Note: Thank you for your kind reviews:) I wanted to clarify a few things. First, Maddie will not be like Jackie; Jackie sucks and can crawl into a ditch with her freaking annoying self, okay? You might see Maddie in later chapters, but she won't be crazy. I also want to thank Notinyourlifetimehoney for good luck on the program. I sang "Santa Baby", and I think I nailed it, so thanks. Thanks to all my reviewers, who supported me throughout the whole thing so far: HarrylovesGinny09, Mlollylucy, bite-me-im-irish, Lillie, Notinyourlifetimehoney, St0ryTeller, PrettyLittleFan, AngelInADevilsArms, cole87, princessjasmine12, Dani, karenjules, pllezria4everrr, newyorkgirlezriaobsessed, AJMcGough, krazyfan1, XoxoA, and the anonymous reviewers. Okay, enough talking, on to writing:)

Chapter 7:

It was early in the morning, around 6:30, on Christmas day. It was a week ago when they arrived at Ezra's grandparent's house, and Aria and Ezra had spent every moment together. They had taken late night soaks in the hot tub, cuddled a lot, and just took time out reality and stayed in their own little fantasy world.

Aria awoke to the sweet aroma of pancakes. She smiled to herself as she got out of bed. The snow was falling really hard outside, and it was a bright sunny day. A very good day for Christmas. Aria looked at herself in the mirror, putting her hair into a messy bun and throwing on her ruby red robe. She walked down the hallway to hear Ezra singing a Christmas song, flipping some chocolate chip pancakes that looked like Christmas trees. He was in just some red plaid pajama pants with a Santa hat on his head. Aria smiled to herself, thinking that he looked incredibly sexy, and crept up behind him. She reached up and covered his eyes and took the hat off his head.

"I wonder who that could be," he said in a playful tone, "Could it be Santa. I've been a really good boy this year."

"Ho ho ho," Aria said laughing, uncovering his eyes and stepping in front of him.

"Nope, it's my girlfriend. See, all I wanted for Christmas is you, and I got you," Ezra said putting the hat on her head and wrapped his arms around her.

"Well, you're my Santa baby. I've been an awful good girl, haven't I," Aria said seductively.

"Yes, ma'am. You certainly have," he said laughing, and waltzing her over to the couch.

"Merry Christmas Ezra," Aria said snuggling her head into the crook of his neck.

"Merry Christmas, Aria," Ezra said pulling out a small rectangular box, wrapped in candy cane paper, "For you, my dear."

Aria lifted her head up, "Ezra, you didn't have to do that. Just having you here with me is a gift in itself."

"It's nothing, Aria. I love you. Now," Ezra said shifting on the couch, "Open it."

"Okay," Aria said unwrapping the paper and opening the box, revealing a diamond necklace with a heart in the middle. On the heart on one side were their names, and on the other side was "Forever is not long enough" engraved on it. "Oh, Ezra, it's beautiful. Thank you," she said kissing him chastely, "Can you help me put it on?"

"I wouldn't have it any other way," Ezra said taking the necklace from her hands. Aria pulled her hair to one side as Ezra hooked it, leaving a trail of kisses on her neck. Aria laughed and turned around.

"How does it look," she asked standing up, showing off her brand new piece of jewelry.

"Beautiful," Ezra breathed, not only talking about the jewelry, but the beautiful woman in front of his face, "You're beautiful," he said thinking out loud.

Aria blushed a rosy pink and replied, "Well, you're not so bad yourself, Fitz," she said pulling him up to meet her, "Look up."

There was a little mistletoe over their heads and Ezra smiled widely, "Well, well, well, it's a tradition. We have to kiss."

"Yes we-," Ezra crushed his lips against hers, not allowing her to finish the sentence. Aria put her hands around his neck, making the little Santa hat fall to the ground. A few minutes passed and Ezra pulled away.

"So I was thinking that we could go eat out tonight, for a Christmas supper. How's that sound," Ezra asked kissing her collarbone, all the way up to her cheeks, and placing a small kiss on her lips.

"That. Sounds. Perfect," she replied taking a seat on the sofa.

They both were cuddling on the couch, watching Christmas movies and feeding each other pieces of their pancakes. During "How the Grinch Stole Christmas", Aria's phone started to ring loudly. She jumped up and grabbed her phone off of the counter top. She answered it without looking at the caller I.D., "Hello?"

"Hey, honey, Merry Christmas. Your mom and I decided to work together and stopped by your apartment, but you weren't there," Byron Montgomery said brightly over the phone. Aria froze and Ezra came running to her. I mouthed to him, "Parents", and he backed away.

Aria suddenly filled with disappointment and anger, "It is one very Merry Christmas, isn't it?"

"Yes, it is. Where are you Aria," Ella asked curiously, joining in on the conversation.

"Oh, I'm fine. I'm just with my wonderful boyfriend, enjoying our Christmas morning together," Aria stated proudly.

"Oh, really? Who is it? Do we know him," Byron asked.

"Actually, yes. It's the man you forced to get out of my life, without telling me or consulting me on my feelings," Aria said with her teeth clenched.

"Ezra," they both gasped at the same time.

"How could you? How could you watch me cry all of those months without feeling guilty for the pain I was feeling? How could you say you loved me, but make the most important person in my life disappear? It hurt me so bad, thinking that he left because I wasn't good enough for him. Or anything for that matter. And not have the decency to tell me that you forced him to leave, or you would take me away from my own life," she stated wiping a tear from her eye. Ezra put his arms around her, in attempt to comfort her.

"Aria-," they both started apologetically, but Aria quickly cut them off.

"No, don't even apologize. Because now I am back in his arms, and I am so not leaving them ever again. Have a Merry Christmas, good bye," Aria said hanging up and pulling her feet up to her chest, crying into them.

"Hey, sweetheart," Ezra finally spoke up, "It's all okay. You don't have to stay mad at them forever, you know?"

"I know, but why did they have to do that to me? And you," she said lifting her head up.

"Well, they are the only ones who can answer that, okay? But, how about we worry about that later, and focus on our Christmas together," He asked stroking her hair.

"Yeah," she said as a small smile crept to her face as she leaned in to kiss Ezra.

It was nearing seven thirty when they arrived at the restaurant. Ezra had made a reservation, so they got seated almost instantly. The place was buzzing with people, and there was a long line waiting outside.

"Wow, it's a good thing I called ahead," Ezra said softly, taking off Aria's coat for her.

"You think so," Aria said gesturing to the shivering people outside, feeling a bit bad for them.

The couple ordered their meals, Ezra the steak and Aria the lobster salad, both stealing little bites of the other's. They started talking about when they would go back to Rosewood and where Ezra would stay. Aria insisted that he would stay with her, after they stopped by his house in New York, of course.

"How about, instead of your little apartment, you could live with me in my house in New York," Ezra said stealing a bite of lobster out of Aria's plate, causing her to slap his hand.

"But what about Maddie," Aria said with a gross face, making Ezra smile at her jealousy, "I'm serious. She will probably come over. Or we will walk into your house and find her sprawled across the couch naked, holding a sign that says-," Ezra cut her off quickly.

"Aria," Ezra whispered, "I think I made it very clear that I was in love with you, not her," Aria looked away from him. "But," Ezra said lifting his finger to her chin, and turning her head gently to face him, "If it makes you feel any better, I will get a restraining order if she keeps trying to get me back."

Aria giggled slightly, "Or we could get a hot wire that zaps her ass every time she gets fifty feet from the house."

Ezra laughed loudly, causing a few tables to glance his way, making Aria burst into laughter. They both quickly stifled their laughs, but still had giant smiles on their faces.

"Yeah, or that," Ezra said with a giggle.

They finished up their meals, paid, and left the restaurant. Aria was walking towards Ezra's car, when he grabbed her arm softly. Aria looked at him confused, "I thought we were going home and watch the 24-hour marathon of "A Christmas Story", our favorite."

"We can watch it later, since it will still be on," Ezra stated with a smile, "Let's go for a little walk."

"Okay," she replied entwining her hands in Ezra's.

Ezra led Aria to a forest that was fully lit up with Christmas lights. It looked as if they were in a fantasy kingdom, but just them. They walked down a stone path with Ezra's arms around Aria the whole time. After about five minutes of walking, they reached a little pavilion in the middle. Aria gasped at how beautiful it was. The whole thing was made entirely from wood, except for the stone steps. There were lights all around the top with glitter on the floor. As she made her way onto the floor, she stopped to admire the small building. Then she looked at Ezra with a 'How did you do this?' look.

"Every year my grandparents would take my brother and I to this place for Christmas. Once I was older, they had stopped taking us because they just couldn't do it anymore. But I would drive up here anyway, by myself, just to think. I admired the peacefulness and happiness it brought me. Not many people know about this place. It's sort of like a secret hide out that only my family and their closest friends knew about," Ezra said meeting her in the middle of the floor. He pulled out his phone and began to play music, "Want to dance?"

"I'd love to," Aria said with a light laugh and through her arms around his neck.

"Aria," Ezra pulled away a while later, "There was a reason I brought you here tonight."

"Well, duh," she said matter-of-factly, "To spend Christmas with each other in a beautiful place."

"Yes, but there is another one," he stated simply making Aria cock her head to the side confused. He started again, "You are the light of my life, Aria Montgomery. You make me smile by just being yourself. You are the most amazing woman I had ever met in my entire lifetime. I want you to know that I love you, and I cherish you. I made a horrible mistake before, to which you forgave me. And I am the happiest man alive because you forgave me. I will never leave you again, Aria. Ever. And I love you with all my heart. So," he stated pulling out a little velvet box from his pocket and dropping on one knee, "Will you marry me?"

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