Chapter 7 Family Love
"Do I spy a little blush there?" Ezra asked his son teasingly. They all walked into the kitchen, because their dinner was about to be served. Aria took her place behind the kitchen counter and finished some finishing touches on her salad.
"No!" Rick immediately shot back. This only delivered some laughs from his parents. The little boy looked so cute with his little blush and his head in the clouds. His head rested in his hands and he stared vaguely ahead of him. Ezra made his way towards his wife and wrapped his arms around her. He planted a few kisses on her shoulder, before he moved her hair away from her ear.
"I remember myself sitting like that on a chair in my old apartment' living room after I first met you" Ezra whispered in Aria's ear. This was a small little detail she had never known. That same night she had laid on her bed and scribbled away in her diary about her new dreamy boy.
"Oh, really" She simply said, teasing him a little.
"Yeah, you had me wrapped around your magical finger" He said still whispering not even trying to hide his feelings for her. He spun her around and gave her a quick but loving kiss.
"Well, I hope these magic fingers of mine could make us a delicious dinner as well" She said leaning back a little before she touched his nose with her finger lightly. Dinner was served in a matter of a few minutes and they all enjoyed their meal. They conversed about their day and mainly about Sara. Even though Rick was a shy boy around her, he was a big talker when it was just around his parents. After their dinner, Aria cleaned the dishes with Rick and Ezra finished his grading. Aria and Rick soon found a place to settle in their big family living room in front of the fireplace. There were a few books sprawled in front of them and one of them was in Aria's hands. She read Rick every single evening a story and most of the times, Ezra would watch the two of them interacting together. This time wasn't any different.
"I have finally finished every single paper" Ezra announced while he walked into their living room.
"That's great, honey. Would you like to join us?" Aria asked before she continued reading to Rick. Ezra found his place behind Aria and her back soon rested against his chest. His arms found their way around her while she still continued reading to Rick. Her voice sounded soft and gentle, just like those of the teachers in kindergarten.
"Can you read it again?" Rick asked after Aria finished reading the story. It was almost his bedtime, so she decided against it and shook her head.
"No, not anymore. It's time for you to go to sleep. Would you like some hot chocolate first?" She asked rushing her fingers through her son's hair, making it look like a complete mess. Ezra concentrated on her hair, gliding his fingers through it. He pulled her hair to own side and started kissing her bare shoulder, lingering the kisses here and there.
"Ezra" She whispered to him in a fake angry voice. It wasn't that she didn't like his kisses, it was just better to save them for when Rick was upstairs sleeping.
"Yeah, some hot chocolate would do, but I do want marshmallows in them" He said, jumping up and already running towards their family kitchen. Aria unwrapped herself from Ezra's strong, comfortable and loving arms and stood up as well.
"Do you want some?" She asked smiling broadly at him. He was really the laziest person on earth. His food was served for him every single evening. Not that he could cook on his own. When she wasn't at home to cook, Ezra and Rick always end up ordering take-out. Their house was always clean, thanks again to Aria. But she didn't mind any of these things.
"Of course, my darling" He said before taking her hand and leaving a butterfly kiss on it.
"Mommy, are you coming?" Rick yelled from out of the kitchen. He was never one to be patient. This had to be one of the many qualities Ezra had given him. Well, quality isn't the best way to describe it. Let's go with unfortunate habits or at least that was what it was for her.
"I'll be there in a sec" She said while walking towards her impatient little boy. Their hot chocolate was ready in no time and Aria had to remind both of her men to wait until it wasn't as warm anymore.
"But I want to drink it right now, Mommy. The marshmallows look so delicious" Rick said eagerly. Their it was again, the impatience. She settled herself again in Ezra's arms and made sure she didn't spill all of her hot chocolate over Ezra's white button down.
"Just wait another minute" She said before blowing her own hot chocolate. Rick used this time to grab a cookie from the plate in the kitchen. This had to be his third today, but she wasn't going to whine about that. She wanted to cherish moments like these, because she knew Rick would grow up fast and wouldn't want to sit with his parents by the fireplace, waiting to be able to drink his hot chocolate.
"Mommy, do you know why these cookies taste so good?" Rick asked after he ate the cookie. There were still some cookie crumbs around his mouth, but she figured they would disappear when he put his cup to his mouth.
"No, why would that be?" She asked trying hard to find an answer, but she didn't have any. They had taken the same recipe they normally took, so there shouldn't be any reason for the cookies to taste better.
"Because they are made with love" He said with a little sparkle in his eye. A chuckle escaped Ezra's mouth from behind her and she couldn't help but smile herself.
"You really shouldn't spend so much time with your Daddy" Aria smiled while she playfully slapped Ezra on his right shoulder.
"And why is that, if I may ask?" Ezra asked her teasingly.
"You're such an old and romantic soul" She said pecking his lips lovingly before turning to her hot chocolate again. Rick hadn't paid much attention to their parent's interaction, he simply drank his hot chocolate and ate his cookie. The little family talked for a little while about their favorite books and places they should visit some time.
"Did I just see you yawn?" Ezra asked his son who tried to think of something that looked like yawning, but he couldn't come up with anything that resembled the action fast enough.
"Uh, no" He said, but he was already too late. Ezra let go of Aria and quickly picked his son up, so he couldn't go anywhere anymore. The little child laughed and screamed out of pleasure. Following them upstairs, Aria picked up their cups and took them with her. Rick had given in to Ezra and was brushing his teeth now. This had never went so smoothly. Usually he whined about having to get into bed too early, but she hadn't heard any word of it so far.
A few minutes Rick was in his bed, wearing his favorite pajama's. Both of his parents sat on his bed, either one on another side.
"Mommy, did you like Sara as much as Daddy and I?" Rick asked when he was completely settled the way he wanted it to.
"She's a really lovely girl" She answered smiling broadly to her son, who smiled himself like he had never smiled before.
"She kissed me" He whispered softly, but just loud enough for his parents to hear. He touched his cheek with his hand, the very place were Sara's lips had touched his skin. Ezra threw Aria an amused look and Aria chuckled as a reply. Rick didn't even notice this, but kept on staring into the distance.
"I think she will taste the love in your cookie as well" Ezra stated before ruffling his hands through his son's hair.
"Do you think so?" He asked with the biggest and brightest eyes ever shown on him.
"Absolutely" Ezra answered, much to Rick's amusement.
"What should my next move be?" Rick asked more to Ezra than to Aria, but that didn't bother her at all. Ezra knew exactly how to handle these sorts of situations, because he was Hardy's best friend after all.
"You could ask her about the cookie tomorrow at school. Or if she enjoyed playing with you yesterday. Maybe you could even ask her to play here this weekend?" Ezra suggested looking at Aria's direction for her approval. She simply nodded, because she would be glad to have her again.
"I will totally do that!" Rick practically yelled after he thought Ezra's suggestions through.
"So now you will be able to have very sweet dreams?" Aria asked her son, who kept smiling like a freak, but his smile still affected her. It brought her joy to see her son this happy. That was all she wanted, for her loved ones to be happy.
"Yeah, I will" He said still smiling, but already closing his eyes, slowly. This afternoon had probably made him tired. Aria leaned in to kiss his cheeks, but Rick moved to one side. Apparently, his eyes had still remained open enough for his to see her.
"Only this side, Sara kissed this cheek" He said moving a little closer to his mother for her to kiss his cheek and so she did. As Ezra did the same, they stood up and walked out of his room. His eyes were fully closed by now.
"Goodnight, buddy. Have fun playing with Sara tomorrow" Ezra said. They all mumbled an 'I love you' before Ezra closed the door. Aria and Ezra settled on the couch downstairs and watched a movie together. Soon enough, the movie wasn't interesting anymore as they found each other's lips. Their kisses were loving yet passionate, like they always were. But they were never boring. They would never get enough of each other's kisses.
"Do you think Rick will be as happily married as I am right now, someday?" Ezra asked when they really needed some air to breathe.
"Mini's so much like you, I wouldn't be surprised" She said before tackling his lips once again.
This was the very last chapter, but there will still be an epilogue. This will be set after the baby is born and I'm already excited to write it! I hope everyone enjoyed this chapter. Let me know! For those who read Taken Away as well, I will probably upload the next chapter tonight or tomorrow! (:
