~What Once Was Lost~
"I did, didn't I?"
Sadie nodded happily and laid her head on his shoulder, perfectly content to stay exactly where she was.
Ezra looked down at her with soft eyes, his lips slightly parted. "I can't believe that I've missed out on almost three years of this," he said quietly, more to himself than to anyone else.
Aria bit her lip and wrinkled her eyebrows. Even though he might not be mad, he did still miss almost three years of his daughter's life. Nothing could change that. Time machines were works of fiction and always would be that way. Ezra could never be a part of those years.
"I'm so sorry, Ezra," she said, her face clearly showing that she meant what she said.
He shifted his gaze to her but her eyes were staring holes in the floor. Ezra gently tilted her head so that she was forced to look at him. "You don't need to apologize, Aria. I'm here now and that's all that matters."
"But you weren't there for so much of her life and it's my fault." Her lower lip stuck out slightly in a very Sadie-like pout.
He was about to reply when Spencer spoke up. "Aria, I'm going to go over to Hanna's and stay the night. Apparently she's had a rough day and Caleb is in California with a business trip. You two are free to whatever my house has to offer."
Aria turned her attention to her, "Thanks, Spence. If Hanna needs anything give me a call."
The preppy Hastings' smiled slightly and nodded. "And I had my mom's caterer prepare a lunch. It's under the gazebo out back."
Ezra raised his eyebrows. A catered lunch under a gazebo? He forgot how fancy their family lived. "Thank you, Spencer."
She nodded once again and then turned to exit before turning back. "And Emily called and I'm supposed to tell you that she might have signed you up for a year of some television company. She assured me that it was an accident."
"What? How did she manage that?" Ezra asked, still surprised.
She shrugged. "I think that after you left her alone in your apartment she took care of the rest of your bills for you."
If Ezra had a free hand at the moment he would have ran it through his hair. "And how did she manage that? Wouldn't she need my passwords and credit card numbers and amounts and what not?"
Aria cut in. "You keep all of your passwords in the top drawer of your desk right under your take-out menu and when you pay bills you have all of that laying out. You write the amounts you'll have to pay down on that sheet of paper to reference. If she followed that it would be fine."
"And Emily is studying to be a financial advisor. I really wouldn't sweat it," Spencer said nonchalantly as if his former student paying his bills in his apartment with his money was no big deal.
He nodded. There wasn't much he could do. He couldn't get mad at her because she was obviously just trying to help. And he was the one who left her alone in his apartment.
Spencer shot one last glance to Aria before leaving the small family alone again.
"It sounds like we have backyard reservations to make. We ought to get going," he said with a formal voice.
Sadie lifted her head off of his shoulder at the mention of food and Ezra smiled. "Are you hungry?" he asked.
She nodded slightly, almost shyly. Though she knew who he was, she really didn't know anything about him and vice versa. He wasn't unfamiliar to her but in a way he was a stranger and she was always shy around strangers. Letting him hold her was almost natural; it just felt right. Conversing with him was something that would require a little more time.
Ezra looked at Aria who gave a small smile and led the way to the back where a gourmet lunch was laid out. The silverware was set like that of the fancy New York restaurants that Aria had occasionally attended. Various silver dishes were filled with salads and dressings and vegetables and every other thing imaginable that could possibly go with sandwiches were set out at a separate table.
The fact that Spencer had gotten the whole thing set up in the brief period of time that Ezra had been there astounded both of them, thought Spencer often had that effect on people. Her work ethic and brain power was unmatched by anyone else Aria had met, including Melissa.
"She really went all out," Ezra said with wide eyes.
Aria nodded, "Spencer tends to do that quite a bit."
Ezra walked to the shaded table. He was about to ask Sadie where she wanted to sit but then noticed that Aria's friend had even prepared a higher seat for the short toddler to sit at. He gently set her down but didn't sit himself. He stepped back from the table and waited for Aria to sit first, seeing whether she would take the position next to Sadie or across from her.
She watched him with curious hazel eyes.
He got a little flustered with both of the girls looking at him and he placed a hand on the back of his neck, glancing back and forth between the two. Both had amused twinkles in their eyes as if they could both see his dilemma.
Finally Aria cut the silence. "Ezra, you can sit by her. Or you can sit across from her. Whichever you choose. You don't need my permission to sit next to your daughter."
He turned his attention back to the table and towards Sadie who was watching him with observant blue eyes. "Can I sit by you?" he asked.
Sadie nodded and Ezra sat down on the seat next to her. Aria grabbed Sadie's plate and went over to the food, leaving the father and daughter alone together.
Ezra didn't know where to begin with Sadie. He wanted to know everything about her like most dads did with their little girls. He wanted to know what she liked, how she reacted in certain situations, what position that she slept in. Those things were little but he never had the opportunity to learn about those trivialities.
Lots of possible question flitted through his mind but none of them seemed appropriate to ask the two-year-old. Again he was at a loss for words, not because he didn't have anything to say but because he had too much to say.
Before he had even made any conversation Aria returned with Sadie's plate and set it before the little girl who picked up the fork and instantly went for the sliced strawberries.
Ezra watched her for a moment. "She's left handed?"
Aria looked over her shoulder from the food table and nodded. "It must have come somewhere from your side. Everyone in my family is right handed."
"My dad was left-handed," Ezra said quietly. His dad had always been a very touchy subject. When Ezra was young they were pretty close but then he started fighting with his mother and Ezra realized that his dad wasn't who he thought he was. Their relationship had completely fallen apart and he hadn't spoken to him in years.
Aria gave him a small smile before turning back to the food and preparing the rest of her plate. Once she was finished with hers she walked back to them and set it down.
Ezra started to stand with his plate but Aria gently pushed him down. "I'll get it."
It had been quite a few years but Aria was still able to prepare a plate with exactly what he would have chosen for himself. She knew so many little things about him – little things that she loved – and it was the same with him. Even though those things were very tiny details, neither had forgotten them.
Aria returned to the table and finally sat down for the first meal that they would have together as a family.
"What was it like when you first brought her home?" Ezra asked Aria, his gaze shifting from Sadie to her.
Aria looked off into the distance as she thought back to what it had been like to have Sadie for the first few months. "She was born only three months after I graduated from high school in New York. She was two and a half weeks early which scared me to death. She was so tiny, just a little over six pounds. I was terrified when I was released from the hospital because I had no idea how to care for her. I suddenly had a little girl who depended on me for everything and it was a little overwhelming.
"The first few months were stressful. She woke up so many times during the night and sleep became a luxury. I had no idea how to raise a child. Google became my best friends since I looked up everything from what to feed her to when to vaccinate her to what precautions to take when going out. Without the internet and Joanne, there's no way that she would've survived."
Aria looked at Sadie who was half paying attention to the conversation and half paying attention to the food. "Luckily she was a very mild child. She still is. She's very easy going and compliant. I swear that most of her traits came from you because I was extremely stubborn and could throw a very good fit." Aria crinkled her nose as she recalled the horror stories that her parents had always told her. She knew that to an extent they were exaggerating, but still Aria didn't think she could've handled Sadie if she were any more like her mother.
Ezra glanced towards Sadie and listened intently as Aria laid out more character traits. He paid very close attention, trying to remember every detail.
"What was her first word?"
Aria smiled, "Look." Her mind flashed back to that day almost two years ago. She had been pushing Sadie in a stroller through Central Park near sunset. The sky was somewhat clearer than it normally was and the fluffy clouds were tinted with oranges and pinks. Aria had been focused on the chipmunks that were chasing each other in and out of the trees.
Then she heard Sadie say, "Look." Her voice was soft and her blue eyes were wide with wonder as she pointed up at the colored sky with her little fingers.
Aria had instantly stopped the stroller and went around to crouch in front of her. Sadie was a quiet baby who didn't have the tendency to make a lot of noises like other little children did. Occasionally she would make a sound, but Aria had never really heard her voice until then.
The young mother did glance up at the beautiful sky, but her focus remained on Sadie. She was once again amazed by the little girl that she had brought into the world. Seeing her mature and take new steps was such an incredible experience and it was times like those that Aria knew that whatever happened, she would always have Sadie.
Ezra watched as a few emotions played across Aria's face. Pride. Happiness. Contentment. "You look so beautiful today," he said quietly after a minute.
Her cheeks colored as she blushed. Had he seen her that morning he would have thought that she was from the caveman era. She had cleaned up since then but what she was wearing was still very simple and she still had bags under her eyes that she couldn't cover up with make-up.
"I mean it, Aria."
She finally met his blue eyes. "Thank you."
Ezra nodded and continued to hold her gaze to his with an invisible rope that wouldn't let her look away. But it wasn't like she wanted to look away. His eyes were captivating and getting lost in them was easy. There was something intense and yet gentle in his deep blue eyes when he looked at her that had always intrigued Aria.
The sound of something dropping onto the concrete below pulled them out of their trance and both quickly looked towards their two-year-old, Aria blushing as she did so. From her position she couldn't see what had fallen but it must have been one of the many eating utensils that had been laid out.
Ezra bent down and picked up whatever it was before resurfacing a few seconds later with a salad fork in hand. He brushed it off before handing it to Sadie who shyly took it.
"Is she always like this?" he asked Aria who didn't have to ask what he meant by that.
"She's extremely shy. She warms up to some people faster than others, but she's always been very cautious around new people."
Ezra wrinkled his eyebrows. "But she wasn't shy the other day when I saw her on the street or earlier this morning."
Aria nodded. She was surprised herself when she looked out of the window and saw Sadie lying on his shoulder. Very rarely did she let anyone even touch her the first time she met them let alone pick her up. "She knew who you were," she replied simply.
"Yeah but how?" he asked curiously.
"She saw that picture I kept on my nightstand in my old room. She seemed to know who you were before I told her. It was like she recognized you even though she had never seen you," Aria said thoughtfully. "And then she saw us dance at my mom's reception."
Ezra nodded. Even if Sadie didn't look like Aria he would have recognized her that day in the rain. There was a connection that he couldn't explain but he knew how the child felt.
"I think she trusts you for some reason which is normally a longer process. But I think her shyness is because she doesn't really know you."
Ezra understood that as well. He really didn't know anything about her and the only way to fix that would be to spend more time with her.
Sadie who was still listening to her parent's conversation but mainly focused on eating reached forward to grab the glass but her little arms weren't quite long enough. Aria had absentmindedly set it near the center of the table after she had filled it up and no matter how hard the toddler tried she still couldn't reach it. At least sitting down she couldn't.
Aria and Ezra were too engaged in their conversation that had now moved on to what it was like for her to return to Rosewood to notice when the two-year-old stood up on the tall chair.
Sadie took a second to get stabilized and then bent over the table with one hand in an empty space. Her other hand stretched forward and reached the rim of the cup which she gripped tightly and carefully lifted in her direction.
Ezra looked over just in time to see the bottom of the cup hit the edge of her plate causing the cup to tip and the liquid inside to pour out in his direction. Aria was the first to react by quickly standing up the glass and then reaching for the napkin that lay to the side of the plate. Ezra wasn't as quick to react and the ice water ran off of the table onto his pants.
Sadie sat back down on the chair and used her hands to cover her mouth and her eyes widened as the water spread across the table and continued to fall onto her father's pants.
Ezra sat exactly where he was, still too surprised to move. Finally he closed his mouth that had been hanging open. "Cold," was all he said and both Aria and Sadie giggled. Ezra shook his head slightly and let out a sigh. He was freezing but they were happy and he'd gladly be uncomfortable to see them both smile. He took his napkin and helped Aria mop up the rest of the liquid, still dressed in the soaking pants.
"Where's Sadie?" Ezra asked Aria who was cleaning the last of the dishes from dinner. They had spent the entire afternoon together, just the three of them. They read books, talked, went on walks, played at the park, and whatever else the two-year-old could come up with.
They had fixed dinner together in Spencer's kitchen and were now cleaning it up. Sadie had been there drying the dishes as Aria handed them to her but somehow Ezra had ended up with that position and Sadie had disappeared.
Aria looked out of the window above the sink. Though she couldn't see Sadie herself, she could see the sky and knew instantly where her daughter was. "She's outside."
"How do you know?" Ezra asked curiously. There had been a few times throughout the day that he had asked a question similar to that and Aria knew the answer without even looking.
Aria shrugged and placed the now dry plates back into their position in the cupboards. "I just know." She went over and took his hand. "And I know that when we find her she will be lying on her back in the grass with her blanket spread out under her and her bunny next to her. Her hands will be under her head and she will be looking up. Come on, I'll show you."
She led him out of the glass doors and into the backyard where Ezra saw Sadie doing exactly what Aria said she would be. Exactly.
He shook his head in amazement and looked down at Aria who smirked. "Told you."
Sadie heard her mother's voice and turned her head to watch them approach.
"Look!" Sadie exclaimed quietly as she pointed up to the Pennsylvania sky that was now tinged with pinks and oranges from the setting sun. The fluffy clouds had silver linings that made them stand out amidst the paling sky.
Aria went and stretched out on the grass beside the toddler. "It's beautiful," she agreed before looking over at Ezra. He was standing off to the side with his hands shoved into his pockets, watching them with unsure eyes. Even though he had spent the entire day with them, he still didn't feel comfortable to join in with them instantly. It normally took a little bit of coaxing from both Sadie and Aria before he would participate or go closer or anything.
He was a key member of their family though and Aria wished that he could see that. It felt right when they were all together and she knew that he felt that way too but he was still hesitant, especially where Sadie was concerned. "Ezra, come on," she begged with big hazel puppy eyes.
The young English teacher scratched the back of his head and looked at her, his eyes still questioning even though she had been pretty clear with her instructions.
She sighed and stood up once again leaving Sadie to herself on the lush spring grass. Aria took both of his hands in hers and looked him in the eye. "What's wrong, Ezra?" she asked softly.
He looked down at their intertwined hands and gently brushed the back of her hands. "I don't want to make her uncomfortable."
Aria took one of her hands from his and placed it on the side of his head, gently pushing back some of his hair. "You aren't making her uncomfortable. I haven't seen her this happy in a long time, Ezra. There's a light in her eyes that hasn't been there before," Aria said, almost pleading with him to see how much both she and Sadie appreciated his presence and willingness to be a part of their lives even after everything that had happened. "She loves that you're here. She finally has the daddy she's always wanted and it means so much to her. It means so much to me."
Aria's eyes were now brimming with tears as she incorporated her feelings into her words. His being there really brought enough emotions to make her eyes burn. It meant that much to her.
"Unless you don't want to be a part of her life. And if that's so please tell me now before she gets even more attached to you. If you leave now it would hurt her but much less than it will if you do later. I understand if you just want to walk away." Those words pained Aria to say. Even though she would like to, she couldn't handle it if he left. Not after seeing the way that Sadie looked at him with her big, blue, adoring eyes. It would kill her to see the disappointment in them if she had to explain to Sadie that her daddy would no longer be there. "And it will hurt me less if you back out now," she added quietly, no longer meeting his eyes.
Ezra quickly shook his head and placed his hands on both sides of her face so that she was forced to look at him. "Don't ever think that, Aria. Ever. I will always want you in my life. Always," he said in a firm whisper. "Don't doubt that. And I do want to be her father. I want that so much."
Aria looked up at him through her long, dark lashes. "Then why do you keep hanging back? You're just as much a part of this family as I am."
He gently brushed her cheek. "That's where you're wrong. I don't know what she likes to eat for dinner. I don't know why she's always outside. I don't know exactly what position she'll be in at what time. I'm not familiar with all of these things. I don't know her like you do."
"I'm sorry about that. I really am," Aria apologized.
Ezra shook his head, "I don't ever want to hear you say you're sorry again. There's absolutely no need for it."
Though she didn't necessarily agree with him she also didn't want to argue with him. "Then will you come watch the sun set with us?" she asked, once again doing her best impression of a begging puppy.
He smiled and nodded, "Gladly." He kissed the tip of her nose quickly before releasing her and retaking her hand.
As they walked back to Sadie Aria smiled slightly. That kiss, though quick, stirred something inside of her. He always had the capability of making her feel in a way that no one else could, even with a simple touch. And she had missed that.
"She loves the sky."
Ezra looked over at Aria who said it more like an answer than a statement. "What?"
"She's always outside because she loves the sky. She wakes up early sometimes just to see the sunrise. She stays up at night to watch the stars. She had a strange fascination with clouds. She likes the openness of it and hates being confined," Aria shrugged and Ezra realized that it was a delayed answer to his non-question.
He pulled her a little closer and kissed her temple. "Just like her beautiful momma," he whispered.
Aria snatched her phone off of her nightstand quickly and pulled up Alison's contact number. With everything that had happened that day with Ezra and Sadie she was able to put aside some of her anger for the controlling blonde but she had to hurry and say something just to get a little of the weight off of her chest.
The phone rang seven times and Aria almost thought that Ali wouldn't answer but then the other end of the phone picked up.
"Hello?" Ali's voice sounded completely bored, uninterested, and distant. Aria knew that she knew exactly what Aria was calling her about but she didn't seem the least bit bothered about it. Ali was never bothered by the repercussions of her actions. When she came back from being 'kidnapped' Aria had almost thought that she had legitimately changed but soon after learned that Alison never changed. Her cunning never left nor did her need to be in control. It was as much a part of Alison as apple pie was a part of America.
"Why, Ali? Why would you keep that from me? And don't pretend that you don't know what I'm referring to because you do know. And you also knew exactly how this would make me feel! You saw how confused I was but you did nothing about it. You never do anything unless it benefits you! And you like toying with people but we're not you're stupid puppets, Alison! We're real people with real lives with real consequences. Stop treating us like we're nothing more than the dolls you used to play with because I'm sick of it!"
Aria had to stop her yelling long enough to catch her breath. Her fists were clenched at her sides and her fingernails were digging into her own flesh. Aria hardly ever got angry. She was normally capable of shaking it off but this was one aspect of her life that she wouldn't let Alison mess with. She had messed with her dad, her family, her friends, but she wouldn't let her mess with her daughter. Not in a million years.
"Wow, Aria. Do I get a chance to answer any of those questions or defend myself against all of those accusations?" Alison asked, amusement evident in her voice.
"No, you don't. And don't play innocent, Ali, because that is the one thing you will never be," she said harshly. "I'm going to hang up because Ezra's here and he's with Sadie and we've had a wonderful day regardless of whatever you told him. So, do me a favor and stay away from me and Sadie."
She quickly hit the end button and threw the phone onto the bed before taking a slow breath. It felt good to get some of those feelings off of her chest. Even though she had so many more things to say to that girl, that was enough and Aria had a very handsome man still waiting in the backyard. That thought made her smile and she quickly ran down the stairs to where Sadie and Ezra were.
Sadie was lying on the grass in the same position that she had been in when Aria left her. Ezra was sitting on the swing that sat under the large sycamore tree. He smiled as he saw her and she quickened her pace slightly.
"You look a little worked up. Is everything okay?" he asked, concern written evidently in his eyes.
Aria sighed and sat next to him pulling her knees up onto the swing and laying her head onto his shoulder. He placed his arm around her shoulders and pulled her closer to him until they were situated in the relatively same position that they used to whilst watching movies on the couch. It felt so good to be curled up next to him and it seemed like all of her worries had melted away.
"I called Alison," she said after a minute.
Ezra looked down at her. "Aria, Alison is a jerk. It's not worth getting into a fight with her."
She nodded. "I know but I was so angry. Because of her I almost went back to New York."
Ezra was angry at her as well for almost making Aria leave again but he had learned his lesson where Alison DiLaurentis was concerned. It was always best to just not fight back because arguments and confrontations were just fuel to her fire. Not responding annoyed her more than any comments or yelling would ever do.
"I know. I know. But it's best to just let this one go," he soothed.
Aria bit her lip but agreed. She kind of had flown off of the handle on the phone which definitely wasn't the adult way of going about it. And Aria did know that the chance of anyone winning a war against Alison was zero to none. "You're right," she finally consented to which he nodded. It was better for her to drop it before Alison countered back and caused lasting damage.
The two fell quiet, Ezra slowly rocking the chair back and forth with his legs and Aria lying contently on his shoulder. She looked out at Sadie who had fallen asleep whilst watching the stars slowly start to appear. Ezra had laid a jacket on top of her and tucked her in. It was a silent agreement that she would stay there asleep until Ezra went home and Aria went to bed.
Occasionally a cricket would chirp or an owl would hoot and disturb the silence that had befallen the small city. A slight breeze swept across the land causing the leaves above to dance and rustle as they brushed into one another, each spinning slowly on its stem which was the only thing keeping them from falling to the ground.
The sun was long since gone and the colors had all fleeted leaving behind the black expanse known as night. The moon was nowhere in sight but thousands of stars decorated the sky like lights on a Christmas tree.
Stars had always intrigued Aria. They looked like you could reach up and grab one between two fingers when in reality they were light years away, beyond anyone's reach. What seemed so close was actually so far, past anyone's comprehension. There they hung in the sky, sharing their light with the world yet retaining their secrets and mysteries. Their beauty couldn't be contaminated by the dirty things of the world. That's what made them different from everything else. They were beyond the earth's influence. Instead they remained in their own realities. Free. Enchanting. Timeless.
Ezra watched Aria as she looked up at the sky. He saw the wonder cross her face and the amazement play across her mouth. Her eyes were wide and her lips slightly parted as she took in everything that she could see through the leaves of the large tree overhead. Her hair fell loosely around her shoulders, her dark locks cascading down her back and the slight curls wrapping around her arm or his or whatever else was in close proximities.
She was beautiful. In every sense of the word. Every time he saw her he was blown away by how effortlessly stunning she was. One smile. One look. One eye roll. It was all enough to take his breath away. And then there was her amazing personality and loving character. All of the little traits that added up to make Aria Montgomery. All of the little things that had come to mean the world to him over the years.
There was no denying that he loved her. With every fiber in his being. Every part of his mind. Every piece of his heart. She was his Belle, his Sleeping Beauty, his Cinderella. His everything. It had been that way since he had seen her that first time in the bar. It would be that way forever.
And then there was Sadie now. The time that they had spent together that day had meant the literal world to him. Seeing her eyes twinkle when she got a little mischievous idea. Watching as her whole face lit up as soon as Aria mentioned ice cream. Hearing those rare giggles that sounded so innocent and free and joyous. He loved being there to witness it. To have the opportunity to be a part of their lives was all he could ever ask for. That was all he ever wanted. All he ever needed.
Aria noticed his eyes on her after a minute and looked up at him. "What?" she asked curiously. He had that look in his eyes. It was that look that only showed up on rare occasions that was so incredibly soft like she could melt away under his blue gaze.
He brushed back her hair, not because it was falling into her face but because he wanted to feel her soft cheek under his thumb and her thick locks between his fingers. "Do you have any idea how much I missed you?" he asked huskily, his voice raw with emotion.
Aria smiled softly, "I missed you, too." Then she laid her head back down on his shoulder and nestled in closer to his side. He kissed the top of her head and gently ran his fingers through the bottom half of her hair. Just for a moment, everything was perfect. He was exactly where he needed to be with exactly who he needed to be with. Nothing else in the world mattered except the woman at his side and the girl lying in the grass. And it was at that moment that he finally understood what people meant when they said paradise.
Aria was on a happiness hangover, even though that probably wasn't even a thing. Actually, she stopped that train of thought. She was going to make it a thing.
The day before had been the definition of perfection. Though it had started out sort of rough, it soon shaped up to be one of the best days of her life. Seeing Ezra and Sadie together warmed her heart like nothing else had ever done before. She could see the connection between them grow stronger as they spent more time together. And the adoring way that she looked at him made her smile every time. Needless to say, she was smiling a lot.
Most people would describe her happiness as being on Cloud 9 but Aria had been on Cloud 9 and it still didn't encompass her euphoria. Maybe she was on Cloud 18 since that was twice the happiness associated with Cloud 9.
After that thought Aria shook her head and placed her palm to her forehead. Who the heck would come up with Cloud 18? No one. And if someone did one would expect it to be a math geek which Aria was certainly not.
"Aria, that grin hasn't left your face all day long. I think that you're a little too happy for your own good. Your cheeks are going to be permanently stuck like that," Hanna said from her position at the kitchen counter.
Aria tried to stop smiling but it was a lot harder than one might imagine. "Is it possible to be too happy for your own good?" she asked curiously as she too began contemplating the question.
Spencer looked up from her lap top on which she was working furiously to finish an assignment from her mother so that she could be done and more fully join the conversation. "That's a yes. Being completely happy and blissful is normally associating with being completely blind and stupid. Sometimes people who are excessively happy can't keep their heads straight," she answered basing her reply on previous experiences in life. Through high school in those rare moments that she focused on anything besides for A she had often seen girls who were so 'in love' that they didn't see how toxic those relationships really were. Sort of like how the girls had been in their friendship with Alison before she 'was kidnapped.'
Emily cut in quickly once she saw Aria wrinkle her brow. "Not that Ezra's the wrong person. You have every right to be excessively happy right now, Aria," she assured the small brunette.
"Can someone get the door?" Hanna asked. "My hands are covered in chicken juice." Her nose crinkled up as she looked down at the meat she was preparing for dinner. The other girls had all offered to help but she said she had everything under control. As it turns out the recipe was harder to follow than she had originally anticipated and all of the spices were making her pregnant stomach turn. Luckily she only had to prepare dinner for her and Caleb since all of the girls already had dinner plans.
Emily jumped up and went to the door that was down a separate hall in the Rivers' mansion. It wasn't actually a mansion but the other girls referred to it as one because it was quite large. Way bigger than Spencer's even. When they had seen the framing for the house go up shortly after their marriage Emily had thought that they were making a movie theater or department store or something of the likes. It was very grand and very fitting for Hanna's lifestyle.
She opened the door and Alison walked in without waiting to be invited. She flashed her white smile at Emily before going past her into the kitchen area.
As soon as Aria saw the blonde her whole body stiffened up and her happiness was replaced by anger. She hadn't said anything else to her but she certainly hadn't forgiven her either.
Both Hanna and Spencer looked at her apologetically. They knew how Aria was feeling and shared many of the same feelings. Alison hadn't been invited that evening at all but she somehow knew right when and where to show up.
Aria understood that it wasn't any of their doing but she still couldn't stand being in the same room as her. She stood up and grabbed her bag off of the back of the chair. "I've got to go," she said to Hanna before walking briskly in the way that Alison had just come.
As she was walking away she heard Alison remark to the others, "She's blowing this all out of proportion."
The small brunette clenched her jaw and clutched her bag tighter but didn't go back in. Ezra had said last night that she wasn't worth it and Aria agreed. Getting into a fight with Alison was pointless.
"Really she has no reason to be mad at me," Alison continued to which both Hanna and Spencer protested.
Aria was to the door when she heard Ali's last comment. "Aria's being more dramatic than Sadie is."
Bringing Sadie into their fight wasn't tolerable at all by Aria. She instantly went into protective mother mode and stormed back into the kitchen. "Alison, don't act innocent. Don't act dumb. And don't bring Sadie into this or ever say anything bad about her again. She's the least dramatic girl I have ever met." She turned to go once again before turning back as she thought of something else. "And you are the most dramatic person I know. If there isn't trouble going on you create it and I'm tired of it." She gestured around the room. "We all are."
Hanna slightly nodded and Spencer continued watching the heated conversation. Normally they would jump in and stop the two before anything bad could truly happen but Aria deserved the chance to yell at her.
Alison scoffed audibly, "I'm the dramatic one, Aria? Everything has been about you and Sadie since you came back. We're all getting tired of that."
Aria rolled her eyes and shook her head. "Everything's not about me. It's about all of us. Emily and her dad. Spencer and Wren. Hanna and her baby. You're just mad that it's no longer all about you."
"You're acting very immaturely right now Aria. I can't see why Ezra still likes you."
All 5'2" of Aria was fuming. "Is that what this is about? Ezra? You're jealous?" She didn't give her time to respond. "Well, guess what. You had your chance with him and you blew it. Just like you do every relationship because no one can put up with all of your lies."
Alison started to say something but Aria quickly cut her off. "Look, if you need help moving on, go see a stinking relationship counselor and stop trying to sabotage everyone else's."
Aria turned with a slightly dramatic flip of her hair and went to the door. Both Hanna and Spencer had to give her credit for that exit. It was very movie-like and well timed but both knew that they couldn't let her walk out of the door.
"Umm, Aria? Sadie's asleep on Hanna's bed upstairs. If you want to leave her that's alright but…" Spencer let it hang.
Aria bit her lip and turned back into the kitchen where the stairs were. She glared at Alison the whole way and she got Sadie and her things as quickly as possible before retreating downstairs.
She didn't say anything else but she could feel all of them watching her leave. She nodded once to Emily as she passed her in the wide hallway and then walked out of the front door.
So much for her dramatic exit.
She needed to talk to him. He was the only one who could calm her down.
Aria held Sadie's hand as they walked up the stairs to Ezra's apartment. She hadn't called but from what he had said yesterday he didn't have anything after three and it was five so he was probably there. And very rarely did he have company so she figured it would be fine for her to just show up.
Sadie had never been to 3B before and Aria was a little curious to see what her reaction to the place would. It was small which Sadie had never really liked and somewhat dark as well. The books would be an instant attraction though and Aria was certain that their daughter would love that aspect of the small space.
Aria pulled her keys out of her pocket. When she left to Philly that November night she hadn't taken her keys but they were exactly where she had left them when she returned home and among which was her key that led to Ezra's apartment. And, luckily, he hadn't changed his doorknob.
She could always knock but that was so old fashioned. And knocking on his door didn't feel right. She had always just walked in.
Aria let go of Sadie's hands so that she could unlock the door and then turned the knob before pushing the wooden door open. She didn't look up once it was open as she turned to pull the key back out and make sure Sadie followed her in.
"I saw Ali today. She showed up at Hanna's a-" Aria was cut off by Ezra which very rarely happened. She looked up and then realized why. They weren't alone.
"Aria," he said quickly to prevent her from saying anything else about that in front of his company.
She slowly shut the door and her mouth before taking Sadie's hand once again and pulling her closer to her side. "Sorry. I didn't mean to interrupt," she apologized to both Ezra and his visitors.
Ezra smiled slightly. "It's no problem. Really."
"Aria? I thought that you disappeared? Ezra, dude, why didn't you tell us that she was back?" Wesley Fitzgerald asked his older brother. The last time Aria and Wes had met was back when the whole Malcolm drama was going on. Apparently Ezra had filled them in on her absence but not of her return. That made sense to her though. She still wasn't positive as to where they stood or what to tell people and she figured that he was in the same position.
Ezra looked at Aria who didn't know exactly what to tell him. He wasn't familiar with A or anything like that but it would be necessary if she was going to be able to properly explain how Sadie fit into the equation and why she hadn't been there before.
"I did disappear but I got back a few weeks ago," Aria answered as vaguely as possible.
Ezra's mother looked back and forth between Aria and Ezra and Sadie multiple times. She didn't want to believe that the girl was Ezra's but knowing him and his love for Aria she knew that the chance was highly probable.
Ezra saw his mom trying to make the connection and he crouched down and reached for Sadie to go to him. He wasn't sure if she would because of her shyness but she did leave Aria's side to go to her father's arms.
He stood up with her on his side and turned back to face his family. "Mom, this is Sadie. Sadie, this is your grandmother."
Diane wasn't quite sure how to react. Her rich snobbish side suggested that she shouldn't recognize the child at all. She was Aria's and Aria had never been good for Ezra. But she had stopped listening to that side of her only a few months after Aria left. She had seen how absolutely broken her son was and it was then that she realized that he really needed someone and he didn't have anyone. He had lost her and she was the only person he really had in his life. It wasn't until then that she realized that maybe there was more to life than money and fame.
She smiled at the girl. "Hi, sweetie." Diane wasn't sure what to say or do. The child already looked a little frightened and she certainly didn't want to scare the girl.
Wesley was still standing with his mouth open. Sometimes it took him a little longer to process things. "Ezra, you're a dad. I'm an uncle. She's a grandma. She's a mom. Like, for real this time?"
Ezra smiled and looked at Sadie proudly. "For real this time," he nodded.
Wesley took a step closer and softly touched Sadie's shoulder. "Hello little miss."
Sadie eyed him for a moment before laying her head on Ezra's shoulders.
"She's really shy," Ezra explained.
"She's adorable, Aria. Really. I am so happy for the two of you," Diane said genuinely. She was now a grandmother and – though that made her sound old – she finally had someone to spoil. Growing up neither Ezra or Wesley enjoyed shopping or dressing up or anything and she had always wanted a girl that she could take to Paris or spend thousands of dollars on.
Aria smiled. "Thank you."
Ezra looked over at Aria who was standing a little detached from the group. "My mom and Wesley surprised me. They're going to be here for a few days staying in a hotel," he quickly explained.
"Oh, well. Once again, sorry to interrupt and I guess we'll go back to Spencer's," Aria said as she moved forward to take Sadie from Ezra.
"You don't need to leave, Aria," Diane cut in. "I'd love to catch up with you and have time to spend with Sadie. She is my first granddaughter you know."
Aria glanced at Ezra to get his take on the situation. "Yeah, stay Aria. Please."
She nodded hesitantly. "Alright."
Ezra offered a grateful smile and then sat on the couch behind him. Wesley and Diane sat in the chairs across from the couch. Aria sat next to Ezra. Not as close as they had been the night before but enough that occasionally their arms or knees would brush.
Diane turned eagerly to Aria, determined to show the girl that she had changed and was making an effort to get to know her because more than likely Aria Montgomery would end up sharing her last name. "So, Aria, do tell. What's it like to disappear?"
"So we're on for breakfast tomorrow? My treat?" Ezra's mother asked as she was walking out of the door. "And you and Sadie as well, Aria."
Ezra nodded as did Aria and then Diane left followed by Wesley who stopped to wave to Sadie before leaving. "Bye Sadie," he said cheerfully.
She waved back and he left with a wink aimed at Aria.
Ezra rolled his eyes, "He is the worst flirt sometimes. I'm sorry."
Aria smiled. "It's not a problem." The dinner and conversation had all gone very well. Diane was trying very hard to understand and not judge. She was legitimately making an effort to get to know Aria and Sadie.
Sadie had been her usual shy self. After a while she eventually began to respond to their questions but it was always with only one word or a simple nod of her head.
The two both looked at Sadie as soon as they heard a thud to find her sitting on the floor in front of her couch. "You know, if she had gotten your tallness gene she wouldn't have this problem," Aria said.
"Does this happen often?" he asked as he went over to help the little girl onto the couch.
Aria nodded. "All of the time. Perks of being small, I guess."
Ezra couldn't help but agree. Sadie was definitely small. They had gone to the park the day before and there were one year olds who were bigger than her. The shortness definitely came from her mother.
"So are you going home or do you want to watch a movie or we could play games or something?" he suggested.
Aria looked at Sadie who in turn looked at her. "I wanna stay," she declared with grave blue eyes. Like Aria had expected, she loved the books. The size wasn't small enough to bug her. And she absolutely loved that it was her daddy's house. Most of the night had been spent on his lap or in his arms or next to him at the table.
"Are you sure you don't mind?" she asked.
He nodded, "You're always welcome here, Aria. You know that. And I'm also happy to watch Sadie if you ever have something come up. I would actually really like that."
"Movie," Sadie said cutting her parents off.
Ezra ruffled her hair. "You want to watch a movie? Which one?"
Sadie thought for a moment before replying with Mulan and Ezra flicked on the TV. Aria raised her eyebrows. "You have Mulan on your TV?"
He looked at her and smiled. "Do you remember that TV thing Emily signed me up for? Apparently it comes with unlimited streaming of movies."
Aria smiled. "Look at you moving up in the world. Do you have something I can change into?"
He nodded towards his dresser. "Take whatever you'd like from there."
Aria walked over and opened the drawer which contained his pajamas and selected a pair of flannel pants and an old college t-shirt. "I'm going to go change," she excused herself and then went to the bathroom and shut the door.
Ezra found what he was looking for on the TV and started the movie before pressing pause. "Do you want popcorn?" he asked Sadie who nodded instantly like he expected her to. She had a slight obsession with dessert of any kind so he already knew what her answer was going to be. "Come, on. Let's go make it."
He swung her up onto his side and carried her to the counter where he swung her up and pulled out the popcorn box.
When Aria resurfaced from the bathroom a few minutes later in his pajamas she first noticed Sadie's giggles. She couldn't see them which meant that they were in the kitchen.
She walked softly to his bed and placed her clothes on the end and watched the father and daughter.
Sadie was sitting on the counter and Ezra was tickling her belly and then her feet and then her legs and she was very much enjoying it. She didn't giggle much but she was certainly doing so now. For a second Aria almost got jealous that Sadie was so enthralled with her father. She had to work hard to get that laugh to come out and here he was getting her to do it without any effort.
That moment quickly passed as she returned to relishing the sight. The microwave dinged and Ezra opened it, pulling out the popcorn bag and tossing it onto the table. "That's hot," he told Aria who he had seen when he turned around.
Aria nodded and smiled. "That it is."
Ezra turned to Sadie and lifted her off of the counter. "Go sit on the couch and we'll be there in a second with the popcorn."
The toddler nodded and did as told. "What were you saying about Alison when you walked in earlier? Is everything okay?" he asked with a worried tone.
She sighed. "Ali showed up at Hanna's house and was being a brat. It's no big deal though."
Ezra poured the popcorn out of the bag and into a bowl. "It must have been a big deal for you to come here as quickly as you did."
"I was just upset. She insulted me and she insulted Sadie and she's playing the innocent card. Which she isn't."
"No she is not," he agreed. "Do you want me to talk to her?"
Aria shook her head. "I'm just going to keep my distance from her for a while so I can calm down."
He nodded. "That's probably wise. If you ever need anything though, feel free to come over or call me. I'm here for you."
She smiled. "Thank you, Ezra."
He took her hand and they walked towards the couch flipping out the lights on the way until the only illumination came from the TV screen. Ezra sat down next to Sadie who had her blanket and bunny. Aria sat on the other side of him and Sadie climbed into his lap.
The popcorn was placed on Aria's lap and Ezra started the show.
As the beginning credits began playing across the screen Aria whispered in Ezra's ear, "I think I'm going to have to move to New York again."
His eyebrows shot up. "What for? Why?"
"Because Sadie doesn't give me any attention anymore. She hasn't since she met you."
He let out his breath that he was unintentionally holding. "Is someone jealous?"
Aria smiled slightly. "Yes I am and I'll own up to it."
Ezra shifted Sadie so that she was positioned on his leg that was closest to Aria. "Is that better?"
She nodded and laid her head on his shoulder once again returning her attention to the TV. Sadie moved again so that she was lying on Ezra's arm with her feet across Aria's lap but behind the popcorn.
Ezra kissed the top of both of their heads and then thought of a disturbing thought. "I don't have a free hand to get popcorn with," he remarked.
Aria smiled and grabbed a handful which she dropped into his open mouth. Most of it fell down his chest and onto Sadie or her but neither cared.
"You are totally going to have to vacuum tomorrow."
He nodded and pulled her closer to him. "I'm aware."
I hope you all love Ezria because there was a lot of it this chapter. My apologies. School just started to which I attribute the lateness of this update and every upcoming update, but that's life for you. Please review and tell me what you think!