Authors Note; Sorry for not updating in a while, been lacking inspiration and direction for the story – although I do have an idea where I would like the story to go in my mind, putting it into words is proving to be hard.

Thank You for those that have stuck around for this, hopefully you like this.

As usual, Read and review, Enjoy!

Note; that in this story, Ezra has some idea of 'A' somehow having something to do with Aria – though doesn't have a very clear understanding of what A has been doing.

Ezra didn't sleep at all that night. He sat at Aria's bedside as if guarding her from the threat that this 'A' person was posing to her. Her sleep was restless though, tossing and turning far more than she usually did. Nights that the two had spent together, in one another's arms – those had been peaceful nights. Her sleep right now, told him that something was unsettling her mind. He didn't blame her, this A person had really put her through a lot lately.

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"Ezra, what is it?", Aria was making a move to leave her bed, to try and get a look at the letter that was now a crumbled mess on the floor. "Ezra, talk to me ... you're starting to scare me!"

He couldn't believe it, even in her condition, she was worrying about him.

"It's nothing, really, get back into bed", he moved over to her, helping her back into bed. He couldn't risk her taking a fall or something and hurting herself more.

Aria, though stubbornly, got herself back into bed with the help of Ezra, although this didn't stop her from again trying to force Ezra to tell her the contents of the letter. This didn't surprise him; Aria wasn't the person to let anything go that easily.

"It's just a letter ... from A" Ezra still didn't know who this A person was, although having his own suspicions but Aria face at the mention of A told him more than she had ever let on. Her face began to go paler than it already was, if that were even possible. The confusion that had been on it before was now mixed with pure and utter fear.

"Ummm ... they're just ... you know .. this person ..." Even in the short amount of time that Ezra had know Aria, he had learnt to pick up on when she was lying and she was definitely not disclosing the whole truth in this insistence.

"Aria, please, I can tell you're scared and I can't help but think that you have good reason for it, please just trust me ... Let me help you, please"

"I want to tell you, everything, I really do ... but not here, not now okay" Her weak attempt at a smile to try and ease Ezra worry didn't help, but the fact that she could smile back at him, without looking as if it took everything out of her somewhat helped Ezra mind to ease.

After promising to tell him everything once she was out of hospital, Ezra went set himself down on the chair next to Aria's bedside, making himself comfortable as best he could. Aria soon fell into an uneasy, probably medicine-induced sleep while Ezra kept on trying to figure out who this A person was, and what they could possibly want from his Aria

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It was a little past three in the morning, when he was startled from his sleep to Aria's sobs. He quickly moved over to her side, seeing that she was still asleep, muttering his name. He gently coaxed her out of her nightmare, holding her in his arms as best he could without causing her anymore more pain.

"Shhh, baby, its okay. I'm here, I'm here"

Aria clung to his shirt, holding on as if she believed he was about to leave her.

"Just don't move, don't leave okay, not again"

It seemed she was still half asleep, muttering nonsense then making perfect sense. He couldn't believe that she was dreaming that he would leave her again. It broke his heart to think that this plagued her nightmares – that even now, here, he was still causing her pain.

"I'm not going anywhere, not again. I'm here, always" He kissed her head, trying to reassure her that he was there, trying to keep the monsters at bay.

Aria soon fell back into sleep, though much more peaceful now that he was there to hold her. It seemed ever since the first time she had slept over at his apartment, neither of them could sleep soundly without the other next to them. However, sleep didn't not return to Ezra that night. He couldn't shut off his mind. Who was this A person? Why were they coming after him, after Aria?

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Aria was told by her doctors the next day that she was now going to make a full recovery, though would need physical therapy for her leg, but would be home by the end of the week. This news could not have come at a better time for Ezra, feeling as if the universe somehow owed Aria and him some better luck from here on out.

His visits to her became less frequent and more unpredictable as it became harder to try and dodge Aria's friends and family. There was only so many times that he could play the 'concerned teacher' card without arousing suspicions. She had luckily though be granted her mobile phone back and was able to text him when it was safest for him to drop by, which was thankfully usually the night shift so he was able to stay the night at her side.

Ezra couldn't help now thinking that everything was back on track. Neither one of them had heard from this 'A' person as of late, Aria was making a speedy recovery and Ezra had finally been able to breathe again.

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Aria was soon able to go home and this meant that Ezra would soon find out what connection this A person had to her. She managed to make up an excuse of going to see her friends and stopped by his apartment that Sunday afternoon.

The coffee table before the two was filled with unmarked essays, but with Aria here, the little motivation Ezra had had to mark them before had all but diminished. The crutches stood up against the table the only reminder that not everything was quite perfect.

"So ... how are you feeling? Can I get you anything? Water ... Orange Juice" Ezra felt as if this was the first time Aria had been to apartment, again – fussing over her slightly too much.

"Ezra ... Stop ... I'm fine ... Really" She smiled at him, placing her hand over his arm, trying to pull him closer to her. He obliged and quickly moved her carefully; she was still a little bruised and sore from the accident, and placed her so she was just in the crook between his arm and shoulder. She fit perfectly, like the two were made for each other. Aria placed her head on his shoulder. Ezra could feel her tense up and he worried that he was hurting her. The look of concern on her face made concerned him ever more.

"Aria, baby, what is it?"

"I owe you an explanation ... I'm just afraid –"

"Afraid of what?"

"That what I'm about to tell you will shock you so much you'll never again want to look at me the way you are now"

"Aria – "A pang of guilt hit Ezra. He couldn't help but think that Aria's fear of telling him whatever it was she was about to reveal was somehow related to her nightmare a few nights ago. Did she really think she could scare me off now?

"Just, please hear me out ... let me finish before you decide to break up with me okay"

Aria's eyes were filled with fear as she began to tell the story of the fateful summer before the disappearance of her friend Allison. Pausing only after telling of how Jenna Marshall's accident really happened, Aria look up at Ezra, trying to gauge how he had reacted to her story.

"And now 'A' is blackmailing Hanna, Emily, Spencer and Me. I have no idea why and it seems as if I just can't escape it and I'm so sorry for having dragged you into this - it's not your problem I know and I will understand if you don't want anything to do with me now" Aria let her hair fall around her face, hiding herself from Ezra before he began to tuck her hair under her ear and pull chin up with his finger so she was looking at him.

"Hey ... I love you ... and nothing that you just said to me ... changes that ... Your problems are now my problems, as far as I'm concerned we're in this together now"

Aria let out a sigh of relief. Immediately her features lit up, the weight of what she had told Ezra having been lifted off her shoulders.

"Thank you ... for looking at me the same way you did before ... I just really need you out of all people to understand. It helps to have you here through this"

Ezra closed the gap between them, placing a kiss on her head. He had been entirely truthful when he said that nothing had changed between them. Nothing she had told him would ever shake the way he felt about her. Their moment was broken by Aria's phone beeping. She picked it up and opened the message. Her face that had just moments ago been painted with content and a sense of 'safeness' was now white and fearful. She gave the phone to Ezra before tears slowly welled in her eyes.

'Don't think that telling him your dark secrets will change anything ... I'm still not done with you Aria ... Sweet Dreams – A'

Anger boiled in Ezra as he tried to calm Aria.

"Shhh ... baby ... I'm not going to let her hurt you ... I promise"

But just how long he could keep this promise Ezra was unsure. This 'A' person was giving up and it was clear there were no lines that they weren't prepared to cross.

Again, I'm really sorry about how long this chapter took to upload. University has taken over most of my time and I've only just now found a couple of hours to finish this off. Hopefully the next chapter wont take as long.

Thank You to my loyal readers for sticking with me ... I hope this was worth the wait – let me know what you think :)