My first Ezria story and I hope it'll be good.

Name: Home

The plot: Rosewood after -A is revealed. For the purposes of this story, Melissa is -A. Caleb is back in town and Aria's parents are back together. Aria and Ezra continue their hidden relationship. It is revealed that -A set him up in that place in Ravenswood. It wasn't his one. There's no more -A and the life in Rosewood is back to normal. Or maybe not. What is Rosewood without secrets?

Rate: T or PG-13, whatever goes.

Couple: Ezra/Aria

Writer's note: Enjoy reading. You can either leave or not reviews. It doesn't matter to me if you enjoy the story and I hope you will. :)

Chapter 37: The next big secret

After their last talk, it looked like that everything was forgotten. There was no more disturbance there. There were nothing that could cause any problem. Aria was calm enough for Ezra's taste and he felt somewhat relaxed. Ella visited them for a weekend. She helped Aria to get ready with the nursery. Spencer and Hanna joined the both women and Ezra felt the need to leave the apartment. He used that opportunity to visit Spencer's mom. She hadn't given up on released her older daughter from the prison. Melissa had convinced her in her innocence somehow, but Ezra knew the truth. Melissa was very good at lying and manipulating people. While Aria was only good at lying, Spencer's sister was a mastermind. She could think few moves ahead and build a whole plan for only few hours. After he had found out her role in Ali's disappearance and later, in her murder, Ezra was more than determent to see her behind bars. Now, when she was already there, he wanted to keep her there. He wanted to keep Aria safe and he knew, that could only happen if Melissa stayed where she was now.

He knocked on the Hasting's door with a blank look on his face. The house appeared to be empty, but he had seen the cars outside. Spencer's parents were at home. When the door opened and he saw Veronica's face, Ezra tried to look cool. It turned out to be an easy job. That was surprising, because he knew how good lawyer she was. She could give him that look, that could make him feel closer to the ground. But not now.

"I was waiting for you," Veronica said and stepped aside to let him in. Ezra hesitated only for a second. Then he walked into the house. "Hello, Ezra!"

"I wish I could say that I feel happy to see you," Ezra turned to her. "But we both know that's gonna be a lie."

"Do you want a coffee or something?" Veronica said instead.

"Let's not play games here, okay?" He put up his hand. "I'm not good at this, not as Melissa."

"It's not proven yet," Veronica took a deep breath and her eyes narrowed. "She convinced me that..."

"What?" Ezra interrupted her. "That she's just an innocent victim in all this?" He tried to control his anger, but it was really hard. "We both know that's a lie, Veronica! We all know what she did to these girls, right?"

"What we think she did!" Veronica scoffed. "Nothing was completely proven!"

"She tried to kill me!" Ezra rose up his voice, but then stopped and took a deep breath and tried again. "She tried to kill me, because I was so close to the truth then! Damn it! I knew who's standing behind all of this!"

"She didn't pull the trigger," Veronica insisted. "It was Noel, who..."

"And that makes it okay?"

"I'm just saying that we have no real evidence of..."

"No real evidence?" Ezra interrupted her. "I have many! And twisting the truth now is..."

"Are you the one, who's going to tell me about twisting the truth?" Veronica hissed. "You, above all people?"

"What?" Ezra looked at Spencer's mother with disbelief. "What are you talking about?"

"Your relationship with Aria, while you were still her teacher!" Veronica lowered her voice. "If that's not twisting the truth... No! That's a simple lie!"

"We didn't hurt anyone," Ezra shook his head. "Well, no. We hurt ourselves, because of it."

"That's still a lie and not to mention that it was completely illegal!"

"And you're going to use that in the court?" Ezra narrowed his eyes. "Don't get me wrong. I have no problems with that, but if you use it, you're going to hurt not only me. You do know that a lot more people are involved in all this. Not to mention, that one of these people is really close to my heart."

"I'm just saying..."

"Look," Ezra scoffed. "I'm not the most innocent person ever! But if you think that's the way of making your daughter look innocent, I have to say... you've chosen the wrong way. The evidences I have are strong and they could not be put into question. We both know that! Also, I know Melissa is guilty and I will not step back! Do you hear me?" He lowered his voice. "I will protect the people I love with everything that I have!"

"So am I!" Veronica rose up her chin. "She is my daughter after all!"

"Yes, but she is not Spencer!" Ezra pointed out.

"What?"

"I have to say that Spencer and I had our differences," he shrugged. "But you have to pay more attention to the daughter that suffered the most of Melissa's betrayal! I know from Aria that she's doing pretty well right now, but not because of her family."

"Shut up!" Veronica scoffed.

"Why?" Ezra tilted his head. "Truth hurts?"

"Get out of my house! Now!" Veronica opened the door with an angry look on her face.

Ezra just chuckled bitterly and stepped outside of the house. "Just think about it, Veronica! Think about it well!" He said before she could slam the front door in front of his face.

The way back to Philly was short. When he finally got back home, the nursery was ready. Aria, Ella, Spencer and Hanna were drinking tea in the living room. He could hear them laughing from the front door and when he walked in, his look fell on Aria. She looked happy and relaxed. That was all he needed to know. That was all he had to do now, to keep her safe and happy.

"We're ready," she said, reaching for his hand. Ezra took it and sat close to her. "Where have you been?"

"Well," he leaned to kiss her and sighed. "I had to do something at school."

"It's Saturday!" Aria frowned. "Why they are making you work on Saturday?"

"I had to fill few papers," Ezra tried to smile. "Calm down!"

"I still don't get it!" Ella took their attention. "If you're going to have a girl, why the room is not pink?"

"Because," Aria turned to her mom. "That's way too ordinary."

"Of course!" Spencer nodded, trying to look serious.

"Lilac is way better!" Hanna chuckled.

"Are you mocking me?" Aria pouted.

"Oh, honey..." Ella sighed. "Nobody is mocking you."

"It looks like it!" Aria pouted, but they all laughed and soon after that they started joking around.

Soon after that, Aria went to sleep. It was time for her afternoon nap. Ella went to grab something for dinner and Hanna had to go back home. Spencer was going to stay for dinner, because Aria had asked her. Toby was out of the city this weekend and Aria didn't want her friend to feel alone.

"I know where you've been this afternoon," Spencer talked to Ezra when they were left alone in the living room. He just gave her a look. "My mom called me and asked me to go back home and talk."

"And this is why you know where I've been?" He rose up his eyebrow.

"She told me," Spencer frowned. "I want you to know that I'm not supporting her efforts."

"Melissa is your sister," Ezra shrugged. "We won't blame you if you do."

"I still remember what she did," Spencer trailed off. "And I know her games," she sighed. "You haven't told Aria, have you?"

"No," Ezra shook his head.

"Good," Spencer nodded. "She doesn't have to know right now... right?"

Ezra didn't answer. His look fell on the closed door of the bedroom, where Aria was sleeping. He had to protect her in any cause!