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Where they arrived, the restaurant they were going to was impressive just from the outside. There was a line out the door of people waiting to get tables. Ezra pulled the car right in front and handed his keys to the valet. He went around the other side, opened Aria's door, and helped her out of the car. The couple walked in past the line and up to the hostess, "Do you have a reservation sir?"
"Yes. It's Ezra Fitz." He replied smoothly.
The hostess smiled, "Special occasion?"
Ezra shook his head, "No. We're just in the mood for a nice dinner."
"Well we will be more than happy to accommodate your wishes here with us tonight. Jamie will be seating you now." The hostess handed Jamie two menus and whispered a message to him before he led them away and seated them.
Jamie handed them each a menu, "Your server tonight will be Hilary and she will be around in just a minute to get you settled in. Is there anything else I can do for you this evening?" He left when the couple replied they were fine.
"Oh my goodness Ezra," Aria leaned across the table and lowered her voice, "How did you get reservations for a place like this in a day's time?"
Ezra smiled, "Do you want the macho version or the truth?"
"Let's start with the macho version." Aria smirked.
Ezra leaned across the table and motioned Aria closer. In the best Italian accent he could muster, he whispered, "I've got connections."
Aria giggled, "Ok. So what's the real story?"
"My friend, Jason, actually had a reservation but I traded him courtside seats to the 76ers game in two weeks." He explained quietly.
She looked skeptical, "How did you get courtside seats?"
Ezra shrugged, "I won them. At PTA meeting last month. One of the parents donated them and we had to buy raffle tickets. I only bought tickets to help the PTA. I'm not a huge basketball fan. But I was talking to Jason about tonight and he said he had reservations here for him and his wife. They've both wanted to try this place, but when he mentioned the tickets, and she's a huge 76ers fan too, they decided to trade with me."
"I didn't know you won them. Why didn't you tell me?" Aria wondered.
Ezra's smiling face faltered, "Because I knew I couldn't take you. It's a televised game and I knew at least one person who knew us would watch the game. It was too risky. You know I would have loved to take you."
"I know," Aria squeezed his hand, "It means just as much to me knowing you wanted to take me."
He smiled mischievously, "But we wouldn't be able to go anyway. We're booked that weekend. First full weekend as Mr. and Mrs. right? Do you want me to help you take your coat off?"
Aria shook her head, "I got it." She stood and removed the jacket concealing her new dress.
Ezra's mouth hung open, "You are absolutely breathtaking. Is it new?"
"I bought it special for tonight." Aria replied as she hung her coat on the back of her chair and sat back down.
"You're wearing my necklace. I don't think I ever told you this, but every time you wore that to school and I'd see you wearing it, I almost gave us away. I would start to say something and catch myself or I almost kissed you once." Ezra smiled.
Aria chuckled, "It's probably a good thing you didn't."
"You think?" Ezra and Aria laughed quietly.
Just then Hilary interrupted with two wine glasses and a bottle of wine, "Hi there. My name is Hilary and I will be taking care of you tonight. Would you like to sample the wine of the night?"
"No, we don't drink. Thank you." Ezra smiled. After she took their beverage order and offered to check Aria's coat, they decided they should look over the menu.
Everything was very expensive. Aria didn't know what Ezra was thinking. "Are you out of your mind? It'll cost a fortune to eat here."
"Aria, you are worth every penny. Besides, I think we will both want to remember tonight." Ezra winked at her.
The couple discussed the menu until Hilary came back to take their order. Aria was so nervous she could barely eat, but after a little prodding, she ordered the house steak. Ezra ordered the lobster tail platter. Hilary took the menus and went to put the order in, "I'm glad you ordered something substantial."
Aria smiled, "Well I'll eat what I can, but I was actually wondering something. Can I have a bite of your lobster?"
"Why didn't you just order the lobster then?" Ezra teased.
She lowered her head and blushed, "Well, you'll laugh if I told you."
Ezra paused before replying, "Yes, I probably will, but you can still tell me."
"I've never had lobster." Aria admitted, a little ashamed.
Ezra couldn't believe his well-traveled companion had never eaten lobster, "Never?"
She shook her head, "No. When I was younger, maybe 8 or so, my parents took me out to dinner for my essay winning the elementary school-wide writing competition. A third grader beat out the sixth graders. Of course my parents were proud. Well we saw all the lobsters in the tank when we walked in and I asked why they were there. After learning they were to be eaten, I was horrified and we had to find a different restaurant. I just never had any interest in eating it after that. But I think I would like to try it. Something new to start our new life together."
"Sure Hun, you eat anything from my plate you'd like. As long as I can try your steak." Ezra compromised.
Aria extended her hand across the table and Ezra shook it, "Deal."
They talked for fifteen minutes or so more before their food was brought out to them. Everything looked delicious. Aria began arranging her food around her plate so nothing was touching and began eating. Ezra had yet to lift his fork and when Aria looked up from her plate, he was chuckling. "Did I miss something?"
"No," he shook his head and picked up his fork, "it's just so cute watching you eat. You are a little OCD about it, you know."
Aria blushed and nodded slightly, "I know. But you are the one that loves me, even after watching me be meticulous about my eating habits."
"A+ for using 'meticulous' correctly in a sentence." Ezra laughed and began eating his mashed potatoes. Twenty minutes later, Aria was preparing herself to eat the bite of lobster Ezra scooped out of the tail for her, "Come on. It won't bite."
Aria took a deep breath and leaned over so Ezra could feed her. She took the lobster in her mouth, chewed, and swallowed and was now evaluating the taste.
"Well?" Ezra wondered what she thought.
Aria shook her head, "It was gross."
Ezra shrugged, "I can't believe you didn't like it."
"I lied. I wish I didn't like it. Then all my years of standing up for lobster rights wouldn't have been a waste, but it was delicious." Aria smiled and attacked Ezra lobster tail with her fork, scooping out a larger chunk and stuffing it in her mouth.
He smiled, not saying anything. He just admired this woman in front of him so much and he could not believe she picked him. She was everything he had ever wanted for a wife and in less than a week that would be a reality.
Aria cut off almost half her steak and laid it on Ezra's plate. "What are you doing? You had two bites of my lobster and that's half a cow."
"I'm never going to eat all that, and any food this good needs to be eaten fresh and not relegated to the leftover category." Aria explained. Ezra couldn't argue and began cutting and eating the steak.
Two empty plates and 3 drink refills later, the couple decided to go elsewhere for dessert, but not before Ezra could pull out his romantic proposal. He gave Aria a goofy look. "What?" she wondered.
Ezra stood, and announced loudly above the din, "Excuse me, can I have a minute of your time?" The entire restaurant quieted. He continued, "I just want to make a toast to this incredible woman I have sitting in front of me, looking completely embarrassed right now. She and I have been together for a year and a half and together, we have been through things that most people have only read about in books. We have gone through everything, and though we've had our ups and downs, we made it through together and I cannot imagine my life without her in it. I know that it won't be easy, but I promise I will try to make every day with you more special as the last. So Aria Montgomery, I love you. I love you as much as I did the day I met you, and if you will do me the great honor of being my wife, I would be the happiest man that ever lived and I will make you the happiest woman in the world." Ezra knelt down on one knee and opened this ring box in front of Aria, revealing the ring she and Ezra had chosen together.
Aria was absolutely speechless and she had started crying the moment Ezra had announced her name for the entire restaurant to hear. There was a silence that filled the restaurant heavy from the crowd's anticipation. She finally found her voice, "Ezra, of course I will marry you."
Her fiancé slid the ring onto her finger and pulled her to her feet in a passionate embrace, amidst the applause of their audience. Minutes later, Aria sat across from Ezra, not sure of what she should say next. She finally uttered the closest word she could find to put with her feelings, "Wow."
"Wow what?" Ezra smirked a little.
"Wow that proposal." Aria was still nearly speechless.
Ezra was feeling very smug, "I told you I could come up with something awesome with a little preparation."
Aria had a permanent smile on her face, "That's a better proposal than I ever could have come up with myself."
Just then, Hilary brought over their check and a gift wrapped box, "Here you go, sir. Everything is here as you wished. Would you like me to take care of the check for you now?"
He handed her his credit card without glancing at the bill, "Thank you Hilary."
She left them alone once again and Aria's curiosity got the better of her, "What's in the box?"
"Well, when Jason called to switch the reservation into my name, he gave me the phone when he was done and I went over the proposal I had in mind. I had the whole thing recorded and photographed for us. I knew you would have to see the look on your face. Plus I know that you want to make a wedding scrapbook album." Ezra opened the box and showed Aria the disks and papers that were inside.
Hilary returned with his card and Aria's coat and Ezra led Aria by the hand out of the restaurant.
As they were waiting for the car to be brought around, he helped Aria with her coat, "Where would you like to go for dessert?"
"Well, I have never been there, but there is somewhere I'd love to go, under one condition."
Ezra smiled and held Aria's door when the car arrived then ran around to the driver's side and climbed in, "What's the condition?"
"I get to pay for dessert." Aria pulled out her phone and began looking for the GPS to take them to their new destination.
Ezra smiled and agreed, "I have a question though. About you paying for things. If it's not my business, just say so. But where do you get money? I mean that much money. You paid for my wedding ring and the dress for tonight, and now you want to pay for dessert. I'm just curious is all."
"I was hoping you wouldn't ask me that." Aria sighed.
Ezra didn't understand, "Why? What's wrong?"
"Well, ever since we were young. Before I even went to Iceland, we've been coming into the city, a few times a month, to make some extra cash. At first it was just being dates for gentleman that would pay. Then we found clubs that never checked ID's and had amateur night where we could go dance for men. They liked Emily the best. It got so some of the girls would leave with the guys for a while and come back. Mainly Hanna after she lost the weight. She liked the feeling of guys wanting her. I started going again once we moved back. I never had sex with any of the men, but that doesn't mean they didn't pay well for other things. It was always older gentlemen. I have a lot of that money saved still, on top of the jobs and everything in Iceland." Aria explained quickly.
He couldn't believe she was telling the truth. He pulled over on a side street and parked the car, "Please tell me you are joking."
Aria shook her head slightly, "Why do you think your age has never been an issue for me?"
Ezra took a deep breath. 'How could she keep this from me?' and 'How could she do such things?' and 'Why didn't she just ask if she needed money?' were only a few questions that bombarded his brain. He wasn't sure what to say. "Well I still love you. I just am so shocked. I mean, holy crap."
"Do you want to call off the wedding?" Aria whispered.
He didn't know how to answer that. Of course he didn't, but after everything that she said, maybe they should wait. He wasn't sure why the next words out of his mouth were "Of course I still want to marry you." Apparently his heart was answering for his head.
A second later, Aria's laughter filled the car, "Thank you so much. I have to tell you that's a relief. By the way, that was completely made up. Nothing like that ever happened. I wouldn't do that to you."
"Why would you tell me a story like that?" Ezra was relieved but a little angry also.
Aria gave Ezra an apologetic smile and held his hand in both of hers, "I'm very sorry. I just wanted to see if I threw the most outrageous story that was believable at you, if you'd still want me. I won't do it again. I promise. I love you."
"Yeah, don't do that to me again," he whispered huskily. "I almost had a heart attack. I didn't think it was possible, but you are very convincing. Maybe you should become an actress."
She leaned over and kissed him passionately, "I love you Ezra. I am sorry."
"I know you didn't mean it," he kissed her again and pulled the car back out onto the street. "Where are we heading?"
"To the Cheesecake Factory. Have you ever been?" Aria wondered.
He shook his head, "No. I've always wanted to try it though. Where is it?"
Aria directed him until they pulled up in front of the restaurant. Ezra parked the car and once again helped Aria out of the car, "Are we eating here or do you want to take it to go?"
"Either way." Aria replied taking Ezra by the hand and leading him inside. They decided to get a table and eat there.
They waiter came over to the table to take their order, "Can we just have the dessert menu?" The waiter handed them the dessert menu and informed them he would return.
Ezra looked over the menu, "Wow. $8 for a slice of cheesecake. Are you sure you want to pay?"
"Of course. Spencer's parents went out to dinner one night that we were staying over last year and brought back a piece of cheesecake for each of us. It's the best thing I have ever tasted, aside from your lips." Aria grinned seductively.
He smiled and rolled his eyes, "Cheesy."
"You love it," she teased.
Ezra made a thoughtful face, "You never did tell me how you have so much money."
"Oh, well when my grandfather died when I was 6, he left me some inheritance. It was actually quite a bit, but my parents decided to invest the money in the stock market for me and my inheritance multiplied by five. When I was sixteen, my parents sold the stocks and presented the money to me from my grandfather. They explained what they did and I opted to keep the money rather than reinvesting it. I actually have a lot of money, Ezra." Aria explained.
The truth was so far from her made up story, Ezra could only smile and reply, "That's nice." He was curious to know how much she had meant by 'a lot' but decided it would be something to find out at a later time.
"I really freaked you out earlier, didn't I?" After Ezra nodded, she continued, "How could you even believe that about me?"
Ezra didn't have an answer, "I was trying really hard not to believe it, but as I said, you are very convincing. I would have married you anyway. As long as you stopped your city trips."
"You really are in love, aren't you?" Aria tipped her head to the side and grinned.
He nodded and brushed a hair out of her face, "Absolutely. I'm marrying this amazing girl who doesn't know how wonderful she is or how I'd die without her."
They waiter came over, took their order, and returned a few minutes later with a very large piece of cheesecake for each of them, "Now I understand the $8 a slice."
"You don't understand anything until you taste it." Aria waited for Ezra to take a bite and his eyes closed as he savored his first bite. "See what I mean?"
Nodding and stuffing a very large forkful of cheesecake, Ezra mumbled, "I'll say."
Aria picked at her own slice, but after such a large dinner, she could barely finish half. They both got takeout boxes and hurried to the car as it had started to rain. By the time Ezra got the door unlocked and they climbed into the car, they were both more than a little wet.
"Do you want to go back to my place? We can both dry off a little and go over wedding stuff." Ezra wondered as her fumbled with the heater, trying to warm the car up before they made their way out of the city.
His fiancé nodded and they were glad it was a Sunday or the traffic would have been horrendous.
After a little more than a quarter of an hour, they arrived at Ezra's apartment complex. He reached behind his seat and withdrew an umbrella. Aria crossed her arms and teased him, "That would have been helpful earlier, don't you think?"
"I didn't know it was supposed to rain. Besides, you look extremely sexy when you're wet." Ezra grinned, but blushed as he realized how dirty his words sounded.
Aria had an idea, "Do you have a t-shirt or something I can put on when we get upstairs?"
"Sure. I have plenty. Why?" Ezra thought that was a silly question.
Aria took his hand, "Leave the umbrella. There's something I've always wanted to do." Ezra tossed the umbrella over his shoulder and went around to the other side, opening the door for Aria. He grabbed her hand to pull her toward the front door, but she held him in place, "Come here."
He didn't need to be told twice. He came back over to her as she slid her arms around his neck and pulled him close. He was about to protest when she pressed her mouth softly against his. He couldn't help but kiss her back and snaked his hands around her waist. They held each other close, deepening the kiss with every passing minute. They were both content to just stay that way forever, but the cold rain finally got the better of them and they raced inside. Once they were safely in his apartment, Ezra looked pleased but slightly confused, "Not that I'm complaining, but what was the point of that?"
"Well, you'll probably think it's dumb and immature." Aria hid her face in embarrassment.
Ezra pulled her hands away from her face so he could look her in the eyes, "I'd never think that. What was that?"
"I, uh, I've always wanted to make out in the rain. To see what it felt like. I really liked it." she began undoing Ezra's tie.
He pulled her in close and kissed her again, "Me too. It was very sensual. You know, we could go hop in the shower and continue experimenting."
Aria groaned, "As much as I'd love to go back there with you, we both know what is most likely to happen, and as much as I want you, I think we can wait a week. That way I am definitely a virgin until my wedding night. Besides, wedding stuff…"
Ezra smiled and kissed Aria's forehead, "You are absolutely right. Why don't I go into my room and lay out something for you to put on and change myself, then we'll toss your clothes in the dryer?"
"Good plan, but as long as you promise to behave, I will just come back there with you." Aria grabbed his hand, but he backed off a little with a fiery look in his eyes.
"I can't make that promise."
She smirked, "Well I guess its best that I wait out here then." He kissed her again before heading to his bedroom. Aria pulled out her phone and dialed her mother. After three rings, a sleepy woman answered, "Hey Mom. I just wanted to let you know that I'm at Ezra's. We're going to go over some wedding stuff and guests and all that other stuff. I didn't mean to wake you up. I was just letting you know I'll be home in a little while. Love you. Night."
"Did you wake your mother up?" Ezra enquired, entering the living room in a pair of sweat pants and a college t-shirt.
Aria shrugged and placed her phone on the table, "Apparently she trusts us. Now you turn around. I'll leave my clothes here on the chair and while I'm putting clothes on in the bedroom you can put these in the dryer." He did as asked and in no time she had shimmied out of her dress and padded down the hall to his bedroom. There on the bed were a pair of sweat pants and a t-shirt, just like the ones he was wearing. She chuckled lightly and slipped the clothes on quickly. When she returned to Ezra, he was sitting on the couch with a pen and a notebook, and had two cups of hot chocolate sitting on the coffee table. "Oh look, we match," she teased sarcastically.
"Are you ready to get to work?" he smiled and pulled her onto the couch next to him.
Aria picked up her mug and they set their minds to work. Forty-five minutes later, they had decided on two different venues for the reception and a guest list of 14. They were going to try to get the gathering area of the church for the reception, but if that wasn't possible, they had a restaurant in mind.
"So we need a photographer and videographer. I don't really care who does the video as long as it's nice, but I'd like a good photographer." Aria commented looking over the list of things they needed.
Ezra looked at the list for a minute, and then pulled out his cell phone, "You know, I think Connor's boyfriend of the month is a photographer. Let me check." He sent a text and set his phone back down. "Do we have a color?"
"What like a wedding color? No. I let the girls pick out their own color. So if you are thinking tuxes we can just go with the standard black and white." Aria practically read Ezra's mind.
He grinned, "Exactly what I was thinking, except: bowtie or regular tie?"
"Whichever you want, but you have to wear the vest. You wouldn't be Ezra without a vest." Aria laughed and started tracing an imaginary vest on Ezra's shirt, "I think a regular tie would look better than the bowties. They're just too weird."
"A regular tie it is. So we'll have to go get the tuxes this week. Probably Thursday. What's next? Flowers…" Ezra began reading of the dwindling to-do list.
Aria reached over and crossed that one off, "I will go to the florist with the girls tomorrow after school or sometime before if we feel like ditching."
"I didn't hear that." Ezra's phone chimed and he read over his new text message, "We have a photographer. His name is Marco, by the way."
Aria scribbled on the guest list, "Does your brother really have a different boyfriend every month?"
Ezra shook his head, "No. It seemed like he did for a while, but he's been dating Marco for 4 months I think my mom said. So the next is music."
"That will depend on out venue. You know, the more I think about it, the more I just want to have it at the restaurant. We can get a reservation and set up a little space for our first dance and everything, but it doesn't need to be big. There are only sixteen guests including us."
He agreed, crossing off the church, "Alright, so I will call them tomorrow and you will call the florist. So who are your friends bringing as guests?"
"Wow," Aria began laughing, "Well I guess you'd learn sooner or later, but you may not like it."
Ezra looked at Aria quizzically, "Why? Who is it?"
"Well it's not that you won't like it. You may just be surprised. We all seem to be in secret relationships. I knew about them, but no one but the girls knew about you."
"You are still being very vague sweetie." Ezra poked her in the ribs a few times.
Aria nodded and swatted playfully at his hands, "Ok. If you must know I will tell you. Hanna is bringing Caleb Rivers."
"He's a trouble maker. How can we trust him?" Ezra wondered.
She grabbed his hand and sighed, "He's not a trouble maker, just troubled. His foster family was horrible. He's been staying at Hanna's for about a year. Probably a little less. He's really a nice guy once you stop seeing what everyone else sees. So Spencer is bringing Toby Cavanaugh."
"Wow. I had no idea they were a couple." he couldn't believe that they were all hiding someone. He couldn't wait to hear about Emily.
Aria fidgeted with her bracelet, "Emily's date is the one we have to keep under wraps. I mean Hanna's mom is allowing Caleb to stay there and knows about them, and even if Spencer's parents found out about Toby it would be okay, but no one can know about Em's date."
"That's fine. I want your friends to be happy." Ezra steadied her hand.
After a deep breath, Aria continued, "Em is bringing Paige McCullers."
Ezra looked confused, but started laughing a moment later. When he noticed Aria not joining him in his amusement, his mood sobered, "Oh. You're serious? Paige is gay? And I'm assuming, due to the high security, her dad doesn't know?"
"Correct. Emily had been seeing Paige since not long after Maya was sent away." Aria brought him up to date on all her friends' dating histories.
Ezra sighed and ran his fingers through his hair, "You guys are a handful. How did you ever manage to keep all that a secret? I'm not talking about you, but typical teenage girls gossip."
Aria folded her arms across her chest, "What makes you think we are typical teenage girls? Have we ever seemed typical to you?"
"No," Ezra replied seriously, "no, the four of you have a way about you that isn't like normal people in general. It's like you are looking out for each other. Almost like you are all looking for that stray bullet to jump in front of to save your friends."
She sighed, "Remind me to tell you a story sometime. Its way too long and complicated to get into tonight, so please, don't ask me to explain. Not yet. We have plenty of time for that."
"Alright. I won't ask. But I'm guessing there is something more to your little group than you are telling me. Just promise that when you tell me later, I won't freak out." Ezra pleaded with Aria.
She smiled and placed a gentle kiss against his cheek, "I promise. It's not anything bad. Just extremely complicated and it may take until our first anniversary for you to understand."
"I trust you." Ezra gave Aria a loving kiss before stretching and looking at the clock, "Wow. I didn't realize how late it was. I should get you home." He stood from his place on the couch and went to retrieve Aria's clothes from the dryer. "Oh crap."
Aria looked up at the sound of Ezra's distress, "What's wrong?"
"I had the dryer set on air fluff earlier to get the wrinkles out of my shirt. I never switched it back to dry when I put you dress and coat in. They are still wet." Ezra replied, holding up the damp garments.
She shrugged and smiled, "Can I just hang them up here and wear these home?"
"Sure. Let me go hang them in the bathroom. I'll be right back." He disappeared down the hall and returned a few minutes later with a sweatshirt in his arms. He handed it to Aria, "Here. I figured you'd want something warmer than a t-shirt once we go outside."
Aria went to take it from him, but when she reached her hand out, he grabbed it and pulled her close. He unfolded the sweatshirt and helped Aria put it on. She giggled as her head poked out of the neck hole, "You are so adorable. How did I ever get so lucky?"
"I think that's a question we'll be asking ourselves for the rest of our lives, because I feel like there's no way I could ever deserve you." He wrapped her in a giant hug and began lightly kissing her neck.
She was enjoying it, but she pulled away, "I really think it's time to go. I can't keep telling you no." With a wink, she grabbed her purse and headed out the door, with Ezra right behind her.
Pulling up in front of her house, they noticed only the porch light still on, "Ok. I will see you tomorrow. I'll try to stop by after second period. Are you going to call the restaurant in the morning?"
"Yes. I'll call probably during lunch. Are you ordering flowers tomorrow?" Ezra inquired as he caressed the back of her hand.
Aria nodded, "Yeah. I'm going to see if the girls want to ditch after lunch and go to the flower shop. Plus maybe get our nails done. While we're in the area I can go to the mall and see what I can find for wedding favors. Any ideas?"
"I'm sure whatever you pick out will be just fine. You probably shouldn't tell me you are going to ditch school either. I am technically supposed to report it." Ezra teased.
Crinkling up her nose and nodding, Aria agreed, "No problem. Next time I plan on ditching school, I just won't tell you. And then when I'm not there and you are worried, its your own fault."
Ezra shook his head and threw his hands up in defeat, "Ok, point well taken. Well this has been, by far, the second best day of my life." He moved in to kiss her, but she pulled back.
"What do you mean second best?"
He leaned in and kissed her sweetly, "The first best day of my life is the day I met you. I love you."
"I love you too. Good night." Aria climbed out of the car and Ezra waited until she got inside the house before heading back home.
I hope you liked the chapter. It was another long one. Next chapter will be shorter. Please review and let me know what you think. Thanks! :)
