This next chapter is going to be a little crazy. I am going by the facts that I learned in "Can You Hear Me Now?" and since it is very limited on what we know about Ezra's family, I am going to do the best I can to make it seem like his parents' really have not spoken in 13 years because of their divorce when Ezra was 12. So bear with me.
Ezra's POV
Ezra takes a breath of relief and shakes Byron's hand. He thought for a minute that he would have to excuse himself to go and change his pants.
Byron sits back down, "Now let's enjoy this wonderful meal as a family."
Ezra smiles and looks over at Aria. Her eyes reflect the relief that he was feeling right now.
After dinner, Aria walks Ezra back out to his car. He hesitates opening the door, looking at her.
She smiles, "What are you doing? Go home."
He smirks at her and pulls her closer to him, "I just wish you could come with me."
Aria fixes his hair, "Well, remember, I have been playing house with you for the past two nights. I think I need a little break from the accommodating Fitz mansion."
"Very funny." He leans in to kiss her and when her lips meet his, the usual shock of energy shoots through him.
When she breaks away, she leans her forehead against his, "Maybe instead of me coming to your apartment, maybe you can stay here tonight?"
Ezra sighs in pleasure, "That would be nice, but I think I shouldn't be testing your dad's patience right now. It's best that I go home and make some phone calls."
Aria smiles and starts to pull away. Ezra pulls her back to give her one last kiss, "I love you. I'll call you tonight, okay?"
She replies, "I'll be waiting." She walks backwards up her driveway as if to cherish the moment for a few more seconds and then finally turns, leaving Ezra to watch her, with a smile on his face.
Ezra slowly starts to dial the phone. He couldn't remember the last time he spoke to his father. Months, maybe. He holds the phone to his ear and listens to the ring. Finally his dad picks up.
"Issac Fitz. How may I help you?" Typical Mr. Fitz. Didn't even bother to look at the caller ID to realize that it was his son.
"Dad, it's me, Ezra."
"Ezra? My 25 year old son who refuses to even see me? Why on Earth are you calling? I thought the last time we talked, you swore you never would speak to me again. Change your mind?"
"No, but I am not calling on my own terms. More like me and my fiancé's."
There was a pause, "Fiancé? Wait, Ezra, you're getting married? To that one girl you were talking about eight months ago? Finally decided to tie the knot, huh?"
"I sure did and now since I abide by her wishes, she says she'd like to meet you….and Mom." Ezra waits for an explosion on the other end.
"She wants to meet me and your mother? Does she realize that your mother and I haven't spoken in almost 13 years?" Surprisingly, he didn't seem to be angry.
"I told her about it, but she doesn't really care about all the drama. Her mother and she just want to know who their in laws are going to be."
Ezra hears his father sigh and he quickly adds, "Dad, don't do it for me. Do it for Aria, please. I am willing to do anything to make her happy."
Issac pauses again, "Alright, you can count me in. Just tell me the time and place."
Even when he pulls into the old driveway, Ezra can't help but remember all the good times he had in this house and now, for the first time in seven years, he was stepping foot in the front door.
He knocks on the old door and almost immediately, it opens and he is face to face with his mother.
Ezra really looks nothing like his mother, at all, whatsoever. She auburn colored hair and deep, dark green eyes. The one thing that he actually had in common with her was the dislike they shared for Issac.
"Ezra! It's about time you came and saw your old mom!" Sarah Fitz pulls her son into a one-armed hug.
"Oh come on, Mom. Your only 42. That's not that old." He smiles at his mother as they sit down on the bar stools by the granite counter.
She laughs and grabs two beers from the refrigerator and pops one bottle open for Ezra and hands it to him, "You sounded so urgent on the phone. What is the sudden need to visit me and face-to-face?"
His smile widens, "I'm getting married."
Sarah gasps, "Are you really? Congratulations! I have been hoping for years that would find that special someone. So, who's the lucky gal?"
"Her name is Aria Montgomery and she is the most wonderful girl I have ever met in my life. We've been together for almost three years now-"
Sarah looks at him, "Three years, you've been with Aria? Why so much secrecy, keeping you from telling me?"
Ezra looks away and she tries to meet his gaze again, "Don't tell me that you two snuck around to be together, like R+J. Did you?"
He nods, "That's the way it had to be. There were a lot of complications separating us from being a normal couple. We're past them now though."
Sarah pats her son's arm, "I'm just glad you can handle the responsibility of a private relationship. So, when do I get to meet her?"
Ezra then remembers why he is there, "Well, her mother, Ella, wants to meet my family, to see who she's giving her daughter away to."
Sarah rolls her eyes, "Don't tell me that she wants to meet your father and me?"
Ezra slowly nods and meets her eyes innocently, as if to beg her, without having to get down on his hands and knees.
She sighs, "Ezra, I love you and if you want me to meet Ella and Aria, then I'll meet them, with or without Issac. What about your brother? Do you want me to call him and let him meet up with us too?"
He thinks for a moment. His brother had been his best friend when they were kids, but after Ezra graduated and went overseas for a year abroad, they sort of lost touch. However, he did want his little brother at his wedding, by his side, as he said his vows to Aria.
Ezra smiles, "Of course you can call him. I want Daniel to be at my wedding, too."
Sarah returns his grin, "So when do I have to see that bastard again?"
In case you didn't know, the name "Ezra" is biblical and so I wanted the whole family to have biblical names. Just a fun fact for you.
Aria's POV
Aria was in her room, reading a book, when she heard a knock on her bedroom window. She looks outside to Ezra standing there, with a wide smile on his face.
She quickly opens it and helps her boyfriend in, "What are you doing? You know you can use the front door."
Ezra laughs, "That would ruin the fun of this, wouldn't it?" He gives her a kiss before plopping down on her bed. She notices the small backpack on his shoulder.
"You actually taking me up on the "Staying in my room" offer aren't you?" She sits beside him, with a mischievous glint in her eyes.
Ezra flashes his boyish smile, "How could I turn it down? Anyways, my parents are going to be coming over here tomorrow to meet Ella."
Aria couldn't believe that in less than twenty four hours, she'd be meeting Ezra's parents.
Ezra continues, "I thought it'd be good if I stayed the night here. Do you think your mom will mind if I crash out on the couch?"
She smacks his hand, "Cut it out. You know my room is your room, anytime you want it."
He plays with her scarf that was lying on the floor and then looks over at her, "You know what? It's not the room I want right now."
Aria smiles, "I was just thinking the same thing."
Aria wakes up in her room the next morning and sits up, confused, because Ezra is not in her room.
She slowly slips on her robe and creeps out into the living room. She smiles when she sees him at the kitchen table with her mom.
Ella looks up from the newspaper that she was reading, "Ezra stopped by this morning to tell me about his parents coming over this evening. You want to help me clean up around the house?"
Ezra looks at Aria, with a slow mischievous smile spreading across his face, "Actually, Ella, I was going to take Aria to Spencer's house, so then she can start with planning the wedding details."
Ella sighs and then shoots him a begging look that you'd see on a starving dog, "Would you like to help me, Ezra?"
Ezra laughs, "I'd love to help, Ella, Count me in. You better get Mike to help out too."
Ella smiles at her future son in law and punches his shoulder. Aria couldn't help but remember how scared they both were when they first started out and Ella became a teacher at the school. How they thought that she'd totally against it and would hate both of them forever. But here they were on a Sunday morning, enjoying coffee and toast. Aria smiles. Nothing could ruin how happy her life is right now.
Hope you enjoyed it! I am actually thinking about continuing the story even after the wedding, see how Ezra and Aria adapt to the lives as newlyweds. Maybe I can bring in a little surprise along the way IDK its still in progress. Let's not worry about the future of the story when everything is so good right now! Ha-ha! Thanks for reading! Next chapter should be up by tomorrow afternoon!
