"Can you stop this? He's taking her on the 1st. I don't know if we can do anything," Mike said honestly as he quickly wiped a tear from his cheek.
"She's my child too; I have rights. I may not be able to get out of this bed, but I'll find a way Mike," Ella said as she pushed herself up a little, yelping slightly as she remembered the amount of pain she was in as Mike edged suddenly towards her to try and help.
Ella reached for the phone and dialled her apartment.
"Byron, don't you DARE take her out of this country; do you understand me?"
"I'll do whatever I want, Ella. She deliberately went behind my back," Byron screamed.
"Has it ever occurred to you that you're absolutely irrational?" Ella retorted as Byron huffed into the phone.
"It's already all arranged. We're leaving day after tomorrow." Byron said sternly.
"Where are you going? What's the address?" Ella desperately asked. She couldn't get out of the hospital bed to stop this. She had to find another way to stop this. Or at least, find Aria when Byron took her away.
"Yeah, like I'm telling you that," Byron responded abruptly.
"BYRON, I can get you in trouble for this. Don't you DARE take her anywhere. Legally, you're not allowed to take her away from me without at least telling me where you're both going. Get a good lawyer, Byron," Ella shouted as she slammed down the corded hospital phone with a thud.
Ella jumped slightly at the bang from the plastic phone, as her hands began to shake uncontrollably as she looked down at them.
"Mike, Mike; get the nurse," Ella said as her voice went to immediate panic.
Mike ran from the room as Ella ran her hands over her face, before shaking her hands out while taking deep breaths. It was a panic attack. Ella hadn't suffered from one until now.
Aria struggled with the lipstick in her hands. It was 6pm New Year's Eve, and Ezra and her were getting ready to go to the party on the roof of Ezra's apartment.
"Shit," she let out as she fiddled with the lipstick, attempting to twist the base of it, to get more of the lipstick. Her emotions were getting the better of her, as she let out a soft sob as she continued to struggle, before the lipstick fell into the bathroom sick and she let out a louder sob.
Ezra came running to the open bathroom door to see Aria, leaning both hands on the sink of the bathroom. She was already dressed in a flawless formal dress, her hair already done. Her face wore her fresh tears down her cheeks, as Ezra semi sprinted the few steps to get to her. He wrapped his arms around her waist, resting his hands on her stomach protectively as he kissed her neck.
He slowly smiled as he looked at them both in the mirror. He was still in shock at how lucky he was to have her; though the true nature of his luck was shining through, as she was being taken away from him.
His eyes met hers in the mirror as his eyes sparkled at hers. With her in his arms, he was the luckiest man in the world. He'd never not be grateful for when she was near. And the same went for her.
"Aria, you look so beautiful. You don't need make up," he said as he kissed her cheek.
"Thanks," Aria said though a crumpled smile, "But this is the last time," she said as she turned around and clasped her hands in his, "we're seeing each other for God knows how long. I need you to have some photos of us now, so you will remember me," she choked, "while I'm not here."
"Please don't talk like that, Aria. I'm going to find you. I'm going to find my family," he said firmly, enough to reassure Aria and himself as she smiled very softly. She knew Byron. They both did; and it wasn't going to be easy for Ezra to find her.
Ezra grabbed the lipstick out of the sick and wiped the few droplets of water off it with a tissue, before clasping Aria's chin in his hand, tilting her head up. He delicately applied the lipstick to her beautiful lips before she smiled her thanks.
"Ready to go?" Aria asked as she grabbed his hand.
"Yes," Ezra said while forcing a slight hint of enthusiasm. "Let's go," he said as he walked them out of his apartment, and up to the roof of the building.
The roof top room was a buzz, as people laughed and danced while the music played. Ezra simply put his arm around Aria's waist, walking her to the dance floor as they put their arms tightly around each other. Ezra's hands were tight around her body, his fingertips slightly digging in as he held her around her back. Aria's face was streaming with tears as it sat tight between Ezra's shoulder and neck. Her tears were hitting his neck and going inside his shirt, but of course he didn't care.
Neither spoke a word. They just swayed and cried for about an hour while they remained in that exact position. Aria closed her eyes while they continued. Ezra took a brief look down at her face as he let another tear fall, before his arms got tighter around her, making her sigh. Someone on the dance floor accidently ran into them a few moments later, which shook them out of their state as the person apologised sincerely.
Ezra and Aria came back together, faces staring straight at each other this time. They both lent in to give each other the softest kiss, as they savoured the feeling being shared between them. They held their kiss for longer than usual, not willing to let go just yet.
Eventually, they did break apart again as his hand came up and caressed her cheek as her lips pursed, trying to contain her emotions.
"Can we go back home?" Aria asked sweetly as Ezra smiled. He wanted to hear her say those words for so long; hoping though that it would be a start for them, not an unwanted separation.
Ezra pushed open the door before letting Aria go in first as she gave him a soft smile. Ezra grasped her hand and walked to the single brown chair in his apartment. He sat down, and he welcomed her to come and sit on his lap. She willingly sat on his thigh as he cradled her in his arms.
Ezra pointed next to them at the wall between the bookcase and windows.
"You see there?" Ezra asked Aria as she softly smiled. "That's where I thought the crib could go," he said as he choked and cried, not willing to hide his tears from her as she also started crying again. "I thought the changing table could go over there," Ezra said as he pointed opposite their bed to where the television is, "we could put the changing table," he said with a far off smile as he thought about what their lives could have been. "And instead, you're going to be in another country. Byron helping you," he spluttered before he cracked, and Aria placed her hands around his face.
"Over on your desk, I've left notes on the open notebook." Aria said strongly, now putting their plan into place. "There I've listed the places we went when we lived there. I'm sure that's where Byron will take me, somewhere that's familiar. And he's a professor, right? So, if you and Ella call around all universities in those towns; you're bound to find me. Or, if that doesn't work; I'll find a pay phone," Aria said with a soft laugh, before her tone resumed its seriousness.
"We're going to be back together again when this little one arrives." Ezra tightly smiled as he looked down at her kneecaps, nodding softly as she spoke. "Ezra, we haven't even decided on names. And, you and I both need to be together to do this. This child is going to be amazing," Aria said as Ezra's smiled beamed up at her as he looked into her eyes.
"I love you, more than anyone, for the rest of my life," Ezra said as Aria giggled a little.
"I love you too, you wonderful man. Forever," Aria spoke with care as she attacked his lips, before they both smiled into the kiss. They stayed there for the rest of their night, savouring every kiss; not taking one moment of their remaining time for granted.
Aria caught a look at Ezra's clock behind her. "Ezra, it's 10 minutes until I promised Byron I'd be home. I promised midnight," Aria said frantically as she jumped up off of Ezra and he also shaking stood up.
Their eyes met and displayed pure heartbreak.
"Let me drive you, please?" Ezra asked. "I'm not ready to say goodbye just yet," Ezra whispered as struggled to stay strong and not let his emotions overcome him.
"I'd love that," Aria said as she leant upwards and kissed his lips, while her hand went behind his ear. Their kiss grew more passionate with each second, before they both reluctantly separated.
Ezra and Aria stopped outside Ella's apartment door. This was it. This was their New Year's, and their goodbye.
Ezra turned Aria by her shoulders so that she was facing him, and held the edges of her arms a few moments longer than usual as he drew himself together.
"This isn't goodbye. This isn't it. We're meant to spend our lives together, we both feel that," Ezra choked as Aria nodded and smiled as her eyes started crying more. "I love you. I'll find you," Ezra said as he kissed her forehead as Aria let out a squeak.
Then Ezra slowly, delicately lowered his lips to Aria's as they had their 'goodbye kiss'. Both weren't moaning in pleasure, or smiling; both were letting out sobs and struggling to catch breath as they refused to let it end.
Ella's apartment door flew open and slammed as Byron stood in the doorway, eyes glaring and body ready for a fight as he stood watching Ezra and Aria try and tidy themselves and wipe the tears off their faces.
Byron looked at Ezra's red eyes and shaking lips and smiled at his pain. Ezra lowered his brow before storming into the apartment grabbing Byron's collar. Mike was in the main lounge room, and was out of the way, yet close enough to witness everything. Aria came running in after Byron and Ezra. Ezra held Byron by the scruff of his shirt and held him close.
"I did nothing to you." Ezra said angrily as Byron's expression flattened. "I love her more than anyone, and you're doing this to both of us, not just me," he said gesturing to Aria, whose arms were crossed, hands coming up to wipe the tears from her cheeks while watching the ordeal.
Ezra's voice grew quieter, "And you're taking away my child," he said in just over a whisper as he drew Byron closer. "I'll find her. I'm not leaving her. You as a parent should be ashamed at what you're doing right now," Ezra spat as he let Byron's shirt go with an element of force so he stumbled a bit and nearly fell before composing himself again.
Ezra turned to Aria. Their arms wrapped around each other tightly as she cried into his chest one final time while he stroked and then kissed the top of her head.
"I love you," Aria said before she kissed Ezra a final time. Byron and Mike's presence in the room wasn't anywhere near their minds as their tenderly kissed. Ezra then met his eyes with hers one more time, before he turned and voluntarily left. Aria was left standing in the lounge room, Byron and Mike staring at her. Mike then lowered his head, shaking it as he wiped his eyes from the scene. Byron's glare remained fixed on Aria.
"We leave in four hours. Get some sleep before then," he said as he went to the kitchen.
Aria slowly dragged herself into her room in silence. No words could describe how empty she felt in that moment.
I'm so glad so many of you are loving the story! That means so much to me! Take care, and please review :) ~St0ryTeller