demands inviting them to the kitchen.

"Do we need a corkscrew or is it a twist off." I inquire as I get some glasses and plates from the cabinet.

"It's a twist off." Jada replies.

She opens the bottle up and pours us some wine. I take mine and drain it in one go, burping afterwards. I look up to see my friends gaping at me in awe.

"We can just give you the whole bottle." Jada says pushing it towards me.

"I'm better now. It's just been a long day at work. We were at a homeless shelter and it took its toll on me physically, mentally and emotionally." I explain.

"Is that why you're still in your scrubs?" Renee asks.

"Yeah, I took a nap as soon as I got home. Only work up five minutes before you guys got here."I reply.

I feel a headache coming in so I release my braids free of the tight bun I've had them on all day.

"I thought you volunteered for this work. You said it's rewarding being able to help the community." Renee inquires.

"It is and I promise you, I love it. It's just sometimes seeing these people hooked on drugs, living on the streets, some with kids makes my heart bleed. It's so sad." I express.

My two best friends give me sympathetic looks before burying me into a giant group hug.

"You're doing your best Hannah and that's all that matters." Jada consoles.

"Thank you guys." I mumble taking in their love and support.

We pull away and open up the pizza box digging in foregoing the plates all together.

"Do you know where you'll be next week? I know you don't work on weekends?" Jada asks.

The good thing about this new job is because it's like working a 9-5 with more pay. It's taking its toll on me but I want to believe that the work I am doing is worth it.

"Not yet, we receive the location the night before so I'll be getting a text before the end of the night or over the weekend." I reply.

"What if it's FCI?" Jada inquires.

"Don't even joke about it." I grumble.

"You haven't told Santiago yet?" Renee challenges.

"No, I'm scared." I admit.

"Of what." They ask simultaneously.

"Our first fight was about me pushing on wanting to see him and him saying no. If I tell him that I might be going to FCI for work, I am afraid that he'll think I did this just so I can see him." I explain.

I don't want Santiago to think that I'm being pushy or that I manipulated this just so we could meet.

"Hannah you don't have that kind of power." Renee reasons.

"I could have turned Flora down." I say with a shrug.

"Are you kidding? No! This is good for you. It looks wonderful on your resume. And if that man doesn't see that then he's not as great as you thought him to be. Look, if you go then do your job right and build your career, Santiago and his insecurities can go to hell and if you don't go then well and good." Jada encourages.

"Thanks guys, I needed to hear that."

"You are welcome. Now let's get this sitting chart sorted out." Jada demands retrieving the huge chart and different colored markers from her bag.

I refill my wine glass and make myself comfortable on one of the kitchen stools. The girls are sleeping over because we need to get this done by the end of tomorrow. The wedding day is right around the corner so we need to start finalizing everything and fast.

My phone rings at around seven which is weird as anyone who would be calling at such a time is in the room with me.

"Who's phone is that?" Renee asks looking around.

"Mine." I reply leaving the kitchen to look for it in the living room.

I find it wedged between the seat cushions of the sofa I took a nap on after getting home from work.

"It's Santiago." I yell when I see the caller ID.

"Calling this late? Wow. Is that even allowed?" Renee comments.

"She'll be a while let's continue without her." I hear Jada mumble.

I find it cute that they have already gotten used to my dynamic with Santiago. We take our time on the phone and they have learnt to accept that.

I leave the living room and go to my bedroom to get some privacy.

"Mami."

Oh yes, my aphrodisiac. I swear to God, each time he calls me that I turn into a pile of mush.

"Cesar, hi." I reply trying not to sound out of breath.

It's the effect he has on me, what can I say.

"Sorry I'm calling so late, the line today at the call room was insane but I had to talk to you." He explains.

"It's okay, I don't mind. You can call me anytime." I assure him.

"Good to know. What are you up to?" He asks.

"Wedding planning with the girls while getting drunk on wine." I reply.

"Did you send your letter today? You said the same thing."

"No I sent it earlier this week. They've been coming over a lot. Jada's house is being rennovated since Tom is moving in with her after the wedding so we can't work there. We can't meet at Renee's either, Taylor, her daughter has attachment issues meaning we can't get any work done with her around. My place is the neutral zone." I explain.

"I like the dynamic of your friendship." Santiago comments.

"They are my bestfriends. They've been there for me ever since we moved to Phoenix and we have been through a lot together." I expound.

"Im glad you have such people in your life. My line of work didn't allow such bonds." He expresses.

"But now you have me." I console.

"Yes I do. So I got your letter today. As always I loved it. You wanna get married at the courthouse huh?" Santiago teases.

"Yeah." I admit.

I can't believe I told him all that. But it's not a secret anyway and I am not ashamed of being who I am.

"Good because I hate tuxes. Will jeans and a nice button up do?" He asks.

"Are you asking me to marry you Delgado?" I tease.

"What if I am?" He chides back.

"Then I say let's pick a date." I grin loving how easy going he's being about all this.

"A year from today." He decides.

"I'll see you at the courthouse." I assure him.

"I can't wait." He affirms.

I can't hold it in anymore so I burst out laughing with Santiago joining on the joke as well.

"You won't be laughing when you say 'I do'." Santiago says.

"No I won't." I assure him.

Joking around like this with Santiago makes me wish more than anything to see him in person and spend time with him. But he already veto'ed that suggestion. But an opportunity might arise soon and if it does I am going to take it. He'll be pissed but I'm hoping I can soothe him with a smile and he'll see that it was all worth it once we meet.

"So what's this I hear about you and boys in the barracks?" Santiago teases.

"Stop it." I groan out loud in embarrassment falling back on my bed so that I'm staring up at the ceiling.

I've always been a good girl, Darius raised me right but whenever he was deployed my rebellious side took over.

"No." Santiago replies. "I wanna hear more about your wild years." He demands softly.

"Well you aren't getting anything from me. Take me out on a date first and maybe, just maybe I'll let you in." I reply.

"Deal, that might be happening sooner than you think." He agrees.

"What do you mean?" I ask the phrasing of his words capturing my attention.

"I'll tell you soon but first I need to ask you something." He replies.

"Anything."

"I heard that your hospital is coming to FCI to administer Hepatitis B vaccines. Are you on that team?" He inquires.

I am surprised that he already knows about it so there's no point in denying it now.

"Yes I am." I reply.

"Fuck. So you're coming here?"

"I'm not sure, the locations aren't communicated until the night before so I don't know where I'll be on Monday. We're also divided into teams so I'm not sure if my team will be posted to FCI." I explain.

Santiago goes silent for a moment but I can still hear him breathing meaning he's still on the call with me.

"Would it be so bad if I came?" I ask my voice trembling.

I don't want him to reject me again because this time there's nothing I can about it.

"Mami we already talked about this." Santiago sighs.

"I know but this is work so if my team is coming then we can't avoid seeing each other or can we?"

"I don't think so but don't worry about it. Seems like fate is determined for us to meet under these horrible conditions." Santiago relents finally giving in.

"I promise nothing will change. It'll probably bring us even closer." I console.

"I hope so mami. I really do hope so." Santiago expresses.

I know that he's insecure that me seeing him in prison will change how I see and feel about him but that is not the case. He has to know that him being in prison doesn't affect how I feel about him, at least not negatively anyway. I know the real reason as to why he is in prison and it makes me respect him more. Love and sacrifice put him in there and that makes him a hero in my eyes, not a criminal.

"We're good right. You won't shut down on me?" I ask fearfully.

"Of course not. The part of me that's not scared is actually excited to see you. See if you look as good in scrubs in person as you do in photos." He replies.

"I look even better." I assure him smugly.

"I don't doubt that." Santiago laughs.

His words ease my worry a little. At least he's not as freaked out as he was last time.

"I am not going anywhere or running anywhere." He assures me.

"Good to know because I'd hate to have to chase you. I would catch you in second though, I'm a good runner." I confess with a smile.

Now my heart can rest easy knowing that whether I'm posted to FCI or not, we're good. At least Santiago understands that this is my work that I love and seeing him will be an added bonus.

"I don't want to keep you away from your friends any longer so goodnight mami, we'll talk soon." He says.

"Goodnight Cesar, take care." I reply.

"Always." He assures me and hangs up.

I take a few minutes to compose myself and bask in the afterglow of talking to Santiago. Anytime we talk, he always leaves me riding a feel-good high.

"There she is." Jada exclaims mockingly once I make my way back into the kitchen.

I stick my tongue out at her and pick up my now empty wine glass.

"I could have sworn this had wine when I left." I point out.

"It did but we ran out and you were in there too long." Renee replies showing me the empty wine bottle.

"Well all I have left is beer and I know you two don't like that." I comment getting myself a bottle from the fridge.

"Why do you still stock up on beer? You rarely drink it." Jada points out.

"I do it for moments like this when I run out of wine plus I always find myself subconsciously buying it when I go grocery shopping. I was used to stocking up for Darius. I still buy his favourite shaving cream and those cheese puffs he loved so much. I hated it when he left cheese dust all over the house but nowadays I find myself missing his cheese covered finger prints on the sofa." I explain.

"Those are a bitch to clean. It's been a couple of months Hannah, it's to be expected that part of you hasn't really accepted that he's gone. When my mom died I made her favorite tea for months everyday after school and took it to her art room only to find she wasn't in there. It broke my heart each time I walked in there only to find her favorite work chair empty and it took time but eventually I healed." Renee consoles.

Her mom died of a brain aneurysm when Renee was in high school. She was a talented artist who made some very exquisite paintings.

"I know I'll be okay, it's just hard sometimes. I mean I cleared most of his room but I still can't bring myself to take them to good will." I express. "All his stuff is still sitting in garbage bags on the floor of his bedroom."

Parking up all his stuff was hard and giving them away is proving to be harder seeing as I haven't been able to bring myself to do it just yet.

"Oh sweetie." Renee whispers softly pulling me in for a hug.

I soak in her comfort because I desperately need it.

"Let's do it right now." Jada yells out excitedly.

"Do what?" I ask confused.

"Donate his stuff. Let's get his clothes right now and donate them. There's a good will drop off box a couple of blocks away, we can take my car." Jada explains.

"I don't know Jay ..." I mumble unsuredly.

"And you never will that's why we are here to push you to do the things you're uncomfortable with. Back me up here Renee."

"She's right love. You keep pushing it off because you're not ready but you are. And we will be right here with you every step of the way." Renee adds.

I think about their suggestion for a moment and realize that they are right. Giving away Darius stuff is hard but with their support I can do it.

"Okay let's do it." I agree. "But wait what about the sitting chart."

"We'll finish it later." Jads demands linking her hand with mine and leading me to Darius bedroom.

"Holy shit that's a lot of garbage bags." Jada exclaims.

"Darius had a lot of clothes." I reply.

"This will take several trips to the car." Renee laments.

"Well you did offer to help." I grin sheepishly at them.

The three of us are contemplating how to begin when the bedroom doors slams open making the three of us scream in surprise.

"FBI, hands where I can see them." Tom's unmistakable voice bellows.

"Tom you dick. Why would you do that?" I cry out turning to glare at the prick who is shining a flashlight at us.

"Because it's fun." Tom laughs.

I take off my right slipper and toss it him but he ducks and it misses him.

"Sweetheart I dodge bullets for a living." He laughs smugly.

"Dodge this then." I retort bridging the gap between us.

I punch him hard in the stomach and he coughs bending over in pain.

"Okay that's enough you two. Hannah away form my future husband, he might be an idiot but I still want him in one piece at the altar." Jada defends her fiance.

"Thank you love, nice right hook Hannah." Tom replies straightening up.

"Thank you, I learnt from the best." I comment with a shrug recalling all self defense classes from Darius.

"What are you three doing in here anyway and why are there so many garbage bags here. Did I just walk into a crime scene? Actually don't answer that, I don't want to know." Tom rushes out.

"Calm down special agent. They are all Darius' clothes. We want to donate them to good will but what are you doing here?" I inquire.

"I called him and asked him to bring us some wine." Jada explains.

"Good, we can use his help to carry these out. Wish Ben and his trunk arms were here as well." I say wishfully.

"Ben and his trunk arms reporting for duty." Ben replies standing at the door.

"Let me guess, Renee called asking for wine too." I ask.

"Yes, we didn't know who would get here first. Looks like the FBI agent wins." Jada grins.

"Because he has sirens and probably picked some random bottle from the liquor store while I brought you ladies top shelf stuff." Ben grins looking proud of himself.

"Enough comparison on whose cork is better. Let's get this done before I change my mind." I demand.

"Did she just?" Tom trails off.

"Get your head out of the gutter Tom, I meant the cork, as in that thing found on a bottle. We all know they are the same size anyway." I grin at him.

"And how do you know that?" Tom exclaims looking at Jada accusingly.

"We got drunk one night and said more than we should have. Don't worry, both of us are very happy with those sizes." Jada laughs.

"Yes we are but like Hannah has said, let's get to work." Renee requests us.

It takes a moment for the guys to get over the fact that we discussed their penises and get to work. With their help we manage to get all fifteen trash bags filled with Darius clothes out of his bedroom and outside. We have to use two cars since the trunk size of Jada's car is smaller than she anticipated. My jeep's trunk is big enough but they both boxed me in so it's easier to just use Jada's car and Ben's truck.

I ride with Jada and Tom whole Ben is with his wife. It takes us a couple of minutes to get to the good will drop off box. Getting the bags out of the cars and into the metal boxes is another task in itself.

"This reminds me of that scene in Big Bang Theory where Penny clears out her closet and Bernadette and Amy help her donate. Bernadette ends up taking a cute pair of boots and Penny takes jeans." Renee comments as she hauls a trash bag into the box.

She misses but Ben is right there to help her.

"What did Amy take?" I ask.

"I can't remember but I do remember Penny putting the jeans back though Bernadette came back for the boots." Jada explains.

"That's the last of it." Tom announces.

The car trunks are empty and the good will boxes are now filled with donations from Darius closet. It's hard but it had to be done.

"Darius is very proud of you right now and so am I." Tom consoles pulling me in for a hug.

"Thanks let's go back now, I'm cold." I demand wanting to get back to the comfort of my home.

On our drive back, my phone pings with a text.

"Fuck." I cuss out as I read the text.

"What?" Jada asks turning to look at me from the front seat.

"Tomorrow's assignment just came through." I reply.

"And?"

"My team is going to FCI on Monday." I answer.

"Holy shit!"

"I know."

Holy shit indeed. Looks like I'll be seeing Santiago soon.

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Should the first time they meet be in Hannah's or Santiago's POV? Majority votes win. 

Two updates in one day.. I'm spoiling you guys...