Setting up the pool table while Casey went to get drinks with Dexter, Aria grabbed a couple of cues from the rack and handed one to Xavier who took his shot.

"Is Romeo meeting us here?" Casey asked as he joined them, handing over her milkshake and frowning when Aria shrugged in reply, "Where is he?"

"Somewhere getting an attitude adjustment," Aria replied as she struck the white ball, "I didn't have the right tools for the job."

"Issues?"

"I don't know what's wrong with him," Aria told him, "I sent him a text asking if he was coming with us, and he replied with some snarky comment about inviting Andy instead."

"Sounds like he's jealous," Dexter added.

"Why would he be jealous of me and Andy though?" Aria inquired, genuinely confused, "I've given him no reason to be jealous."

"I guess it's a guy thing, maybe he just needs reassurance about everything... guys get insecure too."

"I'm not going to justify my friendship with every guy I know," Aria argued, "He'd brush it off as me being stupid if I acted the way he is."

Heading home after a few games, Aria wandered along the beach and froze when she spotted Jake leaning against the fence ahead of her.

"If it isn't baby Braxton," he said, smirking as Aria moved to walk past him and grabbing her arm, "Don't be like that, I just want to talk to you..."

"About what?"

"Your dad."

"What about him?"

"Well, I heard that he's been released from prison and you know that we have unfinished business."

"When it comes to any business that you have with Danny, you're talking to the wrong person," Aria told him, "I haven't heard from him since he got locked up and I don't really expect to."

"I find it hard to believe that he hasn't tried to contact you or one of your brothers," Jake stated, releasing her arm and looking behind her as he spoke, "We'll finish this chat some other time."

Frowning at Jake's sudden change in demeanor, Aria glanced over her shoulder and spotted Brax making his way towards the water with Heath. Not wanting to cause a scene on the beach, she decided to tell them about her encounter with Pirovic after their surf and headed home.

Raiding the cupboards to find the ingredients she needed for dinner, Aria put together a lasagna from scratch and had just placed it in the oven to cook when her brothers walked through the door.

"What's cooking?" Heath asked, grabbing himself and Brax a beer.

"Lasagna," Aria replied, "Thought it'd be nice to have a homecooked meal."

"Sounds great, how was school today?" Brax added.

"School was school... nothing interesting happened," Aria told him, "I did have a run in with Pirovic on my way home though."

"Did he hurt you?" Heath demanded, putting his beer down and waiting expectantly for Aria's answer.

"No, he just wanted information on dad's whereabouts," Aria explained, "I told him that I hadn't heard from him, then he spotted you two and left. Has anyone heard from dad?"

"Not directly, but mom mentioned that he's been at the house on and off," Brax said, leaning against the counter and hesitating momentarily before continuing, "He does want to see us though, according to mom..."

"Why?" Aria inquired with a frown.

"He is our dad, Ari," Heath replied, causing Aria to scoff and shake her head, "What?"

"Danny has never been a dad, just like mom has never been a mom... at least not to me."

"Ari..." Brax started.

"It's the truth, Brax... I gave up on the stupid idea that he would change a long time ago and I don't want anything to do with him."

"Isn't there questions that you want answers to?" Heath inquired as Aria opened the oven door to check the lasagna.

"Plenty, but he's never going to answer them honestly and I'm not going to fool myself into thinking that he will."

"Ari..." Heath started.

"Heath, just leave it alone," Brax added, holding his hand up as Heath opened his mouth to speak, "Do me a favor and go find your brothers, I want everyone sat around the table by the time dinner is ready."

Hesitating for a few seconds, Heath eventually did as he was asked and left to hunt down the others. Knowing that Brax had something to say, Aria closed the oven and turned to look at him.

"You could have just sent Casey and Kyle a text, you know?" Aria said, collecting plates and cutlery ready for dishing up.

"I know, but I just wanted to let you know that it's okay if you do want to see dad."

"I've made my decision, I don't want to see him," Aria replied, "He doesn't get to do that again... he doesn't get to walk back into my life after all the bad that he's done and expect to get another chance."

"Heath seems to believe that prison has changed him this time around."

"Then that's great, but I don't want anything to do with him," Aria mumbled, "I spent too much time growing up, watching him walk away and I can't do it again. You've always been there when I've needed you, but, because of him, I'm always wondering when you're going to leave and I have to go through it all again."

"I'm..." Brax started, falling silent as Heath walked in with Casey and Kyle in tow, "We'll talk about that later."

Dishing up the lasagna, Aria took a seat at the table and tried her best to avoid Brax's eyes. What she told him was something that she never wanted to admit, but she needed him to understand the reason behind her decision and in a weird way she knew that her fear of being left would do that.

Authors Notes: Just because Aria is strong, doesn't mean that she doesn't have fears and weaknesses... Pirovic has arrived and things are about to get dangerous! Thank you for reading!