I added something to chapter 21 (the Jackie chapter). Ever since I'd published that chapter, it's been nagging at me that it was unfinished. I hadn't written what happened next and I didn't want to hold up the schedule to do it, so I went ahead with it as it was, but now it has everything it was supposed to. So, if you liked how it ended on a sweet note, you don't have to bother rereading it, but if you'd prefer it end on a dirtier note, then go right ahead. I wound up shifting things a bit by combining the two Spencer&Fitz chapters since they were so short, made the Jackie chapter number 20, and the dirty bit 21. Enjoy.


"I'll go get him," Aria said when they pulled up outside Ezra's apartment building and hopped out.

She didn't get very far, running up the steps just as he exited the building carrying a blue duffel. It was significantly lighter than Aria's. She ran into his arms, almost knocking him off balance, and gave him a 'so happy to see you' kiss while her friends looked on from the cars. Ever since they parted ways last night, all she wanted to do was see his face.

"Are you sure you wanna do this?" she asked as they descended the steps together. Ezra waved at Hanna and Caleb in the black car idling behind Spencer's. Hanna grinned and wiggled her fingers back at him.

"Or what, be miles away from you for 3 whole days?" he said like the idea was completely absurd. "I like your friends. We had fun at that bar, right?" Spencer popped the hatch from inside and it slowly opened.

"Yep." She didn't want to talk him out of it by any means, but was worried there might be a weird dynamic. All along, he had been a separate part of her life. Now, she wanted to include him in the rest of it, and hoped would be comfortable there.

Ezra tossed his bag in, and slammed the door shut, then they got into the backseat from opposite sides. Aria sat in the middle, to Ezra's left.

"Hello Ezra," Spencer said, emphasizing his first name. She wondered if she'd ever get used to calling him that to his face.

"Hi Spencer."

She started pulling away from the curb. Hanna's car followed suit.

"Ezra, this is Toby, Toby, this is Ezra," Aria introduced.

"Hey, nice to meet you," Toby said.

"Same here." They shook hands between the seats. Ezra knew Spencer's boyfriend would be joining them, but didn't know who Spencer's boyfriend was.

"Buckle up, kids! Safety first," Spencer said facetiously.

"Oh, before I forget!" Ezra reached over the backseat into the zippered compartment of his bag, pulling out a smallish plastic package. "I got these for you."

"Omigod you remembered!" Aria squealed. "I can't believe it! I have been craving these sooo bad!" She couldn't decide between hugging him or tearing open the package so she tried to do both at once. Ezra grinned at how happy he'd just made her.

"What is it?" Spencer asked.

"It's this candy I used to eat in Iceland," Aria explained, already chewing a piece. "It's like licorice and coconut. It sounds gross, but it's soo good. Do you want to try some?"

"Sure.." she said uncertainly. Aria held the bag forward and Toby reached in for two pieces so Spencer didn't have to turn around.

"Thank you, love." She gave him a kiss and he could taste the licorice on her lips. "You're so sweet. How did you even find these?"

"I had to order them online," he explained. "There's more where that came from. There's a whole box sitting in the apartment."

"Good thinking. I can tell the baby's gonna want more." She rested her head on his shoulder, and murmured, "You're so good to us."

Toby turned to Spencer slightly, who briefly met his gaze then returned her eyes to the road. "Baby?" he asked quietly.

"She didn't tell you?" Aria asked.

"I wasn't sure if you were telling people yet," said Spencer.

"Toby's not people," Aria said as if it were plainly obvious. Even though Aria didn't know Toby well, she knew she could trust him. He was part of the inner circle.

"Uh thanks," he laughed. "Congratulations."

"Thank you." It was nice to hear an unqualified congratulations from someone.

"Toby and I will totally babysit if you ever need us to," Spencer offered, simply volunteering him for the job without even asking.

"Thanks, Spence." Turning to Ezra, "We're so lucky. We've got half a dozen built-in babysitters just waiting for a crack at this peanut. And if they're all busy, there's always Mike." She was only half-joking. Aria thought Mike would make a good uncle.

Ezra looked at her dubiously. "You would trust Mike with our child?"

Our child. It was the first time either one of them had ever referred to the baby like that. "I love hearing you say that," she said, lowering her voice. The hand which had been resting on her bare thigh all this time gave it a squeeze.

"Our child will be so loved," he said softly, brushing the hair away from her face with his other hand. Their foreheads were touching and her eyes bore into his.

Spencer turned up the stereo to give them some privacy, but they took it as a cue to lighten the mood. With a measured breath, they broke apart. He removed his hand from her thigh and rested that arm around her shoulder.

"This is a great song. Is this the radio?" Ezra asked whoever.

"No, it's my iPod," Toby answered.

"I was gonna say. I don't think they get much radio play."

"Yeah, it's a shame," he agreed.

"Do you have Stars?" Ezra asked. "It's my favorite track off the album."

"Mmhm. I can play it next." Toby picked up his phone, plugged into the jack between the seats with a long white wire, and queued up the song Ezra requested.

"Who is this?" Aria asked, playing with his fingers.

"The xx," Ezra replied. "Didn't I send you some of their songs?"

"Oh right. I haven't had a chance to listen yet."

Up front, Spencer and Toby started talking about finals. Spencer was certain she'd aced them all, except possibly Russian History, which she never quite caught up in this year. Toby was glad he was through with high school.

"I like it," Aria said during the next song. Aria and Ezra were fans of good music in general, regardless of genre, or language even. They both had a rather eclectic taste which became only more eclectic after they met.

"So tell me what happened last night. What kind of nuclear fallout?" Ezra asked her.

"There was a lot of yelling," she told him.

"At you? I should have been there to deflect-"

"No. No, mostly my dad yelling at my mom. It was awful."

"I'm sorry. I wish we had handled it differently, but I'm honestly not sure what would have been better."

"Me neither," Aria agreed.

"Sorry to interrupt, but are you guys saying you told your parents about the baby? Last night?" Spencer asked.

"Sort of. We didn't get to tell them anything. First, my mom finds the ultrasound picture and nearly passes out on the street. Then, at dinner with my dad, Ezra's boss shows up and spills the beans for us."

"Wow. How did they react?"

"My mom is dealing. My dad is.. not. He seemed ready to choke Ezra to death last night. He went the cops-"

"Wait, what?" Ezra asked, afraid his worst nightmare might be coming true.

"While they were yelling, I figured out my dad went straight to the cops after dinner and they said there was nothing they could do."

"Maybe lead with this information next time. Warn me I might be hauled off to prison." He attempted to keep his tone light, and failed.

"You won't. We haven't done anything wrong. At least," lowering her voice a bit, "no one knows we have."

"Are you okay?" Spencer asked.

"Yeah, it'll blow over," Aria said, without much conviction.

"I can't believe they even let you come this weekend."

"There was no way I was missing this. My mom tried to stop me this morning, then agreed it might be a good idea. Probably so she has a chance to talk my dad out of hating me."

"Hating you?" Ezra said. "Aria, no. I'm the one he hates. He could never hate you."

"Don't be so sure. The way he looked at me at the restaurant, it was like I was dead to him."

"That's not true."

"Yeah, maybe," she said without enthusiasm. Then Aria snickered and Ezra smiled.

"What's so funny?" Spencer asked.

"Nothing. I'm really glad for this trip, Spence. I need a break."


[Links to Stars by The xx and the other song playing, Crystalized by The xx are in my profile. ]