Chapter 12

Aria's pov

Oliver was perched up on the counter, helping Malcolm make the spaghetti sauce. They had wanted to make it themselves with no help and decided that I'll make the garlic bread. Which of course, they insisted on the frozen kind instead of homemade. I watched as Malcolm pulled out some different spice jars and held one up to Oliver.

"Okay, smell this one Ollie." Malcolm told him.

"Yucky." Oliver said, covering his nose.

"Is that how you pick seasonings?" I asked, giggling.

Malcolm nodded as Oliver stirred the sauce. The doorbell rang, I quickly rose to go answer the door. Ezra was on time, which I knew would happen. Hopefully, I can have my talk with Malcolm while Ezra talks to Oliver. As I headed for the door, Malcolm reassured me with a look that he'd keep an eye on everything… Meaning Oliver. Maybe it's time that we told Oliver about the baby, but it might confuse him even more about mine and Ezra's relationship.

"Hey." Ezra said as I opened the door.

"I think we should tell Oliver… about the baby." I said quietly.

"Okay." He agreed.

Ezra followed me inside to see that the boys were finishing up the sauce as the timer for the pasta went off. Unaware of his father's presence, Malcolm quickly drained the pasta in the sink. He turned around to see Ezra and I standing at the doorway. Without saying another word, he ran up the backstairs to his and Oliver's bedroom. Just as we heard the door slam shut, I shared a look with Ezra, and we saw Oliver looking around. With him realizing he couldn't get off the counter on his own, he looked over at us.

"I'm stuck!" Oliver yelled.

"Daddy will get you down baby. I'll go talk to Malcolm." I said, whispering the last part to Ezra.

Ezra's pov

Aria rushed up the stairs and I made my way over to Oliver, who had his arms out ready for me to pick him up. The speech I prepared for him; it's gone now. How am I supposed to explain this to him? Especially when I barely understand any of this myself? This wasn't how any of this was supposed to go when Aria and Oliver came home, but its's this way because of me. Walking over to the kitchen table, I sat him on the chair with his dinosaur seat cushion. His words about me hurting his heart haven't left my mind since he said them. Hurting him was the last thing I ever wanted to do.

"Can daddy talk to you lil man?" I asked.

"You don't love Ollie no more." Oliver responded.

"That is not true, I love you more than anything in the world. This is not what you thought coming home would be like huh?" I asked.

"Nu uh." He said quietly.

"It's not what I was expecting either lil man. But just because daddy is seeing someone new, does not change how much I love you. Oliver, what happened today…. That was not how I wanted you to find out about Nicole. And I'm sorry you found out that way, the last thing I wanted to do was to hurt your heart." I told him.

"But you don't love mama?" He asked.

"Let's see if daddy can explain is easily for you lil man. What's your favorite fruit?" I asked, kneeling in front of him.

"Sawberries!" He exclaimed excitedly.

"It's like you love strawberries, but you start liking… let's say blueberries. Then when you want some fruit, you don't know which one you want." I explained, hoping he'd understand that.

"Ohhhh. I gots a question daddy," He told me.

"What's your question lil man?"

"Will I see you more now?" He asked, and I nodded

"You're going to see me so much more lil man; you'll get tired of seeing me." I promised him.

Oliver giggled as he jumped into my arms. I caught him, and he snuggled into me. Even though I thought staying away for Aria's benefit would do good…. I missed out on so much of Oliver's life. But we have now and I'm not going to miss out on anymore of his life. Staying away from him the past four years, that's one of the biggest mistakes I have ever made.

"Brother's mad at you." Oliver told me.

"I know lil man, but I'm gonna go talk to him. Mama will be down in a minute; and I'll be back shortly." I told him.

Setting him back onto his chair, I ruffled his hair and walked upstairs towards the boys' room. As I got closer, I could hear Aria talking to Malcolm about not cursing and something about my relationship with Nicole. Knocking, they both looked over when I opened the door. Aria gave me a small smile as she got up and out of the room. As she closed the door behind her, I turned to see Malcolm pretending to read his national geographic magazine. Ever since he cursed at me earlier, I knew there was deeper meaning to it. I sat down next him, and he tossed his magazine onto his nightstand, still not looking in my direction.

"Ok Malcolm. what's really going on?" I asked, sitting down next to him.

"Mom finishes school, and we can finally be a real family again… you go and get a stupid girlfriend?" He asked.

So that was what's bothering him, he's been a little snappy since the day I met Nicole. Had I been so blinded that I couldn't even notice how he felt about it? What kind of father am I? Whenever I told him I was going out with Nicole, there was always that response he had 'Of course you are.' in a snappy kind of tone.

"Getting with Nicole… I wasn't planning on that happening." I told him.

"But it did happen, and now everything is messed up! It feels like Ollie and I are just hers and his kids, even though mom promised that wouldn't happen. We're not even a family anymore dad!" He exclaimed.

"We're still a family Malcolm. And like most families, there are obstacles we must go through. I know everything came all at once. Come on, I know there's something else." I gently pushed.

"She was barely in my life and I didn't know you existed until I was seven! Then BOOM, she leaves me… no goodbye or anything. But Mom was there… then she wasn't and that's because you made her leave. Everything going on between you and mom, it's just so confusing." He said quietly.

"Malcolm, it's confusing for me as well. You know how much I love mom, but… I also have feelings for Nicole. Don't think for one second that any of this is easy for me, this is the most confusing time in my life." I admitted.

"It's confusing for you? Either you want to be with mom, or you don't! It's not rocket science dad, and you say you love mom… but you got a girlfriend when you knew that mom and Ollie would be coming home soon! Plus, you haven't spoken to her in two weeks because of whatever reason you have." He snapped

Damn it, he had noticed... Though I shouldn't be surprised. But Aria almost slept with Hardy and never told me, though I did the same thing with Alison and the book. Would it have happened between her and Hardy if I had been there? How would it have gone if I had gone with her to New York? Would we have rented out our home and found a good school for Malcolm? Could I have found another teaching job, or would I have to travel between New York and Rosewood to keep up with The Brew? But packing up and moving Malcolm… that would've been hard on him. He'd already lost Maggie within five minutes of coming to Rosewood, and he was slowly making friends by the time Aria left. If I had gone with her, she could've ended up resenting me or our relationship for it. There's also the high chance of her not meeting Caitlyn if I had gone with. Not going with her, that was so she wouldn't end up resenting me or our relationship. I really do need to have a sit down with her and Hardy both to talk about that night.

"I know, but I promise things are going to be different now than they have been." I promised him.

Aria's pov

Ezra and Malcolm came downstairs as I tickled Oliver. Seems like he understands everything a little bit better, I just hope he doesn't end up icing Ezra out. I don't even know where he learned to ice people out, maybe when he saw it in Frozen? Not sure, but the past is the past and now Ezra can be a more active father to the boys and the baby. Oliver escaped from me and ran towards them as I looked over at Ezra. From the looks of it, everything seems to be better between Ezra and Malcolm again.

"Why don't you stay for dinner?" I suggested.

"Yeah! Stay for dinner daddy!" Oliver said excitedly.

"Please dad?" Malcolm begged.

Ezra and I shared a look, we both knew that neither of us could say no to them. Even though we're planning on telling Oliver about me being pregnant with the baby tonight, it wouldn't be right to not invite Ezra for dinner. But I'm not sure if the news will confuse Oliver about mine and Ezra's relationship, I'm hoping he won't automatically assume we're getting back together.

"Okay, I'll stay for dinner." Ezra said.

"You can sit with me daddy. Me and brother made dinner all by ourselves." Oliver said happily, taking Ezra's hand,

"Wash your hands first." I told the boys.

Ezra brought Oliver to the sink and Malcolm helped me make a small salad, even though I know Oliver will try to refuse eating it. But the only vegetables he had this week were carrots and a little bit of green beans. I saw Oliver's 'special' sauce… which is just honey mustard and grabbed it, along with the ranch for everybody else. Oliver saw me setting the ranch down and looked at me in slight horror.

"No mama, ranch is yucky!" He exclaimed.

"Baby, your sauce is right here." I told him, showing him his sauce.

"Okay, goodie." He said.

We all sat around the table, it feels weird having a family dinner at Hardy and Caitlyns kitchen table. But it's not like we really have anywhere else to have the dinner, but I'll take whatever I can get. Ezra helped Oliver with cutting his pasta as Malcolm took a sip of his water and passed the garlic bread to me.

"This sauce is really good boys." Ezra said.

"Oliver picked out the seasonings." Malcolm told him.

"Don't think about talking with food in your mouth." I reminded Oliver, looking at him.

Oliver looked at me in shock, slowly chewing his food. Malcolm and Ezra held back their laughter as I had a staring contest with Oliver. If I could keep him at this age, where he believes in magic and good in this world… I would do it in a heartbeat. Swallowing his pasta, Oliver looked over at Ezra and I took a bite of my salad. After just swallowing his food whole, he loves to talk with food in his mouth.

"How she do that?" Oliver asked.

"Mama knows everything." Ezra answered, giving me a secret wink.

….

After dinner, Ezra brought us over to his place for dessert. I managed to grab a couple of ultrasounds from when I was pregnant with Oliver, and a couple of Malcolm that were in my scrapbook I made just for the boys and my relationship with Ezra. Whenever I was feeling homesick, rearranging and looking through it made me feel better. Hopefully, the conversation of the pregnancy wont somehow lead to Maggie being Malcolm's birth mother. That is something we've never mentioned and I'm not sure Oliver would understand, or if that's even something Malcolm is okay talking about yet. Ezra and I looked at each other as the boys enjoyed their ice cream, we both knew it was time.

"Ollie, would you like to see a picture of you when you were in mama's belly?" I asked, receiving a nod from him.

Malcolm quickly wiped everything from the ice cream sundae off Oliver's face and hands. I pulled out the ultrasounds and Ezra handed the boys some wet naps. The moment that he was clean, Oliver jumped off his chair and tried climbing up onto my lap. I picked him up and showed him the last ultrasound I had.

"Where's my hair?" Oliver asked, looking between me and Ezra.

"We couldn't see your hair lil man." Ezra told him.

"That's a shame." Oliver said softly.

I kissed the top of his head as we showed them the ultrasounds and shared another look with Ezra. This is what is was supposed to be like when I came home, Ezra and I together with our boys awaiting the baby's arrival. But of course, because it's my life we're talking about here, I was robbed of it. Malcolm came around the table and sat down next to me, and I showed them to him as well.

"There's a reason we're showing you two these pictures, it's because mama has a baby in her tummy. You two are getting a little brother or sister. Doesn't that sound fun?" Ezra told the boys.

"Why?" Oliver inquired.

"Because we thought you'd enjoy having a little brother or sister." I told him.

"But how is the baby in your belly mama? Did you eat the baby?" He asked concerned.

Ezra and I looked at one another as Malcolm wasn't sure to laugh or not. Even though we had our plan to start trying for another baby after I came home, we never prepared for the fact Oliver would have these questions. Luckily, Malcolm already knows about it from when his health class went over puberty and everything else.

"Mama did not eat the baby. There's a baby in her tummy because Daddy held mama's hand and a baby formed." Ezra said quickly.

Oliver looked between me and Ezra with wide eyes. I'm so glad Ezra came up with that fast, I had no idea how I was going to answer Oliver's question. Oh god, but how is he going to respond to what he just learned? I'm starting to either feel nauseous where I'm going to puke, or it's a headache.

"I HOLD ROSIE'S HAND! I'M TOO WITTLE TO BE A DADDY!" Oliver yelled

"Only grown-ups get babies Ollie." Malcolm reassured him.

We watched Oliver and Malcolm for any reactions that either of them might have. Even though Malcolm already knows about the baby, I love that he's here for this family moment. I don't want either of them to feel like we're replacing them with the new baby. Hopefully, Oliver will just love the new baby, and not want to try to get rid of him or her after I give birth. I know I tried getting rid of Mike, and both Ezra and Heather tried to get rid of Wesley too.

"Do you have any more questions lil man? Or anything you wanna say about the news?" Ezra asked

"I want a sister!" Oliver exclaimed.

"Why a sister and not a brother?" I asked him.

"I'm mama's baby boy, just me… And I alweady gots brother." Oliver said.

I kissed the top of his head, as he picked up one of the ultrasounds. Even though we're no longer together, I wouldn't trade this moment with Ezra and our kids for anything. Maybe if we really are meant to be, fate will work it's magic.