For those who are unaware, I have previously written to this story Winter Wonderland (please see my account). This will serve as a part two to that.
HELLO! So, I decided to continue with this storyline. I received such overwhelming love, such kind words and compliments as I wrote Winter Wonderland; so I couldn't not continue with this story! Though I believe concluding the story where I did and starting a 'Part 2' was the right choice. Think of it as part one in the book, and now this is part 2. ;) What I am doing this time though is writing the whole story before I publish the chapters, so I get into the habit of planning events before and producing them to you a little more consistently. Upon reading my last story back, while I am very proud of it, very proud; the perfectionist in me wishes it was a little more consistent; so that's something I hope to perfect in part 2. I'm also going to try to tighten my phrasing and descriptions a bit; make it a bit more 'mature' (said with a posh accent); so please let me know how I'm going! No one in my real life knows this is me, what I'm doing, and I don't get any feedback, so I'm relying on you guys to help make me better as a writer! :D
And I'm going to start individually thanking people after their reviews each chapter in this story. I wanted to for a long time with this story, and I wish I had. When reviews make me smile (and quite a few have brought tears to my eyes); I want to acknowledge how much each comment means to me. So, look forward to that. ;)
So, here we go!
Part Two to Winter Wonderland, Chapter 1
The sun streaming through their white lace curtains, Aria slowly began to stir from her night's sleep. Her hair messed and her eyes tired, she slowly registered her surroundings; her and Ezra in their bed, he curled in towards her not a foot away, his arm draped around her waist as he continued to sleep. She smiled as he smiled in his sleep, his face alive yet at peace while he rested. Her heart fluttered staring at his face before she reached her hand to touch his cheek, light enough not to wake him, while she smiled at the contact. He stirred a little and swallowed deeply, making Aria quickly retract her hand from his face with her face in playful shock at his waking. He lightly licked his lips before he pushed his head further into his pillow again. His hand that was draped around Aria's waist moved in a circle on her back to tell her he loved her, making her smile. Aria leaned forward into Ezra's face, and began slowly to nibble on the edge of his ear, briefly pausing to notice the smile develop on his face. With Ezra still resting on his side, Aria pushed her body up to his tightly. She rested her head on his neck as he also snuggled his face into hers while he continued to rest on the pillow. Ezra began kissing her neck and shoulder while his arms tightened around her body; her hands pushed firmly on and moved up and down his chest. She moved her face back from his neck so lips were just millimetres from his. She firmly, ardently placed her lips to his as he immediately returned the passion to her lips. They both pulled back and smiled at each other with gleaming eyes as Aria lay on her back and Ezra instantaneously put his body weight on top of her as they both smiled widely as their enthusiastically kissed. Her hands moved down his back and then round to the front of his pyjama pants as his lips moved to her neck before he began to bite softly while she began pushing down his pants.
Ezra and Aria emerged from their bedroom at 7:30am, both showered and dressed neatly for their day. They walked down the stairs and made their way to the family kitchen where 8-year-old Lily had already made a bowl of cereal for her and 3-year-old Olivia.
"You okay?" Lily asked concerned and with a glare in her eye, again that her mother had been known to display, Ezra thought with a smile.
"Yes we are, why honey?" Aria asked as she got a bowel from the cupboard for her and Ezra and passed one to him.
"There was all loud sounds and screams coming from your bedroom," Lily began as Aria smiled widely, her eyes choosing to focus on a spot on the ceiling while she thought of her response. Ezra blushed and took the opportunity to bail.
"I love you," he said to Aria, obvious to her why he took this time to go to work. He kissed her cheek enthusiastically, "I really love you," he whispered to her ear while she blushed and pushed him in the shoulder teasingly. Ezra grabbed a banana with him from the fruit bowl as he left for an alternative breakfast from his originally planned cereal. "And my princesses, love you too," he said as he kissed Olivia, then Lily on the cheeks before he ran unusually fast out of the house while Lily watched him with an observant scowl. She knew he was running away from her question, yet had no idea why.
"Lil, what I'll say is this; we're very, very okay," she said with a suggestive tone as she poured her cereal into her bowl. "And when you're married, you'll find out for yourself," she said beaming as Lily 'huffed' at the lack of information. Aria knew how smart their girl was though, advanced for her age; she'd get it earlier than her and Ezra would prefer, she thought as she smiled to herself, putting a spoon of cereal in her mouth while Olivia began pushing her fingers in amongst her coco puffs.
Aria and the girls had been home for about 30 minutes after school. Next month, Aria was commencing her masters in teaching, when the girls had settled into kinder and the new school year respectively. Aria had decided to teach high school, while Ezra was continuing to work the same job at the local University. He had made good friends with many of his colleagues, Aria and he going to their houses and having dinner and wine. He had is dream life, in every respect. After a year, Aria's almost full glass would be at its brim also.
"Hello," Olivia asked into the home phone after it had rung a few times. "Nana," Olivia shouted in happiness. "I'm good, I had kinder today. I played outside on the playground and then we did painting and, oh… yep, okay," Olivia said disappointed as the small brunette girl lifted her arms above her head with the phone clasped in her hands towards her mother. "She just wants you, she sound sad," Olivia said before running back to sit next to Lily who has assumed reading "The Secret Seven" in their library.
"Mum, what's wrong," Aria asked in alarm at what Olivia had conveyed.
"Do you remember when I was late the day of your and Ezra's wedding, and I asked Mike to take Lily to get her hair done and everything?" Ella asked hurriedly.
"Yeah mum, I remember. You didn't want to talk about it and it slipped our mind, I guess. Why?" Aria asked as she sat on her and Ezra's light brown leather chair next to the antique corded phone tight to her head.
"Byron was threatening to follow us, to your wedding. He had every intention of ruining it," Ella informed as Aria started shaking her head in response while taking a quick peek at the girls on the other side of the room.
"What, uhh, so what happened?" Aria asked astonished.
"I scared him off, said this wasn't the right way to make whatever point he was trying to make, ruining your day," Ella spoke softly. "But now honey, he's determined to find you again. I'm not sure of his intentions; but I know he's still not wanting to treat Ezra to a beer."
"Why, why now? What do you mean 'he's determined to find' me?" Aria asked, her throat closing a little.
"I don't even know why he keeps talking to me. We're not together and he won't leave me alone. Honey, he said wanted to give you time, that you'd come round to realising what you have with Ezra is a mistake. Now that it's been so long that you've been happy and are still not in contact with him; now I assume he wants to convince you," Ella sighed.
"I've known about this for a while, but now he's narrowing in on your town. He's investigating your small town and the one next door he told me, and hon, you know it won't be hard with Byron's connections to find where Ezra is teaching," Ella said sadly.
"Yeah, I know mum," Aria said with her eyes bright red now, tears threatening to fall. "What, what, do I tell Ezra not to go to work? I'm starting study there next week too," Aria reminded Ella.
"I know honey. It's up to you, you shouldn't have to live your lives under a rock. I'm going to leave that with you, I'm going to go to the police and find out how I can keep him away from me too. He's beyond obsessive, manipulating, quite frankly, the fact he won't leave me alone makes me sick. And there's that inspection at 5 I don't want to miss," Ella reminded Aria.
"Right, of course, for that house a few streets down. It would be so wonderful if you could see the girls more," Aria smiled into the phone, choosing to focus on that happy notion right now. She could panic about Byron when she hung up the phone.
"It would be baby. And I miss seeing you and Ezra, Mike does too," Ella said.
"Yeah, we miss you guys two. Mike's mini-me misses Godpapa that's for sure," she said sadly, looking at Lily who had commenced explaining the first "The Secret Seven" book to Olivia.
"I'll talk to you later, okay Aria?" Ella asked for confirmation.
"Yeah, yep, speak to you later, love you," Aria said as she hung up the phone quickly.
"Girls, get in the car, we're going to see dad," Aria announced loudly and gesturing her arms towards the door.
10 minutes later, the three of them were standing in Ezra's classroom door in the middle of a lecture.
"It's an emergency," Aria choked out. Ezra quickly looked at his class and gave a tight nod before he ran to his wife and daughters and led them to the corridor, closing the door behind him firmly as he did.
"Byron's on the prowl again, and apparently, he's focusing on this town and the next over. Ezra, he's going to find out that you work here," Aria said, dropping her girls' hand from hers as she walked to Ezra and put her hands on his chest. "He's going to find you," Aria said terrified as her fingers held Ezra's head as he lowered it in shock and fear. Aria kissed his forehead while he trailed his hands up and down her sides. "We have to get out of here," Ezra said before he turned and sprinted back into his classroom.
"There's 10 minutes left of class, and I have a family emergency. I'm trusting you can all work independently for 10 minutes. You're all adults, don't let me down. You'll have a sub, I expect for a few weeks. I'll be back when I can," Ezra said hurriedly.
"Fitz, you okay?" A boy from the fourth row screamed down to the lectern where Ezra was standing.
"Uhh no, but hopefully we will be soon," he said nodding towards Aria and the girls who were curiously looking up at the crowd with their huge doe eyes like their mothers. The girls smiled innocently at everyone who was smiling timidly at them, clearly nervous for the Fitz family, for whatever was happening.
"And," Ezra sighed and looked down, "I know how this sounds; if someone comes looking for me, can you say you've never heard of me? I'll explain when I get back. And can you ask Principle Murray to do the same? Tell him to call me if there's a problem," Ezra said with terrified eyes as the students nodded silently. They knew it wasn't something like running from the law, they knew it was something which also concerned his family. They respected their teacher enough to do as he asked. "Thank you all," he said with a tight smile, bidding farewell as he walked to join Aria, Lily and Olivia. He swung his leather satchel over his shoulder and brought Olivia up so her legs were wrapped around his waist as they left the classroom. Olivia looked over Ezra's shoulder and gave a wave to everyone that was staring, making a few people 'aww' and a and a few people smile at the small girl's happiness, even though she was clearly in a situation far larger than her.
"Why?" Was all Lily asked as Aria passed her her suitcase.
"We'll explain on the plane," Aria assured as Lily's eyes widened nervously. "Oh honey," Aria said as she kneeled down in front of her. "I promise, I'll tell you on the plane. Right now, we have to beat a clock. Dad and I need you to go and pack necessities; knickers and socks, pants, shorts, shirts and jumpers, and a few pairs of shoes. I'm going to do Olivia's suitcase and dad's doing his and mine. We're leaving in 15 minutes," she said furiously kissing her daughters hair as she then ran to Olivia's room to start packing. Lily's eyes followed her mother nervously before she swallowed deeply and puffed up her chest so she was taller. Mum was going to tell her later, right now she had a job to do. As she walked to her room, she saw her dad through his and mum's open bedroom door. He was throwing things of his and Aria's into a large suitcase. He paused and exhaustedly ran his hand through his hair before he resumed throwing Aria's clothes in again, followed closely by his own. 'Dad was scared' was all Lily knew, and so was mum.
13 minutes later they were all in the car, suitcases in the boot, passports in Aria's hand, Ezra and Aria's wallets filled with cash and their cards.
"Where are we going?" Olivia asked now starting to cry at the high intensity of the situation. She had no idea what was going on and just saw her parents panicked. Lily took Olivia's hand, though her eyes were crying too, to offer comfort. Aria and Ezra turned around to look at their girl's faces and screwed up their faces in anguish.
"What about Disneyland?" Ezra asked the girls.
"YEAH," they both screamed while Aria laughed, clearly in love with the plan too. Ezra put the car into reverse and they began driving down the road. As Aria passed an adjoining street, she could have sworn she saw a car that was exactly the same as Byron's heading towards their street.
I hope you'll choose to review! It means a lot with the work that goes into a chapter! :D ~St0ryTeller xoxooxxo
I'm going to commence comments back in response to your reviews of Winter Wonderland chapter 31 :)
PrettyLittleFan You are beyond fabulously kind! Thank you for such kind words! And your wish is my command ;)
Caligirl28 I can't even, I have no idea how to even reply to such kindness! :D Thank YOU for reading it! And I hope you do re read WW over time! :) I also hope you like this sequel!
sandra1992 I'm back with another Ezria for you! :D And the happiness your comment gave me can't be put described accurately in words! I've never had a fan before! Your comment gave me tears, I'm so glad you loved the story! I hope you also like this one just as much! :D
amberanoka You are beyond kind! Far beyond! It's because of wonderful people like you that I'm still writing! I hope you enjoy this sequel too! :D
princessjasmine12 Thank you very much! :)
.dreamers Thank you! I was debating to throw in drama, but I figured they deserved a happy ending (even if it turned out to be brief with my sequel). Thank you again! :D
HarrylovesGinny09 Thank you! :D
Notinyourlifetimehoney Thank you! ;)