I truly truly apologize for those of you keeping up with this story. I will get better I promise. I've been caught up in writing Emma Rose, I have really been slacking on this story. Thanks so much for the reviews! Just because of you guys, I made sure to update.

Aria tried her best to quickly recover and compose herself, shifting uncomfortably in the glare from her soon to be mother in law. "Why Aria, how nice to run into you" Diane said dryly. "Well I'm sure it was a complete coincidence" Aria answered sarcastically.

"Actually I was across the street with Maggie, I saw you threw the window, and wanted to come give my congratulations" Diane smiled at her. Aria could see that Maggie was with Diane. She questioned why they would be visiting with each other, and if Ezra was aware. "Picking out a wedding dress I presume?" Diane asked as she surveyed the dress shop. Her glaze froze on Rachel for a moment. "Rachel" she acknowledged uncomfortably. Rachel only nodded back, and braced herself for whatever horrid stunt Diane was about to pull.

"Yes, and we're leaving now", Aria answered sharply as she walked past Diane and towards the door. She wanted to get Rachel away from Diane as quickly as possible. "Aria" Diane called out. Aria was surprised by the pleading way Diane's voice sounded, it actually caused her to turn around. She made eye contact with her, and she could see that Diane was genuinely upset. "Can you please just give me a few minutes of your time? Please?" Diane asked her, almost humbly.

Aria turned to her mother and friends, "I'll meet y'all at the Grille in just a few minutes" she offered with a smile. "Aria, who is this woman?" Ella whispered. "Ezra's mother" Aria explained. Ella just nodded in response. She didn't know much about their relationships with Ezra's mother, but she did know it barely existed. "Ok, well we'll be expecting you in a bit" Ella said, before shooting Diane a warning look.

Aria turned to face Diane, and then to Maggie, who looked like she wanted to be anywhere else but there. "What can I do for you, she asked". "Please come sit, we have a table across the street" Diane offered. Aria agreed and the three women made their way to the small round table.

Aria was very apprehensive, but she was still curious what Diane was up too. She sat there calmly waiting for Diane to start the conversation. Taking the hint pretty quickly Diane spoke up. "I want you to know that I am genuinely happy for you and Ezra. I know you both feel like I am too heartless to actually mean that, but I know how much my son loves you".

"Thank you" Aria responded skeptically. "Ezra, he was honestly the first person I ever truly loved. I have made mistakes, decisions he didn't agree with, but my baby boy is getting married, and he doesn't even want me around. I know I'm not perfect, but I can't honestly deserve this." Diane explained with tears in her eyes.

Aria didn't really know what to say, she could see why Diane was upset, but she knew Ezra's reasons. "Families, they fight. It's unavoidable, I mean your parents were outraged when you and Ezra went public. Still you worked things out, and both of your parents will be present at your wedding. I just don't know how he can completely cut me out, it's as if, he never loved me" Diane was actually tearing up at this point.

"Maybe with some time Ezra will reconsider" Aria offered, not knowing if even she believed her own words. "Aria, it's been over two years" Diane retorted. "And to add insult to injury, he's letting his father and step mom be a huge part of his life. I mean I don't expect him to hate his father, but let's not pretend the man, didn't go out and start a completely new family, while still married. Where is Ezra's moral conviction there?" Diane said frustrated.

"Look, I know you and Ezra have a rocky past, but if you think coming to me can change his mind, I'm sorry to disappoint you, Ezra makes his own decisions." Aria clarified. "I know, but I know he listens to you, he forgave everything that happened between you. I'm his mother, why not me?" Diane asked.

"Ezra, holds on to things, I am very aware of that. It's not just you, it was me for a long time, and he still doesn't speak to his brother" Aria tried to explain. "If you really want to make progress with him, you should go to him directly. Pulling me to the side and having secret meetings with Maggie, is exactly the kind of stuff that pushed him away." Aria said frustrated.

Turning her attention to Maggie, "And why in the world would you be meeting up with Diane? Is she giving you money?" Aria snickered. "No" Maggie defended. "Malcolm wants Diane and Wesley in his life, I have accept that. I haven't forgotten anything, but I'm not going to pretend that she is not family" Maggie tried to explain. Aria just rolled her eyes. She wanted to snap that they probably aren't related at all, but decided she had enough drama for the day.

"We'll I need to go" Aria said as she stood up from the table. "Will you talk to him? Will you try?" Diane pleaded. Aria couldn't help but feel a little sorry for her. "I'll bring it up, but I wouldn't count on anything" Aria answered honestly. "Thank you Aria, and once again I am truly happy that he is getting married. I have always wanted what was best for him" Diane smiled at her before she turned and walked away.

"So what did Mama Fitz want?" Hanna asked as soon as Aria made her way inside the Grille. "She wants me to make her son talk to her again" Aria complained. "She knows about the wedding, and she is distraught she is being left out" she went on.

"Well I don't really know the details, but as a mother, I'm sure that is crushing" Ella interjected. "I get that, but honestly she has made her own bed" Aria shrugged. "It can't be that bad" Ella stated, a little disturbed that Aria would feel this way.

"Mom, when she found out Maggie was pregnant, she told her to have an abortion. Ezra was so disgusted and distraught, that he disowned his family, and changed his name. Then years later he found out that Maggie couldn't do it, so Diane decided just to pay her off, and keep Malcolm out of Ezra's life. All of this because she felt having a child young, was going to damage Ezra's future, and her family name." Aria rolled her eyes.

"I know you and Dad are pretty liberal, but I really want to believe that you would never want your grandchild dead, I mean the woman is a monster" Aria went on. Ella just took a moment to take in what her daughter had said. She secretly wondered how Byron would have taken a teenage pregnancy. Would he have wanted the same thing? If so would his child hate him, as much as Ezra seemed to hate his mother? "We'll Aria, maybe she's had a change of heart, I mean life tends to change your view points after time. I'm sure she loves her grandson now" she tried to argue.

"Either way, Ezra was the one who had enough, I don't know why she thinks I could ever change that?" Aria asked confused. "Well maybe I could talk to him?" Ella offered. "Why would you even want to? Didn't you just hear that story?" Aria asked confused. "Well, we all have done things, we wish we could go back and change. I mean there was a time things were so bad with your father, that you wanted to turn him in for having an affair with a student. In that moment he was the enemy, but families work it out. Maybe she's just looking for that chance?" Ella explained.

Aria was surprised at her mother's offer. She was also impressed. Ella always had a big heart, and tried to put herself in the other person's position. It was that kind of compassion that helped save her and Ezra's relationship years ago. "Well lucky for Diane, Ezra has a soft spot for you." Aria smiled.

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