Chapter 11

Hey guys I am so, so sorry I haven't updated sooner. These last couple months have been insane especially since I no longer have a computer, I really am sorry. I hope this chapter makes up for it, I wrote it a while ago and haven't had time to proof read so I hope it's the right one and there aren't too many mistakes.

Thank you so much to those of you that are still interested and also to anyone reading this for the first time, I hope you're enjoying it so far.

Please review and let me know what you think and if you want me to continue this story.

Time for me to shut up now, enjoy.

"You ready yet babe?" Ezra asked as he entered her room.

"Almost." Aria said putting in her final earring before checking her hair and makeup in the mirror one final time. "Ready." Aria exclaimed as she grabbed her purse and a small brown bag off her bed.

"What's in the bag?" Ezra asked as he laced her fingers with his as they left her room.

"Strawberry bon bons and mints; can't have a road trip with out bon bons and mints." she replied as she held the bag up proudly.

"We're only going to New York; I wouldn't call that a road rip." Ezra said as he began to follow Aria out the front door.

"Fine, but it's over an hour babe, that means we can't go without them."

"Well luckily I love them both so no complaints here." Ezra said before giving Aria a loving kiss on the cheek then opening the passenger door for her, before getting in the car himself ready for the journey ahead of them.

Just over half an hour into the journey Aria's eyelids were beginning to get heavy as she tried her hardest not to fall asleep; however she was fighting a loosing battle.

"It should be illegal being awake at this time." Aria said as she leaned her head against the passenger window. "Ezra chuckled, he knew it wouldn't be long before Aria began to complain about being sleepy.

"You're the one who said we should go." Ezra told her, not taking his eyes off the road.

"That was before I knew how early we would be leaving." Aria said stifling a yawn.

"Why don't you get some more sleep?" Ezra suggested. "I'll let you know when we're almost there."

"No." Aria quickly replied. "I told you I'd stay awake and I don't like breaking my promises." Aria said before giving herself a small shake in an attempt to wake herself up.

"Suit yourself." Ezra said as he took a second to glance at her. She looked beyond adorable with her knees up to her chest with her head resting on them. He couldn't help but noticed how tired she looked, maybe they shouldn't have stayed up so late having fun.

Less than ten minutes later Ezra found himself laughing as he began to hear soft snores coming from Aria. He took a second to glance at her sleeping form before turning down the radio slightly so the noise wouldn't wake her up; clearly she needed her sleep.

Ezra rather enjoyed the quiet drive to New York. Luckily there wasn't a great deal of traffic so he wasn't on edge at all. He was nice and relaxed as he listened to the quiet radio and the soft snores coming from the petite brunette sat at the side of him.

As he glanced at her Aria looked rather cold, wanting Aria to be as comfortable as possible Ezra pulled over to the side of the road, fetched the spare blanket from the trunk, placed it over Aria and carried on with their journey. The new movement of the car caused Aria to stir and wrap the blanket tighter around her body but luckily for Ezra she didn't wake up.

A few hours later as Ezra saw him hometown sign come into view he decided now was the time to wake up Sleeping Beauty. He gently placed his hand on her knee and shook it softly whilst whispering her name.

At his actions Aria began to stir but she didn't wake up. Ezra tried again, calling her name a little louder this time; once again Aria stirred only this time she woke up.

She took a few moments to remember where she was as she wiped her eyes and smiled up at Ezra.

"Afternoon Beautiful." Ezra said stealing another second to look over at his sleepy girlfriend. "How're you feeling?" He asked as he gave her knee a gentle squeeze.

"Tired. What time is it?" She asked as she fixed her hair in the pull down mirror.

"Almost 12." Ezra said as he checked the clock on the dash. "We'll be there in less than twenty minutes."

"Thank God; I'm dying to use the bathroom."

"We can stop if you want?"

"No, it's okay,l I just wanna get there now and relax."

"Me too." Ezra replied moving his hand from her knee and holding her hand instead.

Just as Ezra predicted 20 minutes later they were driving up the extremely long Fitzgerald driveway.

"This is your parents driveway?" Aria asked, shocked that the driveway went on for so long, it seemed like it would never end.

"So I have a confession to make." Ezra said as he gently took his hand from Aria's and placed both hands on the steering wheel whilst he avoided looking at her.

"W...what is it? Aria asked nervously.

"When I told you about my parents I may have forgotten to mention one small detail." Ezra said, he was now feeling just as nervous as Aria was. Deciding not to wait any longer he just went for it. "They're rich." He spat out quickly. At his words Aria stayed silent. Ezra looked at her; trying to gauge how she was feeling and what she was thinking but she gave nothing away.

"Say something, please." Ezra pleaded, the silence was killing him.

"I don't know what to say." Aria said, still not giving him any idea as to how she felt.

"Are you mad?" He asked.

"No. I don't think so. I'm just shocked. Why didn't you tell me sooner?"

"I thought about it but I was scared of what you would think. You see the thing is when I was in high school all people cared about was my parents money, my money. They didn't care about me, they didn't want to be my friend because they liked me, they wanted to be my friend because of what they thought I could do for them

I thought it would be different at college but then someone let it slip and all of a sudden everybody loved me. Because of that for my second year of college I decided to come to Rosewood and shorten my name.

I'm sorry I didn't tell you, I really am." Ezra said laying it all down for her, not hiding or lying about anything, wanting her to know the real him.

Once Aria saw the Fitzgerald house come into view she realized this wasn't some kind of joke, that he was telling the truth, that he and his family were indeed rich.

"Are you sure this is a house? It looks more like a mansion of some sort." Aria said as Ezra stopped the car and shut off the engine.

"It's a house, I promise." Once Ezra had finished speaking there was a small, slightly awkward silence between the two which Ezra decided to break. "Please don't be mad at me, I know I should have..." Ezra began to rant, the silence between him and Aria was clearly killing him.

"I'm not mad Ezra." Aria said as she cut him off and turned to face him.

"Are you sure because..."

"I'm sure." Aria said, cutting him off once more before she continued. "If I were in your shoes I'd have done the same thing, so all is forgiven but not forgotten, next time you're springing for plane tickets. " Aria said as she smiled at him lovingly.

"Fine by me." Ezra replied as he leaned in for a kiss.

"Now how about we go inside before I pee myself?" Aria suggested as she began to exit the car.

"That's my classy girlfriend." Ezra joked as he too got out the car. He then walked toward Aria, wrapped his arm around her waist and led her towards the front door.

Before they even had a chance to raise their hand to the door or even ring the doorbell the large mahogany door opened revealing Ezra mother with a HUGE smile on her face.

She quickly enveloped her son in a tight hug as she spoke. " I'm so glad you're finally here, I missed you so much."

As Ezra's mother drew away from their hug his father appeared behind her and added. "We all have."

"I take it you're Aria." Dianne said as she looked at Aria who was stood nervously at Ezra's side.

"That's me." Aria said feeling slightly uncomfortable as all eyes were on her.

"It's lovely to meet you." Dianne said as she gave Aria a hug, before gesturing for both Aria and Ezra to enter the house. "You have perfect timing, dinners almost ready, so how about we all move in there?" Dianne suggested once the pair had entered the house.

"Actually Mom, Aria needs the bathroom so I'll go show her where it is and then we'll meet you in there." Ezra said remembering Aria's desperate need to pee.

"Oh, alright, we'll be in the kitchen with Wes." Dianne said before taking hold of her husbands hand and began walking away from the loved up pair.

"They seem nice." Aria said as Ezra led the pair to the downstairs bathroom.

"They are, you'll love them, especially my Mom, I hope." Ezra said hoping his words were true.

"Do you think they'll like me?" Aria asked nervously.

"No..." Ezra said causing Aria to stop in her tracks before he continued. "...They'll love you. Just like I do."

"Meanie." Aria said before playfully hitting him on the arm "You made me panic there for a minute." she said before continuing walking with him down the seemingly never ending hallway.

"Here we are." s Ezra said as he stopped and pointed to the door in front of him that was open slightly. "Want me to wait for you?" He asked not wanting to leave her alone if she felt she needed him.

"Please, if you don't mind. I don't wanna get lost." At her reply Ezra let out a small chuckle, kissed her on the forehead and pushed the door open all the way for her.

Aria quickly thanked him before going inside and doing what she had to do.

Just a few short moments later she came out smelling her hands, they smelled beautifully of the lotion she had seen at the side of the sink and had just put on. She absolutely loved it.

"All set?" Ezra asked once she emerged from the bathroom.

"All set. Aria replied taking his hand in her small one as they walked back towards his parents and brother. As they did so Aria took in her surroundings, still surprised by the size of the house. It was insane to her how big it was.

"This house is huge." she commented. "Did you really grow up here?"

"Yep, and you haven't seen the back of it yet. There's a pool, a tennis court and horses."

"Seriously?" Aria asked in amazement.

"Yes. Seriously."

"Wow." was all Aria could say; she was at a complete loss for words.

"There you two are." Dianne said with a smile on her face as she mashed the potatoes.

"It's been so long since you were last here we were beginning to think you had got lost." Ezra father commented.

"I know Dad, I promise I'll try and visit more it's just been kind of manic lately. I'm sorry."

"No need to apologize Son, I understand." His father told him as he placed his hand on his Sons shoulder.

"Well don't just stand there, everyone grab a bowl of food and lets head into the dining room. I'm sure you must be starving Aria dear.

"Famished." Aria replied before grabbing a bowl and following her. Just like Aria the three men did exactly the same.