CHAPTER TEN

"Why'd you get this?" Ezra questioned, holding up a large bottle of maple syrup.

Aria shrugged and continued to unpack groceries, "You like maple and I figured I could make pancakes one morning."

He shifted the bottle in his other hand and laughed, "Aria, unless you plan on make over two hundred pancakes, I won't need this much syrup. I'm only here for two and a half weeks."

"It'll be three," Aria said sadly. "Spencer always tells me less, so it can feel like less. But, it never works." Ezra only nodded and finished helping with the groceries.

So far, Ezra had cherished this day and forgotten about Spencer. It seemed to him, and strangers, that Aria was all his. That's what he wanted. But he knew that couldn't be possible. He hated knowing that, but he tried to deal with it as much as he could.

Aria closed the last cupboard and sighed, "All done. Will you take the diapers to the nursery?"

Ezra nodded and went to go get the box from the car. Aria stopped him though and yelled from the kitchen, "Hey, are you hungry? We never ate and we didn't get a lot of dinner items from the grocery store."

Ezra stopped and turned back into the kitchen. "Yeah, I'm pretty hungry. You want to get take out like old times?"

Aria's mouth dropped a little at the words "like old times." She suddenly noticed how much the day had felt like old times. They laughed together and had smiled at each other at least seventy times. It felt…familiar. It also felt nice.

"Yeah, I'll call the Chinese food place now."

"Alright… just get me the orange chicken," Ezra said.

Aria smirked, "I know what to get you." Ezra smirked back and went out to his car. Aria grabbed the menus from the desk and was surprised that he didn't think she would remember. She only ordered his food every Saturday for two years.

Aria and Ezra had their dinner and made small talk the whole time. They laughed at old memories and expressed excitement over possible new ones. Aria finally sighed and stood up. "I'm gonna go to bed. But, um, before I do, it's kind of cold outside, so I'll turn the heater in the guest room on for you."

Ezra nodded, "Thanks."

Aria smiled and led him into the guest room. It was nicely sized with a queen bed. Spencer and Aria had never really decorated, so it looked like a bland hotel room. Ezra laid down on the bed as Aria tampered with the heater.

"I don't know why, but it's always colder in here," she explained, making small talk. Ezra only said "hmm" and rested his head on the pillow. The day had totally tired him. He almost dozed off, but Aria prevented it. "Goddamn it! Why isn't it working!?"

"Aria, I don't need the heater," Ezra assured.

"No," Aria protested, "it's freezing. Besides, there's not even a comforter." They were quiet as Aria tried to make the heater work. "This thing always acts pregnant."

Ezra stared at her, "What?"

"The mood swings! It works, it doesn't work, it works…" Aria rambled.

Ezra stopped her, "If you don't want me in here, I'll sleep on the couch."

Aria shook her head, "No, the couch is uncomfortable."

Ezra looked at her impatiently and Aria bit her lip. Her mind was blurring the lines of horny, lonely, cold, sleepy, and romance and pouring them all together. She stood in front of Ezra and muttered, "My room is heated…"

Ezra stared at her, shocked. "Do you think that's wise?"

Aria opened her mouth a few times, about to respond, but couldn't think of anything to say. Ezra just shrugged. "I'm fine sleeping in here."

Aria knew he was probably right. Scratch that, Aria knew he was right, but something in her mind just kept pushing her. "Ezra, you know I can never sleep alone."

Ezra clenched his jaw and argued, "I don't want something to happen that you'll regret."

"I won't regret it," she confirmed. "Look, sleep in my bed tonight, and tomorrow, I'll get someone out here to fix the heater. One night. Spencer won't mind."

Ezra raised his eyebrows at her and wasn't so sure about the last statement. "One night."

Aria nodded and walked out of the room with Ezra on her tail. Soon enough, they got settled and fell into bed. Ezra spent a few minutes balancing himself on the edge of bed, so he could be far away from Aria. It wasn't that he didn't want to be with her, but he refused to wreck a relationship. And Aria was horny and hormonal, thanks to pregnancy, and that was not a good mix.

Somehow, both ex-lovers got a peaceful slumber for a few hours, until Aria jumped up and ran to the bathroom. The light from the bathroom woke Ezra up and he padded to it. He heard Aria retching into the toilet and he knelt beside her. He grabbed her hair so it wasn't in the way and traced circles on her back.

After more puking, Aria finally spit into the toilet bowl and pulled away. Ezra flushed it for her and grabbed a hair tie from the counter. She mumbled her thanks and tied her hair back.

"Sorry I woke you," Aria apologized.

Ezra waved her off, "It's what I'm here for."

Aria picked at her nail polish and said, "I might not have acted like it, but I'm really glad you're here."

Ezra stood up and held his hand out so he could pull Aria up from the cold, tiled floor. She held his hand and stood back up. She sighed and leaned against the side of the bathroom counter. She rubbed her sleepy eyes and looked at Ezra.

Ezra felt uncomfortable under her gaze and asked, "Do you want ginger ale or crackers or anything?"

Aria shrugged up one of her shoulders before crossing her arms over her chest. "Did you think Liz was pretty?"

Ezra raised one eyebrow before pulling the toilet seat down and sitting down on top of it. "I guess I did." Aria didn't say anything back and just shook her head. Ezra was confused and prompted, "Why?"

"I don't know," Aria said honestly. "I'm still your favorite student ever, right?"

Ezra smirked and joked, "What makes you think you would be my favorite?"

Aria laughed, "Never mind…"

She continued to look at him and Ezra held her gaze. He took a deep breath before exhaling. Aria spoke up, "Do you still love me? Like, honestly, tell me."

Ezra broke away from her stares and focused on the tiled ground. "Let's go back to bed."

Aria put a hand on his shoulder and asked, "Do you?"

Ezra looked at her briefly, hoping she could read his answer in his eyes. She should have known the answer, anyway. He had only dated maybe two women ever since they broke up. He always had that silent hope that she would come back. He always had left his door open and let her keep her key. He always kept the few bottles of mini shampoo and body wash in his bathroom in case she came back. And, partially, because he never had the heart to throw them in the garbage.

"Same," Aria said barely above a whisper. It was so quiet and small that Ezra was surprised to have heard it. He had wanted her to reciprocate his feelings for years. "What did you say?" he questioned.

She pursed her lips. "Look, I don't know if it's just because we're closer now or the hormones, but I…" she stopped and read the hope in his eyes. She cupped Ezra's face and smiled sadly. Ezra stood up in front of her and built up courage. He bent down and leaned in to kiss the lips he knew so well.

They were millimeters away from each other's mouths, but Aria pushed him away. Ezra realized how much of an idiot he had been! She didn't want him. She was having a child with someone! She had been in a committed relationship that didn't involve him for so long! Ezra stammered, "Aria, I…"

"Go to bed, okay?" she pleaded.

He nodded while walking out of the bathroom. He crawled into the bed and face palmed. But then again, he knew that this would happen whilst they stayed together. He knew he would've made a move eventually. He heard the sink running and cursed himself. No matter what she said, she didn't want him anymore. He was just a ghost of boyfriend's past. God, for a teacher, he really was stupid sometimes.

Aria stepped out of the bathroom and got into bed. After a few seconds, she said in a hushed tone, "Ezra?"

Ezra sighed, "Yes?"

"Come here?" Aria begged.

Ezra reluctantly rolled over onto his other side and Aria scooted closer to him. He felt her now minty breath on his neck and squeezed his eyes shut. She looked up at him and mumbled, "I didn't want you to kiss me when I had vomit residue in my mouth…"

Ezra scrunched his eyebrows and before he could say anything, Aria pressed her lips to his and ran her hands through his hair. Ezra was too stunned to stop it and gave in. He ran a hand up her spine and she shivered into his mouth. He pulled her closer, not daring to break the kiss. After heated moments, Aria pulled away out of breath. She panted and stroked Ezra's face. "Don't tell anyone," she started, "but I've really missed kissing you."

Ezra really hated what they were doing and knew he should probably get the word hypocrite tattooed on his forehead later, but in that moment, everything felt perfect. He kissed the top of her head and she curled up next to him. He tugged the duvet tighter around them and whispered, "Goodnight, Aria."