Ezra heard the knock on the apartment door. It was abrupt and unexpected, the sound of knuckles as they rapped on solid wood. Curious, he set his book down and opened the door. The sight that greeted him was one he hadn't been expected.

"Ella," he said the surprise evident in his voice. He cleared his throat. "Please come in," he gestured to the apartment's living area.

She walked in the door and hesitated, "Where can I put this?" she asked looking down at the foil pan wrapped pan in her hands.

"Oh, sorry about that here," he grabbed the pan from her and set it on the counter.

"Please, sit," he said. "Would you like water or tea?"

"No thank you," responded Ella as she carefully sat down in the apartment's one armchair.

"So," began Ezra questioningly sitting on the sofa next to her.

"So," repeated Ella. "Where's Aria?"

"She's out with Spencer and Hanna and Emily. They were going to meet at the Grille for dinner. I expect they have a lot of catching up to do."

"I'm sure," responded Ella. "I'm sure they'll want to hear Aria tell them that she's married now." Ezra looked back uncomfortably, his hands tucked into his sweater. A part of him was glad that he and Aria decided to make the bed this morning. Another part of him wished that Aria was here with him so he wouldn't have to face Ella alone. He watched as comprehension dawned on Ella's face and she raised an eyebrow. "Unless they already know that she's married."

"They were our witnesses," he responded quietly.

"How old are you Ezra?" asked Ella abruptly. "Twenty-three? Twenty-four?"

"Twenty-five," he answered. He looked at the poster on the wall beside her head. He didn't dare look into her eyes.

"Seven years."

"Excuse me?" questioned Ezra.

"The age difference between you and Aria. It's seven years. I'm not even old enough to your mother."

"But you are old enough to be my mother-in-law," returned Ezra.

"And your colleague," she shot back at him. She was silent before she spoke again. "Is this how's it's going to be from now on?"

"You and I used to be friends…" he faltered. What did he call her? Mrs. Montgomery? Ella? Mom?

Sensing his dilemma she replied, "Ella just call me Ella."

He sighed, "Calling you Ella isn't going to change what happened."

She shook her head. "You're right, we used to be friends, but now we're family."

"That's our brave new world," he responded.

She stood up from her seat and he followed suit. "I guess I'll see you at the teacher inservice session in a couple of weeks," she said when she reached the door.

Before she could leave Ezra stopped her. He put a hand on her shoulder. She looked at him. "Ella. Why did you really come over?"

She took a deep breath and then replied. "It's a pan of lasagna." She gestured to the container on the counter. "I just wanted to make sure that you and Aria were okay." She walked out the door. He watched her go.

"We love each other," he called to her down the hallway.

She turned around for a moment. "I know," she responded sadly. She turned back around and went down the stairs, leaving a dumbstruck Ezra leaning on his door frame.