Aria quietly laid in bed next to Daniel. She had spent the last two hours talking to her mother about everything that happened between her and Ezra. She was exhausted. She did her best not to wake up Daniel, mostly to get some actual sleep, and a little to avoid the millions of questions he must have.
After working it out with Ella, they decided the best thing to do was take one day at a time, and eventually have a heart to heat with both Ezra and Emma. Aria needed to make them understand. She was never out to punish Ezra, she was in genuine fear of him. Also Ezra had needed to give a few explanations of his own.
Another thing Aria could not avoid was that she was in a relationship with a man she was not in love with. She felt guilty admitting that to her mother, but the overwhelming truth was that her heart still belonged to Ezra. She needed to tell him the truth and soon, he was a great guy, and he deserved to be loved. Closing her eyes Aria told herself she would tell him tomorrow. It made her stomach hurt, but it was the right thing to do.
Waking up that morning, Aria found herself alone in the room. The smell of bacon was coming from downstairs. Looking over at the clock, she realized she had slept in until after 10:00am. She opened the bedroom door and could hear Daniel downstairs talking to her mother. Grateful for the small moment of privacy she went for her phone to call Spencer.
"Hey" Spencer answered cheerfully. "Hey, do you have a minute?" Aria asked. "Yeah, I'm just getting in a quick run. What's going on?" Spencer asked, picking up on Aria's serious tone. "I'm in Rosewood, and Emma is with Ezra" Aria spat out quickly. "Oh, Aria that's amazing, I'm so glad you finally came to your senses!" Spencer cheered. "Well not exactly, I'm still a coward. Emma found him, on her own. She asked to stay with mom, but it was really to find him." Aria explained.
"What, how did she even know who he was?" Spencer asked shocked. "Well I don't know exactly how yet, we haven't had a chance to really talk about anything yet" Aria admitted. "What about Ezra? How did he take it?" Spencer asked nervously. "Well him and Emma are apparently two peas in a pod, but he can't even bare to look me. He said he was going to get a lawyer, and get joint custody. I can't really expect anything else" Aria admitted. "Yeah after Malcolm, I'm sure he wants to do everything he can to protect himself" Spencer agreed.
"So, how is it being around him after so long? Is it still there?" Spencer couldn't help but ask. "Oh well for me, it's undeniably there, it hurts just to look at him, and not be able to just grab him. But, as for him, I don't think his feelings come anywhere even close to love. Plus, he has a girlfriend" Aria noted sadly. "So, you have a boyfriend, that doesn't mean you're not still in love with him. I mean, I'm not the Ezra Fitz expert, but I don't see that man ever really getting over you." Spencer tried not giggle. "Well if you saw the way he looks at me, then you might question yourself." Aria countered.
"I doubt it, but what you need to give your daughter the family time, she has always deserved. Ezra will have to see that is only fair for her. Plus, the more time he spends with you, the faster he will realize he is absolutely still in love with you." Spencer's smile was evident, even over the phone. "Well, maybe." Aria answered, not entirely convinced. "Well I'm going to eat breakfast, say a prayer for me!" Aria chirped. "Yes ma'am, love you!" Spencer called out, and got back to her run.
"Good Morning love!" Ella greeted as Aria made her way downstairs. "Morning" Aria smiled back as she joined Daniel at the table. He leaned over and gave her a kiss on her forehead, she only politely smiled back at him. "So after breakfast, do you want to head back home?" Daniel asked. "We can go pick up Emma if you don't feel comfortable leaving her here?" he added.
Ella tried not to show it, but she couldn't help but stiffen up at his request. It was obvious he didn't want Aria sticking around Rosewood for too long. "Well, about that" Aria paused. "I think I'm going to stay here, at least for the weekend. Emma's got some big things going on, and I want to be here for her" Aria stated. "Babe, I understand that, but she's with her Dad. What are we going to do in Rosewood for two days?" he asked her.
"Well I was thinking, that I was going to go over there. Ezra is a reasonable guy, and he'll see that it's not best for our daughter to us to keep acting like children ourselves. I want to help her with her new room, and I don't want to lose every weekend with her. He'll have to share." She said confidently. "Like you did" Daniel scoffed. Aria couldn't help but recoil from his verbal blow. Ella meanwhile told herself not to jump on the guy, she knew her daughter could handle herself.
"Babe, I'm sorry." Daniel said immediately. "I'm just freaking out with everything that is happening. All the sudden Emma very much has a father, and now you're both suddenly going to be spending all this time with him. I know you hate jealousy, but this is her father, and he just happens to be some GQ model, it's a lot to take in" Daniel admitted.
Aria's anger vanished. She could see that he was struggling. His senses were screaming at him, and she knew they were right. "I don't expect you to be excited, I know this is hard for you. But right now Emma needs me more. I'm afraid if I just go back home, I'll lose her. That might not make sense to you. But it's the scariest thing in the world to me." Aria tried to explain. "No, I understand completely, that's how I feel about you" Daniel admitted.
A few hours later Aria found herself standing at Ezra's front door. She smiled to herself, proud that he had brought a home. She remembered his small cramped apartment, she had to admit that she still missed it. Breathing in and out, she knocked on the door. She knew Ezra was home, as his car was out front. Still no one answered the door. A few more tries at knocking, she decided just to go inside herself.
"Emma, Ezra!" Aria called out. Looking around the house, she couldn't find anyone. Walking towards the back, she heard music playing. Looking through the patio doors she could see Ezra and Emma sitting at the patio table. Ezra had a guitar in his hand and Emma was smiling wide, looking up at him and singing along to the music. As Aria got closer she could tell that they were both singing Emma's favorite song "Love Story".
Taking in the sight, she suddenly felt guilty for barging in on their obviously great day. They both looked so happy to be with each other right then. Ezra's huge beautiful grin killed her. Quickly she send out a text to Spencer and Ella. "Walked up to Ezra and Emma dueting to Taylor Swift. Not sure, if my heart can handle the adorableness".
Deciding to stop her inner fan girl from being officially any creepier, she opened up the patio door, and sat down on an empty chair next to Emma. "Mom" Emma cheered. "Dad learned Taylor Swift, just for me!" She announced proudly. "I see that, y'all sound beautiful." Aria smiled at her. She turned back to Ezra, and as expected his smile was now gone, and a not so well hidden aggravation, had taken its place.
"I hope you don't mind, I knocked, but you couldn't hear me" She tried to explain. "Its fine" he simply answered. "I wanted to come check out your new room" she smiled to Emma, I want to see how it's turning out." "Come on, we'll show you." Emma immediately called out. "Come on Dad, let's show her" she grinned over to him. "Of course" he smiled back to her.
Making their way up the stairs to Emma's room, Aria couldn't help but notice pictures of Ezra and the girl he was seeing. She tried to block it out, but it killed her to see Ezra with another woman. As they entered into the room, Aria couldn't help but laugh. It was obvious Ezra already had a problem with spoiling Emma. The princess style bed alone looked like it cost more than Aria's furniture combined. "Went a little crazy huh?" Aria asked Ezra. "Maybe" he admitted.
"Well what do you think about a little more shopping to fill up this big closet?" Aria offered. "Really?" Emma lit up. "Dad, can you come with us?" Emma asked him. "Oh, Em. I have to admit, clothes shopping is not really my thing. You go on with your mom, I've got some errands to run." He answered. He knew he was disappointing her, but he wasn't ready for a family outing.
Aria sensing his uneasiness, did her best to make the best of it. "Well, I can take her for a few hours, and then bring her back?" Aria offered. "Yeah, just send me a text when you are on your way" Ezra answered, looking at his hands. "I..I don't have your number" Aria reminded him. "I know it mom" Emma smiled.
Once Ezra was alone in the house, he brought out his phone and texted Nicole. "All alone for a few hours, feel free to come see me." After only a few seconds, his phone beeped back. "I think I can manage to get in some Ezra time;)" Nicole wrote back. Starting to pick up some things that he and Emma had left out Ezra was surprised to hear a knock at his door so soon.
"Well, that was quick" he joked as he opened the door. His smile soon faded as he realized it was Aria's boyfriend standing at his door. "I was wanting to have a talk with you, just us men," Daniel said politely. Ezra stepped back and let him into the living room. He shook his head in frustration at the situation. Just seeing this guy pissed him off, and now he had the nerve to come to his house.
"Aria doesn't know I'm here" Daniel started. "I'd rather keep it that way." He added nervously. "I just wanted to gage how big of a problem you're going to be for me." Daniel said. Ezra had already heard enough. "Let me just stop you right there. I know exactly why you are here, and let me explain something. This is not my first standoff over Aria, I've been here before, a few times. But here's what make this situation different. I don't want her, I'm not the least bit interested in putting up a fight for her. She kept my daughter from me, I completely fucking hate her. You don't need to worry about me, I'm out of the love triangle games. That my friend is now your problem."
Daniel just stood there in shock for a moment. He wasn't prepared for Ezra's response. Just as he was about respond, Nicole came walking through the door. Silently he thanked God for the much needed escape plan. Nicole stood silent, noticing the tension between the two men. "Well I can see you are busy, thanks for hearing me out" Daniel offered, and found his way out of the house.
"Who was that?" Nicole asked confused. "Aria's boyfriend" Ezra answered. "He wanted to come mark his territory of some shit like that" Ezra said annoyed. Nicole giggled at him cursing. "Oh, well I'm sort of sad I missed it" she laughed. "Shut up" Ezra said as he pulled her towards him.
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