7. Feelings

Abby gasped and squealed and jumped up and down as soon as she saw what was beneath the boring brown bag.

"Oh my god," was the only thing Aria could think to say. She closed her gaping mouth with both her hands and knelt down to look at the new toy with her daughter. It was the best present ever.

Standing there in front of their eyes was a pink dollhouse as tall as Abby. It had three floors and multiple rooms complete with stairs. It was actually the exact dollhouse Aria had wanted when she was a kid. Her parents never granted her request to get one saying that she'll just get bored with it and move on eventually so it would be a waste of money. She asked for it every birthday and Christmas to no avail. Even 'Santa' wouldn't give it to her. That was actually her first clue to his non-existence. Thinking back, Aria remembered mentioning 'the dollhouse story' to Ezra when they were together years ago. She can't believe he still remembered.

"E-Ezra, it's beautiful!" Aria had tears brimming in her eyes but quickly blinked them away. By the looks of it, Aria still had the desire to have this dollhouse deep down. Abby finally tore apart from her dollhouse and ran to hug Ezra's leg.

"Thank you Ezra! I love it! Thank you, thank you, thank you!" Ezra was shocked at first and went stiff, not accustomed by a child's hug but quickly relaxed and got on one knee so that he was almost Abby's height.

"You're welcome Abs," Ezra could see how happy he had made his daughter and it made his insides warm like he never felt before.

"I like that nickname," Abby said after a short giggle.

"Yeah?" Ezra lighted up, knowing he had done something right.

"Yes, and I like you." Abby hugged Ezra who was once again shocked by the unanticipated affection he got, but took no longer than a beat to warm up to his daughter. To Abby, the words I like you meant that she had decided that Ezra was a fun loving person. But to Ezra those words meant the world. It meant that she was welcoming him to her life. It meant that maybe, just maybe, he wouldn't be such a terrible father after all.

"I like you too Abs," Ezra said grinning, loving the feeling Abby gave him. Aria watched from where she sat on the ground next to the dollhouse and smiled to herself. She could spot the simplest of Ezra's reaction and she loved the way he was hesitant and a bit shy around the chatty three year old. Aria moved the apparently not light dollhouse to an empty spot in the room so that it wouldn't be in anyone's way and took the apartment keys as she headed towards the door with Abby and Ezra not far behind.

"I booked a table for us in the Italian place a few blocks away, how does that sound?" Ezra said once the three of them were on the other side of the door and walking into the elevator.

"Sounds great, Abby loves Italian. Right honey?" Aria looked down at her daughter whose hand was in Aria's.

"My favorite is spaghetti!" Abby started saying as the elevator worked its way down the building. "But sometimes mommy won't let me eat it at home because she said it'll get messy." Ezra chuckled at this and pushed the open button once there was a ding.

"Your mom's right, it's better to eat them in restaurants where you don't actually have to clean." Abby dragged Aria out with their still joined hands and Ezra led them to his silver sedan. Abby climbed into the backseat and quickly put her seatbelt on as Aria and Ezra got into the front seats. Ezra started up the car and drove while Abby talked about probably everything she could think of the whole car ride.


Aria stared at the empty plate in front of her and took a sip of water. She decided not to order any desert, already way too full from the main course.

Abby was telling Ezra all kinds of stories and he hung on her every word. He loved hearing all the stories but to be honest, he was also sad. He wanted to be in those stories, not just listening to them. He should've been there from the start. He thought back to all the times he had wanted to pick up the phone and call Aria to tell her that he didn't care about everything they had said in the fight because all that matters is that at the end of the day, he loves her. He wanted to pack up and go to New York and hold her in his arms once again. If he had done that right after they broke up or even if he just didn't leave for California, she would've found him and told him that he was expecting a daughter. And they would've built a family together.

Abby finally finished her story and leaned on Aria. "I'm full mommy," Aria observed Abby who looked tired from all the excitement today and put her arms around her.

"You want to head home? It's already eight." Aria was surprised how time flew by so fast. They had had so much fun. Abby was so comfortable around Ezra and Aria was glad. She can finally stop worrying about everything and just enjoy the moment, because this moment is definitely worth enjoying even though Abby did most of the talking.

"Is that okay? I'm sweepy." Aria softly chuckled at her daughter's sudden yawn in the middle of saying 'sleepy'.

"Of course it is honey," Aria brushed away some of Abby's hair and placed it behind her ear.

"Why don't the both of you ask for the car from the valet and I'll take care of this," Ezra held up the check and stood up to head to the cashier.

"Are you sure? I can pay too." Aria knew that Ezra had intended to pay for dinner all along but she wouldn't mind paying either.

"What are you talking about? Don't worry about it, go ahead." Ezra walked across the room to the cashier and handed his credit card to the man behind the counter. He watched Aria, who was carrying a now sleeping Abby, go outside and talked to the man in charge of the valet through the glass walls.

"Here's your card sir, have a good night with your family." The man in front of him said a little bit too cheerful for his taste, but the word 'family' struck him. A huge smile was plastered on Ezra's face and he thanked the man, named Carl according to his nametag. According to Carl, Ezra had his very own family and he loved the idea.

Ezra's car came into view just as Ezra himself arrive next to Aria. She slowly laid Abby down in the back seat and seated herself in the front passenger seat and looked to her left where Ezra was grinning, glancing at Abby.

"What are you smiling about?" Aria wrinkled her forehead in confusion as she buckled her seatbelt, never looking away from Ezra's face to make sure that she won't miss any sudden change in his weirdly joyful expression.

"I'm just happy to have Abby in my life." Ezra started up the car and as he drove out of the private grounds of the restaurant he added, "Maybe someday I can get you back too." Ezra glanced for just a second at Aria with a sweet smile on his face, not wanting to keep his eyes off the road any longer.

"Maybe," Aria wanted to just leave it at that. But she couldn't. She couldn't just string him along and not tell him how she feels about the whole situation. He deserves to know. Now. "Look, about that."

"Oh no," Ezra's smile slowly disappeared.

"What?" Aria panicked for a second. Was there something wrong? Was it anything to do with him? The car maybe?

"Well, the words you just said aren't exactly the kind of things you say when you bear good news." Ezra winced silently, expressing his point.

"It's just that you and Abby had just met and you're only starting to get know each other and she has no idea about our past. And I'm scared that if we go out and it doesn't work out… that Abby might lose you. And she just got her father I don't want her to go back to not having one. I-I'm worried," Aria was about to ramble some more when Ezra cut in.

"I understand where you're coming from," Ezra nodded slowly thinking about Aria's point of view in all of this. She had watched Abby grow up without a father and she wants that to change. "But I'm not going anywhere." Ezra once again took the chance to glance at Aria for a moment before looking back at the road and continuing. "I love Abby no matter what and I will always be there for her. But I don't want to make you do anything you don't want to either." Ezra took a deep breath. "At least think about it. About us. I know that I still have very strong feelings for you. I never stopped, and I know you feel the same way. Those feelings don't just go away." Ezra finished just as he arrived in front of Aria's building.

"I know," Aria shook her head slightly and looked up at Ezra.

"Good night Aria," Ezra leaned forward and gave Aria a soft peck on the cheek, which sent shivers down her spine. She wanted to kiss back and taste his soft lips. Just a chaste simple kiss, nothing more. She simply missed being the woman in his arms, being able to talk to him or even not talk and be by his side to feel the warmth of his body whenever she was having a bad day. She wanted to do all the things they did when they were still together. But she didn't pursue any of her desires and just let her neck and cheeks grow red. She suppressed a grin and settled her handbag on her shoulder.

"Good night," And she stepped out into the cold night, got Abby from the back seat and carried her into the building. Ezra watched her walk away and pulled out his phone once she was out of sight. He sent a text to Hardy letting him know that he won't be staying over anymore and thanked him for last night. He finally drove away into the dark night, holding on to the tingling feeling he still had on his lips.

A dollhouse! Someone actually guessed an iPad and I guess that would be pretty awesome hahha... Too bad Ezra's not exactly loaded on cash. Again, thanks for reading reviewing/follow/favorite and keep them coming! They keep me motivated to write and update faster so please don't stop! xo