Walking into the tiny white room, Aria inwardly shuttered. Each time she entered, she saw a woman that looked less and less like her mother. She made sure to have a bright smile as she peered through the door. Ella was sitting up in her bed, and her and Bryon seemed to be in the middle of a deep conversation. "Aria!" Ella beamed at her daughter, her eyebrows raised and her smile widen as she saw Ezra follow her daughter through the door. "Well Ezra Fitz, you finally came to see me, and you bought me flowers!" Ella gestured for him to sit down on the chair next to her bed. Ezra handed Ella the flowers, and then took his seat. Taking a good look at Ella she looked so pale, and her face sunken in, but she still had her beauiful smile, and he was flattered that she seemed so happy to see him.

Byron walked over to Ezra and shook his hand. Ezra was a little taken off guard by the friendly gesture. "Bryon, it's good to see you again" Ezra offered, not really sure how much he ment it. Things with Bryon had always been akward, this occasion was very much in keeping with their tradition. " You too, Ezra, it really means alot to us for you to come down here, we know life in New York keeps you very busy." Ezra wondered if Bryon really ment that, or if he was scarastically referencing Ezra's MIA status while Ella has been sick.

Sensing Ezra's hesitation to address her father's comment, Aria thought it would be the best time to jump in the conversation. "So anything new mom? You and dad seemed to be talking about something pretty serious when I came in." Aria locked eyes with her mother trying to gage her reaction to the question. Ella, straighten up, and looked over to Bryon "Well me and your father we're just going over a few things, nothing for you to worry about. Lets talk about you getting this handsome man to finally grace me with his presence" Ella smirked as she saw she made Ezra blush. "I have no excuse, I realize the flowers harldy make up for me not showing up earlier, you can expect few more gifts to hopefully sway your forgiveness" Ezra flashed her his boyish grin. "Look at you, trying to charm an old woman" Ella smiled at him "but mission accomplished Mr. Fitz, consider yourself more than forgiven..." Ella stopped mid sentence, looking down at her daughter's left hand. "Aria Montgomery, come here and show me this new rock on your hand!".

Aria looked nervously over at Ezra, and sat down on the bed beside her mother. " Wow, this ring is absolutely georgous! When did Ezra give this to you?" "I had to take it back to the jeweler and get it resized, I just got it back yesterday" Ezra interjected, seeing that Aria was struggling to come up with a response. She looked over to him and give him a smile, as if to say thank you. " Well, job well done you!" Ella gushed to Ezra while still holding her daughters hand in hers. "I see business must be going very well for you" Byron stated while also checking out the ring. "It's going good..." Ezra reluctlanty responded, not sure if Byron was truely impressed, or thought the ring was over the top.

"So let's talk wedding, any progress on the date? Ella asked the couple. "Well mom, we're really more concerned with how your doing, than planning a wedding. I want to wait untill your better so you can take part in everything." Aria sweetly said, while holding her mothers hand. " Aria, I don't want you putting your life on hold because I'm sick, I want you to make the most of your time, you never know when things can end." Ella looked in to Aria's eyes, " I just can't wait to see my little girl in a white dress" "Well I won't be wearing any dress you haven't helped me pick out" Aria firmly responded. The guilt of lying to her mother felt like a huge anchor makeing her slump in down in the bed.

"Well, now do me a favor and go make your father get something to eat, I want to have your Ezra to myself for a few moments." Ella winked at Aria as and released her hand. Everyone else in the room was a little stunned by her request. "Mom, why are you sending me away, I just got here" Aria protested. "Give a sick woman what she wants Aria" Ella narrowed her glare at Aria, and she knew any further argument was useless. Ezra made eye contact with Aria, giving her the deer in headlights looks, Aria just shrugged her shoulders and gave a defeated look. "Do you want me to bring you back anything? Byron asked Ella. "A sweet tea, would be great" She smiled back. With that father and daughter walked out of the room, headed for the cafeteria.

Once Ella felt like they were out of ear shot, she turned to Ezra and smiled a knowing smile at him. " You are amazing for showing up and playing along with Aria's little fib, and that ring, that was a major, step above and beyond." Ezra just looked at her stunned. "It's ok, Ezra, we can have a real conversation. Do you really think, I would believe that you were to busy to come see me, I know my daughter well enough now to know when she is lying. It took me a long time, but I have all her nervous ticks fiqured out." After taking a moment to collect himself Ezra finally let a small laugh out. "If you knew all this time, why did you let get this far?" Ella looked down at the ground for a moment before looking back at him. "I'm sick Ezra, I don't know if I'm going to make it. Aria has been a wreck every since you took off. She's been heartbroken. I've pressed her about making things right with you, but she always said the damage was done, and you would never talk to her again. She's given up. When I got sick, I knew she was starting to tell me things just to make me worry less. I thought about calling her out, but I liked seeing that smile on her face... when she would tell me her stories, she always had the most beautiful smile on her face. I love that smile, so I decided to play along, and hoped that she would fiqure out a way to make her lies true, and look, here you are."

Ezra squirmed in his seat " Ella, were not really engaged, I haven't even spoken to Aria in over a year before this morning." " But you still love her.." Ella looked her eyes on him, daring him to lie her. "I'm seeing someone else" Ezra simply replied. "That's now what I asked you" see said firmly. Ezra just breathed out, knowing they both knew the answer to her question. " Still, Aria is right, to much damage has been done, she shattered me, and I don't think I could survive another round with her." "Aria has made some mistakes, she knows that, she lives with that. She has really learned alot, she hasn't moved on." "She moved on right away, hell she was turning to other guys while we were still together." Ezra said with anger in his voice. Ella gripped his hand. "Ezra, she has made bad choices, she runs when she's scared, but she has never moved on from you."

A silence filled the room. "Can you do me one favor? Ella asked. "What is it" Ezra asked hesitantly. "Give it a week, stay here in Rosewood, play along with our little game, and if after a week with Aria if you can still walk away, then that's what you should do." Ezra laughed again, "You think I'm still the lovesick fool I was before." He shook his head. "Ok I'll stay, for you. But don't get your hopes to high about me and Aria, as I already told you, I'm seeing someone else".

"Well call me a sucker for true love, but I know the way you loved her doesn't just go away. Give Aria a week, and then come and talk to me" Ella smiled. "Aria gets her stubborness from you" Ezra laughed as he kissed her forehead. "Well Mrs. Montgomery, I better get going, I get to spend an entire week in the same house as your ex husband, the things I do for you women." Ezra whined. " Well I think you find this Byron alot eazier to get along with, he's really trying to get back in my good graces." Ella almost blushed as she spoke. "Is it working? Ezra asked, with a smirk. "I'll let you know in a week" She laughed.