So I can't thank you enough for staying with me all this time. But I am sad to report that this is the last chapter. It has been a journey, and your comments and reviews mean's the world to me. I love you all for taking the time, and reading this.

Sadly, I don't have anything to do with Pretty little liars. But I am so happy that it returns in a few weeks...

Ezra's POV:

Monday morning rolled around and I found myself pacing the Montgomery living room. I haven't talked to Aria since I've arrived here in Rosewood but I knew she was still upset at our situation. I also know that the only way to resolve things with Aria is face to face. Yesterday I was able to get a hold of a realtor and I placed a bid on a house. But that's only if two other couples don't out bid me. I had some money saved up but because of the asking price I had to call my mother and asked if she would co-sign. When she asked me what for I told her the truth. She is now on the first flight coming in. she yelled at me and called all of names before hanging up. Mainly, she wanted to be here and asked how I could not tell her. I responded saying she wasn't my concern, that I had been solely focused on fulfilling my promise to Aria. Nothing else mattered. After that she hung up and said she would be here in a few hours.

I smirked. It must be nice to be able to get on any flight you wanted to and fly around the world. I know my parents would be there to help me whenever I wanted to. But I also wanted to survive on my own; I wanted to be able to say, yes, I did go out on my own and made it. I got here from hard work and dedication not because my parent's money.

"Are you ready?" Byron asked me while shrugging on his jacket.

I nodded. "I think so."

He smiled. "I never thought I would see this."

I knitted my eyebrows. "What are you talking about? You saw it a few months ago."

"Not that, the part where Ezra Fitz would be sweating," he joked with a little wink.

"Hey, are you picking on my son again?" My mother walked into the living room with Ella.

"Come on Jane, it's fun."

She smirked. "I know. That's why I am going to slap you for not waiting for me to join in the fun."

"Well, thanks, Mom." I rolled my eyes. "Can we go now?" I headed over to the doors as the parental units shared a laugh together on my account.

Ella and Bryon filed into their cars while my mother and I got into mine. I turned it on and looked at the road ahead of us. Today was the day; she is going to be excited. Aria will not let you down, she will not run away. That's what I have been telling myself over and over again from the time I had gotten up this morning.

My mother must have sensed my anxiety. "Ezra, relax." My mother encouraged. "Aria loves you. You have nothing to be afraid of."

"I know she does," I admitted, "But things have been rocky between us. What if she says no?"

"Ezra, don't think like that; Aria and you are like peanut butter and jelly, you two mix well."

I laughed and stopped at a light. "A sandwich, Mom, really?"

"Hey, it's still early. Sue me."

"Yeah, that coming from a surgeon, maybe I should sue you. Please, don't ever work on me at seven in the morning." I joked.

Aria's POV:

Ever since Charles cornered me things have been weird, and that's putting it mildly. We're both trying our best to ignore each other and it's awkward being that we live in the same small space. Unfortunately I haven't found an apartment yet so I'm still here, with Charles. I can tell he feels really bad about what he did and I think he's afraid of my reaction so he hasn't apologized. Surprisingly I don't hate him. In a way it reinforced my feelings for Ezra knowing that he would never get physical with me no matter how angry he was. I now feel certain that my decision to be with Ezra is the right one. That is, if we are still together. I haven't spoken to him since I told him I want to break up so truthfully I have no idea where we stand.

Monday morning started the morning slow. I don't know why it just took me forever to get myself ready. I had just stepped out of the shower and realized it was already past eight. Great; now I was late for work. I texted my mom telling her that I was running late. She called me back, yelling at me to hurry and that this time she'd cover my classes but never again. It amazed me that ever since she had gotten that Vice Principle position, on how serious she let herself become.

I stopped off at Starbucks on my way to school to get myself a latte. I figured that since I already was late a few more minutes wouldn't make much of a difference. When I pulled into the faculty parking lot I saw my father drinking his coffee next to his car, riffling through some papers. I got out of the car and got my bag and paperwork from the back seat before walking over to him.

"What are you doing here?" I looked at him confused. "Don't you have a class?"

He shook his head. "I am working; I am your 10:00 speaker."

I was still confused. "Huh?"

"Don't you remember, Aria? There is an assembly today and I'm the guest lecturer. Aria, are you okay?"

I closed my eyes. "Not really, I haven't been sleeping well." I admitted. I lifted my coffee. "This should help. Anyway, I have to go, Dad, I am already late."

"Everything is going to be okay, just wait for it," he told me looking at his watch, "You'd better get going."

If I hadn't been so tired I may have paid more attention to his cryptic words. "See you later dad."

He smiled and waved me off before watching me walk into the building. I walked into the office and signed myself in. The new Registered Clerk shook his head before giving me my notes. I looked into my mom's office out of habit and saw a couple of shadows but didn't think anything of it. Once I had reached my classroom door I opened it up and saw my students hard at work. I smiled at my mother as she gave me a small glare and let out a cough.

"Thank you!" I mouthed as I went over to my desk. "Alright class, let's take a break," I announced taking a sip of my coffee and sitting down at my desk. "I just need a few minutes."

My class started to talk amongst themselves before I felt my phone buzz indicating a text. I took it out of my pocket and looked at the caller: Ezra.

You look beautiful J

Thinking he was joking I texted back. And you look handsome.

A few seconds later I received another text from him. I'm serious, you look absolutely gorgeous. Why don't you smile?

I looked at the text, re-reading it a few more times before looking at my students. Some of them were looking at me with a smile and the rest were still talking to one another.

Smile Aria! He texted me again. I can feel your frustration and it's not cute.

I was starting to pick up by now that something was going on. "Okay, what's going on?" I asked my students. "Is something up?"

There was a round of no's and a few head shakes but I thought I detected a few smiles. Should I be suspicious?

I've got to go teach. I texted Ezra once more before putting away my phone.

"Ms. Montgomery?" A student of mine called out. "We have an assembly today at ten."

I nodded. "Yes, I am aware of that." I looked at the time and it was just about that time we would be getting ready to leave. "So why don't all of you start packing up your belongings and we'll head down to the auditorium."

We all found seats in the way back of the theater. That's one of the advantages of coming in a little late, it meant the last ones in are the first one to come out. My mother and the Principal went up on the stage, demanding everyone's attention. I quieted down my class and looked up at the stage.

"First of all we would like to take this opportunity to congratulate you all on making your finals. We have scored in the top ten schools for high scores." The room erupted in cheers. I smiled at my class knowing how hard they had worked. "Our Senior class this year has come up with a little something for us all to remember them by." My mother finished up her announcement and hit the play button. It was a slideshow of pictures and videos from their senior prom, the football game, and their class trip to Washington. Stuff that I remember doing my Senior year; I smiled thinking about my senior prom night.

"Mom," I yelled from my room and my mother appeared a few seconds later, "Help me with this?" I asked turning around so she could zip up the back of my dress. "Thank you!"

She smiled and nodded taking a step back while looking at the front of me from the mirror. "You look beautiful," She gushed.

I sucked in a deep breath while I looked at my ankle length Lavender dress with white diamonds out lining the v-neck line.

"I can't believe you're allowing me to go to prom with Ezra." I smiled looking back at her, "I really appreciate it."

My mother let out a sigh. "I don't want to lose you, Aria; I can't change your father's mind but I can deal with my own choices."

I nodded while I walked up to my mother and embraced her. "I love you, always."

She giggled, "I love you, too." She kissed my cheek and held my hand has she lead me downstairs.

Ezra came a little early because my father wanted to give him that whole You-better-keep-my-daughter-safe speech.

"You ready?" My mother asked as we stood on the landing overlooking the staircase. We could hear Ezra telling my father that he would never do anything to hurt me.

I nodded. "Yeah, let's do this."

We descended the stairs one step at a time. With my mother trying to hold me up a little so I wouldn't trip. The dress I had a little train in the back and she just wanted to make sure that I was okay walking down the steps.

My father and Ezra gasped with they saw me. I smiled widely as I took in Ezra's appearance. We decided to go with matching colors, but for him it was just the tie. Even though I had seen him in his suit before He still looked as handsome and beautiful as ever.

"You look beautiful." Ezra, gave me a kiss to the cheek before giving me my corsage.

I bit my lip and stepped back, "You look very stunning." I winked at him and looked over at my parents.

"So I'll see you guys, tomorrow?" I questioned hopefully.

"No, Aria. Ezra, may be taking you to prom but I still don't condone this relationship. You may stay out till two, but no later than that." My father stated sternly, as if steam was coming out of his ears.

"But-"

"No Aria, if you are not home by two all hell is going to break lose. Do you get me?" He looked at Ezra.

"Yes, Sir. I promise, Aria will be home at two, not a second later." Ezra winked at me and I rolled my eyes.

"Hey," I felt a nudge and a whisper. I looked to my side to see who it was that brought me out of my thoughts. "Were you in never land?"

I rolled my eyes, suddenly tense. "What are you doing here Charles?" I hissed. Why here? Why now?

"Aria, I know I screwed up big time. I've been a coward; I'm terrified that you'll never forgive me. I've done some growing up and I'm here now to prove to you that I am sincerely happy for you and Ezra and I will never get in the way again." He turned his head slightly, embarrassed by his display of emotion.

"Huh?" I asked confused. What on earth did his apology have to do with this assembly? And how did Ezra get into the picture?

He looked up at the screen just as it was ending. "I'm doing a piece for the paper. But other than that I think you'll like what some of us came up with." He coughed and looked at me with a smirk, finally meeting my gaze.

I laughed at his face, mostly out of confusion. None of what he said made any sense to me. "What are you talking about? Who is us?" I tilted my head and looked at my phone as it vibrated in my hands. It was another text from Ezra.

I opened it up and read with a smile.

I love you so much, read the text. I blushed. You are my world, don't ever think any different. You are the sun that rises every morning and the moon that shines brightly at night.

"Is it from Ezra?" Charles asked in a girly voice, "You're like scarlet red."

"I love him, Charles. I will always love him."

Charles nodded."I know that now, I know that he is the best one for you. That's why I am doing this. That's why I am here."

I was fed up with being the only one out of the loop "What the hell is that supposed to mean? Can you please explain to me what's going on?" I demanded. "Everyone is acting so strange."

"Just listen," was all he said. Charles pointed to my mother who was on stage with the mic in hand.

"Let's give a big round of applause to the Seniors for all their hard work. " As she was speaking the students began pulling out a sheet of paper. I tried to glance at what it said but my student only smirked and hid themselves.

"Nice, Try Ms. Montgomery," my student told me, "You'll just have to wait."

"For what?" I exclaimed. "What the hell is going on?"

" Someone special came to me a few days ago." My mother's gaze scanned the audience until it landed on me. "Torn between something dear and true to his heart he has made that dying choice. He's finally standing up for what he wants in life. He has made so many sacrifices in the past but also made some stupid choices that reflected his future." She looked backstage and waited for someone to walk out. My father took the mic and waved me over. I looked around the theater and shook my head.

"Aria, get your butt up here," he said to the crowd's amusement, giving me that fatherly glare. "Aria, is my only daughter. When she had came home one year telling me that she was involved with someone that I thought was nothing but a mistake. She was there to prove me wrong. He is nothing but a man that I can look at as my own."

I finally got up on stage. The man my father described was obviously Ezra yet I had no idea what to expect. I looked out to the sea of students and they all clapped as my father gave me a hug. "I love you, I can't believe we almost gave you to the wrong person."

"Dad, what's going on?"

"B-26," he stated before motioning to the students.

"What?" I questioned before hearing the sounds of voices, clearly, through the air. I spun on my heels as our senior class read it out loud.

It's a number.

It's a song.

It's a girl.

Smooth.

Pearl joy packed.

Gold falafel,

As through ice.

It's four-thirty.

Morning with

Phone calls.

It's deaf mute.

It's cheap.

A foreign car.

Maybe bingo.

Lucky night?

Something says

It smells bad

I started to cry before they had even reached the end, the tears spilling over my cheeks hitting the floor beneath me. My dad smiled and my mother walked over to me telling me that she couldn't have raised a better daughter.

"Turn around sweetheart."

"Ezra," I breathed, he was suddenly standing in the center of the stage, a huge grin on his face. I wiped my face as I embraced him in a hug. "I can't believe you are here."

"I wouldn't miss this," He pulled back and gave me a chaste kiss. "I have something to ask you." At that point Charles and Mrs. Fitz walked on the stage. I smiled widely and knew instantly what was coming next.

Ezra got down on one knee and brought out a small red velvet box. "Aria Montgomery, I wouldn't have changed what happen to us in the past. It might not have led us to where we are now. I love you, with my heart and soul. You are the one for me and I knew that from that day when we first met in that filthy bar. You were the one that has always seen the best part of me on my darkest days and never once judged me on it."

Ezra stopped and opened the box. It revealed a small diamond with a silver band. "Will you make me the happiest man on the face of this earth and be my wife? Will you marry me?"

I let out the breath that I didn't know I was holding in as fresh tears ran down my face. I looked around at the dead silence of the room before looking back at Ezra. "Yes. Yes, I will marry you." I shuddered through my tears as he rose to his feet after placing the ring on my finger. "I can't believe this," I squealed. "I have waited so long for you."

"Ditto," Ezra, responded. "I thought you were going to say no."

"How could I, I love you. Remember?" I laughed out loud. "I can't believe this."

I hugged my Mom, Dad, and Ezra's Mom and then turned to see Charles speaking with Ezra.

"I have the perfect title for this story, thanks Cousin," Charles patted Ezra's back. "Congratulations."

He paused awkwardly, looking at me. I held out my hands and he took me into a bear hug. "No hard feelings?" I whispered into his shoulder.

"No hard feelings," he agreed. "Do you forgive me?"

"Yes," I nodded and pulled away.

"So what's the title?" Ezra asked curiously, thankfully sidestepping mine and Charles' hug.

"Ever lasting Love."

Please give me your last review for this story, and I want to thank Sarale, for helping me out.