A/N: Hey guys… sorry this took so long… enjoy!

After the Rainfall

Chapter Twenty-One:

Aria.

I rolled over in my bed, and smiled at the clock that was just beside my head. The alarm hadn't gone off yet, and any other day I would be pissed to be ripped from any sort of sleep, particularly with the dream that I had been having about Ezra. But this was a special day, one that I had been dreaming about coming all year. It was the day that I turned eighteen. Eighteen. Ezra was mine, free and clear. There was nothing that anyone could do or say about them now- he was hers and she was his. And, as luck would have it – it was a Saturday.

"Birthday Girl!" I heard Ezra outside my door.

"What're you doing here?" I asked, getting up and going to open her bedroom door for him.

"Like I would miss a second of your birthday," He said as he leaned in and kissed me – then handed me a bouquet of red roses.

"Yeah, she's finally not jailbait to you," Mike teased as he walked in.

"Mike."

"It's fine," Ezra chuckled, leaning in and kissing her again, "We're in the clear now."

"Ready for a working birthday?" Mike asked, looking around the boxes that were crowding Aria's room.

"I am," I smiled.

They had worked it out that I would move in with Ezra on the day that I turned eighteen, and live with him for senior year. Dad would be coming back from rehab the next day, and I had admitted to Ezra that I didn't want to live with him – at least for a while after he came back. I never wanted something like that to happen ever again, and Ezra had agreed. Dad, slightly reformed and remorseful didn't particularly like the idea, but understood when Ezra went to talk to him about it. So, for the time being I would sleep over and live with Ezra, while slowly rebuilding my relationship with Dad. Then, if a time came when I felt comfortable enough to move back in – I would. In the meantime, dad offered to pick up rent for Ezra – as I didn't have access to her inheritance from my mother's life insurance, or my trust fund until I was twenty.

"Though I don't know how helpful I'll be," I held up her cast.

"It's ok," Mike said, showing off his limited muscles playfully, "We've got it."

"Jason's coming over to help, too," Ezra said and Mike raised his eyebrows.

"Jason's just as much of a victim as we are," I reminded Mike and he shook his head.

"Yeah," Mike said, picking up a box and heading out the door.

"We do have to make this quick," Ezra mentioned to me, wrapping an arm around me and kissing the top of my head, "That's why I called Jason to ask him to help."

"Why?" I asked, "I was hoping we could just move my stuff over to your place and spend the night unpacking, together."

"But it's your birthday," He chuckled, "There will be plenty of time for that, other plans have been made."

"We have to go to a party, don't we?"

"I told Spencer I'd keep it a surprise," He said and I rolled my eyes, pouting.

"Ok," I said, "They've been trying to make an excuse to be able to hang out with us as a couple for a long time. And I don't think mom's funeral and all of that counts."

"I don't think it does either," Ezra said.

"But I get to decide when we leave."

"Ok."

"And we're leaving early," I pointed out, "The minute I start to act smashed, take me home."

"Please don't get smashed."

"I wasn't planning on it."

"Good."

"I'm finally eighteen!" I smiled, throwing the roses on her bed and throwing her arms around Ezra's neck.

"And that's why you're not drinking tonight."

"Seriously?"

"Maybe," He smirked and I rolled my eyes, "Either way, I'd like to have you to myself for a couple hours – minus any puking or passing out."

"You're no fun," I teased him and he chuckled as I leaned in and kissed him again.

"Would you both stop making out and help with the boxes?" Jason chuckled as he and Mike walked into the room.

"They're fine," Mike said, glaring at Jason as he grabbed a couple more of Aria's boxes.

"Right," I said as Mike left the room with a box.

"He hates me now," Jason observed.

"No," Ezra said as he grabbed a couple boxes.

"He just needs a little space I think," I said as Ezra headed out of the room, and I slung my backpack over my shoulder, "You could try talking to him once he cools down."

"I will," He agreed as I led him out to the driveway where they were packing up both Jason and Ezra's cars, "So what's the moving plan?"

"Just get everything over to the apartment," Ezra said, as he helped Mike get a few boxes into his trunk.

"We can pack my car up too," I said, and Ezra nodded as she unlocked the doors.

Within an hour we had all three cars packed up with all of the stuff I was bringing with me. I was leaving a lot home, because it wasn't like I was never coming back. I just needed my clothes, and most of my stuff, I left my bed, a few changes of clothes, and some PJs. I was still going to the house just about every day, and still going to taxi Mike around – I just wasn't going to live there. We drove caravan style, with Mike in my car with me, and Jason between Ezra and I's cars over to Ezra's apartment – and I guess it was mine too, now.

"You should give Jason a chance to talk to you," I told Mike, "He's really insanely-"

"I just don't want to hear it right now, Aria," Mike said, and I nodded – I understood, "Maybe in a little while – but not now."

"Ok," Aria said, "Are you coming to Spencer's tonight?"

"It was supposed to be a surprise… but yes," He replied, "I knew Fitz'd never be able to keep anything from you."

"And that's a bad thing?" I asked and he shook his head.

"Only when there's supposed to be a surprise party," He smirked as he turned the radio on.

"Well I had other plans for us tonight, he had to tell me," I said and Mike raised his eyebrows.

"Really? You just turned eighteen today," Mike chuckled, "Classy, Aria."

"Hey, that was not it," I said, "And I haven't been able to have alone time with my boyfriend for weeks, Mike."

"All right."

"You're twisted," I smirked as I pulled up next to Ezra's car.

"I don't think I'm too far off," Mike chuckled as we all piled out of our cars.

"What's going on?" Ezra asked as we went to unpack Jason's car first.

"Aria's legal now," Mike smirked and Ezra's jaw dropped.

"Seriously, Mike?" Ezra chuckled.

"Who's to say they haven't already?" Jason asked.

"Ok, this all needs to stop," I said and Ezra nodded.

"I agree," Ezra said, handing Mike a box.

Mike and Jason helped Ezra bring the boxes up to his apartment while I went around and did a very basic organization of all of the things they brought in. The clothes went over by the closet and spare dresser, the bathroom supply boxes went straight into the bathroom, and so on. I had packed very carefully, knowing that I would only have about a day total to adjust to living in the apartment before life went back to full swing.

"This is the last box," Jason said, bringing it in and setting it on the bed.

"We're done earlier than expected," Ezra commented, coming in behind him, "Aria, would you like to go find some lunch, or would you like to unpack?"

"Lunch sounds good," I said, hopping up from my perch on the bed, "We have to run Mike back anyways."

"What do you want, Birthday girl?" Jason asked.

I hadn't asked, but from everyone but Ezra and I's reaction to Jason I had to assume that he wasn't invited to the party later. This meant that this would be the only birthday activity that he would be involved in. I smiled to myself, at least I got one with him in it to.

"Aria?" Ezra asked, "Where do you want to eat?"

"What about that new little Thai food place down the street from here?" I asked and they all nodded.

"Sounds good to me," Mike smiled, and Jason nodded.

"Let's go," Ezra said.

Mike and I got in the car with Ezra and Jason got into his car to follow us there. Mike managed to keep his any further opinions of Jason to himself, and we had a good time. Mike was a little – cold – toward Jason, but I don't think he quite understood the whole situation. Either way, he didn't sulk he simply contributed to the conversation directly to Ezra and I. Jason kept cracked a joke about how jealous Alison would be of her now. Ezra then made a stab at

However, no matter how much of a good time I was having with all three of them, I was dying for some alone time with Ezra. I had been for some time, it was just the most recent time where I could see a clear window. We didn't have to go to Spencer's until the evening, and it was only noon as they sat eating their food. Ezra seemed to be thinking along the same lines, because as soon as everyone was finished he reminded Mike that he hadn't even thought about touching his homework yet.

Just a mere twenty minutes later, Ezra and I were walking through the hallway of his – our – apartment building, and he stopped me outside the door.

"What?" I asked as he held up his hand and went to open the door.

"Welcome home, beautiful," He smiled boyishly as he swung the door open for me grandly.

I spun around and plopped down on the couch, laying there in pure satisfaction. I smiled as I sprawled out, and Ezra smirked as he came over and tilted his head to get a clear image of my face. I smiled.

"You can come cuddle me, if you want," I suggested and he smiled as he sat down by my feet.

I sat up, and laid myself in his all too comfortable arms. We cuddled right up and he smiled as he rewrapped his arms around me. I didn't want to ask the question that was on the tip of my tongue. I wanted to enjoy my moment with Ezra, but we weren't going to be able to just be very long. It was getting to be late in the afternoon and we had to get ready for the party still.

"What did A text you in New York to make you so upset?" I just couldn't keep it in anymore, my curiousity had been killing me ever since.

"I told you, Aria," He said, absent mindedly kissing the top of my head, "It's not anything new, it just bugged."

"Ok, but A hasn't texted either of us since," I said, "And, whatever they said really, really upset you. You went from the happiest I had seen you in a while – to so ridiculously depressed. You were sulking the whole time we were touring NYU, and Boston the next day."

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have let it bug me so much," Ezra said, "But one of the main reasons I want to get us out of here is to get you away from this person. What they pulled with my mom? It only proves that we'll never get away."

"What did A say to you?" I asked again, Ezra was never that pessimistic unless something was seriously wrong.

"Fine, here," Ezra handed me his phone with the text open on the screen.

"Oh my God," I said, reading it a few times over before handing over his phone again.

"So, I've been thinking," He said, "And I think the only way we're going to be able to get away from A, is to find out who it is."

"We came to that conclusion ages ago," I exhaled rather loudly, "But how? That's what we've been trying to do the whole time."

"I don't think we're looking for a kid," Ezra said, "I think Jenna, and Noel – they're working under someone. I don't know that they even know who it is."

My phone went off in my pocket.

Hey, would you and Ezra mind stopping by my place for a little while? ~Spencer