Chapter 4 - that night

Aria's pov

I pulled up Spencer and Toby's driveway, staring at awe of the house. I forgot how beautiful it was from the last time I was here. Glancing into my rear-view mirror, I watched Oliver play with his dinosaurs and giggled quietly at him. Malcolm was helping fix something with Hardy's car, so they were bringing him with tonight.

"Ok Mr. Oliver, you ready to go see auntie Spencie and everyone else?" I asked and he looked up excitedly.

"Yeah!" He said.

Getting out of the car, I smoothed out my embellished coral top and skirt that Ollie picked for me to wear tonight. I opened the door to see Oliver was trying to unbuckle himself, with no luck. Emily pulled up to the curb as Oliver looked over at me.

"Would you like some help?" I asked and he nodded.

"Yes, please mama." He said and I kissed his forehead.

Unbuckling his seatbelt, I picked him up and stood him up as Emily got out of her car and Toby walked out. Oliver looked between them then looked up at me for help.

"Hey there Ace! Come give me a hug!" Toby said.

"No, give auntie Emmy a hug!" Emily called out.

As Oliver tried to decide who to hug first, Spencer came out and he ran towards her. Toby kneeled down with his arms open, thinking that Oliver was going to him and stared at me in shock when Oliver went past him. Emily began laughing as she came over and pulled me into a hug.

"Spencie!" He said happily as she picked him up.

"How's my favorite little Ollie?" She asked.

I walked over to Emily, she pulled me into a hug and Maya pulled in with Hanna and Chloe with her. Noticing Ezra or Malcolm weren't with us, Emily looked over at me and I knew I was going to have to tell them. Spencer looked over concerned as Oliver was talking about something, and I'm sure that he mentioned the separation. Walking over to her, I took Oliver from her and kissed his forehead as Maya, Chloe, Hanna got out.

"Ollie, why don't you and uncle Toby play in the back yard? Mama wants to talk to your aunties for a little bit okay?" I said and he nodded as the girls realized something was really up.

Toby smiled softly at me as Oliver took his hand and followed him around to the backyard. Spencer motioned for us to follow her and led us into the house, I looked around at the interior that was clearly designed by Spencer and not Toby. The last time I was here, I was helping them pick out wedding colors. Maybe I should have told one of them about what's going on between Ezra and myself, I don't know why I didn't.

"I thought everything was fine between you and Ezra?" Hanna asked as we sat around the kitchen table

"Ezra made sure he told me himself, instead me finding out by someone else or on my own. He said that after his last visit, he met a woman named Nicole. He saved her daughter from being hit by a speeding car that ran a red light and she insisted on taking him out to dinner. Now even though they're dating, he's still going to be there for me and the baby." I said, then realized what I just said.

"What's up with him, thinking he's superman?" Maya asked

"It's who he is, he'd rescue a cat out of a tree if he could. But I'm glad its Nicole and not like someone from our past, otherwise I'd be wondering if he had feelings for them the entire time, we were together." I said.

"You're being very mature about this." Spencer mentioned.

"Why wouldn't I be? We're all adults here. Plus, we both knew in the back of our minds that there was always a chance that one of us would get into a serious relationship." I pointed out.

"But he –." Emily started to say but I cut her off

'Doesn't matter, he met her before I even came home and he was completely honest with me about it. Yes, he knew I was coming home. But we never said that we would stop seeing other people." I told them and they nodded.

Oliver and Rose came running into the house giggling with Malcolm Toby, Hardy, and Caitlyn following. I love the fact that the kids can now have a backyard to play in, not just parks or the parking lot of an apartment building. Maybe I can find a house to rent instead of intruding on Hardy and Cait. Oliver went to climb onto Emily's lap, and she gladly snuggled him as he grabbed a carrot.

….

Later that night

Watching Oliver happily play with Ezra, I sighed to myself. Chloe saw me and motioned for me to come over by her, I walked over to her and Maya by the firepit where they were making roasting marshmallows.

"Are you okay about everything?" Chloe asked and I nodded.

"Aria, can you come help me in the kitchen?" Spencer asked, standing up.

I quickly walked into the kitchen after her, and she pulled me where no one could see us. Without saying another word, Spencer pulled out a small sandwich bag and handed it to me. I looked at the bag to see a pregnancy test inside.

"Spencer, I don't need to take a…" I trailed off, realizing that its already been used and she pressed a finger to her lips.

"Oh my god! You're pregnant too?" I whispered excitedly and she nodded.

We were all expecting her to come home from their honeymoon pregnant. But the fact that we both got pregnant around the same time, it makes being pregnant together even better. Ever since we were little, we always wanted to experience pregnancy together.

"I got my karma from junior year, Toby walked in on me taking the test. And I'm guessing you weren't planning on telling anyone yet, I could tell after when you mentioned Ezra being there for you and the baby. There was a quick flash of 'oh crap' in your eyes." Spencer said softly.

"Does Nicole know about the baby?" She asked and I shrugged.

"Maybe, but I don't know… And I don't want to ask." I told her.

Noticing it was pretty late, we walked outside to see everyone having fun. I looked around, looking for Oliver and saw that he was playing with Ezra, Toby, and Malcolm. The girls were around the bonfire, laughing and roasting marshmallows. Seeing me, Oliver came running with the football… ending the game the guys were playing.

"Ollie baby, it's time to go. Go tell daddy you'll see him tomorrow, and give back the ball." I told Oliver, as I grabbed his dinosaur zip up hoodie.

"Why we not going home with daddy? Don't we live with daddy?" Oliver asked.

"Remember what mama and daddy told you earlier baby? But you get to have more sleepovers with Rosie." I said quickly before he could become upset.

"Yay! Sleepover with Rosie!" He said happily, getting Rose to look up from the story book Hardy was reading her.

Ezra picked Oliver up for a hug. Before Oliver could give him a goodbye kiss, Ezra blew a raspberry on his cheek. Oliver laughed as he tried to squirm out of his father's arms, something that's barely happened these past few years.

"Okay lil man, you be good for mama and I'll see you tomorrow." Ezra said as he stood Oliver back down.

"See you tomorrow daddy!" Oliver said and hurried to the car.

"To be honest, I didn't think that would work." Ezra said softly as soon as Oliver was out of earshot and I looked at him.

"Ez, it's going to take a little bit for him to fully understand what's going on. We'll see you tomorrow." I said.

I silently sighed as I turned around, reminding myself he can't kiss me goodbye anymore. Seeing Oliver trying to open his door, I held in my laughter and unlocked my car. As he struggled to climb in, I walked over to him and helped him into the car.

….

I sighed to myself as I hung up my clothes. The kids had managed to convince Hardy to have a camp out in the backyard, so Caitlyn and I basically had the house to ourselves tonight. Caitlyn placed a hand on my shoulder and turned me around to face her.

"Aria you know you're allowed to be upset about this. I've lived with you for the past four years; I can tell when you're hiding your emotions. Remember when you were worried about your late period when I had moved in Freshman year?" She asked and I nodded.

"I'm just being strong for Oliver. He shouldn't have to see me upset; he's iced Ezra out quite a few times when he believed that Ezra didn't love us. And if he saw me crying, there's a good chance he would ice his father out again. No way I'm letting that happen again." I told her.

Sitting down on the freshly made bed, she patted the spot next to her and I sat down. There's no way that she'll let this go so easily, especially since we don't always get to have girl talks as like we did when we first met.

"Last time I checked; the kids are camping outside with Hardy. So... go ahead and let it out, you know you can't bottle up those feelings forever." She said, pulling me into a hug as I burst into tears

"I'm terrified to meet her, then it'll be real that it's over. The second he told me about her; I knew my plan wouldn't be happening. I feel like Rachel during the Cory tribute episode. I had coming home all planned out." I said, as I slowly calmed down.

"What do you mean?" She asked, rubbing my back.

"I'd come home and walk into the house. And as soon as he saw me, I'd jump into his arms like in the movies and we'd know there wouldn't be any more goodbyes…. God it was such a stupid plan."

"It was a beautiful plan, that just happened to get changed." Caitlyn said softly.

I sighed and got off the bed. Walking over to the dresser, I picked up a picture of me and Ezra on my eighteenth birthday. He had surprised me to a weekend trip to Philly, just us and the boys. Without saying another word, she got up and walked out of my room as I began unpacking my pajamas and workout clothes. I stood up and walked over to the window, and watch Hardy play catch with the kids. Caitlyn walked back in, holding her complete DVD set of Gilmore Girls.

"We are going to watch a show that I know will make you feel better… Obviously not Glee, since it's in a box somewhere." She said and I smiled before grabbing my laptop.